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ATD2025 Draft Thread Part II

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Leaf Lander said:
Leafs select Gary Roberts
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kxznugq9il471.jpg


It should be illegal to select Roberts and not have this photo accompany the pick announcement.
 
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Johnny Engine said:
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).
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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.
 
tinyzombies said:
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.
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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
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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.
 
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Alright. I don't want to gamble on leaving my coaching any longer, so Hogsmeade will take the guy I've been targeting for a while in Barry Trotz, who will love the heavy forward group I've got.

Next, I really need a right handed centre, so I'll start my fourth line with someone who can do well in a limited role as a matchup guy, while also chipping in on both special teams, in Ryan Getzlaf.

@Leaf Lander
 
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Johnny Engine said:
Really similar to some of the stuff that's in the Robitaille bio.


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.
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Right, so it was mostly Apps zipping around and slipping him passes I guess. But apparently he was good on the boards too. Both big men for that era, and both could skate. To me that means lots of zone time and possession- which is defense by offense. Also, they were terrors in transition, so you aren't bottling them up in their own end- and both could carry the puck... that means no turnovers - another defensive notch on the belt.
 
Johnny Engine said:
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.
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The move I really think is cool is a unique McDavid/Draisaitl combination on the powerplay. Normally Leon occupies the half-wall and McDavid uses his speed to sort of rove the zone to find openings. But in this play they used to run, not sure if they still do since I haven't seen it lately, it was McDavid on the half-wall and Draisaitl in the slot, which shouldn't work at all since they're both lefties and thus can't get off a proper one-timer chance... the solution was to have Draisaitl stand with his back to McDavid, looking behind him, Connor hits him on his backhand, Leon instantly stickhandles it onto his forehand and rips it in one motion. I don't think I've seen anyone else try that. Really slick stuff.
 
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spitsfan24 said:
Busy right now, so can't explain why I think it's a great pick, but we're selecting Mike Grant, D.

Will PM next.
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Just wanted to expand on this a bit now that I have some time.

Mike Grant fits perfectly in Tarasov's system as one of the game's first rushing defenceman. With him in the fold, we're now guaranteed to have a smooth-skating blueliner on the ice at all times, allowing Tarasov to deploy the system he is so intimately familiar with (and successful at). Grant is an absolute luxury to have anchoring the third pair.

Additionally, while I love having Messier as my centerpiece, he's one of the first round picks in this draft that doesn't have other-worldly offence. I wanted to make sure he has some offensive support from the backend, and I think I've accomplished that thus far.
 
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tabness said:
wtf!? you already had a goalie?! why a backup now?

f***!
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Sorry if I scooped you, I was in a hurry to pick last night before going to bed and decided to fortify my goaltending. I wasn't aware if anyone still needed a goalie.

Lundqvist was a workhorse in the regular season and he's a great insurance.

I feel for taking my goalie so late in the draft, coming out with a Vasilevskiy/Lundqvist combo is a pretty good outcome.
 
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spitsfan24 said:
He was my backup plan if Grant didn't make it to my pick. Quality selection here obviously.
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Thanks

I went back and forth with several defensemen yesterday, and decided to let you pick one to narrow the choice.

The reason I chose Ross among those left is because he seemed like the defenseman with the most "generalship" quality, which is what I wanted to start my 3rd pairing.

Ross had offensive skills but he was also a physical presence, he could fight, he was a leader, and based on his bio he practiced the trap as well. All that plus I can put him on both second units and it feels right.
 
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