Leafs recall Josh Leivo; JVR out 6-8 weeks with fracture in left foot

[LuncheonMeat]

Would it kill Babs to actually play Leivo instead of playing him 5 minutes one game then benching him the next?

Grabner sucks offensively, Matthias and others, Babs appears to have already written him off, why?

Probably because he was sent to the Marlies over a week ago.

So why not play him, we know he's with the Marlies now. I think he probably has more of a future with the Leafs than Grabner, Matthias, etc. so why not give him enough icetime to show his stuff. I remember RC, when TO traded for Holland, putting Holland on the 1st line, giving him loads of icetime eventually Holland ended up benched or playing very little but at least RC gave him a chance.

I posted this back in January (from Mirtle), but I would think it still holds true.

The Leafs have no time frame on when Nylander will get an NHL opportunity this season (if at all), but when they do make that decision it will be with the intent that he remains for good. The organization believes constant shuttling of prospects hurts their confidence.

Dubas said the club made such mistakes with Leivo and Stuart Percy last season. They don't intend to do so again.
?It?s a nice feeling when they go up and start off well, but then when you start to shuttle them back and forth... it does a number on their confidence,? Dubas noted. ?It leaves them questioning where they?re at and I know from the outside it might be a hard thing for fans or people on the outside to really grasp, but it?s an emotional rollercoaster when you start going up and down as a young player.?

 

[hobarth]

Would it kill Babs to actually play Leivo instead of playing him 5 minutes one game then benching him the next?

Grabner sucks offensively, Matthias and others, Babs appears to have already written him off, why?

Probably because he was sent to the Marlies over a week ago.

So why not play him, we know he's with the Marlies now. I think he probably has more of a future with the Leafs than Grabner, Matthias, etc. so why not give him enough icetime to show his stuff. I remember RC, when TO traded for Holland, putting Holland on the 1st line, giving him loads of icetime eventually Holland ended up benched or playing very little but at least RC gave him a chance.

I posted this back in January (from Mirtle), but I would think it still holds true.

The Leafs have no time frame on when Nylander will get an NHL opportunity this season (if at all), but when they do make that decision it will be with the intent that he remains for good. The organization believes constant shuttling of prospects hurts their confidence.

Dubas said the club made such mistakes with Leivo and Stuart Percy last season. They don't intend to do so again.
?It?s a nice feeling when they go up and start off well, but then when you start to shuttle them back and forth... it does a number on their confidence,? Dubas noted. ?It leaves them questioning where they?re at and I know from the outside it might be a hard thing for fans or people on the outside to really grasp, but it?s an emotional rollercoaster when you start going up and down as a young player.?

So why did they bring up Leivo? I'd think they could have brought up Frattin, Arco or whoever which would be in line with the not yoyoing prospects but they brought up Leivo. I would think that if you bring him up and dress him, you play him, 5 minutes isn't playing him nor is it enough to judge him. 

 

[LuncheonMeat]

Would it kill Babs to actually play Leivo instead of playing him 5 minutes one game then benching him the next?

Grabner sucks offensively, Matthias and others, Babs appears to have already written him off, why?

Probably because he was sent to the Marlies over a week ago.

So why not play him, we know he's with the Marlies now. I think he probably has more of a future with the Leafs than Grabner, Matthias, etc. so why not give him enough icetime to show his stuff. I remember RC, when TO traded for Holland, putting Holland on the 1st line, giving him loads of icetime eventually Holland ended up benched or playing very little but at least RC gave him a chance.

I posted this back in January (from Mirtle), but I would think it still holds true.

The Leafs have no time frame on when Nylander will get an NHL opportunity this season (if at all), but when they do make that decision it will be with the intent that he remains for good. The organization believes constant shuttling of prospects hurts their confidence.

Dubas said the club made such mistakes with Leivo and Stuart Percy last season. They don't intend to do so again.
?It?s a nice feeling when they go up and start off well, but then when you start to shuttle them back and forth... it does a number on their confidence,? Dubas noted. ?It leaves them questioning where they?re at and I know from the outside it might be a hard thing for fans or people on the outside to really grasp, but it?s an emotional rollercoaster when you start going up and down as a young player.?

So why did they bring up Leivo? I'd think they could have brought up Frattin, Arco or whoever which would be in line with the not yoyoing prospects but they brought up Leivo. I would think that if you bring him up and dress him, you play him, 5 minutes isn't playing him nor is it enough to judge him.

I believe he was recalled because of JVR's injury. Beyond that, I can't say we he was chosen specifically. He is having a pretty good year in the AHL, so perhaps he was given a couple games as a reward. I believe Babcock mentioned at some point as well, that it's good to have guys up for a couple of games so they can realize how fast the game is and how strong the players are. Then they know what level of preparation is required of them to play in the NHL full time.

