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Reading the Tea Leafs: Ian White

Following on the success of two other dormant series Chemmy and I have decided that in order to fill the gap in NHL news that we'll take a look at each of the current Leafs, possible Leafs on the Marlies, and prospects. We'll recap their performance last year, what we can expect from them, and how they can win our hearts (hint: signing the contract was a good first step...unless your name is Bryan McCabe). We have no idea how long of a series this will end up being or how consistent it will be but with two of us expect it to only be half as half-assed and twice as timely.


Ian White is so useless that this is the best clip I could find of him on YouTube. I hate him so much his name might as well be Bryan McCabe.

Star-divide

Contract Status (according to NHL Numbers)
$850K salary, $850K cap hit, RFA July 1, 2010

Age (as of October 1, 2008)
24 June 4, 1984

NHL Seasons
Three

Run of the Mill Biographical Information

2007-2008 Stats and Team Ranking

(Scoring rates via Behind The Net)

Counting Stats Total Category 5-on-5 5-on-4 4-on-5
Games Played 81 TOI/60 15.62 1.37 1.19
Goals 5 Pts/60 0.95 0.54 0.00
Assists 16 GFON/60 2.70 3.24 0.00
Points 21 GAON/60 2.89 1.08 6.25

Marital Status
The puck bunnies have failed us. No idea who he is dating although he seems pretty pleased with himself most of the time so maybe he carries a mirror around.

Former Leaf he'd have to play like in order to be christened a deity
Any Leaf that actually looked like they belonged in the NHL or didn't panic and throw the puck away at the first sign of impending contact. Oh, or someone that could make a freaking backhanded clearance.

Biggest Question Marks
Does he even make the squad? Aside from being young, White does not exactly fare well against the rest of the depth chart. Kubina, Kaberle, and Finger have the top three spots on lockdown. A healthy Carlo (I know, I know) moves White into the third pairing but there waits Anton Stralman who almost certainly will make the team, Staffan Kronwall who is better than him, Josef Boumedienne who, while old has to be better than him, and Luke Schenn who will have every chance to make the big club. Enjoy the Ricoh buddy!

2007-2008 Summary
Did you know that White had a better scoring rate than Tomas Kaberle at even strength? Did you know that White averaged the fifth most minutes among defencemen 5-on-5? Me neither. Frankly, as someone that cannot feel any sort of contentment until Ian White is no longer besmirching the blue and white those two facts terrify me.

In a perfect world, White would have sat all of last season so that Jay Harrison (so long!), Staffan Kronwall, or Anton Stralman would have received a much better chance to showcase their talent. Instead, we were treated to Bryan McCabe Mk II - Miniature Edition. We were treated to seeing an undersized defenceman unable to use his speed, unwilling to physically engage opponents, and completely one-sided. If the puck wasn't on his forehand then he couldn't handle it.

The most painful part? While every other defenceman on the Leafs has been injured White just keeps on ticking. There was no relief from his presence on the blueline.

Projected 2008-2009 role/team
If I was in Cliff Fletcher's shoes White's Leafs' career would be over just as soon as I could find someone to trade me a prospect/late round draft pick for him. Ron Wilson did some great work shepherding young defencemen into the NHL so it is conceivable that he would want to try to keep White around to see what advancements he can make this season. Not to mention that he's already spent three seasons with the big club and two of his main competitors have a history of missing big chunks of time.

Being on the third pairing is the most likely outcome, as much as I hate it, for the upcoming season unless Kronwall or Schenn really blows the team away. Dammit.

Poll
Where will Ian White end the season?
On the Leafs' second pairing
1 votes
On the Leafs' third pairing
14 votes
Riding the TTC because of another DUI
4 votes
Helping Justin Pogge's development by gifting the opposition great scoring chances
12 votes
Xenu-willing, on any other NHL organization's AHL roster
15 votes

46 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 23 comments | Digg!

