Why All the Grabbo Hate?
by SkinnyFish on Sep 2, 2010 11:30 AM EDT
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PrintFrankly, I've grown very tired of the constant hate for Mikhail Grabovski and have decided to write a post that aims to stamp out the hate once and for all.
Grabbo is entering his second year of his three year deal worth $2.9M in caphit per year. The year before his newest contract, he scored 20 G and recorded 28 assists in 78 games playing as the 2nd line center. That's a 0.615 PPG pace. This past season, one that was shortened due to a broken wrist, saw his point total drop to just 35 but his PPG stayed relatively the same at 0.592.
Alrighty so now let's do some comparisons to see just how good or bad Mr. Grabs is.
According to NHL.com, a PPG pace of 0.592 has him ranked 58th last year among centers which would put him near the bottom of the barrel for guys playing in a 2nd line role.
Haters - 1, Lovers - 0
Take the jump, but be warned; it's not pretty from here on out for the Haters.
Ah, but there is more than just a stat line to consider nowadays in the salary cap era. Whenever a player and their performance is to be judged, their cap hit must also play a part. As stated above, Grabbo carries a $2.9M caphit. According to capgeek's bargain hunter his 48 point full season in 2008-09 would rank him right at the 200th best contract per caphit, costing $60,416 per point. But I'm not done there as we need to narrow this list down a bit to get a good comparison.
If you eliminate all players who scored less than 40 points, Grabbo comes it at 70th right above Nik Antropov. But I'm not done yet. Realize that many of the players on this list are on ELCs (Steven Stamkos), first go around RFA contracts (Brandon Dubinsky), or veterans who took a heavy pay cut (Mark Recchi). So if we eliminate these below market value contracts, say with a cutoff at $2M, Grabovski now has the 33rd best contract in the league in terms of point production relative to caphit for players making more than $2M.
Haters - 1, Lovers - 1
If we head on over to Behind the Net and check out some advanced stats, the Lovers gain a ton more points.
He's 32nd in the league for penalties drawn per 60 with 1.4, and 9th in the league in terms of PDRAW/60 versus PTAKE/60 where he draws 4.67 penalties for every one he took. (For overall penalties, he's 8th with a 4.75 ratio) That's exactly what you want in a 2nd line energy player.
Haters - 1, Lovers - 2
Looking at Corsi numbers, his are the best among regular forwards on the Maple Leafs by far. His CORSI ON number is ridiculous at 17.93; 10th in the league for players with 20 or more games played, and with a crappy QTEAM of -0.009.
Haters - 1, Lovers - 3
He hates the Canadiens and Kostitsyns with the passion of a thousand suns.
Haters -1, Lovers - 4
He has a pretty bitchin' Eastern European mullet.
FINAL SCORE: Haters - 1, Lovers -5
I could go on and on about how Grabovski is a good player with a great contract who only does good things for this team but I won't as I feel that it should all be pretty self evident. If you disagree with anything we've said, tell us why in the comments but please adhere to PPP Rule #5, and back them up with stats or facts.
Don't hate the player; hate the fact that you don't understand hockey.
Editor's Note: Before people start howling at SkinnyFish's argument and pointing out that Grabovski isn't a 100 point scorer re-read the post. Is Grabovski capable of earning his contract? I don't think that there should be any doubt. Did he last year? Certainly when he wasn't injured he did. My view is that he is the new Matt Stajan. Is he going to be the kind of second line center that wins this team the Cup? Probably not. Is he value for his money? Yes. Don't hate him because he doesn't get 100 points for $2.9M. Recognize that his 50ish points (hint: there's my prediction) are exactly in the neighbourhood he should be putting up.
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For those who want to hate on Grabbo
But if someone so eager to engage into fist talk, we can always meet after season end in Minsk.
jrwendelman
The Artist Formerly Known as "Junior", who blogs at heroesinrehab.ca/blog
"But if someone so eager to engage into fist talk, we can always meet after season end in Minsk." (Mikhail Grabovski and a well-meaning but not particularly skillful translator)
by jrwendelman on Sep 2, 2010 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
it's Grabbo approved
"Tell Sigmund Freud not to worry about his mother, I took good care of her last night. BOOYAH."
by loser domi on Sep 2, 2010 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
they looked sunburnt
"Tell Sigmund Freud not to worry about his mother, I took good care of her last night. BOOYAH."
That’s actually rugburn.
Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm. - Churchill (Obvious Leaf Fan)
by Biff Carrington on Sep 3, 2010 12:25 AM EDT up reply actions
What the fuck kind of t-shirt is he wearing? Looks like Spongebob.
I am Mikhail Grabovski's smirking revenge.
The only thing you need to know is that JaredofLondon, blurr and I love Grabbo, so maybe you should think twice about the consequences of hating him. My sig line will be very, very poignant and useful this year.
I am Mikhail Grabovski's smirking revenge.
KK, I want to buy your sig line.
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions
What’s your starting offer? (hint: I have a weakness for wings and beer)
I am Mikhail Grabovski's smirking revenge.
so do i, fortunately. although i think it would just end with us being full and drunk and forgetting about the transaction altogether.
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions
I like Grabovski plenty. I wouldn’t say love but I’ve always been a supporter.
Plus I found the pineapple pictures.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
and what a glorious find they were
i dont think the “hello ladies” bed picture gets enough love
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Sep 2, 2010 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Mikhail Appreciates much supports from Plan of Pension Puppets.
He invite you to drinks in private funtime space.
"Tell Sigmund Freud not to worry about his mother, I took good care of her last night. BOOYAH."
by loser domi on Sep 2, 2010 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
I really like that bedspread.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
it’s a really nice looking bedspread.
"Tell Sigmund Freud not to worry about his mother, I took good care of her last night. BOOYAH."
Pineapples for everyone! Huzzah!
The Maple Leafs- making me certifiably insane since 1985.
by torleafsfan29 on Sep 2, 2010 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions
amazing
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions
amazing
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions
amazing, even.
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions
amazing
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions
the smackdown banner is still my favourite part
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Sep 2, 2010 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions
i was just wondering whether it was a leafs banner or smackdown! smackdown makes it way better.
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions
I always thought it was for Dynamo Moscow, but I could be wrong
"Tell Sigmund Freud not to worry about his mother, I took good care of her last night. BOOYAH."
BOOOOO!
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions
hmm
that could actually be it
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Sep 2, 2010 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions
buızɐɯɐ
If I'm losing an argument, I ask myself "What would a real journalist do?"
Then I cower behind: "You still don't get it. Deal with it." Thanks, James Wallace.
I love that if you google “Grabovski” a picture of him with the knife and pineapple comes up right away.
by general borschevsky on Sep 2, 2010 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions
didn't notice this one initially.
as much as Grabbo hates the Habs, their fans might hate him more. that warms the heart…
This is my BOZAK!!!1
by blurr1974 on Sep 2, 2010 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions
I’ve been rocking the Grabovski salute picture since I joined last year
Grabbo love never dies.
Bobby Ryan...can he be acquired?
blurr1974: No.
by Chris Stoikoff on Sep 2, 2010 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Grabbo’s hover car is full of eels.
I like him.
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."
Albert Einstein
by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Sep 2, 2010 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions
The penalties drawn and taken bit is pretty impressive. It certainly highlights that he has the puck a lot and is strong on it because he:
a. doesn’t lose it easily and
b. doesn’t need to take penalties to get it.
He is one of the best on the team (and in the league at one point last year) at moving the puck up-ice which is pretty damn important and he only makes $2.9M a year.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.
I’m really starting to wonder if he could perhaps line up against opponents’ top lines. His strong Corsi and delta numbers suggest strong puck possession skills, which could come in handy against the Crosbys of the world.
I’m not saying he could do it; I am saying, I’d like to see RW try him, perhaps on a line with Armstrong and Versteeg. That line could give opponents’ fits AND put up points.
If Kadri makes the team, that would leave us a sheltered scoring line of MacArthur, Kadri and Caputi. They could probably do some damage against weak opposition.
by The '67 Sound on Sep 2, 2010 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m sure RW will test it out. It would be great if that line could play that role.
PPP ain't nothin to cuss with
The Guess Who sucked, the Jets were lousy anyway
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Sep 2, 2010 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions
I like the sounds of those lines. But Kadri’s not going to stay if he’s not playing a #2 role. By contract value alone the #2 line would be the Grabbo-Armstrong-Versteeg line.
Loving the Leafs is like being in love with a drug-addled, gambling addicted prostitute with a heart of gold and a bunch of humanitarian awards from her youth. It’s hard. It hurts. But dammit! I just love them!
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Sep 2, 2010 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Technically, he would be playing a #2 role in that hypothetical. Kadri will ONLY be on our “sheltered” line – which typically sees fewer minutes than the first checking line. F C S T.
If I'm losing an argument, I ask myself "What would a real journalist do?"
Then I cower behind: "You still don't get it. Deal with it." Thanks, James Wallace.
Right
but this is where I see the problem. I"m not sure RW and BB see things in the same way in terms of #1 #2-shutdown and #2-sheltered…so does this mean Kadri doesn’t stay after all. Or does grabbo get pissed at the loss of minutes?
Loving the Leafs is like being in love with a drug-addled, gambling addicted prostitute with a heart of gold and a bunch of humanitarian awards from her youth. It’s hard. It hurts. But dammit! I just love them!
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Sep 2, 2010 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions
I think that Kadri being sheltered and feasting on PP minutes sounds pretty good to me.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.
by PPP on Sep 2, 2010 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions
I really wish Bozak was still eligible.
If I'm losing an argument, I ask myself "What would a real journalist do?"
Then I cower behind: "You still don't get it. Deal with it." Thanks, James Wallace.
Pff
why bother with the Calder when Bozak can win the Art Ross centring Kessel?
