You, me, and almost everyone in here knows that Bozak isn’t learning poop. Trade him for a 2nd and let’s pretend his time here never happened.
- Steven_Seagull

Until that happens, reduce his ice-time, reduce his role and give Kadri two guys he can score some points with.

Maybe not but what would you do if you were the manager lou?
- BreathLeafs2015

Stay the course and be over the moon in where they are in the rebuild. Is what i would do

He's going to have to learn a new job because being a two-way blackhole on the 2nd line is doing nothing offensively or defensively so maybe just let him focus on being defensive and let the skilled guys score and get Kadri rolling offensively.
- Unholy_Goalie

I think Kadri and his horrible horrible slump is one of the biggest issues on this team and noone seems to talk about it. I love Kadri, but he needs to get scoring. Babcock needs to stop sitting on his ass and make some changes to help Kadri get back his mojo.

I still think they should put Marner in Komarov's spot for a game. Maybe it would get Kadri going and help Marner learn better defense - hell he might look better just being away from tweedle dee and tweedle dumb (hint, Bozak and JVR).

Either that or maybe put Brown in there. He's not as gifted offensively as Marner, but at least he's a better offensive threat than Komarov, and he can play the defensive game better than Marner. Let Komarov spend some time on the 4th line.

Until that happens, reduce his ice-time, reduce his role and give Kadri two guys he can score some points with.
- Unholy_Goalie

UG for HB ref.

I think Kadri and his horrible horrible slump is one of the biggest issues on this team and noone seems to talk about. I love Kadri, but he needs to get scoring. Babcock needs to stop sitting on his ass and make some changes to help Kadri get back his mojo.

I still think they should put Marner in Komarov's spot for a game.
Either that or maybe put Brown in there. He's not as gifted offensively as Marner, but at least he's a better offensive threat than Komarov, and he can play the defensive game better than Marner. Let Komarov spend some time on the 4th line.
- Thecakeisalie

Komarov has to have something on Babs to stay there I swear. I agree there put Brown up there. Brown with Marleau and Kadri should provide some real killer two way, cycling grinding play and SHOULD be able to produce.

Thing is though, Kadri isn't scoring which sucks but gonna give credit where it is due here. He has busted his ass to get better in the faceoff circle and is over 50% and playing that shutdown roll pretty well for the most part. I think if they tweak the line, as he and Marleau have good chemistry, that line likely does start to produce as well.

I think Kadri and his horrible horrible slump is one of the biggest issues on this team and noone seems to talk about it. I love Kadri, but he needs to get scoring. Babcock needs to stop sitting on his ass and make some changes to help Kadri get back his mojo.

I still think they should put Marner in Komarov's spot for a game. Maybe it would get Kadri going and help Marner learn better defense - hell he might look better just being away from tweedle dee and tweedle dumb (hint, Bozak and JVR).

Either that or maybe put Brown in there. He's not as gifted offensively as Marner, but at least he's a better offensive threat than Komarov, and he can play the defensive game better than Marner. Let Komarov spend some time on the 4th line.
- Thecakeisalie

He has less giveaways and more takeaways than Matthews. Marner is already decent defensively, the problem is the idiots he has to play with on most nights put him in way harder situations than he should be in.

Stay the course and be over the moon in where they are in the rebuild. Is what i would do
- walshyleafsfan

You’re a Canucks fan. Who cares what who would do.

UG for HB ref.
- Steven_Seagull

He has less giveaways and more takeaways than Matthews. Marner is already decent defensively, the problem is the idiots he has to play with on most nights put him in way harder situations than he should be in.
- Unholy_Goalie

I remember you mentioning this a few games ago. I also mentioned that moving him away from Bozak and JVR might show everyone he isn't as bad defensively as they think. He has had some costly mistakes recently, and I've also mentioned in the past I worry playing with those two floaters might be teaching him bad habits instead of improving his game.

Plus I just think he is the guy that could get Kadri going. Also moving Marner would likely expose how useless JVR and Bozak actually are and motivate Lou to trade their useless asses. Their line seemed like a nonfactor tonight, why, probably because they didn't have Marner driving them. Brown is a decent player, but he's no Marner and can't make those two look as good.

