ATD2025 Draft Thread Part II

[Habsfan18]

Leafs select Gary Roberts
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It should be illegal to select Roberts and not have this photo accompany the pick announcement.

 

[Habsfan18]

Dawson City selects "Smokey" Harris, LW
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Smokey is a guy who used to be a little bit overrated in the ATD but now I think he's become underrated.

He's a really solid glue guy and one who could play in my bottom six any day. Fast, physical and very good defensively. That's a great pick.

 

[tinyzombies]

Yeah, and even with Stewart, IE found that he was able to move around pretty well at some point in his career, but age happens and some guys are just lazy (or "efficient" if you want to look at it another way).

Right, I remember that about Nels. And he was an agile skater too. Maybe not the fastest in a straight line, but very quick around the net. I read those posts.

Drillon also is the last Leaf to win a scoring title and both he and Apps were in the top 10 for several years, so it's not like he didn't get anything out of it. Also, being netfront then was unknown (other than Nels), so it was assumed he didn't backcheck, but HE WAS THE DEEPEST GUY... no kidding he wasn't the first guy back- DUH

Here I am a Habs guy defending Leafs... but my grandfather was an ardent Leafs fan (Broda was his fav) and he knew some people at MLG and got me in the building when it was empty a couple times to look around (a huge thrill). I've said this before, but the guard said, "You're from Montreal, why would you want to see MLG" as he joked about not letting me in. My 9 year old self replied, "The Canadiens win all the time, it's boring." He didn't know whether to laugh or roll his eyes, so he laughed and let me in.

 

[Johnny Engine]

Right, I remember that about Nels. And he was an agile skater too. Maybe not the fastest in a straight line, but very quick around the net. I read those posts.

Really similar to some of the stuff that's in the Robitaille bio.

Also, being netfront then was unknown (other than Nels), so it was assumed he didn't backcheck, but HE WAS THE DEEPEST GUY... no kidding he wasn't the first guy back- DUH

This is a tactic I'd like to have a better idea of the history and development. Of course there's no "beginning" to the idea of scoring from close to the net. We draft Cy Denenny and Newsy Lalonde with the expectation that they'll do that, and it just makes practical sense, especially if your shot with an ancient twig can't break a pane of glass. But the modern mode of turning back on to the goalie and facing your own teammate on the point or flank is something that couldn't exist up until the forward pass, for one thing. I remember asking on here who the first player to play like that was. One said Drillon, someone else said Yvon Lambert. My own modern favourite who perfected the science is James Van Riemsdyk, who, as a left handed shot, has his blade facing the right wall when he turns his butt to the crease, allowing him to recieve perimeter passes from the Leafs right shooting playmakers, and used his edges to make tight turns into scoring areas like an NBA player at the post. The power play has never been the same without him, even with his much higher paid replacement in the fold.
Even fairly modern guys like Esposito don't look exactly like JVR to me, and I'd love to fill in the gaps with footage of guys like, Lambert, Stewart, and Drillon, to see where the different pieces come from.