How good is T. Bozak?

[Jerkini]

He's played so long with Kessel that I find it hard to put any stock in his point totals.

I think he's good, but he's not top 6 forward good.

 

[torlev*]

If the Leafs weren't a bad team, he wouldn't be on the first line.

 

[Lobstertainment]

Bozak isn't bad per say, he's an NHL calibre player but there's a lot of frustrations with him. There's the myth that he has chemistry with Kessel and worse that Nonis believed in it, when Grabovski and Kadri both averaged better stats playing with kessel than bozak did, and more damning is Kessel averages worse stats playing with Bozak than he does did with Grabo and Nazem. When Bozak first started playing with Kessel it was when the Leafs had no one down the middle. We had Stajan who got traded to Calgary for Phanuef, and a bunch of other bums, Wayne Primeau, Sjostrom, Rickard Friggin Walin was on that team. We could have brought Gilmour out of retirement and he'd be higher on our depth chart than Wallin, I can't remember if Grabovski was on that team too.

So Bozak slid between Kessel and Kulemin that year and Kessel had a bit of a tear at the end. Well don't fix what ain't broken right? Problem is it was broken, it was just less broken than before. So the Leafs kicked the tires on free agents but didn't get to sign anyone but we did get Tim Connolly! He started his Leaf career as our new #1 but old broken down Connolly finished his contract as a Marlie. So Bozak still managed to be our #1 guy, but then Carlyle showed up. Randy probably set this team back another 5+ years wanting Clarkson signed and Bozak to be re-signed.

Under Carlyle Bozak and Kessel were inseparable, Kadri emerged as a top 6 player and Grabo got the **** end of the stick being played like a defensive specialist(seriously wtf) but there was a light at the end of the tunnel, Bozak was becoming a UFA and negotiations had seemingly broke down because he wanted a payday and the Leafs seemed to understand he was not going to cut it as a #1. but then, the leafs bought out Komisarek which made us happy, and then a couple of days past, no other buyout happened, and Bozak was on his way out of town. It was as it should have been. And then Grabovski got bought out. How could they? John Michael Liles was still around, and they wanted to dump him so badly why buyout Grabo? His season saw him put up a puny amount of points but as previously mentioned he was turned into a defensive zone centre specialist because coaching is hard I guess.

And then that fateful day arrived. July 5th, 2013. Tyler Bozak re-signed with the Leafs. He would forever be connected to Phil Kessel, like a kid on a leash attached to a parent with no shame. This terrible decision was completely overshadowed a little later when Nonis continued to ruin this franchise by signing the single worst contact in the NHL today with David Clarkson, who spurned the Oilers higher offer because they've suffered enough.

Now I'm depressed after recalling the history of Bozak.

 

[Finnish your Czech]

He's ok

 

[HarrisonFord]

I'd say he's a 2nd line center, but he can really slot in anywhere in your lineup and play different roles

 

[omglolnub]

Google search results for "good" and "Bozak" comes with the question - "Did you mean 'bad'?"

But he's a 3c. Pure and simple.

 

[Semantics]

Another stajan or antropov for the leafs imo

He gets a lot of Mins with good players but with less ice time and lesser linemates I expect him to fall off

Kind of an insult to Stajan and Antropov. Both of them were much better defensively than Bozak, especially Antro as his size allowed him to eat up tons of space and separate players from the puck with ease (something Bozak is completely incapable of, his checking and puck recovery arsenal consists of the poke check and nothing else). Antro was also able to drive his own line for most of his time in Toronto, he had some stints with Sundin, but was still able to be useful offensively without him.

 

[Semantics]

^ won the Kessel lottery? Lol pretty sure Kessel's and him are great friends. Huge reason why he's in the role he is. How is that a lottery.

Did they even know each other prior to being teammates on the Leafs? Bozak was on Kessel's line since almost day 1, so I'm guessing they became great friends after not before.

 

[Bad News Bears]

Are you talking about Tyler Bozak's 200-foot game?

