Explain this Colton Orr thing to me...

by TMLSiegeinVancouver on Nov 10, 2009 11:28 PM EST

Colton Orr has played all but one of the Leafs 16 games this year, recording one point, 12 shots and 47 penalty minutes with a -2 in the plus/minus column. In tonight's game vs Minnesota he logged 5:22 mins of ice time, roughly half of what his usual linemates Rickard Wallin and Wayne Primeau registered. He had one good chance for a goal - fanning on a cross ice pass that Nik Backstrom probably would have had anyway...

But what Colton Orr will be remembered for in tonight's game is the ridiculous penalty he took early in the second period. After Derek Boogaard tickled Kaberle in the corner, Orr skated up to the Boogieman on his way to the bench and tickled him right back. In skates the ref...and off goes Orr to the box for "interference."

Everyone knows what happened after that. Poni gets called for a questionable delay of game, the Wild score on the 5-on-3, and the once close game rolls downhill from there.

Now, I know what you're thinking...poor officiating, Orr is a fighter, TRUCULENCE!!!1

Okay, okay, I agree. I love a fight as much as the next guy, and while skating up to Boogard behind the play was dumb, I don't think Orr committed a foul that warranted a penalty.

But a penalty was called, and when it comes right down to it, that sequence of unfortunate events was the turning point of the game. People rag all the time on Vesa Toskala for taking the wind of the Leafs sails by allowing bad goals - well, Orr sucked all the momentum right out of the Leafs with that bad penalty.

To get to the point, here are my three main complaints about Colton Orr:

1) TRUCULENCE: If Colton Orr was signed as an example of the Leafs new committment to team toughness - and ten games into the season the Leafs had seemingly abandoned that committment - then what is the point of keeping Colton Orr in the lineup? The Leafs are having moderate success as of late by playing smart, getting good goaltending, and harnessing whatever talent they have - not by beating the shit out of their opponents. That would be fun, but it's just not gonna happen. Furthermore, just look once more at Orr's penalty tonight - that's not truculence! Orr overreated to a nothing hit on Kaberle, skated up to Boogaard like a schoolyard bully, and then postured aggressively until he took a penalty. If truculence means refs will call penalties against us for thinking about fighting, count me out.

2) WHERE'S THE FIGHTS?: I'm not sure if anyone else has noticed, but Colton Orr hasn't fought in over two weeks. His last fighting major was against Anaheim. While Orr is close to the lead league in fights, most of those contests were in the first week of the season. It seems to me that the Leafs weren't winning when Orr was fighting, and the coaching staff has told him to keep his gloves on since the club started accumulating points. If this is true, then again, why is Orr in the lineup?

3) STAJAN TO...ORR???: Due to Phil Kessel becomming John Mitchell's BFF, Matt Stajan rode the fourth line for much of tonight's game. While that is indeed head-slappingly embarassing for Stajan, putting Colton Orr on his wing pretty much killed any chance of Stajan performing well enough tonight to get out of Wilson's doghouse. But the demotion of Stajan down to the fourth squad really identifies a key failure of the Leafs season so far - to build a fourth line with a tough-guy/ high energy identity. Out of training camp I thought the Leafs may have had a bash brothers-esque checking line in the making, provided that Wayne Primeau and Colton Orr could gel with Rickard Wallin. But after the first month, quite frankly, the Leafs don't have a checking line - the pieces are there, but they just don't fit together, and the line usually gets hemmed into its own zone by whatever opposition line they are facing. It's pathetic really, considering those are the guys that are supposed to be intimidating the other team.

I guess what I'm saying is, if the fourth line isn't going to work like a fourth line should, abandon the concept.

Move on.

Put Orr on the bench and bring in a forward that can actually be productive in some way - either by scoring, killing penalties, blocking shots, or just by doing the little things that can help a team win. Because right now Orr is doing all the little things that cause a team to lose, and we cannot afford that.

Not anymore.

PensionPlanPuppets.com is a fan community that allows members to post their own thoughts and opinions on the Toronto Maple Leafs and hockey in general. These views and thoughts may not be shared by the editor of PensionPlanPuppets.com.

Tweet Comment 18 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Passionate, well said. Goons dont win games. But Burkie seems to be addicted to them.

by Chuck Canuck on Nov 11, 2009 2:06 AM EST reply actions

There seems to be a bit of a philisophical difference between wilson and burkes styles, i dont think wilson is a big believer in thugs and goon style hockey while Brian obviously loves it.

