The first PP unit

[LeafOfBread]

Can we stop icing this garbage unit? I can't even remember the last time the Franson-Phaneuf combo scored a goal. Lately it's been the second unit doing the work, led by Rielly and Gardiner. Move these guys up, there's also less of a risk of shorthanded goals since they can actually skate back in time unlike Franson and sometimes Phaneuf.

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[Revolt]

Can we stop icing this garbage unit? I can't even remember the last time the Franson-Phaneuf combo scored a goal. Lately it's been the second unit doing the work, led by Rielly and Gardiner. Move these guys up, there's also less of a risk of shorthanded goals since they can actually skate back in time unlike Franson and sometimes Phaneuf.

Yep, there are a few of us that have been saying this for weeks-months now. Not sure why Carlyle forces this brutal pairing on for the PP each time.

 

[pooleboy]

Rielly-phaneuf
Gardiner-franson

Please!! Ffs

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Rielly-phaneuf
Gardiner-franson

Please!! Ffs

Seriously. Or even just put Rielly-Gardiner on the first unit. Just break up Franson-Phaneuf or get them the **** off the first unit. We've been saying to put Gardiner/Rielly with Phaneuf/Franson for months but the coaching staff doesn't get it.

 

[GordieHoweHatTrick]

Nothing beyond the first 4 posts really needs to be said

 

[Duke Silver]

Our PP is too much of a one-trick pony these days. So predictable. All teams have to do is put pressure on Kessel and 50% of the time it ends up with a turnover. Franson can't hit the net and Phaneuf is too pre-occupied with his backhand saucer passes to Kessel on the half wall. Teams have figured us out. Time to switch things up.

 

[HarrisonFord]

I'd actually prefer to have:

Gardiner - Phaneuf
Rielly - Franson


With Phaneuf and Franson on the top PP unit, you are putting two shooters on the point. Not really puck movers. You know what makes two shooters effective? Having guys who can crowd the net, screen the goalie, tip shots, and pounce on rebounds. We have Kessel, Bozak, and JVR out there. Outside of JVR, how good are the other two at these things? Not very good at all.

Get Franson off there who offers nothing but his shot, and replace him with Gardiner who can shoot and his movement/puck distribution is his biggest strength on the PP. You know who benefits from this? EVERY ONE OF OUR FORWARDS ON THE TOP PP. Especially our most dangerous player Phil Kessel. Then he can have someone to work with down low AND up at the point.

 

[Erdinger]

The way people talk about Franson's shot you would think he's some sort of Al MacInnis. I've never seen this mythical point man in Franson.

 

[Purity*]

More stupidity from Carlyle...


Make what you will of it, we've pretty much seen it all by this point. We got 2 shooters and 2 skaters/passers. What does Carlyle do? Just take a guess

 

[Banic]

Refused to watch the game, but I can apply say I've been saying this for months. Either split the 2 up or swap d pairings. Franson is redundant on this team now without offensive production.

 

[TML23]

Rielly-phaneuf
Gardiner-franson

Please!! Ffs

It took Carlyle a LONG time to get Kostka out of the 1st PP line. Do you think he will ever switch Franson out of that lineup? no way...

#FireCarlyle

 

[The Winter Soldier]

The PP is not the problem of this team. Leafs are 3rd in the NHL in PP%. Hardly an issue to our current problems.

 

[LeafOfBread]

The PP is not the problem of this team. Leafs are 3rd in the NHL in PP%. Hardly an issue to our current problems.

Except most of that was stacked up early in the season and the first unit has been horrible for months now. Also their road pp% is very poor. I don't think you understand what I'm trying to say. Read more carefully please.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Except most of that was stacked up early in the season and the first unit has been horrible for months now. Also their road pp% is very poor. I don't think you understand what I'm trying to say. Read more carefully please.

Franson is pretty good on the PP, it's about his only redeeming quality. Dion is hurt, or I think he is hurt, he left a game after the Olympics and returned and hasn't been the same.

If you want to move Rielly up, maybe I'd do it. But this PP has been pretty good the last 2 years. I think there is a stat Phaneuf has more PP points for a Defenceman or is up there in the NHL than most. Got to stick with what has gotten us this far IMO.

 

[HarrisonFord]

The PP is not the problem of this team. Leafs are 3rd in the NHL in PP%. Hardly an issue to our current problems.

That PK on the other hand....

 

[LeafOfBread]

Franson is pretty good on the PP, it's about his only redeeming quality. Dion is hurt, or I think he is hurt, he left a game after the Olympics and returned and hasn't been the same.

If you want to move Rielly up, maybe I'd do it. But this PP has been pretty good the last 2 years. I think there is a stat Phaneuf has more PP points for a Defenceman or is up there in the NHL than most. Got to stick with what has gotten us this far IMO.

I don't mind Phaneuf and he is a strong PP dman, but the combination with Franson is not working and even cost us multiple shorthanded goals. Phaneuf's PP production has actually slipped a bit and that's probably cause he has another shoot first guy with him. Both guys should be with puck movers.

 

[Jacquestrapless]

Surprised no one has asked Randy this. That 5 on 3 tonight was atrocious. I remember the only game gardiner-phaneuf was a pairing in was the bruins and they did well. Creativity is needed on the powerplay now that every team covers kessel's shot and jvr's between the legs pass.

 

[yubbers]

Not to mention they scored on the pp prior with Jake and morgan holding the line

 

[-DeMo-]

Except most of that was stacked up early in the season and the first unit has been horrible for months now. Also their road pp% is very poor. I don't think you understand what I'm trying to say. Read more carefully please.

5 for 26 in last 10 games is 19.2% which would be right around the top 10 the pp is not the issue

 

[LeafOfBread]

5 for 26 in last 10 games is 19.2% which would be right around the top 10 the pp is not the issue

Again you are missing the point, I am not saying the PP as a whole is the issue. Please read. The issue is with the first unit, they get the majority of the PP time yet they have been horrible and they are put out there first on critical PPs , yet it is the second unit getting it done and scoring those goals recently. Also that statistic of yours is skewed because three of those goals came in the last 4 alone. In fact before this weekend the PP had slipped to 8th, Bowen mentioned on the radio yesterday too that the overall efficiency had significantly gone down the past few months.

 

[FlareKnight]

There's no doubt the second unit is getting some decent powerplay production. The first unit is a disaster though. Those guys go out first and waste a minute or more leaving less time for the second unit to clean up their mess. Either mix some things up or put that other unit out first.

 

[Avec Fromage*]

Rielly - Franson would be a shorthanded goal-breeding disaster. Franson is slow and awful at keeping the puck in the zone, which was evidenced again tonight.

 

[mikebel111*]

The forwards on 1st PP have trouble getting in the zone it seems.
U see kadri do it with relative ease. However i do agree u need a puck mover on each line. Franny and dion are scary on the point