Kerfoot, Ceci contracts

[slapshot]

It's clear the Leafs are pretty high on Kerfoot to extend him for four years right off the bat, at slightly more than Kappy and Johnny. Does that mean we should expect him to perform slightly better than those two? If so, I am definitely pleased with the signing. I guess we can only wait and see. How do people feel about the deal?

I think more intriguing is the whole Cody Ceci picture and what people are making of him? While I know he is not an advanced stats darling, he also played on a really bad team, with crappy defensive partners and was expected to shutdown the opposition's top lines with not much help. Perhaps it was a case of him either trying to do too much or just getting overwhelmed by what was asked of him. I can honestly say I have not watched him near enough to form any kind of insightful opinion, so I am prepared to leave the jury out on him until until I can watch him as a Leaf for at least half a season, unless he shows himself to be obviously terrible pretty quick. I doubt that will happen, at least I sure hope not.
I think both sides in his contract settlement are taking a "prove your worth" attitude here, which may be the best way to go. He seems to have the raw tools, so it may just be a question of whether in a new environment they can help him with his decision making and/or if the Leafs system better suits him. I'm prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt. Though not a d-man, I know Kadri used to make a lot of super bad turnovers with the puck, but under Babcock he really cut down his bad decisions and actually became very crafty with the puck. Who knows what will happen with Ceci, but if the Leafs can mold him into the kind of defencemen people thought he could be when he was first drafted, that would be a real coup. If not, they can choose to cut him loose after the season and reuse that cap space elsewhere. Probably worth the gamble.

 

[Highlander]

I believe I watched him when they were in the last playoffs and he stood out to me, made a lot of good plays. Of course the pylon was probably attached to him.

 

[Guilt Trip]

I believe I watched him when they were in the last playoffs and he stood out to me, made a lot of good plays. Of course the pylon was probably attached to him.

That's what Dubas said also. They watched him during the run and liked what they saw. If he plays for the Leafs, we'll see if they're right.

 

[Kin]

His advanced numbers were just as bad on the teams that made the playoffs as they were on the bottom of the league Sens teams so blaming it on the team seems pretty questionable.

 

[bustaheims]

His advanced numbers were just as bad on the teams that made the playoffs as they were on the bottom of the league Sens teams so blaming it on the team seems pretty questionable.

That's true, though, one of those years was his first full season and only his second season on an NHL roster - where some growing pains were to be expected (and his numbers that season aren't terrible, either - very much in the average range), and the other saw Erik Karlsson put up a career worst Corsi of 50.1%. So, while Ceci was clearly not great at driving possession, he definitely did not play for teams that were particularly good at driving possession as a whole, even in seasons where they made the playoffs.

 

[Kin]

His advanced numbers were just as bad on the teams that made the playoffs as they were on the bottom of the league Sens teams so blaming it on the team seems pretty questionable.

That's true, though, one of those years was his first full season and only his second season on an NHL roster - where some growing pains were to be expected (and his numbers that season aren't terrible, either - very much in the average range), and the other saw Erik Karlsson put up a career worst Corsi of 50.1%. So, while Ceci was clearly not great at driving possession, he definitely did not play for teams that were particularly good at driving possession as a whole, even in seasons where they made the playoffs.

It is largely true. His numbers are pretty consistent over the last 4 years whether the Sens were at 67 or 85 or 98 points.

 

[bustaheims]

It is largely true. His numbers are pretty consistent over the last 4 years whether the Sens were at 67 or 85 or 98 points.

True, but in that time period, the Sens, as a team, did not have strong possession numbers. They put up 98 points in a season where they had a Corsi of 48.57% - and that was their high water mark in that time frame. Ceci didn't help, but he also didn't have a lot of help.

 

[Kin]

True, but in that time period, the Sens, as a team, did not have strong possession numbers. They put up 98 points in a season where they had a Corsi of 48.57% - and that was their high water mark in that time frame. Ceci didn't help, but he also didn't have a lot of help.

But is that the argument being made? That on a sufficiently good possession team that the rising tide will lift Ceci's raw numbers to something not terrible even if they're still not good relative to the team? Because I feel like I could make that argument for any number of guys the Leafs could sign for the minimum.

 

[Strangelove]

Ceci seems like a truly awful defensive player who panics in his own end and doesn't/can't control gaps or prevent the other team from getting shots. I'd love to be proven wrong but to me he just looks like Zaitsev (and may be even weaker on the puck), with slightly more offensive talent.

This is still a great deal given that we got out from under Zaitsev's and Brown's contracts, but I can't for the life of me figure out why Dubas willingly chose to sign Ceci. Maybe there was a handshake agreement in place to give him a chance at the time the deal closed?

 

[Bender]

Ceci seems like a truly awful defensive player who panics in his own end and doesn't/can't control gaps or prevent the other team from getting shots. I'd love to be proven wrong but to me he just looks like Zaitsev (and may be even weaker on the puck), with slightly more offensive talent.

This is still a great deal given that we got out from under Zaitsev's and Brown's contracts, but I can't for the life of me figure out why Dubas willingly chose to sign Ceci. Maybe there was a handshake agreement in place to give him a chance at the time the deal closed?

Arvind made a good point and said maybe it's about managing the relationship with Babcock.

 

[Guilt Trip]

This is still a great deal given that we got out from under Zaitsev's

This is what we need to keep focused on. To dump Zaitsev who demanded to be traded we had to take some crap back. Will he work out to be a serviceable 4th/5th guy, who knows? One thing we do know, Ceci's hockey career is on the line here. He has to prove himself this coming season or he'll be done so we know he'll be motivated. I think we're going to see him with Rielly, who is better with the puck then anyone he's ever played with in Ottawa. Will it be good enough? Again, who knows? If it doesn't work out they can try to trade him, put him in the minors or the pressbox. Maybe Robidas island lol. I hope it works out for all.

 

[Bender]

This is still a great deal given that we got out from under Zaitsev's

This is what we need to keep focused on. To dump Zaitsev who demanded to be traded we had to take some crap back. Will he work out to be a serviceable 4th/5th guy, who knows? One thing we do know, Ceci's hockey career is on the line here. He has to prove himself this coming season or he'll be done so we know he'll be motivated. I think we're going to see him with Rielly, who is better with the puck then anyone he's ever played with in Ottawa. Will it be good enough? Again, who knows? If it doesn't work out they can try to trade him, put him in the minors or the pressbox. Maybe Robidas island lol. I hope it works out for all.

We could've worked something through the arb process and walked away or just traded him straight up for anything. We really don't *have* to keep him.

 

[Guilt Trip]

This is still a great deal given that we got out from under Zaitsev's

This is what we need to keep focused on. To dump Zaitsev who demanded to be traded we had to take some crap back. Will he work out to be a serviceable 4th/5th guy, who knows? One thing we do know, Ceci's hockey career is on the line here. He has to prove himself this coming season or he'll be done so we know he'll be motivated. I think we're going to see him with Rielly, who is better with the puck then anyone he's ever played with in Ottawa. Will it be good enough? Again, who knows? If it doesn't work out they can try to trade him, put him in the minors or the pressbox. Maybe Robidas island lol. I hope it works out for all.

We could've worked something through the arb process and walked away or just traded him straight up for anything. We really don't *have* to keep him.

Totally agree. Sounds like the Leafs did work something out with him. Not totally sure of the arb rules but I think they have to offer a 10% raise for qualifying??? He made 4.3 last year so I guess it would be a 4.73ish QO, so they saved 273K. I thought they'd go to arb and then walk away but what we think is best and what the Leafs decided aren't the same thoughts. Like I said though, we'll have to see how it turns out and hopefully it does for all.