MLHS has a really good article (almost crystal ball worthy) on the Leafs bottom 6 this year and how they were flat out the worst in the league for contributions; it's called "Maple Leafs’ Bottom Six Forwards", published May 6th.

Basically what was supposed to be a little less scoring for defensive upside completely fell apart: 30th in the league for bottom 6 scoring.

Bolland getting hurt/lack of depth, McClement asked to do too much, and way too many punchers on a useless 4th line were main contributors.

So here's hoping we're back to 3, almost 4 scoring/point-capable lines.

As for defense, good zone time should help; a lot of guys who can play center down there too, so faceoffs shouldn't be an issue.

can't wait until they meet along the boards
- Flyfreaky

Why so he can be a grab ass?

Why so he can be a grab ass?
- Yeti1181

(frank)ing biting, grabbing, licking, kissing

it's gonna be awesome

(nice pun)

(frank)ing biting, grabbing, licking, kissing

it's gonna be awesome

(nice pun)
- Flyfreaky

*bows*

*blows*
- Yeti1181

- Flyfreaky

racist

i'm still with you, but my point is that you have to take some chances to clear some cap space to take some more chances (fa period)

if the leafs would have moved lupul, reimer and franson before fa, they might have been able to score p.stastny and j.jokinen which would have been huge top six upgrades
- Flyfreaky

Jussi Jokinen would not have been an upgrade. the guy had 57 points in a full season as malkins winger, lupul had 44 points in 69 games playing with struggling kadri and clarkson. Lupul has been nearly a ppg player since arriving in toronto (85 points in previous 82 games prior to this season) so im not ready to dump him yet.
Reimer and Franson could be moved for a steady d-man to play with Gards or Dion

I wouldn't mess with the 1st line chemistry. Cammy actually makes less.
- systemtool

Right, forgot Lupul resigned.

I don't think the top line chemistry is really that important outside of Bozak Kessel: anyone who plays with those two generally does well, including Lupul.

Jussi Jokinen would not have been an upgrade. the guy had 57 points in a full season as malkins winger, lupul had 44 points in 69 games playing with struggling kadri and clarkson. Lupul has been nearly a ppg player since arriving in toronto (85 points in previous 82 games prior to this season) so im not ready to dump him yet.
Reimer and Franson could be moved for a steady d-man to play with Gards or Dion
- GardinerExpress

stastny and jokinen, not just jokinin

racist
- Yeti1181

jealous

MLHS has a really good article (almost crystal ball worthy) on the Leafs bottom 6 this year and how they were flat out the worst in the league for contributions; it's called "Maple Leafs’ Bottom Six Forwards", published May 6th.

Basically what was supposed to be a little less scoring for defensive upside completely fell apart: 30th in the league for bottom 6 scoring.

Bolland getting hurt/lack of depth, McClement asked to do too much, and way too many punchers on a useless 4th line were main contributors.

So here's hoping we're back to 3, almost 4 scoring/point-capable lines.

As for defense, good zone time should help; a lot of guys who can play center down there too, so faceoffs shouldn't be an issue.
- gravyface

I thought Raymond-Bolland-Kulemin were a pretty decent line when Bolland was healthy. The 4th line was awful, we really missed komarov there,and the face punchers/mcclement took huge steps back

stastny and jokinen, not just jokinin
- Flyfreaky

I dont think Stastny wanted to go anywhere else, otherwise he would have stayed in Colorado. I'd feel a lot less comfortable if Nonis gambled, and we were stuck with a jokinen-Kadri-Frattin line 2

I thought Raymond-Bolland-Kulemin were a pretty decent line when Bolland was healthy. The 4th line was awful, we really missed komarov there,and the face punchers/mcclement took huge steps back
- GardinerExpress

Yeah those two weeks of the season were great

stastny and jokinen, not just jokinin
- Flyfreaky

That would destroy our Cap situation.

Not the biggest Lupul fan, but Stastny didn't want to come here and Jokinen isn't better than Lupul.

MLHS has a really good article (almost crystal ball worthy) on the Leafs bottom 6 this year and how they were flat out the worst in the league for contributions; it's called "Maple Leafs’ Bottom Six Forwards", published May 6th.

Basically what was supposed to be a little less scoring for defensive upside completely fell apart: 30th in the league for bottom 6 scoring.

Bolland getting hurt/lack of depth, McClement asked to do too much, and way too many punchers on a useless 4th line were main contributors.

So here's hoping we're back to 3, almost 4 scoring/point-capable lines.

