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Matthew Lombardi update/information thread

CarltonTheBear said:
Floyd said:
... and the news keeps getting better...  ;D

DavidAlter590 David Alter Matthew Lombardi is practicing with linemates for the first time at camp , looks like Mueller and Caputi. #Leafs
6 minutes ago
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The plot thickens. Say he's ready to go for opening night (which I don't think will happen), or even sometime a little later, where does he play? I originally figured he'd either be left-wing or centre on the 3rd line with Armstrong, but both Kadri and Bozak have looked really good in the pre-season.
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With the way Bozak and Armstrong have played so far in pre-season (and late last year on the PK), I don't think you can break them up until they aren't working out.

I think Kadri has been much better this pre-season, particularly in his last game, but I haven't seen a lot of chemistry between him and Bozak-Armstrong.  The chemistry seems to be all Bozak-Armstrong in my eyes, so I would have no problem slotting Lombardi on the 3rd line (LW to start, maybe switch him and Bozak up between C/LW?).
 
Floyd said:
... and the news keeps getting better...  ;D

DavidAlter590 David Alter Matthew Lombardi is practicing with linemates for the first time at camp , looks like Mueller and Caputi. #Leafs
6 minutes ago
Click to expand...

I'd really love to know how close he is to being cleared for contact.
 
AvroArrow said:
I think Kadri has been much better this pre-season, particularly in his last game, but I haven't seen a lot of chemistry between him and Bozak-Armstrong.  The chemistry seems to be all Bozak-Armstrong in my eyes,..
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Agree with you completely there.

I need to see more of them in preseason before firming up my thoughts but I would say the type of player Frattin is seems like a better fit for Bozak-Armstrong. He's more of a shooter and better size for the third line checking as Bozak is already challenged that way.

I think Kadri's effort has been great. It's what is going on between his ears that has me wondering though in fairness, he's still developing.

He stated that he's down to 185 for this season. His stats say he's 6' but I think that's the typical overstatement and a stretch. I think he's on the slightly smallish side/below average size. He's too easily pushed around to be of any significant size and strength. As someone recently pointed out, Grabbo had a similar problem 2-3 years ago and learned to play with it and I think Kadri's a little bigger than Grabbo was ...
 
cw said:
AvroArrow said:
I think Kadri has been much better this pre-season, particularly in his last game, but I haven't seen a lot of chemistry between him and Bozak-Armstrong.  The chemistry seems to be all Bozak-Armstrong in my eyes,..
Click to expand...

Agree with you completely there.

I need to see more of them in preseason before firming up my thoughts but I would say the type of player Frattin is seems like a better fit for Bozak-Armstrong. He's more of a shooter and better size for the third line checking as Bozak is already challenged that way.

I think Kadri's effort has been great. It's what is going on between his ears that has me wondering though in fairness, he's still developing.

He stated that he's down to 185 for this season. His stats say he's 6' but I think that's the typical overstatement and a stretch. I think he's on the slightly smallish side/below average size. He's too easily pushed around to be of any significant size and strength. As someone recently pointed out, Grabbo had a similar problem 2-3 years ago and learned to play with it and I think Kadri's a little bigger than Grabbo was ...
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Yeah, totally agree. I feel like Armstrong and Bozak are on the same page with Kadri as the tag along. Regardless, it'd be very easy to interchange him with another one of our prospects going forward, and if he impresses in the A he can earn his way back.
 
kevin_mcgranKevin McGran
Leafs Lombardi cleared for full practise, could be ready for first game, says Wilson
 
Well, I was doubtful he could come back at all, so I gotta admit I was wrong on that.  Great news -- I just hope they ease him back in and not rush anything.
 
'Leafs forward Matthew Lombardi has been cleared for full contact in practice, and coach Ron Wilson is cautiously hopeful that he?ll be ready for the first game of the season.'

...from McGran in the Star.

That doesn't pass the smell test for me, one way or another.
 
Tigger said:
'Leafs forward Matthew Lombardi has been cleared for full contact in practice, and coach Ron Wilson is cautiously hopeful that he?ll be ready for the first game of the season.'

...from McGran in the Star.

That doesn't pass the smell test for me, one way or another.
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It does seem a bit rushed with the news we were hearing over the summer. He himself said a few days ago that his conditioning wasn't really there.
 
Tigger said:
'Leafs forward Matthew Lombardi has been cleared for full contact in practice, and coach Ron Wilson is cautiously hopeful that he?ll be ready for the first game of the season.'

...from McGran in the Star.

That doesn't pass the smell test for me, one way or another.
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I agree - too much wishful thinking.
 
It's interesting. With the way concussions have been such a big part of the NHL landscape over the last decade or so I can't think of any Leaf player that we've had to see come back from a serious one(although I'm sure I'm forgetting someone).

Mostly I've got bad memories of guys coming back and playing more tentatively/without some of the spark they had pre-concussion. Fingers crossed Lombardi avoids that.
 
Please remember Kaberle had a bad concussion against the glass some years ago and was out for quite a while but came back without symptoms. Lombardi may be the same, in the same crew, everyone is different with different damage to different parts of the brain and the recuperative powers of the young are well known as all us old dogs know.
 
Saint Nik said:
It's interesting. With the way concussions have been such a big part of the NHL landscape over the last decade or so I can't think of any Leaf player that we've had to see come back from a serious one(although I'm sure I'm forgetting someone).
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Colaiacovo's the only one that comes to mind - he missed half a season+ with one early in his career.
 
Highlander said:
Please remember Kaberle had a bad concussion against the glass some years ago and was out for quite a while but came back without symptoms.
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I think you're thinking of the Janssen hit which, while obviously no picnic, only kept Kabs out for a couple weeks. As far as these things go that doesn't strike as overly serious compared to Lombardi/Crosby/Lindros and so on.
 
Busta Reims said:
Colaiacovo's the only one that comes to mind - he missed half a season+ with one early in his career.
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Yeah, that fits. Although that was so early there wasn't a ton to compare it to.
 
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