General Leafs Talk: Post-Olympics Edition

[CarltonTheBear]

And Carlyle has just said Smith is closer to returning than Bolland, so we'll probably not see the final shakedown for a bit still.

I wonder if that's just coach-speak. Bolland said in the lockerroom that he hopes to play Thursday. Considering how close Bolland appeared to be prior to the break, it would be very odd to not see him play in the teams first game back.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Um, what?

I think he's wrong in the assumption.

I just meant that it's not only the "anti-Carlyle" crowd gravitating to that theory. A respected journalist is the one who first brought it up.

 

[Zee]

Is Bolland playing on Thursday?

 

[Highlander]

I believe so as Holland was sent down to make room for him

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Is Bolland playing on Thursday?

Two posts up from this. Bolland says he hopes to play, but Carlyle still hasn't said much about a timetable.

 

[bustaheims]

I believe so as Holland was sent down to make room for him

Holland was sent down, but, that doesn't necessarily make room for Bolland. With both Smith and Bolland healthy, the Leafs have 24 guys on the NHL roster right now. Someone else has to go just to get the numbers right before the cap even comes into play.

 

[Corn Flake]

Um, what?

I think he's wrong in the assumption.

I just meant that it's not only the "anti-Carlyle" crowd gravitating to that theory. A respected journalist is the one who first brought it up.

Okay. I still think Bob isn't right on his assumption of how the 4th line is going to be built out.  I don't see how he starts playing McLaren again, after barely using him for 2 months, including the fact 3 guys ahead of him on the depth chart are healthy (or assumed to be).

How that would play out, considering there are bodies coming back who are well ahead of McLaren on the depth chart, yet he's going to bring him back in after hardly playing him for a month?


Btw it's nice to be back worrying about the 4th line vs. Team Canada and Sid's line mates. This seems like such a small thing to worry about in comparison.

 

[princedpw]

Bodie and Smith are obviously just placeholders for JVR and Kessel. But going off of that we could see the bash brothers both in a full healthy line-up.

That seems to be the feeling:

Hope_Smoke: I remember hearing Bob McKenzie say that Carlyle's 4th line of choice is Orr-McClement-McLaren & injuries haven't allowed that to happen yet

Hope_Smoke: McKenzie said as soon as the Leafs get fully healthy you can expect that 4th line to be reunited. Based on practice that looks likely

Sigh.

McClement on the 4th line is fine. That's absolutely where he belongs. The other two . . .

we all know the stats:

Bodie:  2goals, 7 points in 25 games
Orr:  0 goals, 0 points in 45 games
McLaren:  0 goals, 0 points in 25 games

2 goals, 7 points is not a lot but it might have been enough to tip a game from a loss to a tie or a tie to a win. 

And Bodie's ability to prevent goals >>> Orr, McLaren might also be worth a few incremental points in the standings.

Insanity I say.  insanity.

 

[Corn Flake]

And Bodie's ability to prevent goals >>> Orr, McLaren might also be worth a few incremental points in the standings.

Insanity I say.  insanity.

The insanity... .over something that hasn't happened yet?

edit: did we not do this dance the final 2 games before the break where many were losing it over the prospect of both McLaren and Orr playing, and it didn't happen?
 

 

[princedpw]

And Bodie's ability to prevent goals >>> Orr, McLaren might also be worth a few incremental points in the standings.

Insanity I say.  insanity.

The insanity... .over something that hasn't happened yet?

edit: did we not do this dance the final 2 games before the break where many were losing it over the prospect of both McLaren and Orr playing, and it didn't happen?

ok, if it happens ...

(Of course, McLaren and Orr have dressed in the past when Bodie was healthy and could have gone instead.  I thought Bodie was good in the preseason ...)

 

[Corn Flake]

And Bodie's ability to prevent goals >>> Orr, McLaren might also be worth a few incremental points in the standings.

Insanity I say.  insanity.

The insanity... .over something that hasn't happened yet?

edit: did we not do this dance the final 2 games before the break where many were losing it over the prospect of both McLaren and Orr playing, and it didn't happen?

ok, if it happens ...

(Of course, McLaren and Orr have dressed in the past when Bodie was healthy and could have gone instead.  I thought Bodie was good in the preseason ...)

I hear you, but as I've said a bunch of times, they have only appeared in 2 games together since early Dec. Carlyle has used Bodie far more frequently since he was last recalled (and Bodie was much more effective this time around than the other stints), and has publicly praised him for his play.

So it would take quite an about face for things to go back to the Orr/McLaren show.  They both played vs. Ottawa before the break, but the Sens have all kinds of goon'ery going on so I excuse that one.

I think many are worried over nothing.

