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Islanders @ Leafs - Feb. 14th, 7:30pm - TSN4, Fan 590

bustaheims said:
Frank E said:
Just playing devil's advocate here, but it's not like the Leafs are playing a great defensive system at this point with guys that have been there all year.

Throw him in there and see what he can get done.  It's not like they've got a super-set 6 guys that are all on the same page and getting it done.
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Sure, but, if they think the kid has potential to be a longer term piece, is it really in their best interests to throw him into the lineup with a group that is already bad defensively, and risk putting him in position where he's seemingly making a bunch of mistakes because he's out of synch with his teammates? He's not going to have much of a positive impact on his own, but he could have a negative one if he and his teammates aren't on the same page.
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I think you're treating him with kid gloves. He's a pro hockey player, get him some games and see what you've got...i have a feeling this has more to do with trade value for Hunwick and Polak.
 
Frank E said:
I think you're treating him with kid gloves. He's a pro hockey player, get him some games and see what you've got...i have a feeling this has more to do with trade value for Hunwick and Polak.
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To me, it's less about him, and more about limiting the number of mistakes on the blue line while the team is in the playoff hunt. Until you're confident he'll be more dependable and less like to make a mistake than Hunwick or Polak, you hold him out of the lineup while he gets the hang of whatever defensive system the team is pretending to play.
 
It's been a few games of it already, but Nylander's play away from the puck has to be making Babcock's heart flutter in the good way.
 
bustaheims said:
Frank E said:
I think you're treating him with kid gloves. He's a pro hockey player, get him some games and see what you've got...i have a feeling this has more to do with trade value for Hunwick and Polak.
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To me, it's less about him, and more about limiting the number of mistakes on the blue line while the team is in the playoff hunt. Until you're confident he'll be more dependable and less like to make a mistake than Hunwick or Polak, you hold him out of the lineup while he gets the hang of whatever defensive system the team is pretending to play.
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Happy Valentine's Day!
 
Man I hate Polak. Dude just skates in, blows right past him and gets a great shot on net.
 
I have to agree with Craig Button that, because of a lack of grit, Nylander is long term suited for the wing. I can't think of an effective, finesse based Centre that Nylandet could really emulate. Nylander should probably just resign himself to the wing if Nylander is going to have a long career.
 
Nik the Trik said:
I have to agree with Craig Button that, because of a lack of grit, Nylander is long term suited for the wing. I can't think of an effective, finesse based Centre that Nylandet could really emulate. Nylander should probably just resign himself to the wing if Nylander is going to have a long career.
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Because you started with "I have to agree with Craig Button", I have to ask.  Is this a sarcastic post, or a cry for help? 
 
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