Leafs trying to crack the Grabovski riddle

[The Winter Soldier]

I was watching the wings last night and imagined Grabo on the wing with Datsyuk. He's a terrible playmaker so the wing is where he best fits. Hopefully perhaps the Wings will deal a pick for him, they afterall traded a first for Quincy.

Grabo is a puck distributing black hole for wingers, but on the wings with a Center like Datsyuk, he actually might be an asset.

Datsyuk/Abdelkader/Grabo

 

[Patty Lee]

Grabo knows the role Carlyle's asking him to do, but he can't do it and he doesn't want to do it. Its like asking Kobe Bryant to pass or telling Kaberle to shoot, they can't do it. Let Grabo be Grabo, a fast playermaker

be nice if Grabo could average 6 assists per game like Bryant

 

[sangreale]

Please trade Grabovski! I don't care what for.

You forgot the all caps. That would make your post more insightful.

 

[CellarDweller0]

Nothing good will come out of putting Grabo with Kessel. There I said it and look forward to pointing back to my post about it.

IMHO Grabo is not the type of player that you put between Kessel and JVR/Lupul. Unfortunately we don't have that type of player but Bozak comes the closest since he actually looks to dish off the puck to the scorers.

 

[Deebo]

If Carlyle were to be fired and Eakins were to come in and the team still plays this way, who are you guys going to want to fire next?

 

[Rob Brown]

free Dalas Eakins

(Carlyle has been there for far too long with the same old **** he has preached DUCKS and got fired. League knows his dos and donts and he doesnt have Pronger and Scotty N to save his ass)


Common Nonnis you wanted Eakins get him here and let the stubborn Carlyle walk...

P.S. If leafs were winning I wouldnt have to succumb to such hatred and disgust of Carlyle especially with Liles sitting and Gards in the AHL when HOLEzer is waiver exempt and Costco ******** the bed . Really ticked off!!!

Funny because you likely wouldn't be saying these things if we haven't just lost three in a row. Now you want him fired?

****ing relax people. We've made some great strides this year. Virtually every team in the league has a losing skid. It doesn't mean we're doomed. We are all so confident and optimistic at this time last week. So many of you seem to forget we almost beat the Pens on Saturday. If we did, like no one would be whining about all this.

 

[BonMorrison]

Please trade Grabovski! I don't care what for.

Upping the font and using bold really makes your point that much stronger.

 

[KuleminFan41]

Leafs fans should not be allowed to make threads. Only news articles that mean something such as injuries or trades and game day threads. The amount of"trade this guy" and "this guy is stupid" threads around here are beyond ridiculous.

Best fan base my ass

 

[Diamond Joe Quimby]

Nothing good will come out of putting Grabo with Kessel. There I said it and look forward to pointing back to my post about it.

IMHO Grabo is not the type of player that you put between Kessel and JVR/Lupul. Unfortunately we don't have that type of player but Bozak comes the closest since he actually looks to dish off the puck to the scorers.

I'd say Kadri is closer than Bozak to the type of centre you want between a Lupul\JVR - Kessel. But I do strongly agree with you that Grabovski and his distinct lack of vision and playmaking (passing\set up\offensive hockey sense) skills would be disastrous.

 

[Deebo]

Leafs fans should not be allowed to make threads. Only news articles that mean something such as injuries or trades and game day threads. The amount of"trade this guy" and "this guy is stupid" threads around here are beyond ridiculous.

Best fan base my ass

I really do think its a loud vocal minority that are like this.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Said it before, I think Kessel is the best Center for Kessel, all he needs is wingers like JVR and Lupul to distribute the puck to.

Kadri is excelling with Mac and Frattin, no need to rush him into the #1 Line.

The Grabo line needs something, a change, maybe the entire line should be scraped. It's clear this is the line that is letting down the team.

#1 line has been good this year
#3 line has exceeded all expectations, consistently been our best line
#4 has given us an indentity, gives us energy and toughness.

#2 line, what to do? It's not happening.

 

[Patty Lee]

Said it before, I think Kessel is the best Center for Kessel, all he needs is wingers like JVR and Lupul to distribute the puck to.

Kadri is excelling with Mac and Frattin, no need to rush him into the #1 Line.

The Grabo line needs something, a change, maybe the entire line should be scraped. It's clear this is the line that is letting down the team.

#1 line has been good this year
#3 line has exceeded all expectations, consistently been our best line
#4 has given us an indentity, gives us energy and toughness.

#2 line, what to do? It's not happening.

only problem is Kessel isn't a center. zero chance of this happening.

next

 

[Deebo]

Said it before, I think Kessel is the best Center for Kessel, all he needs is wingers like JVR and Lupul to distribute the puck to.

Kadri is excelling with Mac and Frattin, no need to rush him into the #1 Line.

The Grabo line needs something, a change, maybe the entire line should be scraped. It's clear this is the line that is letting down the team.

#1 line has been good this year
#3 line has exceeded all expectations, consistently been our best line
#4 has given us an indentity, gives us energy and toughness.

#2 line, what to do? It's not happening.

Hope that when Lupul comes back that he can help that line or MacArthur goes back to that line and they start to click again. Other than that, I don't see any other possibilities for this season barring something radical, which doesn't seem to be how management operates.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Hope that when Lupul comes back that he can help that line or MacArthur goes back to that line and they start to click again. Other than that, I don't see any other possibilities for this season barring something radical, which doesn't seem to be how management operates.

The Frattin with Grabo and Kule experiment lasted 2 periods, not sure how you get those 2 going? Perhaps we should get assets for one or both while we can. Detroit, Pitt. Prospect or picks.

