Habs @ Leafs - Oct. 8th, 7:00pm - SN, Fan 590
- Thread starter CarltonTheBear
- Start date
GhostofPotvin29
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I think there was a lot to like about Clarkson's game last night, but he still looked utterly unable to use any of his linemates. Felt like whenever he got the puck he'd try some kind of wraparound or initiate contact to try and shield the puck and do something with it. Hopefully that changes going forward if he sticks with that line.
GhostofPotvin29
New member
Joe S. said:
He's playing a whole different game, bro.
CarltonTheBear said:
I don't always agree with Button but to some extent, I feel similarly.
Last night:
Gardiner-Phaneuf
Reilly-Robidas
Percy-Polak
might have been better pairings, providing a more experienced dman for each young dman.
I suspect they're breaking Phaneuf in on the left side in preparation for Franson's return. Franson also plays the right side.
After the way Percy played with Polak, I'm kind of hoping Franson takes his time.
With Granberg & Holzer also righties, I guess part of their thinking is Phaneuf helps them depth wise on the left side (and longer term it might help Phaneuf defensively ..).
Capn_Crunch
New member
freer said:
Takes a big man to put a guy in a full cage in a headlock and try to twist his lid off like he did.
There was a couple of high sticks and picks that were n ot called by the habs as well. Par for the course sadly in Gary's NHL.
Strangelove
New member
Kessel and Bozak looked to be in terrible shape, but that's fairly normal for them for this time of year. That line's terrible possession game and weakness defensively was also not surprising--that was Randy Carlyle hockey through and through.
Dion looked as bad as ever. He's basically Aki Berg at this point and has no business getting 25 minutes a game.
Why is David Clarkson getting powerplay time? Ah yes, Randy Carlyle.
Percy and Kozun were pleasant surprises.
The second line should have played far more than it did.
On to the next game.
Dion looked as bad as ever. He's basically Aki Berg at this point and has no business getting 25 minutes a game.
Why is David Clarkson getting powerplay time? Ah yes, Randy Carlyle.
Percy and Kozun were pleasant surprises.
The second line should have played far more than it did.
On to the next game.
I don't have grand expectations for this roster so the game was somewhat as I expected.
A tough thing this year are all the changes to the coaches, personnel and system. It's probably going to take them 10-20 games to settle in.
On the glass-half-full side, I thought a lot of the new players did decently.
They were a pretty weak faceoff team last year and this year they look weaker. If they want to improve their possession numbers, this could use some work.
A tough thing this year are all the changes to the coaches, personnel and system. It's probably going to take them 10-20 games to settle in.
On the glass-half-full side, I thought a lot of the new players did decently.
They were a pretty weak faceoff team last year and this year they look weaker. If they want to improve their possession numbers, this could use some work.
Strangelove
New member
Bullfrog said:
I really don't think so. When he played for the Leafs he was a slow but solid second-pairingish defenceman with stone hands. Which is exactly what Dion seems to be at this point, plus some offensive acumen.
Granted, Dion plays better when Randy isn't running him out there as much as he usually does. But by and large he's a mediocre player at both ends of the ice.
GhostofPotvin29
New member
Strangelove said:
He's not a mediocre player at both ends of the ice, and this was reflected in his numbers until Carlyle came on board and a) had him play a side he hasn't played his whole career (the left side) and b) took away his offensive contributions by not only continuing to play him on his strong side on the PP (and basically negating any chance of his shot as a weapon, reflected in lowest shot totals of his career) and killing him with terrible zone starts and tough minutes (with probably some of the worst partners for a 1st line D in the entire league - at one point it was Holzer). This is seen in the article I'll post below.
He didn't and never has looked like Aki Berg and Aki Berg never had to play the kind of minutes Phaneuf has played. Phaneuf's clearly quicker than Berg. And that's not even touching on the fact that Berg never put up close to even Phaneuf's worst season in points. It's hyperbolic.
This sums it up well:
http://mapleleafshotstove.com/2014/03/28/the-decline-of-dion-phaneuf/
Palmateer29
New member
Strangelove said:
Personally I didn't think he was that bad but I understand having players you don't like and they can do no right at all. Mine is Franson, don't like him, never liked him and I think he is a terrible defenseman.... but that's just my opinion. I'd much rather see Percy play than Franson.
Riddle me this:
What do all these NHL head coaches have in common:
Jim Playfair
Mike Keenan
Brent Sutter
Ron Wilson
Randy Carlyle
?
Answer: with their jobs on the line, they all gave Phaneuf top minutes on their D's
Only in his rookie season, Darryl Sutter played him in his top 4.
I just cannot believe Brian Burke and that many top flight NHL coaches got collectively stupid about Phaneuf.
He has some flaws. He's overpaid some. But in my opinion, like those NHL coaches thought, he's the best dman on this team right now.
What do all these NHL head coaches have in common:
Jim Playfair
Mike Keenan
Brent Sutter
Ron Wilson
Randy Carlyle
?
Answer: with their jobs on the line, they all gave Phaneuf top minutes on their D's
Only in his rookie season, Darryl Sutter played him in his top 4.
I just cannot believe Brian Burke and that many top flight NHL coaches got collectively stupid about Phaneuf.
He has some flaws. He's overpaid some. But in my opinion, like those NHL coaches thought, he's the best dman on this team right now.
