TSN: Leafs' Bozak talks new additions, contract, criticism

[Diatomic]

They have to keep him on the 1st PP unit because no one else can consistently win faceoffs. If he's not on the first PP unit then 7 out of 10 times the puck is out and down the ice right off the bat killing the first 25 - 30 seconds at least of the PP.

Thats true, but If Kadri improves his faceoffs to 50% (Bozak is only 52.5%) then Kadri should be on the 1st PP unit.

 

[Stephen]

People need to chill out about Bozak not being a number one center and getting worked up over that. The guy is simply a center who plays on the first line and keeps things tidy. With Kessel taking up the bulk of the playmaking, puck carrying responsibilities, and Kadri providing distributed scoring on another line and the Leafs scoring the 5th most goals in the league, we do have some time to shop for a number one center.

 

[Mikeyg]

goooooo bozak! he'll show grabo whats good. Bozak is going for a 55 point season, book it boys

 

[Renegade]

Leafs fans don't see the positives in Tyler Bozak. He's not a traditional #1 C but he definitely holds up. He does things on the ice that people don't recognize and that doesn't necessarily end up in points. He makes space for Kessel. There's a reason why Kessel loves having him on his line. Even then, Bozak is a clear 45-50 point guy easily. He's great at face offs, he scored our only shoot out goals this year, our only SHORT HANDED goals this year, etc.

The reason we still have him is because we can't get a #1 centre that easily. Leafs fans need to stop drinking blue kool aid and understand that #1 C's aren't traded away. You must draft them or trade for them when they're young. We have a few guys down the pipeline yet they are not developed enough to take on the #1 role. Bozak is a good replacement for now.

In 2-3 years, Bozak will be expendable and Kadri/Gauthier will be our 1-2 punch.

 

[Mikeyg]

Leafs fans don't see the positives in Tyler Bozak. He's not a traditional #1 C but he definitely holds up. He does things on the ice that people don't recognize and that doesn't necessarily end up in points. He makes space for Kessel. There's a reason why Kessel loves having him on his line. Even then, Bozak is a clear 45-50 point guy easily. He's great at face offs, he scored our only shoot out goals this year, our only SHORT HANDED goals this year, etc.

The reason we still have him is because we can't get a #1 centre that easily. Leafs fans need to stop drinking blue kool aid and understand that #1 C's aren't traded away. You must draft them or trade for them when they're young. We have a few guys down the pipeline yet they are not developed enough to take on the #1 role. Bozak is a good replacement for now.

In 2-3 years, Bozak will be expendable and Kadri/Gauthier will be our 1-2 punch.

um i dont think we have any 1c guys in the system thats currently developing in the marlies/elseware. Brown projects to be a 2c one day so that should b good too

 

[TheProspector]

Bozak is the centre on the #1 line, but is not a "#1 centre".

Whatever.

Kadri is this team's #1 centre, is already producing like one, and is only getting better.

The Leafs are very deep at wing, pretty deep in goal, and decently deep at defense. They'll be fine.

The fact is that Bozak is on track to be one of the best NCAA FA signings ever.

Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski, Hank Sedin, Olli Jokinen, Paul Stastny and Derek Roy are UFA centres next year.

Thinking about what prevented the Leafs from going past the first round, I don't think having a Crosby, Malkin or B Richards was it. I'd say having a little more toughness, grit, playoff experience and a better checking line centre than Grabovski probably were.

 

[Ari91]

That seems to be the case. So, he's all for competition in the crease, but not at center... ok.

Or perhaps when Nonis looked at the best centre available via FA and noticed that the guy wasn't a top 1C who also had wrist surgery earlier in the year and had yet to play a game since his injury, he decided to focus on the 'safe' option rather than assume any risk. After all, the team already has one top 6 player that you can't seem to rely on him being healthy for a full season.

