Holzer demoted - Gardiner called up

[GhostofPotvin29]

Gunnarsson/ Phaneuf
Gardiner/ Franson
Fraser or Liles/ Kostka

I think that is how it has to line up, with the left/ right shot thing.

Well both Gunnarsson and Phaneuf are lefties in that. 

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Well both Gunnarsson and Phaneuf are lefties in that. 

True, but Phaneuf plays the right side normally though, correct? Or is Gunnarsson playing his off wing?

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Well both Gunnarsson and Phaneuf are lefties in that. 

True, but Phaneuf plays the right side normally though, correct? Or is Gunnarsson playing his off wing?

I thought Carlyle had switched Phaneuf to the right side.  I swear I read something about Carlyle liking his D to play their "right" sides, left-handed on left side and vice-versa.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

I thought Carlyle had switched Phaneuf to the right side.  I swear I read something about Carlyle liking his D to play their "right" sides, left-handed on left side and vice-versa.

Well, I think you're right about that, but hasn't Phaneuf played the right side most of his career? I believe he's most comfortable over there, most likely for the one-timer. I don't remember where Gunnar started out.

Liles if I remember correctly, can't play the other side competently.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Well both Gunnarsson and Phaneuf are lefties in that. 

True, but Phaneuf plays the right side normally though, correct? Or is Gunnarsson playing his off wing?

I thought Carlyle had switched Phaneuf to the right side.  I swear I read something about Carlyle liking his D to play their "right" sides, left-handed on left side and vice-versa.

Phaneuf is a lefty but has played on the right side pretty much throughout his entire career as a Leaf. I'm fairly certain he played on the right as a Flame too, but I'm not sure for how long. Carlyle moved him over to the left because he likes players on their strong side, and it worked out as his two most common partners this season have been righties (Kostka and Holzer). But whenever Carlyle goes back to the Gunnarsson-Phaneuf pairing he moves Dion to the right.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Liles is a lefty and as far as I can remember has only played on the left as a Leaf. But when he re-entered the line-up this time he said that he has no problems playing on the right side, which he did when he was paired with Gunnarsson. I think that may have been more of a case of him just wanting playing time anyway he could get it though.

 

[bbt]

Good news all the way around.  Two down (Holzer/Kostka), one to go, the big pylon!  Then the Leafs will have a good core defense!

 

[leafplasma]

And now we dance the dance of joy...

Finally Holzer is back down to hopefully learn how to play better D. I hope the pressure isn't thrown on Gard's shoulders too much.

Well he could't possibly live up to that massive contract he just signed could he.

 

[leafplasma]

Good news all the way around.  Two down (Holzer/Kostka), one to go, the big pylon!  Then the Leafs will have a good core defense!

Kostka is still with the club or do you mean just not in the starting lineup.  Kostka is a great 7th guy really, cheap contract, old enough not to worry that he is in the press box hence not developing and getting regular time but also reliable enough to use him when he is placed in the lineup.  I have no problem really with Kostka, he just wasn't number one pairing material.

 

[Kin]

Good news all the way around.  Two down (Holzer/Kostka), one to go, the big pylon!  Then the Leafs will have a good core defense!

Kostka is still with the club or do you mean just not in the starting lineup.  Kostka is a great 7th guy really, cheap contract, old enough not to worry that he is in the press box hence not developing and getting regular time but also reliable enough to use him when he is placed in the lineup.  I have no problem really with Kostka, he just wasn't number one pairing material.

I think the real question with Kostka is where he falls kind of in the middle of those two though. At the beginning of the year I said I wasn't confident in a defense that had so many AHL lifers on it and people said Kostka/Fraser/Holzer were really just spare parts on the bottom end. That's proven relatively true with Fraser and Holzer but Kostka, at least in ice time, has been the team's #2 guy.

So good for the press box? Probably. He's got a ways to fall on the depth chart before that though.

 

[LittleHockeyFan]

Yay! Gardiner!

dammit, another GameDayBear I need to make. I can't find the damn glue gun :-(

 

[leafplasma]

Good news all the way around.  Two down (Holzer/Kostka), one to go, the big pylon!  Then the Leafs will have a good core defense!

Kostka is still with the club or do you mean just not in the starting lineup.  Kostka is a great 7th guy really, cheap contract, old enough not to worry that he is in the press box hence not developing and getting regular time but also reliable enough to use him when he is placed in the lineup.  I have no problem really with Kostka, he just wasn't number one pairing material.

I think the real question with Kostka is where he falls kind of in the middle of those two though. At the beginning of the year I said I wasn't confident in a defense that had so many AHL lifers on it and people said Kostka/Fraser/Holzer were really just spare parts on the bottom end. That's proven relatively true with Fraser and Holzer but Kostka, at least in ice time, has been the team's #2 guy.

So good for the press box? Probably. He's got a ways to fall on the depth chart before that though.

I fully expect Kostka to spend some more time in the press box like he has the last couple games and I think he has already fallen to 7th on the depth chart.  I wouldn't look at the fact that he was higher up that chart earlier in the season as any indication of where he will be going forward.  RC took a good long look and now he knows what he's got.

 

[caver]

I don't think we will see Holzer back this season. He and Fraser could probably team up to make a decent 3rd pairing (after some roster moves are made) but he is a few seasons away from the 1st pairing, if ever. With Komisarek and Kostka sitting the Leafs there should be no reason for him to return to the current roster.

EDIT: just heard about Komi on waivers. Current roster is changing.

 

[leafplasma]

http://video.mapleleafs.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=446

Cycle down to the Holzer interview from practice Thursday with the Marlies.  Great attitude and he doesn't seem to be the kind of guy to to sulk at all.

 

[drummond]

http://video.mapleleafs.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=446

Cycle down to the Holzer interview from practice Thursday with the Marlies.  Great attitude and he doesn't seem to be the kind of guy to to sulk at all.

Yup, I still believe the Leafs have something special in Holzer, another playoff run with Marlies in which I expect he gets lots of minutes, should help him.