• For users coming over from tmlfans.ca your username will remain the same but you will need to use the password reset feature (check your spam folder) on the login page in order to set your password. If you encounter issues, email Rick couchmanrick@gmail.com

Leafs acquire Steckel from NJ

Like stated earlier I assume this means another deal is in the works. Given the overload of 3rd/4th line centres.
 
If Kadri moves to IR, the there will have to be at least one additional roster move by Thursday to get the roster down to 23. If it's just sending someone down, it would have to be Rosehill.
 
CarltonTheBear said:
Bender said:
Why didn't they just pickup Betts off waivers for free?
Click to expand...

Woah woah woah, Betts was on waivers? I'd say 'Ziggy-who?' if we had claimed him. Damn.
Click to expand...

Yeah... I'm not entirely sure I'd trade a 4th round pick on a similar guy we could get for free... Head scratcher for me. Maybe they just REALLY wanted Steckel.
 
I liked Steckel during his Cap days. Great fit for the bottom line, much of this has been covered in the thread but a player who can pk and win faceoffs proficiently with size is exactly what the doctor ordered.

I remember wondering about the value of trading a 4th for Ehrhoff's negotiating rights and many didn't think much of it. The main differences between him and Betts on the surface, he's signed for two years where Betts has one year left and Steckel is two years younger ( slightly bigger too ) keeping with a theme.

I don't quite understand why Philly waived him after all that good pk work.

Toronto obviously liked Steckel better and for a 4th got an extra year which also lines up with the great 'ufa conundrum' in 13-14.

The Leafs also get some insurance should a wonky centre run aground.
 
Deebo said:
Sudafederov said:
Deebo said:
From the coach:

coachrw63Ron Wilson
Steckel immediately improves our PK. Size is a huge bonus. Faceoffs are going to help bigtime in all areas. Can also help on the wing!
Click to expand...

Zigomanis must be thinking "What do I have to do to catch a break around here?"
Click to expand...

Be better at hockey.
Click to expand...

He won 19 of 22 faceoffs on Saturday against the Wings, how much better do you want him to be?
 
Sudafederov said:
Deebo said:
Sudafederov said:
Deebo said:
From the coach:

coachrw63Ron Wilson
Steckel immediately improves our PK. Size is a huge bonus. Faceoffs are going to help bigtime in all areas. Can also help on the wing!
Click to expand...

Zigomanis must be thinking "What do I have to do to catch a break around here?"
Click to expand...

Be better at hockey.
Click to expand...

He won 19 of 22 faceoffs on Saturday against the Wings, how much better do you want him to be?
Click to expand...

He wasn't exactly winning face-offs against the cream of the NHL crop, though.
 
Sudafederov said:
He won 19 of 22 faceoffs on Saturday against the Wings, how much better do you want him to be?
Click to expand...

Just enough to fit into Gary Bettman's bold new slogan for the NHL year. The National Hockey League: More than Faceoffs.
 
Saint Nik said:
I guess. I'd thought the general thought was that Frattin would be on the third line with Bozak and Armstrong and he'd basically be dogging it out with Lombardi for time.

Seems a little weird that there won't be any high profile rookies on the club but I guess that's maybe par for the course when jobs are on the line.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I was really expecting to see Frattin or Kadri on the team.
 
Saint Nik said:
Corn Flake said:
As you know I'm not a stats junkie but to me, when you have a guy who is over 60% in defensive zone or PK faceoffs, he's the guy you want on the ice with 40 seconds left while protecting a 1-goal lead. A few of those won and not lost can easily mean 1-2 extra wins, which can easily be the difference between post season or not.
Click to expand...

I followed the links for a bit and one of the things I came away with primarily is that a lot of those writers seem to allow that while being good on face-offs is certainly a positive it's not as important as a player being good defensively. That's something we can all probably agree on.