Plus, Kadri’s a lock for Calder anyway. You heard it here first for the 1000th time.
20 miles to Legoland!
Are you talking about BOZAK?
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."
Albert Einstein
by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Sep 2, 2010 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes please. Grabbo-Armstrong-Versteeg, if they prove to be good at checking AND scoring, would be awesome.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m very okay with this line as well, although it does leave Kadri with some shitty wingers*
*yes im assuming he makes the jump for at least part of the year
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Sep 2, 2010 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions
grabbo = puck carrier
versteeg = puck carrier
different lines please
Negative. I am a meat popsicle.
Meh, RW will try 'em all until one of 'em sticks.
I didn’t see KBK coming and it turned out okay.
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Sep 2, 2010 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions
The only thing I’m wondering is if a “checking” line can be replaced by a puck possession line. Do they need to throw massive hits, or is it acceptable for them to just be really good at making sure the puck is not in the defensive zone? Both would prevent goals – the latter even better, if they do it well enough.
If I'm losing an argument, I ask myself "What would a real journalist do?"
Then I cower behind: "You still don't get it. Deal with it." Thanks, James Wallace.
we had a puck possession line last year with Blake and Grabbo. Maybe it was just me, but I got tired of them doing circles in the corners
Negative. I am a meat popsicle.
Yep. Grabbo isn’t a bad hockey player, but he’s far less effective without the puck on his stick. Give him to players who know how to play offense without the puck and Grabbo should have a great season.
Negative. I am a meat popsicle.
LOOK AT DAT PASS
LOOOOOKAAAAAAAAATIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Sep 2, 2010 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions
thats superstar level hockey
Colton Orr will pound you into a million stuff
by Future_considerations on Sep 2, 2010 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s no surprise that this video has now been linked twice in this thread.
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions
It’ll happen.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions
like your face
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions
my gf doesn’t seem to mind. I don’t care about your opinion of my face
Negative. I am a meat popsicle.
Her opinion doesn’t count because she’s family…as in your sister….because you’re from The South and that’s what ya’ll do down there.
When I read the nickname Testicula, the first thing that popped into my head was a vampiristic scrotum that can only be killed with a silver cross driven through the vas deferens. - Certified Grabbo Lover
wrong. I’m not from the south, and thus not bound to their fondness of incest
Negative. I am a meat popsicle.
When I read the nickname Testicula, the first thing that popped into my head was a vampiristic scrotum that can only be killed with a silver cross driven through the vas deferens. - Certified Grabbo Lover
try
MacArthur – Kadri – Steeger
Sjostrom/Hanson – Grabbo – Armstrong
could always swing Grabbo out to the wing like alot of people have said…makes alot of sense to me, his speed and puck possession could be deadly comin up either wing.
"i get paid for the practices...i'd play the geams for free" - Tim Horton
I like this too.
I’m sure RW will give them all a try.
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Sep 2, 2010 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions
In the first five minutes of the first game.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
Three of our top six forwards are “puck carriers” (kessel, grabovski and versteeg) and Bozak is a distributor, which means he’s gonna need th epuck on his stick a lot.
It’s going to be impossible to have a lineup with enough talent to match other elite teams and only have one puck carrier on each line.
Resident Capologist
He sure can, as long as it’s not in the faceoff circle. The one really glaring hole in his game, IMO.
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions
his face off percentages increased from 44.5% to 49.8% year over year.
he is improving that part of it as well.
This is my BOZAK!!!1
by blurr1974 on Sep 2, 2010 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Remember rule #5.
He was 49.8% last year. He’s gone 33%, 44%, 50%. Not surprising for a young player. Wouldn’t be surprised if he cracks 50% this year.
by The '67 Sound on Sep 2, 2010 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions
SHUT UP ABOUT YOUR RULE #5!!!
Seriously though, it doesn’t take Steve Burtch to know that he’s bad at faceoffs. Yes, he’s improving, which is awesome to see, but it’s still a bad part of his game, which is important as a centre.
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions
I just don’t think 49.8% is bad. I think we’re remembering the previous year.
by The '67 Sound on Sep 2, 2010 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions
You know what the league average for faceoff percentage is?
50%
Holy shit he’s only average at faceoffs??? Oh the horror!
When I read the nickname Testicula, the first thing that popped into my head was a vampiristic scrotum that can only be killed with a silver cross driven through the vas deferens. - Certified Grabbo Lover
I don’t like all these advanced stats and confusing math concepts.
If I'm losing an argument, I ask myself "What would a real journalist do?"
Then I cower behind: "You still don't get it. Deal with it." Thanks, James Wallace.
quiet, you.
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions
this is honestly surprising and i hope it continues.
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Guess I’m just spoiled after watching Bozak be so awesome at faceoffs, and having Mats and Dougie for so many years.
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Yannic Perreault
It always seemed to me that Perreault boosted the shit out of his numbers by winning 100% of the draws that took place at centre ice after his line was scored on.
He was the shit, before that meant “good”.
jrwendelman
The Artist Formerly Known as "Junior", who blogs at heroesinrehab.ca/blog
"But if someone so eager to engage into fist talk, we can always meet after season end in Minsk." (Mikhail Grabovski and a well-meaning but not particularly skillful translator)
Zezel was the fucking king.
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions
someone else who was good at faceoffs???
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."
Albert Einstein
by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Sep 2, 2010 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions
For sure. Already gave Mats love above.
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
- Certified Grabbo Lover
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Faceoffs are, from what I’ve read from players, generally accepted as a skill that you can learn and improve more noticeably than other aspects of hockey. Stajan worked his way up from similar levels up to a pretty respectable 53+%
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.
by PPP on Sep 2, 2010 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions
This is probably one of those biases that every team complains about, but it seems as though our players get booted from the face off dot way more than other teams.
PPP ain't nothin to cuss with
The Guess Who sucked, the Jets were lousy anyway
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Sep 2, 2010 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah I’ve noticed Grabovski gets tossed a LOT
by Grabovski's better than you think on Sep 2, 2010 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions
BOZAK had 55.2% faceoff percentage
This is my BOZAK!!!1
by blurr1974 on Sep 2, 2010 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah
I see Bozak as our key faceoff guy this coming season… if Hanson or Mitchell can get a lot better that’d help also.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
Stajan was 40% his rookie year and has improved every season of his career, and now wins at around 51%.
Sometimes this sort of things takes time and experience.
I wouldn’t have him never take another draw when he’s just under league average, and the alternative has one game experience in the NHL
Resident Capologist
PS: I don’t do stats.
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions
I can understand not liking advanced stats, but NHL-basic counting stats ain’t exactly rocket science.
If I'm losing an argument, I ask myself "What would a real journalist do?"
Then I cower behind: "You still don't get it. Deal with it." Thanks, James Wallace.
It’s not, I just don’t spend time looking them up. I’m shocked that his FO% was so high last year though.
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions
That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history.
If I'm losing an argument, I ask myself "What would a real journalist do?"
Then I cower behind: "You still don't get it. Deal with it." Thanks, James Wallace.
your face is anecdotal!
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Especially when you have a confirmed bias towards a player.
Confirmation Bias ftl.
PPP ain't nothin to cuss with
The Guess Who sucked, the Jets were lousy anyway
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Sep 2, 2010 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Sure, but I have a bias towards him and am trying to point out a negative about him. So there!
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions
You just gave me a sig.
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Sep 2, 2010 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions
NHL.com has a player’s FO% every year on their bio. It’s not like you have to do a shit-ton of digging to find this info.
4 webpages max and you’ve got the information in front of you.
Resident Capologist
I didn’t say it was a lot of work. I am AT work though, and probably doing too much PPP’ing as it is.
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
- Certified Grabbo Lover
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions
WAY TO GO SKINNY! MULTIPLE REC’S FOR YOU TODAY.
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 11:42 AM EDT reply actions
<< Grabbo supporter also.
Colton Orr will pound you into a million stuff
by Future_considerations on Sep 2, 2010 11:48 AM EDT reply actions
WHERE HAVE ALL THE GRABOVSKI HATERS GONE? IS THIS NOT WHY YOU ARE HERE ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED? ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!?!?!?!?!?!
When I read the nickname Testicula, the first thing that popped into my head was a vampiristic scrotum that can only be killed with a silver cross driven through the vas deferens.
by SkinnyFish on Sep 2, 2010 11:51 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I don’t hate Grabbo, and I acknowledge that he’s a creative offensive player. But the main thing that pops into my head when I think of him is how it always seems like he’s dangling in the slot for just a little bit too long, which causes the rush to stall and the scoring chance to ultimately disappear. I’m not claiming that he actually does this all the time. I’m just saying that whenever I’m yelling “FUCKING PASS IT GRABBO” at my TV I get deja-vu.
The guy can stickhandle in a phone booth and he often gets defenders turned around pretty easily. I just wish he would either keep his eyes up a little more to find his wingers, or fire his (very good) shot a split second earlier.
I don’t hate him, but I don’t like him. I don’t know why, but that hilights my frustration.
"Hockey captures the essence of Canadian experience... hockey is the chance of life, and an affirmation that despite the deathly chill of winter we are alive." - Stephen Leacock.
you also like the Penguins, so your opinion is highly suspect already
This is my BOZAK!!!1
by blurr1974 on Sep 2, 2010 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Perhaps, and not saying he’s playing like that, but if he were it might be due to his being raised in a Russian system, which teaches holding on to the puck unless there’s a REALLY good reason to pass.
I don’t hate that about him. Rather he dangle a bit looking for room or to make a play, then take 600 Blakeshots.
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Heh
He won’t be walking through that door.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.
by PPP on Sep 2, 2010 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions
:(
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
by Chemmy on Sep 2, 2010 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
If you knew the story, you’d be laughing your ass off at this like I am.
