Line-up changes

[Tigger]

KyleTheReporter: Korbinian Holzer has been recalled by the Leafs. #Marlies #Leafs

Any idea if he's playing or just due to Komi's LTI?

 

[bustaheims]

KyleTheReporter: Korbinian Holzer has been recalled by the Leafs. #Marlies #Leafs

Any idea if he's playing or just due to Komi's LTI?

He played for the Marlies this afternoon, so, he's not going to be dressed tonight. It's definitely because Komisarek's out long term, leaving the team with only 6 healthy defencemen going forward with a road game in Carolina tomorrow.

 

[Tigger]

KyleTheReporter: Korbinian Holzer has been recalled by the Leafs. #Marlies #Leafs

Any idea if he's playing or just due to Komi's LTI?

He played for the Marlies this afternoon, so, he's not going to be dressed tonight. It's definitely because Komisarek's out long term, leaving the team with only 6 healthy defencemen going forward with a road game in Carolina tomorrow.

Thanks. I'm really not very familiar with Holzer, is he a right side or left side d? ( yeah I'm fishing to see if the Leafs are preparing to sit Gardiner for a game or how short a leash Franson has... )

 

[lamajama]

That CBC scroller said Komi out 8 weeks!

 

[bustaheims]

Thanks. I'm really not very familiar with Holzer, is he a right side or left side d? ( yeah I'm fishing to see if the Leafs are preparing to sit Gardiner for a game or how short a leash Franson has... )

No idea. I know he's more of a physical, defence first type, but, past that . . .

 

[Kessel Run]

That CBC scroller said Komi out 8 weeks!

Broken arm that requires surgery.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Thanks. I'm really not very familiar with Holzer, is he a right side or left side d? ( yeah I'm fishing to see if the Leafs are preparing to sit Gardiner for a game or how short a leash Franson has... )

No idea. I know he's more of a physical, defence first type, but, past that . . .

Doesn't say much about his style of hockey, but James Mirtle posted a story on him last year:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/leafs-beat/from-germany-with-love/article1790738/

And to answer the original question, I believe he plays the right side. He's typically listed there when the Marlies post their line-ups. But he did score his goal today for the Marlies from the left-side, although it was during a powerplay so he may have switched to be in better position for a one-timer.

 

[Tigger]

Good read, thanks.

 

[Redleaf]

I'd love to see them bring up Kadri now and drop him on that Frattin-Colborne line. Send Crabb down and lets see the kid line, or as another poster said, the KFC line.

 

[maplesyrup]

I'd love to see them bring up Kadri now and drop him on that Frattin-Colborne line. Send Crabb down and lets see the kid line, or as another poster said, the KFC line.

Crabb and Colborne were the best duo going in the AHL for a very long stretch there.

 

[Redleaf]

I'd love to see them bring up Kadri now and drop him on that Frattin-Colborne line. Send Crabb down and lets see the kid line, or as another poster said, the KFC line.

Crabb and Colborne were the best duo going in the AHL for a very long stretch there.

I understand that, but if now isn't the time to drop Kadri into a spot, with all these injuries, when is?

 

[maplesyrup]

I'd love to see them bring up Kadri now and drop him on that Frattin-Colborne line. Send Crabb down and lets see the kid line, or as another poster said, the KFC line.

Crabb and Colborne were the best duo going in the AHL for a very long stretch there.

I understand that, but if now isn't the time to drop Kadri into a spot, with all these injuries, when is?

Could be now, I really don't know. I'm just saying Crabb/Colborne could be a good thing for at least the short term.

 

[Kin]

I understand that, but if now isn't the time to drop Kadri into a spot, with all these injuries, when is?

Later?

Why fix what isn't broken?

 

[ZBBM]

I think if you watch our PKs over the past few games, just at the time when we finally climbed out of the basement, you'll find Crabb playing a strong role.  I wouldn't send him down.

Plus he's added a fillip of offense.  Yes, I said "fillip."  And not Kuba.

 

[cw]

Kadri's currently a scorer with some defensive issues. Scoring isn't this team's biggest problem - defensive issues are.

Like Nik said, if it ain't broke ... but even if you got past that, hopefully, they'd fix it with talent that would address the team's bigger weaknesses.

Right now, Crabb-Colborne-Frattin is kind of an interesting line. I don't think Colborne is truly NHL ready but he and Crabb were effective in the AHL together and Frattin seems to have been a little rejuvenated with 3 pts in 3 games with them. The line has produced 3 goals in the last three games when secondary scoring from the bottom six was an issue. Crabb is even while Colborne & Frattin are +2 in those three games. Colborne & Frattin were on the ice for one goal against in that time - so they're not stinking it up defensively. I'd give them a little longer together and if or when they go stale, they might consider a change.

