Panthers @ Leafs - Jan. 30th, 7:00pm - SN, SN 590

[L K]

January 13th - Peter Holland recalled to Toronto to play on the 3rd line instead of Jay McClement.

1st Line  21GP 9G 12A    27GP 14G 17A
2nd Line 21GP 4G 4A      27GP 8G 17A
3rd Line  21GP 1G 0A      27GP 2G 7A
4th Line  21GP 0G 0A      27GP 1G 2A

It's a slight oversimplification because I didn't bother to sort out if Ashton picked up an assist from someone on another line rather than just the 4th line.  Obviously McClement's empty net goal wasn't really a 4th line goal either.  But since the recall and line shuffle the Leafs scoring depth has been infinitely better.  The bottom 6 is still fairly useless at putting up much offense but they have been fairly steady defensively.

It's nice to see Carlyle call Lupul playing where he feels more comfortable "mind-boggling" though.  Up and down play aside this year, there were 110 regular season games and 7 post-season games to suggest that it was the right decision coming in to this year.  And Kulemin, I think his production has less to do with comfort and more to do with not playing with McClement.

The Leafs better be working on a contract extension for Kulemin before he explodes offensive in the Olympics.

 

[Chev-boyar-sky]

January 13th - Peter Holland recalled to Toronto to play on the 3rd line instead of Jay McClement.

1st Line  21GP 9G 12A    27GP 14G 17A
2nd Line 21GP 4G 4A      27GP 8G 17A
3rd Line  21GP 1G 0A      27GP 2G 7A
4th Line  21GP 0G 0A      27GP 1G 2A

It's a slight oversimplification because I didn't bother to sort out if Ashton picked up an assist from someone on another line rather than just the 4th line.  Obviously McClement's empty net goal wasn't really a 4th line goal either.  But since the recall and line shuffle the Leafs scoring depth has been infinitely better.  The bottom 6 is still fairly useless at putting up much offense but they have been fairly steady defensively.

It's nice to see Carlyle call Lupul playing where he feels more comfortable "mind-boggling" though.  Up and down play aside this year, there were 110 regular season games and 7 post-season games to suggest that it was the right decision coming in to this year.  And Kulemin, I think his production has less to do with comfort and more to do with not playing with McClement.

The Leafs better be working on a contract extension for Kulemin before he explodes offensive in the Olympics.

I don't think his Olympic performance will be indicative of much (and therefore not really considered for his contract).

He'll be playing with two of Datsyuk/Malkin/Ovechkin which is an opportunity he wouldn't find in the NHL outside of 1 or 2 teams. I'd say his stats from the last 3 years are more indicative of his value (and I'm all for re-signing him by the way).

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

The more I think about it, the more I lean towards the Caps 1st line next year being:

Ovie-Grabo-Kooly

With Backstrom in the #2 hole, they could give some teams fits with scoring depth.

 

[L K]

January 13th - Peter Holland recalled to Toronto to play on the 3rd line instead of Jay McClement.

1st Line  21GP 9G 12A    27GP 14G 17A
2nd Line 21GP 4G 4A      27GP 8G 17A
3rd Line  21GP 1G 0A      27GP 2G 7A
4th Line  21GP 0G 0A      27GP 1G 2A

It's a slight oversimplification because I didn't bother to sort out if Ashton picked up an assist from someone on another line rather than just the 4th line.  Obviously McClement's empty net goal wasn't really a 4th line goal either.  But since the recall and line shuffle the Leafs scoring depth has been infinitely better.  The bottom 6 is still fairly useless at putting up much offense but they have been fairly steady defensively.

It's nice to see Carlyle call Lupul playing where he feels more comfortable "mind-boggling" though.  Up and down play aside this year, there were 110 regular season games and 7 post-season games to suggest that it was the right decision coming in to this year.  And Kulemin, I think his production has less to do with comfort and more to do with not playing with McClement.

The Leafs better be working on a contract extension for Kulemin before he explodes offensive in the Olympics.

I don't think his Olympic performance will be indicative of much (and therefore not really considered for his contract).

He'll be playing with two of Datsyuk/Malkin/Ovechkin which is an opportunity he wouldn't find in the NHL outside of 1 or 2 teams. I'd say his stats from the last 3 years are more indicative of his value (and I'm all for re-signing him by the way).

I disagree to an extent.  I think it sets a note for what Kulemin can do when put in offensive situations.  He's been in a 3rd line role which has hampered his offense.  GMs will look at that production and if the Leafs let him go to July3rd (or whatever they made free agency now) someone is going to land a dump-trunk in front of him.

 

[lc9]

That trio is unique because both Lupul and Kulemin play their off wings ? ?which is kind of mind-boggling,? said Carlyle ? but no one is questioning it as long as they?re producing.

That's what I came here to post!  I read that quote today and couldn't believe.  Players love playing their off-wing.  When I was growing up playing it was always my favorite to play the off wing (besides center of course).  Caryle has a novice understand of how forwards work, extremely novice.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Off-wing is great for having an angle to shoot.

It's not so much that he doesn't like players doing it, as much as he makes it seem like he's so inflexible to doing it and can't understand it.  It's not exactly a new concept.

 

[Bullfrog]

Jagr and Mogilny had decent success on their off wings.

 

[pnjunction]

That trio is unique because both Lupul and Kulemin play their off wings ? ?which is kind of mind-boggling,? said Carlyle ? but no one is questioning it as long as they?re producing.

That's what I came here to post!  I read that quote today and couldn't believe.  Players love playing their off-wing.  When I was growing up playing it was always my favorite to play the off wing (besides center of course).  Caryle has a novice understand of how forwards work, extremely novice.

I suck but yeah I love the off-wing where I can (try to) fire off one-timers.

I mean just look at that Lupul one-timer last night...the only thing mind-boggling is why anyone wouldn't put him in a position to pull the trigger on those.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Jagr and Mogilny had decent success on their off wings.

Kane, St. Louis, and Sharp are all doing pretty alright as well. It's all about player preference. There's nothing mind-boggling about it.

 

[bustaheims]

So, what you're telling me is that there's an advantage to having the blade of your stick pointed towards the middle of the ice instead of the boards? What kind of heresy is this?

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

Jagr and Mogilny had decent success on their off wings.

Kane, St. Louis, and Sharp are all doing pretty alright as well. It's all about player preference. There's nothing mind-boggling about it.

If the toaster incident taught us anything, it's that Carlyle's mind has a low boggling threshold.