Maple Leafs are better, but are they a playoff team?

[nutman]

I don't see the Leafs improving the PP at all.  The Leafs need a big 'Dave Andreychuk' guy going to the net, or at least someone with the guts of a Dougy Gilmour.  The only one I see capable of that would be Kulemin.  Don't think Colborne plays yet.  Maybe Connolly?  He's the biggest C on the roster.

The PK should improve.  Reimer/Gus should hopefully be the biggest improvement.
I'd like to see Zigomanis get the 4th line center spot.  Although it was a small sample size, his SH ice-time/goal was the best among the forwards last season.  Bozak/Armstrong, Ziggy/Brown???

kulemin can and should be right in front causing all kinds of problems.

 

[Bender]

I don't see the Leafs improving the PP at all.  The Leafs need a big 'Dave Andreychuk' guy going to the net, or at least someone with the guts of a Dougy Gilmour.  The only one I see capable of that would be Kulemin.  Don't think Colborne plays yet.  Maybe Connolly?  He's the biggest C on the roster.

The PK should improve.  Reimer/Gus should hopefully be the biggest improvement.
I'd like to see Zigomanis get the 4th line center spot.  Although it was a small sample size, his SH ice-time/goal was the best among the forwards last season.  Bozak/Armstrong, Ziggy/Brown???

kulemin can and should be right in front causing all kinds of problems.

Kulemin did this on a regular basis. I think we've got Armstrong hitting the net. Lupul might do it, but yeah, we don't have a big guy screening the goaltender. But maybe that was a failure of coaching. I think the coaching changes will have a pretty big effect on our play.

 

[Erndog]

An area I'm concerned about is faceoffs.  I don't have the numbers right in front of me, but if I recall correctly, 3 of our 4 ended the season at less than 50% (Connolly, Grabovski, and Dupuis).  Bozak is good but on the 3rd line... and who knows when/if Lombardi returns.

I remember Grabs being pretty good 2 seasons ago.  Hopefully it's something that doesn't kill us.

 

[Corn Flake]

An area I'm concerned about is faceoffs.  I don't have the numbers right in front of me, but if I recall correctly, 3 of our 4 ended the season at less than 50% (Connolly, Grabovski, and Dupuis).  Bozak is good but on the 3rd line... and who knows when/if Lombardi returns.

I remember Grabs being pretty good 2 seasons ago.  Hopefully it's something that doesn't kill us.

Lombardi was a shade under 50% two years ago with Calgary and Phoenix.  So yeah all in all its an area that could prove to be a challenge. 

Grabbo was only a shade better two years ago (49.8 in 2010 vs. 48.4 in 2011) but likely against lesser competition.

 

[Optimus Reimer]

I don't see the Leafs improving the PP at all.  The Leafs need a big 'Dave Andreychuk' guy going to the net, or at least someone with the guts of a Dougy Gilmour.  The only one I see capable of that would be Kulemin.  Don't think Colborne plays yet.  Maybe Connolly?  He's the biggest C on the roster.

The PK should improve.  Reimer/Gus should hopefully be the biggest improvement.
I'd like to see Zigomanis get the 4th line center spot.  Although it was a small sample size, his SH ice-time/goal was the best among the forwards last season.  Bozak/Armstrong, Ziggy/Brown???

kulemin can and should be right in front causing all kinds of problems.

Kulemin did this on a regular basis. I think we've got Armstrong hitting the net. Lupul might do it, but yeah, we don't have a big guy screening the goaltender. But maybe that was a failure of coaching. I think the coaching changes will have a pretty big effect on our play.

I thought it was more of a failure of the players willing to screen goalies.  It seemed the players preferred playing a perimeter game and were not willing to get dirty.  Although you are right, the coaches should have said something to Blake et al. 

Fire Wilson now!!!

 

[Tigger]

A pk forward group like

Lombardi Armstrong
Bozak      Brown

wouldn't be terrible. They'll take a look at a few guys at camp, Dupuis and such, see what they've got while trying to Kreskin their way to predicting what they need on opening day for the pk. My guess Burke will realize Lombardi is a ways off at least and bring in a stop gap of sorts.

They really shouldn't have a wimpy pk early if they want to make a run at the playoffs and I don't think the current talent minus Lombardi cuts it but we'll see.

There is a bit of a trend that way with the Leafs though, we talked about the possible need for a vet goal tender and they've decided to let Reimer and Goose have at it in camp instead, same goes for the bottom six and then re-evaluate before opening day.

 

[moon111]

I don't see the Leafs improving the PP at all.  The Leafs need a big 'Dave Andreychuk' guy going to the net, or at least someone with the guts of a Dougy Gilmour.  The only one I see capable of that would be Kulemin.  Don't think Colborne plays yet.  Maybe Connolly?  He's the biggest C on the roster.

The PK should improve.  Reimer/Gus should hopefully be the biggest improvement.
I'd like to see Zigomanis get the 4th line center spot.  Although it was a small sample size, his SH ice-time/goal was the best among the forwards last season.  Bozak/Armstrong, Ziggy/Brown???

kulemin can and should be right in front causing all kinds of problems.

Kulemin did this on a regular basis. I think we've got Armstrong hitting the net. Lupul might do it, but yeah, we don't have a big guy screening the goaltender. But maybe that was a failure of coaching. I think the coaching changes will have a pretty big effect on our play.

I thought it was more of a failure of the players willing to screen goalies.  It seemed the players preferred playing a perimeter game and were not willing to get dirty.  Although you are right, the coaches should have said something to Blake et al. 

Fire Wilson now!!!

I'm not too sure how confident I'd feel in front of a Phaneuf slapshot.  But then again, do you face any better odds not getting hit on the perimeter?

