Matthew Lombardi update/information thread
- Thread starter gilmourthegreat
- Start date
McPwnage said:
Seriously? I like Jake and all, but he's now played zero regular season or playoff NHL games.
I looked on youtube for that clip of Kabby in the neutral zone spinning away from some forechecker sprinting at him and then falling as Kabby spun but couldn't find it. (Sorry if that description is vague ... it's the sort of thing Kabby did all the time.)
Honestly, through his prime (particularly under Quinn) when Kabby had the puck on his stick and just a little space to get started transitioning from the defensive zone to the neutral zone to the Ozone, he was untouchable. I can never recall watching a leaf game and thinking of any player on any other team "wow, if only Kabby could skate the puck up like that guy". Gardiner could easily be faster but you need speed, passing skill and vision. There is no way he currently has Kabby's full package bringing the puck up the ice. He's young and has lots of room for improvement but let's not exaggerate.
princedpw said:
I remember the good old days when training camp was at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton and open to the public. I watched Kaberle back then in training camp and said I had never seen anyone skate like that before.
Although I have not seen Gardiner play live yet I admit that watching him does bring back memories of the early days with Kabs. But to say that he is better in any way at all at this point is overkill. I like Gardiner a lot and I wish he would make the lineup on opening day, but I suspect he will fall victim to the political game that is the Leafs - even though I would rate him higher than Komisarek, Aullie, Franson and Gunarson.
Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate said:
I'm with you guys. Forecheckers used to back off the guy like no Leafs dman I can recall when he was lugging it up the ice. Talk to me about Gardiner v Kaberle in a few years.
Now I too have been impressed with Gardiner. I was glad we got him last season. I'm usually a glass half full guy. But I must confess that I've been wondering: "is Gardiner that good or does he look that much better because the rest of the guys haven't been that hot?" To be honest, I'm leaning a little towards the latter (though I missed seeing the last game).
princedpw said:
I'm kind of half way in between on this. Kabs was excellent, for sure, in moving the puck up the ice without incident. However, Wilson had a very telling comment in one of his recent interviews on MapleLeafs.com when actually referring to John Michael Liles, not Jake Gardiner. He complimented Liles for moving the puck up the ice quickly as he said unlike some who moved it up the ice more slowly. I am convinced the reference, when he said it, was to Kabs. If you think about it, Kabs did always seem to weave his way up the ice, not particularly fast rushing or headmaning the puck, though he did make some occassional nice spring passes. But the problem with sort of picking your way up the ice is that it gives the opposition a chance to get back up ice when they don't have the puck. Wilson was making the point that quick movement was better. I think Wilson and Burke knew Kabs had talent, but didn't see him as a "fast transition" kind of guy, and rather soft defensively. I think he was earmarked for trade early on, but they just waited for the right deal to come along. As for Gardiner, still a bit raw, but I think in a few years (if not sooner) he'll far surpass what Kabs brought at any point. On a side note, I always thought Kabs would make a fine centre. Don Cherry also thought he make a better forward, not that that matters. But I posted such long before Cherry made his comments. Right now, I think Kabs will actually hurt Carolina on the back end, which is good for the Leafs.
Kabs ability to lug the puck wasn't appreciated by Wilson as he was trying to implement a 'first pass' attack, I think that's the biggest reason he lost ice time though he was slowing down a little too, not that he couldn't make a strong first pass it just wasn't his predominant preference. Liles seems like he can do both but also seems like he's doing what the coach is asking him to do in the very small window I've seen.
It's a great example of the Leafs trying to ram a style/approach through that they really didn't have the horses for but to me it's what I would prefer them to play if they had the team to do it, they're getting closer.
I don't know Carolina's style well enough but I'd guess Kabs wouldn't hurt them.
It's a great example of the Leafs trying to ram a style/approach through that they really didn't have the horses for but to me it's what I would prefer them to play if they had the team to do it, they're getting closer.
I don't know Carolina's style well enough but I'd guess Kabs wouldn't hurt them.
Tigger said:
Kaberle posted back-to-back 50 point seasons under Maurice, so I think he'll be fine.
maplesyrup
New member
MapleLeafs Toronto Maple Leafs #Leafs news RT @HennyTweets: Mathew Lombardi centres 4th line between Crabb and Rosehill....might he play Friday?
1 minute ago
1 minute ago
Floyd said:
That's technically the Leafs 5th line. 4th line in practice was Brown-Dupuis-Orr.
Number 5
New member
princedpw said:
Not to turn this into the 'bash wilson' thread, but that was the thing that bothered me most about his coaching style. That he'd expect players to change their style to fit his system, and when it became obvious to even the most casual of fans that that doesn't work, he still didn't change. He never once adapted his system to the players he had. He expected them to change how they played. I've never once seen that approach work...in any industry.
On topic, I'm glad to see Lombardi is progressing better than we'd been led to believe. We need all the help we can get!
maplesyrup
New member
CarltonTheBear said:
Ah... Well, at least he's in there.
princedpw said:
Well it's a choice that I think was heartily endorsed by Leaf management in general, that is, to have the team play a style that would be the most successful if played correctly. I think it's fair to point out how other teams and/or coaches decide to use their talent and give a pejorative critique in contrast but I for one think it informed Burkes roster decisions from there on out.
In a nutshell if you can't play the system, we'll find people who can... not as easy at it sounds mind you and Burke had to change gears too but I think the Leafs are headed in the right direction as a result.
Quinn's teams had some pretty good offensive players and still had Mats after the lockout, not sure that's an entirely fair comparison where Kabs is concerned.
L K said:
well the same argument could be made for the opposite point with quinn...something like...I'd by the whole "we have to match the system to our players" line of thinking if quinn had actually won a cup somewhere.
don't forget that burke has won a cup, but that doesn't mean he gets a free pass, he is not above scrutiny.
