• For users coming over from tmlfans.ca your username will remain the same but you will need to use the password reset feature (check your spam folder) on the login page in order to set your password. If you encounter issues, email Rick couchmanrick@gmail.com

The Leo Komarov Question

Interesting to hear the comparisons with Abdelkader. I didn't realise they were the same age.

Looking at War on Ice they've produced interestingly similar numbers the last 2 seasons also in some areas.

Points per 60
Komarov 1.8 and 1.7
Abdelkader 1.6 and 1.6

Corsi For
Komarov 53.4 and 46.9
Abdelkader 48.9 and 56.2

The big difference is in shooting %
Komarov 17.8 and 10.4
Abdelkader 11.4 and 11.8

So allowing for a regression to Komarov's probably pushes Abdelkader's numbers slightly above Komarov's.

I do suspect we're seeing Komarov's top end skills at the minute, but I also think he's someone worth keeping around. I'm not as sure we can find someone with quite the same skillset on the UFA market and I find that on an, I guess, emotive level I like having Komarov on the team. The team has not been a team with many characters to like or root for over the last few years and Komarov is partly responsible for helping me to re-engage with the side. As a fan I'd rather he stayed for that reason as much as I recognise the need to rebuild.
 
Just off the top of my head, here are some guys who have recently been available as UFA's:

Max Talbot, Eric Fehr, Jussi Jokinen, Joel Ward, Scottie Upshall, Matt Beleskey, Daniel Winnik, Gregory Campbell, Antoine Vermette, Boyd Gordon, Blake Comeau, Brian Boyle and, just for fun, Daniel Winnik again(they signed him twice!)

Now, are any of those guys exactly like Leo Komarov? I guess not. Some are better at some things, some are worse at other things but all of them provide a lot of what Komarov does when he's not shooting 22%. Heck, if you want an example of a player exactly like Leo Komarov who was recently available as a UFA how about Leo Komarov? A pretty good case can be made that the vet with good intangibles who can kill penalties, add some grit and pop in a goal every now and then is among the easiest things to find on the UFA market.

Obviously I can't disagree from an emotional/fan's desire to keep Komarov but I do think that as guys like Nylander/Marner/this year's first rounder join the team, Leafs fans aren't going to be hard pressed to find guys to root for.
 
I disagree with the easily replaceable with anybody argument.

This game is entertainment.  Part of that is character development.  All of the names on Nik's list do not register a pulse with me.  Komarov is a story, he's contrary to Don Cherry's "european" stereotype.  If Komarov grew up in Oakville Cherry would be slobbering all of this guy.  Komarov's works hard, has talent, makes other teams miserable.  Really one of the "bottom six" guys that Burke was talking about.  How many of these ufa rentals are memorable.  As fans, it has to be more than results on the scoresheet and games won.  Otherwise we wouldn't be talking about the leafs,  its a loser franchise of Cubs proportions..

There are a few players that have struck a chord with me over the years.  Garry Valk and Igor Korolev and Komarov fits that mold with me. (Or Berg, Thomas, and Zezel)

If the right offer comes along then you really can't refuse it because he is having what will be his best year in the NHL.  But what he brings to the rink every nights is something that you hope can rub off on younger bottom six guys coming up, and your star players for that matter.



 
JohnK's Revenge said:
I disagree with the easily replaceable with anybody argument.

This game is entertainment.  Part of that is character development.  All of the names on Nik's list do not register a pulse with me.  Komarov is a story, he's contrary to Don Cherry's "european" stereotype.  If Komarov grew up in Oakville Cherry would be slobbering all of this guy.  Komarov's works hard, has talent, makes other teams miserable.  Really one of the "bottom six" guys that Burke was talking about.  How many of these ufa rentals are memorable.  As fans, it has to be more than results on the scoresheet and games won.  Otherwise we wouldn't be talking about the leafs,  its a loser franchise of Cubs proportions..

There are a few players that have struck a chord with me over the years.  Garry Valk and Igor Korolev and Komarov fits that mold with me. (Or Berg, Thomas, and Zezel)

If the right offer comes along then you really can't refuse it because he is having what will be his best year in the NHL.  But what he brings to the rink every nights is something that you hope can rub off on younger bottom six guys coming up, and your star players for that matter.
Click to expand...

