Training Camp Thread

[Sudafederov]

That year, prior to Orr's arrival was pretty tough to watch as that Leafs team was easily intimidated. While times have changed, I don't think the game has changed THAT much.

The team the year prior to Orr's arrival was "tough to watch" because they had a first line of Blake-Stajan-Ponikarovsky. The Leafs could have had Joe Frazier on the 4th line to punch people in the face and they would have sucked.

It was also because they were easily intimidated and were getting pushed around on a nightly basis.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

That year, prior to Orr's arrival was pretty tough to watch as that Leafs team was easily intimidated. While times have changed, I don't think the game has changed THAT much.

The team the year prior to Orr's arrival was "tough to watch" because they had a first line of Blake-Stajan-Ponikarovsky. The Leafs could have had Joe Frazier on the 4th line to punch people in the face and they would have sucked.

It was also because they were easily intimidated and were getting pushed around on a nightly basis.

Any evidence for that?  I never felt that.  They got outplayed by better teams.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

are inconsistent offensively (Kadri more-so on the inconsistent)

How would you argue that Kadri is inconsistent offensively?  And Lupul too I guess.

7 times last season he went 3+ games without points.  He was pretty poor in mid-December to mid-January (4 pts in 14 games from Dec-16 to Jan-14) and at the end of the season for example. 

If he want to get to the next level he needs to become more consistent- not just offensively but throughout his entire game.  Aside from the stats, I watched pretty much every game last season and saw that some games he just wasn't performing the level you'd want.

Lupul had 5 3+ game stretches without points.  Bozak, in comparison, had just 2 stretches like that.

But how does that compare to other similar players league-wide?  Without that context I have no idea if that is good, bad, normal or not normal for a 2nd line C of his age.

 

[bustaheims]

Any evidence for that?  I never felt that.  They got outplayed by better teams.

Yeah. I never felt they were really ever physically intimated because they didn't have a goon on the roster. If they were intimidated at all, it was before they were often playing against teams that had significantly more talented and didn't want to look silly against them, or because they weren't physically or mentally tough enough individually. Having a face puncher on the roster doesn't help in any of those areas.

 

[Kin]

It was also because they were easily intimidated and were getting pushed around on a nightly basis.

That team's three goalies were Vesa Toskala, Martin Gerber and a 41 year old Cujo. You can repeat your premise as much as you want, they were a crappy team regardless of what the other teams did.

 

[bakeapples]

Yesssss.  Good job Randy and Dave.

Oh to be a fly on the wall during the meeting this decision was made.

Randy probably had one of those Hitler-eqse hissy fits

 

[Newfoundlandleaf]

Most depth i've seen in years...hope springs eternal! That internal competition for jobs needs to continue, or this will have been a useless exercise to bring in extra forwards...for all Burke was, he was right about "Blue and White Disease" ...it settles in quickly!

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Nylander's going back to Sweden to play for Modo. Loov also likely going back.

 

[Highlander]

Goodbye Molten and farewell Freezer?..finally. We now have the best roster in years. The day of the enforcer is over as hockey becomes a game of total speed and skill.
Time to open that bottle of champayne in the fridge that has sat there for to long a spell now.
Can't wait for opening night.

 

[Sudafederov]

That year, prior to Orr's arrival was pretty tough to watch as that Leafs team was easily intimidated. While times have changed, I don't think the game has changed THAT much.

The team the year prior to Orr's arrival was "tough to watch" because they had a first line of Blake-Stajan-Ponikarovsky. The Leafs could have had Joe Frazier on the 4th line to punch people in the face and they would have sucked.

It was also because they were easily intimidated and were getting pushed around on a nightly basis.

Any evidence for that?  I never felt that.  They got outplayed by better teams.

Management held that opinion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=iY5D__ytniM#t=200

 

[ZBBM]

I can't think of a clearer indication of the lack of prominence Shanahan places on fighters.

And the league as a whole.

This is the bottom line.  The new bio of Boogaard tells the whole sordid story.

The era of "wanna go?" is rapidly coming to an end.

