I like this move. The price was low enough and really it would have been very easy to second guess themselves had they done nothing. What if the Leafs had advanced a couple of rounds without even making a move? Hopefully they will make the playoffs now. We will see. It's sure been fun to watch. I have been a fan for a long time and this has been by far my favourite season to watch (so far). 1993 was better in the sense that it was a great cup run, however it remains to be seen just what this group is capable of.
Brian Boyle to Leafs
- Thread starter Deebo
- Start date
Interesting. Filppula is still producing at a decent rate so while this would have been a cap dump I doubt the Leafs would have just Laich'd him afterward.
bustaheims
Active member
CarltonTheBear said:
That is very curious. I wonder if it means the team is trying to be even more creative than we were hoping?
CarltonTheBear said:
At that point you really are starting to push out young guys though. That means that Leivo and Shoshnikov are likely not in the lineup, unless they know they are moving out a guy like Bozak and Komarov.
See for me, last nights game is an example of why I don't think it's time to make moves like this. They were in that game, but they had no business being in that game. They can't quite keep up with those elite level teams. And adding players like Boyle isn't going to change that. Also, the question becomes, what happens if they add players like Boyle and they miss the playoffs?
Coco-puffs
New member
Significantly Insignificant said:
I think if the only move they make is adding Boyle and they miss the playoffs its not really a big deal. IMO, the cost wasn't too high and it told the young guys that management wants them to start winning. Its upon them to do so and if they miss, the experience of the playoff push will still be worth it.
As for the rumoured Filppula deal. I don't see how it doesn't include sending Bozak the other way, so it doesn't really push anyone out of the lineup. From Tampa's perspective, they are trying to save every dollar they can (cap wise and pay wise) in order to re-sign their young forwards this summer so it makes sense. From Toronto's perspective, they would lose some offense in the Bozak-Filppula swap, but Filppula is much better defensively. (Note, both Bozak and Filppula have 1 year left on their deals)
bustaheims
Active member
Significantly Insignificant said:
Moving out Bozak, Komarov, etc., is what I mean by being more creative. One of them was either involved in the deal, or they are/were close to deals involving them.
herman
Well-known member
bustaheims said:
That sort of move would have intrigued me greatly.
If the Leafs are aiming to rearrange the deck chairs for a playoff run, it's the depth vets who need shuffling.
Filppula has the playoff and Babcock experience that management appears to be targeting; 152 playoffs games in his career since 2007; 6.5 seasons with Detroit under Babcock.
Edit: Detroit fans on reddit insinuate that there was some Filp - Babcock beef.
dekedastardly
Member
I think I have yet to see Babcock use Boyle on the PP, and I can't understand why. I'm pretty sure he was a very good net presence / opposition goalies screen and has great tip in deflection ability - the guy is a giant. Zaitsev seems to be one defenseman who has a knack for getting point shots through, maybe they would work well together.
bustaheims
Active member
dekedastardly said:
Probably because he doesn't see value in tinkering with the league's top PP.
bustaheims said:
Was about a league-average PP in February though. The Bozak unit in particular only scored 1 powerplay goal that month.
edit: Although granted that unit has scored in 3 of 4 games in March.
herman
Well-known member
Our PP setup does not employ the one-timer from the slot or the point the way a lot of the other teams do*. We generate crease-chaos off a half-board shot-pass (Nylander/Marner) with a double crash from net guy (Komarov/JvR) and centre bumper (Brown/Kadri). The defenseman (Gardiner/Zaitsev) and the opposite halfboard guy (Matthews/Bozak) is there to stretch the box open, and constrain the rebounds in the danger zone, and occasionally backdoor an open shot. So having a large slower player in front of the net is not adding value.
On special teams, Boyle is being used as the PK FOGO. If he doesn't win the draw or can't get off the ice cleanly, he is the high man, where his wingspan helps cuts off a lot of angle up top. He is otherwise, not that good on the PK and is quickly replaced with speed at the earliest opportunity.
At evens, he is deployed as both the energy generating and nerves steadying shift when things get too crazy one way or another and is also one of the close out centres (Kadri/Bozak; Boyle/Matthews) at the end of games when the bench is shortened. You can see him doing a lot of directing, talking, and explaining on ice and on the bench.
* With the umbrella formation, a point shot is pretty much always from a single predictable position, and without a Weber/Laine/Ovechkin shot, all you end up with are blocks that lead to short-handed rushes, or rebounds off the boards and out. Tighter shots in close for scrambles gives you a higher percentage play, and more chances to generate additional shots.
Why don't we play 3F2D? Other than 4F1D being demonstrably effective, I don't think we have the horses on the backend to play that PP formation in terms of shot level, and post-PP you're stuck with Hunlak or a tired tandem when the PK line is swapped with the opposing first line.
On special teams, Boyle is being used as the PK FOGO. If he doesn't win the draw or can't get off the ice cleanly, he is the high man, where his wingspan helps cuts off a lot of angle up top. He is otherwise, not that good on the PK and is quickly replaced with speed at the earliest opportunity.
At evens, he is deployed as both the energy generating and nerves steadying shift when things get too crazy one way or another and is also one of the close out centres (Kadri/Bozak; Boyle/Matthews) at the end of games when the bench is shortened. You can see him doing a lot of directing, talking, and explaining on ice and on the bench.
* With the umbrella formation, a point shot is pretty much always from a single predictable position, and without a Weber/Laine/Ovechkin shot, all you end up with are blocks that lead to short-handed rushes, or rebounds off the boards and out. Tighter shots in close for scrambles gives you a higher percentage play, and more chances to generate additional shots.
Why don't we play 3F2D? Other than 4F1D being demonstrably effective, I don't think we have the horses on the backend to play that PP formation in terms of shot level, and post-PP you're stuck with Hunlak or a tired tandem when the PK line is swapped with the opposing first line.
disco
New member
herman said:
Nice article, wow didn't know his wife was 7 months. The trade, playoff battle, welcoming his second child... hectic life at the Boyle homestead. It was a nice little move by Lou, an insertion of some quality minutes for Babs. Being able to roll four lines is an asset playing every other night for sure. He's rarely out of position, will make those little plays because he knows they need making. When to go fast and when to go slow. Just stuff that comes with 12+ NHL years. And when things get rough and tumble like we saw against Boston, having three heavyweights bangin' on that line along the accountability Boyle brings, that's darn good to have.
Highlander
Active member
what I really love is any move the Leafs seem to make to supplement and improve, all do seem to work out. Boyle being the perfect example, we are only 2 good D men away from being very very good.