Training Camp: September 16 - October 1

[princedpw]

of all the pairings/lines mentioned, I'm most interested to see how this shakes out:

Franson/Gunnarsson-Komisarek

Was Franson really seen on the ice with both Gunnar and Komi?  Who will be the 3rd D pairing?  Will Komisarek really sit on the bench?

 

[leafplasma]

No surprise here and it has already been observed in camp.  Take one camp opening day skate for what it is worth.  Franson has looked weak on the defensive side of things thus far.  According to Gus Katsaros..... "has to be more diligent in coverage using his body more, at least to angle players off, instead he allows the puck and player in pursuit free passage around the boards and the net .. guilty of puck watching at time and must raise awareness of his surroundings."

This has been his downside thus far in Nashville, he is young however.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

No surprise here and it has already been observed in camp.  Take one camp opening day skate for what it is worth.  Franson has looked weak on the defensive side of things thus far.  According to Gus Katsaros..... "has to be more diligent in coverage using his body more, at least to angle players off, instead he allows the puck and player in pursuit free passage around the boards and the net .. guilty of puck watching at time and must raise awareness of his surroundings."

This has been his downside thus far in Nashville, he is young however.

All the Leafs? big men, Orr, Jay Rosehill and Cody Franson hit with authority on Saturday.

http://www.torontosun.com/2011/09/17/leafs-do-juggling-act

 

[maplesyrup]

In Wilson's scrum when camp opened, he mentioned Connolly's ability to play the point as a way that could improve our power play. Of the four guys I expect to play the back end on our two power play units, I'm guessing we'll see (in no perticular order) Phaneuf, Liles, Connolly, and Franson. Apart from Phaneuf, that's a completely different look back there. Here's hoping it clicks. 

 

[CarltonTheBear]

No surprise here and it has already been observed in camp.  Take one camp opening day skate for what it is worth.  Franson has looked weak on the defensive side of things thus far.  According to Gus Katsaros..... "has to be more diligent in coverage using his body more, at least to angle players off, instead he allows the puck and player in pursuit free passage around the boards and the net .. guilty of puck watching at time and must raise awareness of his surroundings."

This has been his downside thus far in Nashville, he is young however.

One thing to keep in mind regarding Franson, he's a right-handed defenceman playing the left side for the very first time in his career. He might need a bit of time to get adjusted to that side.

 

[pnjunction]

I'm so ridiculously stoked for this year.  Way more optimistic than last year about our playoff chances with the new additions and development that we've seen.

 

[WAYNEINIONA]

I'm so ridiculously stoked for this year.  Way more optimistic than last year about our playoff chances with the new additions and development that we've seen.

Really? How long before we see your infamous " we stink dudes" post?

 

[Deebo]

I'm so ridiculously stoked for this year.  Way more optimistic than last year about our playoff chances with the new additions and development that we've seen.

Really? How long before we see your infamous " we stink dudes" post?

That wasn't him.. that was barney_rebel.

 

[pnjunction]

I'm so ridiculously stoked for this year.  Way more optimistic than last year about our playoff chances with the new additions and development that we've seen.

Really? How long before we see your infamous " we stink dudes" post?

That wasn't him.. that was barney_rebel.

Thank you.

To be fair I'm not slow with either praise or criticism.  If we stink I'll be saying so, but if the team is competing and working hard I'll be happier to cheer the team to victory and also the inevitable hard-fought losses.

For now I see the competition between players to land the last 3rd line forward and D spots and the team looks much deeper than last year so I'm optimistic.

 

[Bender]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/leafs-beat/busy-exhibition-schedule-set-to-start-for-leafs/article2170395/

Good Ron Wilson interview if it hasn't been posted already.

On the battle on the fourth line: "Brian [Burke] will clear a spot if you clearly win the job up here." - Ron Wilson

Good to hear! It really sounds like there's quite a bit of competition on the fourth line. Ziggy might be able to get in again as well.

Rynnas is injured, Sparks going back to junior. We'll likely see Reimer, Gustavsson and Scrivens a look at exhibition. Owuya likely to just watch this time around.

 

[Bender]

I'm so ridiculously stoked for this year.  Way more optimistic than last year about our playoff chances with the new additions and development that we've seen.

Really? How long before we see your infamous " we stink dudes" post?