 

[hobarth]

Babs mentioned in a presser, I think it was Babs, that Keefe was asked who was the Marlies best forward and he said Leivo, that's why he was brought up. It's insane to think that Matthias is in anyway able to replace JVR on any level so why not allow Leivo opportunity to show his stuff?

 

[Tigger]

Would it kill Babs to actually play Leivo instead of playing him 5 minutes one game then benching him the next?

Grabner sucks offensively, Matthias and others, Babs appears to have already written him off, why?

Probably because he was sent to the Marlies over a week ago.

So why not play him, we know he's with the Marlies now. I think he probably has more of a future with the Leafs than Grabner, Matthias, etc. so why not give him enough icetime to show his stuff. I remember RC, when TO traded for Holland, putting Holland on the 1st line, giving him loads of icetime eventually Holland ended up benched or playing very little but at least RC gave him a chance.

What's this 'we' stuff? You clearly didn't know he'd been sent down.

 

[bustaheims]

So why not play him, we know he's with the Marlies now. I think he probably has more of a future with the Leafs than Grabner, Matthias, etc. so why not give him enough icetime to show his stuff. I remember RC, when TO traded for Holland, putting Holland on the 1st line, giving him loads of icetime eventually Holland ended up benched or playing very little but at least RC gave him a chance.

When Holland was traded to the Leafs, he got very similar ice time through his first 4 games to what Leivo got in his 4 games with the Leafs. Then, in 3 of his next 4 games, he got less than 6 minutes of ice time. If Carlyle gave Holland a chance, Babcock gave Leivo one, too.

 

[hobarth]

Would it kill Babs to actually play Leivo instead of playing him 5 minutes one game then benching him the next?

Grabner sucks offensively, Matthias and others, Babs appears to have already written him off, why?

Probably because he was sent to the Marlies over a week ago.

So why not play him, we know he's with the Marlies now. I think he probably has more of a future with the Leafs than Grabner, Matthias, etc. so why not give him enough icetime to show his stuff. I remember RC, when TO traded for Holland, putting Holland on the 1st line, giving him loads of icetime eventually Holland ended up benched or playing very little but at least RC gave him a chance.

What's this 'we' stuff? You clearly didn't know he'd been sent down.

Try to follow the conversation, I'm talking about when he was brought up? I know he's with the Marlies which has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that he wasn't given a proper chance, and try to follow this, when he did play.

 

[hobarth]

So why not play him, we know he's with the Marlies now. I think he probably has more of a future with the Leafs than Grabner, Matthias, etc. so why not give him enough icetime to show his stuff. I remember RC, when TO traded for Holland, putting Holland on the 1st line, giving him loads of icetime eventually Holland ended up benched or playing very little but at least RC gave him a chance.

When Holland was traded to the Leafs, he got very similar ice time through his first 4 games to what Leivo got in his 4 games with the Leafs. Then, in 3 of his next 4 games, he got less than 6 minutes of ice time. If Carlyle gave Holland a chance, Babcock gave Leivo one, too.

I don't know how this relates but actually Holland played with the 1st line his first shift with the Leafs, I can't remember how the rest of that game went but he sure didn't stick with the 1st line as he shouldn't have and as he shouldn't now. There does appear to be a lot of RC in Babs if that's what you're trying to say. I think the problem is that neither coach wants to endure rookies, they, if there is any other option, don't want to have to play rookies. 

 

[Tigger]

Would it kill Babs to actually play Leivo instead of playing him 5 minutes one game then benching him the next?

Grabner sucks offensively, Matthias and others, Babs appears to have already written him off, why?

Probably because he was sent to the Marlies over a week ago.

So why not play him, we know he's with the Marlies now. I think he probably has more of a future with the Leafs than Grabner, Matthias, etc. so why not give him enough icetime to show his stuff. I remember RC, when TO traded for Holland, putting Holland on the 1st line, giving him loads of icetime eventually Holland ended up benched or playing very little but at least RC gave him a chance.

What's this 'we' stuff? You clearly didn't know he'd been sent down.

Try to follow the conversation, I'm talking about when he was brought up? I know he's with the Marlies which has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that he wasn't given a proper chance, and try to follow this, when he did play.

Sure, sure you are. It's trying alright.

 

[hobarth]

Would it kill Babs to actually play Leivo instead of playing him 5 minutes one game then benching him the next?

Grabner sucks offensively, Matthias and others, Babs appears to have already written him off, why?

Probably because he was sent to the Marlies over a week ago.

So why not play him, we know he's with the Marlies now. I think he probably has more of a future with the Leafs than Grabner, Matthias, etc. so why not give him enough icetime to show his stuff. I remember RC, when TO traded for Holland, putting Holland on the 1st line, giving him loads of icetime eventually Holland ended up benched or playing very little but at least RC gave him a chance.

What's this 'we' stuff? You clearly didn't know he'd been sent down.

Try to follow the conversation, I'm talking about when he was brought up? I know he's with the Marlies which has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that he wasn't given a proper chance, and try to follow this, when he did play.

