Francis is one of the smartest defensive players of all time. He has a Selke Trophy to his name and can shut down opposing centers even at his ripe age. Though he's not nearly a Selke candidate anymore, he's still a lot more responsible on defense than Antropov. When Antropov has a Selke to his name, we can reopen this discussion. I don't even think it's up for debate if Francis plays a better defensive game, is it? Granted, i've not studied much tape on Antropov, but you would think one would have heard more if he was an all-world shut down center.
It's laughable that you people think the organization should disrespect itself and it's real fans by dressing a player who used to be good but who the game has passed by, just so he can have a story book ending. Ron Francis isn't NHL material anymore get over it hockey is a team game not an individual sport, those of you who think Quinn should put our chances at risk so poor Francis and his supporters will be happy are a joke.
francis is still a solid player, and just as effective as antropov or reichel at this point. saying francis isnt "nhl material" anymore makes you a joke. putting him in the lineup would have hurt nothing, anyways - someone above said he was hurt so he wasnt a healthy scratch anyway. pompous.
Seems like people really swallowed Cherry's kool-aid during the first intermission last night. And anyone trashing the Leafs for starting Reichel ahead of Francis obviously didn't actually watch any of the games and is just reacting to the names involved. Reichel was one of the Leafs' best performers during the playoffs and it didn't surprise me that the game where he got scratched was their worst defensive performance. His line was good every shift they took last night.
Seems like people really swallowed Cherry's kool-aid during the first intermission last night. And anyone trashing the Leafs for starting Reichel ahead of Francis obviously didn't actually watch any of the games and is just reacting to the names involved. Reichel was one of the Leafs' best performers during the playoffs and it didn't surprise me that the game where he got scratched was their worst defensive performance. His line was good every shift they took last night.
How come nobody is mentioning the disservice done to this guy by Pat Quinn last night? One of the all time scoring leaders and classiest players to play the game and he's a healthy scratch in a pivotal playoff contest??? The guy basically did the Leafs a favor and waived his no trade to come help them try and win a cup for the laughable nation and he is the scapegoat after a 7-2 pounding where the Leafs were outclassed and outmanned in every way possible...... sure the guy isn't a great player anymore... not really even a good one but he deserved to dress for his final game (likely) in the NHL if even just to play powerplays and a few minutes... you can't tell me he was worse than Quinn's pet project Antropov was this playoff?
And while we're at it.. why bring Calle out of retirment if he was going to become your 9th dman on the depth charts? Time for Pat to go.
You must put th eline-up you think is best to WIN the game. No sentimentality can be factored into the equation. You lose you go home for the SEASON.
Francis had done nothing in the series against the Flyers, Reichel never should have been a scratch. Playing Belak is the only issue.
Everyone who thinks Francis' ~4points is a big accomplishment didn't watch the games.
For a few games he played on the top line with Roberts and Mogilny ... anyone playing on that line should have more points. Period.
He wasn't finishing his checks.
His legs couldn't keep pace with the game.
Now ... the problem started when Quinn started playing him too much. You can't play a guy at that point of his career 15 minutes a game in the playoffs (7-8 minutes, and some PP time would've been ideal). Not surprisingly, Ronnie didn't meet expectations. He would have been an effective fourth line centre, but Toronto has depth at centre, so it's no surprise that when other centres are healthy someone has to sit.
Reichel was hands down the better player for Toronto in the playoffs.
Honestly, the bigger mistake was sitting Stajan for the playoffs. Realistically, after the first series it was apparent that the Stanley Cup was a looooong shot for this team. In this situation, Stajan should've played for the experience - it would've put him light years ahead not only for next years playoffs, but for the regular season too.
Seems like people really swallowed Cherry's kool-aid during the first intermission last night. And anyone trashing the Leafs for starting Reichel ahead of Francis obviously didn't actually watch any of the games and is just reacting to the names involved. Reichel was one of the Leafs' best performers during the playoffs and it didn't surprise me that the game where he got scratched was their worst defensive performance. His line was good every shift they took last night.
I thought Cherry was complaining that Antropov wasn't scratched. Grapes has been on this guy for a while because Antropov hasn't been using his size to his advantage. Heck, he had a one-on-one coming out of the corner, leaning on Kapanen(that's right, Sami Kapanen) and instead tried feeding the point instead of driving to the net.
Anyways, Francis has been pretty good on the PP and I thought he'd be dressed over Antropov. *shrug*
Ronnie wasn't too bad in the playoffs, and should have been in over Belak or Fitzgerald...if he was healthy. But apparently he wasn't, and that's why he was scratched. I've no doubt that if he was healthy, or if Quinn never found out he had a bad back- he'd have played.
first question is who are you to question quinns coaching???
You do realize what the purpose of this message board is, right?
If Coaches, Owners, General Managers and Scouts (etc. etc) were beyond reproach, there wouldn't be much to talk about around here. After all, who are we to question them?
How come nobody is mentioning the disservice done to this guy by Pat Quinn last night? One of the all time scoring leaders and classiest players to play the game and he's a healthy scratch in a pivotal playoff contest??? The guy basically did the Leafs a favor and waived his no trade to come help them try and win a cup for the laughable nation and he is the scapegoat after a 7-2 pounding where the Leafs were outclassed and outmanned in every way possible...... sure the guy isn't a great player anymore... not really even a good one but he deserved to dress for his final game (likely) in the NHL if even just to play powerplays and a few minutes... you can't tell me he was worse than Quinn's pet project Antropov was this playoff?
And while we're at it.. why bring Calle out of retirment if he was going to become your 9th dman on the depth charts? Time for Pat to go.
In another thread, someone asked why fans don't like Toronto. Here is one good reason. This is just the kind of move I would expect from this team.
Was a STUPID move to scatch Francis from the lineup. The guy is a game breaker. He isn't a liability on the ice and can eat up tons of ice time too. To play Rechiel (sp?) instead of Francis is a JOKE. Recheil is as SOFT as they come, something you do NOT want against a hard team like Philly. BAD BAD coaching!
LOL, this guy did not fit into the Leaf system and that was all that was too it. He was a liability on the ice for the Leafs. Francis could not stand up to the Flyers physically nor was he fast enough to keep the puck from the Flyer's defensemen. I am surprised that Quinn did not sit him sooner. Francis may be a legendary player but with the Leafs he was ineffective. Reichel's play was far superior to Francis's in the playoffs this season. Reichel simply worked harder then Francis could and was thus a greater asset to the Leaf team then Francis was.
Reichel was one of the leafs best faceoff guys and plays the penalty kill...
Antropov is the only player I had issue with playing instead of Francis, but he probably got the nod because he was either healthier or because he was much bigger and stronger, as were the Flyers...
Belak did provide some great energy his first game back, but really didn't play much of a role since, I think he was expected to continue his crashing and banging but he really didn't get the chance...
The leafs didn't owe Francis anything, and I'm quite sure Francis will look back and think to himself, I could have finished my career not playing in the playoffs or by being a healthy scratch (after playing 12 playoff games) for the team I grew up watching...I'm sure he would do it over again...
Centre Ron Francis injured his back between Games 3 and 4 of their series against the Flyers and was scratched from the lineup in Game 6. The Flyers eliminated the Leafs in overtime in Game 6.
Francis should have played in Game 6. Not Reichel
