Winnik Returns

[Highlander]

But whom would do that?

 

[hobarth]

An excellent bridge player, maybe too good.

The anti-Kessel, in terms of effort. And yes, talent. But I suspect Babcock cares more about setting a tone of playing hard at both ends of the ice and Winnik will be an example to the young ones.

Babcock is all about winning and undoubtedly buys into his own hype, he'll be totally grey by the end of the first year. The structure, game plan to win will probably be there but like last year and the year before TO is going nowhere without adequate talent.

Winnie's a fine player but hardly the type of player I'd want other players to look up to, I'd far prefer they look up to hard workers with talent because supposedly giving it your all yet continuing to lose is still a cop out.

I never felt that Kessel was the reason TO lost but he was and still is the figurehead of TO's failure along with Phanny. Soon Phanny will be gone or at least I hope for his sake he is but many feel that their removal is the reason for hope no matter how dim at this point is better than the constant losing. TO hasn't made a truly decent player personnel decision since BB was dismissed but somehow there's reason for hope, ok.

We were sold hope last year on the extremely shaky premise that an improved 3rd line and an aged but wise d-man would lead TO to a sniff of the promised land and now we are to believe that removing what is or at least should be good for the Leafs will somehow make it better, ya, ok.

Right now I think the happiest people are the draft choice junkies who believe that selling roster players for draft choices will be TO's salvation, to what end I've never understood but I would definitely include Dubas, Hunter and Shany in that category. The junkies were in the nadir of their high during the draft trading 1 choice for 4, quantity over quality is the answer because Hunter, an NHL potential talent evaluator in his rookie year, is a God, yup, ok.

We don't even have a GM, Shany, Dubas and Hunter place TO above the need to have for such an insignificant person, why, look at the haul for Kessel we're just glad to be rid of him and surely there wasn't any possible greater return so we're told, right.

So yes Winnie will probably be TO's next emblem but his effort at least is there whether or not TO succeeds means nothing, look at the team he plays with but the team surrounding Kessel in no way excused him from being totally to blame for TO losing, yes he was a poison and if his new team succeeds it will be in spite of him not because of him.

Philly missed the playoffs this year and the fans are starting to turn on Giroux and he is a hard worker but like Phil not the most motivated defensive player, a very normal elite forward condition which is forgivable if the team wins so yes it's about time they wised up to his deficiencies because certainly the poor defense on Philly should always be transcended by a single elite talent. 

Marner hasn't even played a single game in the NHL and I'm already feeling sorry for him, Kapenen who's playing style sounds similar to Kessel's minus the elite talent is in for a world of abuse if he ever suits up for the Leafs. Things are looking rosy and maybe if TO drafts enough players the perfect one will be chosen but if that player isn't perfect he will become subhuman in TO's market.

 

[Kin]

Giroux is a very good defensive forward who's been regularly used on the PK in the past and gotten Selke votes.

 

[Lynx]

Are we sure some troll didn't hack cw's account? Because the cw I remember was one of the best posters who always took the time to make a reasonable argument based on accurate facts. It was never whatever all this is.

 

[herman]

Are we sure some troll didn't hack cw's account? Because the cw I remember was one of the best posters who always took the time to make a reasonable argument based on accurate facts. It was never whatever all this is.

I'm laughing out loud and willing to spell it out fully. Are you referring to the Kessel thread?

 

[Lynx]

Are we sure some troll didn't hack cw's account? Because the cw I remember was one of the best posters who always took the time to make a reasonable argument based on accurate facts. It was never whatever all this is.

I'm laughing out loud and willing to spell it out fully. Are you referring to the Kessel thread?

That thread, this thread, every freakin' thread it seems.

 

[herman]

Are we sure some troll didn't hack cw's account? Because the cw I remember was one of the best posters who always took the time to make a reasonable argument based on accurate facts. It was never whatever all this is.

I'm laughing out loud and willing to spell it out fully. Are you referring to the Kessel thread?

That thread, this thread, every freakin' thread it seems.

I think I know what you mean, but I'd just like to point out that cw hasn't participate in this thread (or any thread lately, except when there is an opportunity to remind us how much he doesn't like Kessel).

