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Leafs at World Championships

Highlander said:
ouch that is a slapping out.  He scored what 30 a couple of years ago, he has the ability to do so again. And he is a great defensive forward. I will hate to see him go but I have a feeling he will be traded.
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I think you hope for 10-15 from him and anything after that is just gravy.
 
lamajama said:
RedLeaf said:
lamajama said:
Bonsixx said:
The more I watch Rielly, the more hopeful I am he's going to be a special player.
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Me too but it will no doubt be in a different sweater, the Leafs being what they are. Kadri will be one for sure as well as Gardiner and they for sure will be in a different sweater.
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Is all the doom and gloom around here contagious?

Kadri and Gardiner will only be traded away for young, equally promising players in return. 

Nonis will not give up on rebuilding this club the slow and proper way. I just don't see him deciding to fast track the club at the expense of the teams top rookies, picks or prospects. I really wouldn't worry about that happening.
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Well if the entire Leaf's history doesn't tell us something...

They'll be gone, and we might get youth in return but don't forget it'll be youth the other team thinks less of than Gardiner and Naz.
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But there is also trading them at just the right time before the career spirals downward.  We traded Antropov and Poni at their best.  They never did much elsewhere.
 
Here is the video link to Ovechkin's injury.  Took quite a tumble along with his right knee...

http://www.tsn.ca/VideoHub/?collection=72&show=366311
 
Rebel_1812 said:
But there is also trading them at just the right time before the career spirals downward.  We traded Antropov and Poni at their best.  They never did much elsewhere.
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Antropov had a couple of good seasons, including a career best in Atlanta with 67 points
 
Highlander said:
he is a great defensive forward.
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I've heard this said about Kuli before...but sorry I'm not seeing it. He's okay but hardly "great". When do you ever see him shown in a highlight making a great defensive play? When do you ever hear the announcers noting a great defensive play on his part? When do you ever see it yourself and say wow that was great backchecking on his part? Or he save a goal there? He's one of the main forwards on our sucky penalty kill. Have you ever seen him fall down to block a shot? Even Tim Brent did that once in a while. I think blaming the coach for "not using him right" is the lamest of excuses. Why can't a player just go out and make an impression, then they'll get the playing time that comes with it. To me, Kuli is an average checker, who doesn't hit with much authority for his size. Skates okay, but doesn't shoot enough and seems lost at times. I'd thrown him into the same mold as Poni or Antro. At least Grabbo was noticeable at times.
 
slapshot said:
Highlander said:
he is a great defensive forward.
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I've heard this said about Kuli before...but sorry I'm not seeing it. He's okay but hardly "great". When do you ever see him shown in a highlight making a great defensive play? When do you ever hear the announcers noting a great defensive play on his part? When do you ever see it yourself and say wow that was great backchecking on his part? Or he save a goal there? He's one of the main forwards on our sucky penalty kill. Have you ever seen him fall down to block a shot? Even Tim Brent did that once in a while. I think blaming the coach for "not using him right" is the lamest of excuses. Why can't a player just go out and make an impression, then they'll get the playing time that comes with it. To me, Kuli is an average checker, who doesn't hit with much authority for his size. Skates okay, but doesn't shoot enough and seems lost at times. I'd thrown him into the same mold as Poni or Antro. At least Grabbo was noticeable at times.
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Sometimes good defensive play isn't particularly noticeable.  The thing I see in Kulemin is that when the puck comes up the boards to him in our defensive zone and he is getting back-pressure from a pinching defenseman on the other team, he is probably our most reliable winger when it comes to getting the puck out or making a smart, short pass to a teammate.  It is that kind of defense where he excels.
 
