JFJ - A positive look
Looking at the positives, more attention must be given to the assets JFJ has secured for this team, he has done a better job providing his coach with quality players, then he has done in securing his own job as GM with some questionable contracts. As a fan, this is the area of most concern, the dollars and cents shouldn’t concern anyone cause there are always ways to drop or eat a contact.
Kubina, the only cup winning defensemen is on the team is a leader in more ways then that. There is none better at picking the puck in our corner and turning it up ice, with a quick pass or a cross ice trap breaking pass. Pav is a big man to clear the net, block a shot, or just simply get in the way. His contract is constantly being ridiculed, however, he big, experienced, talented with the puck, great in his own end, and can eat up 30min a game when healthy. You would be hard pressed to find another player of that ilk, hence the 5 million. Pay less attention to the $$$ to points, and more to the value Kubina brings to the ice, this guy is a gem.
Hal Gill, in the penalty riddled NHL, this guy proves his worth every second he spends on the PK. His +/- lead the team last year and he may do the same this season. Gill has also added a great ability to move the puck this season. Although I am not aware if this was a talent he had in beantown, it only became evident to me in the last couple months of this season. It is another positive to another huge body on defense that plays excellent positional which makes up for his lack of speed. He is great with the poke check and clears the net well. He could be more aggressive, regardless; he is effective at his shutdown role.
The goalie situation has Vesa Toskala vs. Andrew Raycroft competing with themselves and each other for supremacy. While Raycroft had a horrible season last year, his troubles may have stemmed from being on a new club, being overused, having a poor team system in front, not to mention the many injuries. This season he has played much better with a better team, and will only improve if and when he gets the call. Vesa, is much more mature at 30 and experienced. Although he has not been a sole number 1 before, he has shown the confidence to take the role this season. He has been proactive in challenging his teammates to be better, and worked hard to communicate with his new team. Although he is small in stature, his speed and agility make up for that size. He has been phenomenal in tracking down dump ins and thus enables or D to safely exit the zone more often then not. The end result is two goalies with potential to get better.
Mark Bell, another big, dominant, aggressive forward that has talent with the puck as well. This type of player is of great importance in the new NHL, because there is really no way of keeping them from doing what they want. Bell has shown flashes of this brilliance when used on the top two lines, also able to play center, it provides the team with other options of how to utilize. I feel he is best served at W, but in limited time recently has been better at his defensive awareness at C in last few games. He is a player that has played no where near his potential, and will only continue to improve.
Devereaux and Kilger, those were two additions that were free, but as the season goes on, their value to the team only intensifies. Although both have had slower then expected starts to this season, both can prove to be valuable veterans on a rather young core. Now that the injuries have subsided, they are slotted in more appropriate roles. As for Boyd, a great addition to the team, a perfect skater with the great fore-check, has won a Cup, and enables that young duo of Stajan and Steen to work at full potential 5on5. The numbers will improve for this line, but its strengths will be in shutting down top lines. Kilger, it is tough to find anyone who works harder then Chad Kilger. Now slotted in the 4th line, he has still been able to put the puck in the net consistently. He adds an aggressive fore-check and bashes and crashes every chance he gets, a great role player with experience.
Blake, I know he was a defensive nightmare to start, but so were the Leafs. Offensively he does so much good for a team, like a pit-bull with his speed and ability to force turnovers in the offence zone Jason Blake gives and keeps puck possession to his linemates on almost every shift. He is fast with and without the puck, he is able to cut defences apart as a result, it’s a skill most NHLers don’t have, and it’s a skill VITAL to countering a trap. Although his shot selection hasn’t been the greatest, he is on a new team, there is a curve. The bottom line, goal or an assists, he has been apart of a consistent offensive contribution and enable the Leafs to obtain maximum puck possession.
Tulusty, this is obvious, any first round pick ready to play in the NHL a year later is a good pick.
Finally, resigning the likes of Antropov, it is an obvious move but some may have wavered due to some of the clowns in the acc.
Kubina, the only cup winning defensemen is on the team is a leader in more ways then that. There is none better at picking the puck in our corner and turning it up ice, with a quick pass or a cross ice trap breaking pass. Pav is a big man to clear the net, block a shot, or just simply get in the way. His contract is constantly being ridiculed, however, he big, experienced, talented with the puck, great in his own end, and can eat up 30min a game when healthy. You would be hard pressed to find another player of that ilk, hence the 5 million. Pay less attention to the $$$ to points, and more to the value Kubina brings to the ice, this guy is a gem.
Hal Gill, in the penalty riddled NHL, this guy proves his worth every second he spends on the PK. His +/- lead the team last year and he may do the same this season. Gill has also added a great ability to move the puck this season. Although I am not aware if this was a talent he had in beantown, it only became evident to me in the last couple months of this season. It is another positive to another huge body on defense that plays excellent positional which makes up for his lack of speed. He is great with the poke check and clears the net well. He could be more aggressive, regardless; he is effective at his shutdown role.
The goalie situation has Vesa Toskala vs. Andrew Raycroft competing with themselves and each other for supremacy. While Raycroft had a horrible season last year, his troubles may have stemmed from being on a new club, being overused, having a poor team system in front, not to mention the many injuries. This season he has played much better with a better team, and will only improve if and when he gets the call. Vesa, is much more mature at 30 and experienced. Although he has not been a sole number 1 before, he has shown the confidence to take the role this season. He has been proactive in challenging his teammates to be better, and worked hard to communicate with his new team. Although he is small in stature, his speed and agility make up for that size. He has been phenomenal in tracking down dump ins and thus enables or D to safely exit the zone more often then not. The end result is two goalies with potential to get better.
Mark Bell, another big, dominant, aggressive forward that has talent with the puck as well. This type of player is of great importance in the new NHL, because there is really no way of keeping them from doing what they want. Bell has shown flashes of this brilliance when used on the top two lines, also able to play center, it provides the team with other options of how to utilize. I feel he is best served at W, but in limited time recently has been better at his defensive awareness at C in last few games. He is a player that has played no where near his potential, and will only continue to improve.
Devereaux and Kilger, those were two additions that were free, but as the season goes on, their value to the team only intensifies. Although both have had slower then expected starts to this season, both can prove to be valuable veterans on a rather young core. Now that the injuries have subsided, they are slotted in more appropriate roles. As for Boyd, a great addition to the team, a perfect skater with the great fore-check, has won a Cup, and enables that young duo of Stajan and Steen to work at full potential 5on5. The numbers will improve for this line, but its strengths will be in shutting down top lines. Kilger, it is tough to find anyone who works harder then Chad Kilger. Now slotted in the 4th line, he has still been able to put the puck in the net consistently. He adds an aggressive fore-check and bashes and crashes every chance he gets, a great role player with experience.
Blake, I know he was a defensive nightmare to start, but so were the Leafs. Offensively he does so much good for a team, like a pit-bull with his speed and ability to force turnovers in the offence zone Jason Blake gives and keeps puck possession to his linemates on almost every shift. He is fast with and without the puck, he is able to cut defences apart as a result, it’s a skill most NHLers don’t have, and it’s a skill VITAL to countering a trap. Although his shot selection hasn’t been the greatest, he is on a new team, there is a curve. The bottom line, goal or an assists, he has been apart of a consistent offensive contribution and enable the Leafs to obtain maximum puck possession.
Tulusty, this is obvious, any first round pick ready to play in the NHL a year later is a good pick.
Finally, resigning the likes of Antropov, it is an obvious move but some may have wavered due to some of the clowns in the acc.
posted by LEAFER at
2:47 PM
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