General Leafs Talk v2.0

[bustaheims]

But seriously, worse than Fraser?

I mean, even if he's just as bad in terms of positioning and reading the play, he's a better skater and he's better with the puck, which means he should be able to do a better job than Fraser.

 

[Corn Flake]

But seriously, worse than Fraser?

Liles used to lose more battles along the boards and in front of the net than an ECHL scrub.

 

[ZBBM]

There isn't a serious debate that Liles, overall, is better than Fraser ... is there?

IIRC Liles was at least as good last year as the clownshow we've got going now.

 

[Redleaf]

They're actually going to play him this time, right?

Be careful what you wish for...

Yup.

You guys think he can possibly be worse than Fraser?

Or that he's going to play ahead of Rielly/Gardiner?

There's a lot of "excitement" over Liles arriving. I think we're saying people have forgotten the fact he was not very good last year or the second half of the season before that.

You are basically adding one more challenged d-man to the pile.

I'm hoping he is here to take over for Rielly while he goes to the WJC's. Maybe we get the Liles from the first half of two seasons ago, which allows Rielly to go back to junior. That would be great.  I'm not holding my breath.

I'm hoping he's coming up to help Reilly, not replace him. There's just not enough leadership on the defensive corp right now. Hopefully Liles can add some.

 

[louisstamos]

He wants to be on 24/7

The ladies seem to think he's a pretty man.  Probably helps ratings.  He and Lupul will do some Christmas shopping in Yorkville together for an entire episode.

I've heard the ladies dig Bernier as well.

While watching the game yesterday with the Mrs, she said that Trevor Smith makes good eye-candy..."at least while Lupul is away."

 

[nutman]

I smell an upcoming trade.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Liles used to lose more battles along the boards and in front of the net than an ECHL scrub.

Well if we're going to throw out hyperbole's then Fraser skates like a peewee player.

 

[bustaheims]

Liles used to lose more battles along the boards and in front of the net than an ECHL scrub.

Well if we're going to throw out hyperbole's then Fraser skates like a peewee player.

That's just insulting to the kids in peewee.

 

[Andy007]

But seriously, worse than Fraser?

Liles used to lose more battles along the boards and in front of the net than an ECHL scrub.

That's ridiculous.

He looked pretty good, I thought, after that long benching last year and especially good in the playoffs. I'm not sure how anyone could think this is a downgrade from either Fraser or Ranger.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Lines from practice today:

JVR-Kadri-D'Amigo
Raymond-Smith-Clarkson
Ashton-McClement-Kulemin
McLaren-Holland-Lupul

Gunnarsson-Phaneuf
Gardiner-Franson
Fraser-Liles
Rielly-Ranger

Kessel had another maintenance day for his wrist which totally is not injured.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Kessel had another maintenance day for his wrist which totally is not injured.

Signing all those cheques takes its toll.

 

[Bender]

Lines from practice today:

JVR-Kadri-D'Amigo
Raymond-Smith-Clarkson
Ashton-McClement-Kulemin
McLaren-Holland-Lupul

Gunnarsson-Phaneuf
Gardiner-Franson
Fraser-Liles
Rielly-Ranger

Kessel had another maintenance day for his wrist which totally is not injured.

What a horrible lineup.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

What a horrible lineup.

It's probably tough to read too much into the forward lines with Kessel missing practice and Lupul's status in doubt for Saturday. I'm not really sure why Lupul didn't just take Phil's spot on the top line though for practice.

In an event, if Lupul is good to go I'd like to see a line of Lupul-Holland-Kulemin. But the fact that Randy has McClement over Holland there scares me.

But the defence is frustrating. I'm guessing it's Rielly-Ranger who will sit and they are both better defencemen than Fraser. The fact that he's 6'4'', 220lbs isn't enough to guarantee him a roster spot.

 

[bustaheims]

Thanks to Carlyle, it looks like the Leafs will be giving up a 2nd round pick to go along with Blacker for the team's new 4th line centre.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Thanks to Carlyle, it looks like the Leafs will be giving up a 2nd round pick to go along with Blacker for the team's new 4th line centre.

I remember at the time of the trade thinking if Holland plays 25 games a 2nd round draft pick and a meh prospect wouldn't be a bad price to pay for a 2nd/3rd line centre. A 4th line guy who plays less than 10 minutes though? Different story.

 

[Corn Flake]

Thanks to Carlyle, it looks like the Leafs will be giving up a 2nd round pick to go along with Blacker for the team's new 4th line centre.

I remember at the time of the trade thinking if Holland plays 25 games a 2nd round draft pick and a meh prospect wouldn't be a bad price to pay for a 2nd/3rd line centre. A 4th line guy who plays less than 10 minutes though? Different story.

Why are you deciding he's a 4th line centre based on barely a couple of games? Is he not available next year? the year after?

 

[Corn Flake]

But seriously, worse than Fraser?

Liles used to lose more battles along the boards and in front of the net than an ECHL scrub.

That's ridiculous.

I didn't say he was a bad player. I said he gets pushed around at times which is why Carlyle doesn't like the guy.

I actually think if we get Liles back at 100% he could be a top four d-man again, but who knows if he's going to be that player again.. the one we had in the first half of 2011/12.

 

[Beowulf]

Thanks to Carlyle, it looks like the Leafs will be giving up a 2nd round pick to go along with Blacker for the team's new 4th line centre.

I remember at the time of the trade thinking if Holland plays 25 games a 2nd round draft pick and a meh prospect wouldn't be a bad price to pay for a 2nd/3rd line centre. A 4th line guy who plays less than 10 minutes though? Different story.

Yep. But hopefully he won't make it to the 25 game mark, since I'm not holding my breath for him to get any further opportunities on a scoring line before then.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Why are you deciding he's a 4th line centre based on barely a couple of games? Is he not available next year? the year after?

I'm not talking about next season because the conditions on the draft pick are only relevant to this season. A 3rd round draft pick and Blacker for a prospect like Holland is fair value. The condition was added because Holland was likely going to get every chance to make an impact on the team this season given their injury struggles. If he couldn't hack it and was sent back to the AHL and didn't play 25 games then a 3rd and Blacker is still a fair price. If he was able to fill in and play on a scoring line for 25 games then a 2nd and Blacker is fair.

I don't think Nonis could have envisioned Holland playing on the 4th line for any extended period of time seeing as how the team already had two 4th line centres on the roster when the trade was made. That's not what he was brought in here to do at all.

 

[TML fan]

Yeah but Smith is playing well. He shouldn't be bumped because Peter effing Holland is Peter effing Holland. Say what you want about McClement but he's paid his dues both on this team and in this league. He's being rewarded for that. Holland has to earn his ice time. He just so happened to get traded to a team with a coach who doesn't use his 4th line.

As long as Smith keeps playing well, Holland is on the 4th line. He has to make the most of it.