Pre-Game Talk: Uhhh, What do we do now? Leafs vs Devils in what will feel like a month.

[Cor]

I personally want to see Liles slotted into the lineup, with Ranger taking a seat, only because Franson is our only RHD.

Phaneuf - Gunner
Liles - Franson
Gardiner - Rielly

Bernier will get the start vs the Devils. Reimer will get to face Boston

Click to read more...

 

[LV*]

Liles is a lefty too btw

 

[Cor]

No, I know, I meant that is why I'd take Ranger out over Franson

 

[Daisy Jane]

but franson is playing so poorly...
i have to wonder what the heck is up with that because - it can't just be he's missing Fraser.

 

[The_Chosen_One]

but franson is playing so poorly...
i have to wonder what the heck is up with that because - it can't just be he's missing Fraser.

He's been playing a lot more worse than Ranger. I'm not really a fan of the +/- metric, but Ranger is +4. To single him out seems rather ridiculous, and I have a feeling that he's going to be sticking.

 

[TheLeastOfTheBunch]

Will be a back to back game for Jersey (they will play in Philadelphia the night before the game in ACC).

Hopefully Bernier has a strong game on Friday. Reimer will probably get the game against Boston on Saturday

 

[Hotlanta]

but franson is playing so poorly...
i have to wonder what the heck is up with that because - it can't just be he's missing Fraser.

Why not? Franson is use to being able to pinch and make bad plays in protected minutes with Fraser backing him up. Yes, in the playoffs he proved he can do more but that was after a 48 game season. Franson missed training camp and is now playing the PK in addition to PP and second pairing 5 on 5 with an offensive D. He is struggling because of bigger minutes, harder competition, starting the season late, & not have a stay at home rock beside him. I think when Fraser comes back the two of them need to be put back together. I don't know what that means for our second pairing but Franson needs some time back with Fraser to get up to speed and figure his game out.

EDIT: Hoping the line-up will be:

Lupul - JVR - Kessel
Kulemin - Kadri - Clarkson (Kadri needs to show off his nifty mittens with two players who can create a lot of space for him)
Raymond - McClement - Leivo/Broll/Devane
McLaren - Smith - Orr (5 minutes max this game)

Phaneuf - Gunnarsson
Gardiner - Rielly/Ranger
Fraser - Franson

Bernier
Reimer

 

[Igy]

Count on Fraser being back by Friday.

 

[InterceptSchenn]

Ranger has been fine. Plays the body well and does a good job blocking shots and getting his stick in the passing lanes.

 

[Cor]

I just want Liles to play, it's nothing against Ranger.

 

[Mikeyg]

fransons time to take a seat, if it were gardiner committing 1-2 TERRIBLE giveaways a night he would of been press box'd a long time ago, franson has been pretty brutal to this point... time to take a seat,

 

[hockeyes]

Based on play, Franson should sit for Fraser on Friday.

The bad thing though, is Franson playing with Fraser is exactly what he needs, so imo whoever sits won't "deserve" to sit but it is what it is. Rielly should be that guy, no point pushing him hard, let him sit here and there (which was the plan all along) to stay healthy and train. If spring rolls around and we are relying heavily on a 19 year old in his first season, chances are we are not doing too good anyway.

Ranger has slowly improved all season long, he isn't regressing so there is no benefit to taking him out.

 

[Leafidelity]

Any guess to who's getting called up at centre? Smithson? I assume McClement is our second line center as of now.

 

[Mess]

No, I know, I meant that is why I'd take Ranger out over Franson

By Liles in, I think you mean Mark Fraser in.

Fraser and Franson made a solid pairing last season.

 

[RoadWarrior]

Any guess to who's getting called up at centre? Smithson? I assume McClement is our second line center as of now.

......and this ladies and gents is exactly why there will be a move

 

[Cor]

By Liles in, I think you mean Mark Fraser in.

Fraser and Franson made a solid pairing last season.

If Fraser is ready by friday, then sit both Ranger and Franson

 

[Boreal01]

Really want to see defence look like this.

Phaneuf - Ranger/Liles
Gunnarsson - Gardiner
Reilly - Franson

Ranger was starting to look like how he did with the Lightning but totally blew it against Vancouver. Liles needs to be considered. If Liles doesn't get called up, Ranger should play with Dion. Gunnarsson and Gardiner looked solid together when they were on the same pairing last year. Gunnarsson can stay back while Jake jumps up in the rush. That leaves Reilly and Franson together, both guys can jump up and get back in a hurry.

 

[Hibachi]

What kind of message does that give to Rielly, who has not been our worse defender. Gotta hold these older guys accountable and show them that a rookie is out playing them.

 

[Punch Drunk Loov]

At least we have a while to figure what the hell we are going to do down the middle

 

[Diatomic]

Phaneuf - Gunnarsson
Franson - Gardiner
Rielly - Fraser/Liles/Ranger

 

[JAMmer124]

Rielly/Gardiner-Phaneuf
Gardiner/Rielly-Gunnarsson
Fraser-Franson


give Franson a chance to find his game with Fraser again.

 

[Al14]

He's been playing a lot more worse than Ranger. I'm not really a fan of the +/- metric, but Ranger is +4. To single him out seems rather ridiculous, and I have a feeling that he's going to be sticking.

Once a whipping boy, always a whipping boy!

Too bad, really. Ranger is getting better and better as games go on.

Since being terrible at the start of the season, he has now been labeled as our whipping boy. It will not change much because some fools can't reevaluate the situation on the fly. Murphy was run out of town, by our fans, and, went on the win the Stanley Cup with the Red Wings.

Ranger WANTS, and only wants, to be a Leaf. Our fans should cheer him for that alone FFS! He's not that bad of a D-man!!!

 

[Al14]

Rielly/Gardiner-Phaneuf
Gardiner/Rielly-Gunnarsson
Fraser-Franson


give Franson a chance to find his game with another team again.

Fixed.

I had to do this because he's been far worse than Ranger lately and our fans still pick on Ranger!

Maybe we could get a centre using him as trade bait.

 

[Penalty Kill Icing*]

Franson is playing very bad. People just want to look for scapegoat in Ranger.

Time for Franson to take a seat. Feels like Rielly is playing with a 19 year rookie out there.

 

[Al14]

Ranger has been fine. Plays the body well and does a good job blocking shots and getting his stick in the passing lanes.

Nice to see a fellow Leaf fan who can actually evaluate a players performance and give credit where it is deserved!

Good job.