The argument is that we're on the cusp of turning the corner from lauding lunch pail grinders as the only source of celebration on our team because our new core will be exciting enough as players, personalities, and people. Komarov is nice to have, and I wouldn't mind keeping him; but if some GM out there offers primo swag, I'm going to take it and run.

In short: Stanley Cups >> Komarov's entertainment value >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Don Cherry's philosophy of play
 
herman said:
The argument is that we're on the cusp of turning the corner from lauding lunch pail grinders as the only source of celebration on our team because our new core will be exciting enough as players, personalities, and people. Komarov is nice to have, and I wouldn't mind keeping him; but if some GM out there offers primo swag, I'm going to take it and run.

In short: Stanley Cups >> Komarov's entertainment value >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Don Cherry's philosophy of play
Click to expand...

Basically, yeah. I mean, first and foremost, what Don Cherry thinks about players on the Leafs' roster shouldn't have any influence on anything. He doesn't run the team. He's not employed by the team. He's never been officially associated with the team. He's really just a fan who happens to have a TV segment - and, a fan that's stuck on the way the game used to be played rather than the way it's played now.

I'm also very much looking forward to the days where we, as Leaf fans, don't glorify role players and grinders. It doesn't matter how much of a personality they are, or how good a story. What matters is how much individual players really contribute to the team's ability to be a championship calibre team, and, in those situations, these guys are replaceable. And, you know what would really make them memorable? Being part of a team that brings the Cup back to Toronto - but, in order to get to that point, you have to add as much potential high-end talent to the organization as possible, and, if moving a guy like Komarov - who is pushing 30 and enjoying a career season with an unsustainable shooting percentage - then you make that move without hesitation. No one is saying that the Leafs should just give him away, but there's an opportunity to sell high here, and these are situations the Leafs need to start to take advantage of.
 
The Cherry reference was more for my amusement because I mostly disagree with his viewpoints when it comes to hockey.

As for the sell whatever you can to get a championship or the we're on the cusp of something great..  I am not holding my breath.  I drank the blue koolaid in '92 when Stavros took over and Gilmour Andreychuk and Potvin showed up . ........ and here we are 20 odd years later with Sundin being the only thing worth noting in the time in between.

I'll take the joy from what i see with the current product today.  I'll leave the 'hope' to the younger generations.
 
JohnK's Revenge said:
As for the sell whatever you can to get a championship or the we're on the cusp of something great..  I am not holding my breath.  I drank the blue koolaid in '92 when Stavros took over and Gilmour Andreychuk and Potvin showed up . ........ and here we are 20 odd years later with Sundin being the only thing worth noting in the time in between.
Click to expand...

It's not about selling whatever you can to get a championship. It's about understanding the present realities of the team and acting based on those. The teams you talk about sold the future to improve the present - which is a big part of the reason there was nothing notable for 20 years. What we're suggesting is the opposite - sell the present to improve the future.
 
bustaheims said:
JohnK's Revenge said:
As for the sell whatever you can to get a championship or the we're on the cusp of something great..  I am not holding my breath.  I drank the blue koolaid in '92 when Stavros took over and Gilmour Andreychuk and Potvin showed up . ........ and here we are 20 odd years later with Sundin being the only thing worth noting in the time in between.
Click to expand...

It's not about selling whatever you can to get a championship. It's about understanding the present realities of the team and acting based on those. The teams you talk about sold the future to improve the present - which is a big part of the reason there was nothing notable for 20 years. What we're suggesting is the opposite - sell the present to improve the future.
Click to expand...
I understand what you are saying and if the right offer comes along it will have be done.  What I am saying is that I only like watching a handful of players on this team (Komarov, Reilly, Gardiner, Reimer, Sparks sometimes Kadri/JVR).  Removing one of them from the team now, reduces my interest level.  It's great we're planning the future but Russia could nuke us all just before we draft Matthews, or I could be hit by a bus.
 
JohnK's Revenge said:
bustaheims said:
JohnK's Revenge said:
As for the sell whatever you can to get a championship or the we're on the cusp of something great..  I am not holding my breath.  I drank the blue koolaid in '92 when Stavros took over and Gilmour Andreychuk and Potvin showed up . ........ and here we are 20 odd years later with Sundin being the only thing worth noting in the time in between.
Click to expand...

