Leafs Season Over - Thoughts?

[kimmer]

So nobody cares about having a first line centre still?
Ive made a small point earlier this month but looks to me, while there really are lots of other factors put in, we have NOT had semi-successful playoff stretch since the Sundin days... Come on people so what if bozaks chemistry is amazing with kessel? You dont think toews wouldnt play any better witaspects of his game better than bozak l? Lol if anything it gets better + all the other aspects of his game to the next lvl.

We addressed the goaltending issues. Kool
Now we bitch about the defensive game. Kool
Get an actual top of the line centre who can provide that defensive depth, and score for us.
Not look for 2 whole fucking new pair of dmen that will "play defensively" thats 4 players to one that id like the leafs to start looking for.

Come on

[The BBKL Insider]

Paul buddy

do you miss the leaf games? even the guys on sportsnet (who hate the leafs) said the top like C isn't an issue anymore. Bozak has top 10C stats in the entire league.

The top like C isn't the issue.

[kimmer]

It is the issue. Why? Because teams like boston has krejci AND bergeron. Contenders either have at least one superstar centre, or multiple 200 ft centres who are also very good at hockey. We have bozak. Period. He creates kessels production, also isnt even close to bergeron in 1 on 1 comparison. So wtf we going to do with just him? Our fwd depth is just as awful as our dmen depth, and if we don't have depth to create scoring chances/cut them off from trying to get in our zone from the neutral zone (where 200 ft centre shud thrive in), how we goinf to compete?

[Lee]

Goalposts keep getting moved.

[kimmer]

Encouragement exhibit A: ryan johansen... This kid is a perrenial allstar centre in the making: clb does have good dmen depth, but nobody worth calling a franchise dman with the exception to murray whos still not at his ceiling yet. Ryjo is carrying the team literally as we speak and thats what i want out of our system

[The BBKL Insider]

Encouragement exhibit A: ryan johansen... This kid is a perrenial allstar centre in the making: clb does have good dmen depth, but nobody worth calling a franchise dman with the exception to murray whos still not at his ceiling yet. Ryjo is carrying the team literally as we speak and thats what i want out of our system

That's the thing, what we want and what we have our 2 different things.

We dont have a Ryjo in the system. However, i'd like to actually see what Holland could offer in a top 6 role. He's more talented than Colborne and look at what he's doing for CGY. He's been great the 2nd half of the season.

[kimmer]

I would be satisfied if holland and bozak can bolster our top 2 lines as our 200 ft centres.. However i just don't see if panning out. Id rather have us ship reimer + gardiner or whoever out that has decent value and get in am unproven but ryjo caliber centre still in development. Top 5 pick centre would be preferable

[The BBKL Insider]

Reimer no long holds trade value. See the goalie market that just went by.

[kimmer]

Just land strome and i will be happy

[The BBKL Insider]

Just land strome and i will be happy

woudn't surprise me to see strome traded, but the isles need exactly what we need, a top 2 dmen.

[KapG]

Bozak is far from the problem. The problem is we dont have a centre to be 1b.

[The BBKL Insider]

Bozak is far from the problem. The problem is we dont have a centre to be 1b.

Yup,

as i stated in nicks thread, from everything i've read today the leafs seem to be trending towards signing Bolland, and giving holland a chance. Many speculate kadri will be move to upgrade another position.

It's actually crazy, depending on the article, and the writer, they all blame someone different..some blame randy, some clarkson, some lupul, some dion, some jake and rielly.

[KapG]

Much like us on here they all have their opinions haha.

Not sure if bolland is a solution. I see him as a 3 c and unfortunately not someone who can anchor a 2nd line. Holland cant be a 2c yet either. If we sign bolland though where does holland fit? 4th line? There is mcclement there though..

Lots of issues and questions.

Lupul is a heart and soul type of guy but hes injured too much for me. Id be ok packaging him with gardiner perhaps. Not sure what that even gets us though.

[The BBKL Insider]

Much like us on here they all have their opinions haha.

Not sure if bolland is a solution. I see him as a 3 c and unfortunately not someone who can anchor a 2nd line. Holland cant be a 2c yet either. If we sign bolland though where does holland fit? 4th line? There is mcclement there though..

Lots of issues and questions.

Lupul is a heart and soul type of guy but hes injured too much for me. Id be ok packaging him with gardiner perhaps. Not sure what that even gets us though.

Gardiner has been literally one of our best players since the olympics. I'm not sure i'd even consider trading him.

