General Leafs Talk

[bustaheims]

So what is Kadri's glaring issue?

I'd say size/strength.

At 6'0", ~190 lbs, I wouldn't call size an issue (though, it's not an asset either - in terms of size, he's neither here nor there). As for strength . . . it did seem to be an issue for him when he was up last season, but, I'd like to see what his offseason conditioning program has done for him - it could well be something that's resolved already.

 

[cw]

So what is Kadri's glaring issue?

I'd say size/strength.

I'd expand that to defensive ability maybe relating to sense or aptitude - to the extent that Burke/Wilson seem to have written him off as a potential center because of it.

That's not to say he can't improve that part of his game though.

I also agree heartily with Busta - way, way too soon to declare him a bust.

 

[lamajama]

Now whether he meets the lofty expectations of the organization is another question...

That's an interesting comment. Is this "lofty expectations" being driven by fans in forums such as this or indeed by the Leafs for Naz? The fact the Leafs haven't developed what you would call a "significant" home grown drafted talent in the last 30+ years is pretty telling. Much of that is p-poor drafting and some of it is giving up on players quickly.

I'm not that disappointed at all in what he's done so far but obviously would have loved him to have entered the league in a Calder-worthy debut but I'm also content to let him gain strength and D awareness. As far as the offensive skills go, he's on par with anyone in the organization as evidenced by his shootout skills.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

So what is Kadri's glaring issue?

I'd say size/strength.

At 6'0", ~190 lbs, I wouldn't call size an issue (though, it's not an asset either - in terms of size, he's neither here nor there). As for strength . . . it did seem to be an issue for him when he was up last season, but, I'd like to see what his offseason conditioning program has done for him - it could well be something that's resolved already.

He was saying he thought he bulked up too much for last season and it affected his speed, so he has dropped a few pounds for this year and worked on his speed/agility in the summer.  I'm hoping that it is noticeable.

EDIT: Seems to jive with Wilson's comments too:

?He?s still young, still has things to learn, and he?s showing improvement. Just what I saw today was better than anything he brought to the table, even at the end (of last season), when he was playing quite a lot. He looked half-a-step to a step quicker.?

 

[Kin]

At 6'0", ~190 lbs, I wouldn't call size an issue (though, it's not an asset either - in terms of size, he's neither here nor there).

If that's legitimately how big he is, sure. I've heard conflicting reports on that though.

As for strength . . . it did seem to be an issue for him when he was up last season, but, I'd like to see what his offseason conditioning program has done for him - it could well be something that's resolved already.

Sure. Like I said, it's something that needs resolving. I acknowledge it may get resolved.

 

[bustaheims]

If that's legitimately how big he is, sure. I've heard conflicting reports on that though.

Those are the official numbers. So, assuming the Leafs fudge their numbers in roughly the same proportions as the rest of the league . . .

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

"It's the best place to play in the league," said Leafs forward Colby Armstrong. "It's unbelievable the support we get here. It's like the best feeling ever. If you have a chance to come play here, it's amazing. It's the best."

...

"I loved playing here as a visitor and playing here as a Maple Leaf, I don't know that there's really words that I can use to describe it," said Liles. "It's just a pretty amazing feeling. I definitely had some nerves going tonight, but we'll work through those as the pre-season goes on. The fans here are fantastic, it's a great hockey city.

"Back from where I'm from, not many people know a whole lot about hockey, so the best description I can give people that I usually say is it's like playing for the New York Yankees. Everybody seems to get it then."

http://www.cp24.com/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110920/110920_toronto_sports/20110920/?hub=CP24Sports

Damn right.  8)

 

[McPwnage]

random note: look at the 12-13 leafs ufa list...

conolley, lupul, lombardi, macarthur, armstrong, bozak.  We can really clean house if things still aren't working then. 

 

[Chev-boyar-sky]

random note: look at the 12-13 leafs ufa list...

conolley, lupul, lombardi, macarthur, armstrong, bozak.  We can really clean house if things still aren't working then.