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Missing option – on someone else’s roster.

by 1967ers on Sep 3, 2008 1:02 PM EDT   0 recs

Fixed

Can’t believe I missed that.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Sep 3, 2008 1:05 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

But I want to change my vote now :(

Pension Plan Puppets*
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by Chemmy on Sep 3, 2008 1:14 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Ummm…I don’t know what to tell you. I guess you’ll just have to mentally add 1 to the eventual total.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Sep 3, 2008 1:25 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Mebbe he brings a middling forward prospect back. That’d do.

by 1967ers on Sep 3, 2008 1:25 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Or he could replace one of the 2nd/3rd/4th round picks that have blacked Damien’s heart.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Sep 3, 2008 1:40 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Voted TTC. White better not be on the roster. Right now I’m liking:

Kaberle-Kubina
Van Ryn-Colaiacovo (they can’t both get hurt at the same time on the same line, right?)
Finger-Stralman

mmmm

Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.

by Chemmy on Sep 3, 2008 1:03 PM EDT   0 recs

(they can’t both get hurt at the same time on the same line, right?)

On the same shift, on the same play, by the same pane of glass…

Those are nice pairings.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Sep 3, 2008 1:06 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

little known Ian White facts

did you know…

  • Ian White was abandoned as an infant (stuck with a note reading “mondo retardo”) and raised by polar bears?
  • Ian White may or may not be functionally illiterate?
  • He once recited the entire movie “West Side Story”…in his sleep?
  • His favourite dinner is "the kind that doesn’t run away?
  • He once challenged Kyle Wellwood to a “Punch yourself in the face” competition…and won?

Making stuff up since real Leafs news is far too depressing

by loser domi on Sep 3, 2008 2:15 PM EDT   0 recs

  • Did you know that Ian White looks like Bruce McCullogh, from Kids in the Hall:

Pension Plan Puppets*
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by Chemmy on Sep 3, 2008 2:38 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

  • Did you know that Ian White changes his appearance (hair, beard etc.) as protection from some bad business concerning the gay Japanese mafia?

Making stuff up since real Leafs news is far too depressing

by loser domi on Sep 3, 2008 2:41 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

  • Did you know that I personally hate Ian White?

Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.

by Chemmy on Sep 3, 2008 3:01 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

White

He’s okay as long as he doesn’t grow a beard mid-season. That seemed to coincide with his worst performances.

Y’know Bruce McCullogh once complained about watching his “friends grow beards to cover their puffy, compromising faces”. Hmmm….

by general borschevsky on Sep 3, 2008 2:52 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

did you know Ian Whites beard is made of concentrated failure and grows faster the more he sucks?

Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option

by JaredFromLondon on Sep 3, 2008 4:37 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

did you know

I so should have started the "little known facts " with all the players chronicled in reading tea leafs

also, did you know that Ian White is in search of a cross made of kryptonite so he could keep away Dracula AND Superman?

Making stuff up since real Leafs news is far too depressing

by loser domi on Sep 3, 2008 6:42 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Did you know there are only three real monsters?

  • Dracula
  • Blackula
  • Son of Kong

Pension Plan Puppets*
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by Chemmy on Sep 3, 2008 6:59 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

forgot one

Richard Peddie

Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option

by JaredFromLondon on Sep 3, 2008 7:34 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

funny but so true
The most painful part? While every other defenceman on the Leafs has been injured White just keeps on ticking. There was no relief from his presence on the blueline.

As for Wilson, I don’t believe he thinks White is his kind of player. I don’t think he will be a Leaf, baby or bigs.

Why so much hate for White? Yes he isn’t that good but he sure is lucky for two years his bosses didn’t know he wasn’t doing a good job and considering he team mates or boss, he wasn’t the only one.

by Coach Dunbar on Sep 3, 2008 7:23 PM EDT   0 recs

Yeah, if Maurice had used a benching or replacement to send a message maybe White would have cleared up some of his screw ups. Instead he just kept playing.

Apparently there is interest in him for a pick so he’ll probably kick off the process of re-stocking the team’s pick stash.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Sep 3, 2008 7:52 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Have you seen him skate? Or work along the boards?

by koopa kid on Sep 4, 2008 3:14 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Ian White is terrible. We should cut him despite him being an RFA.

No other teams will give us anything for White, he wouldn’t make any other NHL roster.

Pension Plan Puppets*
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by Chemmy on Sep 5, 2008 4:14 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

So Florida should be interested then?

Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option

by JaredFromLondon on Sep 5, 2008 4:30 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Time to get that fourth round pick back.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Sep 5, 2008 5:52 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

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