 

[Redleaf]

The stretch drive....

http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=706260

Toronto Maple Leafs (32-22-6)

Position: 4th in division, 7th in conference (1st wild-card berth)

Games remaining: 22 (9 home, 13 away)

What went right: Offseason acquisition Jonathan Bernier has been everything the Maple Leafs could have asked in goal; he has a .927 save percentage despite seeing a barrage of shots on a nightly basis. The line of Phil Kessel, Tyler Bozak and James van Riemsdyk has emerged as one of the best in the NHL; Kessel's 31 goals are second in the League. Toronto's nine shootout wins (in 13 tries) is tied with the San Jose Sharks for tops in the League.

Where they've struggled: Toronto is allowing a League-high 36.2 shots per game and is being outshot by an average of 8.4 shots every night. No team in the past 15 years has made the playoffs with that kind of shot differential. The penalty kill is 28th in the NHL (78.0 percent) and has surrendered 44 power-play goals, tied for the most in the NHL. Forward David Clarkson, last summer's big free-agent signing, has struggled all season with inconsistency and injury.

What they're looking for: GM Dave Nonis would love a rugged top-four defenseman, but he'll likely have to settle for adding depth. Getting center Dave Bolland back from injury might be bigger than any move the Maple Leafs could make.

Scheduling: Toronto is 11-12-5 on the road and has three games in four days in California during a five-game trip in March. The Maple Leafs play four in a row at home before ending their season with three straight on the road.

Outlook: Toronto owns the first wild-card playoff berth despite being badly outshot on a regular basis. The Olympic break should give some rest to Bernier, who has moved past James Reimer into the starter's role. History says Toronto can't make the playoffs allowing this many shots, but if the Maple Leafs can play .500 hockey the rest of the way, they could prove that wrong.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

@markhmasters

Carlyle on working on generating speed thru neutral ice in practice: "We're a transition team"

Transition, rush, same thing.

 

[bustaheims]

@markhmasters

Carlyle on working on generating speed thru neutral ice in practice: "We're a transition team"

Transition, rush, same thing.

Some "gems" from Carlyle today, including this:

Hope_Smoke: Carlyle "I think the physical part of the game & team toughness is described in different ways. Fighting doesn't need to be front & centre"

Hope_Smoke: Carlyle "we think blocking a shot is just as tough and important as fighting"

One is a legitimate defensive tactic and one falls completely outside of the actual game of hockey. One should be considering significantly more important than the other, because the other isn't actually important at all.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

@markhmasters

Carlyle on working on generating speed thru neutral ice in practice: "We're a transition team"

Transition, rush, same thing.

Some "gems" from Carlyle today, including this:

Hope_Smoke: Carlyle "I think the physical part of the game & team toughness is described in different ways. Fighting doesn't need to be front & centre"

Hope_Smoke: Carlyle "we think blocking a shot is just as tough and important as fighting"

One is a legitimate defensive tactic and one falls completely outside of the actual game of hockey. One should be considering significantly more important than the other, because the other isn't actually important at all.

Hey, at least he's swaying a bit... ;D

 

[Highlander]

What are we going to do with Holland?  He is too good for the Marlies as he is dominating in his time there but doesn't seem to have a home on the Loafs.  Where do you all see him fitting in?

 

[Corn Flake]

What are we going to do with Holland? 

Be patient?

 

[Kin]

What are we going to do with Holland?  He is too good for the Marlies as he is dominating in his time there but doesn't seem to have a home on the Loafs.  Where do you all see him fitting in?

If they think his play with the Marlies is legit? It's a nice chip to keep in the back pocket if Bolland is too expensive to re-sign. Considering his age keeping him in the AHL until next year isn't the worst idea in the world.

 

[Corn Flake]

What are we going to do with Holland?  He is too good for the Marlies as he is dominating in his time there but doesn't seem to have a home on the Loafs.  Where do you all see him fitting in?

If they think his play with the Marlies is legit? It's a nice chip to keep in the back pocket if Bolland is too expensive to re-sign. Considering his age keeping him in the AHL until next year isn't the worst idea in the world.

I am more than fine with keeping young players in the AHL until they are more than overdue for promotion.  Nothing wrong with having them continue to be a top performer at the AHL level. 

This is the Det/NJ model we envied for so many years, now starting to happen here in Toronto. 

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Holland (and Ashton) are both no longer exempt from waivers starting next season though. So I'm somewhat fine with them staying in the AHL this season, but the team will have to find some room for the two of them in the offseason.

Although that could be done rather easily by not re-signing Raymond and moving Holland to the wing, and by driving far out into a forest and asking McLaren to get out of the car.