Pretty sure the selection was LONG before the surgery. I think the tweet was great, he got snubbed and got a little of his own back in a mild way.
- Cfser

yeah... and if a canadian did that after he would be crucified.

absolutely classless...

yeah... and if a canadian did that after he would be crucified.

absolutely classless...
- Dozzer

we need more classlessness from canadians, I ignore all interviews and social media from canadian players because it the same canned boring garbage all the time. I personally don't mind a guy speaking his mind. I also believe it was more of a statement that he wished he could be there trying to help USA win.

2 things... hunwick had a negative impact on rielly's numbers so i dou bt those two are paired up... and Polak wasnt signed to be a 7th.. he will be bottom pairing without a doubt and flipped again at the deadline

I wouldnt be surprised to see this:

Zaitsev Rielly
Gardiner Carrick
Hunwick Polak
Marincin and Corrado as the extras
- Dozzer

Agree on the first part. But they said polka is depth. I doubt he regular.

Leafs defensive pairings

Rielly - Zaitsev
Gardiner - Polak
Hunwick/Marincin - Carrick/Corrado

After seeing Marner play 2 games live at the rookie tournament, I have been swayed to the side of "9 games, and back to London" for this season

There's still time for him to change my (and Leafs staff's) mind, but based purely on the tournament, I don't think he's ready for 82 NHL games.

The thing is, guys need to look dominant at these tournaments if they want to prove themselves NHL ready. In previous years, for comparison, I have watched Jake Gardiner go end-to-end and make everyone on the ice look stupid and bad at hockey. And Gardiner is a slightly above average top-4 Dman in the NHL.

Marner didn't show anywhere near that level of dominance. What he DID show, to his credit, is a willingness to get chippy and mix it up with bigger, stronger players. Good on him for that. Also, his strip of the Sens player to feed Smith the OT goal vs the Sens was pretty sick.

So credit where it's due, but I don't know if he's NHL-ready just yet

Leafs defensive pairings

Rielly - Zaitsev
Gardiner - Polak
Hunwick/Marincin - Carrick/Corrado
- mikeinbuffalo

Hope so.

Although I'd prefer Hunwick with Carrick and Marincin in the press box

Edit: forgot Polak. Play Corrado there instead

Leafs defensive pairings

Rielly - Zaitsev
Gardiner - Polak
Hunwick/Marincin - Carrick/Corrado
- mikeinbuffalo

thanks Mike,

Cmon Carrick, impress the brass!

Got my tickets for Leafs-Preds today. Stoked to see PK in his hometown.

Should be a fun game to watch

After seeing Marner play 2 games live at the rookie tournament, I have been swayed to the side of "9 games, and back to London" for this season

There's still time for him to change my (and Leafs staff's) mind, but based purely on the tournament, I don't think he's ready for 82 NHL games.

The thing is, guys need to look dominant at these tournaments if they want to prove themselves NHL ready. In previous years, for comparison, I have watched Jake Gardiner go end-to-end and make everyone on the ice look stupid and bad at hockey. And Gardiner is a slightly above average top-4 Dman in the NHL.

Marner didn't show anywhere near that level of dominance. What he DID show, to his credit, is a willingness to get chippy and mix it up with bigger, stronger players. Good on him for that. Also, his strip of the Sens player to feed Smith the OT goal vs the Sens was pretty sick.

So credit where it's due, but I don't know if he's NHL-ready just yet
- WingmanWillie

that's what training camp is for, he will get to play a few pre season games and prove he is ready, it's all up to him now.

After seeing Marner play 2 games live at the rookie tournament, I have been swayed to the side of "9 games, and back to London" for this season

There's still time for him to change my (and Leafs staff's) mind, but based purely on the tournament, I don't think he's ready for 82 NHL games.

The thing is, guys need to look dominant at these tournaments if they want to prove themselves NHL ready. In previous years, for comparison, I have watched Jake Gardiner go end-to-end and make everyone on the ice look stupid and bad at hockey. And Gardiner is a slightly above average top-4 Dman in the NHL.

Marner didn't show anywhere near that level of dominance. What he DID show, to his credit, is a willingness to get chippy and mix it up with bigger, stronger players. Good on him for that. Also, his strip of the Sens player to feed Smith the OT goal vs the Sens was pretty sick.

So credit where it's due, but I don't know if he's NHL-ready just yet
- WingmanWillie

Personally I think Marner played the 200 ft game that Babcock/Hunter/Shanny wanted him to play. Hence why his production was lower than expected. Just a hunch, but I think he will excel in pre-season, bringing you back over to the + side

Got my tickets for Leafs-Preds today. Stoked to see PK in his hometown.

Should be a fun game to watch
- WingmanWillie

March 30th game?

After seeing Marner play 2 games live at the rookie tournament, I have been swayed to the side of "9 games, and back to London" for this season
- WingmanWillie

I saw the opposite at the tournament. I saw a guy with more vision and creativity than his linemates. He is a player that thinks the game a few moves ahead and I saw numerous times when he would make a pass to a player and then be in position and expecting the return pass that wouldn't come because his linemates couldn't read the play that quick.

