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Matt Frattin

pnjunction said:
AvroArrow said:
Interesting cw...a Frattin - Connolly - Armstrong line would be intriguing.
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Heh assuming the top two lines stay the same that would make Lombardi a pretty expensive 4th-liner...
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Lombardi isn't quite the threat that he can be right now. I would have no problem playing him on the 4th line for a while, regardless of what he is making. He still needs to get his NHL game back and if that is on the 4th line, so be it, it's better than him sitting out and waiting for the symptoms to go away.
 
cw said:
My comments follow a very limited viewing of Frattin in the NHL. As a NCAAer and a rookie, he could easily taper off between now and Xmas.  So far, I'm impressed.

He seems capable in all facets of the game. For the two goals he was on the ice for this season, he didn't bear much responsibility in my opinion.

I don't know where the skating knock might have come from. He's was all over the ice in the offensive zone in college. I saw clips of him in Leafs practice and had observed he's light on his feet. From that and the games, he seems to have above average speed for a forward and skates pretty well.

He's been a little snake bit. He's had at least three posts or crossbars.

When the inevitable comes up as Kadri gets cleared to play - apparently fair soon, it only requires a millisecond of deliberation for me: Frattin is the better NHLer at this moment in time and the contest in my opinion isn't all that close.

He is by a significant margin the more complete and better two way hockey player. Defensively:
- he's stronger and better at finishing his checks,  doesn't get knocked on his fanny as easily
- he is better at winning puck battles along the boards
- he's a better hitter and more frequently finishes his checks
- he's more conservative with the puck and from that arguably, smarter with the puck defensively as he's not as prone to costly giveaways. Kadri's improving but not at his level yet.

Offensively right now, Kadri's the better waterbug while Frattin seems to have the better shot. Although my guess would be that Kadri has the talent for the better vision, I think Frattin makes the better percentage decisions on passing right now. Kadri might have an edge in the potential to put up more points while Frattin strikes me as being the better potential finisher.  Time will tell.

When Connolly returns - presumably a few games later than Kadri based upon the most recent reports I've heard, that's a different problem that must be figured out. Frattin's development would be stunted on the 4th line. But do you keep Frattin on the 3rd line while Lombardi moves back to the 4th line? That seems nuts though I like Frattin's style of game better with a center like Bozak/Lombardi than I do having both Lombardi & Bozak on the same line because they seem more similar to me and less physical.

Of course if Kessel is still on fire with Bozak centering that line, they may want to leave well enough alone and have Connolly center the 3rd line while he works himself into game shape. He's reputed to be pretty good defensively and good on the PK. I need to give this one more thought but it obviously may force Frattin to the AHL. Of course, more injuries could change the debate again by the time that decision rolls around.
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I concur with your observations. I would just like to see Frattin tried on right wing, to see if his scoring touch returns with his usual position. I think Army could play the left side, as he's a pretty straight up and down kind of guy. It would be interesting to see how Frattin does on the right side, that's all I'm saying.
 
I had a hunch Wilson might give him a shot in the shootout and kind of went "yes" when I heard his name announced. I had no idea if he'd score or not, but was sure hoping he would. He got tripped on the play that led to the Leafs second power play goal, so I was hoping he'd factor in later some how.
I know if Army is out for any time at all his presence will be missed, but it will give Frattin an extended opportunity and I think he's going to even pick it up from here. When Connolly comes back, the third line will likely be Bozak with Frattin on right and Lombardi on left, if Army's not back.
MacArthur is really struggling to find his game. He's definitely a couple of steps behind his linemates.  He's got to get back up to speed, or I can see Nazem Kadri on that wing in a few weeks. That being said, I think that line will find their groove.
 
Those were a couple of beauty plays by Frattin tonight. He made his way to the net on one play, just letting the d-man bounce off him, and kept control of the puck. This was no college game. This kid is going to keep getting better.
 
slapshot said:
Those were a couple of beauty plays by Frattin tonight. He made his way to the net on one play, just letting the d-man bounce off him, and kept control of the puck. This was no college game. This kid is going to keep getting better.
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Great to see, like Wilson said once he got his first goal it seemed to take the pressure off and just let him play some, kids a keeper.

I'd really like to see what Colborne and Frattin could do with Kadri at some point, fwiw, that could be a real dynamic line down the road.
 
