Confirmed with Link: Leafs sign Kurtis Gabriel to 1 year contract (750k)

[ottomaddox]

Wendel

Sort of. He had a ton of injuries in his career.

 

[Mitch nylander]

Surprised he's still up with the team. His skating is noticeably awful. I don't see why he should still be up.

He's closer to a Rich Clune/Scott Sabourin then he is to a Kyle Clifford for example

 

[A1LeafNation]

Surprised he's still up with the team. His skating is noticeably awful. I don't see why he should still be up.

He's not on the team to skate....is he?

 

[Mitch nylander]

He's not on the team to skate....is he?

Yea but he will be a liability because of his skating. I take an Adam Brooks in the lineup who's a much better player at every aspect of the game other than being a goon, over a guy like Gabriel or Rich Clune or Scott Sabourin. We've got Ritchie, Simmonds, and Bunting up front who all play with an edge, I don't see the point of having a goon who can't play when you can have much better all around options.

Hopefully he is one of our next cuts.

 

[Antropovsky]

Yea but he will be a liability because of his skating. I take an Adam Brooks in the lineup who's a much better player at every aspect of the game other than being a goon, over a guy like Gabriel or Rich Clune or Scott Sabourin. We've got Ritchie, Simmonds, and Bunting up front who all play with an edge, I don't see the point of having a goon who can't play when you can have much better all around options.

Hopefully he is one of our next cuts.

We don't want Ritchie fighting regularly and simmonds is both regularly injured and less and less effective every year. We do not want a situation where Ritchie is the lone physical player on the team..won't be long before the softness of the roster rubs off on him and his physicality disappears too (in fact I think Boston fans said his physical play isn't consistent). We need a group of physical players, not just one guy like we have had recently.... nobody wants to the only guy taking on a mob. The Leafs are unusually soft once you remove both Simmonds and Gabriel.

Anyone recall how much Sandin was being targeted because he was the only leaf playing physical? I'm curious to see how much he will be targeted with Gabriel, simmonds and Ritchie on the ice or at least 2 of the 3.

 

[ACC1224]

Surprised he's still up with the team. His skating is noticeably awful. I don't see why he should still be up.

He's closer to a Rich Clune/Scott Sabourin then he is to a Kyle Clifford for example

You don’t believe Dubas was aware of his skating prior to signing? That’s not good.

 

[hullsy47]

You don’t believe Dubas was aware of his skating prior to signing? That’s not good.

My guess is he is wane simmonds replacement next year

 

[TML Dynasty]

Depends on what they want from the 4th line. Energy bangers and crashers then he’d be good. If they want more skill then yeah he’d be a liability. Two top skill lines. A third line with shutdown c and skilled wings. I’d be on board for a tougher 4th line

 

[Havoc]

We don't want Ritchie fighting regularly and simmonds is both regularly injured and less and less effective every year. We do not want a situation where Ritchie is the lone physical player on the team..won't be long before the softness of the roster rubs off on him and his physicality disappears too (in fact I think Boston fans said his physical play isn't consistent). We need a group of physical players, not just one guy like we have had recently.... nobody wants to the only guy taking on a mob. The Leafs are unusually soft once you remove both Simmonds and Gabriel.

Anyone recall how much Sandin was being targeted because he was the only leaf playing physical? I'm curious to see how much he will be targeted with Gabriel, simmonds and Ritchie on the ice or at least 2 of the 3.

Even Nylanders dropping hits in pre season. Gabriel played in all his games. Not saying it's because of Gabriel but it's also not characteristic for Nylander to shove his arm in a guys face in pre season. I'm sure the other 11 skaters have more confidence knowing Gabriel is there.

I agree Simmonds doesn't have the health to be "that" guy and we need Ritchie focusing on breaking out more than being a body guard.

He seems like a player other players genuinely like as well. I think this is important in your goon otherwise there's zero emotion when they drop the gloves or throw a hit. Better off swapping them out for a skill guy instead.

I'm sold on Gabriel getting games. I like the "vibe" when he's in the lineup. Feels like something we usually lack. I mostly mock the intangibles route in cases like this but after 5 first round losses and no killer instinct , I'm open to try some new things. Gabriel being one of them.

 

[Mitch nylander]

My guess is he is wane simmonds replacement next year

I see him as Rich Clune's replacement on the Marlies.

 

[ACC1224]

Even Nylanders dropping hits in pre season. Gabriel played in all his games. Not saying it's because of Gabriel but it's also not characteristic for Nylander to shove his arm in a guys face in pre season. I'm sure the other 11 skaters have more confidence knowing Gabriel is there.