The chemistry he has with Dvorak was insane, as Dvorak was a guy that was able to make those plays with Marner all night long. My feelings are that Marner should be on Matthews wing instead of Nylander. From watching Matthews in these WCH games, I feel they would complement each other very well. This also allows Nylander to eventually be the 2C and be the centerpiece of his own line.

March 30th game?
- Lucas.Neilson

Nov. 15

I saw the opposite at the tournament. I saw a guy with more vision and creativity than his linemates. He is a player that thinks the game a few moves ahead and I saw numerous times when he would make a pass to a player and then be in position and expecting the return pass that wouldn't come because his linemates couldn't read the play that quick.

The chemistry he has with Dvorak was insane, as Dvorak was a guy that was able to make those plays with Marner all night long. My feelings are that Marner should be on Matthews wing instead of Nylander. From watching Matthews in these WCH games, I feel they would complement each other very well. This also allows Nylander to eventually be the 2C and be the centerpiece of his own line.
- vermie22

I agree with your assessment of his vision and processing. He definitely seemed to know where the puck was going to be and was able to make good decisions most of the time. His hockey IQ is off the charts

But you hit the nail on the head. Marner strikes me as the kind of player who has success with high-end linemates who can keep up to him. Playing with Smith and Lindberg may have contributed.

I wanted so bad for him to completely take over every game, and I just didn't see it. Hopefully he proves me dead wrong in training camp

Personally I think Marner played the 200 ft game that Babcock/Hunter/Shanny wanted him to play. Hence why his production was lower than expected. Just a hunch, but I think he will excel in pre-season, bringing you back over to the + side

- Lucas.Neilson

You could be right. Similar to Rielly's decreased offense last year.

Because, in a way, we all know Marner can put up points. Where we questioned him was his 200 foot game and how his smaller frame could handle mixing it up with the big boys. I think he did just fine in those areas, but he didn't seem to be the game breaker I expected.

You could be right. Similar to Rielly's decreased offense last year.

Because, in a way, we all know Marner can put up points. Where we questioned him was his 200 foot game and how his smaller frame could handle mixing it up with the big boys. I think he did just fine in those areas, but he didn't seem to be the game breaker I expected.
- WingmanWillie

for sure, I think he personally would have liked to have chipped in more. Managements reaction and praising after, particularly by Keefe and Hunter speaks volumes to me, and leads me to believe they really wanted him to show his defensive awareness.

im also very hopefuly marner makes the team so perhaps a bit biased

Hope so.

Although I'd prefer Hunwick with Carrick and Marincin in the press box

Edit: forgot Polak. Play Corrado there instead
- WingmanWillie

Polak didnt sign in TO to sit in the press box....sure he's not a top 4 D...but he can play a reg shift in the NHL.

yeah... and if a canadian did that after he would be crucified.

absolutely classless...
- Dozzer

For a guy who doesn't like the spotlight...he certainly wasn't thinking when he sent out that tweet.

Polak didnt sign in TO to sit in the press box....sure he's not a top 4 D...but he can play a reg shift in the NHL.
- Garnie

Well, once he is signed, it doesn't really matter why he did it

He'll play wherever his play dictates he'll play.

In my opinion, Carrick should be more of a lock than any of Hunwick-Marincin-Corrado-Polak and all those guys should be fighting for the last 2 spots

I agree with your assessment of his vision and processing. He definitely seemed to know where the puck was going to be and was able to make good decisions most of the time. His hockey IQ is off the charts

But you hit the nail on the head. Marner strikes me as the kind of player who has success with high-end linemates who can keep up to him. Playing with Smith and Lindberg may have contributed.

I wanted so bad for him to completely take over every game, and I just didn't see it. Hopefully he proves me dead wrong in training camp
- WingmanWillie

totally agree, but luckily the team just might have the young skilled players for him to play with. should be fun to watch.

Former Leaf Clarkson also failed his physical.

Didn't they trade Horton to the Leafs for him so that they had a roster player that wasn't stuck on the LTIR? Ouch.
- mlindsay

But at least DC can be covered by disability...Horton didnt have insurance.

But at least DC can be covered by disability...Horton didnt have insurance.
- Garnie

Yeah, I think that was more the reason for CBJ making that deal

Well, once he is signed, it doesn't really matter why he did it

He'll play wherever his play dictates he'll play.

In my opinion, Carrick should be more of a lock than any of Hunwick-Marincin-Corrado-Polak and all those guys should be fighting for the last 2 spots
- WingmanWillie

I haven't seen Carrick play in the NHL enough to know...but Polak seems to be playing a lot of hockey for a guy some think shouldn't be in the NHL.

totally agree, but luckily the team just might have the young skilled players for him to play with. should be fun to watch.
- vermie22

Eventually, they have to try the kid line of Marner-Matthews-Nylander

Just for a few games, live the dream

its before coffee for me..

and sorry you are right...wrist/hand
- Dozzer

Resisting urge to say something along the lines of "not knowing a$$ from Elbow"