2012-2013 Regular Season Discussion

[TR50]

I don't get not sending Grabo out there either.

Holzer needs to be sent down and Gunnarsson straight sucks. I wouldn't mind seeing Komisarek replace one and have Gardiner replace the other.

[YogiStewart]

Hey, you guys think making game day threads would help with getting more discussion and posters? I'd be up for making them.

I don't think anyone would stop you, although maybe Yogi/Crowned disagree...

I think there might be a few more posts, but I fear your efforts might go unrewarded.

If the Leafs make the playoffs, however, the party will get jumping around here.

you guys can do whatever you like.
this forum is still relatively quiet. not sure if there would be a positive correlation between # of new threads and board activity.

by the way, i've stayed silent on this, but might as well post. initially, i predicted that the leafs would be worst or 2nd worst in the east. Mtl was the other team i thought would suck. whoops.
anyways, up until last week, i was still convinced that their place in the standings was fool's gold. b-level D, shaky goaltending, Grabbo and Kuleimin useless up front.

i'm guessing now that you're looking at a team fighting for 8-10 in the East. anything higher? be happy. and i think the Leafs can definitely win a playoff round IF their goaltending/D smartens up.

the Leafs were lucky to get a point out of last night's game. that Jets' 2nd period display showcased a lot of Toronto's problems.

[whysoserious]

That Grabo signing just looks worse and worse. Kulemin has become probably the most useless player out there.

Holzer should be sent down, Gardiner up. Then trade Gunnarson at the deadline and bring Holzer back up later.

[YogiStewart]

i like Gunnarson. an average defenceman who doesn't make glaring errors. won't win awards, but is dependable. great 4th d-man.
Koska and Frasor, though, are pretty much the same concept (but less talented but harder workers).

the Leafs' D is incredibly low on talent. if your best d-man is Phaneuf, you are in trouble.
after Phaneuf, you have...Franzen? eh. not horrible. but then Kostka and Frasor and Holzer and Gunnarson? and Liles?

4 guys that are 5-7 defensemen on most clubs. zero all stars on D.

and then they just played the Jets. Bogosian's a stud. top 2 D-man. Enstrom's injured, but a top 3 d-man. Buff, for what he gives you, is a top 3 D-man. Hainsey's a great 4th D-man. and Clitsome is Kostka and Frasor, but a better offensive player.

Leafs have a way to go to increase talent (and decrease payroll) on D

[whysoserious]

We love paying for those guys that are 3rd and 4th liners and 5th and 6th d-men. Very similar to the basketball team instead of focusing on the high end talent.

I'm not overly impressed with Gunnarson, easily replaceable IMO. So are Kostka and Fraser but I like Fraser this year as the 5th/6th d man.

Gardiner though should easily be up with the big club at this point. I can't even believe that Liles and Komi are sitting there in the press box taking up so much of our cap.

[YogiStewart]

We love paying for those guys that are 3rd and 4th liners and 5th and 6th d-men. Very similar to the basketball team instead of focusing on the high end talent.

I'm not overly impressed with Gunnarson, easily replaceable IMO. So are Kostka and Fraser but I like Fraser this year as the 5th/6th d man.

Gardiner though should easily be up with the big club at this point. I can't even believe that Liles and Komi are sitting there in the press box taking up so much of our cap.

i would have thought that they could offload Komi to Detroit. maybe they're waiting until it gets closer to the trade deadline and teams ask for players out of desperation?

[Ado05]

Hey, you guys think making game day threads would help with getting more discussion and posters? I'd be up for making them.

I don't think anyone would stop you, although maybe Yogi/Crowned disagree...

I think there might be a few more posts, but I fear your efforts might go unrewarded.

If the Leafs make the playoffs, however, the party will get jumping around here.

you guys can do whatever you like.
this forum is still relatively quiet. not sure if there would be a positive correlation between # of new threads and board activity.

I was just thinking that if theres some game threads, people would think about coming here to talk while the game is going on. But, I think we should wait and see if the Leafs are close or in the playoffs late in the season.

[Ado05]

That Grabo signing just looks worse and worse. Kulemin has become probably the most useless player out there.

Holzer should be sent down, Gardiner up. Then trade Gunnarson at the deadline and bring Holzer back up later.

Yup, the Grabo signing is awful. But I think hes being used in the wrong role. Grabovski is a player who can give 50-60 points in 82 games. He scores. But I think Carlyle is putting him in a more shut down role, which I dont think hes doing a bad job at, but its just not where he should be. He is offensively gifted.

