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Apologies and Quick Numbers

by on July 13, 2010 in Uncategorized - 555 Comments

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As you’ve probably noticed, the amount of content here on MLHS has slowed down a bit over the last little. We sincerely apologize for this and ask that you remain patient as many of our staff writers are working and re-working their drafts for the 2010 Maple Leafs Annual that comes out this fall. We ensure you that things will be back up and running at a regular pace soon. Now with that said, I do have a couple interesting figures to toss your way.

The Crappy Goalie Effect

Goaltending has been the Achilles Heel in this city for the past couple seasons, thanks in great part to the sieve-like efforts of Andrew Raycroft and more recently Vesa Toskala. How much of an effect did it have?

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In games started by Vesa Toskala or Joey Macdonald:

Record: 8 – 16 – 3 for 19 out of a possible 54 points

82 Game Pace: 58 points

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In games started by J.S. Giguere or Jonas Gustavsson:

Record: 22 – 22 – 11 for 55 out of a possible 110 points

82 Game Pace: 82 points

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The Phaneuf/Giguere/Sjostrom effect on the PK

Prior to January 31st blockbuster:

PK – 140/200 = 70.0%, ranked last in the NHL

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After January 31st blockbuster:

PK – 75/88 = 85.2%, ranked 5th in the NHL

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I know, I know. They’re just numbers, but they do provide some reason for optimism heading into October. Defense and goaltending is they key to winning in this league, and there is some indication that the club could see some significant improvement in those areas next season. Replacing Finger/Exelby minutes with Komisarek/Lebda minutes should help as well.

Just a reminder: If you have a particular subject you’re passionate about, feel free to submit a FanPost to either Alec or myself to be displayed on the site’s front page. In addition, if you have any questions you’d like me to answer in a future blog, drop me an email with that as well (please refrain from the “do you think this trade could happen” questions).

[email protected]

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2:36 AM • 17 Jul 10

Ugh.

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7:39 PM • 14 Jul 10

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6:01 PM • 14 Jul 10

oh crap double h is back with his stajan bashing.....did he date your wife or something.....

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5:47 PM • 14 Jul 10

@Burkie_s Bollocks
Where he finished in scoring overall.
.
@mcloki
Colton Orr could have done better at standing in front of the net to deflect in Kaberle shots than those two. We finished 29th because of Blake and Stajan. Kaberle recorded 49 points in spite of the shit he played with.

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3:51 PM • 14 Jul 10

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3:15 PM • 14 Jul 10

@ Doorman:
153 words... that's what software is for. :-)

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2:49 PM • 14 Jul 10

@ honesthockey:
Bobby Ryan is actually 43? What is he? A Latin American baseball player?

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2:35 PM • 14 Jul 10

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2:26 PM • 14 Jul 10

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2:05 PM • 14 Jul 10

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2:03 PM • 14 Jul 10

is kaberle great defensively? no. so what? that's not his game. is he has bad as mccabe was defensively? no. why? because although he can make miscues in his own end, he is VERY VERY strong at getting the puck out of his own end, whereas guys like mccabe would turn it over.

he is a star in this league, in the world tourneys. there is no doubt. is he as good as doughty or keith? no. does that mean he doesn't have high value? hell no. that's like saying because guys like kessel, smyth, staal, etc. aren't as good as crosby or OV or toews, they aren't worth much. simply not true.

to say he isn't as good as the BEST, Norris nominated defensemen in the league means his value is not high is silly. doughty would never get traded, but if he did, the return he could bring would be a king's ransom. we aren't asking for that. just a top 6 forward. seems reasonable.

and if we end up keeping him (which i don't want only due to his age), i would look forward to seeing him and phaneuf work the power play. they could develop into a lethal duo like the days kabby had mccabe to pass to on the point. with kessel down low (we still need one more good winger) it makes our power play more dynamic. kaberle is one of the BEST in the league on the power play. no doubt about that. top 5 for sure. how does that not have good value??