Think he was thinking about Tyler Bozak's 200-foot MANE.

 

[Semantics]

Think he was thinking about Tyler Bozak's 200-foot MANE.

Or maybe the 200-foot STAIN he leaves on the ice as he floats back for a close up look at his goalie fishing the puck out of his net.

 

[Captain Mittens*]

Bozak is a generational talent and Kessel is holding him back.

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

Yes they became friends on the Leafs but it's because of Kessel that bozie gets the preference he does. This is the guy Kessel wants.

 

[Arizonan God]

Idk but Bozak reminds me of Kessel they way he plays; just without the talent. So yeah.

 

[CherryToke]

Bozak isn't bad per say, he's an NHL calibre player but there's a lot of frustrations with him. There's the myth that he has chemistry with Kessel and worse that Nonis believed in it, when Grabovski and Kadri both averaged better stats playing with kessel than bozak did, and more damning is Kessel averages worse stats playing with Bozak than he does did with Grabo and Nazem. When Bozak first started playing with Kessel it was when the Leafs had no one down the middle. We had Stajan who got traded to Calgary for Phanuef, and a bunch of other bums, Wayne Primeau, Sjostrom, Rickard Friggin Walin was on that team. We could have brought Gilmour out of retirement and he'd be higher on our depth chart than Wallin, I can't remember if Grabovski was on that team too.

So Bozak slid between Kessel and Kulemin that year and Kessel had a bit of a tear at the end. Well don't fix what ain't broken right? Problem is it was broken, it was just less broken than before. So the Leafs kicked the tires on free agents but didn't get to sign anyone but we did get Tim Connolly! He started his Leaf career as our new #1 but old broken down Connolly finished his contract as a Marlie. So Bozak still managed to be our #1 guy, but then Carlyle showed up. Randy probably set this team back another 5+ years wanting Clarkson signed and Bozak to be re-signed.

Under Carlyle Bozak and Kessel were inseparable, Kadri emerged as a top 6 player and Grabo got the **** end of the stick being played like a defensive specialist(seriously wtf) but there was a light at the end of the tunnel, Bozak was becoming a UFA and negotiations had seemingly broke down because he wanted a payday and the Leafs seemed to understand he was not going to cut it as a #1. but then, the leafs bought out Komisarek which made us happy, and then a couple of days past, no other buyout happened, and Bozak was on his way out of town. It was as it should have been. And then Grabovski got bought out. How could they? John Michael Liles was still around, and they wanted to dump him so badly why buyout Grabo? His season saw him put up a puny amount of points but as previously mentioned he was turned into a defensive zone centre specialist because coaching is hard I guess.

And then that fateful day arrived. July 5th, 2013. Tyler Bozak re-signed with the Leafs. He would forever be connected to Phil Kessel, like a kid on a leash attached to a parent with no shame. This terrible decision was completely overshadowed a little later when Nonis continued to ruin this franchise by signing the single worst contact in the NHL today with David Clarkson, who spurned the Oilers higher offer because they've suffered enough.

Now I'm depressed after recalling the history of Bozak.

and Nonis somehow still has a job. amazing. Leafs are probably a solid playoff team today if they kept Burke.

 

[Bizz]

He's on the Leafs.

'nuff said.

 

[LeafsLegendAkiBerg]

Bozak isn't nearly as bad as some Leafs fans would have you believe, the problem is that there's a cult of Kadri fans and Bozak is on the top line ahead of him, so he instantly receives a lot of hate.

The same thing happens with Bernier and Reimer. Reimer has some extremely loyal followers so there's some unnecessary hate towards Bernier.

The truth, in my opinion, is that Bozak is an alright player. He's okay defensively, he can probably put up about 60 points with enough playing time. I could see him putting up 30-50 points as a third line center. He's good on the face-off and great on the shoot out. He's been terrible in the last 20 games though. The thing is, everyone of the Leafs has been terrible. Kessel has been terrible, JVR has been terrible. Yes, even Kadri has been terrible. It's pretty clear to me that Bozak needs a change of scenery and I think he'd make a decent 2nd or 3rd line center for a team.

