Growing Pains – Leafs/Pens Post-Game

In a game that oscillated between sloppy and entertaining, a young squad of Leafs forwards strutted their wares in a final attempt to crack the big club’s roster. If anyone was wondering how the typical Tank Nation extremists’ dream-team of solely youngsters would fare, they would need to look no farther than tonight. It was a mix of rookie mistakes, raw talent, and nerve-fraying moves. Here are some notes from this Tuesday night tilt, from the perspective of someone that was at the game itself:

-The Kulemin-Grabovski-Tlusty which was great last year is showing signs of rust. At times they have looked lazy while at others they have just looked completely out of sync. Outside of a few good collective shifts, Mikhail is the only player from this line currently deserving of a roster spot based on preseason play. Both Tlusty and Kulemin have flashed the skills that we all know they possess, but they need to display it more consistently. This trio did improve drastically as the game went on, which is promising.

-Rickard Wallin is a relative unknown that many of us have been trying to pencil into the lineup. To be frank, he looked to be a step behind the play at times. His body language at times (which may not be observable on TV) indicates that he is maintaining an awareness of the play surrounding him, but at this point it seems to be a bit more than he can handle. It will be interesting to see what role the coaching staff gives him going forward.

-Excitement to see the likely top-four was dampened almost immediately when the Penguins got off to a quick start. There is no doubt in my mind that the combinations Wilson has gone with will be solid during the season, but like the rest of this squad there will be some trial and tribulation involved. Tim, a friend of mine with quite the hockey mind, observed that Schenn in particular was off his game today. His trademark poise and patience under pressure was absent in a number of shaky passes and stuttering plays. Best blueliner of the night? Francois Beauchemin. Smart plays, a booming shot, and instrumental to the Leafs eventual victory.

As the preseason nears its final stages, you can expect the Leafs to round into form. Tonight we saw a goaltender and blueline that is still undergoing this process. We were also witness to the college kids giving it their all, and the sophomore young guns finding their stride.

As always, interested to hear your thoughts.

Cheers,
Nikhil

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  • captain morgan

    To all Tlutsy bangers…this kid has a real confidence issue…he gets to the point where he is too afraid to do things and puts too much pressure on himself…he did this in the AHL last year at the beginning as well and Leaf brass know it, they have said that he needs to relax….when hi finally did last year, he was dynamite. So do we throw that away and trade him or make a spot available to find himself or send him to the minors to get his act together there? My vote is on the minors…he’s too good to give up on!!

    Plus, Bozak and Stalberg do not ahve to make the top 6 to make the Leafs….the only who has to do that is Kadri, because it would not be beneficial to have him playing eight minutes or less a night in the NHL where he could be playing 20+ in the OHL.

  • Edward Flannery

    @lonsmos2
    hmm well Blake is on the third line where he would be murdered, and his off wing, same for kessel, and how kulemin is on second right now is beyond me but i cant see White on this team going forward. IMO he will be moved relativly soon, hopefully.
    as far as Kulemin if we go on this years play id put Stalberg ahead of him as well as Bozak.

    Its interesting to see the evolution of peoples lines, last week Tlusty was starting center on most of them and made the rare apperance on first lines, now nothing. Imagine what we will know a week from now.

  • TuckerThomas

    I say, if he’s ready… let The Goose play 2 periods on Friday, 1 on Saturday and the whole game on Sunday. I really wanna see him play. I have more hope for him than any other new guy.
    ~
    P.S. I’m a big boy and can allow myself to get my hopes up. I don’t need a buncha negative what ifers telling me he hasn’t played a game in the NHL yet. I can get my hopes up without having to take away everyones elses hopes in the future should he not succeed. I think the very people who try to add a negative spin to every hope should never get their hopes up again cause obviously they were extremely dissapointed as their hopes were dashed and have been seriously affected by it.

  • captain morgan

    @TT
    You go boy!!! LOL That’s one of the bad things about hockey and the media in Toronto…they teach you to be negative….I guess every other kid that ever laces up the skates on other NHL teams has played seasons in the NHL, just not our guys!!

  • Edward Flannery

    @TuckerThomas
    I agree with you i live for hope i never wanna see them loose for draft picks, i think we can win the cup every year as long as we get to the show. The one thing that drives me absolutly nuts is when they crown someone before they have done anything. Hope, speculate, pray, do whatever but dont give me facts about the futur, and dont tell me someone is better than a proven NHL’er when they havent even been to the show. I HOPE Stalberg is the next Freddy Modin but i dont KNOW that he is, i can get excited and be all giddy for the futur, but i cant tell ya hes for surely going to be a top 2 line threat.
    Basically when people say facts that havent happend yet it bugs me.

  • 2 Minutes for Looking so Good.

    I really want to see the monster play! I guess we should just be thankful he’s not out longer. Anybody wanna bet Rosehill and McCormick have a dust up tonight?

  • 2 Minutes for Looking so Good.

    I think KeonClark is just wishful thinking… dudes hookin up on leafs chats really gets him off.

