Randy Carlyle/Leaf Coach thread

[Erndog]

Gleason right now is Komisarek bad.  I dont know why the heck we would do this when we finally got rid of that albatross only to take on another.

I'd rather just have Liles play, at least he can still skate.

 

[Corn Flake]

There's probably 6 different options on the Marlies right now that would be an improvement over Fraser. And 3 of them play a similar style.

Yeah. Brennan and Holzer are really just the two more veteran guys there. I'd prefer to see the others getting regular ice time with the Marlies than being rotated in as the #7 with the Leafs.

Might be time to try Holzer again. Still think he's capable if he doesn't get overwhelmed again (and stays on 3rd pair). he also plays the right side which is another thing the team really needs right now.

I have a feeling that Gleason trade is going down this week, which would add a big improvement on Fraser.

What about Kevin Marshall?  I thought his physical play was ok in the pre-season.  Could use some sandpaper back there, and his skating I think it better than Fraser's.

Maybe.

MacWilliam is the guy I'm really hoping is ready soon. I think he's capable of being a real difference maker with a very physical game.

 

[Corn Flake]

Gleason right now is Komisarek bad.  I dont know why the heck we would do this when we finally got rid of that albatross only to take on another.

I'd rather just have Liles play, at least he can still skate.

Wasn't aware he had gone down hill that much. if so leave things as is for now.  Liles will be up and playing at some point. If not this year, maybe next.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Combinations from practice today:

Raymond-Kadri-Kulemin
Ashton-Smith-Clarkson

Good combos.  With the Lupul injury, inserting two speedsters with Kadri is the thing to do.

As for Clarkson, since he's familiar with Smith (having been paired with him before), it completes the picture with Ashton in tow, at least.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Combinations from practice today:

Raymond-Kadri-Kulemin

I was thinking that would be a good combo.

Quite frankly I liked Holland with JVR and Kessel. I'd put Bozak with Clarkson and Leivo.

Wouldn't be a bad thing to insert Bozak in-between Clarkson & Leivo. Having Holland, by the way, gives the Leafs depth but maneuverability, in being able to shuffle the top line somewhat.

What I would like to see is Carlyle being more flexible with his lines, as per some of these combos.  It's okay to experiment as long as the players complement each other.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Just going through the stats for the GDT and I noticed that Bozak is 5th among all NHL forwards in ice-time.

*face palm*

And 4th among all fowards in even-strength ice-time.

*double face palm*

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Just going through the stats for the GDT and I noticed that Bozak is 5th among all NHL forwards in ice-time.

*face palm*

And 4th among all fowards in even-strength ice-time.

*double face palm*

How is that even possible?

 

[Kin]

Just going through the stats for the GDT and I noticed that Bozak is 5th among all NHL forwards in ice-time.

*face palm*

And 4th among all fowards in even-strength ice-time.

*double face palm*

It doesn't really reflect anything other than the fact that he's Kessel's center, Carlyle plays Kessel a ton and he's got PK duties on top of that.

 

[Zee]

Just going through the stats for the GDT and I noticed that Bozak is 5th among all NHL forwards in ice-time.

*face palm*

And 4th among all fowards in even-strength ice-time.

*double face palm*

How is that even possible?

It's ice time per game.  Who else is going to center the top line?

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Just going through the stats for the GDT and I noticed that Bozak is 5th among all NHL forwards in ice-time.

*face palm*

And 4th among all fowards in even-strength ice-time.

*double face palm*

How is that even possible?

It's ice time per game.  Who else is going to center the top line?

I get that, and I could see him being in the top few on the Leafs...but top 5 in the league?

 

[Kin]

I get that, and I could see him being in the top few on the Leafs...but top 5 in the league?

Like I said above though, that's just because Carlyle plays Kessel as much as he does. Kessel is 45th in the league in terms of TOI/G and the gap between Kessel and Bozak, from 45th to 5th, is almost entirely because of the time Bozak plays on the PK(with 32 additional seconds per game which could be largely attributed to the time a penalty killer might spend at even strength after a penalty ends)

 

[Zee]

Just going through the stats for the GDT and I noticed that Bozak is 5th among all NHL forwards in ice-time.

*face palm*

And 4th among all fowards in even-strength ice-time.

*double face palm*

How is that even possible?

It's ice time per game.  Who else is going to center the top line?

