Post-Game Talk: Win, baby!!

[bunjay]

For all the flack Grabo's been getting lately, he was pretty good in the last few minutes at keeping the puck out of our zone.

The Grabo line is leaned on heavily to protect the lead late in the third, and they get matched up against top forward lines whenever possible.

 

[Rockinz]

So he looks like an NHL player? I'm hoping for 25 points this year in 48 games

It's definitely possible and most likely probable.

Kadri has not only shown he is of NHL caliper but that should be centering our top line and Bozak needs to either get traded or play on the 3rd line.

 

[mikebel111*]

So he looks like an NHL player? I'm hoping for 25 points this year in 48 games

I think 25 will happen, maybe more
There has been 2 games where he didn't create much, but that is not to say he was terrible, in those games he was better defensively than offensively, been great soo far, faceoffs need improvement, but that will come in time

 

[LEAFSIN4]

after the first 10 games I'm pretty happy with the result. We've played .500 hockey while playing players like Kostka, Fraser, Kadri, Frattin, Komarov and Scrivens... young players who are being given a chance at the NHL for the first time in their careers. Lupul, Mac, Gunnar, and Gardiner have all been injured throughout this time too.

Kessel hasn't scored but he looks more complete of a player now than he did last year. All the players seem to be on the same page and we are finally seeing this team play like a team.

I honestly think that we are 1 shutdown defenceman from being a team good enough to make the playoffs. I started off the year thinking that we'd get a top 10 draft pick, and I still think that's possible depending on how close the playoff race is this year (last year 10th in the East was good enough for the 10th pick).

I think we are at the end of the road with Bozak. He's an alright player, but not first line material.

This is what the lineups should be, based on the performance of these players in the first 10 games.

Frattin - Kadri - Kessel
JVR - Grabo - Kulemin
Mac - Bozak - Komarov
Orr - McClement - Brown/Steckel

When healthy

Lupul - Kadri - Kessel
JVR - Grabo - Frattin
Komarov - Bozak - Kulemin
Orr - McClement - Brown

Phaneuf - Gunnar
Franson - Gardiner
Liles - Kostka/Komi/Holzer

Trade Mac for a defensive defenceman. Try to add more toughness to the third line center position to have a legit shutdown line.

 

[number72]

10 game goalless streak. Season's going to be an anomaly one for Phil, leads the league in shots on net but still hasn't cashed in..

Kessel needs to focus on improving the quality of shots and not quantity. THat means driving the net, passing when he doesn't have a good shot etc.

 

[Animal]

thanks for the feedback guys, from what I've seen he's been dynamite, but just wanted to make sure it wasn't only when i was watching haha

 

[Ramboshaw]

How has Kadri looked this year? Midterms are absolutely killing and i haven't watched enough hockey, can someone fill me in?

Kadri, JVR, and Frattin have been the Leafs best players this year imo.

 

[number72]

I love it. And JVR is making Kessel look bad on the ice.

 

[Lebanese Leaf]

I think 25 will happen, maybe more
There has been 2 games where he didn't create much, but that is not to say he was terrible, in those games he was better defensively than offensively, been great soo far, faceoffs need improvement, but that will come in time

Agreed. But about the face-offs, I am seeing improvement. He was 4/5 80% from the dot tonight. Small sample size, but good nonetheless.

 

[mapleleaf979]

Scrivens got lucky in my opinion tonight. He looked terrible. I dont trust him back there.

 

[CincoHolio]

Kessel needs to focus on improving the quality of shots and not quantity. THat means driving the net, passing when he doesn't have a good shot etc.

He should have passed to JVR when they had that 2 on 1. Would have been automatic for James to notch the hatty.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

The Grabo line is leaned on heavily to protect the lead late in the third, and they get matched up against top forward lines whenever possible.

The way Ovie has been playing of late, a bunch beer league players could shut down that line on Washington. Grabo's line couldn't shut down a Staal if they tried to. 5 points in 10 games, is unacceptable for the highest paid fwd on the team. I thought he looked asleep again tonight. Washington is an awful team, this game was pretty bad compared to the Philly/TB game.

