maplesyrup
New member
The season is almost complete and I'm still the only one that sees that Connolly floats a lot, eh? Okay.
Official Tank Nation Topic
- Thread starter Kaberle15
- Start date
Sarge said:
If you don't want to accept that what you said before isn't true, fine. Connolly has his issues, sure, but everyone knew that going in. He's soft and he needs to play with scoring wingers to be effective offensively, which he didn't for most of the year. He was asked to play a defensive role and hasn't been completely terrible trying to fulfill that.
Price performance is an issue, for sure, but he's not nearly as bad as you're trying to make him out to be.
maplesyrup
New member
Deebo said:
Completely useless? No. I just wish I had stood by my comments of that day rather then be lead by the masses here that this was probably a good signing.
maplesyrup
New member
That's fine. No hard feelings. Who knows, maybe he's the type of fellow who requires a contract year for proper motivation. If we keep him, hey, I'll keep my fingers crossed it works out.
LuncheonMeat
New member
lamajama said:Chazz-Micheal Liles said:
Judging by early-Carlyle Komi is staying and Franson is going.
The inability to move Komi may dictate just that. Franson may be more valuable in a package for something coming back, especially if Holzer and/or Blacker can step up next season.
maplesyrup
New member
Canes up 2-1 on Florida through 2. 
Rebel_1812
New member
Tigger said:Sarge said:Rebel_1812 said:Sarge said:Erndog said:
I brought up that same comparison a couple of months ago.
Well why aren't they playing him as the first line center between lupul and kessel. He is not going to produce on the 3rd line.
Well, he's on to his second coach now who doesn't think Connolly is a better option than Bozak on that line so you know, there just may be something to this whole "Connolly just isn't that good" line of thinking.
I don't know where you're getting that from, Carlyle has singled out Connolly previously in a positive way. Just because he hasn't chosen to switch him with Bozak doesn't mean he's a bad player.
Agreed. Also he played on the top line in Buffalo. I think the coach doesn't want to break up bozak-kessel because of perceived chemistry. The same thing with the kule-grabbo-macarthur line. However the team isn't winning so new things need to be tried. Connolly might get kessel and lupul playing better. Grabbo might do the same. We are paying both of those guys as a top line centre so might as well give them a chance.
Rebel_1812 said:
The only time Connolly led his team's centers in ice time/game was in '00-01 for the Islanders. In Buffalo, he was always behind Roy, Drury and/or Hecht at various times during those seasons in Buffalo.
He usually did get some nice minutes on the PP with scoring talent - sometimes on the point. So maybe that made him appear like a first line center but he's really been a second line center in many respects throughout his career.
Compared to what the Leafs had and what was available on the UFA market, it was not an unreasonable gamble. He's over paid but I think most felt that going in. Centers cost a lot in today's NHL because there's a shortage of good ones.
I also think he's defensively smart and versatile.
What he isn't is a player who will compete well on the boards and in puck battles. But that shouldn't come as a surprise to those who have watched him over his career. That's just the way he is.
Maybe it's convenient to forget how poor Bozak was last season. I don't blame Burke for signing Connolly. Burke only had one top six center as of last summer. The fact that Bozak developed better chemistry with Lupul & Kessel and bounced back some defensively isn't a terrible thing. Neither Bozak or Connolly are first line centers on any contender I've ever watched. Both strike me as place holders until better talent can be developed or acquired.
I also wonder if either will survive long term with Carlyle because he wants a club that is better at grinding it out in the one on one puck battles. This roster requires quite a makeover to accomplish that and those guys aren't as easy to find.
Minnesota plays Calgary tonight. A win would draw them even in the standings with Toronto and they would still have a game in hand. We need TB, NYI and MIN to win a few.
Looking ahead, the Leafs need to drop their final game of the year against the Habs. It would be very unprofitable to win.
Looking ahead, the Leafs need to drop their final game of the year against the Habs. It would be very unprofitable to win.
Guru Tugginmypuddah
Active member
Fanatic said:
That could be an interesting game. Both teams pull the goalie for the entire game. ;D
9. Carolina - 75 pts - 7 games left
8. Anaheim - 75 pts - 7 games left
7. Toronto - 72 pts - 8 games left
6. Tampa Bay - 71 pts - 10 games left
5. NYI - 71 pts - 9 games left
4. Minnesota - 70 pts - 10 games left
3. Montreal - 69 pts - 8 games left
2. Edmonton - 66 pts - 9 games left
1. Columbus - 53 pts - 9 games left
I was going to do a deeper look at who each team plays but I have too much work on the go right now. Maybe later.....
8. Anaheim - 75 pts - 7 games left
7. Toronto - 72 pts - 8 games left
6. Tampa Bay - 71 pts - 10 games left
5. NYI - 71 pts - 9 games left
4. Minnesota - 70 pts - 10 games left
3. Montreal - 69 pts - 8 games left
2. Edmonton - 66 pts - 9 games left
1. Columbus - 53 pts - 9 games left
I was going to do a deeper look at who each team plays but I have too much work on the go right now. Maybe later.....
maplesyrup
New member
cw said:
I think that's by in large fair but I'm not sure the status quo at the centre position wouldn't have been better. I mean, what does Connolly bring over and above Tim Brent that's worth 4 mil. more? That's where my frustration comes from. Perhaps my anger (for want of a better word) over this issue is pointed unfairly towards Connolly and it should be pointed at Burke but you said yourself that he "isn't is a player who will compete well on the boards and in puck battles," which goes hand-in-hand with what I said about him floating and when I see that, I go a little nuts. I mean, I never saw Brent mail it in. Maybe I just need to make a concerted effort to refrain from commenting on Connolly for a little while. I seem to be coming off a little jerky about it.
L K
Active member
Erndog said:
The Leafs have a lot of control over where they finish too:
They play Carolina, Tampa and Montreal
That and two games against the Sabres where Buffalo should be playing for their playoff lives, games against the Rangers and Devils should make a good record difficult.
bustaheims
Active member
Columbus maxes out at 71 points. Might as well take them off the list, they have the best shot at the #1 pick locked up.