I don't like going OT, but let me explain. I have reasons for that prediction.
Note: Schenn is only 8 points behind Gardiner while playing not nearly as many minutes. Gardiner also gets PP minutes, which Schenn sees none of.
1) I think that Gardiner will go into a sophomore slump next year. With this sophomore slump, Gardiner will not as many minutes as he is getting this year, and may even get healthy scratched a couple of times next year. With reduced minutes and a hypothetical sophomore slump, I think he'd be lucky to match his point totals from this year.
2) I think Schenn is poised to do well under Carlyle. I think Carlyle's defensive system will allow him to flourish defensively. When he increases his defensive play, he will be given more opportunity and more minutes and maybe some of Gardiner's hypothetical lost minutes. This leads me to my my next point.
3) I think Luke Schenn's offensive skills are highly underrated. Luke Schenn has as many even strength points as Dion Phaneuf, while playing an average 4:40 ES TOI/Game less than Phaneuf. FWIW, he has 3 less even strength points than Gardiner this year. I believe he has decent offensive skills, but just has not been given the proper opportunity and ice time to display them yet, because of his defensive lapses.
These 3 factors combined makes me think that Schenn will finish with more points than Gardiner next year. Again, this is just a prediction.
Last edited by Terrence: 04-06-2012 at 02:20 PM.
Reason: typo
Kessel will, and I'm pretty comfortable with our chances. As much as he gets torn apart here, he and Burke have a great relationship, I'm sure he acknowledges what he was acquired for, Burke will assure he stays after what he dealt from him, and he has a lot of friends on the team (something he didn't have in Boston which is why he wanted out, he was a loner and miserable socially).
I don't like going OT, but let me explain. I have reasons for that prediction.
Note: Schenn is only 8 points behind Gardiner while playing not nearly as many minutes. Gardiner also gets PP minutes, which Schenn sees none of.
1) I think that Gardiner will go into a sophomore slump next year. With this sophomore slump, Gardiner will not as many minutes as he is getting this year, and may even get healthy scratched a couple of times next year. With reduced minutes and a hypothetical sophomore slump, I think he'd be lucky to match his point totals from this year.
2) I think Schenn is poised to do well under Carlyle. I think Carlyle's defensive system will allow him to flourish defensively. When he increases his defensive play, he will be given more opportunity and more minutes and maybe some of Gardiner's hypothetical lost minutes. This leads me to my my next point.
3) I think Luke Schenn's offensive skills are highly underrated. Luke Schenn has as many even strength points as Dion Phaneuf, while playing an average of 4:40 ES TOI/Game. FWIW, he has 3 less even strength points than Gardiner this year. I believe he has decent offensive skills, but just has not been given the proper opportunity and ice time to display them yet, because of his defensive lapses.
These 3 factors combined makes me think that Schenn finishing with more points than Gardiner next year. Again, this is just a prediction.
I definitely agree with the possibility, unlikely but its not impossible.
I think I remember hearing Burke had bought a fembot from one of the old Austin Power sets. I just assumed that it became Kessel's girlfriend? She/it's here in TO now but I'm pretty sure she/it can go anywhere Phil goes.
Would absolutely love it if the Leafs manage to land Schultz. Gardiner, Schultz and Schenn can make a solid young D core who are only going to get better as they grow older.
The best comparison for Gardiner is a rich mans Christian Ehrhoff.
Schenn had an awesome rookie season, but then faltered ever since because expectations were raised.
Anyone see it happening again?
Last season Schenn was amazing, everyone was making threads about his amazing defensive play, his potential to be a top 2 guy, and his ability to play close to 30 mins a night. This is the only season he is doing bad, and it isn't as terrible as everyone is making it seem.
For the few people who haven't been able to watch Schenn and Gardiner play, Gardiner is an elite skater. Schenn not so much.
Schenn is also a physical anomaly (not really i just like to exaggerate for effect) while Gardiner is not. Skating can be taught, size can't Regardless I'm happy we have both!
Maybe coz he didn't have to improve his skating. He was playing well last year so he doesn't exactly need to improve his skating.
I believe he did work on his skating last summer, but thats not really the issue. Schenn will never be the fastest guy out there but its really the lost confidence that has been worst issues this year. Apparently his and Wilson's relationship wasn't the best.
I thought Gardiner was coming on the last half or quarter of the season. He's getting used to the speed and size of the NHLers. Lately he's been looking incredible on some plays. Such a smooth skater, and that rush last night where he moved the defenders stick out of the way to cut to the net, I'd love to see more of!
Kid is going to be a gem. Hopefully he continues upward next year.
So is the problem he can't get better, he won't get better, or he just doesn't care because he's the eraser?
I think he was suffering under RW's system. We'll know the answer to your question after 1 or 2 seasons under Carlyle. He doesn't have much offense, but if Carlyle can turn him to a stud shutdown defender, that's all we can ask for.
I'm content with Jake being as good as he was in the last quarter of this season. That's about a 40-45 point season. To expect anymore is probably unrealistic. If he tightens up his defense and can manage maybe 10 more points a season on average, i'm a happy camper. He was only ever projected to be a 30 point guy in the NHL and he's already matched that.
