Shake It Off
by JP Nikota on Dec 29, 2011 7:01 AM EST
in From The Branches
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The Toronto Maple Leafs might have played a tighter game in Florida, but It's a game against the Carolina Hurricanes that they have to look forward to tonight, and they need to pick up points in these games against bottom-rung teams. Currently, the Leafs sit in 7th place, but are only one point out of 9th, and two points out of 10th.
With a PDO last week of 1018 (3rd highest in the league) and a Close-Game Fenwick of 48.32 (22nd), this team looks to be headed in the wrong direction. Let's hope that this road trip turns things around.
Links after the jump. Throw extras in the comments.
Leafs Call Up Korbinian Holzer
Tweet from Lance Hornby.
Systems Analyst: A Baffling Line Change and Poor Pivot
This time it's the Sabres looking silly. From Justin Bourne at Backhand Shelf.
Brian Elliott: The Best Free Agent Signing?
I find that difficult to believe. From Dirty Dangle.
HC Davos hammers Canada at Spengler Cup
People are playing for the Spengler Cup!? from the CP at the Globe.
Leafs' Reimer gets chance to bounce back Thursday
Story from David Shoalts at the Globe.
Phaneuf will be fighting a difficult captain’s legacy down the road
I'm sure folks will be making a more comparisons when Mats Sundin comes to town in February to have his number honored. From Michael Langlois at VLM.
Wilson's Extension A Sign Of Faith - From Fans
My own thoughts on the Wilson signing at The Leafs Nation.
Backhand Shelf Podcast: Ron Wilson’s contract extension
Wah wah wah. Wilson's trolling us. From Justin Bourne and Rob Pizzo.
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It should be noted that the PDO figure of 1018
I’m pretty sure is based ONLY on when games are close. PDO through the Florida game (at ES) is 1007 (.918 sv% + 8.9% shooting)
Not that that information should make Leafs fans feel that much better (we’re still not great) but it’s not as astronomically bad as it first appears.
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
So, in the next couple weeks we should have Lombardi and Brown back right?
Who comes out of the lineup?
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
I’d take Boyce out for Lombardi. If it comes down to Brown or Crabb, I’d take Crabb.
Professional cusser causer.
by T is for Truculence on Dec 29, 2011 9:31 AM EST up reply actions
I take Brown every single day over Crabb
Resident Internet Tough Guy
by JaredFromLondon on Dec 29, 2011 9:36 AM EST up reply actions
I prefer Crabb, but I’m happy with not-Rosehill.
The plural of "anecdote" is not "data".
Internet Champ. I'm on Twitter too! - draglikepull
by Draglikepull on Dec 29, 2011 9:40 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Some Mike Brown numbers from Behind the Net
Ozone Start% – 34.2, toughest on the team, and with an Ozone Finish% of 58.6%
Comp Scores: CorsiRelQOC 2nd weakest on the team, CorsiQOC toughest on the team (could someone please explain to me that massive discrepancy)
Corsi Scores: CorsiRel 13.5 1st on the team, CorsiOn 9.24 also 1st on the team
Brown has hands of granite, but he also seems to have been a pretty solid defensive forward, except that I can`t tell if he is the most sheltered or least sheltered player on the team.
I’d think he’s fairly sheltered 5v5, but I’d like to see his PK numbers (I can’t get behind the net to work for me this morning)
by Chi-town leafs on Dec 29, 2011 10:25 AM EST up reply actions
Advanced stats like Brown. But ya he’s sheltered…. he’s a 4th liner.
Still, does the job he’s been asked to do pretty well.
Also his PDO is pretty low so he’s been getting UNLUCKY while being awesome.
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
by nhlcheapshot on Dec 29, 2011 10:56 AM EST up reply actions
Both are the kind of players I expect on the 4th line.
Send Rosehill, Dupuis and Orr to the moon Marlies.
No idea where Lombardi goes now. Do we really have to choose between Kadri/Frattin going down to the Marlies? I don’t like that game anymore.
