Leafs @ Kings - Mar. 13th, 10:30pm - TSN, SN 590

[losveratos]

Drew Doughty thinks our first line are one dimensional cherry pickers that only look for breakaways,

SCOREBOARD, suck it Drew.

What would he know.  Maybe because the Leafs usually score on the rush might have given that impression.  Lousy words from a great defenseman.

Except our first line did nothing. unless you include jvr's assist. But that was shorthanded without bozak or kessel. Also it was on the rush.

I thought they manhandled our first line pretty well. Most of our defensive zone time was our first line unable to break out.

 

[louisstamos]

I think the bulk of us said 3 points on the California swing would feel like a "win."  Even with the San Jose loss, 4 out of 6 points is just gravy!

 

[Champ Kind]

Good coverage Dion.

He's got to be hurt.

Doesn't he?

I don't know. Never liked him never will. You're not voted by the players as the most over-rated player for no reason. Couple good years with Calgary and everyone thought he was the next great thing. Rielly makes better decisions.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Drew Doughty thinks our first line are one dimensional cherry pickers that only look for breakaways,

SCOREBOARD, suck it Drew.

What would he know.  Maybe because the Leafs usually score on the rush might have given that impression.  Lousy words from a great defenseman.

Except our first line did nothing. unless you include jvr's assist. But that was shorthanded without bozak or kessel. Also it was on the rush.

I thought they manhandled our first line pretty well. Most of our defensive zone time was our first line unable to break out.

That doesn't really have any bearing on what he said.

 

[bustaheims]

So really, who cares if Ashton hasn't scored when you're playing this steaming pile?  At least with Ashton you could argue he has scored at a good clip in the NHL's development league.  Embarrassing to keep dressing this player.

And it doesn't even matter if they're winning or not with him in the lineup, he has no impact on either result.  Makes much more sense to at least have a useful player there in case you need them.

Yeah, I don't get that either. Why even bother recalling Ashton if he's not going to get into any games? I mean, if that's the intent of having him up (and, so far, it definitely seems like it is), McLaren would do just as good a job of sitting in the press box while Ashton could actually be helping the Marlies.

 

[TML fan]

Doughty is one of maybe 5 players I won't get upset at for criticizing the Leafs. That, and his opinion doesn't bother me. If their one dimension is awesomeness, then so be it.

 

[ZBBM]

Drew Doughty thinks our first line are one dimensional cherry pickers that only look for breakaways,

SCOREBOARD, suck it Drew.

I don't recall them cherry-picking for breakaways very often at all.

It's a pretty idiotic comment considering JvR and Bozak are two of the better defensive forwards on the team.

He said they were "one-dimensional" and then said a bunch of stuff about their speed etc.  I don't think he ever said anything about cherry-picking though.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Drew Doughty thinks our first line are one dimensional cherry pickers that only look for breakaways,

SCOREBOARD, suck it Drew.

I don't recall them cherry-picking for breakaways very often at all.

It's a pretty idiotic comment considering JvR and Bozak are two of the better defensive forwards on the team.

He said they were "one-dimensional" and then said a bunch of stuff about their speed etc.  I don't think he ever said anything about cherry-picking though.

@markhmasters 

Doughty on shutting down JVR-Bozak-Kessel: "We know they play one dimensional ... Cheat for breakaways"

 

[Highlander]

May the flys off a thousand camels fly up Drew Doughtys nose

 

[L K]

Doughty is one of maybe 5 players I won't get upset at for criticizing the Leafs. That, and his opinion doesn't bother me. If their one dimension is awesomeness, then so be it.

Yeah, I mean, if Kessel sat in the defensive zone the whole game, he would still be a below average defensive player.  I'd rather he take those chances and score goals for the team to be honest.

 

[Kin]

I think the idea that the first line cheat a little to break out on the rush is probably true but being as that's proven an effective offensive strategy I don't see why that's something to criticize and, to be fair, I doubt Doughty meant it that way.

That said, I'm sure he's feeling all these stinging barbs right in his Gold Medals.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Doughty is one of maybe 5 players I won't get upset at for criticizing the Leafs. That, and his opinion doesn't bother me. If their one dimension is awesomeness, then so be it.

It's not inaccurate enough for me to get worked up about. I don't think there's a single player in the league who is consistently cheating for breakaways, because if they did that all the time they wouldn't be playing. But Kessel does make a habit of leaving the zone a little early to get a breakout pass, specifically when the puck is on JVR's side. And JVR is a good defensive player yes, but still when he's on that line he's mostly thinking offence, along with the other two of course. And why wouldn't they be. Probably the best line off the rush in the entire league.

 

[Capn_Crunch]

Drew Doughty thinks our first line are one dimensional cherry pickers that only look for breakaways,

SCOREBOARD, suck it Drew.

I don't recall them cherry-picking for breakaways very often at all.

It's a pretty idiotic comment considering JvR and Bozak are two of the better defensive forwards on the team.

What does it say about LA when they got beat by a team who's first line is so one dimensional and didn't do much in the game. Stay classy Drew....

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I wouldn't consider any responses in here to be "worked up."

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I wouldn't consider any responses in here to be "worked up."

I wasn't exactly referencing anything here, but one person did call it "idiotic". And mostly everybody seems to think Doughty was criticizing the top line. I'm sure he and the Kings are smart enough to be able to look up their stats. He was just pointing out that in order to contain them they need to be careful and not allow them to breakout freely.

 

[Jalili]

It's always interesting to hear a player speak his mind. It depends obviously who's saying it, but a guy like Doughty backs up what he says.

It's not really about whether he's right or wrong, it's his perspective that's important.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

I wouldn't consider any responses in here to be "worked up."

I wasn't exactly referencing anything here, but one person did call it "idiotic". And mostly everybody seems to think Doughty was criticizing the top line. I'm sure he and the Kings are smart enough to be able to look up their stats. He was just pointing out that in order to contain them they need to be careful and not allow them to breakout freely.

I said idiotic, but I was far from worked up by his comment. Confused maybe, but not worked up.

The statement was a bit strange and although I don't think he necessarily meant it as an insult, the one dimensional statement can certainly be taken that way. Perhaps he should do some work on his canned responses.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I wouldn't consider any responses in here to be "worked up."

I wasn't exactly referencing anything here, but one person did call it "idiotic". And mostly everybody seems to think Doughty was criticizing the top line. I'm sure he and the Kings are smart enough to be able to look up their stats. He was just pointing out that in order to contain them they need to be careful and not allow them to breakout freely.

Whoa man, no need to go off on me like that. 

 

[Coco-puffs]

Good coverage Dion.

He's got to be hurt.

Doesn't he?

I don't know. Never liked him never will. You're not voted by the players as the most over-rated player for no reason. Couple good years with Calgary and everyone thought he was the next great thing. Rielly makes better decisions.

HA!  Love the pic.

Anyways, yes, it certainly looks like Dion is playing through some soreness/injury.  I think its part of the reason we are playing 7 D, so they can limit his icetime.

And for all the frustration we may throw his way:

Carl Gunnarson +15
Dion Phaneuf +14 
Paul Ranger -1
Jake Gardiner -4
Tim Gleason -6 (as a Leaf)
Morgan Reilly -11
Cody Franson -14

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I wouldn't consider any responses in here to be "worked up."

I wasn't exactly referencing anything here, but one person did call it "idiotic". And mostly everybody seems to think Doughty was criticizing the top line. I'm sure he and the Kings are smart enough to be able to look up their stats. He was just pointing out that in order to contain them they need to be careful and not allow them to breakout freely.

Whoa man, no need to go off on me like that. 

Lets never fight again.