First Line Scoring by the Numbers
No games for three days makes for very little in Maple Leafs land development. There’s Komisarek’s laughable trade request, there’s Frattin’s potential return to the lineup this week, and there’s still the question of why isn’t Gardiner on the Maple Leafs, but for the most part all of it is nothing more than a waiting game. Instead, I’m going to look at the most basic of stats (goals and assists) and how the first line forwards are doing in those categories.
The Numbers
38% – That’s the percentage of game winning goals scored by the first line this season. Kessel and van Riemsdyk both have two, and Bozak one. The team leader for game winners is Frattin with 3.
2 – That’s the number of primary assists that Bozak has this season (both on Kessel goals). Bozak is tied for 9th on the Leafs in primary assists. Yes, that’s right, the first line centre has fewer primary assists than Mike Kostka. Kessel and Kadri are tied for first on the Leafs with 10 primary assists each.
33% – When it comes to what period the first line scores in the first line is consistent. They’ve accounted for 33% of the Leafs goals in each period.
1 – There has only been one powerplay goal that wasn’t scored by, or assisted on by one of the Leafs first liners.
3 – When the game is tied both James van Riemsdyk and Phil Kessel have given the Leafs the lead three times, tied for best on the Leafs with Frattin. Tyler Bozak has scored 80% of his goals when the Leafs already have the lead.
76% - That’s the percentage of the first line’s goals scored on the road. Kessel still hasn’t scored at home, Bozak has one, and even van Riemsdyk has two thirds of his goals away from the ACC.
1st – Bozak and van Riemsdyk are tied for first on the Leafs in goals scored within the division. Kessel only has one goal within the division.
8 - To make up for his lack of goals within the division, Kessel has 8 points against division competition. That’s good enough for first on the Leafs.
So there are the most basic of stats for the top line. What seems clear is that Bozak is out of his league as a playmaker despite still finding a way to score. It’s also become clear that Kessel is just as good a passer as he is a shooter, and his ability to feed Lupul last season wasn’t a fluke, as van Riemsdyk has benefited just as much as Lupul did.
Monday Morning Links…
How the Maple Leafs’ (and Carlyle’s) ‘experiment’ year can end well….
Michael at Vintage Leaf Memories takes a look at what Carlyle needs to do to silence critics.
Komisarek requests a trade
Birky at PPP takes a look at the trade we all hope happens.
Injured Leaf Matt Frattin cleared for contact at practice (Star)
It’s hard not to be excited about how the Leafs top nine looks after his return.
Leafs’ Lupul Practices for first time since injury (Sportsnet)
Since there was a Frattin update, why not have a Lupul one, too?
Tampa Bay Lightning, and Florida Panthers coping with NHL realignment travel nightmares (Puck Daddy)
Why do these franchises still exist?
Surprisingly I had difficulty finding a truly horrible Kessel proposal in the 15 minutes I looked, so instead here’s one that I’m not willing to label as horrible but it’s still one that I wouldn’t want to do.
NHL Numbers Predictive Power Rankings
Woohoo! The Leafs make the playoffs! Boo! They’d face Boston in the first round.
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Really need to give Gardiner and Holzer the ol switcharooo
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Komisarek says he didn't ask for a trade. Leafs already had a list of 12 teams he would accept a trade to as part of his Modified NTC. He can change it every June 15.... It's not June 15.
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Don't personally hate the proposed Kessel trade from the links assuming that Perry acknowledged he'd sign here ahead of time. Just love the line:
"Kessel could flourish in a hockey market like Anaheim."
Say what now?
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@JVR re
Why not just move Columbus or Nashville to the Southeast and put Winnipeg in the Central? PROBLEM SOLVED!!
If they're set on having 4 Divisions, why not go with something like this?
Holy smoly ,good geograhical sense for a change ! so simple
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JVR•2 mths ago
Not sure why, but all this just got me thinking about how stupid the proposed realignment is.
Why not just move Columbus or Nashville to the Southeast and put Winnipeg in the Central? PROBLEM SOLVED!!
If they're set on having 4 Divisions, why not go with something like this?