 

[Madferret]

Cybulski and co seem to think the Leafs are going to finish ahead of the Flyers and make the playoffs.

Discuss.

 

[Tigger]

Cybulski and co seem to think the Leafs are going to finish ahead of the Flyers and make the playoffs.

Discuss.

Look, my fine friend, I happen to know that this is the Lupin Express...

 

[moon111]

Just checked, Kulemin was tied for 110th in the league for PP goals.  If you ask me, 5 seems pretty low to me.  Even Bozak had 6.  Would of thought Kulemin would flourish on the PP.

 

[Tigger]

Just checked, Kulemin was tied for 110th in the league for PP goals.  If you ask me, 5 seems pretty low to me.  Even Bozak had 6.  Would of thought Kulemin would flourish on the PP.

Datsyuk doesn't go to the net!!! Wait, what?

 

[bustaheims]

I thought it was more of a failure of the players willing to screen goalies.  It seemed the players preferred playing a perimeter game and were not willing to get dirty.  Although you are right, the coaches should have said something to Blake et al. 

Fire Wilson now!!!

Not having guys go to the front of the net isn't always a failure in coaching. Most players in the league just don't feel comfortable going there and didn't have to do much of it while they were developing, so their instincts don't take them there. I mean, this isn't just a problem the Leafs have had recently - most teams in the league don't have enough guys that go hard to the net and stay there on the PP. There are very few Tomas Holmstroms in the league.

 

[Kin]

Yeah, maybe it's a bad memory on my part but I don't remember Kulemin scoring a lot of goals on tips or doing a ton of dirty work down low. Scoring goals from in close/in front of the net on a PP is a pretty specific skillset, not just a function of being told to stand there.

 

[Tigger]

On the plus side 24 es goals, 8 1st goals and no empty netters, not to mention all that good size, checking and defending yadda yadda.

Put Schenn in front of the net, he could be 'wingerish'(mael).

Anywho Clems a fair berry on the cut.

 

[dappleganger]

Yeah, maybe it's a bad memory on my part but I don't remember Kulemin scoring a lot of goals on tips or doing a ton of dirty work down low. Scoring goals from in close/in front of the net on a PP is a pretty specific skillset, not just a function of being told to stand there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Mx_iF-zXc

He scored a lot of his goals from going to the net and grabbing rebounds, but not setting up camp in front of the goalie a la Dino Ciccarelli.

 

[Kin]

He scored a lot of his goals from going to the net and grabbing rebounds, but not setting up camp in front of the goalie a la Dino Ciccarelli.

Yeah, I only counted a few there that I'd really describe as being those traditional PP goals where he tips one in or bangs in a loose puck with a defender on him. He scored the majority, it seemed, because of a very accurate shot and quick release.

So I think it's still probably fair to say that his skillset isn't ideally suited to setting up camp in front of the net.

 

[Pucken Chronic]

To answer this topic heading let me just say absolutely, positively, without a doubt..... maybe. You're welcome.

 

[nutman]

To answer this topic heading let me just say absolutely, positively, without a doubt..... maybe. You're welcome.

lol, good call.

 

[PG]

The problem as I see it is that the Leafs are still pretty thin up front and/or have key players with question marks attached to them.

Connolly hasn't played a full season in almost a decade. I'd bet heavily that he doesn't suddenly play 82 games, at age 30, considering his injury history. The same goes for Lupul, his last 20 games of excellent play notwithstanding.

Will Komisarek get his head out of his ass? Will Phaneuf play well for the entire season this time? Faceoffs might be an issue as I don't see anyone on the team, other than Bozak, who has a history of being any good at them.

You also have to factor in regression from a key player. I know we all want to think that each player will improve but pretty much every team, in every sport, will have regression from a key player each season. With the Leafs being so young, and not that deep IMO, that could cripple them. For example, an "off" season from Kessel would pretty much eliminate any hope for the playoffs.

Hopefully Reimer is the real deal and doesn't suffer the dreaded sophomore jinx. It's been too long since the Leafs had above average goaltending. If I am not mistaken, they have been in the bottom 7 teams in GA every year since the lockout. So if Reimer plays like he did last season, that would make a huge difference.

Put a gun to my head and force me to predict and I say they don't make the playoffs. Their margin of error is so small and too many things have to go right IMO.  Hopefully I'm wrong and it's the Leafs who are the league's "surprise team" for a change.

It would be nice to know what the playoffs are like again. 

 

[Deebo]

The problem as I see it is that the Leafs are still pretty thin up front and/or have key players with question marks attached to them.

Connolly hasn't played a full season in almost a decade. I'd bet heavily that he doesn't suddenly play 82 games, at age 30, considering his injury history. The same goes for Lupul, his last 20 games of excellent play notwithstanding.

Will Komisarek get his head out of his ass? Will Phaneuf play well for the entire season this time? Faceoffs might be an issue as I don't see anyone on the team, other than Bozak, who has a history of being any good at them.

You also have to factor in regression from a key player. I know we all want to think that each player will improve but pretty much every team, in every sport, will have regression from a key player each season. With the Leafs being so young, and not that deep IMO, that could cripple them. For example, an "off" season from Kessel would pretty much eliminate any hope for the playoffs.

Hopefully Reimer is the real deal and doesn't suffer the dreaded sophomore jinx. It's been too long since the Leafs had above average goaltending. If I am not mistaken, they have been in the bottom 7 teams in GA every year since the lockout. So if Reimer plays like he did last season, that would make a huge difference.

Put a gun to my head and force me to predict and I say they don't make the playoffs. Their margin of error is so small and too many things have to go right IMO.  Hopefully I'm wrong and it's the Leafs who are the league's "surprise team" for a change.

It would be nice to know what the playoffs are like again. 

oh good, PG's back.