General Leafs Talk v2.0

[Peter D.]

Raymond-Kadri-Clarkson
Bodie-McClement-Kulemin
McLaren-Smith-Orr

... the rest. Man, if JVR can hack it at centre that top line could be something else. All three can be point per game players.

I'd like to see it balanced out a bit.  Maybe put Kulemin with JvR and Kessel on the 1st line to use his forechecking to an advantage.  Have the Lupul and Kadri duo together with Raymond bringing his speed on the wing, and have an energy line of Bodie-McClement-Clarkson.

 

[Corn Flake]

Top line at practice today is Lupul-JVR-Kessel.

Raymond-Kadri-Clarkson
Bodie-McClement-Kulemin
McLaren-Smith-Orr

... the rest. Man, if JVR can hack it at centre that top line could be something else. All three can be point per game players.

I really like this.. .it's a chance to see if JVR works at centre. I don't think for a player with his ability, size and brains it will be all that difficult to handle.  Its really a change of defensive assignment and faceoffs.  He already brings the playmaking ability, speed, etc etc. in droves, so it's probably remembering to take the centre's position in the d-zone, and cross your fingers on faceoffs.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Raymond-Kadri-Clarkson
Bodie-McClement-Kulemin
McLaren-Smith-Orr

... the rest. Man, if JVR can hack it at centre that top line could be something else. All three can be point per game players.

I'd like to see it balanced out a bit.  Maybe put Kulemin with JvR and Kessel on the 1st line to use his forechecking to an advantage.  Have the Lupul and Kadri duo together with Raymond bringing his speed on the wing, and have an energy line of Bodie-McClement-Clarkson.

I'm sure something like that is probably plan B. But I think it's really just too tempting to not try and load up that first line for at least a game or two. And considering this is Carlyle we're talking about there's a good chance he uses 4 different sets of lines from now until Friday and doesn't actually go with any of them for the actual game.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I really like this.. .it's a chance to see if JVR works at centre. I don't think for a player with his ability, size and brains it will be all that difficult to handle.  Its really a change of defensive assignment and faceoffs.  He already brings the playmaking ability, speed, etc etc. in droves, so it's probably remembering to take the centre's position in the d-zone, and cross your fingers on faceoffs.

If JVR isn't a complete failure at centre I think I would even keep him there once Bozak returns. Especially if Bolland's estimated return time is going to be measured in months, not weeks. I really don't want to see McClement-Smith as our bottom-2 centres going into the new year. JVR-Kadri-Bozak down the middle though would work for me.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Just thinking out loud, but if this JVR thing works out it would give the team so many options when Bozak returns. Any one of Kadri, JVR, or Bozak could centre the top line with Kessel. If Carlyle wanted to load things up he could do Lupul-JVR-Kessel and have Kadri with Clarkson and Bozak with Kulemin. Or if he wanted to really spread things out he could go with Bozak-Kessel, Kadri-Lupul, JVR-Clarkson. Or something a little in between with Raymond-JVR-Kessel, Lupul-Kadri-Clarkson, McClement-Bozak-Kulemin.

JVR for Schenn haha

 

[drummond]

Just thinking out loud, but if this JVR thing works out it would give the team so many options when Bozak returns. Any one of Kadri, JVR, or Bozak could centre the top line with Kessel. If Carlyle wanted to load things up he could do Lupul-JVR-Kessel and have Kadri with Clarkson and Bozak with Kulemin. Or if he wanted to really spread things out he could go with Bozak-Kessel, Kadri-Lupul, JVR-Clarkson. Or something a little in between with Raymond-JVR-Kessel, Lupul-Kadri-Clarkson, McClement-Bozak-Kulemin.

JVR for Schenn haha

This is the silver lining of this serious situation for me as well. I mean, I am quite affraid how the Leafs do in November, but should this work, we could actually make a discovery of the decade. JvR is a pretty smart player and during his stay in TO he has also evolved and matured quite a bit. He and Phil they work magic, Joffrey and Phil work with each other as well. This could be a dynamite. The only concern is that such a line would be defensively quite a liability. Carlyle should try to replace Lups with someone who is defesinvely more responsible such as Kuli for example to give JvR a little bit more breathing room. Kuli has skill, can work in the corners, does not hold on the puck, could be a good fit.

Anyway lets hope that JvR experiment will work.

 

[Stickytape]

I'll be relieved if we come out of November with a .500 record.  I don't have the stomach to get my hopes up over silver linings. T___T

 

[Britishbulldog]

I really like this.. .it's a chance to see if JVR works at centre. I don't think for a player with his ability, size and brains it will be all that difficult to handle.  Its really a change of defensive assignment and faceoffs.  He already brings the playmaking ability, speed, etc etc. in droves, so it's probably remembering to take the centre's position in the d-zone, and cross your fingers on faceoffs.

