Leafs @ Predators - Feb. 3rd, 8:00pm - TSN4, Fan 590

[CarltonTheBear]

Robidas will play tonight, replacing Granberg.

 

[ZBBM]

PL: "Leafs?  Let's play the backup.  Who is that, again?"

Pekka Rinne is hurt.

And this guy is second in command?  Never heard of him.

He led the Predators in starts last season.

Like I said, never heard of him.  But then again, I don't pay attention to anything that comes out of Nashville.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Pekka Rinne is hurt.

No need for Pekka Rinne, their back-up will shine.

 

[pmrules]

Anyone else find it interesting that the Predators finally become a beast of the West the year that Trotz leaves?

That makes it sound like Trotz didn't have any success with them. They're on pace for 117 points this year which is only 7 points more than Trotz had in his best season there.

point taken...let me rephrase.

Anyone else find it interesting that the Predators became a top 5 team, for the first time since 2007, the year after Trotz leaves?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Anyone else find it interesting that the Predators became a top 5 team, for the first time since 2007, the year after Trotz leaves?

They were a top-5 team in 11-12.

 

[cabber24]

Down Goes Brown @DownGoesBrown  ?  3 hours ago
Leafs/Preds tonight. Still can?t believe Nashville won the last meeting 9-2. That?s completely insane. I mean, Toronto scoring TWO goals?

Haha... "Upon the wicked He will rain Jerseys; blue and white and burning wind will be the portion of their cup"

 

[pmrules]

Anyone else find it interesting that the Predators became a top 5 team, for the first time since 2007, the year after Trotz leaves?

They were a top-5 team in 11-12.

ok...so its just me....

 

[Chev-boyar-sky]

Robidas will play tonight, replacing Granberg.

What's the point, really?

Granberg might as well get some NHL experience or will that happen once they're officially eliminated?

He's looked good in his limited time minus the hit on Voracek (which I was ok with).

Robidas is not an answer for the future of this team IMO (at least based on this seasons play).

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Robidas is not an answer for the future of this team IMO (at least based on this seasons play).

He has 2 years left on his contract after this one so whether we like it or not Robidas is a part of this teams near-future. I've talked before about how there's a chance Robidas isn't as bad as he's looked this season. I'd take a completely uneducated guess and say that he's spent a good 80% of his playing time either injured or recovering from a serious injury. The announcement that he's been playing hurt since November 1st really made his season tough to judge.

Robidas being inserted back into the lineup could also mean good things for the rest of the defence. Since Phaneuf went down Horachek has been hesitant to play Holzer and Granberg together, which meant that Gardiner and Franson couldn't play together even though they were the obvious choice for the top-pairing. It looks like Horachek trusts Robidas a little more because he's projected to play with Holzer which means we'll hopefully see Gardiner-Franson as the top pairing for an entire game. Although it's likely that will be short-lived with Phaneuf possibly ready to return this weekend.

 

[ZBBM]

Robidas is not an answer for the future of this team IMO (at least based on this seasons play).

He has 2 years left on his contract after this one so whether we like it or not Robidas is a part of this teams near-future. I've talked before about how there's a chance Robidas isn't as bad as he's looked this season. I'd take a completely uneducated guess and say that he's spent a good 80% of his playing time either injured or recovering from a serious injury. The announcement that he's been playing hurt since November 1st really made his season tough to judge.

Robidas being inserted back into the lineup could also mean good things for the rest of the defence. Since Phaneuf went down Horachek has been hesitant to play Holzer and Granberg together, which meant that Gardiner and Franson couldn't play together even though they were the obvious choice for the top-pairing. It looks like Horachek trusts Robidas a little more because he's projected to play with Holzer which means we'll hopefully see Gardiner-Franson as the top pairing for an entire game. Although it's likely that will be short-lived with Phaneuf possibly ready to return this weekend.

Has he been that bad?  Most nights I don't notice him, which on balance for a dman is good in my book.

 

[Kin]

Anyone else find it interesting that the Predators became a top 5 team, for the first time since 2007, the year after Trotz leaves?

They were a top-5 team in 11-12.

It's also probably worth mentioning that any "sudden" improvement coincidentally matches up with Rinne being healthy and on top of his game.

