Quick Leafs Update

by Chemmy on Dec 29, 2009 3:04 PM EST in News

According to AM640's Jonas Siegel, both John Mitchell and Viktor Stålberg practiced with the team today though neither is expected to play tomorrow night in Edmonton. Makes you wonder if Rickard Wallin's days are numbered here; you'd have to imagine the Leafs would rather have Mitchell in the lineup than Wallin.

Mikhail Grabovski has been practicing with the fourth line after being demoted there at the end of the Penguins game.

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ack, we need grabbo to be playing well if we have any hope of staying in the playoff race. also, please just get wallin out of here. Id have John Mitchell on the team 10/10 over him.

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by Matt_Roberts on Dec 29, 2009 3:12 PM EST reply actions

Playoff race? We’re in 27th.

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by Chemmy on Dec 29, 2009 3:21 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Perhaps.

But we’re also only 3 points out of a playoff spot. The East is wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide open.

by Huey2k2 on Dec 29, 2009 3:33 PM EST up reply actions

Ahhh Chemmy

Always the optimist! ;)

"There's been four different Cup winners the last four years, and I got one of them (Anaheim) and it was a fighting team. We're playing it that way regardless." - B. Burke, Toronto Maple Leafs GM

by BlueBuds on Dec 29, 2009 3:37 PM EST up reply actions

Cue the sound of HFBoards trade rumor wheel starting to spin.

by birky on Dec 29, 2009 3:30 PM EST reply actions

woah, can someone explain the Grabovski thing to me? Who’s #2 center?

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky

by Karina on Dec 29, 2009 3:37 PM EST reply actions

primeau?

i missed that game too

Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That

by JaredFromLondon on Dec 29, 2009 3:38 PM EST up reply actions

actually I think they played Wallin there. I know. I’m scared too.

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by blindfolded tank driver on Dec 29, 2009 4:12 PM EST up reply actions

yep. Wallin was out there.

by birky on Dec 29, 2009 4:18 PM EST up reply actions

woah

what did Grabbo do that was so horrible?

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky

by Karina on Dec 29, 2009 4:32 PM EST up reply actions

He has been playing pretty crappy lately

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by leafer1984 on Dec 29, 2009 4:41 PM EST up reply actions

but Wallin? Grabbo’s crappy play is still better than the best I’ve seen of Wallin…

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky

by Karina on Dec 29, 2009 5:01 PM EST up reply actions

Actually to be fair to Grabovski

he has been playing BETTER in the past 3 games. He was bad against Buffalo and Phoenix last week (combined -5 in 2 games) but he’s had 2 points in his last 3, and he’s an even player in those games also.

I think this is more about getting Wallin going, who has 3 assists and no goals so far this season. That’s frankly atrocious considering the fact he finished 2nd in the SEL in scoring last year. He’s a decent defensive player, but he isn’t as incompetent around the net as it may appear.

Consider the fact that Wallin has only been on the ice for 5 goals for all season, and he’s only been on the ice for 19 goals against, 8 of which came on the PK, and you begin to realize he’s pretty damn good defensively when you notice that he’s only a -6. He’s been on the ice for 11 goals against ALL season at even strength (in 29 games).

By way of comparison, Mitchell was on the ice for 14 goals against at even strength and he only played 22 games.

Primeau has been out there for 12 against at even strength, so again he’s doing pretty well defensively.

I think the Leafs are seriously concerned about their 5 on 5 play, but they need Wallin to step up a bit offensively if they hope to have 4 lines that click consistently. He isn’t going to score any points playing with Orr and Mayers, and they didn’t bring him in just to play D.

I think if Wallin gets the same sort of shot that Mitchell was getting earlier this season, his numbers would be relatively similar.

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- Sir Winston Churchill

I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.

by Steve Burtch on Dec 29, 2009 5:51 PM EST up reply actions

I think this is more about getting Wallin going, who has 3 assists and no goals so far this season. That’s frankly atrocious considering the fact he finished 2nd in the SEL in scoring last year

This makes me sad, I had a serious amount of respect for the competitiveness of the SEL up until now.

It also impacts in my mind the validity of those outstanding #s Gustavsson racked up last year. Don’t get me wrong, he has been GOOD (not great) so far this year, with flashes of brilliance but lacking a ton of consistency – he still has quite a bit to learn.

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by nhlcheapshot on Dec 29, 2009 5:59 PM EST up reply actions

New Lines for tomorrow night:

Courtesy of the star

Kulemin – Stajan – Kessel

Hagman – Wallin – Ponikarovsky

Blake – Primeau – Stempniak

Orr – Grabovski – Mayers

Spares are John Mitchell and Victor Stalberg

by birky on Dec 29, 2009 8:07 PM EST reply actions

I like Kulie on the first line, he deserves it

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by JaredFromLondon on Dec 29, 2009 8:23 PM EST up reply actions

Wallin scares me.

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky

by Karina on Dec 29, 2009 8:27 PM EST up reply actions

me too

Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That

by JaredFromLondon on Dec 29, 2009 8:35 PM EST up reply actions

It may be practise lines, Wallin might get put back in the press box come Wednesday. Or Grabbo just takes his spot back mid game

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by Kevin Sellathamby on Dec 29, 2009 8:40 PM EST up reply actions