2014-2015 Toronto Maple Leaf line-ups.

[Kin]

But I swear I read/heard an interview with Nonis or someone this summer stating that the 4th line has to be able to play, and it struck me as different than what I'd heard in the past.  But maybe I'm just remembering wrong.

Did Nonis not say something similar in his July 1st press conference?

Well, ok but leaving aside that what Nonis said could be interpreted in a bunch of different ways(that the 4th line has to play better, that the 4th line has to play more regardless of who's on it) Carlyle is still ultimately the guy who's going to make the line-up on a day to day basis. I buy that Carlyle getting fired might lead to a wholescale change in philosophy but so long as Shanahan/Nonis choose to keep Carlyle as their coach I think we need to be prepared for some of Carlyle's thought process on the composition of the team to survive the summer.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Well, ok but leaving aside that what Nonis said could be interpreted in a bunch of different ways(that the 4th line has to play better, that the 4th line has to play more regardless of who's on it) Carlyle is still ultimately the guy who's going to make the line-up on a day to day basis. I buy that Carlyle getting fired might lead to a wholescale change in philosophy but so long as Shanahan/Nonis choose to keep Carlyle as their coach I think we need to be prepared for some of Carlyle's thought process on the composition of the team to survive the summer.

I expect Orr to still be on the roster and he'll play in games where Carlyle feels like he needs a more physical presence in the line-up. But I just can't see McLaren getting out of training camp. Not with the amount of bottom-6 guys the team has brought in this summer. It would require one of Ashton, Frattin, or Bodie to be waived or traded, and while none of those guys are exactly locks to make a NHL team, they're head and shoulders above McLaren.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I expect Orr to still be on the roster and he'll play in games where Carlyle feels like he needs a more physical presence in the line-up. But I just can't see McLaren getting out of training camp. Not with the amount of bottom-6 guys the team has brought in this summer. It would require one of Ashton, Frattin, or Bodie to be waived or traded, and while none of those guys are exactly locks to make a NHL team, they're head and shoulders above McLaren.

Just don't see how either fits at all if everyone's healthy (I know you could have said that last year too):

http://www.capgeek.com/armchair-gm/roster/34852

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Just don't see how either fits at all if everyone's healthy (I know you could have said that last year too):

http://www.capgeek.com/armchair-gm/roster/34852

I know it's weird because we're not exactly used to it, but we have the cap space to carry a 23-man roster.

 

[Bullfrog]

I suspect Orr will be on the team too, but I also expect a lot of scratches for him. If he gets more than 25 games, I'll be surprised and obviously disappointed.

With Bodie on the team, McLaren and Orr are completely redundant. Mind you, I think they're obsolete regardless of who's the team. On the 4th line, I think it's not unreasonable to expect a player to hit at least 10-15 pts.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Just don't see how either fits at all if everyone's healthy (I know you could have said that last year too):

http://www.capgeek.com/armchair-gm/roster/34852

I know it's weird because we're not exactly used to it, but we have the cap space to carry a 23-man roster.

I just don't know who you take out of that lineup as presented for him on any night really.  Notwithstanding the fact that there may be more moves coming that could affect the forward group.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I just don't know who you take out of that lineup as presented for him on any night really.  Notwithstanding the fact that there may be more moves coming that could affect the forward group.

It's not exactly a move I would make, but I can see Carlyle basically rotating Bodie, Ashton, Frattin, and Orr all in and out of the two 4th line wing spots. Injuries are also inevitable.

Like Bullfrog said though too, I do expect Orr to be the most frequent healthy scratch of that group.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I just don't know who you take out of that lineup as presented for him on any night really.  Notwithstanding the fact that there may be more moves coming that could affect the forward group.

It's not exactly a move I would make, but I can see Carlyle basically rotating Bodie, Ashton, Frattin, and Orr all in and out of the two 4th line wing spots. Injuries are also inevitable.

Like Bullfrog said though too, I do expect Orr to be the most frequent healthy scratch of that group.

It annoys me if he even gets into 1 game based on his play the last, what is it, almost 90 games?  I don't even care if he has no impact on the particular game, it's the principle of it my good man!

 

[Bullfrog]

I agree completely. I don't see anything that he brings to a game that would ever make me think "good choice to scratch Ashton for Orr."

 

[freer]

I suspect Orr will be on the team too, but I also expect a lot of scratches for him. If he gets more than 25 games, I'll be surprised and obviously disappointed.

With Bodie on the team, McLaren and Orr are completely redundant. Mind you, I think they're obsolete regardless of who's the team. On the 4th line, I think it's not unreasonable to expect a player to hit at least 10-15 pts.

I do agree with your thinking, but RC is a dinosaur so I unfortunately think one of the meat bags with make the team which will be a shame.

 

[bustaheims]

Oh, I fully expect Orr and McLaren to be given every opportunity to take the 12 and 13th forward spots away from Ashton and Bodie. Yes, on one hand, we've had members of the Leafs' front office talk about how important it is to have a 4th line that can contribute and play real minutes, but, on the other hand, we've had other members talk about how injuries limited Orr and McLaren's effectiveness last season and talk up their supposed impact in 12/13.