I agree on sending Holzer down, its pretty clear he needs more time in the minors. But, IIRC, he signed a new contract, so maybe they cant send him down. But I dont really know to much about the contract.

I think I heard/read somewhere that Gunnarsson is playing with a groin injury, that isnt to serious. Bottom line is that he isnt 100%. And hes shown that he can be a good defense man, so I dont think we should sell low on him.

[Ado05]

i like Gunnarson. an average defenceman who doesn't make glaring errors. won't win awards, but is dependable. great 4th d-man.
Koska and Frasor, though, are pretty much the same concept (but less talented but harder workers).

the Leafs' D is incredibly low on talent. if your best d-man is Phaneuf, you are in trouble.
after Phaneuf, you have...Franzen? eh. not horrible. but then Kostka and Frasor and Holzer and Gunnarson? and Liles?

4 guys that are 5-7 defensemen on most clubs. zero all stars on D.

I agree completely. I dont think Phaneuf should be your best defense man, I think hes more of a number 2 guy. I think a lot of people got caught up on how much depth on D we have, but if you really look at it, we dont have a lot of talent. The guys I see going forward, are:
Phaneuf
Gardiner
Reilly
Percy
Franson
Finn
Gunnarson
Maybe Blacker

I might be forgetting someone.

Not a bad group, but not a great group.

[YogiStewart]

but here's the problem with the leafs (over the past 20 years):

they don't like to put rookies into the line-up.
and having a rookie-heavy d? might as well look for that high draft pick in 2014.

Reiley will be good. i'd let Phaneuf walk when his contract is up. Franson, i also like. Gardiner is good but overrated, IMO. Blacker's not getting much hype or love. assume he won't make it.
Gunnarson, you keep.

every team wants to have the following equation:

1 bruiser
2 guys great in their end/stay at home
2 guys well rounded
1 guy offensively gifted

gifted = Reilly
well rounded = Gardiner, Franzen and Gunnarson. now, does Phaneuf fit in this category?
stay at home D = Phaneuf? not really. who else? now, it is Koska and Frasor
bruiser = no one. was supposed to be Phaneuf.

so they still need 1-2 great stay at home d-men and a D that is mean and scares you.

[whysoserious]

Perry now off the market too. I'm not sure how this organization will land a true number 1 center at this point.

[Ado05]

Jake Gardiner called up, Holzer sent down!

Great news!

[_venom_]

The Leafs need to look at SJ to see if they can pry away Thornton or Marleau to be their number 1 C. San Jose is struggling and have to make changes because they're in cap trouble for next year and aren't nearly good enough to compete with Chicago or Anaheim this season.

[Crowned]

I'm completely fine with some of our blueline, guys like Phanuef, Franson, Gunnarsson and Gardiner are adequate moving forward. I don't think the team necessarily needs a #1 defenseman, they really lack a good shutdown defenseman. I think a core of Gardiner, Reilly, Phanuef and Franson is a start...but they're severely lacking a shutdown guy.

[bananaman]

I thought Gardiner looked pretty good last night. He was taking chances and really helped maintain pressure in the Lightnings' zone. Hopefully he keeps it up tonight.

[Ado05]

Woo, we finally beat the Bruins!

Hopefully we can pull out another win on Monday.

[hsb]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3-88b00Y5o[/youtube]

Nice video.

[LittleOzzy]

I don't think anyone would stop you, although maybe Yogi/Crowned disagree...

I think there might be a few more posts, but I fear your efforts might go unrewarded.

If the Leafs make the playoffs, however, the party will get jumping around here.

you guys can do whatever you like.
this forum is still relatively quiet. not sure if there would be a positive correlation between # of new threads and board activity.

I was just thinking that if theres some game threads, people would think about coming here to talk while the game is going on. But, I think we should wait and see if the Leafs are close or in the playoffs late in the season.

I think it's a good idea. The more threads created the more active the forum looks.

Just don't be offended if some game threads have no replies. It takes time.

The Jays forum took a few years to get the point of being a truly active forum.

[Dr Positivity]

<3 <3 <3 this year

6 more Ws in last 13 Gs should do it, maybe 5. Don't have to ride in on a white horse, just don't belly flop either. Man it'd be beautiful to be playing one of Pit, Mtl, Wpg, Ott, Bos in the playoffs, love all those series

[kaulkhara15]

Would love to keep the 6 seed and play the southeast division winner. I believe we can beat Win/Was/Car in a 7 game series.