it didn't take Lupul that long, he played 20 games with Anaheim before getting traded, and was pretty damned good alongside kessel right from the start.
- Schenn-Sational!

Lombardi was out for a year with concussion problems... And when he started to find his game, he got injured again. That in and out due to injury has caused his rellapse IMO

Lupul was good when he got here, but not great. He had a FULL summer of proper training and workouts before this year, which made a huge difference for him.

Lombardi wasn't training all summer... As a matter of fact one may argue he should have taken a bit more time before returning. I think Lombardi will look better next year. Provided he trains hard in the summer.

How many goals did the Leafs score in their recent losses? Can't blame Kessel and Lupul for going a bit cold - need secondary scoring... seems reasonable.'

So yeah... lets sit Kadri in favor of Lombardi... or better yet... lets recall Dupuis.

Take a look at Ottawa. Karlsson is the highest rated player ... he's a disaster in his own zone... but he can pass the puck like a demon. Won't be long before the Ottawa press begins mentioning his name in the Norris discussions (insane yes but they will do it).

And Toronto can't find a spot for their most creative offensive player... because he doesn't always dump the puck in deep enough?

Very rational.
- BorjeFan4Ever

They're sitting him because he hasn't been helping the secondary scoring. He's been cold himself and not creating because he's been holding onto the puck and trying to be too cute. You sit him and a game, let him see it from above and reinsert him.

It's simple.

Way too much being made of this.

The B's have sat out both MArchand and Seguin this year..as healthy scratches, and they lead the team offensively.
- bixll

People need to realize that aside from Kuli, Kadri is one of the best wingers in the defensive zone. When he gets the puck along the boards, and the opposing d-man pinches, he more often than not makes that d-man pay with a good short pass to a streaking line mate for a decent rush against. most of our other wingers don't have the play making skills to deal with the pinching d-man. Hence all the pro longed cycles in our zone..

he wont have lupul's offensive upside but when he is on his game he is an effective PKer and mid range point producer

he deserves a shot to get back on track..

again.. this is why the CBA needs to be modified in case's of long term injury.. someone like Lombardi should be allowed to go to the minors for a prolonged stay and not just 3 games..

make it so if a guy misses a season he can play in the AHL without a team having to lose him to waivers for say.. i don know.. 50 games or so?
- Dozzer

I would like nothing more then for that to happen. Then it would have become apparent he has no clue and he would have never found his way into this lineup.

How many goals did the Leafs score in their recent losses? Can't blame Kessel and Lupul for going a bit cold - need secondary scoring... seems reasonable.'

So yeah... lets sit Kadri in favor of Lombardi... or better yet... lets recall Dupuis.

Take a look at Ottawa. Karlsson is the highest rated player ... he's a disaster in his own zone... but he can pass the puck like a demon. Won't be long before the Ottawa press begins mentioning his name in the Norris discussions (insane yes but they will do it).

And Toronto can't find a spot for their most creative offensive player... because he doesn't always dump the puck in deep enough?

Very rational.
- BorjeFan4Ever

Kadri hasnt been producing, if hes not being traded its just a time to sit back and study the game and come back in fresh...as Huddle said...guys of his age get sat all the time. Leafs needed some grit, Kadri was one of the youngest guys out there...so...unfortunate for him.

.

Maybe...but no team in the history of sport has treated a prospect like the Leafs have treated Kadri.

I think people have short memories. The first two years they crapped all over him.... both verbally and with their decisions.

I think he sounds cocky because he has to constanly defend himself. Any player that didn't have his attitude would of probably had a meltdown...
- 3-Bean-Salad

No, they really didn't.

You really think we would give up 2 first rounders (7th overall, 5th overall) for some stiff the Red Wings picked up in the 6th round in the '98 draft?

Fail.

At least throw in your 1st rounder from that year.

Jiri Fischer - is he any good?

Does he play with heart?

Would he have good chemistry with Luca Cerada?
- Atomic Wedgie

bumhole

Seguin sat out for missing a team flight. Kinda different don't ya think.
- honesthockey

It is kinds like the military, Discipline, no matter how you slice it.

They're sitting him because he hasn't been helping the secondary scoring. He's been cold himself and not creating because he's been holding onto the puck and trying to be too cute. You sit him and a game, let him see it from above and reinsert him.

It's simple.

Way too much being made of this.
- Brian Huddle

I'm not sure anyone would have a problem with this if everyone around him was outplaying him. Fact of the matter is they aren't.

They're sitting him because he hasn't been helping the secondary scoring. He's been cold himself and not creating because he's been holding onto the puck and trying to be too cute. You sit him and a game, let him see it from above and reinsert him.

It's simple.

