Leafs acquire Galchenyuk from Carolina

[herman]

Vesey gets a womp womp

JH: Everyone can improve!
JH: except for Vesey lol

I see these two as the same bet. Former highly touted player that has a hitch (or two or three) in their game that could be a cheap something if it can get ironed out in time. I do really like his idea of drilling on a player's strength (easy motivation) while incorporating movements/requirements that surreptitiously drills on something that needs to be corrected (edgework, in Galchenyuk's case).

For Vesey, it looks like he needs to work on how to mentally separate his hands from his feet. A lot of his falling (lol) comes on trying to receive and make plays in stride (i.e. letting the pass reception and positioning load a shot or follow up pass) which is how better players give themselves more time and space. I think they identified something in his skating that he's been trying to fix in game, hence the occasional stumble.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/JhanHky/status/1363488612017446917

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/scottcwheeler/status/1364363553562648576

https://twitter.com/jclipperton_cp/status/1364296620033064963

 

[OldTimeHockey]

https://twitter.com/scottcwheeler/status/1364363553562648576

Imagine having those numbers and scoring in 3 out of 5 games and still getting shuffled all over the league. His confidence is shot. It's partly his job to get out of that. It's also on a coaching staff to support him getting out of it.

 

[herman]

Imagine having those numbers and scoring in 3 out of 5 games and still getting shuffled all over the league. His confidence is shot. It's partly his job to get out of that. It's also on a coaching staff to support him getting out of it.

From what is evident in his history of minutes and usage and results: Montreal anointed him early and they got some good results (PDO, other play drivers sheltering Galchenyuk). If they noticed his skating issues, they certainly did not make any concerted effort to fix it and just used him for his scoring until it dried up and the skating flaws became defensively more glaring.

Future pitstops were looking to buy scoring depth, not defensive lapses, and certainly not an older developmental project.

The Leafs, with their resources, and quite possibly hubris about their Dev Team, see an opportunity to work on a fixer-upper for a very nominal cost. In a cap-strapped environment, I love that they are making this bet.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/lukefoxjukebox/status/1376165036704546817

 

[Bender]

https://twitter.com/lukefoxjukebox/status/1376165036704546817

That A frame stance is so weird. Is that really how some players are taught? It seems so awkward that you wouldn't even gravitate toward that stance when learning to skate.

 

[Guilt Trip]

https://twitter.com/lukefoxjukebox/status/1376165036704546817

That A frame stance is so weird. Is that really how some players are taught? It seems so awkward that you wouldn't even gravitate toward that stance when learning to skate.

I don't think that's the classic A stance because he's not cutting/driving the net or anything. He's making a pass and trying to protect the puck for Bear. His left leg almost had to go like that to get the pass to Tavares.
I don't know if he was taught this or it's something he picked up on when he was younger and had some success. The issue with Galchenyuk is it's never been corrected because he was scoring at a decent rate so they didn't take the time. It appears so far that the Leafs did so we'll see if he can improve. I like what I see so far.

 

[dappleganger]

A-frame:

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

https://twitter.com/lukefoxjukebox/status/1376165036704546817

That A frame stance is so weird. Is that really how some players are taught? It seems so awkward that you wouldn't even gravitate toward that stance when learning to skate.

I feel fairly strongly I've seen Kadri skate that way on occasion and in some circumstances.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

https://twitter.com/lukefoxjukebox/status/1376165036704546817

That A frame stance is so weird. Is that really how some players are taught? It seems so awkward that you wouldn't even gravitate toward that stance when learning to skate.

I feel fairly strongly I've seen Kadri skate that way on occasion and in some circumstances.

Look at the stance that Kadri takes in most of these shootout goals:

https://youtu.be/whwP7zJ-TEg

 

[dappleganger]

A-frame:

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

https://twitter.com/lukefoxjukebox/status/1376165036704546817

That A frame stance is so weird. Is that really how some players are taught? It seems so awkward that you wouldn't even gravitate toward that stance when learning to skate.

I feel fairly strongly I've seen Kadri skate that way on occasion and in some circumstances.

Look at the stance that Kadri takes in most of these shootout goals:

https://youtu.be/whwP7zJ-TEg

Not to keep quoting myself but...

When messing around in free skates/practices in the past, I've experimented at slow speed with the getting a feel for the wide "A" stance as a tool in my extremely limited toolbox. I can't remember which player or players may have made me think of trying it out, though it may well have been Kadri. Anyway, without being on the ice at the moment to try it out, I recall the "advantage" of it, such as it is, is that you can lean back on either skate to use that heel abruptly as a pivot point for a turn guided by the other skate in either direction. In principle, if done properly you can change direction relatively significantly without using a lot of actual leg movements or use of the knees.

Arguably it may be deceptive to opponents or goalies, and/or it may go easy on the knees if there's a history of knee problems. I think it may also take a little less physical effort to pivot this way in some circumstances.

