Leafs claim Frazer McLaren on waivers from San Jose

[GhostofPotvin29]

Brown's on IR, he'll likely just take up a roster spot until he's back, then be waived again.

 

[TML fan]

I still don't understand why it's necessary to have Brown and Orr in the lineup at the same time.

Well, Brown's not really there to be a fighter. He's an excellent forechecker and pretty fearless in his own end when it comes to blocking shots and such. He's actually a very useful 4th line guy. I'd actually like to see him be less willing to drop the gloves. He'd be much more valuable as an energy/checking type guy.

I was just going to say this. Brown is actually a decent hockey player. I'm all for him dropping the gloves if there is a reason for it, but the pointless staged fights like the one he had with Prust should be left to someone like Orr if its felt to be absolutely necessary.

 

[bustaheims]

I was just going to say this. Brown is actually a decent hockey player. I'm all for him dropping the gloves if there is a reason for it, but the pointless staged fights like the one he had with Prust should be left to someone like Orr if its felt to be absolutely necessary.

Yeah, that's kind of what I'm looking for out of him as well. The fights that develop naturally from the play getting heated or unnecessary liberties being taken against Leaf players or dirty plays or whatever, I'm okay with, but the fights that happen for the sake of a fight happening . . . I'm not a fan of those, regardless of who is involved. They don't add anything to the game, as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Corn Flake]

Big lad anyway... Orr must be hurt, maybe he wasn't off for a maintenance day?

That, and IMO, going up against Boston without anyone who can push back on their team full ogres is a recipe for getting completely clobbered both on the scoresheet and in the physical dept.  Without Orr and/or Brown, that was looking a little scary.

This guy might not be with the Leafs long, unless Orr is actually legit hurt and not just a pulled groin or something.

That's an asinine line of thinking if thats the reason for this pickup. If the Leafs want to compete that way against Boston, they need big guys who can actually play, not just have pointless fights with Scott Thornton.

Yeah no kidding, except those players don't grow on trees.

My understanding is the Leafs have been trying to acquire players who can play and are tough, to no avail so far.  Sooo the alternative would be you go in with nobody who can stand up to guys on Boston who run us over,  or you add a thug like this guy and at least know you can provide a bit of a presence.

 

[Kin]

Sooo the alternative would be you go in with nobody who can stand up to guys on Boston who run us over,  or you add a thug like this guy and at least know you can provide a bit of a presence.

I'm not sure either one makes much of a difference. The Leafs have dressed guys like Orr and Rosehill and Brown against Boston and it didn't stop the team from getting demolished. Likewise, they've gone without and gotten their butts kicked too. I tried looking back to see if any teams stand out as being particularly good against the Bruins but outside of the Caps and the Pens, I'm not sure there's much in the way of a pattern there.

 

[Corn Flake]

Sooo the alternative would be you go in with nobody who can stand up to guys on Boston who run us over,  or you add a thug like this guy and at least know you can provide a bit of a presence.

I'm not sure either one makes much of a difference. The Leafs have dressed guys like Orr and Rosehill and Brown against Boston and it didn't stop the team from getting demolished. Likewise, they've gone without and gotten their butts kicked too. I tried looking back to see if any teams stand out as being particularly good against the Bruins but outside of the Caps and the Pens, I'm not sure there's much in the way of a pattern there.

Flyers have had success vs. Boston as well.  Both Caps and Pens have employed a fairly high number of "truculent" players.. some just ogres who fight and some who can play too. IMO, beating Boston starts with speed and skill that can get around their defense, but they will turn the game physical if they need to and we've seen them time after time push the Leafs into a corner.  It's not as though not having anyone who can push back puts them in a better position to deal with that.

Having the thug in the lineup isn't going to spell a win, but it will help the other players on the team at least feel they have some protection.  That is the age old theory in hockey, anyway. 

 

[Champ Kind]

He's depth, I guess. My guess is they try to sneak Hamilton back down through waivers so he can lead the Marlies and stick this guy on the 4th line for a week or so until Brown and Orr are both good to go.

