Heroic Shrimp
Active member
Nik Gida said:
Yeah, I'm sorry, Nik, but that one kind of went off the crossbar and into the stands.
Phil Kessel
- Thread starter GhostofPotvin29
- Start date
Yeah, I'm sorry, Nik, but that one kind of went off the crossbar and into the stands.
The key is to get Phil going again.
I was thinking about Komarov. During his lock-out stint with Dynamo Moscow he played on the line with Ovechkin and Backstrom. Leo was quite an effective element of that line, fighting along the boards, screening, doing the dirty work and also backchecking.
I was thinking about moving him to play with Kessel to do exactely the same. Phil is sort of a softie, having a hard nose playmate should help him.
I would also try either Grabbo or Kadri in the middle to get him going. Probably Kadri. If the face-offs are concern, the Bozak may draw them and then qucikly change.
Keeping the status quo and hoping for the best is not an option. The season is too short.
I was thinking about Komarov. During his lock-out stint with Dynamo Moscow he played on the line with Ovechkin and Backstrom. Leo was quite an effective element of that line, fighting along the boards, screening, doing the dirty work and also backchecking.
I was thinking about moving him to play with Kessel to do exactely the same. Phil is sort of a softie, having a hard nose playmate should help him.
I would also try either Grabbo or Kadri in the middle to get him going. Probably Kadri. If the face-offs are concern, the Bozak may draw them and then qucikly change.
Keeping the status quo and hoping for the best is not an option. The season is too short.
I don't agree with breaking up Kadri's line. They have chemistry and its important to keep that together.
I don't think breaking up lines will "get him going" more than he already is. If he weren't getting chances, I'd be concerned. He IS getting them. He's just not finishing them. Nobody can really change that but him.
I don't think breaking up lines will "get him going" more than he already is. If he weren't getting chances, I'd be concerned. He IS getting them. He's just not finishing them. Nobody can really change that but him.
WhatIfGodWasALeaf
Active member
I'd like to see a Powerplay with Kessel-Kadri-Frattin-Phaneuf-Grabo.
I think Grabo and Kadri could rotate as the setup man on the point, we'd have Frattin or Phaneuf as the net presence. I'd also be willing to swap JVR out with Phaneuf and have him at the net.
Time to think outside the box, what they are doing isn't working and a lot of teams are trying forwards on the point.
I think Grabo and Kadri could rotate as the setup man on the point, we'd have Frattin or Phaneuf as the net presence. I'd also be willing to swap JVR out with Phaneuf and have him at the net.
Time to think outside the box, what they are doing isn't working and a lot of teams are trying forwards on the point.
I don't like Kadri at centre because he can't win faceoffs. Grabovski can though, so why not put him at centre?
1st unit
Kessel - Grabovski - Kadri
Phaneuf - Kostka
2nd unit
van Riemsdyk - Bozak - Frattin
Liles - Franson
My reasoning for the 2nd unit is that having van Riemsdyk out there with Phaneuf is pointless because Phaneuf never hits the net, whereas Franson gets his shots on goal, making the screen more valuable. Bozak, aside from winning faceoffs, has good hand eye and can bat rebounds from point shots from the slot (like he did vs Montreal). Frattin is a net crasher and JVR is hard to move. This unit will generate everything from the blue line.
The 1st unit will try to score from the sides or the slot, and with two left handed shots they can get better one timers from Kessel passing on the left side.
Kostka is only there because the Leafs don't have anyone else until Gardiner gets back.
1st unit
Kessel - Grabovski - Kadri
Phaneuf - Kostka
2nd unit
van Riemsdyk - Bozak - Frattin
Liles - Franson
My reasoning for the 2nd unit is that having van Riemsdyk out there with Phaneuf is pointless because Phaneuf never hits the net, whereas Franson gets his shots on goal, making the screen more valuable. Bozak, aside from winning faceoffs, has good hand eye and can bat rebounds from point shots from the slot (like he did vs Montreal). Frattin is a net crasher and JVR is hard to move. This unit will generate everything from the blue line.
The 1st unit will try to score from the sides or the slot, and with two left handed shots they can get better one timers from Kessel passing on the left side.
Kostka is only there because the Leafs don't have anyone else until Gardiner gets back.
L K
Active member
TML fan said:
I don't want to break up the line, but I wouldn't mind if the Kessel line still hasn't scored mid-way through the game if they tried Kessel on the line for a few shifts to see if something clicks. Either by double-shifting Kadri to boost his minutes or by double-shifting Kessel a time or two.
WhatIfGodWasALeaf
Active member
TML fan said:
Good arguments, my only real problem is Kostka being on the PP at all, he in no way deserves it.
The important thing is we try something, the status quo is not working.
J
Jalili
Guest
moon111 said:
Of course..
bustaheims
Active member
moon111 said:
I honestly don't know. There hasn't been much difference in their production over the last couple seasons, and, while Ovechkin has been the better player, I have to wonder if injuries have caught up with him a little (he's never missed a lot of games, but he's had some knee problems that he's played through), as well as teams having figured him out a little more. Kessel's goal production has been pretty consistent season to season, and his injuries are a few years behind him now. At this point, it's not clear whether the difference in what you'd get would be the physicality and significantly larger cap commitment or whether Ovechkin would be able to return to form on a new team. Truthfully, if the Leafs are going to move Kessel, I'd rather it be for younger guys/picks/prospects as part of a full out rebuild rather than relocating a struggling, expensive player.
Guru Tugginmypuddah
Active member
Lets get this to 81 so Phil can score.
Guru Tugginmypuddah
Active member
Zee said:
80!