That wasn't him.. that was barney_rebel.

Even when he did it I thought there was some levity when he said that.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Even when he did it I thought there was some levity when he said that.

Admit it though, the guy needs to get a new schtick though. Maybe it's me, but that phrase did get a little old after the 100th time I read it.

 

[leafplasma]

No surprise here and it has already been observed in camp.  Take one camp opening day skate for what it is worth.  Franson has looked weak on the defensive side of things thus far.  According to Gus Katsaros..... "has to be more diligent in coverage using his body more, at least to angle players off, instead he allows the puck and player in pursuit free passage around the boards and the net .. guilty of puck watching at time and must raise awareness of his surroundings."

This has been his downside thus far in Nashville, he is young however.

One thing to keep in mind regarding Franson, he's a right-handed defenceman playing the left side for the very first time in his career. He might need a bit of time to get adjusted to that side.

Sure but some of these things were things we heard out of Nashville.  He is a young guy and it seems Nashville was easing him along which isn't a bad thing due to his age.  I expect Franson to be a bit of a work in progress which is fine, he has alot of upside.

 

[moon111]

Although Aulie's defensive performance was pretty good, he offered nothing in the way of offense.  I could see his stock drop if they're looking for a more versatile blueliners.

 

[Bender]

Although Aulie's defensive performance was pretty good, he offered nothing in the way of offense.  I could see his stock drop if they're looking for a more versatile blueliners.

That's true, but we still need a strong, crease clearning presence. Most of our D have some offensive ability. Aulie and Komi are the only stay at homes. We have five D with good, to very good offensive ability. I think he'll be ok in a shutdown role.

 

[Britishbulldog]

Here's a full list of the reported lines so far:

Lupul-Connolly-Kessel
MacArthur-Grabovski-Kulemin
Kadri-Bozak-Armstrong
Crabb-Colborne-Frattin
Heard-Dupuis-Orr
Caputi-Boyce-Rosehill

Aulie-Phaneuf
Liles-Schenn
Franson/Gunnarsson-Komisarek
Gunnarsson-Lashoff
Gardiner-Holzer

Who is waiver exempt?

 

[Erndog]

Although Aulie's defensive performance was pretty good, he offered nothing in the way of offense.  I could see his stock drop if they're looking for a more versatile blueliners.

That's true, but we still need a strong, crease clearning presence. Most of our D have some offensive ability. Aulie and Komi are the only stay at homes. We have five D with good, to very good offensive ability. I think he'll be ok in a shutdown role.

Schenn is more of a defensive, crease clearing presence.  Sure he has some untapped offensive potential but at the end of the day, he's largely a stay at home guy. 

 

[maplesyrup]

Although Aulie's defensive performance was pretty good, he offered nothing in the way of offense.  I could see his stock drop if they're looking for a more versatile blueliners.

That's true, but we still need a strong, crease clearning presence. Most of our D have some offensive ability. Aulie and Komi are the only stay at homes. We have five D with good, to very good offensive ability. I think he'll be ok in a shutdown role.

Schenn is more of a defensive, crease clearing presence.  Sure he has some untapped offensive potential but at the end of the day, he's largely a stay at home guy.

Personally, I could give a rat's tush if we ever see that potential. As long as he continues to excel at being that prototypical stay-at-home crease-clearer, colour me happy.

 

[bustaheims]

Schenn is more of a defensive, crease clearing presence.  Sure he has some untapped offensive potential but at the end of the day, he's largely a stay at home guy.

While that's true, he's already cracked the 20 point plateau, so, it's not unreasonable to think he might be able to get up into the 30+ point range without really sacrificing the stay at home aspect of his game - especially if he starts getting more PP time (which is a big if this season, but, who knows when it comes to future seasons).

 

[Bender]

Schenn is more of a defensive, crease clearing presence.  Sure he has some untapped offensive potential but at the end of the day, he's largely a stay at home guy.

My thinking as well. He's more of a stay at home guy but he can easily chip in if needed. He's not offesnively inept.
While that's true, he's already cracked the 20 point plateau, so, it's not unreasonable to think he might be able to get up into the 30+ point range without really sacrificing the stay at home aspect of his game - especially if he starts getting more PP time (which is a big if this season, but, who knows when it comes to future seasons).