When I read the nickname Testicula, the first thing that popped into my head was a vampiristic scrotum that can only be killed with a silver cross driven through the vas deferens. - Certified Grabbo Lover
sad fu-manchu chemmy loves pine apples?
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Sep 2, 2010 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m dying
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.
gawddammit, this post makes me want to go get another Grabbo jersey!!!
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions
OK
So here’s by question though:
Assuming our Cs are:
Bozak
Grabbo
Hanson
Mitchell
PLUS
Kadri
Who’s the odd-man out? And what’s the depth order? Kadri’s only staying if he can oust Bozak or Grabbo…
Loving the Leafs is like being in love with a drug-addled, gambling addicted prostitute with a heart of gold and a bunch of humanitarian awards from her youth. It’s hard. It hurts. But dammit! I just love them!
by Van Ryn's Neurologist on Sep 2, 2010 11:58 AM EDT reply actions
I want to see Kadri rape the AHL for a while before being called up. But if he does make it, he should be #2 behind Bozak. The question is, can Grabovski do anything worthwhile on the 3rd line? I’m not sure at this point.
Let’s not toss around the word rape so frivilously.
PPP ain't nothin to cuss with
The Guess Who sucked, the Jets were lousy anyway
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Sep 2, 2010 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m going to stick with my made up designations and say:
BOZAK: F line (14 ES, 2 PK, 3 PP)
Grabbo: C line? (13 ES, 1 PK, 2 PP)
Kadri: S line (12 ES, 3 PP)
Hanson/Mitchell: T line/injury subs (9 ES, 3 PK)
by The '67 Sound on Sep 2, 2010 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah I’d be fine with this.
Plus Hanson or Mitchell can switch to wing if we really need them (and I don’t think we do)
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Yup. Hanson-Mitchell-Orr/Brown isn’t a bad 4th line.
by The '67 Sound on Sep 2, 2010 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions
I think Hanson’d be in the AHL, so Mitchell – Orr – Brown. This would make me happy.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m afraid of Brown and Orr on the same line. Neither are very good at hockey. I’d like to see them more as an either/or. If the opponent has a heavyweight, Colton plays; if not, Brown does.
Burke seemed to play musical fighters in Anaheim too. None of them got 80 games in 06/07.
by The '67 Sound on Sep 2, 2010 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions
I am still baffled as to why we got Brown. I’m also baffled as to why he’s seen as a fighter; I don’t think I remember seeing him fight as a Canuck at all.
I’d rather just play Colton for 82 games again.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions
other than the fact that one is a C and one is a W, I see him as a Primeau replacement with more truculence and less “supposed” 2-way play.
Plus I think Burke has a soft spot for anyone who played for him in Anaheim.
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Sep 2, 2010 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Plus he was a Canuck under Nonis….
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions
14 majors last year.
He’s certainly not the kind of player I favour (the Wings and Devils have historically done OK without prominent goons) but he’s probably marginally better than Colton, and I hope Burke’s plan is for them to trade seats in the press box and bench depending on the opposition.
If they play together there will be a lot of red. Either the other team gets their blood punched out or we get scored on.
by The '67 Sound on Sep 2, 2010 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions
he’s probably marginally better than Colton
I hope you mean at Hockey, not fighting.
If they play together there will be a lot of red.
I am so okay with this against the Habs.
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Sep 2, 2010 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Mitchell
is on seriously thin ice.
by general borschevsky on Sep 2, 2010 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions
THANK GOODNESS
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Don’t make me put up a “Why all the Mitchell Hate?” post.
When I read the nickname Testicula, the first thing that popped into my head was a vampiristic scrotum that can only be killed with a silver cross driven through the vas deferens.
just because everyone needs socks don’t mean you gotta love ’em…
This is my BOZAK!!!1
by blurr1974 on Sep 2, 2010 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions
especially if you are a sandal person
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Sep 2, 2010 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions
good call. whoever it turns out that JFM just can’t play on the same line with MUST be deemed Sandals.
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s easy: because he played too many minutes.
3rd or 4th line duty and he’s fine with me!
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Also
that one move in the shootout which everyone in the league must know by now.
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Sep 2, 2010 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Mitchell has yet to establish that he is either. He finished strong, with 7 points in his last 8 games and that probably saved him. Previous to that he had just 16 points in 52 games and combined with the injury setback his year could be desribed as a disaster. He was good for the last six weeks: plus 4 in the last 19 games compared to -11 in his previous 32.
by general borschevsky on Sep 2, 2010 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Perhaps because Grabbo’s return put him in a more appropriate role?
by The '67 Sound on Sep 2, 2010 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions
This
Mitchell was way overused last year, put in a lot of positions where he just couldn’t succeed.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions
John Mitchell is a young, cheap, effective 3rd or 4th line player with good size, speed, and the added bonus of somehow being a shootout wiz kid. How can you not have a love-on for him?
When I read the nickname Testicula, the first thing that popped into my head was a vampiristic scrotum that can only be killed with a silver cross driven through the vas deferens. - Certified Grabbo Lover
he likes to make dazzling end to end rushes through the whole other team and then end by smashing into the end boards
also he has a big stupid baby head
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Sep 2, 2010 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Heh I just meant he liked to sometimes put Mitchell in situations that most of us would consider “over his head” (i.e. centring Kessel, increased ice time, shootouts,etc.)
20 miles to Legoland!
Can you blame Mitchell or even RW for that though? Stajan wasn’t cutting it. Grabbo was injured. Wallin even got his chance. They had to try something, but I don’t hold that against Mitchell.
When I read the nickname Testicula, the first thing that popped into my head was a vampiristic scrotum that can only be killed with a silver cross driven through the vas deferens. - Certified Grabbo Lover
I don't
I love my buddy Socks.
As long as both him and RW recognize him for being Socks.
20 miles to Legoland!
Yeah I don’t really dislike Mitchell, it just frustrates me that we had to use him so much last year.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Well there weren’t really a lot of other options
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions
All this agreement we’ve had of late makes me think of Rocky after the Drago fight.
by The '67 Sound on Sep 2, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
If I can change,
And you can change,
Then everybody can change.
GRABBO! GRABBO! GRABBO!
When I read the nickname Testicula, the first thing that popped into my head was a vampiristic scrotum that can only be killed with a silver cross driven through the vas deferens. - Certified Grabbo Lover
I’m picturing Grabbo scaling a 20,000 ft Siberian mountain in a bomber jacket and winter boots.
Love that movie.
There’s no easy way out
/shifts into 39th gear
There’s no short cut home!
by The '67 Sound on Sep 2, 2010 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Aack, 41!
plus 4 in the last 19 games compared to -11 in his previous 32. 41. Sorry.
by general borschevsky on Sep 2, 2010 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions
My view is that he is the new Matt Stajan
Nah, he has better hair than Stajan, but less gorgeous eyes. Also, pined apples.
I am <3 Grabbo.
"Tell Sigmund Freud not to worry about his mother, I took good care of her last night. BOOYAH."
by loser domi on Sep 2, 2010 12:07 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
My view is that he is the new Matt Stajan
But me no likey Stajan.
Me likey Grabbo.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions
rec’d for “pined apples”.
besides, he can only be the new matt stajan if they DON’T FUCKING MOVE HIM TO WING.
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions
or if he gets hit in the face with a soccer ball.
"Tell Sigmund Freud not to worry about his mother, I took good care of her last night. BOOYAH."
touche.
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions
h
he has to miss multiple weeks, though. Even though I imagine Grabbo would just shrug that kind of thing off.
"Tell Sigmund Freud not to worry about his mother, I took good care of her last night. BOOYAH."
I think he would turn around and bite the soccer ball so it deflated.
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions
I was going to comment on this post
But then I decided to take the puck for a skate wide along the boards until a defenceman knocks me off the puck.
by Johnny Bower's Pokecheck on Sep 2, 2010 12:10 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
That would be funny except for the fact that Grabovski is demonstrably one of the best Leafs at directing pucks at the net.
by The '67 Sound on Sep 2, 2010 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions
He spends more time along the boards
Than a Canadian Tire ad…..bah zing!
by Johnny Bower's Pokecheck on Sep 2, 2010 12:23 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
So he’s Joe Thornton jr?
AWESOME
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Except
Grabby is always facing the wrong way
by Johnny Bower's Pokecheck on Sep 2, 2010 12:28 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
please adhere to PPP Rule #5, and back them up with stats or facts.
This is my BOZAK!!!1
by blurr1974 on Sep 2, 2010 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions
That’s because he has the puck a lot… which is a good thing. As the Corsi stats demonstrate, he has no trouble getting the puck from the boards and into shooting position.
by The '67 Sound on Sep 2, 2010 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions
I’d say that’s a fine plan of attack.
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions
did i mention that i was 4th row up from the goalline when that happened?
i did, eh? alright then.
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions
I love me some Grabbo but I would love to see him as a winger instead of a center.
Not Liking Nikolai Kulemin Means You Have No Soul
Ultimately, I could see that as a role for him.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.
by PPP on Sep 2, 2010 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Hey, you can buy an Antropov shirt on Amazon.com for 12 bucks.
PPP ain't nothin to cuss with
The Guess Who sucked, the Jets were lousy anyway
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Sep 2, 2010 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions
"When I'm good, I'm good,
when I’m bad, I’m better."
by general borschevsky on Sep 2, 2010 12:21 PM EDT reply actions
Resemblance!
Colton Orr will pound you into a million stuff
by Future_considerations on Sep 2, 2010 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions
more resemblance, Escape from montreal edition
"Tell Sigmund Freud not to worry about his mother, I took good care of her last night. BOOYAH."
wow it’d be awesome if grabbo slapped on an eyepatch during games..
