Bozak's Future

[L K]

Might depend on the year.  Leafs only got a 2nd for Antropov.

Maybe, but I'm also not convinced Burke did the best job shopping and selling Antropov.

Wait, you mean calling the guy lazy and questioning his conditioning right before you trade him doesn't help his value?

 

[Justin]

How good has Bozak been this year eh? 4 goals and 8 points in 12 games. He seems to be playing with a little bit more of an edge this year, there's more confidence in his game. His face-off percentage is higher than it's ever been, he's been fore-checking well, and he's even using some speed this year. Not saying he's a 1st line centre but Bozak looks good out there. Hope he keeps it up, his play has been a pleasant surprise.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

How good has Bozak been this year eh? 4 goals and 8 points in 12 games. He seems to be playing with a little bit more of an edge this year, there's more confidence in his game. His face-off percentage is higher than it's ever been, he's been fore-checking well, and he's even using some speed this year. Not saying he's a 1st line centre but Bozak looks good out there. Hope he keeps it up, his play has been a pleasant surprise.

I think Bozak gets a bad wrap sometimes, because he's not as big as other top centers. I agree that he's been effective recently, but I wouldn't expect anymore from him, I think he's hit his ceiling.

We were spoiled having Sundin here for so many years and sometimes I think that he set the expectation of top centers to be as good or better than him, which is some lofty expectations IMO.

 

[moon111]

Bozak has been a dream really.  Cost nothing to obtain, low salary, seems to have chemistry with Kessel.  He's due for a raise, but his performance v.s. the benefit of the linemates and ice-time given has to be judged.  Might make sense to try signing him and Kessel at the same time.  I don't think the Leafs are so stacked one has to worry about moving a center to make way for a superstar.  If that happens, which it won't... I'm sure something could be figured out.

 

[Kaberle15]

I may be the minority here, but I'm hoping that they sign Bozak to an extension.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Bozak has been a dream really.  Cost nothing to obtain, low salary, seems to have chemistry with Kessel.  He's due for a raise, but his performance v.s. the benefit of the linemates and ice-time given has to be judged.  Might make sense to try signing him and Kessel at the same time.  I don't think the Leafs are so stacked one has to worry about moving a center to make way for a superstar.  If that happens, which it won't... I'm sure something could be figured out.

I think that if Nonis wants to sign Kessel long term, he should sign Bozak first and then negotiate with Kessel, seeing as he has another year with Kessel's contract.

But, I also don't think he should think of Bozak as the long term solution to the top center position, unless he's happy with the results thus far. I mean, Bozak is a good player and he's valuable in the face-off department, but I don't think he's really a top line center compared to the rest of the league.

We have two 2nd line centers and it will have to be addressed eventually IMO.

 

[nutman]

Bozak has been a dream really.  Cost nothing to obtain, low salary, seems to have chemistry with Kessel.  He's due for a raise, but his performance v.s. the benefit of the linemates and ice-time given has to be judged.  Might make sense to try signing him and Kessel at the same time.  I don't think the Leafs are so stacked one has to worry about moving a center to make way for a superstar.  If that happens, which it won't... I'm sure something could be figured out.

I think that if Nonis wants to sign Kessel long term, he should sign Bozak first and then negotiate with Kessel, seeing as he has another year with Kessel's contract.

But, I also don't think he should think of Bozak as the long term solution to the top center position, unless he's happy with the results thus far. I mean, Bozak is a good player and he's valuable in the face-off department, but I don't think he's really a top line center compared to the rest of the league.

We have two 2nd line centers and it will have to be addressed eventually IMO.

Didn't look like two 2nd line centers last night, and remember most 1st line centers started as 2nd and 3rd line centers.

 

[Peter D.]

I want Bozak re-signed, but as long as the plan is that he doesn't remain the best option to play alongside Kessel.

Oddly enough, I'd be comfortable with the team giving him a Matt Stajan like contract -- 4 years at $3.5 per.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

I want Bozak re-signed, but as long as the plan is that he doesn't remain the best option to play alongside Kessel.

Oddly enough, I'd be comfortable with the team giving him a Matt Stajan like contract -- 4 years at $3.5 per.

I think we could get him at 3 million per, but that's me. I think he would have to score more points per game, than last season to get anymore.

 

[slapshot]

Bozak has been a dream really.  Cost nothing to obtain, low salary, seems to have chemistry with Kessel.  He's due for a raise, but his performance v.s. the benefit of the linemates and ice-time given has to be judged.  Might make sense to try signing him and Kessel at the same time.  I don't think the Leafs are so stacked one has to worry about moving a center to make way for a superstar.  If that happens, which it won't... I'm sure something could be figured out.

I think that if Nonis wants to sign Kessel long term, he should sign Bozak first and then negotiate with Kessel, seeing as he has another year with Kessel's contract.

But, I also don't think he should think of Bozak as the long term solution to the top center position, unless he's happy with the results thus far. I mean, Bozak is a good player and he's valuable in the face-off department, but I don't think he's really a top line center compared to the rest of the league.

We have two 2nd line centers and it will have to be addressed eventually IMO.

Maybe three, 2nd line centres (Grabo, Kadri, Bozak)...

 

[McPwnage]

Bozak has been really unappreciated in Toronto. Personally I hope we can resign him and if we upgrade at C we can either trade or buy out Grabovski who hasn't really been producing since he signed the new contract. I have been really impressed with Bozak's defensive play this season and I think he would be great in the number two slot.

Of course this assumes we can upgrade, the only player on the free agent list I would take as an upgrade from Bozak would be Getzlaf and it is questionable if we can land him. If we can't then who are we going to give up in a trade.

