I don't get why you guys get so offended by someone saying Rielly isn't that good defensively. He's not. He's a great young dman, incredibly talented, but he's just not ready defensively. In my opinion, he should be working on it in junior. He's been benched a couple of times because of it, but some people just continue on insisting it's everyone else's fault.
- prock

There was a moment on the shift when SJ scored their third goal when Rielly collected the puck, skated up to about the half boards, then tossed a weak ass wrister off the glass.

It was promptly stopped by the Sharks defenseman, sent back in deep, and in our net 15 seconds later.

The fourth line was getting their teeth kicked in that shift and SanJose had successfully changed lines, with Pavelski and co. out there. Rielly needs to get that puck out a lot harder, potential icing be damned. Let your coach call a timeout if need be.

I still think the experience he needs can pretty much only be gained in the pros, but those are the mistakes that he needs to iron out. However, he was playing with Fraser, who stood around all shift doing nothing to stop the cycle, so I guess you do have to give Rielly for even getting to the loose puck in the first place. That's better than our other 4 skaters accomplished.

Yup. Some just don't want to see it.

number of ES minutes per goal scored against.
Rielly - 14.5
Franson - 20.8
Fraser - 23.1
Ranger - 28.7
Gardiner - 34.3
Gunnar - 34.7
Phaneuf - 40.0

And the funny thing is, Franson played a lot of time with Rielly. His numbers get drastically better without Rielly. Fraser actually had pretty good numbers too before last night, when he got harpooned with 2 goals playing with Rielly, and with the limited games he's played, it killed his numbers.

It's not a hack on the kid. He just needs more time. I think it should have been in juniors.
- prock

I did a similar analysis of last year's numbers.

The things that constantly surprise me are how Gardiner manages to post such good ESTOI/GA despite looking so terrible, and how Gunnar is always underrated by Leafs fans.

Franson still sucks ass in his own end. Shocking.

Liles was decent in this category last year. There's no way he brings less to the table than about 4 of those clowns.

didnt think the leafs played terribly tonight. they were beat by a much better team.

Still, this team needs an imposing centre more than ever. I have no problem with Bozak as a 2nd line centre as we know we have one line that's good to go. Without a decent centre Clarkson won't be utilized properly and Raymond will be contained.

Dion and Kadri will provide us with a pretty solid return. Personally, the only reason we can talk about how good Dion is in the D zone is because we don't spend enough time in the other team's end. That has to change. The offensive numbers he does get are secondary assists that Kessel & JVR produce. His $ demands aren't in line with his offensive production.

Kadri doesn't have the character, and may not develop the maturity in a town like Toronto, so let's just cash in and look elsewhere. I know Kesler's injury prone, but if we could land him and perhaps Bieksa then it'd be pretty smooth sailing.

Aside from that I'm really not convinced that we'll find a real solution with the west being so tight that nobody's realistically looking to move anyone of use.
- AngryWhiteMale

Phaneuf is consistently the only one to stay even (or +) during a losing streak. Take him out of this lineup and 4 Keslers aren't going to be able to carry us over the top, unless they can score 6+ per game night in and night out.

I don't know what the exact answer to our problems is, but moving Phaneuf is nowhere on that list. You move Phaneuf and you may as well just blow it all up.

How was the game.

didnt think the leafs played terribly tonight. they were beat by a much better team.

Still, this team needs an imposing centre more than ever. I have no problem with Bozak as a 2nd line centre as we know we have one line that's good to go. Without a decent centre Clarkson won't be utilized properly and Raymond will be contained.

Dion and Kadri will provide us with a pretty solid return. Personally, the only reason we can talk about how good Dion is in the D zone is because we don't spend enough time in the other team's end. That has to change. The offensive numbers he does get are secondary assists that Kessel & JVR produce. His $ demands aren't in line with his offensive production.

Kadri doesn't have the character, and may not develop the maturity in a town like Toronto, so let's just cash in and look elsewhere. I know Kesler's injury prone, but if we could land him and perhaps Bieksa then it'd be pretty smooth sailing.

Aside from that I'm really not convinced that we'll find a real solution with the west being so tight that nobody's realistically looking to move anyone of use.
- AngryWhiteMale

We re replacing phaneuf with bieska, dear god we would be screwed. Why is everyone worried about trade dion we are not rebuilding we are trying to win consistently trading away out better players is not going to help. We should trade kessel, jvr and reilly too because they will bring good returns.

