Capitals @ Leafs - Jan. 7th, 7:00pm - SN, Fan 590

[CarltonTheBear]

David Alter ‏@dalter  6 minutes ago
#Leafs D: Phaneuf-Franson, Gardiner-Holzer, Rielly-Polak. #TMLtalk

Robidas doesn't want to give up his lead in the +/- department. Not playing is probably the best way to go about doing that.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Full practice lines:

Winnik-Kadri-Kessel
JVR-Bozak-Santorelli
Komarov-Smith-Clarkson
Booth-Carrick-Panik

Panik and Clarkson should switch, but it's a start.

Smith as 3rd line C.  :-X

 

[Deebo]

Full practice lines:

Winnik-Kadri-Kessel
JVR-Bozak-Santorelli
Komarov-Smith-Clarkson
Booth-Carrick-Panik

Panik and Clarkson should switch, but it's a start.

Smith as 3rd line C.  :-X

Fire Horachek

 

[bustaheims]

Full practice lines:

Winnik-Kadri-Kessel
JVR-Bozak-Santorelli
Komarov-Smith-Clarkson
Booth-Carrick-Panik

Panik and Clarkson should switch, but it's a start.

Smith as 3rd line C.  :-X

Placeholder for Holland.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Full practice lines:

Winnik-Kadri-Kessel
JVR-Bozak-Santorelli
Komarov-Smith-Clarkson
Booth-Carrick-Panik

Panik and Clarkson should switch, but it's a start.

Smith as 3rd line C.  :-X

Placeholder for Holland.

I know.  Doesn't make it any nicer to look at though.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Kadri: "Remember when you used to play with Phil lol"

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Placeholder for Holland.

Wonder if Horachek is as against playing Santorelli at centre as Randy was. It's arguably the most important position for driving possession, and depending on how long Holland is out for (his injury is a bit of a mystery) Smith might not be able to keep up. I'd have put Santorelli at 3C, Panik in his spot on the 2nd line, and Smith back to the Marlies.

 

[bustaheims]

Wonder if Horachek is as against playing Santorelli at centre as Randy was. It's arguably the most important position for driving possession, and depending on how long Holland is out for (his injury is a bit of a mystery) Smith might not be able to keep up. I'd have put Santorelli at 3C, Panik in his spot on the 2nd line, and Smith back to the Marlies.

I probably would, too, but, with 4 other centres on the roster and a pretty thin top 6, I can totally understand the thinking.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I probably would, too, but, with 4 other centres on the roster and a pretty thin top 6, I can totally understand the thinking.

4 other centres sure but two of them are of AHL-quality.

 

[ZBBM]

Horacle it is!

I'm going with Hott Sporch, mostly because it sounds vaguely dirty.

I'm also contemplating Sporckle or Sporacle. Sporachett? I dunno. I'm looking forward to when there's only one coach to worry about.

There's some pretty fun anagrams out there:

Ha Hot Sprocket
Path To Chokers
Pat Hot Chokers
Shocker Top Hat
Hot Hot Packers
Rocket's Path, ho!
Choker Hat Spot
Hart Tops Choke
Shot Packet Rho
Hope Tracks Hot

I think I'm gonna go with Shot Packet Rho for now.

You're the man, I'm making the switch.  Sounds like a fraternity drinking ritual to me, and that's just what this team needs.

 

[Bullfrog]

Full practice lines:

Winnik-Kadri-Kessel
JVR-Bozak-Santorelli
Komarov-Smith-Clarkson
Booth-Carrick-Panik

Panik and Clarkson should switch, but it's a start.

More or less what I was expecting, assuming Winnik = Lupul when he returns. I'm really interested in seeing how Bozak fairs as a #2.

Not shocked at all that the very first game post-Carlyle has Kadri as the 1C.

 

[pmrules]

Full practice lines:

Winnik-Kadri-Kessel
JVR-Bozak-Santorelli
Komarov-Smith-Clarkson
Booth-Carrick-Panik

Panik and Clarkson should switch, but it's a start.

More or less what I was expecting, assuming Winnik = Lupul when he returns. I'm really interested in seeing how Bozak fairs as a #2.

Not shocked at all that the very first game post-Carlyle has Kadri as the 1C.

Given the injuries, I like this.  What happened to McKegg?

Any idea what the D pairings were?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Any idea what the D pairings were?

I posted those too, but no changes there. Sounds like Robidas might be back in though.

 

[Highlander]

The Kegger was sent down in favour of Carrick, great move as the puck follow the lad around, and he does play with an edge.

 

[pmrules]

Any idea what the D pairings were?

I posted those too, but no changes there. Sounds like Robidas might be back in though.

Sorry Carlton - Missed that.  Thanks!

 

[freer]

Full practice lines:

Winnik-Kadri-Kessel
JVR-Bozak-Santorelli
Komarov-Smith-Clarkson
Booth-Carrick-Panik

Panik and Clarkson should switch, but it's a start.

More or less what I was expecting, assuming Winnik = Lupul when he returns. I'm really interested in seeing how Bozak fairs as a #2.

Not shocked at all that the very first game post-Carlyle has Kadri as the 1C.

I bet Bozak out scores Kadri, the second line IMO is the better one.

 

[Redleaf]

Full practice lines:

Winnik-Kadri-Kessel
JVR-Bozak-Santorelli
Komarov-Smith-Clarkson
Booth-Carrick-Panik

Panik and Clarkson should switch, but it's a start.

More or less what I was expecting, assuming Winnik = Lupul when he returns. I'm really interested in seeing how Bozak fairs as a #2.

Not shocked at all that the very first game post-Carlyle has Kadri as the 1C.

I bet Bozak out scores Kadri, the second line IMO is the better one.

I like the looks of that second line as well. Even with a healthy Lupul on the first line, this one still looks better.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I bet Bozak out scores Kadri, the second line IMO is the better one.

Since December 1st Kadri has 13 points in 15 games to Bozak's 8 in 17. But yeah, I'm sure now that Bozak finally doesn't have to carry around Kessel he'll start outscoring him.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I bet Bozak out scores Kadri, the second line IMO is the better one.

Since December 1st Kadri has 13 points in 15 games to Bozak's 8 in 17. But yeah, I'm sure now that Bozak finally doesn't have to carry around Kessel he'll start outscoring him.

Pretty crazy that Kadri has 24 points with all but 3 of them (1 SH, 2 PP) coming at even-strength.  Bozak has 30 with 12 of them coming on the PP (and 2 SH).  Wonder what Kadri's point totals would be if he was on PP 1 instead of being shackled to Clarkson on PP 2.

EDIT: And Kessel has over half his points at ES (25) & is 2nd on team in P/60 at 5v5, yet Bozak ranks 10th out of 13 Leafs forwards who have had 100 5v5 minutes at P/60: Link.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Pretty crazy that Kadri has 24 points with all but 3 of them (1 SH, 2 PP) coming at even-strength.  Bozak has 30 with 12 of them coming on the PP (and 2 SH).  Wonder what Kadri's point totals would be if he was on PP 1 instead of being shackled to Clarkson on PP 2.

Horachek putting Kadri on the top line wasn't a surprise, that was going to happen sooner than later. The real question will be is he going to buck the trend and put him on the top PP unit.