 

[The Blue Devil]

Leafs fans don't see the positives in Tyler Bozak. He's not a traditional #1 C but he definitely holds up. He does things on the ice that people don't recognize and that doesn't necessarily end up in points. He makes space for Kessel. There's a reason why Kessel loves having him on his line. Even then, Bozak is a clear 45-50 point guy easily. He's great at face offs, he scored our only shoot out goals this year, our only SHORT HANDED goals this year, etc.

The reason we still have him is because we can't get a #1 centre that easily. Leafs fans need to stop drinking blue kool aid and understand that #1 C's aren't traded away. You must draft them or trade for them when they're young. We have a few guys down the pipeline yet they are not developed enough to take on the #1 role. Bozak is a good replacement for now.

In 2-3 years, Bozak will be expendable and Kadri/Gauthier will be our 1-2 punch.

Lol! So that's why Kessel only has 2 guys on him every game.

 

[diceman934]

Bozak will be fine until we have a better option....We improved our goaltending and our forwards are going to be played in their proper roles....last year that was not the case. We still need to purge our roster of Liles and this will open up space for a possible trade or a signing....teams still need to shed cap...

 

[Caesium]

They have to keep him on the 1st PP unit because no one else can consistently win faceoffs. If he's not on the first PP unit then 7 out of 10 times the puck is out and down the ice right off the bat killing the first 25 - 30 seconds at least of the PP.

The actual stat would be 6 times out of 10 the Leafs lose a PP faceoff when Bozak is off the ice, and 5 times out of 10 when he is on the ice.

 

[Morbo]

He makes space for Kessel, and picks up the defensive slack.

dear God.

 

[number72]

Theres literally no statistics that can assure that Bozak is a #1C, and if miraculously he is, he's the worst #1C in the NHL.

Demote him to the #2C, 4 years of torment with him as our #1C is enough already.

TOI is a stat says he is 1C. You can make stats say anything you want. But other stats say he is not a good 1C (excluding shootouts, PK, and faceoffs) but yes sadly he is a 1C for the leafs.


And at least people are consistent. Those that say Phaneuf is not a 1D are the same that say Bozak is not a 1C. 50% is correct (regarding bozie not being a 1C)

 

[Warden of the North]

Bozak is the centre on the #1 line, but is not a "#1 centre".

Whatever.

Kadri is this team's #1 centre, is already producing like one, and is only getting better.

The Leafs are very deep at wing, pretty deep in goal, and decently deep at defense. They'll be fine.

The fact is that Bozak is on track to be one of the best NCAA FA signings ever.

Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski, Hank Sedin, Olli Jokinen, Paul Stastny and Derek Roy are UFA centres next year.

Thinking about what prevented the Leafs from going past the first round, I don't think having a Crosby, Malkin or B Richards was it. I'd say having a little more toughness, grit, playoff experience and a better checking line centre than Grabovski probably were.

Winning a few more faceoffs in the third period might have got us out of the 1st round.

 

[Eb]

Bozie... What a steal at 4.2. Continue helping Kessel produce 40 goals a year.

 

[Dangles McGavin]

I love Bozak. He's a very useful player in any role. Perhaps not your typical 1C but still a good player.

I think he's got more offense to give as well. Time will tell.

 

[The_Chosen_One]

um i dont think we have any 1c guys in the system thats currently developing in the marlies/elseware. Brown projects to be a 2c one day so that should b good too

We don't really need a #1C, but need to minimize our GA. If Gomez-Madden was sufficient on the Devils, or if McDonald didn't stick out on the top line in Anaheim, I'm sure it's quite doable.

Kadri is probably going to develop into a Ribeiro-type of centre. Someone who can produce at near PPG rate, but will have to be insulate by stronger guys. Sure, Ribs isn't the Staal-esque #1C, but he's a first liner, nonetheless.

Gauthier looks like a top six forward. He may develop into big, more physical version of Bergeron. I'm not sure if his offensive upside is similar ( Berg is a top liner in that regard), but that kind of centre is very compatible with Kessel who needs someone who can create space. Phil is an elite playmaker (unlike Stastny and Weiss) and a centre version of him is better off on a separate line.

