How have the Leafs made out this off-season?

[caver]

I don't think we're going to get a real argument from anyone about Burke's rather large mouth and how he should keep it shut.

I would argue that. He could be more careful about his statements in this hockey-mad market because people will hang on every word and hold it against him. But I don't want him to go quiet either. Burke is a straight-talker and if he is pissed he will tell you.I loved his comments ripping ESPN. Any network that puts hockey behind bowling and snooker needs a good call-out.

 

[Corn Flake]

Probably old news as I get caught up from being away a few days but I didn't see these posted anywhere;

James Mirtle ‏@mirtle
Randy Carlyle says reports that JVR will play centre were all overblown. Wants to try different things down middle, etc.

David Alter ‏@DavidAlter590
Carlyle says talk that JVR centring the top line is premature at this point. #leafs

Hopefully someone really steps up and surprises.

This isn't really surprising.  A bit too much "think out loud" was going on from Burke (normal) back when the trade happened.

As it has been mentioned, barring a massive dip in Lupul or Kessel's performances, it's not as if the top line is the big reason this team failed last year and will get by ok with Bozak in the role or perhaps Connolly if he can get it together for any sustained period.  They are both decent gap fillers for the time being.  Oh and also, better to consider Grabbo the #1 centre... feels better that way.

 

[Redleaf]

Probably old news as I get caught up from being away a few days but I didn't see these posted anywhere;

James Mirtle ‏@mirtle
Randy Carlyle says reports that JVR will play centre were all overblown. Wants to try different things down middle, etc.

David Alter ‏@DavidAlter590
Carlyle says talk that JVR centring the top line is premature at this point. #leafs

Hopefully someone really steps up and surprises.

This isn't really surprising.  A bit too much "think out loud" was going on from Burke (normal) back when the trade happened.

As it has been mentioned, barring a massive dip in Lupul or Kessel's performances, it's not as if the top line is the big reason this team failed last year and will get by ok with Bozak in the role or perhaps Connolly if he can get it together for any sustained period.  They are both decent gap fillers for the time being.  Oh and also, better to consider Grabbo the #1 centre... feels better that way.

Agreed. In fact, I see Bozak centering that top line again this season, at least until their production tails off. I think we see JVR on the wing, perhaps on the 2nd line. It's the D and goaltending that has to tighten up. Hopefully Carlyle can get the forwards to be more mindful of their defensive responsibilities. If they can play all around better defence without losing too much on offensive side they should be alright. It's asking a lot, but I really hope we see some improvement under Carlyle this season.

 

[caver]

Agreed. So if it is Bozak/Connolly as a center in the top six then the winger spot gets interesting. Lupul and Kessel are a line so JVR, MacArthur, Kulemin and Kadri fight it out for the 2 remaining spots.

 

[Corn Flake]

Agreed. In fact, I see Bozak centering that top line again this season, at least until their production tails off. I think we see JVR on the wing, perhaps on the 2nd line. It's the D and goaltending that has to tighten up. Hopefully Carlyle can get the forwards to be more mindful of their defensive responsibilities. If they can play all around better defence without losing too much on offensive side they should be alright. It's asking a lot, but I really hope we see some improvement under Carlyle this season.

Yeah I hope that coaching is going to do more for the defensive improvement than changing up the bodies.  In general the players they have *should* be better than they are.  I'm not saying they should be tops in the league, but respectable.  It's the goaltending stability that makes or breaks it, of course.

 

[Corn Flake]

Agreed. So if it is Bozak/Connolly as a center in the top six then the winger spot gets interesting. Lupul and Kessel are a line so JVR, MacArthur, Kulemin and Kadri fight it out for the 2 remaining spots.

Injuries make the extra body issue a moot one.  Safe to assume one of the top six jobs is open due to that most of the season.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

I don't think we're going to get a real argument from anyone about Burke's rather large mouth and how he should keep it shut.

I would argue that. He could be more careful about his statements in this hockey-mad market because people will hang on every word and hold it against him. But I don't want him to go quiet either. Burke is a straight-talker and if he is pissed he will tell you.I loved his comments ripping ESPN. Any network that puts hockey behind bowling and snooker needs a good call-out.

Ok, I can't disagree with that. The game definitely needs a few big mouths. Perhaps I should of said, he should choose his spots more carefully. You know that people in Leaf nation and hockey for that matter hang on the comments of the Leaf GM. Maurice was hung out to dry a few years ago when he said the team would compete for the Cup.
Simply, the promises, and the statements that don't need to be said, shouldn't be said. Calling out ESPN is one thing.

 

[bustaheims]

Yeah I hope that coaching is going to do more for the defensive improvement than changing up the bodies.  In general the players they have *should* be better than they are.  I'm not saying they should be tops in the league, but respectable.  It's the goaltending stability that makes or breaks it, of course.