You’re a Canucks fan. Who cares what who would do.
- Steven_Seagull

I know all. If Lou would let me, I'd tell you how thw whole rebuild goes.

oh

- Unholy_Goalie

Paddlin' the school canoe? Oh, you better believe that's a paddlin'.

I remember you mentioning this a few games ago. I also mentioned that moving him away from Bozak and JVR might show everyone he isn't as bad defensively as they think. He has had some costly mistakes recently, and I've also mentioned in the past I worry playing with those two floaters might be teaching him bad habits instead of improving his game.

Plus I just think he is the guy that could get Kadri going. Also moving Marner would likely expose how useless JVR and Bozak actually are and motivate Lou to trade their useless asses. Their line seemed like a nonfactor tonight, why, probably because they didn't have Marner driving them. Brown is a decent player, but he's no Marner and can't make those two look as good.
- Thecakeisalie

I wouldn't call JVR useless, he just doesn't create his own chances. He's good at finishing them though which is why he should be with Matthews and Nylander because they will create space for him to tap them in like he does on the PP.

Bozak, on the other hand, is a face-off winning, shootout specialist floater and he usually (frank)s up the line offensively and doesn't care enough defensively to make up for it. So take the offense out of his hands and let him focus on just winning faceoffs and back-checking. Tell him that's his new job and if he doesn't like it, go sign somewhere else July 1st.

Marner needs offensively creative players to pass to who are positionally aware and that's Marleau and Kadri. It's a match just waiting to be made.

Guys, settled down... We have to wait ten games
- burn

what was that guy on

I think Kadri and his horrible horrible slump is one of the biggest issues on this team and noone seems to talk about it. I love Kadri, but he needs to get scoring. Babcock needs to stop sitting on his ass and make some changes to help Kadri get back his mojo.

I still think they should put Marner in Komarov's spot for a game. Maybe it would get Kadri going and help Marner learn better defense - hell he might look better just being away from tweedle dee and tweedle dumb (hint, Bozak and JVR).

Either that or maybe put Brown in there. He's not as gifted offensively as Marner, but at least he's a better offensive threat than Komarov, and he can play the defensive game better than Marner. Let Komarov spend some time on the 4th line.
- Thecakeisalie

I think Kadri is still injured. Just a guess.

I wouldn't call JVR useless, he just doesn't create his own chances. He's good at finishing them though which is why he should be with Matthews and Nylander because they will create space for him to tap them in like he does on the PP.

Bozak, on the other hand, is a face-off winning, shootout specialist floater and he usually (frank)s up the line offensively and doesn't care enough defensively to make up for it. So take the offense out of his hands and let him focus on just winning faceoffs and back-checking. Tell him that's his new job and if he doesn't like it, go sign somewhere else July 1st.

Marner needs offensively creative players to pass to who are positionally aware and that's Marleau and Kadri. It's a match just waiting to be made.
- Unholy_Goalie

I guess JVR isn't entirely useless. Unfortunately he's only useful when he has his fat ass parked in front of the oppositions net. The rest of the time he's useless.
He still scores a lot of goals, but I'm starting to think they should just trade him at the deadline rather than keeping him for the playoffs and possibly trying to resign him.

Agree on the rest. Marner with Marleau and Kadri could be a sickeningly dangerous line. And they might still be a lot better defensively than a lot of people think they'd be with Marner in there.

Kadri is doing well defensively, but really needs to up his offense. If he'd been producing all this time instead of being in his almost 20 game slump we'd probably have a few more wins lately. Babcock just doesn't seem interested in splitting up that line no matter what though, and if he eventually does he'll probably move out Marleau instead of Komarov just to (frank) with us.

I think Kadri is still injured. Just a guess.
- Barb34

That's a good guess but having Komarov on your line should make the other two guys eligible for LTIR.

