Read a Traikos article saying the league may an exception for him to play based on being a PPG player and an all star last season.
He would not have qualified otherwise based on their criteria for signing NHL players.
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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.
Until he was injured last year, Lupul was the Leafs' MVP. More so than Kessel, because of all the hard work Lupul does that goes unnoticed. He is a bear in the corners. He is a help to any hockey team, while he is healthy.
NaiveLeafsFan wrote
JVR-Kadri-Kessel
Lupul-Grabovski-MacArthur
Kulemin-McClement-Frattin
now i don't agree with him about the Kadri as our 1st line center, but he does bring up a good point:
Lupul as our 2nd line left winger (something that i introduced long before, but was banned from the board). now before you get your halloween stocking in a knot, think about this: rolling two lines that can score. this is something we haven't done in years. all you kessel / lupul dynamic duo fans are going to have to give your fantasies a rest. we need balance and not this BS where we have to prove legitimacy of trades all the time.
let's win!
i say (like i always have) Lupul on the 2nd line!
now i don't agree with him about the Kadri as our 1st line center, but he does bring up a good point:
Lupul as our 2nd line left winger (something that i introduced long before, but was banned from the board). now before you get your halloween stocking in a knot, think about this: rolling two lines that can score. this is something we haven't done in years. all you kessel / lupul dynamic duo fans are going to have to give your fantasies a rest. we need balance and not this BS where we have to prove legitimacy of trades all the time.
let's win!
i say (like i always have) Lupul on the 2nd line!
Lupul-Grabovski-Kessel
JVR-Kadri-Kulemin
looks balanced to me? I don't see the point in splitting up proven chemistry between two very good players, especially when it extends off the ice at well it seems. If your two star forwards want to play together, let them! The acquirement of JVR along with the development of Kadri, not to mention Grabo and Kulemin, definitely provides secondary scoring. It's the defense that was our problem, not offense. If we have a season this year, or next year, we'll see how much the coaching system affected it as well.
looks balanced to me? I don't see the point in splitting up proven chemistry between two very good players, especially when it extends off the ice at well it seems. If your two star forwards want to play together, let them! The acquirement of JVR along with the development of Kadri, not to mention Grabo and Kulemin, definitely provides secondary scoring. It's the defense that was our problem, not offense. If we have a season this year, or next year, we'll see how much the coaching system affected it as well.
the chemistry between these two players was so magical that the leafs ended up 25th place overall. after all it's about the standings and not the fantasy league stuff?
chemistry? i say rip the whole thing apart and start again. who cares about Kessel's stats. this team can't be losers. that's the point.
the chemistry between these two players was so magical that the leafs ended up 25th place overall. after all it's about the standings and not the fantasy league stuff?
chemistry? i say rip the whole thing apart and start again. who cares about Kessel's stats. this team can't be losers. that's the point.
By that logic that's why Tampa Bay finished 21st overall because 60 goal scorer Steven Stamkos and St. Louis were together all year?
LOL. We finished 26th overall because of goaltending and poor defence. Offence wasn't the problem.
Lupul - #1C/Bozak - Kessel - proven dependable success.
JVR - Grabo - Kulemin - this line IMO can replicate the success of the Desharnais line in Montreal.
By that logic that's why Tampa Bay finished 21st overall because 60 goal scorer Steven Stamkos and St. Louis were together all year?
LOL. We finished 26th overall because of goaltending and poor defence. Offence wasn't the problem.
Was offence not a problem because we genuinely have legit goal scorers on our team or was the offence not a problem because the system highly favoured those kind of players at the risk of seriously exposing the defence?
I can't say that I believe one more than the other at this point. I'm waiting to see how this team can play under Carlyle.
By that logic that's why Tampa Bay finished 21st overall because 60 goal scorer Steven Stamkos and St. Louis were together all year?
LOL. We finished 26th overall because of goaltending and poor defence. Offence wasn't the problem.
Kessel is a consistent player, but is Lupul? he's had only one exceptional season. One! that being said his exceptional season was also one with a significant amount of games missed.
your comparison is weak because Kessel and Lupul aren't even in the same league as St. Louis and Stamkos.
By that logic that's why Tampa Bay finished 21st overall because 60 goal scorer Steven Stamkos and St. Louis were together all year?
LOL. We finished 26th overall because of goaltending and poor defence. Offence wasn't the problem.
also offense was a problem! where did scoring come from outside of the 1st line? can this team ride on Grabo's back when he goes through his streaky parts of the season?
My problem isn't the offence, Kessel is always going to generate a ton of offence. I brought this up in the Marlies thread, seemed the most logical way to get our biggest potential young players into a position to succeed.
Putting Kadri with Kessel gives Kessel someone to play tic-tac-toe and JVR adds a big body presence and more defensive responsibility than Lupul. Both JVR and Kessel are fast and good on the rush.
Lupul with Grabovski and MacArthur is a bit of a question mark, but I think this would work best. Lupul does all the heavy lifting in corners and Grabovski adds the defensive acumen to the line. How much offence can they provide? Probably more than what the old USSR line did last season.
Kulemin-McClement-Frattin would become a fan favourite third line, probably our best in years.
Basically my philosophy is a balance between offence and defence, with the first line getting the most sheltered minutes. 2nd and 3rd lines would be able to cover tougher assignments. Kadri and Frattin both get insulated by experienced players.
My problem isn't the offence, Kessel is always going to generate a ton of offence. I brought this up in the Marlies thread, seemed the most logical way to get our biggest potential young players into a position to succeed.
Putting Kadri with Kessel gives Kessel someone to play tic-tac-toe and JVR adds a big body presence and more defensive responsibility than Lupul. Both JVR and Kessel are fast and good on the rush.
Lupul with Grabovski and MacArthur is a bit of a question mark, but I think this would work best. Lupul does all the heavy lifting in corners and Grabovski adds the defensive acumen to the line. How much offence can they provide? Probably more than what the old USSR line did last season.
Kulemin-McClement-Frattin would become a fan favourite third line, probably our best in years.
Basically my philosophy is a balance between offence and defence, with the first line getting the most sheltered minutes. 2nd and 3rd lines would be able to cover tougher assignments. Kadri and Frattin both get insulated by experienced players.
With Kadri and Kessel on the same line, who is being the defensively responsible forward? Lupul?
The thing to remember is that not everybody is comfortable living in a completely foreign country. This not like going from Canada to the US or vice versa.
And that's especially true for Russia, which is not all that far from the Wild Wild West.
With Kadri and Kessel on the same line, who is being the defensively responsible forward? Lupul?
JVR. He would be on the line with Kessel and Kadri. And from the sounds of Eakins, it looks like Kadri may have gotten a hang of the defensive end now. Besides, is Kadri really any worse defensively than Bozak?
JVR. He would be on the line with Kessel and Kadri. And from the sounds of Eakins, it looks like Kadri may have gotten a hang of the defensive end now. Besides, is Kadri really any worse defensively than Bozak?
Bozak's actually pretty underrated by some defensively. Along with Kulie, he's one of our best defensive forwards. I'm happy to hear Kadri improving his two-way game, but at this point, he's without a doubt considerably worse in his own zone than Bozak is.