princedpw said:
slapshot said:
Highlander said:
he is a great defensive forward.
Click to expand...
I've heard this said about Kuli before...but sorry I'm not seeing it. He's okay but hardly "great". When do you ever see him shown in a highlight making a great defensive play? When do you ever hear the announcers noting a great defensive play on his part? When do you ever see it yourself and say wow that was great backchecking on his part? Or he save a goal there? He's one of the main forwards on our sucky penalty kill. Have you ever seen him fall down to block a shot? Even Tim Brent did that once in a while. I think blaming the coach for "not using him right" is the lamest of excuses. Why can't a player just go out and make an impression, then they'll get the playing time that comes with it. To me, Kuli is an average checker, who doesn't hit with much authority for his size. Skates okay, but doesn't shoot enough and seems lost at times. I'd thrown him into the same mold as Poni or Antro. At least Grabbo was noticeable at times.
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Sometimes good defensive play isn't particularly noticeable.  The thing I see in Kulemin is that when the puck comes up the boards to him in our defensive zone and he is getting back-pressure from a pinching defenseman on the other team, he is probably our most reliable winger when it comes to getting the puck out or making a smart, short pass to a teammate.  It is that kind of defense where he excels.
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That should be pretty standard defense. What it really shows is how poor many other wingers on our team are at it. Which is why were always hemmed in. Personally, I think the best Leaf at getting the puck out under pressure is McClement.
 
Goaltender James Reimer got the win (14 saves) in Canada's 3 -2 victory over Norway.
Canada now plays Finland in the quarter finals Thursday'

Defenceman Jake Gardiner added 2 assists in the U.S. 5-4 victory over Germany.
The ' opponent for the U.S. for Thursday's quarterfinals is still undetermined.

Source:  NHL.com
 
freer said:
Potvin29 said:
Haven't seen him mentioned much, but Gardiner has 4 points in 7 games for Team USA.
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Good for him. Lets hope that he is still on the team next season.
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That's what i'm hoping for as well.  I can't take losing another young player who then turns out to be a great player in the league.
 
RedLeaf said:
lamajama said:
Bonsixx said:
The more I watch Rielly, the more hopeful I am he's going to be a special player.
Click to expand...

Me too but it will no doubt be in a different sweater, the Leafs being what they are. Kadri will be one for sure as well as Gardiner and they for sure will be in a different sweater.
Click to expand...

Is all the doom and gloom around here contagious?

Kadri and Gardiner will only be traded away for young, equally promising players in return. 

Nonis will not give up on rebuilding this club the slow and proper way. I just don't see him deciding to fast track the club at the expense of the teams top rookies, picks or prospects. I really wouldn't worry about that happening.
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There is a problem with that theory.  We all assume that Kadri, Gardiner and Reimer do not fit into RC's plans, and listening how RC bashes those players, those are very strong assumptions.  Giving RC the vote of confidence that he has also indicates that if players could not play under RC's system last season, there is a strong possibility those players will be shipped out.  Other teams will be aware of that and will know that the Leafs will take less in return just to get rid of those players. 

Sure it may start a bidding war between other teams who will want at least one of the 3 players, but I cannot see any team offering an over the top package or even deal for any of those players.
 
Gardiner received more even strength minutes than any player on the Leafs' roster, that says more to me about what Randy thinks of him than any bashing that may have taken place.
 
I don't think he bashes the players.

And I'm not sure where this "Carlyle isn't good with young players" thing comes from...haven't Kadri, Gardiner, and Rielly steadily improved nicely over the past couple of seasons (well 1 season for Rielly)?  Who has regressed?

Probably a topic for a different thread anyways.
 
Frank E said:
I don't think he bashes the players.

And I'm not sure where this "Carlyle isn't good with young players" thing comes from...haven't Kadri, Gardiner, and Rielly steadily improved nicely over the past couple of seasons (well 1 season for Rielly)?  Who has regressed?

Probably a topic for a different thread anyways.
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While you make a valid point re: they get in the lineup, the thing people have the hardest time with is that he preaches accountability, but it is ALWAYS the young players who are taken to task, benched etc and never the veterans.

Now one could argue that this is a teaching moment, but when it happens all the time, it must lead to resentment on the part of those young players and a sense of victimization, especially why they contribute far more with their play, including gaffes than the other veterans, who contribute next to nothing, but make less small mistakes.

It's early and I've not had my coffee, I hope this makes at least some sense.
 
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