That's assuming any or all of those players are the problem though....

 

[Tigger]

random note: look at the 12-13 leafs ufa list...

conolley, lupul, lombardi, macarthur, armstrong, bozak.  We can really clean house if things still aren't working then.

That's assuming any or all of those players are the problem though....

With the possibility of acquiring any of Weber, Getzlaf, Perry or Staal that year ( at this point ) it could be a matter of balance.

 

[bustaheims]

With the possibility of acquiring any of Weber, Getzlaf, Perry or Staal that year ( at this point ) it could be a matter of balance.

Yeah. 2013 has potential to be a very interesting summer.

 

[cw]

Leafs brass rethinks lines concept
http://www.torontosun.com/2011/09/22/leafs-brass-rethinks-lines-concept
Remember ?top six,? ?bottom six,? once one of the more bold commandments of Brian Burke and his philosophy for constructing a rugged, winning NHL team?

Haven?t heard much of it around the Leafs lately, have we?

For a variety of reasons, team management has temporarily had to tinker with the concept in attempting to upgrade the forward group.
...

I was hoping they'd do that more than a year ago when there were UFas who could have helped to do so. Better late than never.

Bozak-Armstrong look good together. Having to choose between Kadri & Frattin or a darker horse isn't such a bad problem to have.

 

[Tigger]

?With the top six, bottom six, there has always been a clear division of skill and grinding. That?s not necessarily the case any more.?

Not sure who that quote is from, maybe Nonis, still.

 

[cw]

?With the top six, bottom six, there has always been a clear division of skill and grinding. That?s not necessarily the case any more.?

Not sure who that quote is from, maybe Nonis, still.

Unless I missed someone, he's the only one quoted in the article.

 

[cw]

http://www.torontosun.com/2011/09/22/colborne-likely-headed-to-marllies
Wilson said he had no idea when Mike Brown would get through a lower-body injury to re-join full practice

Hopefully, he's not picking up where he left off last year though with the style he plays, I'd never expect an 82 game season out of him.

 

[hockeyfan1]

With the possibility of acquiring any of Weber, Getzlaf, Perry or Staal that year ( at this point ) it could be a matter of balance.

Yeah. 2013 has potential to be a very interesting summer.

If Burke makes it so.

 

[Bender]

http://capgeek.com/charts.php?Team=4

I can't believe we're the 6th highest team paid team this year.

Yes, I would say summer 2013 looks very interesting. However, I fully expect Burke to start turning over the roster. There's no way he goes forward with this exact team forever. We're going to need to cut down on spending somewhere in order to fit under the cap. I'd hate to see our players walk for nothing.

 

[bustaheims]

With the possibility of acquiring any of Weber, Getzlaf, Perry or Staal that year ( at this point ) it could be a matter of balance.

Yeah. 2013 has potential to be a very interesting summer.

If Burke makes it so.

I didn't mean just for the Leafs.

 

[AvroArrow]

http://capgeek.com/charts.php?Team=4

I can't believe we're the 6th highest team paid team this year.

Yes, I would say summer 2013 looks very interesting. However, I fully expect Burke to start turning over the roster. There's no way he goes forward with this exact team forever. We're going to need to cut down on spending somewhere in order to fit under the cap. I'd hate to see our players walk for nothing.

That's where depth and youth come in.  I've been thinking Grabovski over the last little while, and while I'd like to keep him, if his contract request exceeds the space we have available, we could potentially slot Bozak in as a cheaper replacement (assuming Bozak has the year we all hope he will).  A guy like Colborne then slots in on the 3rd line.

Having depth and youth will allow us to continue to build under the cap (at least, that's the hope).

 

[maplesyrup]

Yup... Still like the 3rd jersey. Actually, I like it even more now that I see some guys wearing it.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2011/09/23/leafs_third_jersey/