Anyway, that's my two cents. It definitely felt kind of cool to create directional movement on the ice without really moving my legs.

For the parents, the pivoting movement on the ice reminded me a lot of the Plasma Car my kids used to have, if anybody remembers them. The car literally moves forward by pivoting the front wheels back and forth.

 

[ZBBM]

Marner will do this sometimes.

 

[herman]

Nothing wrong with using the A for breakaways/shootouts; the leg out actually blocks stick checks from behind a bit. The problem is using it as your only means of changing directions when playing the puck, or receiving passes, because it is quite limiting in dynamism and agility, and basically makes you a turnover machine.

 

[Arn]

https://theathletic.com/2486552/2021/03/31/alex-galchenyuk-maple-leafs/

An interesting article, for those with access.

Basically points out the level of "desperation" he's played with and how hard he's been willing to work to take what may have felt like his last NHL chance. And also that he's a bit more tenacious of a player in terms of forechecking and puck retireval than many might have expected.

Also finishes with a nice quote from Galchenyuk that shines a good light on Dubas/the Leafs

?Since day one I got here, they were straightforward,? said Galchenyuk. ?They wanted to really work on my game, really work on my skill-set. It was just great to see an organization like that, to appreciate me as a player and see what I can add and what I can do. They took time. The best I can do is go out there on the ice and help the team win.?[//quote]

Have to say when the trade went down I was a bit "ehhhhhh" but taking their time to work with him they already seem to have pulled off a clever move. He's not going to be the guy who takes the Leafs from playoff team to cup contender, but he's definitely added much more than I would have anticipated.

 

[Zee]

https://theathletic.com/2486552/2021/03/31/alex-galchenyuk-maple-leafs/

An interesting article, for those with access.

Basically points out the level of "desperation" he's played with and how hard he's been willing to work to take what may have felt like his last NHL chance. And also that he's a bit more tenacious of a player in terms of forechecking and puck retireval than many might have expected.

Also finishes with a nice quote from Galchenyuk that shines a good light on Dubas/the Leafs

?Since day one I got here, they were straightforward,? said Galchenyuk. ?They wanted to really work on my game, really work on my skill-set. It was just great to see an organization like that, to appreciate me as a player and see what I can add and what I can do. They took time. The best I can do is go out there on the ice and help the team win.?

Have to say when the trade went down I was a bit "ehhhhhh" but taking their time to work with him they already seem to have pulled off a clever move. He's not going to be the guy who takes the Leafs from playoff team to cup contender, but he's definitely added much more than I would have anticipated.

He definitely has skill, it's whether or not he can bring effectiveness in most games.  It was a low-risk move by the Leafs, no commitment at all but if it works for this year's playoff run it will have been a huge success. I'm routing for the guy of course.

 

[rdowdall]

https://theathletic.com/2486552/2021/03/31/alex-galchenyuk-maple-leafs/

An interesting article, for those with access.

Basically points out the level of "desperation" he's played with and how hard he's been willing to work to take what may have felt like his last NHL chance. And also that he's a bit more tenacious of a player in terms of forechecking and puck retireval than many might have expected.

Also finishes with a nice quote from Galchenyuk that shines a good light on Dubas/the Leafs

?Since day one I got here, they were straightforward,? said Galchenyuk. ?They wanted to really work on my game, really work on my skill-set. It was just great to see an organization like that, to appreciate me as a player and see what I can add and what I can do. They took time. The best I can do is go out there on the ice and help the team win.?

Have to say when the trade went down I was a bit "ehhhhhh" but taking their time to work with him they already seem to have pulled off a clever move. He's not going to be the guy who takes the Leafs from playoff team to cup contender, but he's definitely added much more than I would have anticipated.

He definitely has skill, it's whether or not he can bring effectiveness in most games.  It was a low-risk move by the Leafs, no commitment at all but if it works for this year's playoff run it will have been a huge success. I'm routing for the guy of course.

Like a cabinet, or desk?  Or do you plan how he gets to the rink every day?

 

[herman]

Skillsy players need to play with other skillsy players to succeed. looks like Galchenyuk is currently providing that missing element from the Tavares line: a third banana that could continue the offensive cycle/chain and help get the puck into pew pew spots. Tavares continues to turn over* the puck like a madman, so Galchenyuk's dedication to forechecking (and Keefe's dedication to OZ starts for them) helps give them 2nd, 3rd opportunities on those pucks.

* fortunately, Tavares is pretty good at getting it back, and more opportunities arise when the defense shifts to offense and suddenly has to revert.

 

[Matthews34]

It?s really encouraging to see Galchenyuk play so well. He?s always had the skill set to be a top six forward for any NHL team. Hopefully he continues his strong play and the chemistry we?re seeing with him Tavares and Nylander continues to grow.