 

[Macca]

Bozak's had to carry that overrated, lazy self - absorbed plug Kessel on his back for years, so I'd say he's pretty good.

 

[Aela*]

Much better than people give him credit for.
Not a true #1C, but there isn't a single one of those in all of Canada aside from H. Sedin.

Don't know why other Leafs fans hate on him so much, he's actually my favourite player on the team.

ROFL.

Little, Sedin, Turris (at least last season, would have to ask OTT fans if he still is or if it's arguable), arguably RNH, arguably Hudler (this season only)

 

[Giuseppe Sallo]

Bozak is a generational talent and Kessel is holding him back.

haha.

They live together, their bromance is what got them on the first line, in my mind he's is definitely a #3 C. He's also decent defensively.

 

[cgf]

He's just a second round pick worse than Stastny, and just a Gardiner worse than O'Reilly or Duchene.

 

[Ghost of Kyiv]

Bozak isn't bad per say, he's an NHL calibre player but there's a lot of frustrations with him. There's the myth that he has chemistry with Kessel and worse that Nonis believed in it, when Grabovski and Kadri both averaged better stats playing with kessel than bozak did, and more damning is Kessel averages worse stats playing with Bozak than he does did with Grabo and Nazem. When Bozak first started playing with Kessel it was when the Leafs had no one down the middle. We had Stajan who got traded to Calgary for Phanuef, and a bunch of other bums, Wayne Primeau, Sjostrom, Rickard Friggin Walin was on that team. We could have brought Gilmour out of retirement and he'd be higher on our depth chart than Wallin, I can't remember if Grabovski was on that team too.

So Bozak slid between Kessel and Kulemin that year and Kessel had a bit of a tear at the end. Well don't fix what ain't broken right? Problem is it was broken, it was just less broken than before. So the Leafs kicked the tires on free agents but didn't get to sign anyone but we did get Tim Connolly! He started his Leaf career as our new #1 but old broken down Connolly finished his contract as a Marlie. So Bozak still managed to be our #1 guy, but then Carlyle showed up. Randy probably set this team back another 5+ years wanting Clarkson signed and Bozak to be re-signed.

Under Carlyle Bozak and Kessel were inseparable, Kadri emerged as a top 6 player and Grabo got the **** end of the stick being played like a defensive specialist(seriously wtf) but there was a light at the end of the tunnel, Bozak was becoming a UFA and negotiations had seemingly broke down because he wanted a payday and the Leafs seemed to understand he was not going to cut it as a #1. but then, the leafs bought out Komisarek which made us happy, and then a couple of days past, no other buyout happened, and Bozak was on his way out of town. It was as it should have been. And then Grabovski got bought out. How could they? John Michael Liles was still around, and they wanted to dump him so badly why buyout Grabo? His season saw him put up a puny amount of points but as previously mentioned he was turned into a defensive zone centre specialist because coaching is hard I guess.

And then that fateful day arrived. July 5th, 2013. Tyler Bozak re-signed with the Leafs. He would forever be connected to Phil Kessel, like a kid on a leash attached to a parent with no shame. This terrible decision was completely overshadowed a little later when Nonis continued to ruin this franchise by signing the single worst contact in the NHL today with David Clarkson, who spurned the Oilers higher offer because they've suffered enough.

Now I'm depressed after recalling the history of Bozak.

That's the best analysis I've read in a while. Thanks for putting the time in to write it

 

[Cypher]

I'd take him on the Avs to replace O'Reilly ... (and no, that does not mean Bozak or any package from Toronto gets you O'Reilly).

 

[Scarbarian*]

He is an average 2nd line C at best, pretty good value for what he makes. However, I was never sold on him like most Leafs fans even when he was putting up points back in November/December.

Kadri is much better and always was.

 

[Subbaman]

He's alright. Mid-tier 2nd C in my opinion.

 

[tony d]

Good enough to be a 2nd line centre on a contender.