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
by nhlcheapshot on Dec 29, 2011 10:56 AM EST up reply actions
totally agree. Kadri and Frattin both deserve to stick witht he big club right now
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
by Matt_Roberts on Dec 29, 2011 11:16 AM EST up reply actions
Boyce for sure. I think after that the Leafs have a bit of a problem. Frattin and Kadri both deserve roster spots, and it doesn’t make sense to play either of them on the 4th line. So does Burke send Kadri back to the Marlies even though he’s playing well, and leave Crabb on the 4th line?
The plural of "anecdote" is not "data".
Internet Champ. I'm on Twitter too! - draglikepull
by Draglikepull on Dec 29, 2011 9:32 AM EST up reply actions
I agree. Send Dupuis, Orr or Rosehill down and let Brown, Steckel, Lombardi and Crabb play musical chairs on the fourth line.
Either you have an enviable memory, or a pitiable life, to know nothing of regret.
- Sten, of the Qunari
by GreatKingRat on Dec 29, 2011 9:50 AM EST up reply actions
Does Lombardi really make sense on the 4th line? Ideally I’d like to see him on the 3rd line, but he’s not really an upgrade on Frattin / Kadri at this point either.
looking at those lines above, both Frattin-Grabbo-Kulemin and Mac-Connoly-Kadri could reasonably be called ‘second’ lines, not third.
also: how great would it be if grabbo-kulemin got going like last year again? at this point i’m not expecting it to happen, but it’d be nice. I think I might have to drop Kulie from my keeper league roster to get him going.
That's "Da-ooo". I killed a turkey once, with a shovel.
we all expected a regression from grabbo-kule this year, but this has been a tad more then expected. If this team had that line playing the way they did last year combined with Lupul-Kessel it would be fucking glorious
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
by Matt_Roberts on Dec 29, 2011 11:56 AM EST up reply actions
As weak as Kulemin has been
with Grabbo’s 2 goals in the FLA game he’s back on pace for 25 for the year.
Not bad. Still nowhere near what we need them to be. Are they just lowering their value so they can be re-signed cheaply?
I don’t think their agents told them that this is the exact opposite of what they should be doing in a contract year.
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
by nhlcheapshot on Dec 29, 2011 12:01 PM EST up reply actions
25G from a 2C? I’d say that’s exactly where we need Grabbo to be. Kulemin’s having a tough year no doubt. I mean he’d have to go on a tear just to reach 20G this year. But I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt that this is simply an “off year” for him. Sometimes that happens to otherwise good players. And not that they aren’t trying to get paid (who isn’t), but Grabbo and Kulemin don’t come across as the kind of guys who would change their effort based on their contract status.
Yes Grabbo is on pace for 25 now... but last year he had 58 points.... now he's on pace for 44.
Grabbo and Kulemin don’t come across as the kind of guys who would change their effort based on their contract status.
Everyone at some level everyone does. Human motivation isn’t necessarily a conscious thing… it’s not like they decide effort each night based on how much it’s going to put in their bank account. But in the NHL, when you don’t know if your next contract is going to be your last, you bet your ass there is motivation to perform before a contract.
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
by nhlcheapshot on Dec 29, 2011 12:11 PM EST up reply actions
This is very misleading
Yes Grabbo is on pace for 25 now… but last year he had 58 points…. now he’s on pace for 44.
He is on pace for 44 because of injury. If he played the full 81 GP he played last year he would get 49 points at this pace. 49 is a fair bit less than 58, but I thought last year was a bit of an outlier anyway. I put my prediction for him in per game stats below, but in real numbers I was expecting 25/50.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
Ill mislead whatever I wanna do
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
by nhlcheapshot on Dec 29, 2011 12:16 PM EST up reply actions
To be honest Grabovski is more or less exactly where I thought he would be
Grabbo’s numbers from first year to this year than career average (excluding his 3 GP season)
Age: 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, Average
GPG 0.13, 0.26, 0.17, 0.36, 0.33, 0.26
PPG 0.38, 0.62, 0.59, 0.72, 0.60, 0.61
So Grabbo is having the second best goal scoring of his career, a tad below last year, but well above average. While his point scoring is down from last year, he has been pretty damn consistent in his time in TO at 0.60.