Way too much being made of this.
- Brian Huddle

this makes sense.. though i would give him another game myself (i think 3 games is a good rule to work out silly poop like that, after that.. a press box game you shall have).. but this one will be rough.. good oppurtunity i guess.. keeps lil kadri away from a possible injury.. ESPECIALLY if he's been talked about in proposed trades

Is the fact this is untrue the reason you hate to say it? Cause he's been dogpoop for 3 of the 4 games
- Big_Lightnin

Once again, I'm going to ask you to view this:

http://www.nhl.com/ice/ic...tracker.htm?id=2011020644

Disclaimer: it ain't pretty.

Komi over Schenn. I don't like it either, but let's just put out our best and try to win a hockey game, OK?

People need to realize that aside from Kuli, Kadri is one of the best wingers in the defensive zone. When he gets the puck along the boards, and the opposing d-man pinches, he more often than not makes that d-man pay with a good short pass to a streaking line mate for a decent rush against. most of our other wingers don't have the play making skills to deal with the pinching d-man. Hence all the pro longed cycles in our zone..
- vermie22

Kadri's "defensive deficiencies" are more about turnovers and poor puck management in the neutral zone.

.

Maybe...but no team in the history of sport has treated a prospect like the Leafs have treated Kadri.

I think people have short memories. The first two years they crapped all over him.... both verbally and with their decisions.

I think he sounds cocky because he has to constanly defend himself. Any player that didn't have his attitude would of probably had a meltdown...
- 3-Bean-Salad

Spezza comes to mind, but its not a big deal. If he was anywhere but TO it would be fine, Burke and Wilson are just asked about him all the time, and Kadri is asked about his status all the time. He's going through the same growing pains that a lot of mid range 1st rounders go through.

Edit: Burke also developed Bobby ryan in the same way and he turned out fine.

bumhole
- docwatson

Really, Doc?

Too soon for you?

this makes sense.. though i would give him another game myself (i think 3 games is a good rule to work out silly poop like that, after that.. a press box game you shall have).. but this one will be rough.. good oppurtunity i guess.. keeps lil kadri away from a possible injury.. ESPECIALLY if he's been talked about in proposed trades
- Dozzer

IMO Kadri is the perfect guy to play in a game like this. Draw's penalties and throw's those little hit's that piss people off.

Play Kadri with Kulimen and Grabo, and ditch the crabbs.

IMO Kadri is the perfect guy to play in a game like this. Draw's penalties and throw's those little hit's that piss people off.
- honesthockey

We're on the same side again HH

Play Kadri with Kulimen and Grabo, and ditch the crabbs.
- mykokes

Crabbs has already been ditched.

They're sitting him because he hasn't been helping the secondary scoring. He's been cold himself and not creating because he's been holding onto the puck and trying to be too cute. You sit him and a game, let him see it from above and reinsert him.

It's simple.

Way too much being made of this.
- Brian Huddle

i see both points of view.
a. kadri has played what? 8 games in a row? i mean thats a small sample of games really..he hasnt been nearly as bad as you guys have made him out to be. where his game has lacked in the creativity part up front, hes been huge on the back checks and actually hitting people. other than kulemin's big hit, what other hits have you seen from our forwards since frattin has gone down? absolutely 0.

on the other hand..

kadri is still super young and will get some perspective from watching a game in the press box. sometimes players need (like schenn) a game up top to see the game unfold and get them set for the next game.

personally, i think its too early to put kadri up top for a game and i KNOW he brings a lot more to the table than a lot of our forwards, so overall, im not happy about it. kid needs top 6 w minutes and he will make em count.

Kadri's "defensive deficiencies" are more about turnovers and poor puck management in the neutral zone.
- Big_Lightnin

yes he does turn the puck over in the offensive zone, ...so do all other guys on the team...where this team needs the most help is breaking out of their zone...their break out plays are horrible...all I am saying is Kadri has been one of the best at getting puck out of their own zone...

I would like nothing more then for that to happen. Then it would have become apparent he has no clue and he would have never found his way into this lineup.
- honesthockey

nah, i wont take his hockey smarts from him.. he knows what he's doing out there he is just having a hard time executing.. he was off for a long long time

hate to dish him off only to come back to haunt the leafs with another team.. can you imagine how anaheim feels about the lupul / gardiner deal now?

same thing.. lupul played about 25 games and anaheim flipped him as a salary dump.. and now that he is fully recovered its looks great on the leafs..

i say give lombardi 50 games before we decide to throw him under the bus.. if he hasnt found his game by the end of this year demotion can be discussed then

Relax Leaf Nation ...Kadri is not being traded ...hes just sitting because hes a bust

We're on the same side again HH
- mykokes

We mostly are. Until I start getting crazy.

IMO Kadri is the perfect guy to play in a game like this. Draw's penalties and throw's those little hit's that piss people off.
- honesthockey

For whatever reason. Wilson dislikes Kadri. It will never change.

...or we could all look on the bright side, and say that this is the first time in a heckuva long time that the Leafs have had enough depth in any position that real decisions on a line-up have to be made.

No?

OK, back to the doom and gloom, then.