Training Camp Thread

[leafplasma]

I hope Robidas on the top-pairing is just a pre-season thing. Franson's injury gives the team the opportunity to put Phaneuf back on the right side for a little while, which bumps Robidas to the 2nd pairing. He should probably at least start the season there since he's bound to be a little rusty.

Gardiner-Phaneuf
Rielly-Robidas
Percy-Polak

This is what I would like to see,  Robidas makes the 2nd pairing so much better and will allow the top pairing to play less improving Phaneuf's game over the long haul.  Putting your two top defenders on the top pairing does nothing to improve our overall D whatsoever.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

While having Gardiner with Dion is appealing, I think some might be underestimating how much of an improvement we might see from Dion back on his natural side on the left if he plays with Polak or Robidas.

 

[freer]

is there any time table on Franson's return

 

[CarltonTheBear]

While having Gardiner with Dion is appealing, I think some might be underestimating how much of an improvement we might see from Dion back on his natural side on the left if he plays with Polak or Robidas.

Phaneuf's been playing his off-side basically his entire NHL career (even some clips I found from his WJC days have him playing the right side, so that might have gone as far as his junior career).

 

[lc9]

While having Gardiner with Dion is appealing, I think some might be underestimating how much of an improvement we might see from Dion back on his natural side on the left if he plays with Polak or Robidas.

Well I hope the game against Detroit earlier this week wasn't any indication.  Phanuef looked as lost as ever.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

While having Gardiner with Dion is appealing, I think some might be underestimating how much of an improvement we might see from Dion back on his natural side on the left if he plays with Polak or Robidas.

Well I hope the game against Detroit earlier this week wasn't any indication.  Phanuef looked as lost as ever.

He really didn't.  He played 26 minutes, if he was that lost wouldn't Detroit have had a ton more chances than they actually did?

 

[lc9]

While having Gardiner with Dion is appealing, I think some might be underestimating how much of an improvement we might see from Dion back on his natural side on the left if he plays with Polak or Robidas.

Well I hope the game against Detroit earlier this week wasn't any indication.  Phanuef looked as lost as ever.

He really didn't.  He played 26 minutes, if he was that lost wouldn't Detroit have had a ton more chances than they actually did?

Admittedly, it's the only preseason game I have seen, but he had some difficulty skating with the puck and then getting it in the zone.  The extended PP stand outs, he just kept turning it over. 

I was curious how he was going to look, so I kept a close eye on him, I just didn't think he looked good. 

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

While having Gardiner with Dion is appealing, I think some might be underestimating how much of an improvement we might see from Dion back on his natural side on the left if he plays with Polak or Robidas.

Well I hope the game against Detroit earlier this week wasn't any indication.  Phanuef looked as lost as ever.

He really didn't.  He played 26 minutes, if he was that lost wouldn't Detroit have had a ton more chances than they actually did?

Admittedly, it's the only preseason game I have seen, but he had some difficulty skating with the puck and then getting it in the zone.  The extended PP stand outs, he just kept turning it over. 

I was curious how he was going to look, so I kept a close eye on him, I just didn't think he looked good.

Hit two cross-bars, a couple inches one way and he has 2 goals on the night.  Was on the ice for 1 PP goal against, didn't really have much to do with it though.  Don't think he was great or bad, Detroit didn't have a good lineup either.  Hopefully he won't be playing those high minutes (likely due to high number of PP/PK situations) once the season starts.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

TSN has Kessel as the 38th best player in the NHL.

What say you, Higher or Lower?

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

TSN has Kessel as the 38th best player in the NHL.

What say you, Higher or Lower?

Has 2nd most points in the NHL the past 3 years behind Giroux, 38th is ridiculous.  Krejci?  But it doesn't matter so whatever.  I think once you get near the top it's so close with so many players that it's just personal preference anyway.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

TSN has Kessel as the 38th best player in the NHL.

What say you, Higher or Lower?

At first you'd like to think he'd be a lot higher but then you look at some of those names ahead of him... I'd put him maybe 32? I'm not the biggest McDonagh fan. Krejci is a tad overrated when you consider the minutes that Bergeron eats up which frees Krejci up for more scoring opportunities. I have to see MacKinnon hit PPG numbers before putting him ahead of Kessel, although that could happen as early as this season. Hossa's still a two-way force but his offensive numbers are dropping so I take the PPG winger ahead of him. Pavelski scored 40 but needed an insanely high shooting percentage to do so, which means he'll probably drop back to being a 30/30 player, so not enough offence to make me consider putting him above Kessel. Same for Couture.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

TSN has Kessel as the 38th best player in the NHL.

What say you, Higher or Lower?

Has 2nd most points in the NHL the past 3 years behind Giroux, 38th is ridiculous.  Krejci?  But it doesn't matter so whatever.  I think once you get near the top it's so close with so many players that it's just personal preference anyway.

I'm kinda with you, production alone has him in the top 15 discussion for me.

 

[Kin]

TSN has Kessel as the 38th best player in the NHL.

What say you, Higher or Lower?

Seems about right. Something could be said as to a couple of the guys above him but it's not off significantly.

 

[bustaheims]

TSN has Kessel as the 38th best player in the NHL.

What say you, Higher or Lower?

These lists are always pretty questionable, and there's often not a lot that really separates guys at 10-15 from guys in the late 30s/early 40s.

 

[2badknees]

The list will have players' position as part of the equation. A top centre or stud D is valued higher than a winger.

When you look at the wingers ranked above Kessel, it pretty much makes sense to me where he is around 30-40.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Interesting tidbit from Carlyle's presser, apparently the Leafs are trying to work out a deal to keep Loov in North America, instead of having to send him back to Sweden. Loov wants to stay here, but it has to get approved by his Swedish club and the Swedish hockey federation.

 

[Frank E]

Interesting tidbit from Carlyle's presser, apparently the Leafs are trying to work out a deal to keep Loov in North America, instead of having to send him back to Sweden. Loov wants to stay here, but it has to get approved by his Swedish club and the Swedish hockey federation.

That's good news.  I hope Nonis can make that happen.  I hope Nylander sticks around too.

 

[Frank E]

James Mirtle‏@mirtle?25 mins ago

Leafs skate at 11:15 this morning. Could be cuts later in afternoon. Still at 29 bodies and have to get down to 24 or 25 in next few days.

I say 24 or 25 as Booth will go on injured reserve. Franson may have to as well. And the 29 number includes Loov, who's headed to Marlies.

So in all Leafs really only have three or four cuts to make. I expect McLaren and Nylander will be two. After that, it's uncertain.

Pretty tough to believe Franson could go on IR?

 

[L K]

Kessel left practice again with that lower body injury.

 

[Sudafederov]

For those keeping score on the Ashton vs Aulie trade, Aulie is on waivers.