I think in situations we're down a goal in a game and pressing, that it should happen. If we're defending a lead, I expect to see Robidas.
- mykokes

Probably would have been good last season

Its the rest of the D i was worried about, except for Rielly

Build like Red Wings
Trade like Chicago
Draft like Pitsburgh

there it is!
- big_dion

The way I play NHL Be a gm mode

thats how i see it as well unless fransuck gets mmoved
- Dozzer

They'll probably give it about 15-20 games, and depending what our record is, that could happen. We might even see a guy in camp step up, or another guy struggle. I don't mind starting the season this way at all. Franson was beyond terrible last season though, that I can 100% agree with.

I think in situations we're down a goal in a game and pressing, that it should happen. If we're defending a lead, I expect to see Robidas.
- mykokes

I haven't seen him play yet but I would still put Robidas and Polak on in the last minute over Phaneuf, his track record with 3rd period leads is abysmal.

I would also have Gardiner and Rielly out down a goal with a minute left, sick of seeing that lackadaisical effort from the caveman.

Probably would have been good last season

Its the rest of the D i was worried about, except for Rielly
- jbold

Drove me nuts that Phaneuf and Franson were paired in those situations, especially with our goalie pulled. It was an empty net goal waiting to happen.

Sorry not a coffin.

the leafs thinking might have changed on Franson.
The fancy stats peeps are not as down on him as leaf fans.

Blame Dubas..these are the same people he follows on twitter and talks to

Or they might move him for some cap space..it should be Clarkson..but thats not happening
- senstroll

He has a +ve CF%rel but a very -ve GF%rel. The latter has declinedin conjunction with his QoC rising.

He also has risen to >30% SHTOI, which happens to correspond with the time that we forgot how to kill penalties.

The fancy stats back up what we see; he has a good, accurate shot but is still a defensive liability, especially when asked to take harder minutes.

I haven't seen him play yet but I would still put Robidas and Polak on in the last minute over Phaneuf, his track record with 3rd period leads is abysmal.

I would also have Gardiner and Rielly out down a goal with a minute left, sick of seeing that lackadaisical effort from the caveman.
- LeafMan

See the next post.

this is from an article Eric Tulsky did on QoC 2 years ago...fancy stats guy some team has hired..maybe the leafs..dont know




- senstroll

I think zone starts are a more important variable. I do wonder though if a coach like RC make's QoC more important b/c he "seems" to be so determined on line matching - much more than most other coaches. So when measured across the league QoC is negligible but I have to wonder if it's more relevant when evaluating the Leafs.

I think our views on the Defense is really messed up from the last 2+ seasons of RC run team.

I would rather look at it from that viewpoint until we can actually see if its the players or the system.. maybe a bit of both.

I think Dion is a bigger issue because he is the "#1" ..which I dont see him as myself.

this coming season I have no idea what to expect
- senstroll

i've liked to razz some guys about DP but when projecting Rielly.. I can see DP becoming the number 2 to Rielly in a couple seasons

so i see the point in grooming him to be more defense first

franson is komi with a snap shot.. his value isnt worth what his first UFA contract will be, and he is bad with his stick, and gets lost in his own zone too much, and he kicks kittens, and swears at the elderly, and he's ugly, and he cheats at monopoly

See the next post.
- mykokes

I haven't seen him play yet but I would still put Robidas and Polak on in the last minute over Phaneuf, his track record with 3rd period leads is abysmal.

I would also have Gardiner and Rielly out down a goal with a minute left, sick of seeing that lackadaisical effort from the caveman.
- LeafMan

Definitely wasnt him that was lackadaisical.

And if it was, its because he was playing 23-25 minutes a night with Gunnar... And was playing against top guys.

i'm okay with polak on the bottom pairing.. a bit overpaid but he is ideal for that role with some PK time

franson just sucks
- Dozzer

i dont really have my head wrapped around polak either, i wish the leafs targeted a more higher end upgrade like a bogosian or bieksa(right handed) to really upgrade our defense

about 6 weeks till training camp boys and some girls.

i dont really have my head wrapped around polak either, i wish the leafs targeted a more higher end upgrade like a bogosian or bieksa(right handed) to really upgrade our defense
- DougGilmour_93

you werent getting those two for gunnar.

and polak brings that big strong body who can protect the frotn of the net.. its what he's good at.. dont ask him to do much more and he'll be fine.

whats important this year for the leafs is to truly develop a style of play.. and keep moving guys until they find their style. it makes me happy to see a more forward thinking approach.. i think shanny will be good for this team

i dont really have my head wrapped around polak either, i wish the leafs targeted a more higher end upgrade like a bogosian or bieksa(right handed) to really upgrade our defense
- DougGilmour_93

Bogosian will cost you a fortune, and Vancouver probably wanted your first son for Bieksa because like always, they want a massive return for an average player.


