Leafs @ Capitals - Jan. 3rd, 7:00pm - TSN4, TSN 1050

[Frank E]

So, that's a no?

 

[bustaheims]

Yeah I feel like a better player who can make plays would actually serve to tax the other team more over time as they would spend time chasing the game more than I think they would with a more traditional 'stay-at-home' type like Polak.  If the end result is more time in your own end then you are the team that is going to be gassed in a physical series first.

Exactly. What you really need are guys that can take the physical abuse, as well as the reduced time and space without having it have a significant impact on their ability to play the puck. Not all of your defencemen need to be Gardiner-esque in terms of their puck handling ability, but, they all need to be able to make a good first pass and skate with/protect the puck when no easy passing options are available.

 

[Highlander]

I am getting a sneaking suspicion that Herman is Nik's alter ego. Perhaps the lines are blurring. Can someone get me another valium and Scotch. 2017 has had a rough start and thats just on my liver.

 

[herman]

Guys, where was this beautiful discussion when I brought up the Vicious Cycle of Conservative Defensive Structure last week? The principle extends to 'stay-at-home' players.

It's why we can't hold leads while turtling.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Guys, where was this beautiful discussion when I brought up the Vicious Cycle of Conservative Defensive Structure last week?

I refuse to visit that thread because of how misleading the title is.

 

[herman]

Guys, where was this beautiful discussion when I brought up the Vicious Cycle of Conservative Defensive Structure last week?

I refuse to visit that thread because of how misleading the title is.

Rawr

 

[ZBBM]

Why isn't Corrado playing instead then?

Because Babcock likes to have a guy like Polak, I suppose. He's the decision maker. That doesn't mean he's making the best possible decisions, regardless of his experience or previous accomplishments.

I know, I don't mean to be argumentative.  But the fact that a coach of Babcock's caliber keeps playing him does lend credence to the idea that Polak is bringing more than these possession analyses suggest.

 

[ZBBM]

No offense herman, I take you at your word but all I can say is that it didn't come across that way.  Smith is pretty much what you (less the sarcasms in bold) called him: a stalwart defensive centre and noted penalty kill specialist.  And then you made it sound like the recent PK success is entirely because he's gone.

Look, I am not arguing that Smith is the greatest option or that you can't have an effective kill w/o him -- obviously they've proven they can, and if they can have a good PK with more versatile players, then so long Smith (or anybody else who doesn't measure up).  What bugs me is when people start harping on  players at the bottom of the roster.  It just rubs me the wrong way.

I take no offense and you are as entitled to your views. Sorry if my views rub you the wrong way, but I don't know what you have issue with in what I said.

This is exactly what I was saying: our PK is better without Smith and Martin, and by extension, the team at even strength would be better too. My method of persuasion was to juxtapose sports journalism tropes that describe them with what their on-ice performance (or in this case, the team's performance with them off-ice) says about them.

Is your issue with:
a) my thesis that the team is better without Smith (and by extension Hunlak, and Martin sort of)
b) my rhetorical device of 'juxtaposition of the incongruous'
c) my numerical examples used to backup the thesis
d) my harping about players that eat up 17% of each game playing in reverse

I am open to changing my methods to get my point across more smoothly, without emotional friction.

No no no, you don't get it at all.  I just like the underdog.  This is emotion talking, not reason.  (*passes on tempting but gratuitous comment on our recent election*)

 

[Highlander]

Guys, where was this beautiful discussion when I brought up the Vicious Cycle of Conservative Defensive Structure last week?

I refuse to visit that thread because of how misleading the title is.

I refuse to visit that thread because I don't have a clue what it means.

 

[bustaheims]

But the fact that a coach of Babcock's caliber keeps playing him does lend credence to the idea that Polak is bringing more than these possession analyses suggest.

No, it really doesn't. That's a logical fallacy known as an argument/appeal to authority. The fact that Babcock feels as though he provides more - and therefore plays him instead - does not mean he actually does, or lend credence to the idea that he does. Babcock is human, and humans make mistakes - no matter how good they are at something or what they've accomplished in their field. It really doesn't mean anything or lend credence to any idea other than Babcock adhering to the traditional view that defencemen like Polak have positive value.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Guys, where was this beautiful discussion when I brought up the Vicious Cycle of Conservative Defensive Structure last week?

I refuse to visit that thread because of how misleading the title is.

Rawr

That's a Caber, not a log.

Way to appropriate my culture herman.

Geez

;D

 

[herman]

That's a Caber, not a log.

Way to appropriate my culture herman.

Geez

;D

Please forgive me. I am not good at English.  ;D

(No really, please forgive me. I'm pretty sure it's quite insulting to lump Scotland in with England, but it's for the joke!)

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

That's a Caber, not a log.

Way to appropriate my culture herman.

Geez

;D

Please forgive me. I am not good at English.  ;D

(No really, please forgive me. I'm pretty sure it's quite insulting to lump Scotland in with England, but it's for the joke!)

Anything for the punchline. 

 

[Arn]

These indoor games are so 2016.

 

[barney_rebel]

We stink dudes....

 

[herman]

Streak broken =(

 

[azzurri63]

Good thing we started the Kadri line. Komarov chance to move it and then the penalty.

 

[herman]

Gardiner just shook off two forecheckers with his skating and broke out of the zone solo.

 

[Arn]

The Fife Arena that Brown's dad played in still looks exactly the same. They only got glass installed on the boards about 3 years ago. One of the best rinks in the world for the old fashioned uniqueness

 

[azzurri63]

These hooking calls are a joke.