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Is this the turning point???

N

nutman

New member
I am starting to think the Leafs are turning a corner that we have been waiting for a long time to see.
Last season before the big fall we were one of the better teams in The NHL, and I believe it was the injury to Reimer that cost us a playoff spot. we added JVR to the forward ranks that was allready 10th in goals for.

we now have a healthy Reimer, and we in my opinion have a very good defence, it just needs to learn the system Carlyle is putting in place. we have  a good farm system and players we can call on will be better then in past years. if Reimer brings it, imo we will be in the hunt all season.

I believe the Leafs have turned the corner and will be a playoff team. as well we will continue to grow and improve, the dark days are all but gone. my call is a good start 7-3,  and no big loosing streaks.
One more thing. I see Scrivens and Kadri being a big part this season.
 
You've spelled it wrong consistently enough that I think you actually believe his name is Riemer.  It's Reimer.
 
I love your optimism, I really do, but no, I don't think this is a turning point.

If anything this is a transition year. People are clamoring for goaltending, but the leafs are sorely lacking a quality centre. I like Grabovski as much as anyone, but on a talented team he's the third line centre (much like Reichel was great in that role when he was here - and don't laugh, he was).

Until that is addressed, putting a star goalie between the pipes is really just masking the real problem.
 
No. I am not even sure that it is a transition year. They simply do not have enough talent to do anything yet. The higher the draft pick the better.
 
Joe S. said:
I love your optimism, I really do, but no, I don't think this is a turning point.

If anything this is a transition year. People are clamoring for goaltending, but the leafs are sorely lacking a quality centre. I like Grabovski as much as anyone, but on a talented team he's the third line centre (much like Reichel was great in that role when he was here - and don't laugh, he was).

Until that is addressed, putting a star goalie between the pipes is really just masking the real problem.
Click to expand...

You dont think Kadri comes in and fills a big hole at center. I believe he is ready to step in.
 
Michael said:
No. I am not even sure that it is a transition year. They simply do not have enough talent to do anything yet. The higher the draft pick the better.
Click to expand...

Its a solid draft year, a good sign that we will do well. ;D
 
I'd call it more of a tipping point than a turning point.

Things could go OK, ie we are at least in the playoff race, or they could fall apart again.

I suppose you could call it a turning point.  IMO we either turn up the juice on this fast track or we turn around and go right back to the beginning of rebuild road and do it right this time.

Would I like to have a somewhat competitive team looking for a boost at the deadline or next summer?  Absolutely, but to me it's just as likely we'll be sellers again before this team is a contender.
 
nutman said:
Joe S. said:
I love your optimism, I really do, but no, I don't think this is a turning point.

If anything this is a transition year. People are clamoring for goaltending, but the leafs are sorely lacking a quality centre. I like Grabovski as much as anyone, but on a talented team he's the third line centre (much like Reichel was great in that role when he was here - and don't laugh, he was).

Until that is addressed, putting a star goalie between the pipes is really just masking the real problem.
Click to expand...

You dont think Kadri comes in and fills a big hole at center. I believe he is ready to step in.
Click to expand...

No because they're not even using him as a centre - he's been playing wing as far as I can tell
 
I think the potential is there for this to be a turning point kind of season. We won't really know, until the season gets going and we see how these guys play.

I also think it will be dependent on how quick Nonis fixes visible problems that will expose themselves in the first couple of weeks. If he doesn't remove pieces that aren't working with pieces that better fit what Carlyle is implementing, it could be a long, short season.
 
For me, this season all comes down to the system Carlyle instills.  If he can get the team to buy into a system that has them working hard game-in, game-out, grinding out wins, they could do fine. 

Otherwise, this year will be yet another year towards the rebuilding program.



 
I think you will see a healthier balance between GA and GF.  Not that it will bring the ultimate success that you describe because we simply do not have the talent to be anything better than middle of the pack in both categories.  If Joe Colborne wakes up one day and becomes an NHL #1 C then it would solve one of the lingering problems.
 
nutman said:
Michael said:
No. I am not even sure that it is a transition year. They simply do not have enough talent to do anything yet. The higher the draft pick the better.
Click to expand...

