Game 13: Flyers @ Leafs - 7:00pm, SNet-O, RDS2

[Kin]

Fraser and Holzer are both the types of players the Leafs have been lacking the past few seasons. They have had an immediate impact on the team, and deserve to stay with the big club. I would imagine a guy like Gunnar becomes trade bait now. Who's looking for a reliable defenseman that can log big minutes?  I would think we are pretty set on defense. Besides a goalie and a big talented centerman, what area should the Leafs look to upgrade at?

Not that I would ever suggest that the Leafs recent hot streak shouldn't be the be all and end all of our evaluation but I do think that the defense as constituted still probably needs a fair bit of work. The team is 13th in GA and 21st on the PK. Gunnar, and Gardiner at some point hopefully, still offer a lot to the team in place of someone like Kostka.

 

[TimKerr]

[/quote]
Honestly, I think the Leafs smoke the Flyers tonite. They just don't seem to have it this year.
[/quote]

That prediction turned out 100% correct. and for my final take on the JVR-Schenn trade:

http://www.schennceyouvebeengone.ytmnd.com/

 

[cabber24]

When is the last time the Leafs won 4 in a row? It's been years hasn't it? I am not being sarcastic, I cannot find a good website to find this info. Anyone know one?

 

[bustaheims]

When is the last time the Leafs won 4 in a row? It's been years hasn't it? I am not being sarcastic, I cannot find a good website to find this info. Anyone know one?

January 3-10, 2012. So, no, it's barely been a year, never mind years.

EDIT: In fact, the only post-lockout season where the Leafs didn't have at least 1 4+ game winning streak was 09/10.

 

[caver]

Fraser and Holzer are both the types of players the Leafs have been lacking the past few seasons. They have had an immediate impact on the team, and deserve to stay with the big club. I would imagine a guy like Gunnar becomes trade bait now. Who's looking for a reliable defenseman that can log big minutes?  I would think we are pretty set on defense. Besides a goalie and a big talented centerman, what area should the Leafs look to upgrade at?

Not that I would ever suggest that the Leafs recent hot streak shouldn't be the be all and end all of our evaluation but I do think that the defense as constituted still probably needs a fair bit of work. The team is 13th in GA and 21st on the PK. Gunnar, and Gardiner at some point hopefully, still offer a lot to the team in place of someone like Kostka.

Agreed Nik. Another 10 games and we will see if this continues. I realize that Gunnarsson would be attractive trade bait but if I am looking to strengthen the team I would move Liles before Gunnar.

 

[Redleaf]

When is the last time the Leafs won 4 in a row? It's been years hasn't it? I am not being sarcastic, I cannot find a good website to find this info. Anyone know one?

January 3-10, 2012. So, no, it's barely been a year, never mind years.

EDIT: In fact, the only post-lockout season where the Leafs didn't have at least 1 4+ game winning streak was 09/10.

Interesting. I would have thought it would have been longer as well.

 

[bustaheims]

Interesting. I would have thought it would have been longer as well.

With the shootout, 4 game winning streaks have become fairly common place.

EDIT: That being said, the only season the Leafs didn't have a 4 game win streak without the need of a shootout was 08/09. Every other season, they won 4 games in a row the more traditional way (as in, in regulation or OT).

 

[cabber24]

When is the last time the Leafs won 4 in a row? It's been years hasn't it? I am not being sarcastic, I cannot find a good website to find this info. Anyone know one?

January 3-10, 2012. So, no, it's barely been a year, never mind years.

EDIT: In fact, the only post-lockout season where the Leafs didn't have at least 1 4+ game winning streak was 09/10.

Interesting. I would have thought it would have been longer as well.

Thanks for the info, that is surprising. It always seems they can never put the string of wins together to get them over that hump. Hopefully were in the middle of one now.

 

[bustaheims]

Thanks for the info, that is surprising. It always seems they can never put the string of wins together to get them over that hump. Hopefully were in the middle of one now.

Well, they haven't had many win streaks of more than 4 games in that stretch, and they've also had some pretty significant losing streaks or stretches where only won 1 of 6 and such.

 

[PG]

Fraser has already done more in 10 games than Komisarek has during his entire Leaf tenure.

With Gunnarsson and Gardiner coming back, you'd have to think (and hope) that Komisarek has come awfully close to playing his last game as a Leaf.

These last 2 game were probably the best, and most complete, games they have played in years. They outplayed the opposition in every single facet of the game. Unbelievable.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

Fraser has already done more in 10 games than Komisarek has during his entire Leaf tenure.

With Gunnarsson and Gardiner coming back, you'd have to think (and hope) that Komisarek has come awfully close to playing his last game as a Leaf.

These last 2 game were probably the best, and most complete, games they have played in years. They outplayed the opposition in every single facet of the game. Unbelievable.