I agree Simmonds doesn't have the health to be "that" guy and we need Ritchie focusing on breaking out more than being a body guard.

He seems like a player other players genuinely like as well. I think this is important in your goon otherwise there's zero emotion when they drop the gloves or throw a hit. Better off swapping them out for a skill guy instead.

I'm sold on Gabriel getting games. I like the "vibe" when he's in the lineup. Feels like something we usually lack. I mostly mock the intangibles route in cases like this but after 5 first round losses and no killer instinct , I'm open to try some new things. Gabriel being one of them.

I can confirm that I saw Nylander finish his first check of his career the other night. Had to rewind a few times to make sure I had the right number.

 

[Mitch nylander]

We don't want Ritchie fighting regularly and simmonds is both regularly injured and less and less effective every year. We do not want a situation where Ritchie is the lone physical player on the team..won't be long before the softness of the roster rubs off on him and his physicality disappears too (in fact I think Boston fans said his physical play isn't consistent). We need a group of physical players, not just one guy like we have had recently.... nobody wants to the only guy taking on a mob. The Leafs are unusually soft once you remove both Simmonds and Gabriel.

Anyone recall how much Sandin was being targeted because he was the only leaf playing physical? I'm curious to see how much he will be targeted with Gabriel, simmonds and Ritchie on the ice or at least 2 of the 3.

At least Simmonds can still somewhat play, Gabriel stood out in a way that he didn't belong on the ice and was easily the worst skater on the ice. There is a reason guys like Rich Clune & Scott Sabourin aren't in the lineup, because they don't belong.... I'm all for bringing physicality into the lineup, it's just I'd rather bring players that can play as well rather than just a goon like Gabriel.

As for the second part, having Kyle Clifford in the lineup didn't stop anyone from playing physical, Matt Martin didn't stop anyone from playing physical. I think a goon's impact is far overstated.

Overall, I think the love for this guy is way too high & I don't want him taking a spot of a guy who deserves it more like Adam Brooks...

 

[Folignos Helmet]

He belongs in the A, and if there is some retribution game during the year for some reason he gets called up to sheriff.

 

[hotpaws]

no idea why he hasn't been sent down yet , then again i have no idea why Dubas signed him to begin with

 

[Gary Nylund]

I can confirm that I saw Nylander finish his first check of his career the other night. Had to rewind a few times to make sure I had the right number.

I guess you missed the playoffs, had you watched you would have seen Nylander finish plenty of checks.

 

[Quares27]

We don't want Ritchie fighting regularly and simmonds is both regularly injured and less and less effective every year. We do not want a situation where Ritchie is the lone physical player on the team..won't be long before the softness of the roster rubs off on him and his physicality disappears too (in fact I think Boston fans said his physical play isn't consistent). We need a group of physical players, not just one guy like we have had recently.... nobody wants to the only guy taking on a mob. The Leafs are unusually soft once you remove both Simmonds and Gabriel.

Anyone recall how much Sandin was being targeted because he was the only leaf playing physical? I'm curious to see how much he will be targeted with Gabriel, simmonds and Ritchie on the ice or at least 2 of the 3.

This is just pure nonsense though. The Leafs aren't any softer than 90% of the league. There are only a few players on the team who you could even say generally avoid contact (Marner, Nylander, Kerfoot) and none of them are going to magically start because Gabriel is on the team.

Like are we not the same team that had the supposedly big and physical Jets crying that we were too dirty when we played them because even Sandin was blowing up their players with huge hits? what's with the obsession of pretending this team has no grit because Matthews/Marner/Tavares didn't score goals in the playoffs? weird behaviour that doesn't even make sense and these types of narratives are the type of stupid shit that had us trade for Foligno over Hall then lose in the first round because we didn't have enough offense.

 

[LeafSteel]

This is just pure nonsense though. The Leafs aren't any softer than 90% of the league. There are only a few players on the team who you could even say generally avoid contact (Marner, Nylander, Kerfoot) and none of them are going to magically start because Gabriel is on the team.

Like are we not the same team that had the supposedly big and physical Jets crying that we were too dirty when we played them because even Sandin was blowing up their players with huge hits? what's with the obsession of pretending this team has no grit because Matthews/Marner/Tavares didn't score goals in the playoffs? weird behaviour that doesn't even make sense and these types of narratives are the type of stupid shit that had us trade for Foligno over Hall then lose in the first round because we didn't have enough offense.

