Opening Forward Lines

[GhostofPotvin29]

So Kontiola gets into 2 games and he's sent down but Orr/McLaren aren't?

Ignoring the whole Orr/McLaren aspect, I really don't have a problem sending Kontiola down. His game isn't NHL ready and that wasn't turning around with 1 more preseason game. Give him a month or so to adjust to the NA game with the Marlies and see where he's at. I've read a bunch of reporters say he's like KHL bound at this point, but he doesn't have a team over there and he cited family reasons as something that led him to coming to North America in the first place, so it wasn't entirely just to play in the NHL. Also, he's on a 1-way contract so he's getting paid regardless.

If the plan was to send him down though, wouldn't it have made sense for him to play more than 2 games and get a little more pseudo-NHL exposure rather than leaving him in practice and then demoting him?  I mean, what are you really evaluating when Orr/McLaren are in the preseason lineup?

The scary thing is Carlyle actually believes the players play 'less scared' with Orr and/or McLaren in the lineup.

 

[L K]

So Kontiola gets into 2 games and he's sent down but Orr/McLaren aren't?

Ignoring the whole Orr/McLaren aspect, I really don't have a problem sending Kontiola down. His game isn't NHL ready and that wasn't turning around with 1 more preseason game. Give him a month or so to adjust to the NA game with the Marlies and see where he's at. I've read a bunch of reporters say he's like KHL bound at this point, but he doesn't have a team over there and he cited family reasons as something that led him to coming to North America in the first place, so it wasn't entirely just to play in the NHL. Also, he's on a 1-way contract so he's getting paid regardless.

If the plan was to send him down though, wouldn't it have made sense for him to play more than 2 games and get a little more pseudo-NHL exposure rather than leaving him in practice and then demoting him?  I mean, what are you really evaluating when Orr/McLaren are in the preseason lineup?

The scary thing is Carlyle actually believes the players play 'less scared' with Orr and/or McLaren in the lineup.

The scary thing to me is that Carlyle points the blame at everything but his own system.

 

[bustaheims]

The scary thing is Carlyle actually believes the players play 'less scared' with Orr and/or McLaren in the lineup.

Changes!

 

[bustaheims]

The scary thing to me is that Carlyle points the blame at everything but his own system.

Yup. I mean, it's great that there are a number of changes to the bottom half of the lineup, but, those changes just not going to have much of an impact when the system is still absurdly flawed, and, I imagine, the distribution of ice time likely won't have changed much, either.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

4) A defensive system that still seems to have players all chasing the puck and leaving half the ice wide open

I'm willing to give this more time, I don't expect Horachek to have them excelling in preseason with a roster in flux.

 

[L K]

The scary thing to me is that Carlyle points the blame at everything but his own system.

Yup. I mean, it's great that there are a number of changes to the bottom half of the lineup, but, those changes just not going to have much of an impact when the system is still absurdly flawed, and, I imagine, the distribution of ice time likely won't have changed much, either.

Wait so you are telling me that Orr playing less than 5:00 in a preseason game and Sam Carrick getting less than 8 minutes in an overtime game is a sign that Carlyle still overplays his other lines?

 

[bustaheims]

Michael_Traikos: Carlyle says Booth out with fractured foot. Out 4 weeks.

 

[bustaheims]

Wait so you are telling me that Orr playing less than 5:00 in a preseason game and Sam Carrick getting less than 8 minutes in an overtime game is a sign that Carlyle still overplays his other lines?

I'll never reveal my secrets!

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Michael_Traikos: Carlyle says Booth out with fractured foot. Out 4 weeks.

Joy to the world.

 

[bustaheims]

Michael_Traikos: Carlyle says Tallinder has left the team

Michael_Traikos: Carlyle says Clarkson has a fractured orbital bone. No surgery needed. Expected back by end of week.

 

[L K]

Michael_Traikos: Carlyle says Booth out with fractured foot. Out 4 weeks.

Joy to the world.

So essentially

JVR-Bozak-Kessel
Lupul-Kadri-Santorelli
Komarov-Holland-Orr
McLaren-Winnik-Frattin

Ashton/Kozun

 

[bustaheims]

Michael_Traikos: Carlyle says Booth out with fractured foot. Out 4 weeks.

Joy to the world.

The excuses are already manifesting themselves.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Mark Masters says early indications are Franson just has bruised knee, but need swelling to go down to know for sure.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Michael_Traikos: Carlyle says Booth out with fractured foot. Out 4 weeks.

Booth really hasn't impressed me much so far. It's early, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him in and out of the line-up anyway. This could also open up a spot for Nylander to play his 9 games before going to Sweden:

JVR-Bozak-Kessel
Nylander-Kadri-Lupul
Komarov-Santorelli-Clarkson
Winnik-Holland-Frattin

 

[freer]

Michael_Traikos: Carlyle says Booth out with fractured foot. Out 4 weeks.

Booth really hasn't impressed me much so far. It's early, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him in and out of the line-up anyway. This could also open up a spot for Nylander to play his 9 games before going to Sweden:

JVR-Bozak-Kessel
Nylander-Kadri-Lupul
Komarov-Santorelli-Clarkson
Winnik-Holland-Frattin

As much as I have like the play Nylander, I don't see him making the team. Yes is fast and exciting to watch, but IMO he need some muscle before playing regularly in the NHL.

 

[2badknees]

Out of the Kontiola/Booth/Santorelli/Winnik FAs, the only guy that has looked like they deserve a spot is Winnik. Unless I was missing a lot, Santorelli didn't impress much.

I'd be happy to release the lot of them, and go with Leivo/Kozun/Carrick. The best off season add is Komorov. Stick an A on his shirt too!

 

[freer]

Out of the Kontiola/Booth/Santorelli/Winnik FAs, the only guy that has looked like they deserve a spot is Winnik. Unless I was missing a lot, Santorelli didn't impress much.

I'd be happy to release the lot of them, and go with Leivo/Kozun/Carrick. The best off season add is Komorov. Stick an A on his shirt too!

To honest Komorov, hasn't shown me anything either. We will just have to wait. Unfortunately they can't just release them.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Out of the Kontiola/Booth/Santorelli/Winnik FAs, the only guy that has looked like they deserve a spot is Winnik. Unless I was missing a lot, Santorelli didn't impress much.

I'd be happy to release the lot of them, and go with Leivo/Kozun/Carrick. The best off season add is Komorov. Stick an A on his shirt too!

To honest Komorov, hasn't shown me anything either. We will just have to wait. Unfortunately they can't just release them.

What were you expecting to see?

 

[bustaheims]

I'm willing to give this more time, I don't expect Horachek to have them excelling in preseason with a roster in flux.

Ferraro did a good job of articulating my thoughts on this (Via Hope_Smoke):

"The Leafs held the Sabres to 38 shots yesterday. The problem you have is if you think this [Leafs def game] will change when the calendar turns to October is unrealistic. If they're not doing it now, they won't do it then. This looks like a tread water spot [Leafs]. See if the coach can get through, see if the young guys can take a step & if not, bye."

 

[freer]

Out of the Kontiola/Booth/Santorelli/Winnik FAs, the only guy that has looked like they deserve a spot is Winnik. Unless I was missing a lot, Santorelli didn't impress much.

I'd be happy to release the lot of them, and go with Leivo/Kozun/Carrick. The best off season add is Komorov. Stick an A on his shirt too!

To honest Komorov, hasn't shown me anything either. We will just have to wait. Unfortunately they can't just release them.

What were you expecting to see?

At 3 mil a year. A wee bit more then he has shown.

Just a question with Booth starting on IR, does this help the CAP? Thanks all