Colton Orr will pound you into a million stuff
by Future_considerations on Sep 2, 2010 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions
darn, maybe just during the pre game skate then
Colton Orr will pound you into a million stuff
by Future_considerations on Sep 2, 2010 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Great idea for Halloween warmups…
"Tell Sigmund Freud not to worry about his mother, I took good care of her last night. BOOYAH."
indeed
Colton Orr will pound you into a million stuff
by Future_considerations on Sep 2, 2010 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Crazy
Stat lines are all fine and good, but it’s his little bit of crazy that I love the most about him. Every now and then he plays a game like he’s ready to snap and go through anyone. The ‘Kostitsyns’ game was a good example of it. That’s an intangible you need on your team. Kind of like the role Tucker used to play for the Leafs (except Tucker would hit more bodies).
Put me down as a fan.
"Put the kids in with a few old pappy guys who still like to win and the combination is unbeatable."
Conn Smythe
by rover_from_under_crowsnest on Sep 2, 2010 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Agree
One of the best things Grabbo does is simply mess up the rhythm and focus of the opposition. He brings his own energy to the ice and impacts the flow of the game. It’s very disruptive to the other team’s momentum.
24-24-11 when he’s in
vs.
6-14-3 when he’s out
last season.
by general borschevsky on Sep 2, 2010 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions
As a former Grabbo hater, this is a good post to bring anyone over from the dark side
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
I don’t even understand how anyone would hate Grabbo after that fight with the Habs. That was AMAZING
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions
this helps also
Colton Orr will pound you into a million stuff
by Future_considerations on Sep 2, 2010 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Check out this shoot-out goal against Luongo in one of the only meaningful games the Leafs have played the last 2 seasons.
by general borschevsky on Sep 2, 2010 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions
filthy
Luongo looked absolutely Toskala-esque
This is my BOZAK!!!1
by blurr1974 on Sep 2, 2010 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions
loungo looked like a pretzel at the end there..grabbo ownage
Colton Orr will pound you into a million stuff
by Future_considerations on Sep 2, 2010 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Mikhail is SOOO happy for love giving!
This is my BOZAK!!!1
by blurr1974 on Sep 2, 2010 12:38 PM EDT reply actions
I wonder if this is the season we have someone vastly exceed expectations, rather than underachieve.
(I’m talking blow us away stats)
Who wants to hear a funny ass joke?
BOZAK
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
it says so, right in my sig
This is my BOZAK!!!1
by blurr1974 on Sep 2, 2010 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions
He seems the most likely.
I still wait for the day when one of our players goes bananas and meets the unrealistic expectations of MLHS/Hockeyboards fans.
I’m talking ridiculous levels of scoring from someone we expected to get maybe 60 pts.
Who wants to hear a funny ass joke?
If Bozak cracked 75 points everyone would lose their fucking minds.
Blue on both sides: Maple Stir-up
And I'm on Tweetbook
Well yeah, that’d make him a top 10 center in the game.
When I read the nickname Testicula, the first thing that popped into my head was a vampiristic scrotum that can only be killed with a silver cross driven through the vas deferens. - Certified Grabbo Lover
He can get sixty. 15 lucky bounces on top of it and we’re in business.
Blue on both sides: Maple Stir-up
And I'm on Tweetbook
15 lucky bounces on top of it
Haha 15 lucky bounces and the Leafs wouldn’t have ended up 2nd last last year.
20 miles to Legoland!
Haha, 150 REAALLY lucky bounces and they would have won the division.
Blue on both sides: Maple Stir-up
And I'm on Tweetbook
150 REAALLY lucky bounces
The Habs playoff motto?
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Sep 2, 2010 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
60 points
is my own personal definition of “top six player”
perhaps that’s unfair, but to me, if you can’t get 60 points, you’re not an offense generator
Unabashed fan of the surprise 2012 Stanley Cup champs
Only 100 50pt players in the league.
Six “top six” spots times 30 teams…
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
180 SPOTS
GO MATH!
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
Yeah
top 6 is closer to 40-45ish points minimum.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
wow
looking at these numbers, I guess you’re right. My standards are too high!
I’m suddenly feeling a lot better about the Leafs dearth of legit Top 6.
I expect Kessel, Bozak Versteeg and Grabbo to all hit 50+ points this year, and I’m hopeful Kulie will do the same.
OPTIM1SM!!!!
Unabashed fan of the surprise 2012 Stanley Cup champs
Yeah the Leafs problem is
we don’t have enough guys that’ll hit 70+ points.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
we might not have any
but given our lack of true elite talent in the F corps (Kessel MIGHT be one day) I’ve resigned myself to the more well-rounded offense by committee approach.
I would honestly rather have five 20 goal scorers than two 50 goal guys. Despite how weird that seems.
Those top-heavy teams (old Ottawa, current Sharks) never seem to do to well, and Anaheim’s cup win was a clinic in how you can stop them.
Unabashed fan of the surprise 2012 Stanley Cup champs
Yeah
I agree that having multiple 20 goal guys… and “depth” is what to aim for… but I’d still like the Leafs to have at least get two guys over 30 goals, and one guy around 40ish.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
Kessel: 40
Versteeg: 30
Kadri: 30
SOLVED
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
Tangent
Post lock-out rookie goal scoring leaders:
2008-09: Duchene 24
2007-08: Toews 24
2006-07: Malkin 33
2005-06: Ovechkin 52
Of note, in 2005-06, three other rookies crossed the 30 goal threshold: Crosby 39, Svatos 32, Prucha 30.
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
I don’t mean this year.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
I think he means
in a year or two.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
single season.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
I'll be happy
if in 3 years, Kadri is posting 20 goals and 40 assists.
Versteeg could be a 30-30 guy.
Kessel could be a 40-30 guy.
Bozak could be a 20-50 guy.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
Kulemin
could be a 20-30 guy
Grabovski could be a 20-30 guy…
I don’t see these as unreasonable possibilities.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
Here are the players
with 18-30 goals AND 28-40 assists in a single season from the past two years:
08-09: Anze Kopitar (27-39); Ryan Kesler (26-33); Joe Pavelski (25-34); Nikolai Zherdev (23-35); Jiri Hudler (23-34); Milan Michalek (23-34); Tuomo Ruutu (26-28); Dustin Brown (24-29); Brooks Laich (23-30); Ryan Clowe (23-30); Mikhail Graobovski (20-28); Dave Bolland (19-28)
09-10: Jussi Jokinen (30-35); Rene Bourque (27-31); Ryan Clowe (19-38); Rich Peverley (22-33); RJ Umberger (23-32); Mason Raymond (25-28); Kyle Okposo (19-33); Tomas Fleischmann (23-28); Jordan Staal (21-28)
I see no reason to think Kulemin and Grabovski aren’t capable of both being on that list in the next year or two.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
Also
If they are on that list… these are their peers from a player perspective… think about that and then think about the fact that we’re paying them a combined total of $5.25 million dollars.
San Jose is paying Pavelski and Clowe a combined total of $7.625 million.
Carolina is paying Ruutu and Jokinen a combined total of $5.5 million
LA is paying Kopitar and Brown a combined total of $10.075 million
We’ll be doing alright if they can both get 50+ points.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
Kesler
and Raymond is a combined total of $7.55 million
IF they do end up performing like that, we can expect to pay them both around $3 or 4 million in a few years.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
We don’t have enough “top two” guys. We’re hoping Kessel gets there.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
The point is that the Leafs’ problem isn’t a lack of mythical “top 6 forwards”, it’s a lack of top 3 forwards. Right now we have one.
It was true last November and it’s still true. Let’s hope Versteeg, Bozak or Kadri can get there.
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Sep 2, 2010 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions
and goalies!
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
- Certified Grabbo Lover
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Five of them are d-men.
There are 95 50pt forwards in the NHL.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
Also
don’t forget inflated team effects. A lot of the 40 point guys are 3rd liners playing on teams like Washington where everyone and their cousin can get 40 points just playing alongside Backstrom, Ovechkin, and Semin once in a while.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
Put them on a team like the Leafs
and suddenly they’re only 30 point guys.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
Michael Ryder
was 180th in Forward scoring in the NHL last year… and he had 33 points.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
18 goals 15 assists
in 82 games… he was a “top 6” forward.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
You’ve been brainwashed by Cox, Blair et al.
The Caps had four guys over 60 points last year. A “Top 6” forward, using the traditional definition of “one of the top 6 scorers on the team”, is actually a pretty low bar.
If you’re getting 60 points you’re a Top 3 player.
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Sep 2, 2010 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Agree!
Except… the top 3 cutoff is closer to 50 points… not 60.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
You’re right, see below.
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Sep 2, 2010 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah the 90 player cuttoff
was Frolov with 51 points.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
EXCEPT
on a team like Washington… all 6 of their top 6 were in the top 90 in scoring.
This skews things up a tad.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
Actually 60 points is Top 2
53 forwards with 60 or more points last year.
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Sep 2, 2010 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Was
just about to post that.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
If any Leaf cracked 75 points we would lose our fucking minds. Even Kessel. We almost lost our minds last year with 55 points.
by The '67 Sound on Sep 2, 2010 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions
If Kessel got 44 points (41 goals, 3 assists) I’d lose my mind.
Blue on both sides: Maple Stir-up
And I'm on Tweetbook
I’d take that.
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions
If Kessel
had gotten 15 goals and 40 assists… we wouldn’t have lost our minds though.
We got him to score goals, and him breaking the 30 goal mark was more important than anything to most of us.
I think for Kessel, hitting 35-40 goals this year is key. The points thing is secondary.
From a points perspective I’d say we’re more worried about Kulemin/Grabovski/Bozak… all making decent runs at 65-70 minimum.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
I would have understood a 25 goal season for Kessel for all the reasons previously mentioned.
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."
