I'm amazed at how strong the opinions of Polak are.
Can people honestly say they've watched him play more than a few times?
You shouldn't be amazed, everyone here is an expert on every player and draft eligible prospect.
I'm amazed at how strong the opinions of Polak are.
Can people honestly say they've watched him play more than a few times?
Polak is essentially a #4-5 defenceman. I'd say he's around the same level as Gunnarsson, but instead of being a tweener puck mover, he is much more physical. I think him on a pairing with a youngster would make more sense. Seeing that we still have Franson, we'll need one more LD.I'm amazed at how strong the opinions of Polak are.
Can people honestly say they've watched him play more than a few times?
I agree. We haven't had a bonifide puck mover on the top pairing since Kaberle. In today's game that is critical even under the tougher minutes. If Gardiner could be groomed into a J-Bo, Vlasic-type of defenceman, we'd look a lot better.I think they should just go with Gardiner - Phaneuf as the top pair. Gardiner gets the PP time... Phaneuf gets the PK time.
Each plays about 25 minutes a night.
I think that they're both capable of playing big minutes... and they're our two best defenders IMO.
Why? Everyone loves to say this but I've rarely seen legitimate arguments why this is important. Because it looks nice on paper?
This is one of the more overrated things people in hockey think is a desired positive for a team.
I'm amazed at how strong the opinions of Polak are.
Can people honestly say they've watched him play more than a few times?
Having watched Polak play every game since joining the Blues, I can say with certainty he should not be matched against the opposition's top players 5 on 5.
He can handle the minutes physically, but his IQ will be exposed against the best players and he'd be better off with selective matchups. Of course, I really have no idea how he'll compare to the other RD options in TO so maybe he's actually the best option they have.
I love Roman, he's a heart and soul player and he'll be great on the PK but he better be taking that 'Limitless' drug over the Summer months if he's going to play 1st pairing minutes this season.
Not a big fan but nothing is set in stone.
I'd like to see this
Gardiner - Phaneuf
Rielly - Robidas
Franson - Polak
Those pairing compliment each other very well and are definitely worth a shot.
in "TH: Gardiner In The Mix" Simmons report that...
"My understanding from talking to the people I've spoken to today is that Jake Gardiner will play with Stephan Robidas to start next season."
"Captain Dion Phaneuf is likely to play with Roman Polak"
"Which leaves Cody Franson and Morgan Rielly as the third pair"
Phaneuf - Polak
Gardiner - Robidas
Rielly - Franson
Good just be TSN trying to get some summer news out there, but sort of interesting.
The righty lefty thing has the Leafs only playing with 3 logical tandems.
Ideally I would like to see Dion, Gardiner, and Rielly carry the 1st to 3rd pairings.
Gardiner is 24, and he has been given a raise to carry the 2nd pairing. Franson has been given a raise and his play is expected to be better.
The logical pairings are:
Dion - Robidas
Gardiner - Franson
Rielly - Polak
Granberg may be eased in, he is going to be much better than Ranger.
anyone pairing polak and franson is asking for a 5 on 5 disaster... their foot speed would get us slaughtered unless they were ONLY playing sheltered minutes against 4th liners.
we need to alternate speed with size...
that too :pThey are also both RH shots and play the right side.
Putting Polak on his weak side would be putting him in a position to fail and I don't think Leafs have any desire for that.
Polak playing 1st line pairing? He was Meh! in St Lou playing in a Hitchcock system and getting bottom 3 ice time.
This is a horrible plan.
It's indeed a horrible plan, like I said a few pages ago only in Toronto do we trade for a defensive D-man who has never played and will never be a top pairing D-man and put him exactly where he shouldn't be..on the top pairing. It's absurd to even entertain the idea of Polak playing with Phaneuf on the top pair. Put Gardiner or Rielly with Dion, put the other with Robidas, and have Franson and Polak form a pretty good 3rd pairing. There is no need to force puzzle pieces into spaces that they clearly don't fit in. If a defensive guru like Hitchcock puts Polak on the third pairing that's a pretty good indication where his limit is. I'm sure Polak can cover the 2nd pairing if there are injuries but please just keep him away from the top pairing and he'll be fine.
Things could change when Camp and Preseason are over but if a new or improved system is in the offing, they may try this because Franson played with Phanuef quite a bit last year....
Phanuef/Franson
Gardiner/Polak
Rielly/Robidas
Percy/Granberg
Polak and Robidas could change pairing partners.
As long as Franson is with either Dion or Polak I'll be a happy fan. I don't want to see anymore experiments with Rielly-Franson or Gardiner-Franson it was a train wreck last season and it'll be a train wreck this season.
Things could change when Camp and Preseason are over but if a new or improved system is in the offing, they may try this because Franson played with Phanuef quite a bit last year....
Phanuef/Franson
Gardiner/Polak
Rielly/Robidas
Percy/Granberg
Polak and Robidas could change pairing partners.