Sure, sure you are. It's trying alright.

I see that.

 

[Kin]

I really don't see what's so hard to understand here. They're trying to turn Matthias and Grabner into draft picks. They're getting chances precisely because they don't have a future with the team. That's been the game plan all year.

 

[hobarth]

I really don't see what's so hard to understand here. They're trying to turn Matthias and Grabner into draft picks. They're getting chances precisely because they don't have a future with the team. That's been the game plan all year.

Do you think that Matthias' value would be affected by giving Leivo an opportunity to show his stuff, you don't think that anybody who might be interested in Matthias hasn't already formulated a opinion on his value because of what he's done in the last 50 games( nothing) or over the length of his career?

 

[Kin]

Do you think that Matthias' value would be affected by giving Leivo an opportunity to show his stuff, you don't think that anybody who might be interested in Matthias hasn't already formulated a opinion on his value because of what he's done in the last 50 games( nothing) or over the length of his career?

I absolutely think that making someone a healthy scratch will impact their trade value. If you want to add someone to your 4th line you want to make as smooth a transition as possible. You don't want them rusty.

And I don't think having Leivo get limited minutes will impact him negatively at all.

 

[hobarth]

Do you think that Matthias' value would be affected by giving Leivo an opportunity to show his stuff, you don't think that anybody who might be interested in Matthias hasn't already formulated a opinion on his value because of what he's done in the last 50 games( nothing) or over the length of his career?

I absolutely think that making someone a healthy scratch will impact their trade value. If you want to add someone to your 4th line you want to make as smooth a transition as possible. You don't want them rusty.

And I don't think having Leivo get limited minutes will impact him negatively at all.

I would think that if anyone meets the criteria of depth player, Matthias is it, continuing to play him to maintain his 4th rounder value seems hardly worthwhile, paying him 2.3 mil. is the classic definition of insanity.

Trigger, Leivo has been recalled, stay with the program now. ;D

 

[Kin]

I would think that if anyone meets the criteria of depth player, Matthias is it, continuing to play him to maintain his 4th rounder value seems hardly worthwhile, paying him 2.3 mil. is the classic definition of insanity.

I don't know what you mean by a classic definition of insanity but Matthias was a good bet as someone who could turn into a valuable deadline piece and whatever he does get at the deadline is probably going to be more valuable than whatever barely existing value there might be in giving those minutes to Leivo.

 

[hobarth]

I would think that if anyone meets the criteria of depth player, Matthias is it, continuing to play him to maintain his 4th rounder value seems hardly worthwhile, paying him 2.3 mil. is the classic definition of insanity.

I don't know what you mean by a classic definition of insanity but Matthias was a good bet as someone who could turn into a valuable deadline piece and whatever he does get at the deadline is probably going to be more valuable than whatever barely existing value there might be in giving those minutes to Leivo.

I'm hoping Leivo will be an effective member of the Leafs going forward, the sooner he is introduced and actually playing the closer the Leafs will be to becoming a better more competitive team.

Matthias has 5 Gs and 11 As in 50 games, he's -9, the Matthias experiment has ended, he's failed, not only has he failed he failed miserably, last year was his career year. Van. didn't even try to sign him after he had a career year, he is what he is, a light scoring 3rd/4th liner that's overpaid.

Leivo is a possible piece for TO's future, Matthias is a place holder that TO will accept anything for to make him go away. 

 

[Kin]

I'm hoping Leivo will be an effective member of the Leafs going forward, the sooner he is introduced and actually playing the closer the Leafs will be to becoming a better more competitive team.

That's just complete and total nonsense. The Leafs are going to go from terrible to competitive on the strength of major pieces being put into the lineup, not whether or not Josh Leivo is on the third line.

 

[hobarth]

I'm hoping Leivo will be an effective member of the Leafs going forward, the sooner he is introduced and actually playing the closer the Leafs will be to becoming a better more competitive team.

That's just complete and total nonsense. The Leafs are going to go from terrible to competitive on the strength of major pieces being put into the lineup, not whether or not Josh Leivo is on the third line.

You're a piece of work aren't you?

 

[Highlander]

Hobarth, get used to it. Or just flee! 8)

 

[Bullfrog]

I'm hoping Leivo will be an effective member of the Leafs going forward, the sooner he is introduced and actually playing the closer the Leafs will be to becoming a better more competitive team.

That's just complete and total nonsense. The Leafs are going to go from terrible to competitive on the strength of major pieces being put into the lineup, not whether or not Josh Leivo is on the third line.

You're a piece of work aren't you?

I agree with Nik 100% here. Leivo doesn't get them closer to being a competitive team. They are competitive; they're just not good. Leivo doesn't change that significantly.

I'm actually surprised it wasn't the second paragraph that was highlighted for its nonsense. The Matthias experiment didn't fail, as it consisted entirely of "can he fill an NHL roster on a bad team so that a Marlie doesn't have to fill the role?"

So, success?