This is his 2nd game and he sucked against the Bruins in his first, allowed 6 goals I think. 2 games 13 goals allowed. I know it's a rookie tournament but God Damn.
I'm sure you'd give him the benefit of the doubt if you saw the way the defense in front of him played.
This was the only game I went to and I think I picked the wrong one. Anyway, a few thoughts on it.
Kadri - Impressed that even with his size he is not afraid to get his nose dirty, in a game that the leafs had nothing going, you could tell it upset him which I liked.
Stallberg - Dude looks huge but overall didnt live up the hype I was hearing. Maybe he was worn down at this point but was hoping for more.
Bozak - Showed flashes, has a few nice chances early and then barried a nice one late. Not one leaf was great but he looked pretty good.
Greenoop - Looked slow, turned down a fight in the 2nd when down 4-0 (better still be hurt) and then was glued to the bench til mid-way through the 3rd.
Hanson - Again looked big and dished out a few nice hits but didnt impress
Gilliati - Kids got wheels but no hands, will be role player back with Marlies
Entire Defence - Could not make and good breakout passes, kept cycling back in there own end or behind there own night until they gave it away, this was a really bad showing. Blacker looked ok and Gunnarson was average but Ryan, Lacriox and Perry were horrible.
Champagne - Dished out some nice hits but was otherwise non existant
Stepanovich - Looked tentative, never really saw him break stride, he just kinda hovered around the outside of the action waiting for the puck to pop to him. Played the point on the PP and always gave light passes.
Mitchell - Needs to grow the full stache back
Reimer - Had no support at all and let every high wrist shot beat him
Not that I enjoy getting spanked, but it was good to see the kids react to that situation. I thought Kadri showed alot of heart and pretty much sparked the team himself late in the game. I didnt know he had that in him, should make him a fan favourite.
Greenop turned down a fight because he has an injured hand if it wasn't mentioned previously.
This is what I assumed when saw it live but then I ask myself the question, why play him? Whats the point of putting a slow enforcer in the line-up who is too hurt to do his job?
Robin Lehner - Wow. Just wow. He looks like a giant in the net at 6'4, 220lbs. In addition that he has wonderful angles which completely limits the shooter to try to pick a corner, which Lehner ends up stopping anyways. He's quite mobile in the net for a goaltender of such a size and looks like a Henrik Lundqvist-clone in the net. Same style, around the same size and if everything goes well hopefully both great goaltenders
Erik Karlsson - His skill shines through his play, his vision was unparralled on the ice. I didn't see any holes in his defensive game that critics always rant about. He didn't have any problems with his size and I can't see a reason why he can't be in the NHL this season. Unfortunatly I missed his pass to Condra that apparently was a brilliant play
Erik Condra - He was all over the ice, had 2 goals and was a two-way force. His hockey sense is through the roof and has some pretty nice skills. Really like his game, elite 3rd line potential.
Viktor Stalberg - The only Leaf I actually liked. Very nice speed and offensive instincts. He's not afraid to lay the body either. Had over a PPG in college this season, won't like this guy in a Leafs sweater in a few years.
Zach Smith - Crashed the net hard, was quite physical and played a good game all-around. Great captain, hit Kadri and got in a fight after he started ruunning around gooning it up. Looked like a mini-Mike Fisher to me. Convinced me that's he'll be an NHLer player even if he can't score at the NHL level, he can be a character guy/agitator.
Brandon Svendson - Loved his game. Looked small but played like an absolute warrior. Great offensive threat and can hold is own in his own zone. Reminds me of Ryan Shannon. Give this guy a contract.
Worst
Nazem Kadri - Saw what I feared of him when I was convinced Murray was taking him. Midget calibur moves. Tried all these fancy moves and they failed. If he doesn't create offense he is a worthless player and he couldn't do it tonight. The "run of hits" by Kadri was laugh worthy. He smoked Kinrade who was off-balance then barely touched another guy and then almost flew into his own bench. Announcers turned nothing into something right there.
Tyler Bozak - This guy was the best College Free Agent Signing? Looked so average it's nuts. Decent all-around, was not impressed at all. Scored a fluky, floppy goal on Lehner that Leafs fans called a snipe
James Reimer - *looks at score*
Brandon Manning - Words can't describe how terrible he played
Jordan Hale - If he had any skill he'd be a decent player
If he were any more of a homer he'd be impregnating Murray,
I don't even know where to begin, the Svedson > Kadri posts are pretty funny so was the downplaying of Bozaks goal. People who know hockey know that under the arm is most definitely a spot to score should the goalie play his glove high.
I would not be shocked if Lehner is at the same level as Jared Cowen or maybe even turns into the best player Ottawa drafted in 2009. And I am a huge Cowen fan, one who thinks he has what it takes to be a dominant franchise dman.
The Vermette trade for Leclair and CBJ 2nd round pick (Robin Lehner) is looking better and better everyday (even if Leclair loses the #1 job to Elliot).
Robin could be robbing NHL snipers for a long time.
I would not be shocked if Lehner is at the same level as Jared Cowen or maybe even turns into the best player Ottawa drafted in 2009. And I am a huge Cowen fan, one who thinks he has what it takes to be a dominant franchise dman.
The Vermette trade for Leclair and CBJ 2nd round pick (Robin Lehner) is looking better and better everyday (even if Leclair loses the #1 job to Elliot).
Robin could be robbing NHL snipers for a long time.
Like every goalie prospect, it's stil lway to early to tell.
If he were any more of a homer he'd be impregnating Murray,
I don't even know where to begin, the Svedson > Kadri posts are pretty funny so was the downplaying of Bozaks goal. People who know hockey know that under the arm is most definitely a spot to score should the goalie play his glove high.
I believe that's what we'd refer to as an inferiority complex. Really, though who cares about the Senators? He even takes the time to review four of our players? lol
Our rivalry with Ottawa is like our rivalry with Vancouver.
If he were any more of a homer he'd be impregnating Murray,
I don't even know where to begin, the Svedson > Kadri posts are pretty funny so was the downplaying of Bozaks goal. People who know hockey know that under the arm is most definitely a spot to score should the goalie play his glove high.
From the man who posted this:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Punch Imlach
Jessie MF'n Blacker.
Those that don't know of this kid will soon enough. He was a casualty of a deep Windsor team last year, and came into prospects camp and is easily our best defenseman there at 18. He hits, fights, has wheels and a big shot.
Going to be one of the steals in the second round. I'd take him over some of the defensemen taken late in the first round.
It's a 7-1 score, of course our players would be the better ones. Kadri and Bozak looked lost on the ice, couldn't create any scoring chances and their bad play was a reason why the score was so lopsided. And it's the freakin Senators board, reading through this thread there were hardly any mentions about our prospects.
1. I never said Svenson > Kadri, just in the game. Future wise Kadri wipes the floor with him. Besides the couple hits he got on that one shift he was mostly unnoticable in the game.
2. Watch Bozak's shot, it was floppy and weak. Although placed well I might add