TO Sun: Leafs' kiddie corps annoying rivals
?Crabby likes to think he?s a young guy, too,? Colborne cracked of the 28-year-old. ?We call ourselves the Kid Line anyway. Frattin?s such a good player and another AJ boy (Alberta Junior Hockey League) which is nice. Crabby and I have obviously developed some chemistry from early in the season (with the Toronto Marlies farm team) and I love playing with both those guys.?
...
?Colborne will be a pretty good player in this league,? coach Wilson predicted. ?We?re starting to see he?s a little bit stronger in skating, he?s more ready than he was at camp. Frattin showed some real power moves today and got a little puck luck. He made a great play on the Colborne goal and then took it to the net on Crabb?s.?

For Colborne the best part might have been being plus-2 at the end of the night.

?I?m trying to earn some trust here with the coaching staff (with defensive play),? he said. ?Hopefully that was a good step.?

Colborne was AHL player-of-the-month in October, crediting Marlie coach Dallas Eakins and skating coach Graeme Townshend with finding him an extra gear.

?Dallas was harping on me every single time to come out of the blocks as if you have a chance for a breakaway. So I do that every practice. I appreciate it?s starting to get noticed.?
...
?(Colborne) and I are two big bodies with a low centre of gravity,? Frattin said. ?We just try and work hard down low and create space for each other. We?re two guys with hockey sense and Crabby just adds to that.?

Colborne planned to ship his milestone puck back to his mom in Calgary,

?It was a sense of relief. I know Frats was having some problems getting his first and I didn?t want to do that. I hope it?s one of many and we can keep building on what we had going today, for (their line?s sake) and as a team.?

Some nice jabbering about the newly formed line.
 
According to ESPN's Insider...

Matt Frattin...said he's about a month a way from beginning to skate, according to the Toronto Sun's Terry Koshan. That means he won't be ready for training camp, which is scheduled to start in a month, barring a lockout.

"You never want to be part of (a lockout)," Frattin said. "You look at the people who work in concessions, in ticket sales -- those people will be losing their jobs too. It hurts a lot more people than you think."

A delayed start to the season may give Frattin enough time for his knee to fully heal. It's a silver lining for Frattin, who had eight goals and seven assists in 56 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs last season.
 
hockeyfan1 said:

"You never want to be part of (a lockout)," Frattin said. "You look at the people who work in concessions, in ticket sales -- those people will be losing their jobs too. It hurts a lot more people than you think."
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I like this quote, he struck me as being more considerate than your average young millionaire athlete.
 
Frattin apparently had his first full practice with the Marlies - is there
any word in T.O. land if he'll be playing on the road trip? I hope so as
I've got tickets to both games in Abbotsford vs the Heat!
 
lamajama said:
Frattin apparently had his first full practice with the Marlies - is there
any word in T.O. land if he'll be playing on the road trip? I hope so as
I've got tickets to both games in Abbotsford vs the Heat!
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I would be surprised to see him back in the lineup so quick as the Marlies are carrying a glutton on skaters right now. I would guess and say a week or two.
 
Kessel Run said:
lamajama said:
Frattin apparently had his first full practice with the Marlies - is there
any word in T.O. land if he'll be playing on the road trip? I hope so as
I've got tickets to both games in Abbotsford vs the Heat!
Click to expand...

I would be surprised to see him back in the lineup so quick as the Marlies are carrying a glutton on skaters right now. I would guess and say a week or two.
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Glutton skaters? Was that a shot at Kadri ???

:o
 
WhatIfGodWasALeaf said:
hockeyfan1 said:

"You never want to be part of (a lockout)," Frattin said. "You look at the people who work in concessions, in ticket sales -- those people will be losing their jobs too. It hurts a lot more people than you think."
Click to expand...

I like this quote, he struck me as being more considerate than your average young millionaire athlete.
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I think Frattin has the potential to be become a real fan favorite for the Leafs for years to come. He's got skill, strength, a good work ethic, and lots of class. This guys gonna be a star in Toronto. Book it.
 
Agreed RedLeaf, as long as they do not include him for Luongo trade...which the Loafs would do...Spoke with old ref Bill McReary today... and he said the Refs are not paid in the case of lockout. 
 
Potvin29 said:
Has 2 goals thru 2 periods tonight.  7 goals in 6 games.
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In his AHL career he has 31 goals in 42 games. Going just from the playoffs to today he's scored 17 goals in 19 games.
 
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