It's just as remarkable to me that the team that did this is not only so young, but that all of the key players are so young as well.

 

[Frank E]

Fraser has already done more in 10 games than Komisarek has during his entire Leaf tenure.

With Gunnarsson and Gardiner coming back, you'd have to think (and hope) that Komisarek has come awfully close to playing his last game as a Leaf.

These last 2 game were probably the best, and most complete, games they have played in years. They outplayed the opposition in every single facet of the game. Unbelievable.

It's just as remarkable to me that the team that did this is not only so young, but that all of the key players are so young as well.

Assuming Gunnar and Gardiner are back soon, who's out?

Franson and Holzer?

 

[pnjunction]

Assuming Gunnar and Gardiner are back soon, who's out?

Franson and Holzer?

Franson with 8 pts in 10 games (!) and +6, I think he's earned a spot for now.  But Holzer's got 2 goals, but I suppose you could argue there's some luck involved there.

I think in the end if they keep playing like this why mess with it?  I get the impression Carlyle is all about accountability, and it goes against that sit a guy who is playing well because someone else is entitled to that spot, unless they are a star like Lupul for example (even he will have prove he can take back top-line duty from JVR I think).

Realistically though they won't keep this up forever, some of these guys are going to drop off and make mistakes and that's when I would give guys coming back from injury a chance to get back in the line-up.  I suppose looking at their roles that means Gunnar gets a shot when Fraser or Holzer (or Kostka?) slips, and Gardiner gets a shot if Franson drops off (he could also knock Liles to the press box IMO).

 

[bustaheims]

Assuming Gunnar and Gardiner are back soon, who's out?

Franson and Holzer?

At this point, I don't think Gardiner comes back until someone is injured or traded. But, yeah, Holzer probably comes out for Gunnarsson.

 

[Omallley]

Assuming Gunnar and Gardiner are back soon, who's out?

Franson and Holzer?

At this point, I don't think Gardiner comes back until someone is injured or traded. But, yeah, Holzer probably comes out for Gunnarsson.

Franson has some really good numbers so far (1g, 8 points in 10 games, +6). I'll admit that I haven't really noticed him during the games I've seen, but that might not be the worst thing...I can't imagine he gets pulled from the lineup based on how well he's playing...

Edit: He's tied for 11th in the league for points by defensemen, for what it's worth.

 

[cw]

Assuming Gunnar and Gardiner are back soon, who's out?

Franson and Holzer?

At this point, I don't think Gardiner comes back until someone is injured or traded. But, yeah, Holzer probably comes out for Gunnarsson.

Franson has some really good numbers so far (1g, 8 points in 10 games, +6). I'll admit that I haven't really noticed him during the games I've seen, but that might not be the worst thing...I can't imagine he gets pulled from the lineup based on how well he's playing...

Edit: He's tied for 11th in the league for points by defensemen, for what it's worth.

One thing I have noticed recently is that he's been using that big body of his more. And, I saw Carlyle try him on the PK - which is fairly rare for him during his career.

He's always been a decent points producer relative to the ice time he's received. If he can get his defensive game up or help reliably on the PK, that would be big for his aspirations.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Assuming Gunnar and Gardiner are back soon, who's out?

Franson and Holzer?

At this point, I don't think Gardiner comes back until someone is injured or traded. But, yeah, Holzer probably comes out for Gunnarsson.

Franson has some really good numbers so far (1g, 8 points in 10 games, +6). I'll admit that I haven't really noticed him during the games I've seen, but that might not be the worst thing...I can't imagine he gets pulled from the lineup based on how well he's playing...

Edit: He's tied for 11th in the league for points by defensemen, for what it's worth.

If you like fancy stats, he and Fraser also have the best Corsi rating among our defencemen. Although they also face the easiest completion and start their shifts in the defensive zone the least.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

Mark Fraser +5 

Wow, I can't even recall the last time a Leaf was +5.  I'm really liking Fraser.  He's bringing that Rouse/Lefebvre element the Leafs have missed for so long.

I love that he can fight as well. Having McClaren, Orr, Brown (when he's healthy) and Fraser, is quite frankly more than enough muscle. Kostka fighting the other night was a nice surprise as well.

Unlike some others, I don't think he sucks at all. I wouldn't have the guy on the PP but as a #1 paring D-man he's held his own. Very steady IMO.

Fraser is beasting this year.  Who knows if he can keep it up but I've been continously impressed with him.

He hits, he fights, he wins battle along the boards then chips it out, he plays safe, he's (apparently) a great guy in the room (Carlyle said it after the game last night) and his first pass isn't even bad!  Unlike Komi, for example, who likes to sail his passes knee high.

If he keeps it up, he's a perfect cheap stay-at-home d-man.

For sure.  He was interviewed by Jeff Blair this morning on 590, and he seemed very mature and well-spoken.