Team MVP

[Jalili]

Kessel for sure.

HM To Reimer, McClement

 

[OldTimeHockey]

See I don't exactly agree... I think it's a reach to suggest that shots = possession time.  as one example.. take teams that employ lots of dump and chase.. they won't necessarily register shots correlating to how much time they spend with the puck along the boards, even though they are in possession of the puck for large amounts of time.  In addition I don't agree that possession time means your team is inferior, but that's a different argument.

But I do agree you can use it as a tool if you want, just not a key reference point.

But teams that dump and chase have been shown to be less effective at generating offense.  If you're dumping it in, you're giving up possession, and you're getting less chances/shots.  So it stands to reason you're scoring less, right?  No teams have been able to replicate very high SH% season to season, so it would be very very difficult to have sustained success dumping the puck in.  I doubt a team could cycle the puck so often and not generate chances over a season that it would skew the numbers much.

It's more numbers, but again, it makes sense to me: http://nhlnumbers.com/2012/7/11/more-on-the-advantages-of-puck-possession-over-dump-and-chase

The conclusions he came to:

Carrying the puck in is way better than dumping it in, more than twice as good -- and it's not because of odd-man rushes or player skill or any other external factor; it's just because having the puck in the opponent's zone headed towards the goal is a lot better than trying to outrace the opponent to try to get the puck in the corner.

Most people don't recognize just how big the difference is, and the data suggests that teams should be trying harder than they are to carry the puck in. If coaches are telling their third line to dump the puck, they are probably giving away scoring chances. If coaches are telling the players to dump the puck in borderline situations where they think carrying it might lead to a turnover, they are probably giving away scoring chances. Even regrouping and trying again might be better than dumping the puck in, especially when the team has their top line on the ice.

I think this is part of what makes Kessel so good - he's great at gaining the zone with possession of the puck.

I think they are oversimplifying why a team uses the dump and chase mentality.

It doesn't go into why a team would use the mentality, it is simply comparing a dump & chase method vs maintaining possession for producing offense over time.

I realize that, but often times, the dump & chase mentality is used in the earlier stages of a game by a coach to create offensive chances later in the game by driving the other team's defense through the end boards.

I mean sure, rush to rush, the carrying the puck into the zone is going to create more chances if you only compare one to one, but often times the room to carry the puck into the zone is created by dumping & chasing.

 

[Arn]

I think Reimer. The very nature of his position has probably more impact on results than any other thus making him automatically stand out more than one of 18 skaters on any given night.

You could argue that stopping pucks is simply his job, but I think he has gone beyond just "stopping pucks" and has stolen games, changing the mindset and confidence of the team in front of him.

 

[MetalRaven]

Really? No love for Van Riemsdyk? Without him parked in front of the net, blocking the netminder, I think we would be looking at a lot less goals. There is no "blocking the goalie making it impossible for him to see, let alone save, the rocket of a shot coming at him" stat. Poor guy doesnt even get an assist. So yeah im gonna go with JVR, Reimer, Kessel, Kadri in that order.

 

[Jalili]

I think Reimer. The very nature of his position has probably more impact on results than any other thus making him automatically stand out more than one of 18 skaters on any given night.

You could argue that stopping pucks is simply his job, but I think he has gone beyond just "stopping pucks" and has stolen games, changing the mindset and confidence of the team in front of him.

For that reason I usually prefer seeing a position other than goalie winning Conn Smythe.

 

[Kaberle15]

Really? No love for Van Riemsdyk? Without him parked in front of the net, blocking the netminder, I think we would be looking at a lot less goals. There is no "blocking the goalie making it impossible for him to see, let alone save, the rocket of a shot coming at him" stat. Poor guy doesnt even get an assist. So yeah im gonna go with JVR, Reimer, Kessel, Kadri in that order.

JVR inconsistent games kept him out of my choices, some Games he was a force, some invisible.

My 5 choices were all consistent players all season.

 

[Leafaholic99]

Phaneuf: Logged a ton of ice time, this season he didn't tryed to do too much, he didn't fight as much (I don't remember him fighting this season), top 10 in the league in points, lead the team and the PP.

