All Purpose Training Camp Thread.

[ACC1224]

Lol I'm sorry, but come on. Connolly and MacArthur are you kidding me? These guys are lucky to get 3rd line roles after they sign their next contracts.
Kadri is controllable and has a high ceiling, he's part of our future and by us honoring terrible contracts, all we're doing is delaying it. Players take a couple years to figure out the league, why should Kadri be any different? Get his feet wet, NOW.

Yep.

If all that is true then Kadri will be on the Team. You don't believe they will dress the best roster they can every night?

Kadri hasn't been on the Team because he hasn't been ready not because of "awful treatment".

I expect him to make the Team this year.

 

[TMLeafer]

Anyone listen to Carlyle's presser this morning? He clearly said that you have you put players in a position to succeed. Said something like putting a player who plays an offensive role on the top line in the AHL in a 4th line role on the NHL club doesn't make sense. Video should be up on the Leafs website soon so we can get the exact quote.

 

[samwitch]

Anyone listen to Carlyle's presser this morning? He clearly said that you have you put players in a position to succeed. Said something like putting a player who plays an offensive role on the top line in the AHL in a 4th line role on the NHL club doesn't make sense. Video should be up on the Leafs website soon so we can get the exact quote.

Kadri needs to beat out somebody in the top 9. He needs to clearly play better than 1 or more of the guys.

 

[Anth93]

If all that is true then Kadri will be on the Team. You don't believe they will dress the best roster they can every night?

Kadri hasn't been on the Team because he hasn't been ready not because of "awful treatment".

I expect him to make the Team this year.

While I don't disagree with putting out the "best possible roster", we have to be mindful of where we are. The team sucks, we have an AHL roster full of tweeners and none of them look like they'll get a chance this year. 48 games.. Perfect opportunity. Connolly/Mac/Lombardi won't be with this team next year, why not risk losing 10 more games (by playing younger guys), but also run the possibility of finding value in our former 7th overall pick?

I hope Nonis/Carlyle are capable of making a hard decision like this..

Anyone listen to Carlyle's presser this morning? He clearly said that you have you put players in a position to succeed. Said something like putting a player who plays an offensive role on the top line in the AHL in a 4th line role on the NHL club doesn't make sense. Video should be up on the Leafs website soon so we can get the exact quote.

Yeah which is refreshing to hear, but at the same time these 2nd/3rd line roles don't look to be opening up anytime soon as long as we keep playing mediocre talent up there. They'll run into 15 goals and look ok doing it, but at some point you need to expect more.

 

[ACC1224]

While I don't disagree with putting out the "best possible roster", we have to be mindful of where we are. The team sucks, we have an AHL roster full of tweeners and none of them look like they'll get a chance this year. 48 games.. Perfect opportunity. Connolly/Mac/Lombardi won't be with this team next year, why not risk losing 10 more games (by playing younger guys), but also run the possibility of finding value in our former 7th overall pick?

I hope Nonis/Carlyle are capable of making a hard decision like this..

Yeah which is refreshing to hear, but at the same time these 2nd/3rd line roles don't look to be opening up anytime soon as long as we keep playing mediocre talent up there. They'll run into 15 goals and look ok doing it, but at some point you need to expect more.

Could also be argued that since they will be gone it's best to play them and trade them at the deadline instead of losing them for nothing.

 

[Anth93]

Could also be argued that since they will be gone it's best to play them and trade them at the deadline instead of losing them for nothing.

Fair point and really the only reason you would choose to do it the other way.
Is a 2nd round pick worth it? Or do we want to give young players a chance to get their feet wet during this ideal 48 game season. Come next year (which will be sooner than you think), we'll know what we have with guys and won't have to ask questions like, "Is Joe Colborne actually awful?" "Is Carter Ashton capable of handling a puck?"

 

[ACC1224]

Fair point and really the only reason you would choose to do it the other way.
Is a 2nd round pick worth it? Or do we want to give young players a chance to get their feet wet during this ideal 48 game season. Come next year (which will be sooner than you think), we'll know what we have with guys and won't have to ask questions like, "Is Joe Colborne actually awful?" "Is Carter Ashton capable of handling a puck?"

I think that they have a pretty good idea what they have in these players.

 

[Anth93]

I think that they have a pretty good idea what they have in these players.

Well since Nonis goes on these radio shows and emphasizes the "young building blocks that we need to bridge the gap too", I'm not so sure they do. He also mentioned players like Ashton and Colborne... Let's be honest, they don't look too promising.

 

[Hurt]

Training camp is a formality at this point. I'm sure Coach Randy has a firm idea who he wants on his team.

 

[Anth93]

Training camp is a formality at this point. I'm sure Coach Randy has a firm idea who he wants on his team.

Which is scary because everyone played awful when he was here last year.