Honest question:

If future predictor Dubas knew we were going to lose Tavares in the 2nd period of game 1, do you think he still takes Foligno over Hall?

Thanks.

 

[darrylsittler27]

Ouch, don't bring up the Foligno signing. In retrospect there have been some expensive lessons, like we can't own rental Reilly and let him just walk and truth is, we can't afford him either.

Gabriel is there in case Keefe decides we need a Gabriel/ Simmonds 4th line tonight. This team has lots of skill, can we give up on the 4 offensive lines theory. He is like a ride along 14th forward who can play in certain games that might be intense. Could play 30 games or more if Simmonds goes down. He wasn't brought in to be pretty. Dubas has decided with all that offense, we need protection when the other teams get dirty.

 

[Nylander88]

Gabriel is league minimum to scratch. There's no issue sticking him in the press box as we're not concerned about stunting his development. And if coach sees fit to get rough and rowdy, in he'll come. Nothing wrong with a good locker room tough guy as forward #13

 

[justloveleafs]

Gabriel is league minimum to scratch. There's no issue sticking him in the press box as we're not concerned about stunting his development. And if coach sees fit to get rough and rowdy, in he'll come. Nothing wrong with a good locker room tough guy as forward #13

Not concerned about his development, one of the funniest lines, on any hockey board, ever... small wonder you are so well like bro...That had me chuckling for around ten minutes...This is not easily accomplished..

 

[Nylander88]

Not concerned about his development, one of the funniest lines, on any hockey board, ever... small wonder you are so well like bro...That had me chuckling for around ten minutes...This is not easily accomplished..

Well it's true lol much like Marincin in the press box. Gabriel being a 28 year old goon, is what he is. You don't want someone like Robertson, Brooks, Anderson rotting in that #13 spot when they could be playing meaningful minutes for the Marlies and working towards being top 9 contributors for the Leafs some day

 

[justloveleafs]

Our league used to have a whole bunch of guys like Gabriel come out and try to dominate, so that they could gain confidence crawl out of the leaf press box...

Thing that blew them away, is that three or four guys in our tiny outdoor league kinda shut them right down...

We were no bodychecking but significant contact, just sort of Euro stuff, squeezing people off, firmly, but not roughly it wasn't complete ballet...

I have seen some amazing all star nhl talents who had zero interest in playing in the nhl...

There have been many McDAVID'S over the years, but they didn't want to walk into a dressing room where nearly every guy in the room, is spitting on the dressing room floor..

I walked from hockey, was better than my buddy who couldn't beat me in any sport.. He was drafted number one overall in the nhl..

I couldn't take the spitting on the floor, the wall, it just turned me right off...Add that to the pleistocene coaching, it was off to another pro sport...

 

[Willchel Marlynder]

Even Nylanders dropping hits in pre season. Gabriel played in all his games. Not saying it's because of Gabriel but it's also not characteristic for Nylander to shove his arm in a guys face in pre season. I'm sure the other 11 skaters have more confidence knowing Gabriel is there.

I agree Simmonds doesn't have the health to be "that" guy and we need Ritchie focusing on breaking out more than being a body guard.

He seems like a player other players genuinely like as well. I think this is important in your goon otherwise there's zero emotion when they drop the gloves or throw a hit. Better off swapping them out for a skill guy instead.

I'm sold on Gabriel getting games. I like the "vibe" when he's in the lineup. Feels like something we usually lack. I mostly mock the intangibles route in cases like this but after 5 first round losses and no killer instinct , I'm open to try some new things. Gabriel being one of them.

I don't think guys like Nylander are making hits because of Gabriel, we saw him do it in the playoffs as well. I think he realizes he's going to have to add more elements to his game for the team to succeed.

I don't mind Gabriel, but I wouldn't want him to be a regular if I'm being honest. Would be nice if we had more cap space because if we could run a 23 man rotation I would mind having him on the team. But with us only realistically being able to run a 21 man roster I don't think he makes the cut.

 

[diceman934]

He may not pass through Waivers if we send him down. He likely starts I the press box. I say we have at least one player starting on the IR as well.

He is a disciplined player who will fight and seek retribution for players. A useful person to dress

 

[Leaf Fans]

Honest question:

If future predictor Dubas knew we were going to lose Tavares in the 2nd period of game 1, do you think he still takes Foligno over Hall?

Thanks.

He didn't take Foligno over Hall. Hall controlled where he wanted to go, and that was to Boston.
https://www.masslive.com/bruins/202...cts-no-movement-clause-to-make-it-happen.html