Its a solid draft year, a good sign that we will do well. ;D
Click to expand...

This.... is a surprisingly good point.  ;D
 
Question marks at Centre and in goal. No, this is not the turning point.

I honestly don't see this team finishing any higher than 26th overall.  I'd be more surprised if they made the playoffs than if they finished last overall.

Having said that, I'm okay with it because it will result in another top 5 pick.
 
People were picking the Senators to finish last before the start of the season last year. They made the playoffs.

We need a few surprises but more than anything we need solid team play and good chemistry.
 
Edit:  All my numbers are pro-rated for a full season.  Just pretend we're talking about an 82 game sched

I don't think it will be a turning point, however, I think there is a possibility we fight for a playoff spot because a LOT of guys had downer years last year and I assume (hope?) some will bounce back.

Connolly-  He had 36 points last year in over 70 games (0.51 ppg) .  In his previous 237 games he had 194 points (0.82 ppg).  Thats quite the difference.  I don't expect him to get 65 pts like he did a few seasons ago, but I think he should bounce back and get around 50 (assuming health of course).

Kulemin-  Two years ago he scored 30.  Last year he was a train wreck and scored 7.  He's not as good as two years ago but not as bad as last year either.  His shooting % was way, way down last year (something like 5%, typically he's around 10-12% if I recall correctly).  He played excellent in the KHL this year (38 points in 34 games), granted he was playing alongside Malkin... but he held his own and got his confidence back.  I give him around 18-22 goals.

Lombardi-  Dude was a complete shock last year to start the season but it showed he wasn't ready.  He wasn't ready physically and/or mentally.  I'm sure he's in a better frame of mind this season, working towards a contract for next year and he's healthier and likely in much better shape (remember, two years ago he didn't play at all save for the first 2 games of the season).  I'm hoping for him to get around 40 points and be a decent 2-way player again.


Liles-  He started excellent last year (21 points in 36 games IIRC) but then had the concussion, missed 16 and game back as a dud.  Should be fully healed and back on track.  At least he should be more consistent this year than the really-good-for-the-first-half, painfully-terrible-for-the-second-half we saw last year.


Komisarek-  Ok he sucks.  But maybe, just MAYBE Randy can find a little use from him in his defensive style of system. 


Kadri-  I'm going to mentally say he is replacing Philip Dupuis from last year.  I'm sure in 30 games he can at least get a point.


Clearly there is going to be some regression somewhere (can Lupul repeat?  Does Kessel get over 80 points again? or does he revert back to 65-point-Phil?) but save for those 2 guys really, I think there is a lot of room for improvement from most of the guys (I didn't even mention MacArthur or Frattin, etc).  I think some regression should hopefully be offset by a lot of improvements elsewhere.

Goaltending is obviously absolutely key here... and I'm not sure we have that.  I think, once again, that could be this teams downfall.



Edit:  Totally forgot about this.

No more Schenn-  He still may turn out to be a very good D man, but solely looking at last year, no matter who we play (Holzer?  Rielly?  Kostka?  Ranger?  Franson?  CarltontheBear?) they CAN'T play worse than he did.  That's unpossible.  So some improvement should be seen in the area of "bum defenceman who takes all the heat."


And JVR of course-  not sure what to expect.  20 goals?  40?  7?  Alls I know is those 5 points Darryl Boyce amassed in 37 games will be easily topped by JVR because thats probably how many games he will play (injuries).



EDIT #2-  I was prorating my numbers for an entire season.  Dammit.
 
nutman said:
Last season before the big fall we were one of the better teams in The NHL, and I believe it was the injury to Reimer that cost us a playoff spot. we added JVR to the forward ranks that was allready 10th in goals for.
Click to expand...

Unless that qualifies the "big fall" as anything that happened post November that just isn't true. The Leafs were barely hanging onto a playoff spot when things fell apart. If you break it down month by month...

I'm sorry, I just remembered this was a Nutman post. I'm going to start drinking early today.
 
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