Roman Polak to Leafs

[Redleaf]

I just don't understand.....

Unless the prognosis on Gunnarsson's hip is not good...

From what I can gather, they just wanted more toughness and better stay-at-home defenseman.

 

[lamajama]

From what reports I see he stays at home because by the time he skates to the offensive end the play is already back in his own end.

 

[AvroArrow]

Real_ESPNLeBrun: Leafs retained $200,000 of cap hit in Polak-Gunnarsson deal

Ahh, Nonis, the gift that keeps on giving. To other teams.

Does Nonis not understand how this works?  Good lord...what a moron.

 

[Redleaf]

From what reports I see he stays at home because by the time he skates to the offensive end the play is already back in his own end.

I guess we should both be careful what we read.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

We RETAINED salary again? Good lord. Nope don't like this deal.

 

[BrownRolo]

I just don't understand.....

Unless the prognosis on Gunnarsson's hip is not good...

From what I can gather, they just wanted more toughness and better stay-at-home defenseman.

Polak has worse defensive numbers on a much better club playing against easier opponents. How exactly does that make him better?

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I'm in transit but I just can't fathom how the Leafs would need to retain salary in this deal!? It all adds up when you keep doing it.

 

[wnc096]

That doesn't make it sustainable though.  There has to be some reasoning here, and I hope it's more than just the RHS issue if Franson is indeed gone.

He's a right shot, he's big and he's tough. Seriously anybody who doesn't think that's enough of a reason for the Leafs to trade him for Gunnarsson hasn't been paying attention.

Agreed.  Leafs D was soft as hell. Good move

 

[Redleaf]

I just don't understand.....

Unless the prognosis on Gunnarsson's hip is not good...

From what I can gather, they just wanted more toughness and better stay-at-home defenseman.

Polak has worse defensive numbers on a much better club playing against easier opponents. How exactly does that make him better?

It doesn't. I think Gunnarsson is the better defenceman, but Polak apparently plays a style the Leafs like better.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

That doesn't make it sustainable though.  There has to be some reasoning here, and I hope it's more than just the RHS issue if Franson is indeed gone.

He's a right shot, he's big and he's tough. Seriously anybody who doesn't think that's enough of a reason for the Leafs to trade him for Gunnarsson hasn't been paying attention.

Agreed.  Leafs D was soft as hell. Good move

 

[Redleaf]

Polak is one of 11 d-men with 400 hits and 350 blocks over the last 3 seasons. Others include Weber, Seabrook,Phaneuf, Girardi and Orpik.

 

[Britishbulldog]

Late to the party here.

So we got the Beast. 

Decent skater, RH shot, blocks shots, one of the physically strongest players in the league, only 71 PIMs which is good for the style he plays, 6'0" 236 lbs.  Looks like he replaces Gleason and Polak is a definite upgrade as 3rd pairing.  Not sure why the Leafs gave up a draft pick and retained salary though...

Most St Louis fans I have read are upset with the trade though.  Most here seem upset as well.  Don't know what that means.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

When I think of team issues, being "soft" isn't one of them.  Gleason was supposedly this tough presence and I thought he was brutal.

 

[Redleaf]

When I think of team issues, being "soft" isn't one of them.  Gleason was supposedly this tough presence and I thought he was brutal.

Then you haven't been paying attention. 

 

[bustaheims]

When I think of team issues, being "soft" isn't one of them.  Gleason was supposedly this tough presence and I thought he was brutal.

Yup. Toughness is an overrated concept. I mean, yes, teams and players need to be able to play a physical game and react appropriately when other teams to the same, but, things like speed, skill and smarts are much more important at every position. I don't care how many hits a guy is credited with or how many shots he blocked. What's important is how he plays with the puck and how effective he as at preventing the other team from having it - and, in general, guys who rack up a lot of hits and blocked shots are pretty poor at that, because, well, you can't legally hit players when they don't have the puck and you can't block shots when your team has the puck.

 

[AvroArrow]

The team needs to become faster and more mobile before they even get the chance to be soft on the opposition.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

When I think of team issues, being "soft" isn't one of them.  Gleason was supposedly this tough presence and I thought he was brutal.

Yup. Toughness is an overrated concept. I mean, yes, teams and players need to be able to play a physical game and react appropriately when other teams to the same, but, things like speed, skill and smarts are much more important at every position. I don't care how many hits a guy is credited with or how many shots he blocked. What's important is how he plays with the puck and how effective he as at preventing the other team from having it - and, in general, guys who rack up a lot of hits and blocked shots are pretty poor at that, because, well, you can't legally hit players when they don't have the puck and you can't block shots when your team has the puck.

Yeah I see it as a factor but as a complementary asset to a player who should be either good enough or not good enough without having to use toughness as a reason.  Some players (like Orr) exist only because of toughness, some players were seemingly drafted because it was thought their toughness would give them an edge (Biggs comes to mind) but I think it should be pretty low on the list of traits you're looking for in a player.

 

[L K]

When I think of this franchise, joke comes to mind.  It is 2014.  The salary cap was instituted in 2005 and this franchise still doesn't know how to operate a team under the salary cap rules.  You retain salary when you are making your team better or to obtain future assets with available space.  The Leafs just seem to find ways to piss it all away.

Roman Polak on his own is an ok addition.  He's a 4-5 defenseman though.  He hits stuff, he plays physical and skates adequately enough.  He's not an offensive player. 

The Leafs however traded a 3-4 defenseman + a 3rd round pick + retaining salary.  This management team is absolutely stupid.

 

[Redleaf]

When I think of team issues, being "soft" isn't one of them.  Gleason was supposedly this tough presence and I thought he was brutal.

Yup. Toughness is an overrated concept. I mean, yes, teams and players need to be able to play a physical game and react appropriately when other teams to the same, but, things like speed, skill and smarts are much more important at every position. I don't care how many hits a guy is credited with or how many shots he blocked. What's important is how he plays with the puck and how effective he as at preventing the other team from having it - and, in general, guys who rack up a lot of hits and blocked shots are pretty poor at that, because, well, you can't legally hit players when they don't have the puck and you can't block shots when your team has the puck.

Yeah I see it as a factor but as a complementary asset to a player who should be either good enough or not good enough without having to use toughness as a reason.  Some players (like Orr) exist only because of toughness, some players were seemingly drafted because it was thought their toughness would give them an edge (Biggs comes to mind) but I think it should be pretty low on the list of traits you're looking for in a player.

I think it becomes a bigger factor when comparing more talented players. I think most teams would choose the slightly less talented player that plays with an edge, than the more talented one that doesn't.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

James Mirtle ‏@mirtle  1m
Nonis says they're comfortable with what they have on defence now. Want Gardiner and Rielly to play big roles.

They talked about wanting to bring back Franson this week. So I wouldn't be surprised to see this:

Gardiner-Phaneuf
Rielly-Polak
Gleason-Franson