I like having a heavyweight like Orr on the roster, but i tend to agree with TMLSV, get some role players that can have a regular shift on the 4th line and actually try to do something positive.

There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"

by Matt_Roberts on Nov 11, 2009 9:33 AM EST up reply actions

The call on Orr was definitely bullshit. Run-ins on the bench happen like that all of the time. It was still dumb to engage in.

He’s been pretty good in terms of doing his job and not taking penalties. Unfortunately, as you note, Wilson doesn’t seem to trust him enough to take a regular or even semi-regular shift.

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

by PPP on Nov 11, 2009 10:01 AM EST reply actions

Orr crashed the net with reckless abandon last night, and got a few decent shots off on Backstrom. I recall one sequence where Primeau floated a pass to the net, and Orr with a full head of steam, deflected the shot just wide.

he’s not just a fighter, he has some useful skills and a decent hockey sense. were his hands a touch softer, I’d advocate putting him on the PP as a big body to park in front of the net.

I have nothing interesting to say.

by blurr1974 on Nov 11, 2009 10:33 AM EST reply actions

I would be pissed if the Leafs benched Orr. For an enforcer, he has some decent skills. Even if he had no skills whatsoever I would still rather have somebody like him who gives 100% every time he steps on the ice and is always willing to stick up for his teammates, than somebody like Kulemin.

“It seems to me that the Leafs weren’t winning when Orr was fighting, and the coaching staff has told him to keep his gloves on since the club started accumulating points.”

If you haven’t noticed, Orr has been trying, but he has been getting turned down alot lately. Not much he can do if the other team’s fighter isn’t willing to fight, thanks to the ridiculous instigator rule.

Go Leafs and Bruins!

by Brad Ackerson on Nov 11, 2009 12:28 PM EST reply actions

I think Orr was told to make sure that any fights fit in the narrative of the game as well.

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

by PPP on Nov 11, 2009 12:31 PM EST up reply actions

Kulemin is a poor comparisson.

Kulemin is a guy that is extremely productive in his role, and hence much more valuable to the Leafs than Orr. He’s the real work horse on that second line with grabs and poni.

And I question whether Orr is giving 100% when he’s chasing the puck around his own zone 10 seconds after he steps on the ice. 100% from a player like Orr would be high energy shifts with lots of checking and the crowd going nuts. Haven’t seen that at all.

by TMLSiegeinVancouver on Nov 11, 2009 12:54 PM EST up reply actions

I love Orr. We need his toughness, not just for fighting but so our other players don’t get beat up after the whistle and our goalie doesn’t get run.

He’s a decent player as well. I feel your frustrations but this post is too knee-jerk. The most valid point is that the 4th line doesn’t gel together, but that’s what happens when the line gets mixed around ever other shift. Keep Orr, he’s like Belak with hands.

"I will take the subway - we were on the subway last night...I'm not above riding the subway or riding on a bus, I don't care. As long as people don't hit me." --Ron Wilson

by Jo4nny on Nov 11, 2009 12:36 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

But Belak was a healthy scratch most of the time.

It seems to me like a defenceman like Komi or Beau or X is more likely to prevent shananigans than a player like Orr that plays 5 minutes a night.

I’ve been waiting for two weeks to make a post about Orr because I didnt want it to be knee jerk. But that last game, and particularly that dumb penalty, really confirmed to me that this guy is a pointless waste of a roster spot.

by TMLSiegeinVancouver on Nov 11, 2009 12:46 PM EST up reply actions

I think that if Wilson isn’t going to have confidence in him then he is a waste of a roster spot but I don’t think his play over the last two weeks screams waste to me.

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

by PPP on Nov 11, 2009 12:54 PM EST up reply actions

Okay, maybe “waste” is a harsh word. But one of the Marlies, maybe a kid like Hanson, could provide the same level of sandpaper as Orr (minus the fighting) and perhaps even produce some timely offence every now and then.

by TMLSiegeinVancouver on Nov 11, 2009 1:00 PM EST up reply actions

Komisarek is big and tough but he is an awful fighter and usually only beats guys smaller than him. XLB is a great hitter but he usually only fights when he is the one being challenged, and he is a mediocre “middleweight” at best. Beauchemin is a decent fighter when he wants to fight but he very rarely drops the gloves and that will likely never change. None of these guys are going to scare somebody like Orr could.