Albert Einstein
by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Sep 2, 2010 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah I expected him to
top out around 22-25 goals last year, and he impressed with 30… so if he can post 35 this year I’ll be satisfied… if he impresses me with 40 that’s great.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
Ski of grabs make goal time much good. Post the rec for you long time.
Nomine Burkie, Phaneufi, et Spiritus Universi
by Jo4nny on Sep 2, 2010 12:41 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Grabbo hate? I didn’t even know there was any these days. I thought it all got transferred over to Colby Armstrong.
Blue on both sides: Maple Stir-up
And I'm on Tweetbook
Army love <3
"Hockey captures the essence of Canadian experience... hockey is the chance of life, and an affirmation that despite the deathly chill of winter we are alive." - Stephen Leacock.
Check out my signature
If you got some Belorussian love like I do for our local pined apple hater, through “Certified Grabbo Lover” into your sig too.
When I read the nickname Testicula, the first thing that popped into my head was a vampiristic scrotum that can only be killed with a silver cross driven through the vas deferens. - Certified Grabbo Lover
I like Grabbo. I used to not be a fan, but the Canadiens hatred among other things has him on my good side. For 2.9, he’s as good as it gets for sure.
Plus, everyone hates Armstrong now. Grabbo hate is soooooo yesterday.
Blue on both sides: Maple Stir-up
And I'm on Tweetbook
dude, you’re already spelling like you’re writing a prescription! looking goooood.
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Skating off the ice giving the Richard Nixon double peace signs was f*cking outstanding. How can anyone not love that?
In fact, anyone who doesn’t like Grabbo doesn’t like good times. They may also be a pineapple sympathizer.
Yesterday is dead, but not my memory.
anyone who doesn’t like Grabbo doesn’t like good times
Awesome.
Blue on both sides: Maple Stir-up
And I'm on Tweetbook
The best thing a Maple Leaf has done...
…since Darcy Tucker hit Sami Kapenen.
by general borschevsky on Sep 2, 2010 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
i like it even better that he did it to Habs fans…
This is my BOZAK!!!1
by blurr1974 on Sep 2, 2010 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions
EXACTLY
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions
I always rec this picture
always
"Tell Sigmund Freud not to worry about his mother, I took good care of her last night. BOOYAH."
They may also be a pineapple sympathizer
The Pineapple Inquisition? I think we need it.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.
by PPP on Sep 2, 2010 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Mikhail make goal for glorious Belarus
Punch out Habs and peace sign raise the roof
He skate and spin and laugh and dance
Make Kostitsyn crap his underpants
Grabovski’s our #2C: that’s the truth.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
by Chemmy on Sep 2, 2010 12:55 PM EDT reply actions 6 recs
#2C is right! Especially after he punches Kadri right into the AHL
Blue on both sides: Maple Stir-up
And I'm on Tweetbook
The only one allowed to hit our rookies is Phaneuf.
If I'm losing an argument, I ask myself "What would a real journalist do?"
Then I cower behind: "You still don't get it. Deal with it." Thanks, James Wallace.
I like Grabbo, but he needs to play with a specific type of player. You can’t just throw him out there with anyone and expect results.
Negative. I am a meat popsicle.
So basically what you’re telling me is, he cant play with Versteeg because he is a puck possession player. He can’t play with Kessel because he is a puck possession player. So there are your #1 and #2 RW. Grabbo isn’t a 3rd line centre in my opinion. So something has to give. He will be with either Versteeg or Kessel
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
I think
Versteeg has a one timer. He’ll be fine taking feeds from Grabovski, and both will work well with a winger that goes to the slot and takes up space (Armstrong? Caputi? Who KNOWS?!)
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
I’m saying putting Grabbo on a line with Versteeg and Kessel doesn’t maximize their production
Negative. I am a meat popsicle.
Kessel and versteeg will be on seperate lines. Grabbo should be 2nd line center unless Kadri blows him away. Who goes to 3rd line then?
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
If Nirbo is correct in his assumption that Grabbo has improved his two way play, there’s no reason grabbo can’t center the “3rd line” or the “defensive line”. In fact, it might be his best fit (minus faceoffs). He’s good at puck control and can put up solid #’s. Let Kadri, Vertseeg, & whomever play softer minutes.
Fact is, the Leafs are going to need scoring from more than just the top two lines if they want to compete. No reason a Grabbo line with Armstrong and whomever can’t play two way hockey and chip in 35-40 goals.
Negative. I am a meat popsicle.
Buffalo doesn’t have much in terms of elite talent. They have to spread around their scoring to compete with some of the better teams. No reason Toronto can’t do it too.
Negative. I am a meat popsicle.
Leafs need > league average goaltending to compete this year. That’s not news. All of this Grabbo talk will be moot if they don’t get that.
Negative. I am a meat popsicle.
Even league average gives us a chance.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions
YO THIS SOUTHERN MOTHER FUCKER BE HATING ON MY MAIN MAN MICKY GRABS!
When I read the nickname Testicula, the first thing that popped into my head was a vampiristic scrotum that can only be killed with a silver cross driven through the vas deferens. - Certified Grabbo Lover
Bingo
He has great chemistry with Kulemin.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.
by PPP on Sep 2, 2010 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Bozak and Kessel
seem to have better chemistry with Kulemin in their limited play together.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
Umm
problem… with this….
If you eliminate all players who scored less than 40 points, Grabbo comes it at 70th right above Nik Antropov. But I’m not done yet. Realize that many of the players on this list are on ELCs (Steven Stamkos), first go around RFA contracts (Brandon Dubinsky), or veterans who took a heavy pay cut (Mark Recchi). So if we eliminate these below market value contracts, say with a cutoff at $2M, Grabovski now has the 33rd best contract in the league in terms of point production relative to caphit for players making more than $2M.
I haven’t read all the comments but… Grabovski’s contract was an RFA deal, so he should be compared to players in that group should he not? Why are we comparing him to UFAs? Also, why are we eliminating guys with under 40 points? Grabo only had 35 points… this is sort of a weird way to take things.
Also, I wouldn’t use QTEAM when you could use Corsi Rel QoT… or similarly don’t bother using QCOMP when you could use Corsi Rel QoC.
You left out some hate fodder like the fact that he had the 2nd worst production on the PP in the entire NHL for guys who played over 3 minutes per game on the PP.
Don’t get me wrong, I think he’s a good player, but he’s got some pretty big flaws that are hard to ignore.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
he’s got some pretty big flaws that are hard to ignore.
I’m doing a pretty damn good job ignoring them.
20 miles to Legoland!
Who let Buzz Killington in here?
PPP ain't nothin to cuss with
The Guess Who sucked, the Jets were lousy anyway
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Sep 2, 2010 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
His PDO
was low, but that’s not only due to goaltending (which for the Leafs was weird)…. he actually got a .903 SV%, but the team shot only 7% with him on the ice. Both of those numbers should be higher.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
Are you using only last year’s stats?
It seems all the stats from the Leafs last year are bizarre and make little sense.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions
the ones that show Vesa Toskala sucked a lot make perfect sense though…
This is my BOZAK!!!1
by blurr1974 on Sep 2, 2010 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions
TRUTH
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Those stats did show that Vesa Sucked! They should that he did the impossible and was able to both suck and blow at the same time. Those stas showed that he blucked!
Bam Bam.- digga digga damm
Grammar me bad
Those stats did not show that Vesa Sucked! They showed that he did the impossible and was able to both suck and blow at the same time. Those stas showed that he blucked!
Bam Bam.- digga digga damm
Yes
and No.
He’s sucked on the PP for a while.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
Me thinks that with the addition of Versteeg and possibly Kadri, Grabbo’s PP time will drastically decrease.
When I read the nickname Testicula, the first thing that popped into my head was a vampiristic scrotum that can only be killed with a silver cross driven through the vas deferens. - Certified Grabbo Lover
I'm not so sure.
It wasn’t that high to begin with because of Stajan, Ponikarovsky, Hagman, Stempniak, and Blake last year… I don’t think it’ll go up a lot, but I doubt it plummets either.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
Either way
worst forward on the PP in the NHL last year to play over 30 games, and over 2 mins per game.
1.26 Pts/60… he was worse than freaking Steve Bernier on the PP… that’s HORRIBLE.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
To be fair
a lot of that PP time came at the end of the year when we had the worst PP IN RECORDED HISTORY… 2 goals in like 56 chances? WTF??? that’s less than 4% on the PP… so ridiculously bad.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
yeah but
Bernier got to play with the Sedins and/or Kesler… that’ll inflate point totals even if he stands still and acts as a pylon.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions
inflate
is a weird word choice when we’re talking about the 2nd least productive guy to get regular PP time in the NHL last year.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
Either way
he wasn’t the guy doing the scoring… he was just out there to act like a pylon… and Grabovski was worse than he was.
That’s bad.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
by Steve Burtch on Sep 2, 2010 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Yes.
However, please identify who Grabbo was playing with that was the equivalent of a Sedin or Kesler.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Missing my point
Grabovski has the puck on his stick on the PP and the PP sucked a lot.
Bernier doesn’t have the puck on his stick very much on the PP and the Vancouver PP Didn’t suck a lot.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
What I’m saying is that comparing them makes absolutely no sense.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Aside
from the whole fact that their PP pts/60 min numbers put them right beside eachother.
For the time they were on the PP, one produced worse than the other, and it ISN’T the guy you’d expect.
This isn’t the PP production we’re talking about… it’s the player’s… so Bernier not getting a lot of points doesn’t shock me at all.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
Yes. But context is important is what I’m saying.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm not sure in this case it changes the point at all
Bernier had the 2nd lowest powerplay point production of any forward in the NHL to play over 2 minutes on the PP per game.
He hardly touches the puck on the power play, so you can explain it fairly easily.
Grabovski was the only player with WORSE point production on the PP, but he DOESN’T act like a pylon.