  • Edward Flannery

    hey who was that guy who mocked us with the golf swing? was he on buffalo? id love to see someone try and mock us on the ice now.
    anyone else feel that theres alot of pride going on in this bunch right now, so many guys are proud to wear that leaf and i Love how BB and RW make them learn and respect the past of the team. That is awesome

  • Richard-Steven Williams

    Some thoughts on the above sentiments.
    I didn’t think Schenn has played great but the guy is not going to the AHL that would be insane.
    .
    .
    What if Pittsburgh had played their 9 superstars? Well I don’t know but I don’t think that was Wilson’s strongest team last night either… Thats the point of pre season.
    .
    .
    Kadri would benefit from a year dominating the OHL and playing in the world juniors. What’s the rush to get him in the NHL as an undersized center in a team facing a logjam at center, he isn’t going to depreciate in the next year.
    .
    .
    Stempniak poor, Tlusty poor etc. The Leafs under Burke and Wilson is going to be a meritocracy not a culture of entitlement, if you can’t show hunger in the pre season why should you take a place from someone showing considerably more heart.
    .
    .
    Hanson-Bozak-Stalberg, all have made a case for the lineup and remember people these guys aren’t 18 year olds fresh from the CHL, these guys are in their early 20′s .

  • captain morgan

    @Richard
    I agree with the College kids…been saying that all along and I hope RW and BB reward these kids for their hard work!!

  • Richard-Steven Williams

    Another thing, I like Rosehill but the kid is third/fourth line potential. He does not have the skill set to play on the second… no way is he taking Hagman/Bozak/Ponikarovsky’s place all are ahead of him on the depth chart and rightfully so. Can you see Rosehill scoring 20 goals? Because thats what I want all my top 6 aiming for.

  • Edward Flannery

    If Ron and Burke live to their word that the best player will play
    Stalberg, Bozak, Rosehil, and Stevenson all deserve a shot at this point.

  • Edward Flannery

    @Richard-Steven Williams
    No, no way to tell but he is a 3rd and 4th liner for sure. If he starts lighting it up there then move him up, but a few more bricks need to be layed before we can venture down that road.

  • Richard-Steven Williams

    Don’t get me wrong I want to see Rosehill in and around the mix. But a player like him needs to prove his way through the lines, a player like Kadri needs a general tune up until he takes his rightful place amongst the top six. No point blooding a talented kid like Kadri on the fourth line.

  • lonsmos2

    Edward Flannery

    I agree by virtue of Kulimen’s play in the preseason Stalberg is better but I said to start the season in which case benefit of the doubt Kulimen had great chemistry with Poni and Grabo the end of last year so lets see what they can do. I think rather than 2nd line it actually 1b. If Kessell wasn’t acquired they would be 1a.

    Blake is listed as a left winger but he seems to line up as left wing most nights.
    proof is, close your eyes and remember him flying down the right wing , swinging behind the oposition net curling out to the left point and then loses the puck….

    with White I think starting on left wing until either Finger, MVR or indeed White can be moved

  • B Leaf

    If the Leafs break camp with the best team it will include these top 13 forwards:
    Grabovski (5′-11″ 190)
    Hagman (6′-0″ 208)
    Bozak (6′-1″ 195)
    Kadri (6′-0″ 186)
    Kulemin (6′-1″ 220)
    Stajan (6′-1″ 205)
    Ponikarovski (6′-4 220)
    Hanson (6′-4″ 220)
    Stalberg (6′-3″ 210)
    Mitchell (6′-1″ 210)
    Blake (5′-10″ 180)
    Orr (6′-3″ 222)
    Rosehill (6′-3″ 210)

    These top 8 defencemen:
    Beauchemin (6′-0″ 215)
    Komisarek (6′-4″ 240)
    Schenn (6′-2″ 220)
    White (5′-10″ 195)
    Kaberle (6′-1″ 200)
    Van Ryn (6’1″ 215)
    Finger (6′-1″ 210)
    Exelby (6′-1″ 215)

    Obviously when Kessel comes back someone has to sit or be moved.
    Out are Primeau, Stempniak, Mayers, and Wallin. Tlusty goes to the AHL for more seasoning.

  • FatassJackson

    B Leaf
    Pretty much agreed, but I think Stempniak might be in over Hanson, Stalberg, or Kulemin

  • ravidhaliwal

    If Kadri is 186 lbs how come Wilson keeps saying that hes 170?

  • luke

    Because he looks to be about 172 lbs soaking wet…

  • Grahamzky

    B Leaf – I believe you are almost bang on – however think Kadri will be sent down – leaving an opening perhaps for Primeau/Stempniak.

  • B Leaf

    In a tv interview Kadri said he came into camp 186.
    The thing I really like about Kadri is that he puts his mark on every game. Maybe he goes down for development reasons, but if you want to go with the best team out of camp he is on it. Maybe after 9 regular season games he shows that he doesn’t really belong so you send him down and Kessel steps in??

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