For the first time since Domi was in his prime the Leafs have one of the top 5 enforcers in the league, I for one am going to enjoy it dispite that one penalty (that shouldn’t have been called) that cost the Leafs a goal.

Go Leafs and Bruins!

by Brad Ackerson on Nov 11, 2009 5:23 PM EST up reply actions

Okay, granted...

Orr is probably a top 5 “enforcer.”

But, again, it doesn’t seem like Orr has been doing much enforcing lately. He hasn’t been fighting – I didnt see him fight Hordichuk at the game I went to in Vancouver, he didn’t tangle with Laraque in Montreal, I didn’t see him attempt to get payback for Ohlund’s hit on Kessel – all I’m seeing is mediocre play and bad penalties.

And Brad, I think Belak was a top 5 enforcer when he was last with the Leafs. The difference between Belak and Orr is that Belak rode the pine most nights – that’s all I’m advocating here with Orr. Bench him until you’re playing a rough and tumble team like the Flyers or…umm, one of the other teams that still employ enforcers…

by TMLSiegeinVancouver on Nov 11, 2009 8:55 PM EST up reply actions

2003-2004 Belak didn’t play much and his last year in Toronto but the other years he was playing on average 60 games.

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

by PPP on Nov 11, 2009 9:01 PM EST up reply actions

also, Orr is a better over all hockey player than Belak, better skater, better positioning, better hands, better energy.
And it’s not like he isnt trying to fight, it takes two to tango.
Every time he is on the ice he is in someones face, if they don’t want to dance should he jump them?

Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That

by JaredFromLondon on Nov 11, 2009 9:03 PM EST up reply actions

I love Orr. We need his toughness, not just for fighting but so our other players don’t get beat up after the whistle and our goalie doesn’t get run.

"I will take the subway - we were on the subway last night...I'm not above riding the subway or riding on a bus, I don't care. As long as people don't hit me." --Ron Wilson

by Jo4nny on Nov 11, 2009 12:39 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

I don’t think Orr is as bad as you’ve written him up to be. When playing with Wallin, the fourth line was aggressive on the forecheck and causing turnovers because opposing players were afraid of getting hit. Yes, sometimes they get hemmed in their own end but not every 4th line can be Draper-Maltby-McCarty. It really is a bonus, for any team, to get any production out of their fourth line and the fact that Orr is only -2 despite playing on a team with the most goals against doesn’t exactly scream “disaster” to me.

That penalty he took yesterday was such such a bullshit call in my opnion. A lot worse goes on in every game that goes unpenalized.

You say you want a revolution // Read the Blog and follow your Hunger

by Hungry Leafs Fan on Nov 11, 2009 1:47 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Last year in 82 games (ie he did not miss a game) he was a -15 with 5 points and nearly 200 PIM, avg TOI 6:47. This year so far he’s got 47 PIM, one point and is -2 after 16 games, avg TOI of 6:17. That puts him on pace for around 5 points, -10 and 200 PIM. So he is as advertised, doing exactly what he did last year. It would be as if Jason Blake were scoring at a 40 goal pace…ahem.

We are not a complete team yet. I would not be against sitting Stajan and playing Mayers on the 4th line (although I know what some of you think of Jamal Mayers). That might be a little grittier. There is no need for him to have more ice time. He is getting the job done.

It’s hard to say what the effect of fights will be. The Kennedy fight for Pittsburgh in the playoffs may have turned the series. The Kennedy fight for Pittsburgh against the Leafs in the regular season may have cost the coach his job. There were lots of fights when the Leafs were playing poorly—did the fights cause the poor play? Or did the fights help eventually get the team out of the funk? If the fighters do their job (i.e. fight) that signals to the rest of the team, hey, I’m doing my job, now you do yours (make saves, score goals).

Bad penalties are a risk you take as a fighter/agitator doing your job. At the beginning of the season, we were getting no help on PK. We just came off a run of 16 for 16. So there is some confidence now. Colton Orr has been one of our most consistent players, relative to his job.

When all the parts are working, the team looks good, but when one part falls off, it makes everyone look bad, and it is easy to pick on the guy who only skates 5min a game and has as part of his job description the task of spending time in the box.

by Leaf in Habland on Nov 11, 2009 2:28 PM EST reply actions