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1:59 PM • 14 Jul 10

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1:59 PM • 14 Jul 10

The other thing people are forgetting here is that Kabby has also had some injury troubles. That hit by that F'ing knucklehead Jannsen would have affected anyone. And I'm not talking just physically either.
Unfortunately, those injury troubles are also affecting Burkey's ability to get the deal he wants for Kaberle.
You have to hand it to Burke. He's been behind the eight ball since day one with this team. He's not in a position of authority. The Leafs have been terrible for 5+ years. How do you trade "losers" for "winners"? With great difficulty, as Burke is seeing with Kabby.

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1:59 PM • 14 Jul 10

@ lonsmos2:

"but he definitely is NOT good defensively when the other team has the puck, ya he circles but away from the puck carrier most times."
This is again where I think perceptions falter. Kabby is not going to lay bonecrushing checks. It's just not his nature. But the guy does play sound positionally. He always seems to be in the right place. He's not intimidating by any stretch, but neither is Lidstrom, and many argue he is the best defenseman in the NHL (Although I would disagree with that assertion myself). The long and short of things is that Kabby is not as bad defensively as many seem to think.
In today's NHL, there's clearly a bias towards physical defenseman. That bias owes a lot to guys like Stevens, Chara, and Pronger. But again, I have to point out that Detroit, and for that matter Chicago, have both managed to win without a Pronger, Chara, or Stevens.
Hold true Burkey! You'll get your price! And if you don't, we keep Kabby and make the playoffs this year to boot.

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1:54 PM • 14 Jul 10

@ honesthockey:
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Comparitively, a lot of the forwards that people "LOL" about when we mention them, are not even in the top 40 for forwards. Same stat applies, 6 top six forwards per team makes 180. The age difference is surely accounted for in part by the 30 slot drop off in league standing for the position. Is it not?

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1:52 PM • 14 Jul 10

Part of me wants to see what kaberle can do with decent goal tending and back checking forwards again. I would not be surprised to see him completely light it up and post a positive plus/minus on a contender, or do the same if he re-ups with us.

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1:48 PM • 14 Jul 10

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1:45 PM • 14 Jul 10

Kaberle has been saddled with probably some of the weakest defensive forwards the game can produce. He has looked defensively inept over the last couple of seasons more so because of that than anything else. It is not over valueing Kaberle one bit to put him in the upper echelon of the NHL defensemen. He is consistantly in the top 10 in scoring for that position. Teams close would put huge value on that fact. Think about it. If each team carried 6 defensemen that's 180 defensemen and Kaberle finishes top 10.

There will be no Kaberle trade unless it's for what Burke wants. Makes no sense to trade him otherwise.

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1:42 PM • 14 Jul 10

This is painful...........who woulda thunk that AA would pull off a big trade before BB ?

Do we have a CC running a team in this fine city??

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1:41 PM • 14 Jul 10

Am I the only one to find it weird that Mike Komisarek follows Amanda Bynes on twitter? Come on Mike, get your head in the game!

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1:39 PM • 14 Jul 10

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1:38 PM • 14 Jul 10

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1:36 PM • 14 Jul 10

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1:35 PM • 14 Jul 10

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1:33 PM • 14 Jul 10

Doorman wrote:


How many words?


lol I sat here for about a minute debating whether to count them or not... I have decided not to.

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1:33 PM • 14 Jul 10

@ Cameron:

I'm with you Cameron. Unfortunately, as I see it the problem here is not what Kaberle's TRUE value is. I think most of us (slightly biased) Leaf fans would admit he is most definitely an 'Upper Echelon' player. That said, it's his PERCEIVED value that is hurting us here. Everyone (media and Toronto fans alike) keep saying Kaberle is horrible defensively, but as OMAC13 says above, the guy never panics. There's no one on Toronto that can do what he does. Watch him closely - When he's pressured, he circles back, circles forward, and circles again until he's out of trouble. The problem is, the guy has always been paired with Defensive liabilities. How many years did he play with McGiveaway? And worse still (again, as mentioned above), we haven't had any defensive cohesion amongst our forwards since the Doug Gilmour days.

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1:30 PM • 14 Jul 10

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1:29 PM • 14 Jul 10
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