Polak is a gritty big body Dman who plays on the PK. He's a good addition for the bottom pairing

about 6 weeks till training camp boys and some girls.
- zazzle

I cant wait for preseason where everyone freaks out about the pairings and lines

i've liked to razz some guys about DP but when projecting Rielly.. I can see DP becoming the number 2 to Rielly in a couple seasons

so i see the point in grooming him to be more defense first

franson is komi with a snap shot.. his value isnt worth what his first UFA contract will be, and he is bad with his stick, and gets lost in his own zone too much, and he kicks kittens, and swears at the elderly, and he's ugly, and he cheats at monopoly
- Dozzer

you're making something up here

They'll probably give it about 15-20 games, and depending what our record is, that could happen. We might even see a guy in camp step up, or another guy struggle. I don't mind starting the season this way at all. Franson was beyond terrible last season though, that I can 100% agree with.
- mykokes

who knows.. wait til right before camp and wait to see what teams are desperate for O from the back end.. get a better return.

fransuck will also be a highly sought after guy at the deadline.. off contract at seasons end.. UFA.. points from the back end during the playoffs

fransuck has selling points.. but i dont like him.. i dont care about points.. the leafs have rielly and gardiner and phaneuf.. i want guys who can shut other teams down.

below avg UFA's

santorelli
booth
winnik

these are all 2-3 million dollar players.

as for edm, fla, etc...sure its the right way, but you have to pick the right players and trade/buy/sell at the right times.

Build like Red Wings
Trade like Chicago
Draft like Pitsburgh
Drink like Dozzer
Smoke like Zazzle
Dance like Big_Dion
Smoking hot like Megan Fox

there it is!
- big_dion

Definitely wasnt him that was lackadaisical.

And if it was, its because he was playing 23-25 minutes a night with Gunnar... And was playing against top guys.
- jbold

I think when Dion is fatigued, he makes some pretty dumb mistakes. I won't question is abilities, or the type of player he is and what he can produce. Dion in many ways is a coach's dream, but he has to be used properly, overuse leads to trouble. And I don't mean ATOI. I mean if he's on the pk for 8-10 tough minutes in a game, there's no way he'll have the juice to play the final minutes of a game while we're pressing for offense. That's also where I see guys like Robidas and Polak helping. Those 8 to 10 tough minutes (sometimes entire pks) will drop to 4 minutes, because we'll have another player to use there.

Robidas, injuries aside, is perhaps the most intelligent d-man we've had here in a very long time. Talent wise he may not be much, but he knows how to use his attributes to his advantage.

you're making something up here
- the_eye

you're right

he swears at everyone, not just the elderly

he also uses weighted dice in yahtzee gmaes

I cant wait for preseason where everyone freaks out about the pairings and lines
- jbold

I don't think it is so much as lines but individual players such as Booth, Santorelli, Kontiola, Winnik and Holland.

you werent getting those two for gunnar.

and polak brings that big strong body who can protect the frotn of the net.. its what he's good at.. dont ask him to do much more and he'll be fine.

whats important this year for the leafs is to truly develop a style of play.. and keep moving guys until they find their style. it makes me happy to see a more forward thinking approach.. i think shanny will be good for this team
- Dozzer

Winnik and Komarov will help with that up front. I find it hilarious that Winnik has more points than Clarkson and Kulimen combined last season. I don't think people realize just how disappointing our bottom 9 forwards were last season, offensively and defensively.

i've liked to razz some guys about DP but when projecting Rielly.. I can see DP becoming the number 2 to Rielly in a couple seasons

so i see the point in grooming him to be more defense first

franson is komi with a snap shot.. his value isnt worth what his first UFA contract will be, and he is bad with his stick, and gets lost in his own zone too much, and he kicks kittens, and swears at the elderly, and he's ugly, and he cheats at monopoly
- Dozzer

how many of his shots made it to the net compared with the others d-men on the team.
has he hurt any of his team mate with his shot?

you werent getting those two for gunnar.

and polak brings that big strong body who can protect the frotn of the net.. its what he's good at.. dont ask him to do much more and he'll be fine.

whats important this year for the leafs is to truly develop a style of play.. and keep moving guys until they find their style. it makes me happy to see a more forward thinking approach.. i think shanny will be good for this team
- Dozzer

yeah i know, just saying would of been nice to see a significant upgrade through trade for at least 1 higher end player like a bieksa or bogosian that is right handed. Dont really know polak until i see him play but would of preferred a significant upgrade to our defense. The defense to me is still incomplete and needs one more higher end guy in the mix