If JVR isn't a complete failure at centre I think I would even keep him there once Bozak returns. Especially if Bolland's estimated return time is going to be measured in months, not weeks. I really don't want to see McClement-Smith as our bottom-2 centres going into the new year. JVR-Kadri-Bozak down the middle though would work for me.

Jarred Smithson is leading the AHL currently in FO% I believe at almost 60%.  He is 6'3" 210 lbs as well which is great for a 4th line center.  The speculated reason he didn't get signed to an NHL contract is because he had a hamstring injury in August.

 

[Corn Flake]

Just thinking out loud, but if this JVR thing works out it would give the team so many options when Bozak returns. Any one of Kadri, JVR, or Bozak could centre the top line with Kessel. If Carlyle wanted to load things up he could do Lupul-JVR-Kessel and have Kadri with Clarkson and Bozak with Kulemin. Or if he wanted to really spread things out he could go with Bozak-Kessel, Kadri-Lupul, JVR-Clarkson. Or something a little in between with Raymond-JVR-Kessel, Lupul-Kadri-Clarkson, McClement-Bozak-Kulemin.

JVR for Schenn haha

This is the silver lining of this serious situation for me as well. I mean, I am quite affraid how the Leafs do in November, but should this work, we could actually make a discovery of the decade. JvR is a pretty smart player and during his stay in TO he has also evolved and matured quite a bit. He and Phil they work magic, Joffrey and Phil work with each other as well. This could be a dynamite. The only concern is that such a line would be defensively quite a liability. Carlyle should try to replace Lups with someone who is defesinvely more responsible such as Kuli for example to give JvR a little bit more breathing room. Kuli has skill, can work in the corners, does not hold on the puck, could be a good fit.

Anyway lets hope that JvR experiment will work.

JvR is very good defensively and as the centre that is a pretty key part of the job.  Kessel knows his role as well and although Lupul can get caught up ice at times, they should survive pretty well, esp. considering they will likely have the puck an awful lot each shift.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Jarred Smithson is leading the AHL currently in FO% I believe at almost 60%.  He is 6'3" 210 lbs as well which is great for a 4th line center.  The speculated reason he didn't get signed to an NHL contract is because he had a hamstring injury in August.

I wouldn't be opposed to signing him to a contract but it still doesn't help solve the 3rd line spot. I don't like McClement there. He's fine as a 3rd line winger or 4th line centre, but I don't like him at the C3 slot.

 

[Jalili]

This is where the lack of offensive prospect depth in the organization really starts to sting the Leafs.

I guess, at least JvR has until Friday to get comfortable in his new role.

I would like to see Smithson as well.

 

[LittleHockeyFan]

JVR centering Kessel and My Joffrey.

I like it!

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

@DarrenDreger

Surprise to know one, the Maple Leafs are in the market for a forward, preferably a centre. Not a lot available right now.

Face palm.  Who could have foreseen gutting your C depth/not having any C depth would do this?

 

[moon111]

I honestly rather have Ziggy to bring up the Colbourne.

 

[princedpw]

i'd be quite interested to see how a line of JVR - McClement - Kessel did. With Lupul - Kadri - Kulemin on the second line. I think that would spread out the offence well and keeps JVR at his natural position where he has been killing it with Keasel.  I'd also be interested to see if McClement vs Bozak really matters in terms of the offensive output of Kessel - JVR.

 

[princedpw]

In terms of trades, I wonder about Philly.  They have good center depth and need some better D.  Now may be the time to trade Franson as we may not be able to afford him next year.  Couturier or Schenn the younger may be too much to ask.  I wonder about some of their prospects like Laughton.  I dont really know how good he is but I think he is on the brink of making their team.

 

[Bender]

@DarrenDreger

Surprise to know one, the Maple Leafs are in the market for a forward, preferably a centre. Not a lot available right now.

Face palm.  Who could have foreseen gutting your C depth/not having any C depth would do this?

Here we go.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

@DarrenDreger

Surprise to know one, the Maple Leafs are in the market for a forward, preferably a centre. Not a lot available right now.

Face palm.  Who could have foreseen gutting your C depth/not having any C depth would do this?

Here we go.

Yes sir, sorry sir.

 

[freer]

http://blogs.theprovince.com/2013/11/03/the-attempted-assassination-of-henrik-sedin/

just read a crappy article on Lupul. What a load of crap.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

http://blogs.theprovince.com/2013/11/03/the-attempted-assassination-of-henrik-sedin/

just read a crappy article on Lupul. What a load of crap.

Why is it a load of crap. Lupul tried to take his head off.