Wondering what everyones opinion is..

but with the current Leafs off season moves have we gotten softer or stronger?
- DoctorNHL

Way too early but definitely softer. JVR is not tough at all, just big. Schenner added muscle to the lineup.

Wondering what everyones opinion is..

but with the current Leafs off season moves have we gotten softer or stronger?
- DoctorNHL

still the softest team in the league, and possibly softer with schenn and armstrong gone.

Are you guys happy with the fact that Komarov seems to most likely be a full time Leaf next season? Not really sure what to think about this. We need to get bigger/tougher. He is an agitator but is pretty small, not sure this is exactly what we need.
- dionschenn

I don't think any of us have really seen enough or any of him to really make a solid prediction or judgement about what he briongs to the lineup, but I've heard good things and if the organization saw enough to give him a contract then I'm willing to keep an open mind. Hopefully he works out well.

this is a direct result a quick transition, simple plays in a simple system.
you need a combination...right now the leafs might be 'mobile' but are nowhere near 'smart'.
They have far too much riverboat gambling and nowhere near enough punishing and tough.
- Barx

Smart comes from the system and whether or not they execute it properly. Mobile helps when the latter is not.

You can teach guys to play defensive hockey; you can teach guys to play smart simple hockey and you can -- as a team -- work on the consistency.

You can't teach vision, individual "hockey smarts", and how a player "sees the game". Offensive players tend to have these traits and by virtue of said traits, the offense is more or less a bi-product.

Defense isn't all about hitting and physicality: usually the "big hit" is the result of being out of position and the reason why Phaneuf's becoming more well-rounded as a player, "maturing" if you will, because he's not riverboat gambling on big hits and end to end rushes.

Now having said that, I do think playoff hockey is more reminiscent of pre-lockout hockey: alot more physical, alot more "getting away" with obstructions, holds, and dirty play so it's helpful to have guys that relish in that kind of play (Komisarek), but we're not there yet.

Jay McClement, the new Phillipe Dupuis
- AdamFrench

More like the new Adam French.... lol


Kidding

Hockey Buzz Eklund ‏@Eklund

Not saying teams dont change their minds and bounce back, but as of now Panthers no longer interested in Luongo.

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger

@Eklund. Sorry pal. Just talked to Dale Tallon and he says nothing has changed. Still talking with Van. Nothing imminent. High price.

Well this should be entertaining

Coming from the Avs, "great" pker, can chip in a few goals, good on the dot.

OMYGAWD
- AdamFrench

Colorado fans over at hfboards seemed pretty upset over losing him.

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger
@Eklund. Sorry pal. Just talked to Dale Tallon and he says nothing has changed. Still talking with Van. Nothing imminent. High price.

Ek's getting pwned by Dreger today

Can't wait to hear him try to wiggle out of this one.

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger

@Eklund. Sorry pal. Just talked to Dale Tallon and he says nothing has changed. Still talking with Van. Nothing imminent. High price.

Well this should be entertaining


- mfreedman

DD's trolling Ek hard today... must be bored.

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger
@Eklund. Sorry pal. Just talked to Dale Tallon and he says nothing has changed. Still talking with Van. Nothing imminent. High price.

Ek's getting pwned by Dreger today

Can't wait to hear him try to wiggle out of this one.
- gravyface

Why does Dreger even bother? Has it not been confirmed for years that Eklund is full of....I'm not going to bash him on his site, but come on.

i just want a forward willing to forecheck like a demon regardless of size....damn I miss seeing tucker fly into the corners with reckless abandon.
- Barx

I know....he'd usually miss, but the sound of him smashing against the boards made you think he'd have killed the guy. So you keep watching in anticipation that in one of these shifts, he might actually make contact.

Smart comes from the system and whether or not they execute it properly. Mobile helps when the latter is not.

You can teach guys to play defensive hockey; you can teach guys to play smart simple hockey and you can -- as a team -- work on the consistency.

You can't teach vision, individual "hockey smarts", and how a player "sees the game". Offensive players tend to have these traits and by virtue of said traits, the offense is more or less a bi-product.

Defense isn't all about hitting and physicality: usually the "big hit" is the result of being out of position and the reason why Phaneuf's becoming more well-rounded as a player, "maturing" if you will, because he's not riverboat gambling on big hits and end to end rushes.

Now having said that, I do think playoff hockey is more reminiscent of pre-lockout hockey: alot more physical, alot more "getting away" with obstructions, holds, and dirty play so it's helpful to have guys that relish in that kind of play (Komisarek), but we're not there yet.
- gravyface

....this ramble concedes my point.
the leafs d might be mobile, but do not possess much in the way of a high hockey iq.
Phaneuf being the poster boy.

