The Winter Soldier
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- Apr 4, 2011
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Thought this was a very interesting article by Kevin Mcgran that was probably overlooked due to the Olympics and the break.
By: Kevin McGran Sports Reporter, Published on Tue Feb 04 2014
Cribbed for copyright rules. Entire article in link below.
MAKING PLAYERS AROUND THEM BETTER
http://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs...teammates_better_kulemin_on_trade_market.html
By: Kevin McGran Sports Reporter, Published on Tue Feb 04 2014
Cribbed for copyright rules. Entire article in link below.
MAKING PLAYERS AROUND THEM BETTER
I read with some interest an article by the Star’s new department of hockey analytics, that pointed out, among other things, that Alex Ovechkin is not the kind of player that makes the players around him better.
That got me to thinking: Who on the Maple Leafs possesses this trait? It’s a rare ability.
If you remember, Mats Sundin had that ability. No further proof required than the fact he turned a borderline NHLer in Jonas Hoglund into a 29-goal scorer.
There are three current Leafs who fit the bill to some degree: Tyler Bozak, Phil Kessel and — this is a little off centre —Tim Gleason. Each make the players around them better, for different reasons.
The case for Bozak: Bozak, who has a legion of detractors out there, is the glue that keeps the first line together. There’s no question Kessel and James van Riemsdyk missed Bozak. There’s no question the team missed Bozak.
He’s not really a point producer, although he’s been fine on that front lately. It’s more his hockey sense that shines. He tends to be in the right place at the right time. He doesn’t mind backchecking. He’s quite good in his own zone.
With him in the lineup, the Leafs are 18-12-3, earning 39 of a possible 66 points, or a .590 points percentage.
Without him, the Leafs went 12-9-3, earning 27 of a possible 48 points, (.563).
Continued ..
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http://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs...teammates_better_kulemin_on_trade_market.html
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