General Leafs Talk v2.0

[moon111]

I think our lack of healthy players is the only reason for our lack of puck control. with two and maybe the top three centers out there is not one team in the NHL that would not be affected. I will hold judgment until we are some what healthy.

I know Bozak has missed some games, but the fact he's tied for 292th in assists doesn't sit well even when he does return.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Our current 3rd line centre is on pace for 5 points. That might have something to do with it too.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Our current 3rd line centre is on pace for 5 points. That might have something to do with it too.

On the bright side, I just found out we have a 3rd line centre.

 

[TML fan]

Absolutely shocking that a team that never had the puck is struggling to produce offence.

 

[mr grieves]

I can't say for sure, just find it interesting that Grabovski/MacArthur were two of the strongest points-producers at ES the last few years in Toronto and the team now finds itself struggling to produce offense at even strength.

Now Grabovski is on a line in Washington putting up numbers: http://www.japersrink.com/2013/11/14/5096054/the-capitals-other-first-line-grabovski-ward-chimera

Nice read. The chart in there is something to make a fella feel envious...

 

[TML fan]

Even with Kadri out for 3 games, I hope this van Riemsdyk at centre experiment ends. He's a winger. He's more effective at the wing. That's where he should be.

 

[L K]

The lack of depth up the middle is extremely concerning.  Yes, we have three guys out of the lineup right now, and they happen to be out top 3 centermen, but the fact that we actually have 0 guys to fill in for them in a problem. 

This to me is a big problem with the makeup of the team.  I think the Leafs would have been better off adding a guy like Nathan Horton who can step in and play center when the need arises.  You need a couple of guys who are converted centermen, not guys who excel on the wing and haven't played up the middle and are forced into that situation.

 

[Stickytape]

Even with Kadri out for 3 games, I hope this van Riemsdyk at centre experiment ends. He's a winger. He's more effective at the wing. That's where he should be.

So who centers for JVR/Kessel?  McClement?

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

Even with Kadri out for 3 games, I hope this van Riemsdyk at centre experiment ends. He's a winger. He's more effective at the wing. That's where he should be.

So who centers for JVR/Kessel?  McClement?

Orr.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

So our current centres...

JVR (3 games)
McClement
Smith
Smithson

... have 2 points in 32 games.

 

[L K]

So our current centres...

JVR (3 games)
McClement
Smith
Smithson

... have 2 points in 32 games.

So Joe Colborne has outscored them 2:1.  Good thing we have Orr+McLaren+Ashton+Bodie+Smith.  I was never the biggest fan of Colborne, but when you carry a roster of wingers who play exclusively on the wing, your 13th/14th/15th forwards NEED to play up the middle.

 

[princedpw]

So our current centres...

JVR (3 games)
McClement
Smith
Smithson

... have 2 points in 32 games.

So Joe Colborne has outscored them 2:1.  Good thing we have Orr+McLaren+Ashton+Bodie+Smith.  I was never the biggest fan of Colborne, but when you carry a roster of wingers who play exclusively on the wing, your 13th/14th/15th forwards NEED to play up the middle.

At the time of the Colborne trade, it was completely obvious that it was the wrong move.

I wish we had Burke and Wilson back.

 

[princedpw]

I think our lack of healthy players is the only reason for our lack of puck control. with two and maybe the top three centers out there is not one team in the NHL that would not be affected. I will hold judgment until we are some what healthy.

I know Bozak has missed some games, but the fact he's tied for 292th in assists doesn't sit well even when he does return.

That's the kind of stat that lead many to prefer keeping Grabbo ...

 

[princedpw]

Even with Kadri out for 3 games, I hope this van Riemsdyk at centre experiment ends. He's a winger. He's more effective at the wing. That's where he should be.

So who centers for JVR/Kessel?  McClement?

I think it would be interesting to try mcclement with kessel and JVR.  Mcclement just needs to get the puck to them.

I'd go raymond with Lupul and Clarkson.

3rd and 4th lines?  who knows.

 

[Stickytape]

Given that the Leafs are second only to Philly in PIM, I'm wary of leaning too hard on McClement.

Honestly, here's the bottom line for me in all this mess: If we lose either of these games to Buffalo, I'm blaming all this crap.

 

[TML fan]

Even with Kadri out for 3 games, I hope this van Riemsdyk at centre experiment ends. He's a winger. He's more effective at the wing. That's where he should be.

So who centers for JVR/Kessel?  McClement?

Smithson

 

[mr grieves]

So our current centres...

JVR (3 games)
McClement
Smith
Smithson

... have 2 points in 32 games.

So Joe Colborne has outscored them 2:1.  Good thing we have Orr+McLaren+Ashton+Bodie+Smith.  I was never the biggest fan of Colborne, but when you carry a roster of wingers who play exclusively on the wing, your 13th/14th/15th forwards NEED to play up the middle.

At the time of the Colborne trade, it was completely obvious that it was the wrong move.

I wish we had Burke and Wilson back.

Nuh uh! Hindsight. Who could've foreseen that professional hockey players would sustain injuries in the course of a season?

 

[Jalili]

The Sabres have to be licking their lips. Back-to-back games against a team minus its 1st/2nd/3rd line centers.

 

[MetalRaven]

So our current centres...

JVR (3 games)
McClement
Smith
Smithson

... have 2 points in 32 games.

So Joe Colborne has outscored them 2:1.  Good thing we have Orr+McLaren+Ashton+Bodie+Smith.  I was never the biggest fan of Colborne, but when you carry a roster of wingers who play exclusively on the wing, your 13th/14th/15th forwards NEED to play up the middle.

At the time of the Colborne trade, it was completely obvious that it was the wrong move.

I wish we had Burke and Wilson back.

Nuh uh! Hindsight. Who could've foreseen that professional hockey players would sustain injuries in the course of a season?

Foresight? thats just hockus-pockery akin to Astrology, palm readin' and Miss Cleo

now get outta here you crystal ballin', bone readin' warlock!

 

[louisstamos]

I know he has 0 games of NHL experience, and he's still really young - but call up McKegg and give him a shot on the 2nd line...he's the centre with the most offensive potential that I see on the farm...

I guess both Bozak and Kadri can return against the Preds on the 21st?