How was the game.
- Yeti1181

Kinda like a hemeroide, you can feel it coming, can't do much about it, and the next day you're looking for a remedy.

Dion and Kadri will provide us with a pretty solid return.


- AngryWhiteMale

We're not trading our best Dman who has been an absolute stud, and our 2nd line center.

We're not trading our best Dman who has been an absolute stud, and our 2nd line center.
- jbold

Bieksa is 32 years old.... Dion is 28 and better defensively..... hmm tough decision on who to have

Kadri is 23 and kesler is 29 and injury prone.... another tough decision hmmm

We're not trading our best Dman who has been an absolute stud, and our 2nd line center.
- jbold

That is a little over rated, our best? Yes, but hasn't been a stud.

Didn't stop the cross crease pass resulting in the second GA tonight, and shot over a wide open net. Don/t get me wrong, I like him on the team, but I can't stand how people over rate him.

That is a little over rated, our best? Yes, but hasn't been a stud.

Didn't stop the cross crease pass resulting in the second GA tonight, and shot over a wide open net. Don/t get me wrong, I like him on the team, but I can't stand how people over rate him.
- sloppyseconds2

he is by far our best player. his shot was deflected. I can't stand people who don't appreciate his contribution.

he is by far our best player. his shot was deflected. I can't stand people who don't appreciate his contribution.
- Drapz

Take off the blue glasses, he misses the net allot, don't know why you can't see that.

Take off the blue glasses, he misses the net allot, don't know why you can't see that.
- sloppyseconds2

...So him missing the net a lot is the difference between being a stud and just a good defenseman?

Tell me more about his shot taking ability.

he is by far our best player. his shot was deflected. I can't stand people who don't appreciate his contribution.
- Drapz

Oh my, we are (frank)ed then.

Take off the blue glasses, he misses the net allot, don't know why you can't see that.
- sloppyseconds2

he does miss a few too many clappers, last nights shot was deflected though. I wish he had a shot like McCabe.

...So him missing the net a lot is the difference between being a stud and just a good defenseman?

Tell me more about his shot taking ability.
- Viktory

He has the ability to take a shot, then miss the net, again and again.

Oh my, we are (frank)ed then.
- sloppyseconds2

welcome aboard the 2013 crash. I think other teams view him as our most valuable asset.

he does miss a few too many clappers, last nights shot was deflected though. I wish he had a shot like McCabe.
- Drapz

He was in the right place at the right time, I give him that, but replays I watched I didn't see the deflection clearly, it was close but the other players blade tip never moved. IDK, looked like another clean miss.

He was in the right place at the right time, I give him that, but replays I watched I didn't see the deflection clearly, it was close but the other players blade tip never moved. IDK, looked like another clean miss.
- sloppyseconds2

I thought he clearly missed it too. The commentators were corrected by the guys in the van though then commended the back checking of Marleau I think.

welcome aboard the 2013 crash. I think other teams view him as our most valuable asset.
- Drapz

Don't get me wrong man, as I said, I like him here, just too much hype for his performance IMO. He def needs some help out there.

Don't get me wrong man, as I said, I like him here, just too much hype for his performance IMO. He def needs some help out there.
- sloppyseconds2

yeah he needs help alright. Thin thing that pissed me off about tonights game was McClarens enforcing penalty. If youre going to do something dumb at least waste the guy. Two minutes for pushing a guy in the back is a ticket to healthy scratch.

I thought he clearly missed it too. The commentators were corrected by the guys in the van though then commended the back checking of Marleau I think.
- Drapz

Sharks are killing most teams this year, I thought Leafs did well despite the depleted roster. Just seems worse after last weeks failure. Good effort overall.

Sharks are killing most teams this year, I thought Leafs did well despite the depleted roster. Just seems worse after last weeks failure. Good effort overall.
- sloppyseconds2

Yeah I'm out later.

yeah he needs help alright. Thin thing that pissed me off about tonights game was McClarens enforcing penalty. If youre going to do something dumb at least waste the guy. Two minutes for pushing a guy in the back is a ticket to healthy scratch.
- Drapz

I missed that, had friends over drinking some beers, must have been engaged in another meaningless conversation about the provincial government, again.

Sharks are killing most teams this year, I thought Leafs did well despite the depleted roster. Just seems worse after last weeks failure. Good effort overall.
- sloppyseconds2

no.

no.
- Barx

Ok.