 

[Highlander]

I have not liked fighting in the game for a long long time. Never had time for a staged fight. 
Now if Tie or Darcy was pissed for some reason and some hostility ensued then that was watchable (and part of all sports, even sports that are not hockey..LOL)

I was hoping Nylander would end up on the Marlies and Loov as well.

 

[freer]

I have not liked fighting in the game for a long long time. Never had time for a staged fight. 
Now if Tie or Darcy was pissed for some reason and some hostility ensued then that was watchable (and part of all sports, even sports that are not hockey..LOL)

I was hoping Nylander would end up on the Marlies and Loov as well.

They get paid more to play in SE then the AHL, if I were a kid with two options, I think I would take they one that pays more.

 

[Coco-puffs]

are inconsistent offensively (Kadri more-so on the inconsistent)

How would you argue that Kadri is inconsistent offensively?  And Lupul too I guess.

7 times last season he went 3+ games without points.  He was pretty poor in mid-December to mid-January (4 pts in 14 games from Dec-16 to Jan-14) and at the end of the season for example. 

If he want to get to the next level he needs to become more consistent- not just offensively but throughout his entire game.  Aside from the stats, I watched pretty much every game last season and saw that some games he just wasn't performing the level you'd want.

Lupul had 5 3+ game stretches without points.  Bozak, in comparison, had just 2 stretches like that.

But how does that compare to other similar players league-wide?  Without that context I have no idea if that is good, bad, normal or not normal for a 2nd line C of his age.

Well, I don't have the time to look up all of those stats.  Sorry I can't provide you with that context- if you want to challenge my opinion you can provide opposing information.  However, I saw with my own eyes, that his play was not consistent at either end of the ice nor in the effort department. 

 

[Zee]

Shocked that both Orr and McLaren are gone.  Never thought i'd see the day. 

 

[OldTimeHockey]

This summed up the last 4 pages of posting quite nicely..Thanks Joe!

 

[freer]

So effin happy, I am dancing the "JIG" 8)

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

are inconsistent offensively (Kadri more-so on the inconsistent)

How would you argue that Kadri is inconsistent offensively?  And Lupul too I guess.

7 times last season he went 3+ games without points.  He was pretty poor in mid-December to mid-January (4 pts in 14 games from Dec-16 to Jan-14) and at the end of the season for example. 

If he want to get to the next level he needs to become more consistent- not just offensively but throughout his entire game.  Aside from the stats, I watched pretty much every game last season and saw that some games he just wasn't performing the level you'd want.

Lupul had 5 3+ game stretches without points.  Bozak, in comparison, had just 2 stretches like that.

But how does that compare to other similar players league-wide?  Without that context I have no idea if that is good, bad, normal or not normal for a 2nd line C of his age.

Well, I don't have the time to look up all of those stats.  Sorry I can't provide you with that context- if you want to challenge my opinion you can provide opposing information. 

Well I'm just saying that I think those would be important things to actually know before you state an opinion like you did.  You're welcome to state whatever opinion you want, but that doesn't shift the burden of proof onto me simply because you want to have whatever opinion you want.  I don't have time to look it up either - but that's why I wouldn't say something like that either based solely off my eyes.

 

[bustaheims]

This has been touched upon a little here, but, I think Steve Dangle raises an excellent point:

Steve_Dangle: Who are some eastern conference teams that can actually bully the Leafs physically?

Steve_Dangle: Because I've got mayyybe Boston? Anybody else? No.

Steve_Dangle: I'm having people tweet me "EVERY TEAM IS LOL" but name a team in the east that's way bigger, tougher, and not called the Bruins and why.

Steve_Dangle: Philly maybe. Not by much. Columbus maybe. Not by much. If the Leafs lose games this season it won't be from getting bullied.

 

[Crucialness Key]

Shocked that both Orr and McLaren are gone.  Never thought i'd see the day.

Phase 2 is for them to get either claimed, traded, or retired so they don't take Marlie ice-time away from Broll/Devane/anybody at all.

And ultimately, which is better: 23 guys all willing to stick up for each other, or 22 guys hanging back waiting for Colton Orr to protect them?