If the Leafs weren't picking a centerman, Rielly was my choice.
Hard to say this early if they made the right choice.
If we are this excited about Biggs/Rielly 6 games in, wouldn't we be excited about Grigorenko?
By far the Leafs weakest position is down the middle in all levels.
I'd like to see Alex Steen or a Colin Wilson in the middle on the #1 unit. Sure a true, bonafide #1 is great but a defensively responsible guy (who compliments the line) and is in the 60 point range is fine by me (like what Boston had). We're building a very deep lineup. Not full of star power but deep. I like deep.
Rielly seems to finally be that elite high end CHL product we've sorely lacked in the system for ages. There seems to be a bit of negative scrutiny on Grigorenko which would have made it more difficult as our fifth overall pick, even if he was a better positional fit, but I wish we had them both. But I guess with the lockout we might be in a good position to snap up another big piece without the heartache of another terrible season.
I am not suggesting that we should get rid of Dion, I'm saying he may want to ditch us if things don't go well in the next two seasons. Like you said he gets no respect here,I see him exploring free agency which would likely force Burke's hand, same for Kessel. This is prolly why I thought Burke would draft Dumba, he could replace some what Dion brings to the table, if he ever left.
Think Dion would be better placed on the shutdown pair, as he was at the Worlds the past 2 years.
Finn and Dion as the shutdown pair could make a good pairing down the road. Or a first pairing of Rielly and Dion intriguing also. Jake with Finn, with Granberg/Holzer with Percy. Or Blacker/Percy. Lot's of possibilities but clearly the young guys will need some veteran help. This is a very young defence corps. But an organizational strength.
Rielly seems to finally be that elite high end CHL product we've sorely lacked in the system for ages.
There seems to be a bit of negative scrutiny on Grigorenko which would have made it more difficult as our fifth overall pick, even if he was a better positional fit, but I wish we had them both.
But I guess with the lockout we might be in a good position to snap up another big piece without the heartache of another terrible season.
Yes, there was an over the top, non stop attack against Grigorenko. Kessel's attacks were tame in comparison, but Kessel had teammates throwing trash at him, not outsiders.
Anyway, Grigorenko is 2.33 PPG after 6 games and that's the number of games that has quite a few raving about Biggs, a previous year's draft pick doing 1.33 PPG, including 2 of 5 goals into empty nets.
Rielly has only played 28 CHL games since 2011, so we don't even have a large number of games to evaluate.
Just want to keep it consistent.
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Woodlief
using his big frame to create space and his skating ability to find open lanes to drive the net. He stands 6-3 and is a natural goal scorer with plenty of confidence.
He's a scout's dream in the way he prepares himself and plays an unselfish game, making smart decisions with the puck. With his bloodlines, he certainly understands what it will take to make it at the next level.
Yes, there was an over the top, non stop attack against Grigorenko. Kessel's attacks were tame in comparison, but Kessel had teammates throwing trash at him, not outsiders.
Anyway, Grigorenko is 2.33 PPG after 6 games and that's the number of games that has quite a few raving about Biggs, a previous year's draft pick doing 1.33 PPG, including 2 of 5 goals into empty nets.
Just want to keep it consistent.
Grigorenko is off to a flyer but he was great to start off last year too. Let's keep that in mind. He was criticized because scouts felt that he was invisible when the Remparts needed him the most.
His performance is going to be judged when he shows up when the Remparts need him in big games.
At this time last year, people thought Grigorenko will go top 3. By the end of the draft, 11 teams passed on him.
As far as Biggs and empty netters. I don't see why including that 2/5 goals are empty netters have to do with anything?
That just tells you that a coach trusts Biggs to close out a game and puts him out there in the last minute of play.
Milan Lucic had 5 empty netters in his 30 goal season. That's the highest since the 04-05 lockout.
Yeah, exactly, a number of teams passed on Grigorenko. Never thought going in that he'd drop out of the top 10, so the Leafs weren't exactly alone there.
Grigorenko is off to a flyer but he was great to start off last year too. Let's keep that in mind. He was criticized because scouts felt that he was invisible when the Remparts needed him the most.
His performance is going to be judged when he shows up when the Remparts need him in big games.
At this time last year, people thought Grigorenko will go top 3. By the end of the draft, 11 teams passed on him.
As far as Biggs and empty netters. I don't see why including that 2/5 goals are empty netters have to do with anything?
That just tells you that a coach trusts Biggs to close out a game and puts him out there in the last minute of play.
Milan Lucic had 5 empty netters in his 30 goal season. That's the highest since the 04-05 lockout.
I agree having Biggs out protecting the lead is a good sign, the point about the 2 empty netters is that in 40% (again small sample size - for all the evaluations) of his goals he didn't face a goalie. But even 3 goals in 6 games is good.
I think we should treat 6 games as just 6 games for everyone.
At the draft I was hoping we'd pick Forsberg. Now I would take Rielly over anyone other than Yakupov, Murray, and Galchenyuk.
Murray would be the perfect partner for Phaneuf, that pairing would dominate.
Heading into the draft, I wanted one of Forsberg or Galchenyuk to drop to us. By the time Forsberg had dropped out of the top 10, I was kinda glad we passed on him as I thought the teams must know something about him their not publicly saying. Also by draft day there was less of a feeling that Forsberg could play center...
Murray to me was just not sexy enough of a pick that high, but if he slipped I wouldn't have complained. His stabilizing influence would be welcome to our blueline, and probably as you said a perfect partner for Dion. I was thinking there was a good chance Murray slipped to us, I thought the top 3 would be 1) Yakupov 2) Forsberg
3) Galchenyuk...and then the Isles at 4 always a wild card, figured Murray made too much sense so they would pass him up for sure...
Yeah, exactly, a number of teams passed on Grigorenko. Never thought going in that he'd drop out of the top 10, so the Leafs weren't exactly alone there.
Let's just hope he doesn't become the surprise of the 1st round. Since he went to Buffalo and if he scores a lot against the Leafs because they play the Sabres 6 times a year some people might say why didn't Toronto select him.
Let's just hope he doesn't become the surprise of the 1st round. Since he went to Buffalo and if he scores a lot against the Leafs because they play the Sabres 6 times a year some people might say why didn't Toronto select him.
Rielly seems to finally be that elite high end CHL product we've sorely lacked in the system for ages. There seems to be a bit of negative scrutiny on Grigorenko which would have made it more difficult as our fifth overall pick, even if he was a better positional fit, but I wish we had them both. But I guess with the lockout we might be in a good position to snap up another big piece without the heartache of another terrible season.
Don't worry now we will get Cody Hodgson from the sabres
This is a guy with the tools and the smarts to be our best drafted defencemen since Salming. Two more years and we got us a star.
It's probably just the way you worded it, but the Leafs didn't draft Salming. He and Inge Hamerstrom were signed as free agents, though I don't recall if that term was in use at that point.
Don't worry now we will get Cody Hodgson from the sabres
About hodgson, I hated the way canucks treated him, I really hope he has a hat trick against them. I really love this kid, he has been through so much but never gives up. I would love to have cody on this team