Phaneuf fought Andrew Ladd in Winnipeg, believe it was the March game.

 

[Kaberle15]

Phaneuf: Logged a ton of ice time, this season he didn't tryed to do too much, he didn't fight as much (I don't remember him fighting this season), top 10 in the league in points, lead the team and the PP.

Phaneuf fought Andrew Ladd in Winnipeg, believe it was the March game.

Ladd took Phaneuf out of his game in that game.

 

[dappleganger]

I'm going with Jay McClement. I think he is the most valuable player to this team.

Without Jay, I don't think the Leafs make the playoffs. He was a revelation on the PK.

 

[ZBBM]

I'm going with Jay McClement. I think he is the most valuable player to this team.

Without Jay, I don't think the Leafs make the playoffs. He was a revelation on the PK.

This. This and this again.

Most PK time in the league and an unthinkable improvement in the team PK standings. Reimer and Kule and Bozak helped but it is all about McClement.

I mentioned this in a GDT the other day -- I think he should be considered for the Selke.

 

[Redleaf]

I'm going with Jay McClement. I think he is the most valuable player to this team.

Without Jay, I don't think the Leafs make the playoffs. He was a revelation on the PK.

This. This and this again.

Most PK time in the league and an unthinkable improvement in the team PK standings. Reimer and Kule and Bozak helped but it is all about McClement.

I mentioned this in a GDT the other day -- I think he should be considered for the Selke.

Its funny. In past years it was very easy to pick the MVP on the Leafs. You said Sundin, and everyone agreed. This season you've got four deserving candidates in Reimer, Kessel, McClement and Kadri. With the exception of McClement, they are all in the early stages of their careers. That has to bode well for this team moving forward!!!! .

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I'm going with Jay McClement. I think he is the most valuable player to this team.

Without Jay, I don't think the Leafs make the playoffs. He was a revelation on the PK.

This. This and this again.

Most PK time in the league and an unthinkable improvement in the team PK standings. Reimer and Kule and Bozak helped but it is all about McClement.

I mentioned this in a GDT the other day -- I think he should be considered for the Selke.

I don't think one player is responsible for this.  I mean, two years ago he had the most PK time on Colorado and they were the 30th ranked PK.  I doubt he was terrible then compared to now.

I'd say it's more likely a team commitment, which he is obviously a big part of.  But take Reimer, his sv% on the PK this season is .917 - last season it was .808, the year before was .855.  That's a huge difference.

I think McClement has been a very welcome addition to the PK, but I can't credit this much of a turnaround to a single person.  He's not elevating Reimer's sv% on the PK that much, he's just a key cog in a successful PK.

 

[TML fan]

Reimer without a doubt.

 

[Brystine]

Kessel

Our Offence got us to where we are, as did our PK. Defense and Goaltending-wise we still gave up a ton of goals, so I can't exactly give the nod to a defenseman or goaltender.

 

[Champ Kind]

Reimer without a doubt.

This.  100 times this.

 

[Kin]

Its funny. In past years it was very easy to pick the MVP on the Leafs. You said Sundin, and everyone agreed. This season you've got four deserving candidates in Reimer, Kessel, McClement and Kadri. With the exception of McClement, they are all in the early stages of their careers. That has to bode well for this team moving forward!!!! .

I think that says way more about Sundin than it does any of the guys on the Leafs this year.

 

[ZBBM]

Final MotM rankings are now up in that thread -- more fodder for the debate.

 

[hockeyfan1]

I'd choose Reimer.  The goaltending this year has been simply dependable, unlike other (forgettable) years, and that alone, can give a team the confidence it needs, knowing that the puck stopper back there can be depended on when his calling comes.

The Leafs have always had a tradition of memorable netminders who've gone 'to the ends of the earth' to back stop the team -- Broda, Sawchuk, Bower, Palmateer, Potvin, Joseph, -- to name a few, and now, insert the name Reimer in that category.

While Reimer may not yet be termed memorable, the more he plays, the better he wlll become and correct whatever flaws remain.  Hopefully, he's on his way to greatness.