Bozie to the #2 line with Komarov/Ashton and Kule/Mcclement?

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Hope that when Lupul comes back that he can help that line or MacArthur goes back to that line and they start to click again. Other than that, I don't see any other possibilities for this season barring something radical, which doesn't seem to be how management operates.

Carlyle once converted Bobby Ryan to center.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

only problem is Kessel isn't a center. zero chance of this happening.

next

Carlyle once converted Bobby Ryan to center.

 

[pheasant]

I really do think its a loud vocal minority that are like this.

I believe this is the case, too. I wouldn't think that a large percentage of the fans want Carlyle fired just yet. But from this thread you would think there are already chants of "Fire Randy" at the ACC.

While I agree that the D needs some changes, I think Carlyle is doing the right thing with the forwards. If Kadri played with Kessel, we would become a one trick pony. Now the offense is spread, and has been working really well most of the season.

And it makes sense to have Grabo take so many defensive zone draws. Who else should shoulder the burden? The Kadri line is a far different unit than 3rd lines of recent years. Thay have so much offensive ability, and are a bit untrustworthy on the D side.

So, other than the seldom used 4th line, there is no other choice. And Grabo is doing a decent job, too. It's helping the team. Maybe when the team is healthy there will be a bit more talent on his wings, and that will help.

 

[Patty Lee]

Carlyle once converted Bobby Ryan to center.

so? do you think there is a point there? Clark once was converted from D to forward. about as useful as your point.

Kessel does not even take the face off when Bozak gets tossed. the ONLY person thinking of him at center is you.

 

[northstarnicky]

Leafs fans should not be allowed to make threads. Only news articles that mean something such as injuries or trades and game day threads. The amount of"trade this guy" and "this guy is stupid" threads around here are beyond ridiculous.

Best fan base my ass

I am a huge Leaf fan and would never say...Best

Largest? Yes
Passionate? Yes
Best - Not so much

Every team has their fair share of stupid, ignorant or arrogant fans. Even mis-informed, ludicrous and incompetent.

BUT..........Look closely.

If we indeed have the largest fan base. Then will will also have the largest base of stupid, ignorant, arrogant, mis-informed, ludicrous and incompetent fans.

It goes with the territory I guess. And when we go on a losing streak..expect it and laugh at it as I do.

 

[theTTC]

Leafs fans should not be allowed to make threads. Only news articles that mean something such as injuries or trades and game day threads. The amount of"trade this guy" and "this guy is stupid" threads around here are beyond ridiculous.

Best fan base my ass

^^ Right On

The mental midgets that overwhelmingly populate this board never consider the big picture 'cause it doesn't exist in their myopic world. We have a winning record, are in a playoff position, are competitive against the likes of Pittsburgh and Boston, and our young players are growing nicely under a coach who lets them learn from their mistakes.

All that's happening now is we're going through the minor slump every team (except Chicago?) has, or will, experience this season. See it through then we'll roll again soon.

The prognostication by analysts just after the season mid-point: all Leafs have to do now is play at .500 and we're in the playoffs. That means we win some and we lose some, we do not have to win every single game. So, the calls to trade every player and fire an effective coach after an off-night appears extra-insane.

 

[leafstilldeath*]

Funny because you likely wouldn't be saying these things if we haven't just lost three in a row. Now you want him fired?

****ing relax people. We've made some great strides this year. Virtually every team in the league has a losing skid. It doesn't mean we're doomed. We are all so confident and optimistic at this time last week. So many of you seem to forget we almost beat the Pens on Saturday. If we did, like no one would be whining about all this.

If were winning obviously there wouldnt be a rant. Look at ottawa and montreal the consistency they have shown is amazing especially hats off to Ottawa.

Leafs have been ******** the bed for a decade. How is one suppose to react then? I just do not understand the love affair with Cosco and Holzer.

And why still stick with Bozak and Kessel? Seems some of team members have entitlement issue with no pride! How can one not make the playoffs season after season and have entitlement.

Grabo has to be moved to first line just to see at least. Kessel has been making decent plays and Bozak completely ***** the bed. At least Grabo will be able to finish . Imagine a line where shotcan come from anywhere. Bozak always looking to pass to Kessel has gotten very predictible

 

[Faustus]

I guess some also have poor reading comprehension
Where did I say his scoring hasn't gone done?

In fact your post has zero relevance to mine.

I'm simply stating people who think his production has gone row because he's in a shutdown role don't remember that's how he was also used when he had good years

You said the only difference was that Mac wasn't on the line with Phaneuf and Gunnar behind them.


That guy showed you Grabo's offensive zone starts dropped by nearly 20%

But that post has zero relevance?

 

[The Winter Soldier]

so? do you think there is a point there? Clark once was converted from D to forward. about as useful as your point.

Kessel does not even take the face off when Bozak gets tossed. the ONLY person thinking of him at center is you.

The point was obvious, Ryan is was a 30 goal winger in back to back seasons, but RC converted him to Center out of necessity. Never say never, you said Kessel would never be a Center despite playing there prior to the draft. Maybe you didn't know this, or knew Ryan's situtation.

 

[MakeTheIronSing]

Grabo has no chemistry with anybody and if you were to put him at center, that automatically kills efficient puck distribution from the center of the ice.

 

[CellarDweller0]

I'd say Kadri is closer than Bozak to the type of centre you want between a Lupul\JVR - Kessel. But I do strongly agree with you that Grabovski and his distinct lack of vision and playmaking (passing\set up\offensive hockey sense) skills would be disastrous.

At the very least Kadri deserves the oppertunity, no doubt, but until he plays the first line Bozak is the closest we have. I'm all in for the Kadri experiment though.