I am not sure what people expected out of Grabbo but looking at his career 0.30/0.60 was what I was expecting.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
If his goal scoring is as expected, and his point scoring is down … that likely is as a result of Kuli’s struggles, not anything Grabbo is or isn’t doing.
This space for rant...
by fair_n_hite_451 on Dec 29, 2011 12:14 PM EST up reply actions
It’s not just career #s though… he showed something last year that we hadn’t seen before, looked like he’d upped his game a notch.
We’ve only seen short flashes of that this year.
Disappointed in the player? No. Disappointed in his performance thus far this year? Yes.
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
by nhlcheapshot on Dec 29, 2011 12:15 PM EST up reply actions
But is he really that far off his performance last year? His tenacity and relentless forecheck is still apparent to me. His goal scoring is virtually the same. The only difference is his points are lower (roughly 9 points over a full season). Some of this could be due to Kule slumping hard and I think the rest was due to people having slightly to high expectations for him. Last year he had a career year and this year he dropped back a bit (but really not that much).
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
I have one more post in me before I go on vacation.
Yes his performance is off last years.
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
by nhlcheapshot on Dec 29, 2011 12:25 PM EST up reply actions
as in
not just point production.
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
by nhlcheapshot on Dec 29, 2011 12:26 PM EST up reply actions
I don’t know if I agree. And enjoy your vacation! I leave tomorrow.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
you really think grabbo is playing as well as last year?
I think a slight drop off in points was expected… so youre right about that, but he isnt as noticable on the ice as last year. Not many highlight plays, not alot of domination in opposing zone….
At least thats what my eyes have seen. Grabbo looks like hes just not quite where he was last year, for whatever reaosn
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
by Matt_Roberts on Dec 29, 2011 4:02 PM EST up reply actions
I think part of that was a sum of parts thing. Whenever I see Grabbo independently he seems the same player. He just doesn’t have that second sense thing going with Kule and MacA.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
yea, thats what im getting at here. That magic he had last year with those 2, not happening this time around.
Which is quite unfortunate, they were mezmorizing at times last year, just great hockey. Kulemins slip in play has to have a lot to do with it…
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
by Matt_Roberts on Dec 29, 2011 4:26 PM EST up reply actions
Lombardi might be over qualified for the fourth line but I love the three scoring lines we’ve got going now and don’t want to change anything. With everyone healthy, I would still keep the same top nine and run a fourth line of Lombardi or Steckel centering Brown and Army.
Either you have an enviable memory, or a pitiable life, to know nothing of regret.
- Sten, of the Qunari
by GreatKingRat on Dec 29, 2011 1:02 PM EST up reply actions
agreed. I would send kadri down if he’s not playing top-9.
by Justin Azevedo on Dec 29, 2011 10:43 AM EST up reply actions
Spending my morning statgazing
I remember hearing from some Habs fans at Arctic Ice Hockey that Scott Gomez has actually been a good possesion player (in other words, not quite as laughable as we all thought).
It`s true, his possesion numbers are awesome. His CorsiRel is 22.0, his CorsiOn is 23.88, and both those numbers are far and away the highest on the team (and on this team, too).
So has Scott Gomez been an excellent defensive forward who, while overpaid, has actually been a solid player for his team, a la Jay Bouwmester (and why can`t I type question marksÉ)
Nope. He has 60.6% Ozone starts (56.9%Finish), and by any measure of competition he is one of the most sheltered players on the team.
He plays cushy minutes and can`t score.
So, in conclusion, LOL Montreal.
you can’t type question marks because your keyboard is probably set to french canadian.