 

[A1LeafNation]

If the Leafs are a playoff team now...

JVR Grabovski Kulemin
MacArthur Kadri Kessel
Komarov Bozak Frattin
McLaren McClemment Orr
Steckel

Phaneuf Kostka
Liles Franson
Fraser Holzer

Reimer
Scrivens

What happens if you add Lupul, Brown, Rielly, Gardiner, Gunnarsson, Komisarek, possibly Ranger, and hopefully Perry into the mix next year...

 

[bunjay]

If the Leafs are a playoff team now...

Theyre not. Sorry to bust the bubble.

 

[mikebel111*]

Agreed. But about the face-offs, I am seeing improvement. He was 4/5 80% from the dot tonight. Small sample size, but good nonetheless.

I know, some days he will be good, some days he won't, it's just a matter of adjusting, as I said, it will take time
I see improvement too, since the first game, he is doing different things, that is what he has to keep doing

 

[mix1home]

He should have passed to JVR when they had that 2 on 1. Would have been automatic for James to notch the hatty.

Agreed. I screamed at Kessel hard. It would be easy tap in, goalie was so far out, HT for JVR, 3A +4 for Kessel and game probably in the bag right there.

 

[LeafsMonster]

that's awesome

 

[mikebel111*]

Agreed. But about the face-offs, I am seeing improvement. He was 4/5 80% from the dot tonight. Small sample size, but good nonetheless.

I wanted to ask you something
Was kadri really as bad tonight as bunjay is saying

 

[Warden of the North]

Agreed. I screamed at Kessel hard. It would be easy tap in, goalie was so far out, HT for JVR, 3A +4 for Kessel and game probably in the bag right there.

If we lost this would be a bigger deal. But we won. So it really doesnt matter.

As it stands, I'd bet JvR would be happier with Kessel scoring then he getting a hat trick.

 

[kihei]

He did, but there were numerous times where he was looking around for the puck, unsure of where it was. Lots of rebounds that the Caps never took advantage of. I thought he looked shaky at best.

.923 save percentage shaky?

 

[A1LeafNation]

Theyre not. Sorry to bust the bubble.

according to the standings, they pretty much are right now.

 

[p.l.f.]

hehe
kessel has become the playmaker and JVR the finisher

hey phil good things happen when you go to the net!
1000 shots from the perimeter gets you nowhere dude

 

[Mansfield]

didnt watch, glad they won

 

[Duffman955]

after the first 10 games I'm pretty happy with the result. We've played .500 hockey while playing players like Kostka, Fraser, Kadri, Frattin, Komarov and Scrivens... young players who are being given a chance at the NHL for the first time in their careers. Lupul, Mac, Gunnar, and Gardiner have all been injured throughout this time too.

Kessel hasn't scored but he looks more complete of a player now than he did last year. All the players seem to be on the same page and we are finally seeing this team play like a team.

I honestly think that we are 1 shutdown defenceman from being a team good enough to make the playoffs. I started off the year thinking that we'd get a top 10 draft pick, and I still think that's possible depending on how close the playoff race is this year (last year 10th in the East was good enough for the 10th pick).

I think we are at the end of the road with Bozak. He's an alright player, but not first line material.

This is what the lineups should be, based on the performance of these players in the first 10 games.

Frattin - Kadri - Kessel
JVR - Grabo - Kulemin
Mac - Bozak - Komarov
Orr - McClement - Brown/Steckel

When healthy

Lupul - Kadri - Kessel
JVR - Grabo - Frattin
Komarov - Bozak - Kulemin
Orr - McClement - Brown

Phaneuf - Gunnar
Franson - Gardiner
Liles - Kostka/Komi/Holzer

Trade Mac for a defensive defenceman. Try to add more toughness to the third line center position to have a legit shutdown line.

I have to agree with all of this. But I would definitely start Komiserek in the top 6, he has looked real good this year.

 

[RealisticLeaf55]

Scrivens can not just stay in the net for the life of him. Guy gives me a mini heart attack after every damn rebound.