How does the context of Bernier playing with the Sedins or Kesler change anything? Are we trying to argue he should be worse? Ok so Grabovski is the 2nd worst… I’m not sure how big a distinction that makes to be honest.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
Yesk, I am saying that Bernier is actually worse than ranked.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions
So he goes
from 2nd worst… to worst?
Ignore Steve Bernier then… Grabovski was the worst player not named Bernier? Is that a huge change?
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
Pick someone else is all I’m saying.
You picked Bernier because it’s obvious he’s bad and putting him as better than Grabbo makes Grabbo look horrible.
But Bernier is probably even worse than his stats because he had excellent teammates.
Finding someone who had similar quality of teammates makes more sense.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions
No
I picked Bernier, because he’s the guy IMMEDIATELY above Grabovski…
Grabovski was the worst… he was the 2nd worst.
That’s the only reason I picked him.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
If you want to cut and paste the 5 on 4 pts/60
sheet into excel, and then cut and paste the Corsi Rel QoT for 5 on 4 into excel, and compare Grabovski to guys with similar line mates… guess what… he’d still be the worst… because he was the worst in comparison to EVERYONE irrespective of their line mates.
In which case the whole exercise is pointless.
Compare him to anyone in the NHL that played over 2 minutes a game on the PP and over 30 games… he was dead last… it doesn’t matter who played with whom.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
Yeah, he’s a puck possession specialist. Doesn’t seem particularly appropriate for the PP, where possession isn’t the hard part.
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Sep 2, 2010 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes
I agree that Grabbo is poor on the PP I just don’t think this comparison is what proves it.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Like I said...
compare him to anyone you want… he was the worst.
If you want to come up with some sort of adjustment factor for team-mates, go ahead.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
yeah
I like to make pointless arguments.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions
So we have a guy who puts up top six numbers without producing on the PP?
Great!
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
Yeah, makes his production even more impressive at ES.
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Sep 2, 2010 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Yep
and I’d be fine with them not playing him on the PP to be honest.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
I don’t even know who I want on the PP, Kessel looked terrible too.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Versteeg
Kessel, Bozak, Kaberle, and Phaneuf is my guess for starters.
Possibly Bozak, Kessel, Kulemin with Kabs and Phaneuf is PP1,
while PP2 would be Armstrong, Caputi, Grabovski, and Versteeg and Beauchemin on the point.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
Exactly….
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions
His
Corsi Rel QoC was middle of the road on the Leafs at only 0.138… 8th amongst Leaf forwards last year.
His Corsi Rel QoT was 3rd highest on the team at 1.672.
He isn’t facing down crazy competition and playing with complete chumps.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
Because capgeek doesn’t sort by PPG, but rather overall points, I used his last full season of 48 points as a comparison. This past season, he had the same pace for a 48 point season over 82 games so that’s why I used it.
Also, hater.
When I read the nickname Testicula, the first thing that popped into my head was a vampiristic scrotum that can only be killed with a silver cross driven through the vas deferens. - Certified Grabbo Lover
Capgeek
DOES let you compare by PPG in the bargain hunter window. Just change it to points per game instead of points.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
And he was
the 6th most effective Leaf forward last year on that basis.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
Way I look at it is
he wasn’t in the best 200, or the worst 200 in the NHL from that perspective, so his contract isn’t in the “BAD” or “GOOD” category so much as it’s “reasonable”. Being in the middle 400 guys isn’t really a problem, and he’s closer to the “GOOD” end than the “BAD” end.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
that’s the kind of linguistic round about positive talk I can get behind!
This is my BOZAK!!!1
by blurr1974 on Sep 2, 2010 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions
jesus steve, stop titling your comments with ‘UMMM….’
unless you’re trying to be condescending, in which case carry on.
Yesterday is dead, but not my memory.
Sorry
It’s more of a result of me thinking while I type… too much time on interweb chats when I was younger… thinking in text real-time.
At one time I did spend too much time indoors (nocturnally to boot!) whilst unemployed and surfing the internets…
I guess the message baragges and idiosyncratic wordings are a result sometimes…. not trying to be condescending … apologies.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
barrages even
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
"Baragges"?
We don’t need no stinking baragges!
by general borschevsky on Sep 2, 2010 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
… can’t….stop….laughing….
Nicely played, General.
jrwendelman
The Artist Formerly Known as "Junior", who blogs at heroesinrehab.ca/blog
"But if someone so eager to engage into fist talk, we can always meet after season end in Minsk." (Mikhail Grabovski and a well-meaning but not particularly skillful translator) CERTIFIED GRABBO LOVER
I just got an email!
Міхаіл хацеў бы падзякаваць ўсіх тут іх падтрымлівае, нават калі "Таронта Мэйпл Ліфс ўзніклі такія цяжкасці. Ён таксама кажа, прывітаньне з Dave Fuller.Let ’ісці лісце!
"Tell Sigmund Freud not to worry about his mother, I took good care of her last night. BOOYAH."
Where’s the “Google Fuller Translator” when you need it?
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions
I laughed an awful lot
"Tell Sigmund Freud not to worry about his mother, I took good care of her last night. BOOYAH."
by loser domi on Sep 2, 2010 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
fair enough
i dont’ really get why you exclude RFA contracts. Grabbo signed his contract when he was RFA — shouldn’t they be ideal comparables in terms of bang for your buck?
As for my own views on him, I’m not really a Grabbo “hater” — I just sort of see him as a player who won’t be around on a good team. He’s a one-dimensional dangler (the comparisons to Berezin are quite apt, i think) but I don’t think he keeps his job on a good team. As the Leafs improve, I’m assuming he’s gone, so i’m hoping we can pump and dump him this year. Nothing personal.
I think he lacks the ability to adapt into something else, so he is what he is — an OK 2nd line centre on a bad team. But he’s far from a boat anchor.
Unabashed fan of the surprise 2012 Stanley Cup champs
I loved Sergei Berezin too
and he was a useful player on a good team last I looked. 2nd line winger that gets you 37 goals in a 97 point season? He finished 2nd on the team in playoff scoring… 6 goals and 12 points in 17 playoff games, behind Mats Sundin.
He wasn’t a good player on a bad team…. you’re MISREMEMBERING…
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
We made the third round
of the playoffs with Sergei Berezin as our top goal scorer in the regular season… I’m not sure why I’d expect Grabo to be tossed aside if he did something equivalent.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
i've slid my standards lower
this might be revisionist history, but to me, Berezin was maybe our fourth or fifth best player on those teams. But the guys ahead of him were also much better than who we have now (Sundin > Kessel, Cujo > Gigueresson, Kaberle > Kaberle, etc…)
It goes without saying that if Grabbo scores 37 goals this year, I’ll dress up like a pineapple and let him stab me.
My greater point is that Berezin’s 37 goals is a wonderful ceiling for Grabbo’s career, but we didn’t win anything with Berezin either.
I said it about Stajan too — if Grabbo is your No 2 centre, I don’t think you’re winning a Stanley Cup
Unabashed fan of the surprise 2012 Stanley Cup champs
We didn't win anything?
wtf man… a 97 point season is pretty damn awesome. We were at least contenders back then… we had two seasons with over 100 points.
I’m pretty unsure how the only measure of a good team is winning a Cup. That’s like saying San Jose’s forwards are playing on a “bad team” because they haven’t won the Cup.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
Berezin had
5 seasons with over 20 goals in the NHL… he only played 7 years.
That’s pretty damn solid.
He hit 37 goals once and that’s freaking amazing for a 2nd line winger. In only 76 games!
He outscored Sundin, Thomas, Sullivan, Modin, Johnson and King that year. Four of those guys are solid offensive performers by NHL standards in their careers, and Modin actually won a Cup. Not sure where we get by minimizing or revising the history here.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
he also never hit the 60-point mark
I’m liking the comparison more and more as I go here. Berezin was a one-dimensional dangler who when put in ideal circumstances could produce goals.
But I was not overly sad when he left as deep down I didn’t think he was a guy who was making stuff happen by himself on the ice. I get the same feeling from Grabbo.
Certainly bang for your buck there at $2.9M but he’s not a building block for me, moving forward.
Forwards I see on this team moving forward: Kessel, Kulemin, Bozak, Kadri, hopefully Versteeg
D: Schenn, Phaneuf,
All other names I’m willing to part with to get names I’m happy to add to this list
Unabashed fan of the surprise 2012 Stanley Cup champs
Not to mention when Grabbo took the ‘which 90s Maple Leaf are you?’ Facebook quiz, his result was Sergei Berezin.
by Grabovski's better than you think on Sep 2, 2010 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Did you not watch
Sergei Time?
Berezin would go out and make an end to end rush, and often put the puck in the net… how is that not making things happen on your own on the ice?
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
He had 27 even strength goals
and 9 PP goals.. I don’t see the whole “ideal situation” thing you’re referring to.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
just a difference of opinion
i’m content to agree to disagree here.
I saw Berezin as a decent 2nd liner who had one outlier season where he potted a very impressive 37 goals. You disagree.
I mentioned him only to say Grabbo reminds me of him. I wasn’t crestfallen when Berezin left and I won’t be if Grabbo does.
Unabashed fan of the surprise 2012 Stanley Cup champs
fair enough
I’d say a 2nd liner that gets you 25+ goals 3 times out of his 5 seasons with the team, including a 37 goal season, is doing pretty effing amazingly well.
He also broke the 50 point (Top 3 player remember) plateau on 2 separate occasions despite playing on the 2nd line as a winger.
He was very good in his brief time in Toronto.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
he shot 14.05% in his big year.
he only had one other season in excess of 10% shooting (99/00 with 26 goals on 241 shots)
seems like some luck was in there
Unabashed fan of the surprise 2012 Stanley Cup champs
2 seasons out of 5?
that’s 40% of his time in Toronto.
