| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Guest2801
( )
|
 Posted - 10/14/2010 : 12:57:58
|
|
I know its early in the season but what a promising start! It's amazing how the leafs can take a bunch of 3rd line players from around the league and create a TEAM... everyone gets so hung up on the next scorer... Sedin, Crosby, Ovechkin... They obviously help and are great players but from what I can tell the leafs have a good shot at making a playoff run, No Kessel isn't Crosby, and MacArthur isnt Ovechkin, but the team plays well together and everyone chips in, Giguere and Gustuvsson, the 6 solid DMen that they have... and all those 3rd line players making it work. I think this is the first year since the lockout that the leafs are going to do good, No stars like Sundin but as far as I can tell they don't need em!
|
|
|
Guest2962
( )
|
Posted - 10/14/2010 : 16:53:53
|
| You better start planning the parade |
 |
|
|
Guest4271
( )
|
Posted - 10/14/2010 : 22:38:47
|
| The answer is easy.......the got younger,therefore, more team speed, and they actually have a real good defensive core. That is something they have not had in 20 years. I am still not sold on them, but they are playing excellent, exciting, fun to watch hockey, something I was wondering if I would ever see in my life time, but as I said it is very early |
|
|
|
polishexpress
PickupHockey Pro
525 Posts |
Posted - 10/14/2010 : 23:08:12
|
Guest2962, you better get ready for Slozo when he sees your response, after his comments on a different thread.
Just 3 games. I always wonder where these fans believe in the team when they winning are when they are losing. |
|
|
|
Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
6113 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2010 : 07:43:37
|
PE.....gotta think that the parade comment was/is sarcasm due to the Slozo comments? Then again, maybe not?
Oh well, Slozo's a moderator, maybe he can deem it foul and abusive language and have it removed?  |
|
|
|
n/a
deleted
4809 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2010 : 09:41:43
|
I guessed "sarcastic, goading comment", Alex116.
And, I hope you know I wouldn't abuse my 'power' by deeming something offensive or abusive when it is simply childish and pointless.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
|
|
|
Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
6113 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2010 : 11:34:06
|
quote:
Originally posted by slozo
I guessed "sarcastic, goading comment", Alex116.
And, I hope you know I wouldn't abuse my 'power' by deeming something offensive or abusive when it is simply childish and pointless.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug
I figured you'd peg it as something like that! And yes, i know you wouldn't abuse your powers!
Will we see 4-0-0 after tonight's game vs a very beatable NYR squad?
Here's something very interesting. While looking at the Leafs sched to see their chances to continue this hot start, i noticed they don't play tomorrow night??? For those of us who like to see teams other than Toronto play on HNIC, enjoy it, because aside from Christmas Day (NHL shuts down) and the All Star Break weekend, there's only one other Sat night where the Leafs don't play!!!
Slozo, there are some things good about being a Leafs fan afterall ! |
|
|
|
Guest5398
( )
|
Posted - 10/15/2010 : 12:57:03
|
| Got to see a pre-season game between ottawa and the Leafs. I was impressed with a young and speedy Leafs team. I have to say though that within the youth movement, there was probably room for Kadri. A bit puzzled on that one. In saying that, everything seems to be running pretty smoothe for them. It is really too early to tell, but there is hope for all Leafs fans. |
|
|
|
irvine
PickupHockey Veteran
Canada
1315 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2010 : 17:20:39
|
@ Guest5398:
There may have been room for Kadri to make the squad, but in my opinion, and I'm guessing the Leafs Management opinion also, he was just not ready to make the jump to the NHL full time.
Kadri still has some work and maturing to do, before he's ready to play in the NHL as a full-timer. And, to me, there is no point in having him sitting in the press box every other game, when he could be developing and continuing to improve, by getting top minutes in the minors.
By next year, Kadri should be ready to make the jump. If an injury occurs this season, he'll have the chance to deem himself ready again, when he fills in the lineup.
Until then, I believe even though there was room for him, he just isn't ready to be a full-timer yet. And, as I stated, no point wasting him in the press box every other game, when he could be playing full time and improving in the minors.
Irvine/prez. |
|
|
|
Guest5398
( )
|
Posted - 10/16/2010 : 11:11:16
|
Agree with most about Kadri except a couple of things. Is Hall ready in Edmonton?