If im the GM of the leafs this is how i see it:

Holland could replace kadri (call me crazy but i actually think he's as skilled - he's a better skater, stronger, drives to the net) but he doesn't have the hands or kadri's playmaking ability yet...that will come.


Resign bolland
Let Kulemin and Raymond walk
Go get Komorov 2 years @2mil per.
Trade Kadri + Gunnar for a more proven, top 2 dmen.
Sign a good UFA (top 4 dmen)
Sign a good backup goalie
Trade Fransons rights for a pick at the draft.

[Bruyns]

This season played out the way I think most people who follow hockey and the advanced stat movement predicted. I tried to be optimistic, but it was obvious when watching their play that they weren't as good as their record indicated earlier in the year when they were comfortably in a playoff position. I still find it funny when people blame Reimer when the team allowed a historical amount of shots against. Goaltending was not even close to a problem and we aren't going to have a better backup than Reimer next season and Bernier is a good #1.

I'm a believer that the system and coaching played a larger part in their unprecedentedly terrible defence than the personnel and hope more than anything we have a new coach and system that plays to our team's strengths next season recognizing we are a skilled offensive team and not a grind it out defensive team. Dion might not be a 7M D, but I think he is a top pair guy and needs some help carrying the load, he also looked slower in the second half and wouldn't be surprised if news came out he was dealing with some nagging injuries, he looked great at the start of the year and locking him up seemed like a no brainer at the time.

Clarkson was a huge disappointment and Kulemin is a superior player who we will likely lose due to that mistake of a contract. Every time Kadri and Lupul played with Kulemin their line was productive and did a good job maintaining possession in the offensive zone and when Clarkson was on that line it killed it. I remember reading a stat about Kadri with Clarkson and without him and the difference in production was staggering. I think Clarkson will be better next season, but he is an overpaid 3rd liner who can chip in some offence and I don't think he is good enough to play in our top 6 personally.

I agree with Paul that we are weak down the middle, Bozak is still a product of his wingers and had an insanely high shooting % that will regress next season. Bozak-Kadri-Bolland isn't terrible, but Bolland and Bozak are very overrated by our fan base IMO. I think this group with another year of experience for Kadri, Rielly, Gardiner will be better next season with a different system and coach and I fully expect moves will be made this offseason, but worst case scenario for me is keeping Carlyle and moving Kadri and Gardiner for more Randy-type players with grit and toughness.

[KapG]

Steve I think that if given the chance gardiner could be one of our more dynamic players. Sadly carlyle does not think so.

Just putting togrther a package that could perhaps actually fetch us a legit player

[Nick]

McClement, Lupul, Gardiner, Reilly & Bernier are the pieces I'd prefer to keep. Hell for 1M I'd add ranger to that list.


I don't have a firm view on Kadri either way, I do think he could be the potential cornerstone of a great Power play - just not with Randy.


I could take or leave Reimer & Franson, once again the cap hit being a major factor on 'worth it' or not.


I'm actually with Paul on the C front, not having a #1C is a problem that we've managed to hide, but it still shows against elite teams, on the PP and late in games IMO.


I would like a see a change in coaching, and for-sure a notable change in the leadership group on our team. Whether that is Dion/Gunner or Bozak/Kessel I don't care, but this same vet pieces have been passengers on too many slumps/collapses for me.

[The BBKL Insider]

It's crazy how we each view the 'problems' of the leafs. The only thing we all completely agree on is Randy.

[Bruyns]

It's crazy how we each view the 'problems' of the leafs. The only thing we all completely agree on is Randy.

Haha hard to find many Randy supporters, he might not be a terrible coach, but this team is not meant to play the style he demands and it's much easier to fix the coach than the whole roster.

[kimmer]

Ask mike or josh whos familiar with MOBA games; a top tier team needs a centre who CARRY the game. A super/hard carry in DotA when past a certain point in late game phase (40-60 min mark of dota game, or i like to put final stretch of nhl season in march-april), are basically unkillable at that stage, barring an epic support failure from ur teammates, leading to an eventual victory. In top tier pro dota leagues, it always comes down to having a victory going to whos ever team has the strongest carry in late game.

I cant think of any other better examples than this to say bozak isnt a carry type player. He isnt a problem, but i still am one of the biggest believer in having a carry centre to lead and get us over that late stretch of season. Thats the difference btwn bozak and a true #1 carry centre