He shot 14.1% in his FIRST year. 25 goals on 177 shots… that was in 96-97… not his big 37 goal season.
He had 3 years over his career average while with the Leafs… I dunno where you’re getting the idea that he ever really underperformed.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
I have a hard time
saying a guy that scores over 20 goals 4 times in 5 years… and gets 16 in only 68 games in the other season (pro-rates to a 19 goal-82 game season) is working solely from luck.
He was a career 11.11% shooter with the Leafs and he over-performed that by 3% on two occasions, and underperformed it three times, but never by more than 2%… I’m not sure that range is as large as you’re making it out to be.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
after 25 years as a Leaf fan
i’m sorry, but yes, i need a Cup win at some point to make me happy.
It may be a wise mathematical model to be consistently good and one day strike it rich and win, but i don’t look back and get misty-eyed about 97-point seasons.
Small-minded though that may be.
I wouldn’t say SJ is a bad team. But if they don’t win one in let’s call it “the Joe Thornton era” there I bet you’d be pretty hard pressed to find a Sharks fan who’ll be satisfied with that.
Unabashed fan of the surprise 2012 Stanley Cup champs
Satisfaction
isn’t necessary for me to call them a “good” team.
I’m not going to agree that every team that doesn’t win a Cup is “bad”.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
i'm not saying that
many teams who don’t win the Cup every year are “good”. To pick a number, I’d say 10 or so.
I’m just not sure Grabbo would be a top-2 centre on any of them.
Unabashed fan of the surprise 2012 Stanley Cup champs
In any given season
all things being equal, you’d have a 3% chance of winning the Stanley Cup…. and things aren’t equal.
Good teams have a higher chance than Bad teams, so being a Good Team is a good idea, but that doesn’t mean you should take those teams for granted.
I’ve been a Leaf fan for 27 years myself, and I know where you’re coming from, but I have a hard time accepting the logic that none of the teams in the past 27 years is worth remembering.
97 points is the 6th highest point total the Leafs have had in the modern era. That’s their 4th best season from a points percentage perspective in the past 40 years. I’m going to remember that kind of season fondly… and to ignore it seems ridiculous.
They were 5th best in the entire NHL that year… I’d take that anytime soon.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
I just sort of see him as a player who won’t be around on a good team.
Yup, but sometime people act like he’s fucking John Wayne Gacy
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.
by PPP on Sep 2, 2010 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions
ewwwwwwwww
"Tell Sigmund Freud not to worry about his mother, I took good care of her last night. BOOYAH."
Is Gacy still alive?
or is this becoming necrophilia?
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
I thought he was executed, hence the ewww at necrophilia.
Necrophilia involving a serial killing clown, which is a double or triple whammy of ewwww.
"Tell Sigmund Freud not to worry about his mother, I took good care of her last night. BOOYAH."
I wanted a Ferrarri cake!
"Tell Sigmund Freud not to worry about his mother, I took good care of her last night. BOOYAH."
Adjective
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.
by PPP on Sep 2, 2010 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions
was John Wayne Gacy the first Juggalo?
by sodonis on Sep 2, 2010 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
murder everywhere in this bitch
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Sep 2, 2010 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions
I'll take one in blue
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
- Certified Grabbo Lover
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions
My kids love that car.
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Sep 2, 2010 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions
He still does, although he prefers to ride his Mater now.
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
- Certified Grabbo Lover
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions
I love this picture! and this one
"Tell Sigmund Freud not to worry about his mother, I took good care of her last night. BOOYAH."
To quote Karina: “amazing”.
Would love to know who he’s throwing at, and if it landed. I’m guessing Blake, and he probably missed!
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
- Certified Grabbo Lover
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions
apparently
it’s from the dodgeball game they did at one of the practices
"Tell Sigmund Freud not to worry about his mother, I took good care of her last night. BOOYAH."
Yeah, I remember.
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
- Certified Grabbo Lover
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Toskala won
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."
Albert Einstein
by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Sep 2, 2010 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions
I want to play dodge ball with toskala, and medicine balls
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Sep 2, 2010 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Thanks, BTW. That was “divorce night”; Leafs/Oilers. Its a semi-annual tradition at our house.
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
- Certified Grabbo Lover
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Giving kids and unplugged controller and letting them think they are playing FTW!
"Our bottom six should be nicknamed The Intangibles." -Plea From A Cat Named Felix
Leafs fan till the end!
by whyevenbother on Sep 2, 2010 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Question about LEAF PP
As per rule number 5 I have not stats to quote (I’m too lazy to look them up) but the discussion of Grabbo the PP above got me thinking.
I seem to remember that even with the horrible start last year (thanks Toskala) that the PP was not terrible until Kessel Started. Did the addition of Phil negatively affect a PP%. Am I wrong in this?
Also why is that the leafs always seem to have one PP setup for each season/unit
Fatty weelwod to Tucker down low
Kaberle to McCabe for the one time
and last year it was find Phil in the slot for a shot
why can’t we have a coach force one of guys to stand in front. who is going to be our new Andreychuk?
Bam Bam.- digga digga damm
Because Keith Acton is a terrible special teams coach.
When I read the nickname Testicula, the first thing that popped into my head was a vampiristic scrotum that can only be killed with a silver cross driven through the vas deferens. - Certified Grabbo Lover
Post lock-out special teams
If Acton is the PP coach, he’s not the issue. Post lock-out, the team has been ok on the PP up until this season: PP rank: 1st, 15th, 16th, 15th, 30th
If Acton is the PK coach, he should be buried alive alongside JFJ, Raycroft and Toskala in the foundation of some building in Woodbridge. Look at the Leafs’ absolutely pathetic post-lockout PK results: 24th, 27th, 29th, 30th, 30th.
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
The powerplay has steadily declined year-over-year.
Last year I think it was artificially inflated at the start by their efficiency at 5-on-3s.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.
by PPP on Sep 2, 2010 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions
i thought it really boiled down to their win in ANA…
This is my BOZAK!!!1
by blurr1974 on Sep 2, 2010 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions
pretty much.
Either way… it was historically bad after the trading deadline.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
yup, they leafs were at best ‘meh’ on the PP until that game against the ducks where they scored somehting like 4 5 on 3 goals, which inflated the total pretty bad
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Sep 2, 2010 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions
They were top
5 in the NHL even without that game… but it kept them higher than they would have as the decline began.
Kessel really didn’t help the PP at all particularly.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
really? i thought they were round 15th before that game, oh well
but yeah, that game put them 1st in the league, then it all went to shit
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Sep 2, 2010 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions
If you took their numbers
before and after for 10 games in either direction, they were pretty high up there… things went to shit when Stajan, Hagman, Poni, and Stempniak left to be honest.
As hard as it is for us to fathom, experience does play a part to some extent in running a decent NHL power play.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
If you take out the Anaheim game
they still had a 21.4% PP from the start of the season until November 19th (18 games without the Anaheim game).
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
Yes
the addition of Kessel messed up the PP… as did the addition of Phaneuf.
The Leafs focused all their offensive attempts around those two when they joined the PP, and the other teams keyed on them.
We didn’t have enough traffic in front, and we didn’t have enough shooters to take pressure off of those two.
We need more shooters and more guys down low in front of the net. Armstrong and MacArthur help the latter, Versteeg and Kadri help the former. We should improve on the PP this year.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
An interesting pattern
In 2008-2009, Grabovski had a negative Delta, 3.2, and a small but positive Corsi, +3.97. and 55 points this season if he is healthy.
In 2009-2010, Grabbo’s Delta shot up to 13.4, despite being coddled less (here is Steve’s chart from a while back, showing all three of situation/teammate/opposition factors lower for 09-10). His Corsi jumped to 17.93.
What this seems to say is that his two-way game has improved significantly, and that his lines are not only taking more shots than the opposition, but taking better shots than the opposition. His reputation as a player who circles and takes bad shots may be a myth which has been sustained due to the correction in his year-over-year shooting percentage (a ridiculous 16.7 in 08-09, a more realistic 7.9 last year).
Either way, I see a good +/
An interesting pattern without the strikethrough
In 2008-2009, Grabovski had a negative Delta, (-3.2), and a small but positive Corsi, +3.97.
In 2009-2010, Grabbo’s Delta shot up to 13.4, despite being coddled less (here is Steve’s chart from a while back, showing all three of situation/teammate/opposition factors lower for 09-10). His Corsi jumped to 17.93.
What this seems to say is that his two-way game has improved significantly, and that his lines are not only taking more shots than the opposition, but taking better shots than the opposition. His reputation as a player who circles and takes bad shots may be a myth which has been sustained due to the correction in his year-over-year shooting percentage (a ridiculous 16.7 in 08-09, a more realistic 7.9 last year).
Either way, I see a good +/ and 55 points this season if he is healthy.
Agree
with all of that.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
Also
if one factors in year over year improvements for other players that are possible, Bozak and Kulemin could improve significantly.
When you add in Versteeg and Armstrong’s impact, our top 6 may be pretty solid this coming season… but that remains to be seen.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
Great work, Nirbo. Really really awesome.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Thanks for proving my gut instincts!!
See mf37, stats used for good, not evil
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."
Albert Einstein
by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Sep 2, 2010 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions
My stats all cone with the “Zappa” facial hair, which, as I’m sure you’re all aware = evil.
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
You have that facial hair, don’t you? :)
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions
No, my twin brother 73FM has it.
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
73 FM? My radio doesn’t go that low.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
I thought this one made more sense.
by general borschevsky on Sep 2, 2010 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Here's something else I'm wondering
relevant to Grabovski…
We’ve seen his game mature… and the same could be said for Kulemin… over the past 2 years.
Who do we think is currently sitting where they were sitting 2 years ago? Caputi? Hanson? Kadri?