One of the problems with most advanced hockey metrics is that there's always an element of subjectivity to them and, like fielding metrics in baseball, you have to be careful about throwing them around in absolute terms. Reading the data a lot of them also make the point I do about the relatively low split between the good face-off guys and the bad ones and that's probably the strongest argument here, especially when you consider the things that have to do with face-offs that have nothing to do with the guys taking them.

Either way, like I said, I wouldn't rush to say that players who have good face-off numbers are overrated but I do think it's an interesting question and, at the very least, we shouldn't use 50% as some magical threshold.
Click to expand...

Yeah I hear you, and I can see where its open for debate.  50% for sure makes no sense as the great pass/fail on faceoff stats, but to get a guy who has been top 5 in faceoffs and over 60% the past while is a bonus either way, even if in the grand scheme the numbers look marginal. 

Certainly the bigger issue is what the players do with the puck once a faceoff is won.  That was a problem for the Leafs on the PK last year in the first half for sure.  They were much better in the second half.
 
TML fan said:
As if anyone needed any more reasons to hate the Leafs, they go out and get the guy who may have ended Crosby's career...
Click to expand...

Since Steckel has joined the Leafs I've re-reviewed the hit : clean.
 
Darryl said:
Like stated earlier I assume this means another deal is in the works. Given the overload of 3rd/4th line centres.
Click to expand...

I think it spells the end for Bozak, but not directly because of the deal. I think the key tie to future moves is this brings in a role the Leafs didn't really have filled well - a big defensive centre who is great on the PK and has size. 

The #2 and #4 centre jobs are solidified now. IMO, Lombardi is going to pretty much run Bozak out of town as soon as he is up to NHL conditioning standards.  Bozak is out of a job if Connolly can fluke out 10 healthy games in a row. 

Its not a knock on Bozak so to speak... its just numbers. He has value I think and will be moved for something decent I'm sure.
 
Corn Flake said:
Yeah I hear you, and I can see where its open for debate.  50% for sure makes no sense as the great pass/fail on faceoff stats, but to get a guy who has been top 5 in faceoffs and over 60% the past while is a bonus either way, even if in the grand scheme the numbers look marginal. 
Click to expand...

Steckel's face-off numbers are actually really impressive. In full season's he's been at 56.3, 57.9, 59.2 and last year's 62.3. So not only consistently high but on a steady yearly increase.

Looking at the total package I can see the value here. As Wilson says, it's not just the face-offs. He's big, has been entrusted with serious PK time, throws hits and blocks shots. Like you say, the face-off numbers are just the icing on the cake of a player who seems to fit exactly the hole the Leafs needed filling. I'd wondered if the Leafs had made any significant personnel upgrades to the PK and, well, here it is.
 
Go to the Devils board and see what they think of this deal.  Pretty much to a man, they love it.  I haven't seen this much love-in for a departure since we signed Lebda away from Detroit.
 
Corn Flake said:
Darryl said:
Like stated earlier I assume this means another deal is in the works. Given the overload of 3rd/4th line centres.
Click to expand...

I think it spells the end for Bozak, but not directly because of the deal. I think the key tie to future moves is this brings in a role the Leafs didn't really have filled well - a big defensive centre who is great on the PK and has size. 

The #2 and #4 centre jobs are solidified now. IMO, Lombardi is going to pretty much run Bozak out of town as soon as he is up to NHL conditioning standards.  Bozak is out of a job if Connolly can fluke out 10 healthy games in a row. 

Its not a knock on Bozak so to speak... its just numbers. He has value I think and will be moved for something decent I'm sure.
Click to expand...

I am not so certain that the Leafs see the older, more expensive and health uncertainty of Lombardi as the guy to run Bozak out of town.  I want to see what Bozak does as third line center for an extended period and hopefully have that make us forget his sophomore slump season before I do something rash and rid ourselves of Bozak.  I see Lombardi as more of a depth guy at centre,  a temporary winger on the third line and the guy that got as Franson, then the guy that made us send Bozak packing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

About Us

This website is NOT associated with the Toronto Maple Leafs or the NHL.


It is operated by Rick Couchman and Jeff Lewis.
Back
Top