It's not about selling whatever you can to get a championship. It's about understanding the present realities of the team and acting based on those. The teams you talk about sold the future to improve the present - which is a big part of the reason there was nothing notable for 20 years. What we're suggesting is the opposite - sell the present to improve the future.
Click to expand...
I understand what you are saying and if the right offer comes along it will have be done.  What I am saying is that I only like watching a handful of players on this team (Komarov, Reilly, Gardiner, Reimer, Sparks sometimes Kadri/JVR).  Removing one of them from the team now, reduces my interest level.  It's great we're planning the future but Russia could nuke us all just before we draft Matthews, or I could be hit by a bus.
Click to expand...

Or we could just get 'nuked' at the draft lottery again  >:(
 
I like some of those players and don't care for others but I personally would not trade Komarov straight up for any of them.  Replacing most of our free agent trade bait players I agree with and replacing them would be fairly easy but I don't think it would be easy to replace what Leo brings to the table.  I would trade him for a decent 1st rounder but short of that I keep him. 
Nik the Trik said:
Just off the top of my head, here are some guys who have recently been available as UFA's:

Max Talbot, Eric Fehr, Jussi Jokinen, Joel Ward, Scottie Upshall, Matt Beleskey, Daniel Winnik, Gregory Campbell, Antoine Vermette, Boyd Gordon, Blake Comeau, Brian Boyle and, just for fun, Daniel Winnik again(they signed him twice!)

Now, are any of those guys exactly like Leo Komarov? I guess not. Some are better at some things, some are worse at other things but all of them provide a lot of what Komarov does when he's not shooting 22%. Heck, if you want an example of a player exactly like Leo Komarov who was recently available as a UFA how about Leo Komarov? A pretty good case can be made that the vet with good intangibles who can kill penalties, add some grit and pop in a goal every now and then is among the easiest things to find on the UFA market.

Obviously I can't disagree from an emotional/fan's desire to keep Komarov but I do think that as guys like Nylander/Marner/this year's first rounder join the team, Leafs fans aren't going to be hard pressed to find guys to root for.
Click to expand...
 
Joel Ward is a local kid, a son of Barbadian immigrants, who went undrafted after 4 years in the OHL. Then he played another 4 years at the CIS level, making him what I imagine to be one of a very few players who have a college degree. He earned a pro hockey job by working his butt off after being invited to a Minnesota Wild training camp and then spent the next three years in the AHL before getting a chance at the NHL with Nashville.

Everyone's got a story.
 
Bates said:
I like some of those players and don't care for others but I personally would not trade Komarov straight up for any of them.  Replacing most of our free agent trade bait players I agree with and replacing them would be fairly easy but I don't think it would be easy to replace what Leo brings to the table.  I would trade him for a decent 1st rounder but short of that I keep him. 
Click to expand...

What does Leo Komarov do, when he's not shooting 22%, that Brian Boyle doesn't do? In what way is Leo Komarov better than Antoine Vermette or Jussi Jokinen?

Regardless, people seem to have missed the point of that list of players. It's not like those are the best UFA's in the world. Better players than Komarov move as UFA's every year. Those are just an abundance of similar types of players to Komarov that are available on the UFA market every year.
 
I just don't like Brian Boyle and Vermette is seriously overrated. Other than face off wins I see nothing in his game. For me what Komarov does way better than the rest is entertain, both on the ice, and in the room. He's a guy I want around my team for work ethic and personality.
Nik the Trik said:
Bates said:
I like some of those players and don't care for others but I personally would not trade Komarov straight up for any of them.  Replacing most of our free agent trade bait players I agree with and replacing them would be fairly easy but I don't think it would be easy to replace what Leo brings to the table.  I would trade him for a decent 1st rounder but short of that I keep him. 
Click to expand...

What does Leo Komarov do, when he's not shooting 22%, that Brian Boyle doesn't do? In what way is Leo Komarov better than Antoine Vermette or Jussi Jokinen?

Regardless, people seem to have missed the point of that list of players. It's not like those are the best UFA's in the world. Better players than Komarov move as UFA's every year. Those are just an abundance of similar types of players to Komarov that are available on the UFA market every year.
Click to expand...
 
Highlander said:
Hey the Komrade help make hockey fun again. He is exactly the team player that Babcock needs and he leads by example.  We would need a very high 1st for me to feel ok about trading him.
Click to expand...

QFT!  High 1st, or no deal!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

About Us

This website is NOT associated with the Toronto Maple Leafs or the NHL.


It is operated by Rick Couchman and Jeff Lewis.
Back
Top