Who is your most disappointing player this season?

[CarltonTheBear]

Lupul.  Speaking of Kadri's bad defense, how about floaty-Mcfloaterson over here.  Lupul's play has really stagnated this year in comparison to his unsustainable production last year.  I still wonder if this isn't a bit of a Carlyle effect as they really never saw eye-to-eye in Anaheim.

Easily the worst defensive forward on the team. I love the guy, but taking the worst defensive forward off a bad defensive team could be addition by subtraction. The team should look hard to move him for a top-4 defenceman this offseason.

 

[Boston Leaf]

Franson (Clarkson is a gimmie)

 

[ZBBM]

Flapsy, Flapsy, and more Flapsy.

The question is, will the new coach have the cajones to park him on the 4th line and/or the nearest skybox for the next 6 years. In fact, I'd make that a pass/fail question in the job interview.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

The criticism of Kadri is really bordering on hilarity at this point.  He's not a Selke winner but my god.  Has anyone taken a look at Phil Kessel?  How about we take a trip in our time machine to the Phil Kessel during his first few years with the Leafs.  The guy couldn't be bothered to skate back into the defensive zone.  Now keep in mind that Kadri is 3 years younger than Kessel.

The 2009 draft was a pretty decent draft so far.  Kadri was picked 7th overall and is the 7th highest scoring player out of that draft.  On a per-game basis he's top 5 in both goals, assists and points.  Seeing as the only guys he's behind on a per-game pace were drafted ahead of him, the criticism seems a little over the top.

He hasn't taken that next step this year, but it's also his 2nd full NHL season and that's pretty common for a guy to struggle.  Now take into account that he's played with Clarkson for good stretches of the year and that the team as a whole has played like refried garbage and I'm not sure how closely we need to look at Kadri as the most disappointing player on the team.  He still has had a better offensive season (cumulative totals not PPG) than Bozak has ever put up in a season despite 2nd/3rd line ice-time and 2nd unit PP time all year.

There are definite flaws that need to be addressed.  I think his skating took a half-step backward this year.  Something has happened that he isn't trying to be nearly as creative with the puck (coaching staff?), his defensive play has been disappointing for large stretches, and while I'm not surprised about his slowed offense, the team could have used a few goals from him in the last few weeks.

It's silly. Consider this:

@bradyfan590

Kadri scored a point every 17:30 last season, Bozak's big "breakout" season this year (impressive, sure)? He's a point every 24:12.

 

[KadriFan]

The captain.  He stared the season as a screw up and got worse as it continued.  Can't believe we are stuck with him for 7 more seasons :-(

 

[Kin]

Ignoring Clarkson, who I was never big on, and Phaneuf, who I felt the same way last year as this year about, I think my answer is probably Kadri. Not for any defensive liabilities or in a "he's a bum" sense but just because I feel like he had an excellent opportunity this year to carve out a real identity for himself and the second line and he hasn't managed to do it. He's had a lot of time with linemates ranging from really good(his most frequent combo on the year remains Kessel and JVR) to pretty good(Lupul and either Raymond/Kulemin) and I still feel like it's a complete and total mystery as to what he's going to bring to the table from game to game.

We've seen glimpses of the tough nosed, feisty Kadri who could, I think, score 70-75 points in the right situation and we've seen the floater-ish Kadri who looks more like Mike Ribeiro-lite and seems fated to score 50-60 points. This year has provided more evidence, I think, that he ultimately ends up in the latter camp.

Other than that...Franson, I guess. I wish I felt better about Kulemin's year too. Other than that I think that a lot of Leafs have impressed this year on an individual basis.

 

[ZBBM]

Excellent analysis of Kadri. I think it's spot on. Also Kulemin. Like Kadri he has the skills to do more and they need more from both.

 

[Kin]

Also Kulemin. Like Kadri he has the skills to do more and they need more from both.