Adams
Toronto Maple Leafs
Ottawa Senators
Montreal Canadiens
Buffalo Sabres
Boston Bruins
Pittsburgh Penguins
Columbus Blue Jackets
Patrick
New York Rangers
New York Islanders
New Jersey Devils
Philadephia Flyers
Washington Capitals
Carolina Hurricanes
Tampa Bay Lightning
Florida Panthers
Norris
Detroit Red Wings
Chicago Blackhawks
St. Louis Blues
Nashville Predators
Minnesota Wild
Dallas Stars
Winnipeg Jets
Smythe
Vancouver Canucks
Calgary Flames
Edmonton Oilers
Colorado Avalanche
San Jose Sharks
Los Angeles Kings
Anaheim Ducks
Phoenix Coyotes
If Bozak had one more gear he would be a top tier center, he is athletic, has a lot of skills and just needs that one last bit of creativity.
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Its clear to all of us that Bozak needs to move to a different line but he is fine where he is now because there is no better option currently available. We might as well just cheer for him as he is doing his best and he is one of ours.
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@JVR I would!!!!!!!
Any combination next season with Bozak on any line I am opposed to.
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JVR•2 mths ago
That'd be insane!
Who would the opposition cover? Lupul/Bozak/Kessel or JVR/Kadri/Perry??
Have fun with that one Claude Julien!!
Chara can't be on the ice for 40 minutes a game :)
Hello people busy in here isnt it. Sad to see Brown go but musts dictate and we have plenty of men to bloody noses on the ice, just that hes such a likeable character.
Why are people on here after Perry. Im not saying I wouldnt welcome Perry but surely a center or more importantly Getzlaf a better option. Or saying that Big Joe Thornton should SJ want to change things around a bit to get some scoring back.
I see Fratin and Kadri as a pairing. I see Lupul/JVR and Kessel as a pairing and I like Grabbo with Kulemin. so where does Perry fit in unless we are trading one of our RW. For me its clear Bozzie isnt upto the job and hes the one to replace. Kadri will in the future no doubt be a No1 center but to put that weight on his shoulders so soon would be foolish and Grabbo is on the 3rd line with Kuli.
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@Joe_17 That'd be insane!
Who would the opposition cover? Lupul/Bozak/Kessel or JVR/Kadri/Perry??
Have fun with that one Claude Julien!!
Chara can't be on the ice for 40 minutes a game :)
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Joe_17•2 mths ago
thats what i'd do - even though i realize Kadri and Frattin's chemistry is strong, i think JVR-Kadri-Perry would be fantastic
@Lee Thompson Exactly, they're on a potential Cup run this season, so I really doubt they'll trade him.
Also, they don't have the money to keep him and Getzlaf on new deals, so one of them will have to go, VIA UFA.
Or maybe they trade his rights after the playoffs are over.
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Lee Thompson•2 mths ago
Because Anaheim would be mad to let him go to UFA. And they're on a potential Cup run this year with an aging team.
@hometeem And I don't think anybody (except idiot senaturd and schabs fans) could argue that we'd be a serious contender if one or both of them came here.
With that being said, it sounds like Getzlaf will be staying in SoCal, as he is apparently building a new house down there.
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hometeem•2 mths ago
there has got to be ways to let a guy know (Perry/Getz) that we are super interested in them come summer. Is it not blatantly obvious to those 2 that we are prepped to give them huge long term deals? Unless its players that we want out anyways and generate little value other wise we have to wait it out, and those players wont be what it takes for Ana to move them anyway
@Mind Bomb its only human, I had one too...but at least it didn't move, then you got a problem...lol
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Mind Bomb•2 mths ago
Dude I owe you for that lol
@Joe_17 ....would be a nice problem to figure out
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Joe_17•2 mths ago
thats what i'd do - even though i realize Kadri and Frattin's chemistry is strong, i think JVR-Kadri-Perry would be fantastic
@Lee Thompson Same here, I take everything the MSM says with a grain of salt of form my own opinions on players.
I would hope everybody values the opinions of other posters on here more than they value the opinions of the JACKASSES in the MSN!
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Lee Thompson•2 mths ago
Well, in truth, that's not why I have formed my opinion of him. I have done so over the body of evidence of his play over the last few seasons. Fans of the Maple Leafs (again, myself included), idolize heart and sole players - like Gilmour, Clarke, and Roberts. When I see Kessel cowering from potential hits along the boards, while smurfs like Gallagher, Gionta, and Desharnais do otherwise, I just shake my head. And I guarantee Leaf players do the same.
