Young player regression: Are they really this "bad"?

[Peter D.]

Kulemin: What's more concerning is that even though he may not score much, at least you'd expect some solid, hard work, two-way play out of him.  That really hasn't been the case.

I agree with most of you post, but the above is complete nonsense.

I disagree.  Has he had his moments?  Yes.  But they seem to be sporadic.  He hasn't been as forceful/noticeable as he was last year. 

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Kulemin: What's more concerning is that even though he may not score much, at least you'd expect some solid, hard work, two-way play out of him.  That really hasn't been the case.

I agree with most of you post, but the above is complete nonsense.

I disagree.  Has he had his moments?  Yes.  But they seem to be sporadic.  He hasn't been as forceful/noticeable as he was last year. 

He is a consistent two way player, he finishes his check and every five games or so he obliterates someone with a check.  Also his +/- would surely be terrible if he was defensively weak and wasn't putting up points, no? When paired with Mac and Grabo he's been their defensive conscious most of the time.

Sure it'd be nice if he brought the offense from last year, but perhaps there is more to the rumors of off-ice issues than was thought, particularly how close he was with more than one of the players who passed in that plane crash.

 

[Corn Flake]

If anything, this season has shown that the Leafs don't really have bluechip talent in the pipeline. 

Gardiner?

Usually when I make a statement like that, I mistakenly overlook the D and concentrate on the forwards as it's been far too long.   

But yeah, I'd suggest Gardiner would fit into that category.  The potential is definitely there.  I personally wouldn't consider him as a complete untouchable as many others have, but I think he no doubt is the biggest piece on defence moving forward.

He is awfully close to untouchable.  Nobody ever is 100% untouchable, but in any deal he would go out on, something pretty amazing would have to be coming back.  That said, some recent trades not made come to mind when the Leafs have hung on to supposed "untouchable" prospects and it has bit them in the rear every time.  ie Steen for Pronger, Schenn for Tavares,  something something something darkside, etc.

 

[bustaheims]

I disagree.  Has he had his moments?  Yes.  But they seem to be sporadic.  He hasn't been as forceful/noticeable as he was last year.

And yet, he's still 3rd among the team's forwards in blocked shots, 4th on the team in takeaways and only 4 players that have played at least 40 games have less giveaways. His 2-way play has absolutely still been there. He's still one of the team's most reliable defensive forwards, still one of the first guys in on the forecheck most nights. Still goes to the dirty areas and opens up space for Grabovski and MacArthur when he's been playing with them. Really, outside of not shooting the puck as much and not scoring as much, he's been pretty much the same player.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

I disagree.  Has he had his moments?  Yes.  But they seem to be sporadic.  He hasn't been as forceful/noticeable as he was last year.

And yet, he's still 3rd among the team's forwards in blocked shots, 4th on the team in takeaways and only 4 players that have played at least 40 games have less giveaways. His 2-way play has absolutely still been there. He's still one of the team's most reliable defensive forwards, still one of the first guys in on the forecheck most nights. Still goes to the dirty areas and opens up space for Grabovski and MacArthur when he's been playing with them. Really, outside of not shooting the puck as much and not scoring as much, he's been pretty much the same player.

*Golf Clap*