Well, just to be clear regarding my feelings about Kulemin I think that if Kulemin's ultimate role is what it was this year where he's either the 6th of the top 6 or he's a PK'ing checking forward I sure wish I'd seen enough of him in either role to make me think that you want to invest 3.5-4 million(or whatever it'll take to sign him) instead of seeing if Ashton or D'Amigo or someone can fill the role at a discount. I still think he's a good and valuable player, I'm just not sure if he's worth it at UFA prices.

 

[2badknees]

Excellent analysis of Kadri. I think it's spot on. Also Kulemin. Like Kadri he has the skills to do more and they need more from both.

x2. I think that's why I was so high on Bodie this year. It wasn't that he could ever be confused with an elite player, but he overachieved with the skills he had through sheer effort. Its hard not to like players like that.

With Kadri, I think its all about what is between the ears. His skillset is pretty solid.

 

[AlmosGirl]

Franson with Kadri closely behind.

 

[hap_leaf]

He hasn't taken that next step this year, but it's also his 2nd full NHL season and that's pretty common for a guy to struggle.

Kadri played in more NHL games combined than he did before his fantastic shortened 12-13 campaign so I didn't expect any sophomore slump.

Let's hope he brings his A game and fresh perspective to camp next year.

 

[moon111]

Who I haven't been disappointed in?
Kessel's lack of defense at times...
Bozak's injury... 
Phewneff... solid at times, but over-paid/over-rated.
I'd say JVR, Raymond(for the $, great deal), Holland, Bodie.
There's some other good parts, but they either didn't generate the offence or do enough defensively.
For some reason this is the MOST disappointed I've ever been in a Leafs team.  And I've seen some truly terrible teams.

 

[93forever]

Clarkson was the only disappointing player.  Carlyle is the biggest disappointment who needs to be fired,

 

[ZBBM]

Interesting that Lupul has, to many of us (me included), seemed to be a disappointment this year but is still solidly in second place among forwards in the MotM voting, 8 points ahead of JVR and 6 behind Kessel.

 

[LittleHockeyFan]

Interesting that Lupul has, to many of us (me included), seemed to be a disappointment this year but is still solidly in second place among forwards in the MotM voting, 8 points ahead of JVR and 6 behind Kessel.

*angrily stamping foot*
Lupul has NOT been a disappointment.

 

[moon111]

Lupul have provided Jason Blake-type offence while only being on the second line.  Of course Jason Blake was never a -14 either.  But that's to be expected with the line-ups.  Sorry, but in my judgement, Lupul and Kadri are like a Olczyk and Leeman who need an Osborne.  Kulemin should of been on the 2nd line.

 

[bustaheims]

Interesting that Lupul has, to many of us (me included), seemed to be a disappointment this year but is still solidly in second place among forwards in the MotM voting, 8 points ahead of JVR and 6 behind Kessel.

I think people's expectations were raised by his time on the 1st line before JvR came on board and the unsustainable pace at which is produced in the few games he was healthy last season. As 2nd liners go, Lupul's production has been very good. His defence needs improvement, but, that can be said about most of the team this season.

 

[sickbeast]

In my mind, the Leafs only have 3 good defencemen: Phaneuf, Reilly, and Gardiner. All the rest of their defense is terrible and they all need to go. You can't blame the forwards or the goaltending this season. The defense is to blame along with the coaching.

 

[Rebel_1812]

wow, with so many bad players its hard to see how the team won so many games.  I think the make up of the team needs to be changed.  They have too many skilled forwards that don't know how to play defense or throw a body check.  It doesn't mean those players are garbage, it means too many of them is a bad team.  I think Edmonton is having the same problem.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Most disappointing Leaf?  Clarkson, by far and wide.

Next up, Franson, Phaneuf.  ( Not to mention Orr & McLaren.  The 'invisible' men).

Carlyle the coach.  Nonis the GM.  The entire Leafs organization.

As The Globe & Mail's James Mirtle pointed out...
It?s time, in other words, for some ownership of
this team?s issues from those who contributed heavily to
them, beginning behind the bench and going to the very top.

If that happens and the organization learns from this, missing
the playoffs will be well worth it.