As for defense, good zone time should help; a lot of guys who can play center down there too, so faceoffs shouldn't be an issue.
- gravyface

It's amazing how much the PK and bottom six fell back after being part of the reason they made the playoffs the previous year. Obviously when it's 30th in bottom six scoring a big change can't hurt.

I thought Raymond-Bolland-Kulemin were a pretty decent line when Bolland was healthy. The 4th line was awful, we really missed komarov there,and the face punchers/mcclement took huge steps back
- GardinerExpress

Well, our 7-8-9 forwards were by and large Kulemin, McClement and Clarkson; Raymond was on the 2nd line for a lot of the season and his output replaced Mac's output.

Clarkson's output was 4th line worthy and Kulemin was Kulemin. Bolland played so little, he couldn't really be considered in the comparisons.

Go check out the article; pretty telling (and grim) results.

Good news is that we should have a competitive bottom 6 with players that can actually play hockey on both lines. I think Orr will see 30-35 games but with really limited minutes and guys like Santorelli or Kontiola double-shifting between both bottom 2 lines as center or winger as required.

It's amazing how much the PK and bottom six fell back after being part of the reason they made the playoffs the previous year. Obviously when it's 30th in bottom six scoring a big change can't hurt.
- Zezel

McClement playing too much, no Komarov were big factors. Those nights with Orr McLaren and Smithson were like an anvil around McClement's neck.

Well, our 7-8-9 forwards were by and large Kulemin, McClement and Clarkson; Raymond was on the 2nd line for a lot of the season and his output replaced Mac's output.

Clarkson's output was 4th line worthy and Kulemin was Kulemin. Bolland played so little, he couldn't really be considered in the comparisons.

Go check out the article; pretty telling (and grim) results.

Good news is that we should have a competitive bottom 6 with players that can actually play hockey on both lines. I think Orr will see 30-35 games but with really limited minutes and guys like Santorelli or Kontiola double-shifting between both bottom 2 lines as center or winger as required.
- gravyface

If he can stay healthy I can see Santorelli being a solid player for us. Just the type of bargain, good reward signing we needed. Raymond/Mac style.

If he can stay healthy I can see Santorelli being a solid player for us. Just the type of bargain, good reward signing we needed. Raymond/Mac style.
- systemtool

I'm pretty stoked for Kontiola and Komarov too.

I'm pretty stoked for Kontiola and Komarov too.
- gravyface

I want to be, but I just don't know anything about him. Never even seen him play.

Im through the roof about Komarov. There is just something about him I love as a player, and I noticed that teams he plays for compete hard. I also think he has a little more offense to his game than we saw last time.

The thing is, Im not even too concerned about the numbers the bottom 6 lines contribute. I just want them to skate, work hard and battle. Something this team did very little of last year.

i'm still with you, but my point is that you have to take some chances to clear some cap space to take some more chances (fa period)

if the leafs would have moved lupul, reimer and franson before fa, they might have been able to score p.stastny and j.jokinen which would have been huge top six upgrades
- Flyfreaky

You have to be able to get these guys to play here. See: J. Gorges.

i think franson and reimer both have qualifying offers on the table at 2-2.5m or so and lupul has a 5.5m hit, so you're looking at around 10m to sign statstny and a jokinen type player which would be two huge top six upgrades for the team

i'm not sold on lupul as much as you are and his contract is horrible for a guy who has massive health issues
- Flyfreaky

You're not getting Stastny AND Jokinen for 10 million. Plus, we still would need to spend $$ on the third player, to even up the roster spots this move would open up.

I want to be, but I just don't know anything about him. Never even seen him play.

Im through the roof about Komarov. There is just something about him I love as a player, and I noticed that teams he plays for compete hard. I also think he has a little more offense to his game than we saw last time.

The thing is, Im not even too concerned about the numbers the bottom 6 lines contribute. I just want them to skate, work hard and battle. Something this team did very little of last year.
- systemtool

Yes.

I want to be, but I just don't know anything about him. Never even seen him play.

Im through the roof about Komarov. There is just something about him I love as a player, and I noticed that teams he plays for compete hard. I also think he has a little more offense to his game than we saw last time.

The thing is, Im not even too concerned about the numbers the bottom 6 lines contribute. I just want them to skate, work hard and battle. Something this team did very little of last year.
- systemtool

Production should come as a result of that but the Leafs relied way too much on the top 2 lines for production and we finished 16th in offence because of that. It was really a two line team with Bernier standing on his head that got us the wins (and shoot outs were a huge part).

So... whats the Leafs next move?