Is Seguin ready in Boston?
Are either anymore ready than Kadri?
Is Edmonton or Boston any less deep than Toronto?
Don't get me wrong, I don't know that Kadri is ready yet either but I saw him play in Ottawa in the pre season and he was the best player on the ice.
Inconsistent I know, but where is the best place to learn consistency?
In my opinion NHL is best place.
I know too that it was only a pre season game but both teams had all regulars in the lineup.
I don't think Kadri is getting a fair shake in Toronto because Wilson doesn't like him.
He is cocky but I like that about him.
Just my opinion... |
|
|
|
n/a
deleted
4809 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2010 : 11:34:31
|
Guest 5398 - agree with everything except the part about Boston not being deeper than the Leafs . . . up front (Kadri's position), they are way deeper than the Buds - hence, the potential complications about Seguin playing center - before Savard's concussion issues.
With Edmonton and Toronto, the offence is thin enough that as long as a player is marginally ready, he should make the lineup.
Yeah, I think Kadri should have started with the club . . . but who knows, maybe it's a move by management/Wilson to take off pressure from him, by inserting him into the lineup at a later date.
With any kind of injuries, he's at the top of the list, so I do think he'll play at least 30, 40 games depending.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
|
|
|
Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
6113 Posts |
Posted - 10/17/2010 : 01:45:38
|
quote:
Originally posted by slozo
Guest 5398 - agree with everything except the part about Boston not being deeper than the Leafs .
First things first....Guest5398, please feel free to sign up. It's nice to see some good comments from a knowledgable fan, be it a Leafs fan or otherwise! Get yerself signed up asap, would love to have you oe here as a recognizable poster!
Secondly, as to above, Slozo, it's a little confusing as it was put, but i believe our guest was saying that the Leafs are at the bottom of the ladder when it comes to depth. Think you misunderstood what he meant? Pretty sure he'd agree that Boston is deeper than the leafs? *Maybe i'm wrong, and if i am, i blame it, and all my other errors, on the SNB's! (Saturday night beers)!!!
Thirdly, with Kadri, i don't see him as much as a lot of you do, but i've always been of the opinion that if your team isn't a favorite (no offense, but insert Toronto), then let'em play and learn. If you're a team like, sorry, not just being a homer, the Canucks (Hodgson), let'em learn in the minors!! I believe the big prob is the contract status and losing a guy's "entry level" deal a year early! Again, it comes down to the salary cap and the agreement between the PA and the league! |
Edited by - Alex116 on 10/17/2010 01:46:31 |
|
|
|
TheRC
Rookie
105 Posts |
Posted - 10/17/2010 : 08:56:09
|
Agreed Alex, those entry level contracts are a big deal in the salary cap age. If you have a player you expect to be a difference maker, but who isn't quite there yet holding him in the minors until he is 100% ready is by far the best thing to do.
From what I have seen, Kadri is in that category. In the pre-season he showed flashes of brilliance, but other times he lacked the presence of a full time NHL players. I had visions of him potting a few very pretty goals before crossing the blue line with his head down and getting wiped out by somebody like a Pronger somewhere around the 10 game mark. I probably would have sent him back down to the Marlies too, despite the fact that the rabid fanbase in this city has anointed him as the next big thing.
Call him up now and he may be forced to develop a bit faster thanks to the higher level of competition, but you'll be wasting your entry level contract to train the guy, maybe getting one huge year out of him at the end before he is owed big money. It makes more sense to keep him down until he has learned everything the AHL can teach him, that way you get the most rookie for your buck.
In a way I'm glad for the salary cap as a leaf fan. Sure, in the short term it hurt this team badly, but now that they can't just buy a team of (good but no longer great) players to build a decent (but not championship) team, railroading most good prospects out of town when they didn't perform immediately, the Leaf's management is starting to understand that they have to think long term if they want to build a contender. They sure aren't there yet, but for the first time in years I've got hope that a turn-around is coming, if it hasn't started already.