When it comes to defence, system is generally more important than talent. It doesn't matter what kind of defensive talent you have if the system sucks, just like so many teams played a smothering defensive system like the talent fairly effectively despite not having a high level of talent to work with. Of course, the linchpin of any good defensive system is the goalie, so, an improvement from Reimer or an emergence from Scrivens/Rynnas/Owuya is really the most important thing the Leafs need this season.

 

[Kin]

Calling out ESPN is one thing.

Kind of a dumb thing though. All ESPN did was publish the results of a fan survey. It's Leafs fans that are unhappy with the team/organization. That's not ESPN's fault.

 

[Bullfrog]

I found Burke's ripping of ESPN strange as well. I wonder if he even read ESPN's survey.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I'm sure he just felt obligated to defend the team when asked about it, in his over-the-top way.

 

[Corn Flake]

I'm sure he just felt obligated to defend the team when asked about it, in his over-the-top way.

Well that's just it.  I don't think he even commented on the survey itself, just reacted to the question and said ESPN knows nothing about hockey or Canada. 

We should be used to him yelling at things by now. 

 

[lamajama]

Regarding improvement under Carlyle, I for one among many I'm sure, was frustrated with the Leafs inability to play even marginally in their own end under Wilson. I would expect that Carlyle will improve this a great deal and this alone should improve us points-wise.

However....the cluster-crap that was Leafs hockey under Carlyle was IMO surprising as the offense turned to dust as they tried to adapt to Carlyle's system. I would have thought a far quicker adaption of his methods would have been seen. That alone scares me. As far as Kessel goes, he'll struggle as the system moves to more of a trap. I hope their relationship will stay positive as if Phil's output drops then more pressure will rain down on Phil and IMO that's a really bad thing for Kessel's state of mind.

 

[princedpw]

I'm sure he just felt obligated to defend the team when asked about it, in his over-the-top way.

Of course.  If somebody slags your brand, and you are in charge, you slag them back.

 

[Kin]

I'm sure he just felt obligated to defend the team when asked about it, in his over-the-top way.

I'm sure he did. And while I know that being loudly opinionated while largely ignoring the facts of the matter so as to advance one's own agenda has proven super, duper popular on talk radio and cable news it's still pretty obnoxious.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I'm sure he just felt obligated to defend the team when asked about it, in his over-the-top way.

I'm sure he did. And while I know that being loudly opinionated while largely ignoring the facts of the matter so as to advance one's own agenda has proven super, duper popular on talk radio and cable news it's still pretty obnoxious.

I guess to some people it's obnoxious, to others it's not, the same as I'm sure some posters on this site come across as obnoxious to some and not to others.  Don't think it matters much in the scheme of things.

 

[Chev-boyar-sky]

I'm sure he just felt obligated to defend the team when asked about it, in his over-the-top way.

I'm sure he did. And while I know that being loudly opinionated while largely ignoring the facts of the matter so as to advance one's own agenda has proven super, duper popular on talk radio and cable news it's still pretty obnoxious.

I guess to some people it's obnoxious, to others it's not, the same as I'm sure some posters on this site come across as obnoxious to some and not to others.  Don't think it matters much in the scheme of things.

Bill O'Reilly has a job opening for you.

 

[Rebel_1812]

I'm sure he just felt obligated to defend the team when asked about it, in his over-the-top way.

I'm sure he did. And while I know that being loudly opinionated while largely ignoring the facts of the matter so as to advance one's own agenda has proven super, duper popular on talk radio and cable news it's still pretty obnoxious.

I guess to some people it's obnoxious, to others it's not, the same as I'm sure some posters on this site come across as obnoxious to some and not to others.  Don't think it matters much in the scheme of things.

Still better then JFJ which was the opposite end of the spectrum.  Even if asked about what he thought about the weather, his answer would be he could neither confirm nor deny on the matter.  Its good to have someone that wants to talk to the media in the media capital of hockey.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I'm sure he just felt obligated to defend the team when asked about it, in his over-the-top way.

I'm sure he did. And while I know that being loudly opinionated while largely ignoring the facts of the matter so as to advance one's own agenda has proven super, duper popular on talk radio and cable news it's still pretty obnoxious.

I guess to some people it's obnoxious, to others it's not, the same as I'm sure some posters on this site come across as obnoxious to some and not to others.  Don't think it matters much in the scheme of things.

Bill O'Reilly has a job opening for you.

Hate that guy.

 

[Kin]

I guess to some people it's obnoxious, to others it's not, the same as I'm sure some posters on this site come across as obnoxious to some and not to others.

Fair enough, I suppose a dogged obligation to defend the team in spite of the facts would strike some posters as pretty relatable.