 

[The Apologist]

TOI is a stat says he is 1C. You can make stats say anything you want. But other stats say he is not a good 1C (excluding shootouts, PK, and faceoffs) but yes sadly he is a 1C for the leafs.


And at least people are consistent. Those that say Phaneuf is not a 1D are the same that say Bozak is not a 1C. 50% is correct (regarding bozie not being a 1C)

Stats say he's not a 1c but is definitely in the top line forward category.

 

[Eb]

We don't really need a #1C, but need to minimize our GA. If Gomez-Madden was sufficient on the Devils, or if McDonald didn't stick out on the top line in Anaheim, I'm sure it's quite doable.

Kadri is probably going to develop into a Ribeiro-type of centre. Someone who can produce at near PPG rate, but will have to be insulate by stronger guys. Sure, Ribs isn't the Staal-esque #1C, but he's a first liner, nonetheless.

Gauthier looks like a top six forward. He may develop into big, more physical version of Bergeron. I'm not sure if his offensive upside is similar ( Berg is a top liner in that regard), but that kind of centre is very compatible with Kessel who needs someone who can create space. Phil is an elite playmaker (unlike Stastny and Weiss) and a centre version of him is better off on a separate line.

Hate the Kadri Ribero comparison.

One player plays physical, one is a diver who play a soft game.

 

[LeafOfBread]

Hate the Kadri Ribero comparison.

One player plays physical, one is a diver who play a soft game.

Agreed. Kadri is closer to Giroux than he is to Ribeiro.

Uploaded on 7 Jul 2010
Tyler Bozak Tribute

Ah, sweet memories of when Bozak was playing over his head and got us all excited. What a letdown since then.

 

[Diatomic]

Winning a few more faceoffs in the third period might have got us out of the 1st round.

He's 52.5% at Faceoffs, he isn't a godly faceoff mastermind, that's Patrice Bergeron. Once Bozak starts getting up to the 60% faceoff mark like Patrice, then we can start praising him,till then he's nothing special.

 

[ConnorTO]

people always *****, #3 center this and that

Bozak has been playing #1 line center for some time now
which means
he is a 1ST LINE CENTER

 

[Diatomic]

Agreed. Kadri is closer to Giroux than he is to Ribeiro.



Ah, sweet memories of when Bozak was playing over his head and got us all excited. What a letdown since then.

Exactly. Ever since his highlight reel first goal, everything went downhill. God damn Burke, teasing us with his 'He's going to be a top 6 forward' nonsense, borderline #2C, good #3C.

 

[The_Chosen_One]

Hate the Kadri Ribero comparison.

One player plays physical, one is a diver who play a soft game.

Kadri does have that physical side, but I don't he'd last long playing that kind of game. He's going to be surrounded by guys like Ashton, Biggs, Leivo in the future, and - unlike Ribeiro ( who was poorly utilized) - will thrive.

Agreed. Kadri is closer to Giroux than he is to Ribeiro.

Giroux is the type of guy who can take on top lines. He spent a lot of time against Crosby and Nash, and he produces as well. I do see similarities, but Kadri is going to have to enhance his defence drastically. If he reaches that level, we'd probably be moving Bolland like Chicago.

 

[LeafOfBread]

Kadri does have that physical side, but I don't he'd last long playing that kind of game. He's going to be surrounded by guys like Ashton, Biggs, Leivo in the future, and - unlike Ribeiro ( who was poorly utilized) - will thrive.

Giroux is the type of guy who can take on top lines. He spent a lot of time against Crosby and Nash, and he produces as well. I do see similarities, but Kadri is going to have to enhance his defence drastically. If he reaches that level, we'd probably be moving Bolland like Chicago.

I agree Kadri's got work to do defensively, but he's definitely improved leaps and bounds in that areas. Eakins was great with him and Carlyle has also handled him really well.

He's got a level of intensity that Ribeiro never had, how he uses it will determine how good he can really be.

 

[Kessely Snipes]

Honestly I'm happy with Bozak signing. I think its a reasonable cap hit.