 

[Lynx]

Are we sure some troll didn't hack cw's account? Because the cw I remember was one of the best posters who always took the time to make a reasonable argument based on accurate facts. It was never whatever all this is.

I'm laughing out loud and willing to spell it out fully. Are you referring to the Kessel thread?

That thread, this thread, every freakin' thread it seems.

I think I know what you mean, but I'd just like to point out that cw hasn't participate in this thread (or any thread lately, except when there is an opportunity to remind us how much he doesn't like Kessel).

My mistake in this thread. Doing things on mobile causes then to mix up sometimes.

 

[hobarth]

It's a good thing we didn't get Oshie, we don't have any room on the roster for quality players, all hail Winnie!

 

[bustaheims]

It's a good thing we didn't get Oshie, we don't have any room on the roster for quality players, all hail Winnie!

The next few seasons are going to be difficult for you. I suggest taking an extended sabbatical.

 

[louisstamos]

It's a good thing we didn't get Oshie, we don't have any room on the roster for quality players, all hail Winnie!

If all goes according to plan, we'll have Auston Matthews - who(m?) I'd much rather have than TJ Oshie.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

It's a good thing we didn't get Oshie, we don't have any room on the roster for quality players, all hail Winnie!

The next few seasons are going to be difficult for you. I suggest taking an extended sabbatical.

Seriously.  Someone needs to have explained to them why the Leafs didn't target a soon-to-be 29 year old winger after trading a younger winger the day before? 

 

[Bullfrog]

It's a good thing we didn't get Oshie, we don't have any room on the roster for quality players, all hail Winnie!

If all goes according to plan, we'll have Auston Matthews - who(m?) I'd much rather have than TJ Oshie.

Whom is correct here, though I'd be totally cool with who, because as pointed out, no one cares if you use who incorrectly.

 

[Zee]

I wonder if he knows we are going to trade him again at the deadline if he's playing too well?

 

[L K]

I wonder if he knows we are going to trade him again at the deadline if he's playing too well?

If he plays well again leading in to the deadline and has a reasonable 2nd year on his contract I think we get a 1st round pick for him.  He was worth a 2nd round pick last year as a flash in the pan.  Two years of good production in a row on a very reasonable contract would arguably bump him up to that next tier.

 

[Kin]

If he plays well again leading in to the deadline and has a reasonable 2nd year on his contract I think we get a 1st round pick for him.  He was worth a 2nd round pick last year as a flash in the pan.  Two years of good production in a row on a very reasonable contract would arguably bump him up to that next tier.

2nd and a 4th! Never forget.

The interesting thing with Winnik will be to see if he can still produce offensively a little bit. Some people might be inclined to attribute his career high point totals to being on Pittsburgh but his PPG was actually higher with the Leafs. If he can step that up even a bit then, yeah, if he looks to be a 40 point player who kills penalties the way he does?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

The interesting thing with Winnik will be to see if he can still produce offensively a little bit. Some people might be inclined to attribute his career high point totals to being on Pittsburgh but his PPG was actually higher with the Leafs. If he can step that up even a bit then, yeah, if he looks to be a 40 point player who kills penalties the way he does?

Most of his offence came when he played on a line with Kadri and Santorelli. When he played in a bottom-6 role the points weren't there (unsurprisingly of course). So yeah, if the plan is to move Winnik again he and Kadri should see a lot of time together again.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I wonder what Winnik thinks.  He must know he's a candidate to be dealt again as literally everyone who saw him sign with the Leafs again thought: "Awesome, can be dealt for picks!"

Must not care about stability too much!

 

[Kin]

Most of his offence came when he played on a line with Kadri and Santorelli. When he played in a bottom-6 role the points weren't there (unsurprisingly of course). So yeah, if the plan is to move Winnik again he and Kadri should see a lot of time together again.

Honestly, at this point I could legitimately see the Leafs having four lines playing 15 minutes a night. I mean, say you put this team together

Winnik-Kadri-JVR
Lupul-Bozak-Panik
Komarov-Holland-Parenteau
Bailey-Arcobello-Hyman

I mean, you give the PP time to the top two lines there but outside of that? Rotate 'em. Have fun with it.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

With that group I'd probably just pick lines out of a hat before every game.