But the question is....can bernier maintain his level of play while getting peppered with shots game in and game out
Or what happens when your ''scoring off the rush" dries up
- 6Karlsson5

Bernier did damn well last year. Only thing that threw him off his game was (frank)ing up his leg

And last year, our scoring line was pretty consistent. Problem was we didn't have any secondary scoring, with Lupul, Kadri, and Clarkson all having off-years. If we're going to assume the top line will be less consistent next year, we should also assume the 2nd line will pick up their game a bit.

What the Leafs did this offseason so far was vastly improve our top-6(when you consider that Bolland didn't really play last year), and built up a 4th line that can actually skate.(a (frank)ing novelty in Leafland)... this should help keep the forwards from getting fatigued, and help their possession game, so they don't have to rely solely on scoring off the rush.

I know you know your stuff,
thats why when you say something cartoonish ,i dont bite
- top shelf 15

Just give me some f*&king attitude for once, will you? What's your problem?

Just give me some f*&king attitude for once, will you? What's your problem?
- prock

You have forgotten more about hockey than most here know ,you bastard........Better???

First, anything can happen. I personally think a lot of the problem had to do with a massive imbalance in offensive Dmen, and defensive ones. Phaneuf, Gardiner, Rielly, Franson, all primarily offensive guys. Rielly, for a good portion of the year, was just as bad as Karlsson defensively. He was just a rookie though, and improved. Partly why I think it was stupid to deal Gunnarson, as one of the more responsible guys. However, I’m assuming they deal Franson, who was pretty much an abortion defensively last year, even worse than Karlsson. So yeah, like worst in the league bad. But, as much as I’m not a fan of the Robidas signing, he will improve the D defensively. Polak for Gunnarson, close to a wash. If Franson gets dealt, and Granberg is brought up to play third pairing, the team will in fact be better defensively, IMO. Just not as imbalanced. And hopefully Gardiner and Rielly being a year older helps. Rielly was actually massively improved in his own end from beginning of year to end. Not that I like +/-, but he was something like -15 just a few weeks into the season, with limited minutes. It was a shooting gallery while he was on the ice for the first half of the season. That stabilized mid-season. Hopefully that continues.

So, who knows. That was the biggest problem with the Leafs. They’ve taken steps to address it. I’m not a fan of the steps they took, but hey, you can’t always get what you want.

Offensively, there is no shortage of snipers and goal scoring.
- prock

Shanahan is a student of the game. And, he has played it at the highest level. Working at the league level he has had a chance to study how the powerhouse franchises have built their teams. I agree with you on all the moves especially the Gunnarson trade. In today's NHL who gives up a good skating puck handling Dman for a guy who is slow afoot and does not handle the puck well?

It struck me that Shanahan is not going to tank. But, if the Leafs start slow he will not buy assets in the second half, he will sell. If Leafs end up as a lottery team with 2 or 3 picks in an exceptional draft class, I will not be surprised.

Bernier did damn well last year. Only thing that threw him off his game was (frank)ing up his leg

And last year, our scoring line was pretty consistent. Problem was we didn't have any secondary scoring, with Lupul, Kadri, and Clarkson all having off-years. If we're going to assume the top line will be less consistent next year, we should also assume the 2nd line will pick up their game a bit.

What the Leafs did this offseason so far was vastly improve our top-6(when you consider that Bolland didn't really play last year), and built up a 4th line that can actually skate.(a (frank)ing novelty in Leafland)... this should help keep the forwards from getting fatigued, and help their possession game, so they don't have to rely solely on scoring off the rush.
- Feeling Glucky?

Leafs like us a hoping for some growth from their kids ,reilly and gards are going to get more important mins.Kadri looks to have been humbled a bit last season,he will get better this season.ALong with their high powered group of wingers whom i believe to be best in the east,Toronto is in the thick of things for a playoff spot imho

maybe Wiercioch asked for a trade.

The Isles can trade you Bailey for a second rounder!!!

3.3 million dollar cap hit!!!
- jimmc7722

A) no one wants bailey, he is not a top 6 forward, has never even cracked 40 pts, and way overpaid with term

B) He has absolutely no value. Sam Gagner brought back a player about to be bought out, then a 6th with retained salary. Bailey is worth less.

bobby ryan chirping legwand on twitter.......awesome.

bobby ryan chirping legwand on twitter.......awesome.
- sensarmy_11

That gives me some hope,i believe that we will be making another move soon.And bobby ryan will resign

maybe Wiercioch asked for a trade.
- gisler

The pmd element in our top 4 is filled with EK and ceci.We really dont need him

The pmd element in our top 4 is filled with EK and ceci.We really dont need him
- top shelf 15

i know ceci has lots of potential, and sens fans (including myself) are excited by what he could be......but fact is, right now, he's not nearly as good as PW.

you can never have enough guys who can get ghe puck out of your zone.....for what its worth

Turris is 10x better than Bozak, oh and (FRANK) YOU PROCK!

