Post-Game Talk: Dec 19 2015 - LA Kings @ Maple Leafs - Shut-out: Page 17 PGT Starts

[Gabriel426]

Hey guys. T. J. Brennan. Tearing it up year after year. Could Babcock do something with this guy, that no one else has been able to do and get him to translate this to the NHL? Heck this guy has transformed so many others. Possible?

I am starting to think Babcock could convince a three legged donkey he has a shot in a horse race about now. Just like Burnsie did.

Nathan Dempsy 2.0

 

[teeder333*]

I hear you, but what could Babcock do with him? Too slow for Babs? Babs seems to love speed. And I am in complete agreement with him. Kostka was a nice AHL player, who just seemed a tad slow in terms of feet and mind for the NHL. Is this guy the same? I.E. Dempsey?

 

[Nithoniniel]

I don't think Brennan will ever be an NHLer. His strengths are in his execution, he can make terrific plays when given the time to do so. At the AHL level he gets that time, so he looks really good (offensively).

His whole game crumbles due to this when he plays at the much faster NHL level though.

 

[teeder333*]

I don't think Brennan will ever be an NHLer. His strengths are in his execution, he can make terrific plays when given the time to do so. At the AHL level he gets that time, so he looks really good (offensively).

His whole game crumbles due to this when he plays at the much faster NHL level though.

Excellent reply. Thanks, I experienced that when I played a high minor league level in pro sports as well. Sad but its true. Quick of feet and quick of mind, equals a shot. Having hands as well makes it all that much sweeter. I was a Polak.

Question. What makes Polak an NHLer, and Brennan not?

 

[Darkside Blue]

He has been himself. That's himself. Last year he over achieved a bit. What you are seeing is the real Winnick. Same with Mathias. He's not an 18 goal scorer

I don't think it's the scoring, I think it's the board work. Last year, if Winnik went after a puck, I expected him to get it, it just seemed to happen so often.

This year, he seems a bit creaky after that awful-looking leg injury, and he's not been so successful in puck battles. Seems to be coming around, though, he looks a little more mobile.

 

[Nithoniniel]

Excellent reply. Thanks, I experienced that when I played a high minor league level in pro sports as well. Sad but its true. Quick of feet and quick of mind, equals a shot. Having hands as well makes it all that much sweeter. I was a Polak.

Question. What makes Polak an NHLer, and Brennan not?

Filling a role, really.

Polak is a physical beast and a great PK guy on any level. Without getting the time to execute offensive plays, Brennan doesn't really offer a team much of anything.

I don't think it's the scoring, I think it's the board work. Last year, if Winnik went after a puck, I expected him to get it, it just seemed to happen so often.

This year, he seems a bit creaky after that awful-looking leg injury, and he's not been so successful in puck battles. Seems to be coming around, though, he looks a little more mobile.

This is exactly it. Last year you saw Winnik go in on the forecheck, and he'd win the puck. He'd come home on the backcheck and steal pucks in the neutral zone. And he'd play a safe but very accurate passing game, as well as excelling in the defensive zone and on the PK.

Most of that was slow out of the gate this year and gone after the injury. It's starting to come back though.

I've followed Winnik through his career, and what he showed us last year is pretty much the kind of player he is.

 

[mikebel111*]

Wait a second, Pens had a defensive coach in MJ and that didnt work out? Now an offensive speed coach and things still dont look good?

The core players are the problem IMO

 

[diceman934]

Great game....Kadri's line went beast mode. Nice to see Bernier win a game and get a shutout against his former team.

Hope that Rielly is ok....tweaked his knee.

Kadri's coming out party...

 

[Bad News Bears]

Grabner's best years were with Nielsen and Okposo, so who knows how he'll do if he gets a stint playing with some actual skill on the Leafs with Kads and Koma. Tell you what, seems like he's got hands of stone a lot of the time, but he can certainly skate and play without the puck well.

 

[Leafs at Knight]

Honestly I forgot Lucic was even on the Kings, didn't even notice him out there.

 

[ClarkSittler]

Honestly I forgot Lucic was even on the Kings, didn't even notice him out there.

I thought the same.

 

[Cor]

Honestly I forgot Lucic was even on the Kings, didn't even notice him out there.

Having a real good season though

 

[sommervr]

I don't think Brennan will ever be an NHLer. His strengths are in his execution, he can make terrific plays when given the time to do so. At the AHL level he gets that time, so he looks really good (offensively).

His whole game crumbles due to this when he plays at the much faster NHL level though.

Every year he gets a little better on the defensive side. He isn't nearly as terrible even from last year.