 

[Kin]

Well, ok but leaving aside that what Nonis said could be interpreted in a bunch of different ways(that the 4th line has to play better, that the 4th line has to play more regardless of who's on it) Carlyle is still ultimately the guy who's going to make the line-up on a day to day basis. I buy that Carlyle getting fired might lead to a wholescale change in philosophy but so long as Shanahan/Nonis choose to keep Carlyle as their coach I think we need to be prepared for some of Carlyle's thought process on the composition of the team to survive the summer.

I expect Orr to still be on the roster and he'll play in games where Carlyle feels like he needs a more physical presence in the line-up. But I just can't see McLaren getting out of training camp. Not with the amount of bottom-6 guys the team has brought in this summer. It would require one of Ashton, Frattin, or Bodie to be waived or traded, and while none of those guys are exactly locks to make a NHL team, they're head and shoulders above McLaren.

I don't disagree with any of that intellectually but I would have been here last year saying more or less the same thing about Orr or McLaren's spot on the roster vs. Colborne's. I wouldn't bet my life savings on both guys making the team or Orr playing in the majority of games or anything but if I had to lean one way or the other I'd say that the team will still break in that direction.

 

[Bullfrog]

And that's partly on the players too. If Ashton and Frattin and Bodie come and blow away the coaches, then they'll earn their time. They just need that opportunity to play.

 

[Joe S.]

Colton Orr's last NHL goal - assists to Fraser and McLaren. How awesome is that?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tP8XMHF_u8o[/youtube]

And I'm pretty sure this will be his last goal in the NHL.

 

[Joe S.]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=534307

Gord Strate, a defenseman who played 61 games during parts of three seasons with Detroit in the late 1950s and never managed a point. No other player has skated in as many games without managing at least one point -- the runner-up is Frank "Frosty" Peters, who went 43 games without a point, all in 1930-31.

I think this is Orr's record now. He's gone 69 regular season games without a point, 76 if you include the playoffs.

How is he still in the NHL?

Edit: I think I misunderstood the record - it's most games played without recording a point at all in the NHL.

 

[Britishbulldog]

Colton Orr's last NHL goal - assists to Fraser and McLaren. How awesome is that?

And I'm pretty sure this will be his last goal in the NHL.

That is what they weren't doing last year.... ever.  I was hoping for that energy but only saw those stupid staged fights trying to show everyone that they were intimidating goons.  Orr was so slow last year it was shocking.  After seeing Orr play hard against Chara in the playoffs I thought the meat head hockey was gone from the Leafs.  Oh well.

If McLaren and Orr were skating hard, hitting everyone hard and trying to get pucks at the opposition's net like Bodie and Ashton then I would take the player who can fight as a heavyweight.  If the only thing the other player has going for them is they can fight then I would take the players who skate hard, hit and try to get pucks at the opposition's net.

 

[bustaheims]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=534307

Gord Strate, a defenseman who played 61 games during parts of three seasons with Detroit in the late 1950s and never managed a point. No other player has skated in as many games without managing at least one point -- the runner-up is Frank "Frosty" Peters, who went 43 games without a point, all in 1930-31.

I think this is Orr's record now. He's gone 69 regular season games without a point, 76 if you include the playoffs.

How is he still in the NHL?

Edit: I think I misunderstood the record - it's most games played without recording a point at all in the NHL.

Yup. I'm pretty sure the streak for most games without a point is significantly longer, but, I'm having trouble finding an exact number. The streak for consecutive regular season games between goals sits at Ken Daneyko's impressive 255 game drought.

 

[Bender]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=534307

Gord Strate, a defenseman who played 61 games during parts of three seasons with Detroit in the late 1950s and never managed a point. No other player has skated in as many games without managing at least one point -- the runner-up is Frank "Frosty" Peters, who went 43 games without a point, all in 1930-31.

I think this is Orr's record now. He's gone 69 regular season games without a point, 76 if you include the playoffs.

How is he still in the NHL?

Edit: I think I misunderstood the record - it's most games played without recording a point at all in the NHL.

Yup. I'm pretty sure the streak for most games without a point is significantly longer, but, I'm having trouble finding an exact number. The streak for consecutive regular season games between goals sits at Ken Daneyko's impressive 255 game drought.

Judged on a goals per game basis, Colton Orr still scores at a lower rate than Daneyko.

 

[bustaheims]

Judged on a goals per game basis, Colton Orr still scores at a lower rate than Daneyko.

Amazing how Orr can't even make the leap over that low bar.

 

[Bender]

Judged on a goals per game basis, Colton Orr still scores at a lower rate than Daneyko.

Amazing how Orr can't even make the leap over that low bar.

Well, to me that speaks more to Daneyko... how the hell is he the Devil's franchise leader in Games Played??