Turris is 10x better than Bozak, oh and (FRANK) YOU PROCK!
- TheCalSen

Nope. Turris = Bozak lite.

Nope. Turris = Seguin lite.
- prock

fixed.

i know ceci has lots of potential, and sens fans (including myself) are excited by what he could be......but fact is, right now, he's not nearly as good as PW.

you can never have enough guys who can get ghe puck out of your zone.....for what its worth
- sensarmy_11

He pushed PW right into the press box at 19 years old,that tells me enough about whom is better.PW is ok as a pmd he can put up a few points and is decent with the puck.But he lacks big time in the speed and the physicality department and cant play hard mins in the defensive zone.And while granted Cowen had his struggles ,he has shown more in this critical area than PW ever has

fixed.
- TheCalSen

Toews LITE is whom i liken Turris to tbh

Nope. Turris = Bozak lite.
- prock

Leafs like us a hoping for some growth from their kids ,reilly and gards are going to get more important mins.Kadri looks to have been humbled a bit last season,he will get better this season.ALong with their high powered group of wingers whom i believe to be best in the east,Toronto is in the thick of things for a playoff spot imho

- top shelf 15

Our wingers looked a lot better before Clarkson and Lupul shat the bed last season

Our wingers looked a lot better before Clarkson and Lupul shat the bed last season
- Feeling Glucky?

I was going to argue his point but it's true. Your hard pressed to find 4 better wingers (4 you'd take on your team) before Kessel, JVR, Clarkson, Lupul. Although cap issues and injuries make the latter 2 questionable. Still great 4 though.

Zetterberg, Franzen, Alfredsson, Nyqust ?

I'm sorry to say Kyle Turris and Tyler Bozak aren't in the same discussion.

Just watch Turris this year...

last year's numbers show that he's ready to be #1

I was going to argue his point but it's true. Your hard pressed to find 4 better wingers (4 you'd take on your team) before Kessel, JVR, Clarkson, Lupul. Although cap issues and injuries make the latter 2 questionable. Still great 4 though.

Zetterberg, Franzen, Alfredsson, Nyqust ?
- AlfieisKing

Yep ,hard to even find a better collection anywhere including the west TBH.They are pretty lethal

I'm sorry to say Kyle Turris and Tyler Bozak aren't in the same discussion.

Just watch Turris this year...

last year's numbers show that he's ready to be #1
- AlfieisKing

DONT FEED THE TROLL,

Yep ,hard to even find a better collection anywhere including the west TBH.They are pretty lethal

- top shelf 15

It all depends on the 2nd line, IMO. obviously the top line is lethal, lethal, lethal... but if the second line isn't clicking, you can focus more on the top line, diminishing their ability to score as well.

In the shortened season both our top line and second line were on fire, and if one went cold, the other got hot, and the bottom-6 looked great too.

Last season we became a one line team.

This year's signings make it look like the focus is to go back to a 4-line team. Lets hope.

Well, you guys shouldn't hope. But I do.

It all depends on the 2nd line, IMO. obviously the top line is lethal, lethal, lethal... but if the second line isn't clicking, you can focus more on the top line, diminishing their ability to score as well.

In the shortened season both our top line and second line were on fire, and if one went cold, the other got hot, and the bottom-6 looked great too.

Last season we became a one line team.

This year's signings make it look like the focus is to go back to a 4-line team. Lets hope.

Well, you guys shouldn't hope. But I do.
- Feeling Glucky?

Speed kills,toronto scores like no other off the rush in the east.4 big wingers that can skate like that,yeah thats scary.Our big slow defense was blowtorched often by them last season

I'm sorry to say Kyle Turris and Tyler Bozak aren't in the same discussion.

Just watch Turris this year...

last year's numbers show that he's ready to be #1
- AlfieisKing

uhh, Bozak has been the number 1 for a few years. Talk to me when Turris puts up near .84 points per game, while being pretty strong defensively.

It's not even close. Bozak > Turris. Easily.