 

[slapshot]

Robidas is not an answer for the future of this team IMO (at least based on this seasons play).
[/quote]

He was never the answer. Nonis spent more money to try to prop up a faulty core, instead of changing the core itself. He was to provide leadership on the back-end. That should have been the captain's job. Personally, I think unless the Leafs land someone really special (highly unlikely) they should do the the Canadiens did this year and just go with three assistant captain next year. Within two years I think Rielly could be captain material.
But I agree, I continue to play Granberg for a better look and give Holtzer a rest, if Robidas is going back in.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Robidas will play tonight, replacing Granberg.

What's the point, really?

Granberg might as well get some NHL experience or will that happen once they're officially eliminated?

He's looked good in his limited time minus the hit on Voracek (which I was ok with).

Robidas is not an answer for the future of this team IMO (at least based on this seasons play).

Maybe you play him and he looks okay to the point a team would be willing to trade for him.  Granberg isn't really an answer either, doesn't have much of a ceiling, wouldn't hurt him to continue on the Marlies awhile longer.

 

[LuncheonMeat]

Robidas will play tonight, replacing Granberg.

What's the point, really?

Granberg might as well get some NHL experience or will that happen once they're officially eliminated?

He's looked good in his limited time minus the hit on Voracek (which I was ok with).

Robidas is not an answer for the future of this team IMO (at least based on this seasons play).

Maybe you play him and he looks okay to the point a team would be willing to trade for him.  Granberg isn't really an answer either, doesn't have much of a ceiling, wouldn't hurt him to continue on the Marlies awhile longer.

That was my thought as well.  Hopefully with the time off he's had a chance to heal, and can now show enough that other teams may see him filling a need at the deadline.  Even if it's for a 3rd (and cap space).

 

[L K]

Robidas will play tonight, replacing Granberg.

What's the point, really?

Granberg might as well get some NHL experience or will that happen once they're officially eliminated?

He's looked good in his limited time minus the hit on Voracek (which I was ok with).

Robidas is not an answer for the future of this team IMO (at least based on this seasons play).

Maybe you play him and he looks okay to the point a team would be willing to trade for him.  Granberg isn't really an answer either, doesn't have much of a ceiling, wouldn't hurt him to continue on the Marlies awhile longer.

That was my thought as well.  Hopefully with the time off he's had a chance to heal, and can now show enough that other teams may see him filling a need at the deadline.  Even if it's for a 3rd (and cap space).

I know that Robidas doesn't have absolutely negative value, but I think it is unlikely that the Leafs receive more than something like a 5th rounder for him given that a team has to absorb 2 more years on an old defenseman who has broken down over the last two years.

You also have to determine if the Leafs are trading Frason AND Phaneuf in the offseason, if having a veteran guy in the room isn't the worst idea, even if he's only a 6/7th defenseman.  It's not like the Leafs have a stable of guys pushing on the walls to join the blueline.  Even a guy like Percy, I saw an incredibly raw player outside of his first 2 1/2 games in the NHL.  He was overmatched most of the time.  I really don't think another year of AHL hockey is going to hurt him.

 

[ZBBM]

There was a time when a storied franchise losing to a generic sabre-toothed carnivorous cartoon would have been unthinkable.

 

[Chev-boyar-sky]

Robidas will play tonight, replacing Granberg.

What's the point, really?

Granberg might as well get some NHL experience or will that happen once they're officially eliminated?

He's looked good in his limited time minus the hit on Voracek (which I was ok with).

Robidas is not an answer for the future of this team IMO (at least based on this seasons play).

Maybe you play him and he looks okay to the point a team would be willing to trade for him.  Granberg isn't really an answer either, doesn't have much of a ceiling, wouldn't hurt him to continue on the Marlies awhile longer.

22 turning 23. I think the kid could be a solid bottom pairing defenceman moving forward.

I do agree about trying to showcase Robidas though. Hadn't thought of that.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I like how everyone on the ice basically assumed that first shot went in.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Rielly-Holland on the point now for PP1. They'll get it right one of these days.

 

[L K]

Leafs PP.  Time to inexplicably play Holland on the 1st unit and Clarkson on the 2nd.