@JVR thats what i'd do - even though i realize Kadri and Frattin's chemistry is strong, i think JVR-Kadri-Perry would be fantastic
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JVR•2 mths ago
Put Frattin with Grabovski and Kulemin as the shutdown line and Perry on the wing with Kadri and JVR?
@Uncle Otis Diversionary tactic. LOL
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Uncle Otis•2 mths ago
Look at that..
We start talking Kess and up pops a new blog...lol
@Joe_17 Put Frattin with Grabovski and Kulemin as the shutdown line and Perry on the wing with Kadri and JVR?
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Joe_17•2 mths ago
i would not waste Perry with grabs and kuli. He'd be with Kadri and jvr or frattin - assuming that first line remains intact
Look at that..
We start talking Kess and up pops a new blog...lol
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@Lee Thompson Perry is either resigning in Anaheim for 8 years or going UFA
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Lee Thompson•2 mths ago
The deal would hinge on Perry promising to sign with TO.
@Uncle Otis Yeah, Randy's made it pretty clear what type of player he prefers.
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Uncle Otis•2 mths ago
You know it must push Randy to the edge..and yet little changes.
Except, soon, the uniform. :)
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@Lee Thompson I hate watching any player play like that. Bail on plays, weak puck battles. Basically just give up rather than work a little. Pisses me off actually, most likely team mates as well.
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Lee Thompson•2 mths ago
Well, in truth, that's not why I have formed my opinion of him. I have done so over the body of evidence of his play over the last few seasons. Fans of the Maple Leafs (again, myself included), idolize heart and sole players - like Gilmour, Clarke, and Roberts. When I see Kessel cowering from potential hits along the boards, while smurfs like Gallagher, Gionta, and Desharnais do otherwise, I just shake my head. And I guarantee Leaf players do the same.
@wiski Fitting.
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wiski•2 mths ago
John Vogl @BuffNewsVogl
Sabres Patrick Kaleta says he feels like "a bag of garbage" for putting team in short-handed situation that led to two Rangers goals.
Not that he hurt anyone. lol
@TheCanucksnaphook You know it must push Randy to the edge..and yet little changes.
Except, soon, the uniform. :)
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TheCanucksnaphook•2 mths ago
I know it would infuriate Carlyle.
@JVR Because Anaheim would be mad to let him go to UFA. And they're on a potential Cup run this year with an aging team.
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JVR•2 mths ago
If you know that Perry wants to sign with the Leafs, why not just wait 4 months and sign him as an UFA?
Lupul - Bozak - Kessel
Kulemin - Grabovski - Perry
JVR - Kadri - Frattin
Komarov - McClement - Orr
@Lee Thompson He would give the Leafs the best look.
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Lee Thompson•2 mths ago
It sorta makes sense. As long as the Leafs get permission to talk with him first, to insure he'll sign, it's a smart move. I would even be willing to part with a high level prospect to make it happen. He would just give the Leafs such a different look.
@TheCanucksnaphook It sorta makes sense. As long as the Leafs get permission to talk with him first, to insure he'll sign, it's a smart move. I would even be willing to part with a high level prospect to make it happen. He would just give the Leafs such a different look.
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TheCanucksnaphook•2 mths ago
Ha....I love how we are getting perry now....all it takes is one good 4th line trade to get it started
John Vogl @BuffNewsVogl
Sabres Patrick Kaleta says he feels like "a bag of garbage" for putting team in short-handed situation that led to two Rangers goals.
Not that he hurt anyone. lol
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@Lee Thompson I know it would infuriate Carlyle.
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Lee Thompson•2 mths ago
Well, in truth, that's not why I have formed my opinion of him. I have done so over the body of evidence of his play over the last few seasons. Fans of the Maple Leafs (again, myself included), idolize heart and sole players - like Gilmour, Clarke, and Roberts. When I see Kessel cowering from potential hits along the boards, while smurfs like Gallagher, Gionta, and Desharnais do otherwise, I just shake my head. And I guarantee Leaf players do the same.