 

[p.l.f.]

when RC says he wants his players to work hard in all 3 zones....
i hope he means he wants the forwards to finish their checks in all the zones.
i havent seen that here since Pat Burns - you could see that was a winning system

it's certainly sounds better than ron wilson's "keep your legs moving" crap

 

[bunjay]

If Kadri doesn't get a chance on this roster because of a guy like MacArthur or Connolly.. Really all you can do is laugh, just awful treatment.

What's awful about having Macarthur ahead of Kadri in the lineup? When did Kadri become a better option than someone who has 105 points over his last 155 NHL games?

 

[Anth93]

What's awful about having Macarthur ahead of Kadri in the lineup? When did Kadri become a better option than someone who has 105 points over his last 155 NHL games?

I like him, but only we can fit him and Kadri/Frattin into the top 9.

 

[samwitch]

Locks:

Lupul - xxxxxx - Kessel
JVR - Grabovski - Mac/Kuli
Mac/Kuli - xxxxxx - xxxxxx
xxxxxx - xxxxxx - xxxxxx

Would that be fair? Leaves 6 open spots. Bozak, Connolly, Lombardi, Kadri, Frattin, Komarov, McClement, Steckel, Brown, Orr, Hamilton.

Interesting third line suggested by Mike Ulmer.

Komarov - McClement - Kulemin

That could be a very effective checking line. A lot of possibilities for this lineup come opening day. That's what makes it so interesting!

 

[Budsfan]

Watch Leafs Practice Today At 2pm
We will be streaming LIVE from the MasterCard Centre as the Leafs first practice is today from 2-3pm.

http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/v2/ext/live/camp2013.html

 

[p.l.f.]

is komarov in camp ?

 

[Hurt]

is komarov in camp ?

Yes he is. Wearing #47

 

[p.l.f.]

Yes he is. Wearing #47

i havent seen him play, but sounds like he's a decent checker
can he play both wings?

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=90107

fiesty little guy

 

[fahad203]

Hamilton or Steckel?

I still don't understand why we have Steckel. I know he's good at faceoff, but that's all he really brings. For a guy who's 6.5 doesn't hit or has no grit, can't skate for his life and has little or no offensive touch.

I think Hamilton should replace him, Hamilton brings some descent size 6.2, is a much better skater, has some scoring touch and is a local boy

 

[JMcLeaf]

At this point, neither.

my bottom 6:

Kulemin-Connolly-Frattin
Komarov-McClemment-Brown

If I had to pick between the 2 i'd definitely go with Hamilton. Can't stand Steckel.

 

[Auston Marlander]

I still don't understand why we have Steckel. I know he's good at faceoff, but that's all he really brings. For a guy who's 6.5 doesn't hit or has no grit, can't skate for his life and has little or no offensive touch.

I think Hamilton should replace him, Hamilton brings some descent size 6.2, is a much better skater, has some scoring touch and is a local boy

Who cares where he is from. I hate that Don Cherry, "Home town boys are better" mentality.

 

[TmlHockeyFan]

I still don't understand why we have Steckel. I know he's good at faceoff, but that's all he really brings. For a guy who's 6.5 doesn't hit or has no grit, can't skate for his life and has little or no offensive touch.

I think Hamilton should replace him, Hamilton brings some descent size 6.2, is a much better skater, has some scoring touch and is a local boy

I would take Hamilton over Steckel also. He can play as a fourth line grinder.

 

[fahad203]

Who cares where he is from. I hate that Don Cherry, "Home town boys are better" mentality.

The fact of the matter is we need some home town boys pride. When we had home town boys playing for the Leafs, we didn't get man handled by Boston Bruins 7-1 in our home arena.

You don't have to like everything Cherry says, but he does drive home some good point. We need players that play with more pride, American boys that Burkie got aren't cutting it.

 

[TmlHockeyFan]

The fact of the matter is we need some home town boys pride. When we had home town boys playing for the Leafs, we didn't get man handled by Boston Bruins 7-1 in our home arena.

You don't have to like everything Cherry says, but he does drive home some good point. We need players that play with more pride, American boys that Burkie got aren't cutting it.

One good thing I find from home town boys are that they were likely Leafs fans growing up. They probably would play with a lot more pride and heart in a Leafs jersey.

 

[bansheebeat]

Interesting third line suggested by Mike Ulmer.

Komarov - McClement - Kulemin

That could be a very effective checking line. A lot of possibilities for this lineup come opening day. That's what makes it so interesting!

I agree that this line would be pretty effective. But I don't think you can immediately take Kulemin off the 2nd line yet. The guy finished his stint in the KHL at a PPG, 7th overall. 1st in +/-. Coming in to camp in that kind of form should get him a look in a more offensive role. He's still 1 of only 2 players on the team to score 30.