Tonight’s loss against the Northeast rival Buffalo Sabres seemed to play out like the typical Maple Leaf ‘09-’10 regular season game thus far. A fairly decent effort for about 75-80% of the game, a few brain cramps here and there, a ton of unconverted offensive opportunities, an unlucky bounce or two, along with the end result of an “L” in the record books.
Quick post-game thoughts from tonight’s game:
- Nikolai Kulemin has impressed me a ton this season, particularly over the course of the last 2-3 weeks. He’s so strong along the boards, using his strength and smarts to angle opposing defenders off the puck to win those down low battles. He needs to convert a few more of those slot opportunities however. He certainly caught Wilson’s attention tonight, earning him a bump up to the 2nd line for a little while as well as 2 minutes of ice-time on the penalty kill. It looks like we could have the makings of a very good 20+ goal hardworking grinder on our hands sometime in the near future.
- As many have noted, tonight was by far Luke Schenn’s strongest game of the season. He seems to thrive with a bigger workload, earning 18 minutes of ice-time tonight because of the Gunnarsson injury, and played with a whole lot more assertiveness and confidence. One shift in particular early on stood out to me as Schenn made a great pinch along the boards to keep the puck in zone and followed it up with a calm pass to Hagman on the other side. On the same shift, Schenn cut to the middle of the ice and let off a low, hard slap shot, one of only a handful we’ve seen in his entire 100 game career. That confidence with the puck from the point and willingness to use the skills he displayed in Kelowna will go a long way in helping him become a valuable two-way defender.
- Komisarek’s presence was surely felt tonight in his return to the lineup. He added a certain element of physicality and nastiness that was lacking from the team during the past few weeks. He lined up a couple big hits early that really set the tone, and made a great play later in the game by catching up to the speedy Buffalo forward Clarke MacArthur to break up a solo rush. This is the Komisarek this team needs night in and night out.
- Stajan is killing me a little inside over the last little while with his lackluster board play. He’s always a split second late when it comes to pressing his body up along the sides to prevent clearing attempts, and is being tossed off pucks in the corner like a rag doll. He’s made a few nice plays with Kessel during that span, but the multitude of passes sent behind his wingers instead of in stride really make me question whether or not there is a better centerman option with the organization right now in either Grabovski or even Bozak.
alex.tran@mapleleafshotstove.com
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December 1st, 2009 at 1:18 pm
@ Scooter:
The problem with sending Blake down is not just attracting free agents. It is his cap hit. If we send him down he must clear reentry waivers in the summer and if he is claimed we will lose 2 million a year for 2 more years. As I understand, as well, if he clears we cannot save his cap hit of 4 million next year by sending him down again. With Tuckers buy out still being a 1 million dollar cap hit I can’t justify another 2 million to 4 million on a player not on our roster next year. The only possible saving grace is his 1 million cap hit vs salary starting next year for any team looking to hit the cap floor by spending the least amount of money.
December 1st, 2009 at 1:39 pm
daniel marois wrote:
You don’t know Devane is a bust just yet….
I suggested perhaps Kassian and Stafford. I don’t think we’d also get a first in there.
Beach is too risky, with his injury history and all. Plus rumours of his nasty attitude.
December 1st, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Scooter wrote:
Scooter try making a useful argument or do you just ignore salary cap explanations when they are posted here time after time.
December 1st, 2009 at 1:53 pm
I would be more than happy with Kassian + roster player (Stafford) or Kassian + 1st for Kaberle.
Buffalo could use a puckmover. Myers is just a rookie and Butler is not a franchise blueliner.
Doubt they’d want to lose Kassian though.
December 1st, 2009 at 2:12 pm
@ rustynail:
I would rather pay the 2 million for him and 850K for Stalberg then pay him 4 million and have less production.
CAP SAvings of 1.15 million.
December 1st, 2009 at 2:23 pm
how the hell is Devane a bust now? he broke his hand in the preseason and is just now starting to get his game legs?
christ Leaf fans are fickle
December 1st, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Scooter, why don’t you call Burke right away! I’m sure he’d like to hear this stuff. I think you’re onto something! Maybe if you two could just talk you could have this team fixed by suppertime. Or maybe he’d say, ” I’d have to be a nitwit to do something like that”.
December 1st, 2009 at 2:35 pm
@ Bob is your uncle:
You have your opinion and I have mine and there is logic for both sides of the argument.
No need to start name calling though.
December 1st, 2009 at 2:36 pm
@jaredoflondon
yet another burden to being a Leaf fan… other Leaf fans, haha
@ Bob is your uncle:
Good thinking, BBs probably not thought of any of these suggestions
December 1st, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Scooter: Opine away. But I think that’s just about what Burke would say.
December 1st, 2009 at 3:00 pm
It’s just unlikely Devane will ever live up to his draft position. That’s why he’s unfairly being labeled a “bust” even before he plays. I hope he turns into what Burke and co. see in him.
December 1st, 2009 at 3:20 pm
@ Scooter:
How about the 4 million next year and the year after?
December 1st, 2009 at 3:43 pm
They played alright and run into a hot goalie. Even a little more traffic probably would not of helped as Miller was stopping beach balls,the guy is in a groove. Stajan is a third line guy as is Blake and Stenpy,no matter how much money they make… that should be an “after the first line” line… set in stone. Grabs-Hagman-Kessel on the first, Hanson centering Kulemin and Poni on the other “after the first line” line. As for White, he’s not a 20+minute guy, more like 16 or so, he’s good and IMHO we need to resign him. As for Kabs, we HAVE to trade this guy for some top line help or to recoup a first rounder for the 2010 draft. He is not gonna be a huge part of this team when or if we become playoff threats, so we must deal him ASAP. Monster was OK, but he was way out of position a few times but that will improve,,,he’s a #1 guy for us for sure.
December 1st, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Does anyone have any more on the Dreger tweet from last night in regards to Jackets needing Dman….any word if Leafs are jumping on this…..its also mention Torres as a possible salary coming back.
Just bored…..
December 1st, 2009 at 4:11 pm
I agree with Scooter. Waive his goofy ass and when we have to put him through re-entry on June 30th someone will claim him. Next year we pretend we’re paying Kadri $3.75 mil ($2mil from Blake + his own $1.75 mil). I would rather pay a guy like Kadri $3.75 mil than Blake $4 mil.
December 1st, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Paying a fourth liner 4 mil for 10-12 mins a night is retarded to say the least. No matter what we are gonna take it from behind regarding Blake. I would rather suffer without having to see his ass in a Leaf jersey. Keeping him is like a double edged sword. Not only are we paying the goofy fuck but we have to expect him to score too. No fking way.
December 1st, 2009 at 4:44 pm
I mean , c’mon…the best first line we got is Grabs-Hagman-Kessel, Hanson-Poni-Kulemin is big and board worthy, and Stajan-Blake-Stempy at the least gives us a chance at secondary scoring. Throw in Primeau-Orr-and Mayers and ya got a tough 4th and Mayers can win Those lines I just mentioned, do they make sense to you guys? I mean together for some 5 games so they can get it together? Grabs-Hagman-kessel-White-Schenn….Stajan-Blake-Stempy-Kabs-Beuch…Poni-Hanson-Kulemin-Komi-gunner/Finger, then the 4th? Like old school DET 5 man units?.
December 1st, 2009 at 5:39 pm
@ TuckerThomas:
Thanks TT. I’m glad someone gets the logic.
December 2nd, 2009 at 9:17 pm
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December 12th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
TEST TEST STAJAN TEST TEST
December 12th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
TEST TEST BLAKE TEST TEST
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