4th Line Center

[princedpw]

I like Boyce and hope they decide to keep him. He works hard and deserves at least a two-way contract. Even if he eventually has to go back to the Marlies, I think he is a good call up guy that keeps himself on the right side of the plus minus stat.

I don't mind him either.

I was hoping they would beat the bushes of the AHL trying to find a better option though when the UFA market started to look barren - just to try to improve themselves - nothing against Boyce. Maybe they have.

It could be luck, but a guy who is a +8 on a team that is overall a massively minus team seems like a great guy to put on your 4th line if he'll take a 600K salary.  The fact that he chipped in 13 points in 46 games is a bonus.  I don't know how to do better than that really.  I'd be quite happy with a fourth line of Boyce - X - Brown.

 

[Kin]

Man, with the potential exception of Armstrong I don't know that a single bottom six forward that the Leafs are bringing back did a single thing to distinguish themselves as NHL players last year. What a bunch of stiffs.

 

[maplesyrup]

Man, with the potential exception of Armstrong I don't know that a single bottom six forward that the Leafs are bringing back did a single thing to distinguish themselves as NHL players last year. What a bunch of stiffs.

For the most part I agree but if we're gouping Kadri in to the botton six, I think it might be premature to brand him a "stiff." - I also didn't mind what I saw from Brown.

 

[Omallley]

Man, with the potential exception of Armstrong I don't know that a single bottom six forward that the Leafs are bringing back did a single thing to distinguish themselves as NHL players last year. What a bunch of stiffs.

I like Brown's mustache, and hustle. Bozak has some potential...

 

[cw]

Man, with the potential exception of Armstrong I don't know that a single bottom six forward that the Leafs are bringing back did a single thing to distinguish themselves as NHL players last year. What a bunch of stiffs.

He'd probably have quite a time trying to stay on a Cup contender roster and his injuries didn't help his cause but I'm going to speak up for Mike Brown.

He provided a physical element for a somewhat soft set of forwards. He hit like crazy (over 2 per game with 10 mins/game ice time is a heck of a clip). He was respectable on the PK and blocking shots (which cost him some games lost to injury). He was a willing middleweight when needed. And overall, for a guy who doesn't score much, he wasn't much of a liability with his +1. Lots of hustle and heart.

I don't mind Mike returning. I think he earned it.

 

[Kin]

I like Brown's mustache, and hustle.

Fair point to you. Other than Brown's moustache, none of them did anything to distinguish themselves as NHL players.

 

[Damian]

Mike Brown is a 4th line beast! He exemplifies exactly what every team looks for....

 

[Tigger]

I think Bozak will be ok in a bottom six role, along with Brown and Armstrong... ultimately Kadri probably doesn't belong there but could find himself playing lw with Tyler and Army for a stretch ( and hopefully allows for some kind of trade potential elsewhere on the roster ). That leaves at least two spots that require some attention with an eye towards decent defensive play and some pk.

Ziggy and Boyce seem like nice guys but they don't seem like the answer to me and I have no use for Orr.

 

[Kin]

I think the thing that gets me, and I stand by my interpretation of our bottom 6 as a terrible group of stiffs, is that I'm not sure that a single thing has been done since the end of last season to address the PK issues. The major additions have been offensive defensemen and Connolly. I'm glad that the PP is being seen to but both stunk last year and the PK looks to be roughly the same/worse in the coming season than it was at the end of last year.

 

[Tigger]

Yeah, the pk wasn't addressed, I mentioned something similar in the 'are the leafs a playoff team' thread. That's one of the big reasons I was hoping to see the Leafs bring in Talbot and at least one more somewhat recognized pk'r like Higgins.

 

[Omallley]

I think the thing that gets me, and I stand by my interpretation of our bottom 6 as a terrible group of stiffs, is that I'm not sure that a single thing has been done since the end of last season to address the PK issues. The major additions have been offensive defensemen and Connolly. I'm glad that the PP is being seen to but both stunk last year and the PK looks to be roughly the same/worse in the coming season than it was at the end of last year.

I guess we're going to see the impact of shipping Keith Acton out of town. I agree though, from a player perspective, not much has changed at all, and the PK is likely going to be a major concern...

 

[cw]

I think the thing that gets me, and I stand by my interpretation of our bottom 6 as a terrible group of stiffs, is that I'm not sure that a single thing has been done since the end of last season to address the PK issues. The major additions have been offensive defensemen and Connolly. I'm glad that the PP is being seen to but both stunk last year and the PK looks to be roughly the same/worse in the coming season than it was at the end of last year.

The team has not been easy to evaluate because it went through quite a transition last season. The team we ended with was quite a bit different than the one we started with.

The #1 Pker is the goalie and I'd say they made some headway with Reimer. If they bring in a vet to backup him up, they run the risk of losing one of their decent goalie prospects on waivers. When Reimer was in the ECHL, Allaire told Burke he'd be a NHL starter by about now. I presume Allaire is comfortable with the kids they're keeping for backup. Relative to the UFAs out there and no Cup run in the cards this year, I'd rather take the chance on Gustavsson and the others and give them a year more of development.

Bozak had a lousy season as a top 6 center. But towards the end of the season, he formed arguably their best forward PK pairing with Armstrong. Between that and his faceoff win%, I think he's worthy of a look in that 3rd line/4th line center role.  There's some reason to hope for good PK from those two based on what they did together last season.