This guy's life will change completely if the league expands. I can see him as a PP specialist on the Las Vegas Hookers and Blow (I think that will be the name)

 

[mulefarm]

Gardiner and Phanuef have really been impressive! Gardiner is by far one of the best puck moving D in the league. Can skate or pass the puck out of the D zone consistently and this really allows Phanuef to play to his strengths. The tandem is becoming very reliable.

 

[Pookie]

I thought the same.

5th game in 9 nights at the end of a two week road trip? Leafs may have caught a scheduling break.

Either or, Bernier needed that. Grabner too. Hope he and Komarov can stay together for a few games to see what happens.

 

[deletethis]

Honestly I forgot Lucic was even on the Kings, didn't even notice him out there.

Sure you didn't.

 

[Nithoniniel]

Every year he gets a little better on the defensive side. He isn't nearly as terrible even from last year.

This guy's life will change completely if the league expands. I can see him as a PP specialist on the Las Vegas Hookers and Blow (I think that will be the name)

Sure, I could see that too.

Gardiner and Phanuef have really been impressive! Gardiner is by far one of the best puck moving D in the league. Can skate or pass the puck out of the D zone consistently and this really allows Phanuef to play to his strengths. The tandem is becoming very reliable.

A Slight Case of Hyperbole.

 

[namttebih]

Great game by the Leafs.

I was so happy to see Froese get his 1st (finally!)

And Johnny Bernz finally gets a W. Good night for everyone

Not to mention Grabner with 2 goals and 2 assists. Good boost of confidence. Hopefully he can keep it up with Kadri and Komorov. It would be nice if he had decent value at the TD. I know that nobody could have predicted the goaltender situation, but man it would be nice to have Gibson in the system right now. Flipping Grabner at the TD for a couple of picks would be the Cherry on the cake.

 

[gabeliscious]

Sure, I could see that too.



A Slight Case of Hyperbole.

lol i agree. id be happy if he just could solidify himself as a nhl top 4 defenseman.

 

[mulefarm]

A large case of blinders!

 

[BertCorbeau]

Missed the game last night, caught the boxscore and game in 6 ... Looks like Grabner found some nice chemistry with Kadri and Leo - were they that dominate all night long?

Good for Berns to get that win ... Was nice to see!

And congrats to Froese on his first NHL goal, great night for the Buds all around

 

[TheProspector]

Leafs beat out the Kings on SOG 34-26, but ES SAT were in the Kings favour 58-52. Notably, ZSO were also in Kings favour, 21-13. Where the Leafs did realise an advantage was in high danger scoring chances, 15-10.

Although they got shutout, their top players still dominated. On ice Corsi:

Lucic +11, Kopitar +9, Gaborik +9. Bozak -14, Hunwick -13, PAP -13, JVR -9 got totally owned.

Our lower lines did most of the possession work: Froese +15, Boyes +14, Mathias +12.

 

[ULF_55]

Missed the game last night, caught the boxscore and game in 6 ... Looks like Grabner found some nice chemistry with Kadri and Leo - were they that dominate all night long?

Good for Berns to get that win ... Was nice to see!

And congrats to Froese on his first NHL goal, great night for the Buds all around

Good place at the right time, and got the breaks.

I think after the 2nd. Leafs goal, the game was over except for points padding.

 

[TheProspector]

Missed the game last night, caught the boxscore and game in 6 ... Looks like Grabner found some nice chemistry with Kadri and Leo - were they that dominate all night long?

Good for Berns to get that win ... Was nice to see!

And congrats to Froese on his first NHL goal, great night for the Buds all around

No, they were not dominant. On ice Coris +/-: Komarov -7, Kadri -8, Grabner -2. They did have some good moments, though, obviously.

They mostly went up against Kopitar, Lucic and Gaborik, and they were largely dominated (on ice corsi % 56-62% for those Kings).

It definitely wasn't "winning the right way". But the Leafs did keep them out of the high danger scoring zones, as most of the Kings' surplus Corsi events were missed, blocked and low-probability shots. Still, a Carlyle type victory, and not what most of around here would call "winning the right way".

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Grabner's best years were with Nielsen and Okposo, so who knows how he'll do if he gets a stint playing with some actual skill on the Leafs with Kads and Koma. Tell you what, seems like he's got hands of stone a lot of the time, but he can certainly skate and play without the puck well.

It could also be that since his higher producing seasons he's been stuck on the 4th line quite often. Some guys can produce in bunches if they have someone better than 4th liners to use.

Other than Spaling or Froese, everyone on our team should be in the 25-45 point range given fair ice-time opportunities. The only thing is, other than Bozak, JVR, Kadri, Lupul (if he's healthy) and maybe Komarov (this year), nobody is going to get much more than that.