I would like to point out that bouwmeester is killing it for the flames right now. he’s played about 27 minutes a game since giordano went down to injury and he’s on pace for a 30+ point season.
sure, he’s overpaid. but many other teams would’ve paid a similar rate for his services in the summer of 09.
by Justin Azevedo on Dec 29, 2011 10:51 AM EST up reply actions
I watched the game a couple of nights ago at the home of an avowed J-Bo hater … and even she’s coming around because of his play lately.
He’s just looked great.
This space for rant...
by fair_n_hite_451 on Dec 29, 2011 11:00 AM EST up reply actions
I didn’t know that JBo was having that good a season.
The funny thing is, the reason I know about JBo is from rewading Matchstcicks and Gas.
J Bo is the league leader in minutes played over the last 4 season.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
He is also the current active holder of the ironman record I think?
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
by nhlcheapshot on Dec 29, 2011 12:13 PM EST up reply actions
I meant per game. If he is the ironman too that makes it that much more impressive.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
Crazy stat
If you look at just the last 3 years check out who number 4 is. (this player was injured 4 years ago so he didn’t do well in the 4 year total).
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
UFA this summer… just sayin’
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
by nhlcheapshot on Dec 29, 2011 12:20 PM EST up reply actions
Also wow, Yandle is right up there. And he’s like what, 21? 22? Jesus.
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
by nhlcheapshot on Dec 29, 2011 12:21 PM EST up reply actions
A tad older
He is 25. He only played 20:14 2 years ago, but last year was over 24 minutes and this year over 22.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
Shit for some reason I thought he was on his first non-ELC deal.
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
by nhlcheapshot on Dec 29, 2011 12:25 PM EST up reply actions
Nah
Analysts were comparing Turris to him. How he accepted a small but short first RFA contract to prove himself, then got paid after it. Apparently Maloney wanted to do the same with Turris.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
I second that.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
I doubt there would be a massive bidding war for him unless he’s the only UFA dman out there.
Suter is going to grab all the attention if he makes it.
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
by nhlcheapshot on Dec 29, 2011 12:28 PM EST up reply actions
This guy is another dman to look at assuming Suter is gone.
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
by nhlcheapshot on Dec 29, 2011 12:32 PM EST up reply actions
His TOI is down this year, eh?
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
I too was surprised. I’d like to hear from a PHX fan as to why – maybe it’s the system? They go for more balanced D from people not named Yandle?
Or maybe his previous TOI was inflated by PP/PK time he’s not getting in PHX.
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
by nhlcheapshot on Dec 29, 2011 12:46 PM EST up reply actions
Or maybe he is aging. He is 33 or so, right? As well what side does he play?
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
Maybe. and I don't know.
It was just a name that no one is talking about that might be available (if he doesn’t want to play in PHX/QBC next season)
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
by nhlcheapshot on Dec 29, 2011 12:55 PM EST up reply actions
He’s been playing big minutes – and earning a pretty penny for his services – very quietly for quite some time now.
Not followin' @JPNikota on Twitter? Oh, you better believe that's a paddlin'.
I meant post-PHX trade
his icetime has fallen 5 full minutes on average from his NYR ice-time.
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
by nhlcheapshot on Dec 29, 2011 1:10 PM EST up reply actions
I meant a trading bidding war.
I think in our case, it would start at Schenn (or Gunnarson / Gardiner, but Schenn’s cost certainty may make him valuable) + Kadri or Colborne or Macarthur or Grabbo. That’s the start, then you add in whatever else it may take. And if some other team comes around offering top of the line talent (like, say, Dougie Hamilton + Brad Marchand + whatever), then I think we lose.
Again are you referring to trading for Beauchemin? As that is who cheapshot and I were talking about.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
just sayin’
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
by nhlcheapshot on Dec 29, 2011 12:45 PM EST up reply actions
Fair enough, its just your comments made no sense in the timeline.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
And
That was the surprising thing if you clicked on my link. Beauchemin is 4th in TOI over hte last 3 seasons.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
~540 games in a row now without missing one.
by Justin Azevedo on Dec 29, 2011 12:56 PM EST up reply actions
It has to be nice to have over 4 months off each year.