I guess JVR isn't entirely useless. Unfortunately he's only useful when he has his fat ass parked in front of the oppositions net. The rest of the time he's useless.
He still scores a lot of goals, but I'm starting to think they should just trade him at the deadline rather than keeping him for the playoffs and possibly trying to resign him.

Agree on the rest. Marner with Marleau and Kadri could be a sickeningly dangerous line. And they might still be a lot better defensively than a lot of people think they'd be with Marner in there.

Kadri is doing well defensively, but really needs to up his offense. If he'd been producing all this time instead of being in his almost 20 game slump we'd probably have a few more wins lately. Babcock just doesn't seem interested in splitting up that line no matter what though, and if he eventually does he'll probably move out Marleau instead of Komarov just to (frank) with us.
- Thecakeisalie

Trade all pending UFAs, definitely.

Babcock likes to spread out his lines, which can work in certain situations, but the more you have talented players playing with each other, the more space one of them is going to have to score. It's why Crosby and Malkin play together sometimes. You can't stop them both and one of them will burn you. The Leafs don't do that enough.

Seems like some wild players had issues getting to the rink today

Apparently team had to send out valets to go get stuck players in traffic and wait in their cars. Winnik just ditched his car in a parking lot.


Michael Russo
Michael Russo
@RussoHockey
·
36m
While getting a police escort in the last mile of their hellacious three hour drive from Minneapolis, Tyler Ennis slammed right into the back of Matt Dumba’s car 😁

Tampa is the favorite to win cup. The core of past champs is about 26 to 28 years old that is leaned on to win. why anyone on here would trade 21 year old nylander period let alone for 27 year old mcdoungh is insane. that being said jvr , bozak and komarov is our core based on age. not good enough id say. we need to wait on marner mathews and nylander and all kinds of younger pieces that we have. we should trade jvr for a 1st and hopefully a good defensive prospect at trade deadline. this would hurt in the short term im sure but in the long term would be for the best. lets face it. we could maybe make a little noise post season but thats about it. look at tampas payroll with accompanying ages. thats what we need to shoot for. the fact that marner mathews and nylander are doing what they are is amazing. trading one of them is suicide. reilly is 24 and gonna get better. dermott looks good. lillygren is 18 and should be great in a couple years. and if we draft about 20th maybe we could draft merkly. hes an offensive gem but undersized but hey thats why youd get him around 20th. bottom line what im saying is we need to still be paieient and stay the coarse and just enjoy the ride.

Seems like some wild players had issues getting to the rink today

Apparently team had to send out valets to go get stuck players in traffic and wait in their cars. Winnik just ditched his car in a parking lot.


Michael Russo
Michael Russo
@RussoHockey
·
36m
While getting a police escort in the last mile of their hellacious three hour drive from Minneapolis, Tyler Ennis slammed right into the back of Matt Dumba’s car 😁
- burn

Wow. I was going to jokingly ask if they were playing in Ottawa, and then I remembered they actually were playing in Ottawa.
I guess Spatso really was telling the truth about the terrible traffic conditions to get to the game.

Goat isn’t a very good nhl player. Moore is a lot better

Goat isn’t a very good nhl player. Moore is a lot better
- ClarksonDavid

Really? Besides maybe faceoffs, I kinda thought the Goat was superior in every way. Moore sucks.

Really? Besides maybe faceoffs, I kinda thought the Goat was superior in every way. Moore sucks.
- Thecakeisalie

Moore is a decent 4th line center playing minimal minutes.

Goat is not as good on the faceoffs at the moment, however is bigger, faster, and played pretty damn good last game where they seemed to have him out there and playing on the wings instead of up the middle.

Goat isn’t a very good nhl player. Moore is a lot better
- ClarksonDavid

I'm all about developing the young guys but the reality is, 4th liners are a dime a dozen and when the time comes to be a real contender and plug all the holes, they don't need a guy from within the organization to fill that gap. If Gautheir turns out, great, if not, no big deal. One thing is pretty much for sure though and that is Gauthier is probably going to be a 4th liner at best. There's not much hope for more than that. Nonis really (frank)ed up that pick big pretty bad.