I sure hope Hamilton gets a legitimate chance to play.  Actually, I can't see the Leafs exposing him to waivers, especially after his terrific All Star game performance.

 

[Kin]

Flyers have had success vs. Boston as well.

I've got Boston as being 10-1-1 vs. Philly over the last two years, including playoffs, for what it's worth.

Like I said, I get the old theory but just in practice, over the last few years, I really doubt how much it holds true when it comes to the Leafs.

 

[Can8899]

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie
TOR claims Frazer McLaren from SJ.

former 7th rounder.

25 yrs old. 250 lbs, 6' 5"

big left winger who looks like he fights
http://forecaster.faceoff.com/faceoff/hockey/player.php?5761
Not familiar with him

Since he was pulled off waivers, does this mean he starts with the big club? Has to stay with the Leafs?

I could have sworn that just yesterday I heard on a radio show (HNIC Radio I think) that if a waiver claim is made, that player has to remain in the NHL for the rest of the season.  Anyone know if this is the case?

 

[Redleaf]

Pretty good fight here...

http://www.hockeyfights.com/fights/114773

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Nonis explains a bit...

Leafs GM Dave Nonis said head coach Randy Carlyle knows McLaren from his time in Anaheim coaching against the Sharks in the same division and thought he was worth giving a chance to with Brown out.

McLaren is five years younger than the Leafs resident enforcer, Colton Orr, and is on a two-way deal so it?s possible he could spend time in the minors in the organization and/or become a replacement down the road.

 

[Peter D.]

I still don't understand why it's necessary to have Brown and Orr in the lineup at the same time.

Well, Brown's not really there to be a fighter. He's an excellent forechecker and pretty fearless in his own end when it comes to blocking shots and such. He's actually a very useful 4th line guy. I'd actually like to see him be less willing to drop the gloves. He'd be much more valuable as an energy/checking type guy.

I was just going to say this. Brown is actually a decent hockey player. I'm all for him dropping the gloves if there is a reason for it, but the pointless staged fights like the one he had with Prust should be left to someone like Orr if its felt to be absolutely necessary.

I have no problem with Brown being in the lineup for the aforementioned reasons.  It's Orr I really don't care to see in the lineup on a consistent basis.

 

[ZBBM]

But ... didn't Burke pronounce guys like this goon obsolete?  :  Carlyle doesn't think so, to judge from his quote today.

 

[Corn Flake]

Flyers have had success vs. Boston as well.

I've got Boston as being 10-1-1 vs. Philly over the last two years, including playoffs, for what it's worth.

Like I said, I get the old theory but just in practice, over the last few years, I really doubt how much it holds true when it comes to the Leafs.

Right. I was thinking of the playoffs last year but it was the Pens, not the B's that the Flyers took out.  Had the colours in my head right, team wrong.

 

[caver]

Pretty good fight here...

http://www.hockeyfights.com/fights/114773

This guy doesn't look like he is nearly as good a fighter as Orr.

 

[PG]

I can't wait until they remove fighting from hockey, and in turn, meatheads like this. I wonder if this guy could even carry the puck for 3-4 strides? I doubt it.

 

[nutman]

I can't wait until they remove fighting from hockey, and in turn, meatheads like this. I wonder if this guy could even carry the puck for 3-4 strides? I doubt it.

If you dont like it go watch figure skating.

 

[caver]

Geez, I hope this guy is OK. I mean, Cam Janssen was available....

 

[nutman]

Geez, I hope this guy is OK. I mean, Cam Janssen was available....

I hear Carlyle knows him so I think the coach pulled a string on this move.

 

[PG]

I can't wait until they remove fighting from hockey, and in turn, meatheads like this. I wonder if this guy could even carry the puck for 3-4 strides? I doubt it.

If you dont like it go watch figure skating.

Okay?

Or I can keep watching and trust that the NHL will one day progress enough so that it isn't the only major sport that allows fighting as part of the game.