Getzlaf's wasn't quite as bad as Crosby's, and he does have the advantage of his head being above most guys shoulders, rather than right at that height
- Badge

Crosby fault for being short.

better comparison is JVR-Max. both first line wingers who score a lot. both stink defensively and both are soft given how big they are.
- DoubleDown

Patches, sure. JVR? no.

but he is the best 40-goal scorer to score 39 goals.
- DoubleDown

Don't try to steal off my jokes.

Patches, sure. JVR? no.
- Feeling Glucky?

Yes

Don't try to steal off my jokes.
- Yeti1181

Ban him!

Yes
- Pecafan Fan

I'm glad you agree.

I'm glad you agree.
- Feeling Glucky?

http://www.extraskater.co...er/468/james-van-riemsdyk

edit: also,

http://www.extraskater.co...player/154/max-pacioretty

The biggest misconception about Keith/Seabrook in my opinion is how they are utilized.

I'd say even though they are superstars with lots of talent, they are shielded from the Suter/Phaneuf type of minutes. They play high minutes in mostly favourable situations. Top PP, secondary PK, majority offensive starts etc.

Then there is Hjalmarsson and Oduya, who play top PK, Most defensive zone starts and so on. Chicago's coaching is very clever in utilizing large strengths on the roster and minimizing deficiencies.

With Toews as a top flight, elite Selke type center, having him in any zone matters not. But they support that with their shutdown pairing in the D-Zone, more so than putting their best overall defenseman on the ice. Toews elevates the shutdown pairing, but also elevates the top pairing in all zones anyways. So when they are on the ice in the less than often defensive situation, mistakes are covered before they happen. This is the value of Toews. He amplifies strengths and minimizes weaknesses. He also inflates the worth of every member of the Blackhawks currently in the Top 4 and Top 6 forwards respectively.
- Viktory

PK times are all within 1 shift per game of each other. Keith was 2nd most on the team last season, 3rd the year before.

That said... That is exactly how it should be done. That's how you prevent wearing them out.

Phaneuf plays most 5 on 5, PK, and PP minutes on the team. OF course he's going to make mistakes. They tapered it a big this season, but needs to be more. Hopefully he spends a bit less time on the PK this year. Got size that can skate a bit to take the tougher matchups.

agree though.. would be nice if Leafs had any forwards who could support the D in any way whatsoever...

Yes
- Pecafan Fan

One of our main penalty killers is bad defensively.....yeah no.

- Badge

...for the 2 games one of them isn't injured/suspended.

...wait, what?

Should be Patches-Kadri-Kesler, if you're talking about diving, not JVR.
- Feeling Glucky?

Yes
- Pecafan Fan

if gluck sees Phil Kessel backcheck once every 7 games Kessel suddenly becomes a solid 2-way player.

- Atomic Wedgie

Once or twice is smart.

Pulling it on a team level consistently starts to become a joke.

Like, really, it's professional sports. Do anything in your power to win, right?

http://www.extraskater.com/player/468/james-van-riemsdyk

edit: also,

http://www.extraskater.co...player/154/max-pacioretty
- Pecafan Fan

Interesting. Fenwick rel differential, Shots differential, and goals differential are all positive for JVR, and negative for Patcioretty.


I'm glad we can put our differences aside and work together.

if gluck sees Phil Kessel backcheck once every 7 games Kessel suddenly becomes a solid 2-way player.
- DoubleDown

In Kessel's defence (and in Gluckster's defence), Phil is much better than he used to be.

Much, much better.

- Atomic Wedgie

Clearly just mocking the nucks.

agree though.. would be nice if Leafs had any forwards who could support the D in any way whatsoever...
- Badge

Komorov addition was a start. Maybe even training the kids to play that way will be the next. I still have high hopes Gauthier will be a solid two way player with decent offense.

Interesting. Fenwick rel differential, Shots differential, and goals differential are all positive for JVR, and negative for Patcioretty.
- Feeling Glucky?

so from what i can tell, when advanced stats portray the Leafs negatively, they suck and are stupid and useless (my takeaway from this thread from the past season). but when they say something good about the Leafs, then they have merit.

come on.

In Kessel's defence (and in Gluckster's defence), Phil is much better than he used to be.

Much, much better.
- Atomic Wedgie

stay out of this female dog!!

Once or twice is smart.

Pulling it on a team level consistently starts to become a joke.

Like, really, it's professional sports. Do anything in your power to win, right?
- Viktory

There was a proposal (never acted on) that the league was going to issue a list of divers, in the crazy hope that it would discourage the worst offenders.

I'd be willing to bet a beer that if that list had 50 names, JVR's name would be on it.

Hell, 30 names.

so from what i can tell, when advanced stats portray the Leafs negatively, they suck and are stupid and useless (my takeaway from this thread from the past season). but when they say something good about the Leafs, then they have merit.

come on.
- DoubleDown

Hey it wasn't us who posted it to prove a point he just commented on. Come on is right DD.

stay out of this female dog!!
- DoubleDown

You shut your mouth mother(frank)er

Komorov addition was a start. Maybe even training the kids to play that way will be the next. I still have high hopes Gauthier will be a solid two way player with decent offense.
- Viktory

Marlies do... Eakins preached Solid two-way play, and have the vets to lead it. Spott does too.

Marlies have the best PK in AHL over last 3 years also (combined, if not each season. Think they were 2nd one year).

stay out of this female dog!!
- DoubleDown

You know I'm a trained MMA fighter, right?

so from what i can tell, when advanced stats portray the Leafs negatively, they suck and are stupid and useless (my takeaway from this thread from the past season). but when they say something good about the Leafs, then they have merit.

come on.
- DoubleDown

Hey, I'm not the one who brought them up.

But as I've said many times, those stats are valuable in addition to watching the game, not as a replacement for it, and need to be taken in context. There is valuable information to be had, if they're used properly.

Looking at the previous season's corsi to predict where a team's going to finish? Bad, bad, bad usage.

Looking at a stat like pdo, and saying it just represents that team's "luck"? Moronic.