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
Hard to say
I’d say Caputi might be the closest to Kulemin, he’s at least had AHL experience, although Kulemin proved he could play in the KHL…
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Caputi could be a Kulemin type situation,if his skating has,indeed improved
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Sep 2, 2010 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions
negatory
all three have different time codes, the jinx is invalid
and you know what happens when someone calls an invalid jinx right?
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Sep 2, 2010 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions
actually I have both Karina and mine at 3:52 pm EDT.
But yes I guess yours is a diff time code.
20 miles to Legoland!
the invalid jinx still stands, this is like right up there with talking about fight club
now we have to take your balls
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Sep 2, 2010 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Well
according to Wikipedia’s version of jinx, I only get a punch in the arm…
My favourite line from the Wikipedia site:
More often, the winner does not ever receive the coke.
20 miles to Legoland!
sure, if you play wuss rules
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Sep 2, 2010 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions
He needs to get his prosciutto and mortadella filled ass in front of the net
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
And fill it with more prosciutto and mortadella
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions
mmmmm prosciutto and mortadella
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
Prosciutto > sopressata and that is a fact
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
I was naming other cured meats. Sopressata whips mortadella’s ass eight days a week though.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
Ahhh yes. Definitely.
Prosciutto
Capicollo
Sausage
Sopressata
My 3 favourite cured meat, especially the ones we make at home
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
Our local Italian butcher makes a salami that has proscuitto in it…it’s freaking fantastic. As is their homemade proscuitto, their house cured pancetta and capicola.
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
Anyone tried Pingue’s stuff out of Niagara?
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
A better comparable might be Clarke MacArthur
Caputi:
OHL 214 g, 86-99-185, +26
AHL 120 g, 41-51-92, -2
NHL 28 g, 3-6-9, -2
MacArthur:
WHL 190 g, 88-136-224, +14
AHL 163 g, 56-102-158, -11
NHL 208 g, 44-44-88, -13
and MacArthur was at least a point-a-game player in junior. Caputi isn’t the same level of talent as Kulemin and Grabovski, IMO.
MacArthur already has 2 years in the NHL though…
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah, but scored 24 goals at 21 years old against Caputi’s 2 (in 55 less games but still)
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Sep 2, 2010 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Neal's numbers
were better in the OHL from a points perspective (0.93 vs 0.86 ppg).
I admit Caputi scored more goals, but that was largely on the basis of one season… his first 2 junior years were complete crap: 8 goals and 1 assist in 80 games played? Seriously… that’s horrible.
In Neal’s first 2 seasons in the OHL he put up 20 goals and 30 assists in 76 games… quite a bit better than Caputi.
As for the AHL, Caputi played 120 games to Neal’s 67… he had 41 goals and 92 points to Neal’s 22 goals and 42 points. But 0.77 ppg versus 0.63 ppg is misleading since in Caputi’s rookie year in the AHL he posted 18 goals and 45 points in 66 games… which is pretty much the same.
So the NHL is where we have a distinction again… Caputi’s got 3 goals and 9 points in 28 games… Neal had 11 goals and 14 points through his first 28 games in the NHL. The goal scoring was the most obvious difference, although 3 of those 11 goals came in his 28th game, so really you could lower it to 8 goals and 11 points through 27 games and get comparable numbers again, just with more goal scoring.
If Caputi gets the opportunity he could be similar… or he might not… we’ll just have to see.
His skating needs to improve as does his strength on said skates. He seems to fall down or get knocked off his feet a lot for a guy who wants to bring net presence.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
Also
Neal played game 28 when he was 21 and 111 days old. Caputi played game 28 when he was 21 and 191 days old, so he was 80 days older than Neal at the same spot in their NHL careers.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
Don’t know about the Caputi vs. Neal…but interestingly, James Neal’s development almost mirrors that of Rick Nash.
James Neal
2008-09 Dallas Stars NHL 77 24 13 37 51
2009-10 Dallas Stars NHL 78 27 28 55 64
Rick Nash
2002-03 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 74 17 22 39 78
2003-04 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 80 41 16 57 87
I will eat a bowl of cherries and some ghost meat in his honor.
Umm
Nash scored 41 goals in his 2nd year… Neal had 27… that’s a pretty big difference. If you go by point totals alone then you might have something, but I don’t think they’re equivalent, particularly since Nash was playing with… well… nobody… but Neal was playing with the likes of Richards, Ribeiro, Morrow, Eriksson, Benn, etc. It’s not like Dallas lacks for offensively skilled players.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."
- Sir Winston Churchill
I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Leafs.
Brayden Irwin could be the next Jeff Farkas.
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
Is striving to be Brandon Convery too lofty of a goal?
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
I see a line of inspirational bracelets for the Leafs’ ECHLers.
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
now now, one day he might even be a Alex Berry
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Sep 2, 2010 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions
How about Jeff Ware?
Can I be him?
Fairweather fans can go to hell
Equal oppurtunity asshole and a proud member of the PPPPP
Follow me on twitter: leafer1984
I used to watch Jeff Ware play in Oshawa. Thought he was going to be a solid, middle of the road, defender in the NHL.
He got rushed, got hurt, and that was all she wrote…
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
Same here. Thought for sure he was a blue-chip prospect for the leafs. Dang.
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
- Certified Grabbo Lover
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions
WWBBD
When I read the nickname Testicula, the first thing that popped into my head was a vampiristic scrotum that can only be killed with a silver cross driven through the vas deferens. - Certified Grabbo Lover
I’d buy one.
PPP ain't nothin to cuss with
The Guess Who sucked, the Jets were lousy anyway
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Sep 2, 2010 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions
all I can say is
"I don’t know what it is about me that makes people think I want to hear their problems. Maybe I smile too much. Maybe I wear too much pink. But please remember, I can rip your throat out if I need to."
by Wrap Around Curl on Sep 2, 2010 4:34 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
GET CHA ROBOT WALK ON GIRL!
When I read the nickname Testicula, the first thing that popped into my head was a vampiristic scrotum that can only be killed with a silver cross driven through the vas deferens. - Certified Grabbo Lover
If I had the skill I’d modify the original Haters Gonna Hate gif with Grabbo.
"I don’t know what it is about me that makes people think I want to hear their problems. Maybe I smile too much. Maybe I wear too much pink. But please remember, I can rip your throat out if I need to."
by Wrap Around Curl on Sep 2, 2010 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Peace Out!
When I read the nickname Testicula, the first thing that popped into my head was a vampiristic scrotum that can only be killed with a silver cross driven through the vas deferens. - Certified Grabbo Lover
I can gif that. If that is what you are requesting.
"I don’t know what it is about me that makes people think I want to hear their problems. Maybe I smile too much. Maybe I wear too much pink. But please remember, I can rip your throat out if I need to."
by Wrap Around Curl on Sep 2, 2010 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions
GIFMASTER GIFMASTER
MAKE US A GIF
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
Is that the clearest/cleanest vid of that instance?
"I don’t know what it is about me that makes people think I want to hear their problems. Maybe I smile too much. Maybe I wear too much pink. But please remember, I can rip your throat out if I need to."
by Wrap Around Curl on Sep 2, 2010 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions
For Sleza
Thinking of you.. wish you were here…
Love, Grabbo
by general borschevsky on Sep 2, 2010 5:17 PM EDT reply actions
Well
I guess I’ve been lumped in with the haters, and that’s fine.
For the record, I don’t hate Grabbo, he’s a decent player and good value per contract.
That said, I have a personal belief, that cannot be quantified statistically, that Grabbo will not be a large part of the success of this franchise in the future. I think he’s small and gets moved off the puck too easily. I think he holds the puck too long and too selfishly, despite his assist totals. I’m of the belief that if Grabbo is #5-6 in our top-six, great. If he’s any higher than that, we’re in trouble. He’s no leader, he’s no tremendous talent, but he’s no slouch.
I don’t consider him a part of the nucleus of this team, and I wouldn’t hesitate to move him if he, alone or in a package, could bring us the type of impact player this team sorely needs.
Lastly, and I sincerely hope I’m proven wrong here, I think Grabbo has reached, or neared, the ceiling for his potential.
Opinion, hunch, whatever. I’ve read everything here and I still feel the same way.
In Burke We Trust
Grabbo will not be a large part of the success of this franchise in the future
I don’t think anyone has ever said otherwise…
This is my BOZAK!!!1
by blurr1974 on Sep 2, 2010 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah
feeling that way doesn’t make you a Grabbo hater…. that’s just logical extrapolation
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 2, 2010 6:27 PM EDT up reply actions
But you know what? Even if he has reached his ceiling (not including FACE OFF %!) then who can argue with a 50 pt. second line centre?
Further, it may be that all your points are valid above, but if he ends up playing to his $2.9M contract over the next two seasons, then I think we all need to STOP THE HATE!
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
- Certified Grabbo Lover
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions
THAT's who he was texting!
"Tell Sigmund Freud not to worry about his mother, I took good care of her last night. BOOYAH."
Great Post.
However, he earned my respect long ago with this classic:
BEARS!!!1
"One day, we'll be perfect." - The Tao of Stieb
not bears
Buffalo hat. Some guy has this buffalo hat he has various sports guys hold.
http://picasaweb.google.com/TuqueBison/Hockey#5251658369094579554
"Tell Sigmund Freud not to worry about his mother, I took good care of her last night. BOOYAH."
The most amazing this about this post:
Nearly 500 comments, not a single pineapple shot.
"One day, we'll be perfect." - The Tao of Stieb
the pined apples are implied.
Now with 25% fewer operable limbs.
- Certified Grabbo Lover
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 2, 2010 7:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Honestly who can really hate someone who slices pineapples so fine.
Brain: The irony of it all, Pinky. Years of trying to take over the world, and all I had to do was say "truculence".
Follow me I'm Boring!
by blindfolded tank driver on Sep 2, 2010 9:12 PM EDT reply actions
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