General Leafs Talk v2.0

[hockeyfan1]

It seems like Lupul was going first for a possible dish off then for the shoulder and missed.

He missed Sedin but  ended up hitting Kadri instead.  Silly and risky move on Lupul's part in an attempt at stopping an opponent that way.  Backfired.

 

[Highlander]

why not give Smithson a try at Centre, he has been around, has the experience and the size at 6'3"

 

[freer]

Maybe he gets a chance on Saturday against BOS, we will need some size

 

[Redleaf]

why not give Smithson a try at Centre, he has been around, has the experience and the size at 6'3"

They may have to give him a try at some point, but I think the problem is his offensive ability, or more precisely, his lack of it.

 

[Highlander]

May be a good defensive alternative

 

[princedpw]

why not give Smithson a try at Centre, he has been around, has the experience and the size at 6'3"

They may have to give him a try at some point, but I think the problem is his offensive ability, or more precisely, his lack of it.

Given the lack of options, I would be interested to try an extreme defensive center who was good at faceoffs with Kessel and JVR.  A guy who can get the puck back in the neutral zone or defensive zone and then feed it to the other two.

 

[princedpw]

Maybe he gets a chance on Saturday against BOS, we will need some size

By the way, against Boston, I think a top line of Lupul-JVR-Kessel will be a complete disaster.  Boston will send out Bergeron and Chara against them every time and that line, along with all our offense, will be crushed.  I'd rather try the tactics we attempted in the playoffs, which was to spread the offence.  Put Lupul and Kadri together as a pair.  JVR (perhaps playing center) with Raymond.  Throw Kessel out there on any line whenever Chara isn't out there.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

I remember reading not to long ago that during his time in the NHL Smithson was one of if not the worst player in the league by a bunch of statistical measures.

Don't have high hopes for him.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I remember reading not to long ago that during his time in the NHL Smithson was one of if not the worst player in the league by a bunch of statistical measures.

Don't have high hopes for him.

Those statistical measures were strictly offensive. I believe it was something like in the past 3 seasons he's in the bottom-10 or so in goals, assists, and shots per minute. We're not really looking for offence from him though obviously. He'd be playing mainly with McLaren and Orr and Kadri wouldn't create much with those guys either. But he's still been one of the top face off men in the league the past few years and can play a regular role on a penalty kill. I'd rather give him a shot up here on the 4th line over Smith.

 

[Beowulf]

I remember reading not to long ago that during his time in the NHL Smithson was one of if not the worst player in the league by a bunch of statistical measures.

Don't have high hopes for him.

Those statistical measures were strictly offensive. I believe it was something like in the past 3 seasons he's in the bottom-10 or so in goals, assists, and shots per minute. We're not really looking for offence from him though obviously. He'd be playing mainly with McLaren and Orr and Kadri wouldn't create much with those guys either. But he's still been one of the top face off men in the league the past few years and can play a regular role on a penalty kill. I'd rather give him a shot up here on the 4th line over Smith.

I think the penalty killing aspect of it could be huge. If he proved he could be at least serviceable on the PK it could relieve some of the burden from McClement who in the interim will be taking a lot more 5 on 5 faceoffs and playing a lot more in general. 

 

[dappleganger]

I'd take Dave Steckel or Zigomanis right about now.

 

[bustaheims]

mirtle: Leafs have sent Trevor Smith to the Marlies. Odd given their lack of centres?

Likely an indicator that Smithson's getting signed and brought up rather than anything more interesting.

 

[Highlander]

Maybe we send Riemer to Colorado and a pick for Stasny, now that their Goaltender will probably be going to prison or the KHL soon for spousal beating.

 

[bustaheims]

Maybe we send Riemer to Colorado and a pick for Stasny, now that their Goaltender will probably be going to prison or the KHL soon for spousal beating.

Yeah . . . no. I mean, the cap issues aside, I'd rather hold on to Reimer than flip him for an impending UFA in Stastny.

 

[Coco-puffs]

mirtle: Leafs have sent Trevor Smith to the Marlies. Odd given their lack of centres?

Likely an indicator that Smithson's getting signed and brought up rather than anything more interesting.

mirtle and Jonas Seigel have said Smithson has been signed by the Leafs for the remainder of the year... He will definitely help win some draws on the PK- probably more than Trevor Smith would have.

 

[Arn]

Yup, Smithson signed for the rest of the season

http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=690356&navid=DL|TOR|home

I watched the Marlies game last night and he did catch the eye

 

[bustaheims]

Hopefully Smithson plays well enough to stick around after Bolland and Bozak get back. That would give the Leafs the option of sticking him on the wing on the 4th line instead of one of McLaren/Orr (even though it's unlikely to happen on a frequent basis) and gives them someone else they can lean on for defensive zone draws and on the PK. He's not going to contribute a ton on offence, but, he's a solid physical presence that can do more than punch and get punched.

 

[Crucialness Key]

Hopefully Smithson plays well enough to stick around after Bolland and Bozak get back. That would give the Leafs the option of sticking him on the wing on the 4th line instead of one of McLaren/Orr (even though it's unlikely to happen on a frequent basis) and gives them someone else they can lean on for defensive zone draws and on the PK. He's not going to contribute a ton on offence, but, he's a solid physical presence that can do more than punch and get punched.

This scenario suits me just fine. 

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Hopefully Smithson plays well enough to stick around after Bolland and Bozak get back. That would give the Leafs the option of sticking him on the wing on the 4th line instead of one of McLaren/Orr (even though it's unlikely to happen on a frequent basis) and gives them someone else they can lean on for defensive zone draws and on the PK. He's not going to contribute a ton on offence, but, he's a solid physical presence that can do more than punch and get punched.

So basically David Clarkson. 

 

[louisstamos]

Hopefully Smithson plays well enough to stick around after Bolland and Bozak get back. That would give the Leafs the option of sticking him on the wing on the 4th line instead of one of McLaren/Orr (even though it's unlikely to happen on a frequent basis) and gives them someone else they can lean on for defensive zone draws and on the PK. He's not going to contribute a ton on offence, but, he's a solid physical presence that can do more than punch and get punched.

So basically David Clarkson. 

Speaking of which - what's this I heard on the radio that he's already complaining about his "role" on the team?