Avalanche @ Leafs - Nov. 17th, 7:30pm - TSN4, Fan 590

[ZBBM]

I got the impression Harrington has been one of the better dmen this year, always making smart decisions and he moves the puck the other way quickly. Since that was more of just a feel, I wanted to take a look at the D's possession numbers 5v5 to see if there was more to it.

Yes, there is by the looks of it, surprisingly Marincin has the best numbers through the ten games he has played, I'm sure playing against the bottom of the other teams lineup probably helps him. I've noticed Marincin getting caught or almost getting caught at the opposition blueline, I wonder if this is because he plays so aggressively which overall has a net positive impact when he is on the ice.

Gardiner and Harrington follow closely behind as the only other two positive possession dmen, Rielly isn't far off, which is impressive considering who he has played against and that he's also averaging 1.39 Pts/60.

I was surprised to see Hunwick so low on the list, but he and Dion had some real horror shows in this regard when paired together to start the year, that probably accounts for most of it.

I hope they are banging down doors trying to trade Polak.

I think your analysis of why this stat doesn't seem to match up with our general impressions is an indicator of the limits of any one stat in describing overall quality of play.

FWIW I think Polak is the whipping boy du jour and hasn't been as bad as portrayed.  Just my o.

 

[L K]

Hasn't been this much Polak criticism since Season 2 of The Wire.

Unpopular opinions? Season 2 was actually my favourite season of the Wire.

Your opinion is bad and you, well, you know the rest.

Don't worry.  I do feel bad. 

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

I think your analysis of why this stat doesn't seem to match up with our general impressions is an indicator of the limits of any one stat in describing overall quality of play.

FWIW I think Polak is the whipping boy du jour and hasn't been as bad as portrayed.  Just my o.

I think that's certainly the case for Marincin, you're right in that we need to look at everything to have an accurate view of things.

As for Polak, I think he's been slightly better this year in terms of speed(his acceleration is still awful), but he is playing against the worst players on the other team night by night and is still getting hemmed in a lot. I think Babcock's system has helped, the fact that the D are being told to be more aggressive in the neutral zone has definitely helped him, it stops him getting hemmed in his own zone as much as last year, due to the fact he couldn't make a decent outlet when he is back there.

Babcock has spoken about playing with a lead in the third period and not knowing how to win. Polak banging the puck off the boards and out, not to a teammate, but to the other team, has been a big factor in this and I expect better of a veteran dman.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I even like 5.

Your opinion is bad and you, well, you know the rest.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I even like 5.

Your opinion is bad and you, well, you know the rest.

The last handful of episodes of season 5 are some of the best of the entire series, IMO.  Again I am right in my analysis.

I'm okay with this being a Game/The Wire Thread.

 

[Kin]

Your opinion is bad and you, well, you know the rest.

You know how sometimes I write posts and people are like "Man, why did Nik write a 2,000 word post about this seemingly meaningless subject"?

This is a road we should not go down.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

You know how sometimes I write posts and people are like "Man, why did Nik write a 2,000 word post about this seemingly meaningless subject"?

This is a road we should not go down.

I wouldn't be able to engage any more than I have, I haven't watched it in awhile. I definitely plan to revisit the series to see how the blurays are.

Are we at least in agreement that season 5 is the least good of the series? Or do you have 2 there?

 

[Kin]

I wouldn't be able to engage any more than I have, I haven't watched it in awhile. I definitely plan to revisit the series to see how the blurays are.

Are we at least in agreement that season 5 is the least good of the series? Or do you have 2 there?

I would probably lean that way if I had to rank them. Although I'm with Potvin in that the last few, and especially the finale, are so good that it goes a long way to putting it on a relatively even keel with 2 and 1 for me.

 

[Joe S.]

Having watched a handful of games I'm not sure I understand how grabner ever scored any goals in the NHL.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Having watched a handful of games I'm not sure I understand how grabner ever scored any goals in the NHL.

I think you or I could get a couple if Tavares was putting them on a tee for us. 

 

[L K]

Your opinion is bad and you, well, you know the rest.

You know how sometimes I write posts and people are like "Man, why did Nik write a 2,000 word post about this seemingly meaningless subject"?

This is a road we should not go down.

Sometimes?

As for Grabner.  Yeah, I'm pretty sure his goal totals include what his character did in NHL 13.

 

[Kin]

Sometimes?

Other times it's 3,000 words.

 

[bustaheims]

Sicne when has Komarov had a shot like that?

 

[Bonsixx]

Sicne when has Komarov had a shot like that?

I credit the Wendel Clark mustache.

 

[ZBBM]

Sicne when has Komarov had a shot like that?

He stole it from Grabner.

 

[L K]

Sicne when has Komarov had a shot like that?

He had 16 points over the first 23 games last year and then got hurt.  Now he has 9 points over 18+ games this year.  If he stopped hitting guys from behind he might well be my favourite player on the current Leafs.

 

[herman]

Sicne when has Komarov had a shot like that?

He had 16 points over the first 23 games last year and then got hurt.  Now he has 9 points over 18+ games this year.  If he stopped hitting guys from behind he might well be my favourite player on the current Leafs.

More than Rielly, Gardiner, Kadri, JvR?

He's like a fiestier Kulemin, who was my favourite while that was relevant.

 

[ZBBM]

That was sweet.

 

[L K]

Parenteau on his way to a 20 goal deadline acquisition.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Bozak's been more noticeable (in a good way) offensively lately I've found.