 

[Bender]

I think if you watch our PKs over the past few games, just at the time when we finally climbed out of the basement, you'll find Crabb playing a strong role.  I wouldn't send him down.

Plus he's added a fillip of offense.  Yes, I said "fillip."  And not Kuba.

I lol'd.

 

[Andy007]

So what happens to the lineup when Grabovski returns?

Connolly looks like a great fit on the 2nd line. The first line has produced quite well with Bozak. And even the 3rd line looks good with Colborne and Crabb.

I'd be inclined to pencil him in between Lupul and Kessel, but that leaves Bozak on the 3rd line with him or Colborne going on the wing. And while I like the idea of Colborne playing the season with the Marlies, if he's producing (as well as his line) it's hard to send him down.

 

[bustaheims]

So what happens to the lineup when Grabovski returns?

Connolly looks like a great fit on the 2nd line. The first line has produced quite well with Bozak. And even the 3rd line looks good with Colborne and Crabb.

I'd be inclined to pencil him in between Lupul and Kessel, but that leaves Bozak on the 3rd line with him or Colborne going on the wing. And while I like the idea of Colborne playing the season with the Marlies, if he's producing (as well as his line) it's hard to send him down.

I don't think you mess with the success that Bozak is having with Kessel and Lupul right now. What I'd be inclined to is move Frattin onto Connolly's wing with MacArthur and put Grabovski between Kulemin and Crabb. And, as well as Colborne has played, with the team's top 3 centres healthy, I send him down to get big minutes with the Marlies. I don't want him up on the big team just to get 4th line minutes, or to play a position he hasn't played professionally. I might be inclined to call up Kadri or Mueller and put them on Grabovski's wing instead of Crabb, though.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

So what happens to the lineup when Grabovski returns?

Connolly looks like a great fit on the 2nd line. The first line has produced quite well with Bozak. And even the 3rd line looks good with Colborne and Crabb.

I'd be inclined to pencil him in between Lupul and Kessel, but that leaves Bozak on the 3rd line with him or Colborne going on the wing. And while I like the idea of Colborne playing the season with the Marlies, if he's producing (as well as his line) it's hard to send him down.

I don't think you mess with the success that Bozak is having with Kessel and Lupul right now. What I'd be inclined to is move Frattin onto Connolly's wing with MacArthur and put Grabovski between Kulemin and Crabb. And, as well as Colborne has played, with the team's top 3 centres healthy, I send him down to get big minutes with the Marlies. I don't want him up on the big team just to get 4th line minutes, or to play a position he hasn't played professionally. I might be inclined to call up Kadri or Mueller and put them on Grabovski's wing instead of Crabb, though.

Agreed. While Kulemin hasn't been there offensively this year, I think it's clear that we have 3 pairs of forwards with some chemistry: Lupul/Kessel, Grabovski/Kulemin, and most recently MacArthur/Connolly. Keep those together and you have 3 lines that can score.

 

[leafplasma]

So what happens to the lineup when Grabovski returns?

Connolly looks like a great fit on the 2nd line. The first line has produced quite well with Bozak. And even the 3rd line looks good with Colborne and Crabb.

I'd be inclined to pencil him in between Lupul and Kessel, but that leaves Bozak on the 3rd line with him or Colborne going on the wing. And while I like the idea of Colborne playing the season with the Marlies, if he's producing (as well as his line) it's hard to send him down.

Colborne and Crabb have some incredible chemistry, they tore it up at a staggering pace in the AHL early on, leading the AHL in scoring as a duo.  This has translated to some great success in the NHL so far as a third line tandem and Frattin has meshed well with them.  We really are in a pickle here.  I know Bozak has faired well on the top line but Connolly is just starting to heat up after the injuries and some of those passes need to be directed at Lupul and Kessel.  Grabs, Mac and Kuli will certainly be put back together, you cannot deny what they did last season. Sure they did slump with the rest of the team a few weeks ago but looked ok early on and I think with Mac and Kuli (assist wise anyway) doing well recently, Grabs should regain form pretty quickly.  Bozak back to the third line with Crabb and Colborne if the Kid continues to produce. Frattin  bumped to the 4th line with Ziggy and Dupuis  for the time being at least.  I know I hate to see Frattin with limited minutes but with guys like Grabs coming off injuries and the team winning a 4th line like this certainly is capable of a few extra minutes above and beyond what a 4th line is usually given. I just really like Colborne as another big body and as well as he has played I give him a few extra games before ultimately for the best he is demoted.  Kadri is really heating up with the Marlies now too, good problems to have I guess.