About time that people finally realized how awesome Gunnar is...
Certified Gunnar & Kule lover!
My new goal: To get the nickname Hebrew Hammer for Mike Brown to take off.
by BCapp on Dec 29, 2011 1:06 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
heh. I see what you did there…
This space for rant...
by fair_n_hite_451 on Dec 29, 2011 1:11 PM EST up reply actions
I made the “bold” prediction that bouwmeester would break his playoff-less streak in calgary. that prediction looks pretty stupid right now.
by Justin Azevedo on Dec 29, 2011 1:19 PM EST up reply actions
I literally had a nightmare about this team last night
Had a dream that Burke got so desperate to shore things up defensively that he traded Dion Phaneuf + our next THREE 1st round picks… in exchange for Eric Brewer.
I think we’d need a 6th round pick coming back to make that trade
by Chi-town leafs on Dec 29, 2011 10:38 AM EST up reply actions
heh, funny thing was I really wanted Leafs to get Brewer as a UFA before he re-signed with the Lightning.
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
by nhlcheapshot on Dec 29, 2011 12:03 PM EST up reply actions
I went to the Russia / Slovak game last night, here is a brief scouting report on some notable players:
Yakupov is the real deal in his age group (which of course may not translate to NHL success). He had a dominant shift to engineer the first Russia goal, played with a bit of an edge (went right back after one of the bigger Slovaks when he got bumped after the whistle). Short, stocky, hard to knock off the puck – he reminded me of Kovalenko, who they used to call The Russian Tank.
Grigorenko was one of those guys who was mostly invisible, but then has two points at the end of the night, and you wonder how that happened. He made a nifty pass on the 3rd goal, and started another 3 on 2 play that should have led to a tap-in when the slovak goalie overplayed a shot, but somebody with stone hands missed the open net. If I was forced to chose between the two, based on last night’s game I’m taking Yakupov hands down.
Came away very impressed with Tomas Jurco. He was everywhere, hard to knock off the puck, hitting everything (although not always successfully), was obviously the most dangerous Slovak skater – needs work on his d zone coverage.
Didn’t know anything about Nikita Gusev before the game, but he bares watching. Shifty little skater, another one of those short stocky Russian players. Great hands on him.
although I went in looking to watch Marc Maracin on the Slovak blueline, it was Janosek who was the most impressive. Strong, good positioning, mixed it up some. although the comparison isn’t fair given Janosek was playing kids … he looked like everything we want Keith Aulie to be.
This space for rant...
by fair_n_hite_451 on Dec 29, 2011 10:58 AM EST reply actions
Came away very impressed with Tomas Jurco
Godamnit.
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
by nhlcheapshot on Dec 29, 2011 11:18 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah, Wings fans are gonna be real happy with him.
This space for rant...
by fair_n_hite_451 on Dec 29, 2011 11:41 AM EST reply actions
/reply fail…
This space for rant...
by fair_n_hite_451 on Dec 29, 2011 11:42 AM EST up reply actions
Is James Reimer a flash in the pan?
http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2011/12/29/2668343/whats-eating-james-reimer
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
Uh oh.
No more moral victories, no more excuses. Put up or shut up.
Lebda-free since July 3.
by nhlcheapshot on Dec 29, 2011 12:46 PM EST up reply actions
The Leafs PK is so bad it can even ruin James Reimer.
Mike Weber Pressbox Incarceration Status: Free to roam the blueline.
"Ville Leino may stink but he’s still way better than Colin Stuart."
The next time the Leafs PK will be above average, a Buffalo team will finally win a championship.
"We are all agreed that your theory is crazy. The question that divides us is whether it is crazy enough to have a chance of being correct."
- Niels Bohr
Sorry, unauthorized hotlinking of copyrighted material not permitted.
by Frag on Dec 29, 2011 5:29 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
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