To that extent, two elements (one of them very key) to address the PK for this season were embarked upon last year.

Connolly has also got some decent PK history. Maybe he forms part of the second PK pairing. Dupuis is also supposedly a decent checker and he may win a job in that role. Although neither are guarantees to provide a lot of PK next season, they are options and something the team has provided since the end of the season in that regard.

Loiselle has started that they're looking for a 'prototypical', good sized 4th line center who can win faceoffs in their own zone. So I think we have to respect the lower part of their roster for the forwards as a bit of a work in progress right now. It's a little early to pass firm judgement.

The crazy signings of July 1 contributed to them walking away from UFAs who might have helped them with this - like Talbot. It's not like it hasn't been on their radar.

How the D will work out on PK pairings, I have no idea. They have some guys who might do well but this is where I'm fuzziest in evaluating the roster.

 

[Kin]

I guess we're going to see the impact of shipping Keith Acton out of town. I agree though, from a player perspective, not much has changed at all, and the PK is likely going to be a major concern...

The biggest personnel change, as I see it, is a negative one at that. Brent is gone and replaced with, well, I don't really know at this point. Loiselle maybe.

That, to me, has really been Burke's missed cut this summer. To not substantially improve the bottom 6 after last year strikes me as a big missed opportunity.

 

[cw]

I think the thing that gets me, and I stand by my interpretation of our bottom 6 as a terrible group of stiffs, is that I'm not sure that a single thing has been done since the end of last season to address the PK issues. The major additions have been offensive defensemen and Connolly. I'm glad that the PP is being seen to but both stunk last year and the PK looks to be roughly the same/worse in the coming season than it was at the end of last year.

I guess we're going to see the impact of shipping Keith Acton out of town. I agree though, from a player perspective, not much has changed at all, and the PK is likely going to be a major concern...

That's a good point though I'm not sure how much Acton himself had to do with the PK last season. Changing the assistant coaches is going to have some sort of an impact on their systems, their approach to the PK & PP and maybe which personnel are used in those situations. It's a couple of fresh eyes and voices on those issues.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Between Bozak, Armstrong, Connolly, Brown and Grabo, I think we'll be fine. Doesn't Kulemin take some PK time as well? If not, he's certainly capable of it.

 

[caver]

I guess we're going to see the impact of shipping Keith Acton out of town. I agree though, from a player perspective, not much has changed at all, and the PK is likely going to be a major concern...

The biggest personnel change, as I see it, is a negative one at that. Brent is gone and replaced with, well, I don't really know at this point. Loiselle maybe.

That, to me, has really been Burke's missed cut this summer. To not substantially improve the bottom 6 after last year strikes me as a big missed opportunity.

But it's only July 13th... lots of summer left to fill out the bottom 6. Not all the high-priced talent is signed yet and there will be teams cutting players loose.

 

[cw]

Between Bozak, Armstrong, Connolly, Brown and Grabo, I think we'll be fine. Doesn't Kulemin take some PK time as well? If not, he's certainly capable of it.

For a team that may struggle to score (with an average or below average top 6), my hope is that they'll keep the top six out of it as much as makes sense. Naturally, if they're down and running into a PK situation, Quinn used to use Mats & Mogilny (their top scoring forwards) some to help steal a short handed goal and so should the current roster. With these guys, I'd maximize the scoring ice time opportunities for the guys who are most capable of scoring and maximize the checkers as the PKers - if they can get quality PKers on those lines.

Bozak-Armstrong
4th line center-Brown/Dupuis

might do a hunk of it for primary PKing

When they need a goal or checkers need a shift off?:
Grabbo-Kulemin
Connolly-?? (could Kessel learn to do Mogilny's part in this role?) Lupul has some some PK in his earlier yrs - don't know how good he'd be

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

For a team that may struggle to score (with an average or below average top 6), my hope is that they'll keep the top six out of it as much as makes sense. Naturally, if they're down and running into a PK situation, Quinn used to use Mats & Mogilny (their top scoring forwards) some to help steal a short handed goal and so should the current roster. With these guys, I'd maximize the scoring ice time opportunities for the guys who are most capable of scoring and maximize the checkers as the PKers - if they can get quality PKers on those lines.

Bozak-Armstrong
4th line center-Brown/Dupuis

might do a hunk of it for primary PKing

When they need a goal or checkers need a shift off?:
Grabbo-Kulemin
Connolly-?? (could Kessel learn to do Mogilny's part in this role?) Lupul has some some PK in his earlier yrs - don't know how good he'd be

Yeah, I was thinking like Grabo and Connolly, as Grabo has been asking in the past for more PK time, because he wants to win. I love Grabo's attitude and it's not like he sucks at it. Kulemin is a bull in a china shop and can hustle with the best of them, so why not? I get your point and agree, but if these two are willing to do it to get more ice time and it doesn't affect their games too much, I say let go, they may just increase our short handed goals totals in the process.

 

[Kin]

.

But it's only July 13th... lots of summer left to fill out the bottom 6. Not all the high-priced talent is signed yet and there will be teams cutting players loose.

Could it all change tomorrow? Sure. I'm just referring to how it looks now with the PK talent looking a little worse than last year's.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

As far as two-way deals go, Zigomanis' $300k AHL salary is tied for second highest in the AHL.
http://www.capgeek.com/leaders.php?type=AHL_SALARY

Lashoff is pretty high on that list too, with $250k. He's the youngest player on it too.