2022 Training Camp Thread
- Thread starter CarltonTheBear
- Start date
Arn
Active member
I?m sad for him as a person as I think he loves being a Leaf and I actually liked him as a player in his earlier days. Sadly I think those earlier days have caught up with him and he just doesn?t offer enough.
I hope he gets a spot. Maybe Philadelphia would be a nice place to finish his career.
I hope he gets a spot. Maybe Philadelphia would be a nice place to finish his career.
Like many, I didn't think he'd crack the top 20 and I doubted there would be room for him on a smaller NHL roster due to the cap squeeze.
He'd be an easy victim of "we have to do something different"
But I watched him some this preseason. He seemed ok. Maybe a little rejuvenated.
He might be able to help a team.
Selfishly, I hope he clears waivers and doesn't retire. I've always liked him.
If the pendulum on fighting starts to swing back or 4th liners get hurt, he could be handy for depth.
He'd be an easy victim of "we have to do something different"
But I watched him some this preseason. He seemed ok. Maybe a little rejuvenated.
He might be able to help a team.
Selfishly, I hope he clears waivers and doesn't retire. I've always liked him.
If the pendulum on fighting starts to swing back or 4th liners get hurt, he could be handy for depth.
So no takers on trading for Simmonds ..
Benn (groin) probably goes on LTIR with Liljegren
Opening night to fit under cap, 19 players if Tavares on IR and no trades:
Bunting-Matthews-Marner
_________-Nylander-Malgin
Engvall-Kerfoot-Jarnkrok
AstonReese-Kampf-AubeKubel
Rielly-Brodie
Muzzin-Holl
Giordano-Sandin
Murray
Samsonov
Robertson called up on emergency recall if Tavares can't go for the 2nd game
Not exactly surprising
Benn (groin) probably goes on LTIR with Liljegren
Opening night to fit under cap, 19 players if Tavares on IR and no trades:
Bunting-Matthews-Marner
_________-Nylander-Malgin
Engvall-Kerfoot-Jarnkrok
AstonReese-Kampf-AubeKubel
Rielly-Brodie
Muzzin-Holl
Giordano-Sandin
Murray
Samsonov
Robertson called up on emergency recall if Tavares can't go for the 2nd game
Not exactly surprising
bustaheims
Active member
cw said:
I wonder if there?s a team out there waiting to see if he clears waivers, so they have a little more flexibility with him. Being able to yo-yo him adds value.
herman said:
In my mind, it used to be that the 4th line was kind of cobbled together with the enforcer from those who fell short of making the top 3 lines.
This camp seemed unusual in that the 1st and most particularly the 4th line got set very early.
It relates some to the cap and some to the talent on the roster but I don't recall seeing that before.
bustaheims
Active member
cw said:
Fighting isn?t going to swing back in any significant way. The league and the new blood being injected into front offices have moved on, and guys who can?t contribute beyond their fists or who are otherwise liabilities regardless of their willingness to hit people don?t have spots in the league anymore. There are also better 4th line options already in the organization. Simmonds was great for a while, but he doesn?t have enough to give to a team that has their eyes in the Cup.
That being said, by today?s standards, ZAR and NAK are both willing to drop the gloves enough to cover that aspect for the team.
WhatIfGodWasALeaf
Active member
Don't disagree.
?----
To START the season:
Last years bottom 6:
Kerfoot-Kampf-Kase
Engvall-Spezza-Simmonds
This years bottom 6:
Engvall-Kerfoot-Jarnkrok
ZAR-Kampf-NAK
This years bottom 6 is way better. The fourth line finally has an identity and the third line is capable of scoring.
https://twitter.com/LeafsNeedGod/status/1579144052200837120?t=OXYDYihAQEmyqeTs4dHWLQ&s=19
?----
To START the season:
Last years bottom 6:
Kerfoot-Kampf-Kase
Engvall-Spezza-Simmonds
This years bottom 6:
Engvall-Kerfoot-Jarnkrok
ZAR-Kampf-NAK
This years bottom 6 is way better. The fourth line finally has an identity and the third line is capable of scoring.
https://twitter.com/LeafsNeedGod/status/1579144052200837120?t=OXYDYihAQEmyqeTs4dHWLQ&s=19
bustaheims said:
Fights per game fell to .15 in '20 (I believe in part due to Covid - fighters didn't want to get infected)
But it previously bottomed in 2019 (without Covid) to .19 fights/game
In '21 it bounced back to .22.
https://www.hockeyfights.com/stats
https://www.onlinegambling.ca/sports-betting/hockey/nhl-hockey-fights.php#:~:text=Since%20then%2C%20fighting%20has%20declined,per%20cent%20from%202001%2D02.
In '22, it bounced back to .25.
https://www.hockeyfights.com/fightlog/1/reg2022/23
So there are statistical grounds to be concerned that the pendulum might be swinging back.
"Might be" is a key phrase. It will never get back to the high peak fighting years.
I just think it is justified to be vigilant and prepared.
Tampa was one of the top fighting teams last year so the Leafs tried to counter in part by dressing Simmonds & Clifford in the playoffs. Didn't work out but the Leafs noticed it. Previously, Dubas has been trying to toughen up the team some.
Nashville who may be surprisingly good this year (according to some), led the league with 59 fights last year. Fought in one of the games in Europe this year. Tampa was over 30 as were others.
Last year, the Leafs were towards the bottom with 12 fights and Holl, who had one of them, is the only Leaf who fought that is still on the Leafs roster this season.
Simmonds 6 fights last season matched Aston-Reese's career number of NHL fights and that was was one more fight than Aube-Kubel's career. According to Hockeyfights.com, Aston-Reese won 2 of 6 fights. Aube-Kubel was 2 for 5 with one of his victories against 179lb Brendan Leipsic. I watched videos of both of them fighting. They're game but not great.
We're about to add Malgin who is on the small side. We might add Robertson, who is also small. Kerfoot and Marner are on the smallish side too.
Bangers like Aube-Kubel and Aston-Reese, they tend to get hurt more.
I'm not a gigantic fan of fighting. I hope you are right. It favors the Leafs.
But if Simmonds clears waivers and he's willing to hang with the Marlies, I'd hang on to him.