I am more comfortable with Sticking with Bozak, Grabovski, Kadri as our centers than most.

 

[Bender]

Bozak has been really unappreciated in Toronto. Personally I hope we can resign him and if we upgrade at C we can either trade or buy out Grabovski who hasn't really been producing since he signed the new contract. I have been really impressed with Bozak's defensive play this season and I think he would be great in the number two slot.

Of course this assumes we can upgrade, the only player on the free agent list I would take as an upgrade from Bozak would be Getzlaf and it is questionable if we can land him. If we can't then who are we going to give up in a trade.

I am more comfortable with Sticking with Bozak, Grabovski, Kadri as our centers than most.

Bozak's a good player. There's nothing in stone saying we can't use him as 3rd line centre in a two way role.

 

[Zee]

Bozak has been really unappreciated in Toronto. Personally I hope we can resign him and if we upgrade at C we can either trade or buy out Grabovski who hasn't really been producing since he signed the new contract. I have been really impressed with Bozak's defensive play this season and I think he would be great in the number two slot.

Of course this assumes we can upgrade, the only player on the free agent list I would take as an upgrade from Bozak would be Getzlaf and it is questionable if we can land him. If we can't then who are we going to give up in a trade.

I am more comfortable with Sticking with Bozak, Grabovski, Kadri as our centers than most.

Bozak's a good player. There's nothing in stone saying we can't use him as 3rd line centre in a two way role.

Yeah he's really grown on me as a player.  He can be very effective out there and he's killer on faceoffs.  3rd best in the league right now for guys who have played 10 or more games.

 

[Corn Flake]

59.8% in the faceoff circle is incredible. 3rd best in the league and he's taken almost 70 draws more than the two guys ahead of him. His work on the PK has been really solid as well. 

High end 3rd line centre / good 2nd line centre.  Can't fault him for being used as the 1st line centre.

 

[slapshot]

Kind of like the value David Bolland provided to the Hawks as a solid 3rd line 2-way guy during their cup run. Or John Madden for Devils at one point.

How about...

JVR Kessel Lupul = Top Scoring Line
Mac Kadri Frattin = Secondary scoring line
Grabo Bozak Kuli = Shutdown with some scoring punch
McLaren McClement Komarov = Energy line, with speed and toughness

Extras Orr, Brown and Steckel

 

[hobarth]

Kind of like the value David Bolland provided to the Hawks as a solid 3rd line 2-way guy during their cup run. Or John Madden for Devils at one point.

How about...

JVR Kessel Lupul = Top Scoring Line
Mac Kadri Frattin = Secondary scoring line
Grabo Bozak Kuli = Shutdown with some scoring punch
McLaren McClement Komarov = Energy line, with speed and toughness

Extras Orr, Brown and Steckel

How about:

  JVR/Kessel/Grabo-regular season should get 90 to 100 goals
  Frattin/Kadri/Lupul-around 75 goals
  Mac/O'Reilly/?-50 goals?
  Brown/Mc/Komarov-15 goals

Bozak/Kule/Franson and a draft choice for O'Reilly altho if I were Colorado I wouldn't make the trade.

 

[Stickytape]

Kind of like the value David Bolland provided to the Hawks as a solid 3rd line 2-way guy during their cup run. Or John Madden for Devils at one point.

How about...

JVR Kessel Lupul = Top Scoring Line
Mac Kadri Frattin = Secondary scoring line
Grabo Bozak Kuli = Shutdown with some scoring punch
McLaren McClement Komarov = Energy line, with speed and toughness

Extras Orr, Brown and Steckel

I like the top line - pretty excited to see that in action some day.  Soon I hope.  But at the same time it feels weird to have Bozak anywhere else.  Can't we just have four forwards?  Maybe if we ask the refs reeeaally nicely?

I'm a pretty big fan of both Brown and Steckel.  Brown is tough and has heart to spare, and you can never have too much of that.  I like Steckel on the PK, he forechecks well and while he may not be the fastest or most agile guy, I think he has a lot of sense.  I assume he's also a sniper on the faceoff, though I've hardly seen him this year.

It's hard to sit any of these guys out, and I love it.

 

[Kin]

JVR Kessel Lupul = Top Scoring Line
Mac Kadri Frattin = Secondary scoring line

I think this year has convinced me that winning faceoffs is a pretty important component to putting your lines together. Here, you're bunching together a ton of scoring talent on two top lines and not giving them a centre who has shown that they can win face-offs(and, technically, you haven't given the first line a center at all).

Until the Leafs can find someone with top notch scoring talent and who's good on the draw I think you have to put a guy like Bozak on the top line, otherwise you've got two lines without many strong defensive players who'll be playing without the puck the majority of the time.

 

[TML fan]

if there's one thing the Leafs can't afford, it's to play more of the game without the puck.

 

[Stickytape]

JVR Kessel Lupul = Top Scoring Line
Mac Kadri Frattin = Secondary scoring line

I think this year has convinced me that winning faceoffs is a pretty important component to putting your lines together. Here, you're bunching together a ton of scoring talent on two top lines and not giving them a centre who has shown that they can win face-offs(and, technically, you haven't given the first line a center at all).

Until the Leafs can find someone with top notch scoring talent and who's good on the draw I think you have to put a guy like Bozak on the top line, otherwise you've got two lines without many strong defensive players who'll be playing without the puck the majority of the time.

I think the assumption is that JVR tries out center.  It isn't much to go on, but he's 12 for 18 at the circle this season.  But I agree that faceoffs are incredibly important, and Bozak has been amazing.  It's a really tough call.