"If at first you don't succeed, you fail" |
|
|
|
maxam1974
Top Prospect
Canada
4 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2010 : 14:41:15
|
Hey Alex, its guest 5398 here. Just a sidenote, oddly enough I am a Bruins fan. You were also correct assuming I think Boston and even Edmonton are deeper than Toronto. By the way, all points are well taken and duly noted with the Kadri Subject. This is a great debate. I never really thought of the cap room and your points are all well taken. I personally am under the impression that all NHL teams are in the business of winning and in order to do that consistently, the best players available to your team should be in the lineup. Sure Kadri is gonna take a beating early on, thats what will show me what kind of player he will be. I think he is dynamic and the kind of player that Toronto needs in thier lineup.
He will make mistakes and the mistakes will be magnified because he is deemed as the next great thing for Toronto, noone in the organization is shy to sit top players for thier screwups (Kessel) its part of the learning period.
Hope that makes sense... |
|
|
|
nuxfan
PickupHockey All-Star
3670 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2010 : 16:16:32
|
quote:
I personally am under the impression that all NHL teams are in the business of winning and in order to do that consistently, the best players available to your team should be in the lineup
I agree - so one would then have to ask, was Kahdri one of the Leafs best players in camp? I think if he had been, he would have been with the Leafs for opening night - as mentioned they have the room to bring up talent if they see it, and there would have been little pressure for him to perform given the low expectations for the Leafs this year.
However, he was not one of the best players at camp, and the Leafs were smart to put him back into the minors and not lose a year of EL contract. As promising as he is, he's just not ready to consistently produce at the NHL level yet. The Leafs certainly don't want to use up a year of EL status so that he can "take a beating" |
|
|
|
n/a
deleted
4809 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2010 : 18:02:16
|
At the expense of sidetracking this thread into a talk about Kadri,
nuxfan is correct - Kadri wasn't cracking the top two lines after training camp/pre-season, and the Leafs had solid third/fourth line guys for their style of game.
The guy I see leaving Toronto in the near future is Grabovski . . . but at this point, he isn't hurting the Leafs particularly. He also isn't creating enough offense though, and what team wants him in a trade? At any rate, Kadri waits for an injury, or he really tears it up while someone like Grabo starts to suck.
I bet the injury happens first.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
|
|
|
The Duke
PickupHockey Veteran
Canada
1239 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2010 : 14:06:12
|
After last years start Toronto had to try and play mistake free hockey in the early part of the season. In order to do this they needed as much NHL experience in the line up as possible. The leafs could absolutely not fall into last years footsteps ( terrible, terrible, start ) if they were to have any sucess at all this season.
I think this is why all the kids were sent down, not only kadri. When your offence is guesswork, ( as the leafs were going into the season ) you have to keep the goals against down and hopefully score enough to come out on top. Too many times last season the leafs needed to score 5-6-7 goals to win a game, this had to stop and therefore i think the kids were eliminated.
Maybe this will work out great. Insert 1 kid at a time every now and then, see how they fit in. Learn a lesson from the Red Wings, seems to work great for them. |
|
|
|
The Duke
PickupHockey Veteran
Canada
1239 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2010 : 14:10:06
|
| Slozo, whats the story on this Brayden Irwin kid ? He is a big center and seems to be off to a good start with the Marlies. Any possibility of him slipping into kadri`s possible call up position ? |
|
|
|
fanoleaf
Rookie
143 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2010 : 18:54:25
|
quote:
Posted - 10/19/2010 : 16:16:32
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
quote:
I agree - so one would then have to ask, was Kahdri one of the Leafs best players in camp? I think if he had been, he would have been with the Leafs for opening night - as mentioned they have the room to bring up talent if they see it, [b]and there would have been little pressure for him to perform given the low expectations for the Leafs this year.[/b
]However, he was not one of the best players at camp, and the Leafs were smart to put him back into the minors and not lose a year of EL contract. As promising as he is, he's just not ready to consistently produce at the NHL level yet. The Leafs certainly don't want to use up a year of EL status so that he can "take a beating"
Nuxfan, I agree that it was probably best for him to go the minors, he was not one of the best players at camp. Give him time to develop.
The part I do not agree with is that there would have been little pressure for him to perform given the low expectations for the Leafs this year.
Look how much media surrounded him during the preseason. IMO, I think that the media would have torn him apart if he was not playing at the level that they expect him to play at when he joins the club. He is expected to be a key player on the team. He does not appear ready and the correct move at this point seems to be the minors. As you said the Leafs certainly don't want to use up a year of EL status. |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
Leafs 3-0-0 
Topic Locked