I get that, and I could see him being in the top few on the Leafs...but top 5 in the league?

Someone on the Leafs has to play those minutes.  Bozak is high cause he's top line center and kills penalties.  I don't think being top 5 in the league is so shocking.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Perhaps you guys are right.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Someone on the Leafs has to play those minutes.  Bozak is high cause he's top line center and kills penalties.  I don't think being top 5 in the league is so shocking.

There are plenty of top line centres that kill penalties as well that aren't getting as much ice-time as Bozak is. Giroux, Backes, Getzlaf, Toews, Koivu, Steen, Kopitar, Spezza, Marleau.

 

[Kin]

Someone on the Leafs has to play those minutes.  Bozak is high cause he's top line center and kills penalties.  I don't think being top 5 in the league is so shocking.

There are plenty of top line centres that kill penalties as well that aren't getting as much ice-time as Bozak is. Giroux, Backes, Getzlaf, Toews, Koivu, Steen, Kopitar, Spezza, Marleau.

But for most of those guys the difference between their ice time and Bozak's is A) minimal and B) largely attributable to the difference in SH time.

 

[freer]

Someone on the Leafs has to play those minutes.  Bozak is high cause he's top line center and kills penalties.  I don't think being top 5 in the league is so shocking.

There are plenty of top line centres that kill penalties as well that aren't getting as much ice-time as Bozak is. Giroux, Backes, Getzlaf, Toews, Koivu, Steen, Kopitar, Spezza, Marleau.

He is our most dependable center's right now. It is to be expected that he takes draws in our end when we have a lead, but also in the offensive zone while Kessel is on the ice. Unfortunately our centers are lacking at this present time.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

But for most of those guys the difference between their ice time and Bozak's is A) minimal and B) largely attributable to the difference in SH time.

I get how all the ice-time adds up in the end, but I guess what I'm saying is maybe Bozak shouldn't be playing so much on the penalty kill and powerplay and even-strength. Even if he is connected at the hip with Kessel. It especially shouldn't be hard to limit his time in those first two situations.

 

[Zee]

Someone on the Leafs has to play those minutes.  Bozak is high cause he's top line center and kills penalties.  I don't think being top 5 in the league is so shocking.

There are plenty of top line centres that kill penalties as well that aren't getting as much ice-time as Bozak is. Giroux, Backes, Getzlaf, Toews, Koivu, Steen, Kopitar, Spezza, Marleau.

We're talking about slight differences here in time on ice per game. 

Bozak is at 21:38
Giroux is at 21:20
Backes is at 20:03
Getzlaf is at 20:49
Toews is at 20:38
Koivu is at 21:25
Kopitar is at 21:36
Spezza is at 18:56
Marleau is at 20:36

Sure, Bozak plays way too much for what he is, but the Leafs have no other options.  Kadri can't handle the workload defensively, McClement is a checker, and Bolland is out.    I think especially with Bolland, Bozak would have a bit less ice time cause Bolland can kill penalties and take some of that time away from Bozak.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Sure, Bozak plays way too much for what he is, but the Leafs have no other options.  Kadri can't handle the workload defensively, McClement is a checker, and Bolland is out.    I think especially with Bolland, Bozak would have a bit less ice time cause Bolland can kill penalties and take some of that time away from Bozak.

I can partially understand the necessity of it, although I still definitely think his minutes should be a little lower. Kadri should have his spot on the powerplay and the penalty kill doesn't exactly need him with McClement/Smithson taking the important draws and guys like Kulemin, JVR, and Raymond able to contribute as well.

My biggest issue with it is (and this of course isn't a surprise or anything to anyone) that it's just disappointing to see our top line centre up among the names of real top line centres.

 

[Kin]

I get how all the ice-time adds up in the end, but I guess what I'm saying is maybe Bozak shouldn't be playing so much on the penalty kill and powerplay and even-strength. Even if he is connected at the hip with Kessel. It especially shouldn't be hard to limit his time in those first two situations.

I think that's a fair point and I think there's some evidence of late that he's been de-emphasized on the PK(even though he's still getting tons of ice time) though if the alternative means more ice time for Smithson or McClement or Holland I don't know if it'd be a decision being made to improve the team as opposed to...I don't know, try and get Bozak's ice time more in line with where you think he ranks among the league's centers.