Hockey Buzz Eklund ‏@Eklund

Was just told Florida is OUT on Luongo. They had interest but grew tired of the Canucks demands and are moving on. (e4)

If true... poop
- mfreedman

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger
@Eklund. Sorry pal. Just talked to Dale Tallon and he says nothing has changed. Still talking with Van. Nothing imminent. High price.

Smart comes from the system and whether or not they execute it properly. Mobile helps when the latter is not.

You can teach guys to play defensive hockey; you can teach guys to play smart simple hockey and you can -- as a team -- work on the consistency.

You can't teach vision, individual "hockey smarts", and how a player "sees the game". Offensive players tend to have these traits and by virtue of said traits, the offense is more or less a bi-product.

Defense isn't all about hitting and physicality: usually the "big hit" is the result of being out of position and the reason why Phaneuf's becoming more well-rounded as a player, "maturing" if you will, because he's not riverboat gambling on big hits and end to end rushes.

Now having said that, I do think playoff hockey is more reminiscent of pre-lockout hockey: alot more physical, alot more "getting away" with obstructions, holds, and dirty play so it's helpful to have guys that relish in that kind of play (Komisarek), but we're not there yet.
- gravyface

I said this in one word, positioning, I'm efficient in how many words I use

If he is in the lineup he better be a demon. I don't want another Rikard Wallin situation where a team feels pressured to have a player in the lineup.
- dionschenn

Wallin.....Dupuis......Frogren

Colorado fans over at hfboards seemed pretty upset over losing him.
- Feeling Glucky?

They did the same for Dupuis. My breath will not be held until a new pk system is in place or the goalies/defense smarten up.

still the softest team in the league, and possibly softer with schenn and armstrong gone.
- Barx

I agree with you and DionSchenn.. we have gotten softer and Montreal has got tougher.. where does this fit into Carlyle's plans.. nothing makes sense.. and we know that teams are going to demand a lot for those types of players considering the amount that was paid to the UFA's..

Burke is just softening the impact of the failure.. of his transactions over the last year... we are getting softer to play a harder system...

is it just me or is that suicide?

Jay McClement, the new Phillipe Dupuis
- AdamFrench

McClement way > Dupuis. Then again, a Leaf jersey is kryptonite for some players.

I know....he'd usually miss, but the sound of him smashing against the boards made you think he'd have killed the guy. So you keep watching in anticipation that in one of these shifts, he might actually make contact.
- Phenom

...and then tucker would leave the scene bucket askew, hair disheveled.....

Mac for Ott?

still the softest team in the league, and possibly softer with schenn and armstrong gone.
- Barx

Softest??? In the league? Not sure I'd go that far....

I agree with you and DionSchenn.. we have gotten softer and Montreal has got tougher.. where does this fit into Carlyle's plans.. nothing makes sense.. and we know that teams are going to demand a lot for those types of players considering the amount that was paid to the UFA's..

Burke is just softening the impact of the failure.. of his transactions over the last year... we are getting softer to play a harder system...

is it just me or is that suicide?
- DoctorNHL

burke will be icing a worse team next season than the one that just ended in the bottom 5 if big changes are not made.

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger
@Eklund. Sorry pal. Just talked to Dale Tallon and he says nothing has changed. Still talking with Van. Nothing imminent. High price.


- twiztedmike

Hi i went to the source and asked.

Smart comes from the system and whether or not they execute it properly. Mobile helps when the latter is not.

You can teach guys to play defensive hockey; you can teach guys to play smart simple hockey and you can -- as a team -- work on the consistency.

You can't teach vision, individual "hockey smarts", and how a player "sees the game". Offensive players tend to have these traits and by virtue of said traits, the offense is more or less a bi-product.

Defense isn't all about hitting and physicality: usually the "big hit" is the result of being out of position and the reason why Phaneuf's becoming more well-rounded as a player, "maturing" if you will, because he's not riverboat gambling on big hits and end to end rushes.

Now having said that, I do think playoff hockey is more reminiscent of pre-lockout hockey: alot more physical, alot more "getting away" with obstructions, holds, and dirty play so it's helpful to have guys that relish in that kind of play (Komisarek), but we're not there yet.
- gravyface

Clearly Carlyle could not do that with this bunch last year.. and I doubt he will this year.. because you can never teach a guy like Liles.. who you can just run and crumple.. at will how to play defensively.. if he does they will just run over him.. simple math there..

Softest??? In the league? Not sure I'd go that far....
- Phenom

name one team with less physicality, size and grit.