Line Combos: Simmonds Appreciation

[saffronleaf]

He's been solid. Just what we needed in our forward group.

 

[Critical13]

I’m going to regret this later, but I kinda of liked him in the top 6.

 

[stickty111]

It looked like he was done. Turns out we were wrong.

 

[Gabriel426]

He is the gritty vet the Leafs lacked over the years.

 

[Twine Tickler]

God I hope he plays for the leafs a long time after this year. This guy is all character, and will. What an addition

 

[darrylsittler27]

I think he has more offense to give, best $1.5 Million spent this year.

 

[OVO16]

Had no Idea he still had Top 6 Version of himself left. But if thats the case...we finally found our top 6 Power Forward we've been looking for a long time

 

[TopChedder]

It looked like he was done. Turns out we were wrong.

I kept saying to people on the mainboards that he was injured for a while and was finally healthy.

He just needed to have some time to work on his game again and not just be rehabbing.

He is only 32 lol not 40.

 

[francis246]

God I hope he plays for the leafs a long time after this year. This guy is all character, and will. What an addition

I think he will get the spezza deals. Local guy. If he can take a deal that doesn’t put us over the cap threshold, I think he’d be back as long as he can play. But he is a character guy that we have been lacking. Same with Bogosian

 

[Man Bear Pig]

It looked like he was done. Turns out we were wrong.

The man is like Hyman, minus the skating ability. He goes full throttle every shift. You can see why Kings and Flyers fans love him so much.

 

[GBLeaf]

I think Simmonds/Spezza/Thornton signings show Dubas' development.

A few years ago Leafs were all about speed and skill. Now I think he's learned there's that extra bit needed that sometimes you just can't compensate for. I'm not talking about Brian Burke style 'truculence'. But just something older statesmen give you.

Leafs and Dubas are starting to reap the rewards of that development.

 

[HockeyJunkie87]

If anybody wants to see a fight review I made of the simmonds been battle , check it out

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

Love him. Exactly as advertised.

 

[Bust]

I think Simmonds/Spezza/Thornton signings show Dubas' development.

A few years ago Leafs were all about speed and skill. Now I think he's learned there's that extra bit needed that sometimes you just can't compensate for. I'm not talking about Brian Burke style 'truculence'. But just something older statesmen give you.

Leafs and Dubas are starting to reap the rewards of that development.

Damn, I had a great big reply to your post with quotes from other GM’s and whatnot and the page reloaded and lost it all

In short. You are absolutely correct.

I’d love to speak on the developments in Matthews game specifically, with the recent additions of Simmonds, bogo, jumbo. Add these 3 to muzz, hyman and even Tavares and all the sudden we’ve got multiple mentally and physically tough guys that are willing to pay the price.

Just look at Matthews. He’s got this almost pissed off attitude towards the opposition now where he’s physically engaging and even getting into scrums after the whistle. If you don't think Simmonds isn't reminding Auston that he’s a big dude and telling him, “throw that body around, I got you”, you’d be dead wrong. Now that auston has guys like that in his corner, it’s giving him that strength/confidence that he and this team lacked in the past. Look at Boston for reference.

these guys are unlocking levels to Matthews game. I cannot wait to see this kid dominate this years playoffs.

 

[Stephen]

The way he was punching Benn last night, his punches reminded me of a trebuchet. Just kept launching bombs mechanically. And all this after crunching Hughes into the board. Manhandling defensemen against the end wall is always a plus in my mind. Imagine all those elements at play in a 7 game series against a guy like Torey Krug all these years, or someone to soften up Jones and Werenski last year.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I'm starting to really love this team.

Black Lightning!

 

[Wafflewhipper]

I’d like to call Simmonds MoJo from now on. It kind of just suits him. So MoJo was on. Everyone that has never seen a character team put together now knows the important little things that build a team up. MoJo brings it

 

[CincoHolio]

I'm starting to really love this team.

Black Lightning!

Terrible name.

edit to add. Agree about loving the team. It's starting to feel like the right combo. I wasn't sure at the beginning of the year but things are looking promising with the make up of the squad.

 

[The Shadow]

It looked like he was done. Turns out we were wrong.

playing in Buffalo and NJ can do that to someone

he is re-energized and the rest from the late start he said helped him build his body up how we needed it to be.

 

[CincoHolio]

playing in Buffalo and NJ can do that to someone

he is re-energized and the rest from the late start he said helped him build his body up how we needed it to be.

Seriously. I was watching the game last night and I thought to myself, Wayne has done more in the handful of games he's played than Clarkson did during his entire tenure as a Leafs.

 

[The Shadow]

I like how they moved out softies Kap and Johnnson and brought in a guy like Simmonds

exactly what was needed.

now if the core can take their play to the next level when it matters most a championship is in our future

 

[CincoHolio]

I like how they moved out softies Kap and Johnnson and brought in a guy like Simmonds

exactly what was needed.

now if the core can take their play to the next level when it matters most a championship is in our future

Something something Dubas' vision of soft hockey.

People think so linear sometimes it's comical.

 

[CincoHolio]

I think Simmonds/Spezza/Thornton signings show Dubas' development.

A few years ago Leafs were all about speed and skill. Now I think he's learned there's that extra bit needed that sometimes you just can't compensate for. I'm not talking about Brian Burke style 'truculence'. But just something older statesmen give you.

Leafs and Dubas are starting to reap the rewards of that development.

100%. Great post. But this is what everyone should have been patient for. Of course a rookie GM is going to take some time to find his way. If you couldn't listen to Dubas and the way he holds himself accountable for his actions and not think that he would figure it out eventually, then you're just not paying attention.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Terrible name.

edit to add. Agree about loving the team. It's starting to feel like the right combo. I wasn't sure at the beginning of the year but things are looking promising with the make up of the squad.

I think it's a great name but whatever, not important.

Seriously. I was watching the game last night and I thought to myself, Wayne has done more in the handful of games he's played than Clarkson did during his entire tenure as a Leafs.

Indeed he has.

Something something Dubas' vision of soft hockey.

People think so linear sometimes it's comical.

There's so many myths on this board, Dubas not seeing any value in tough players is one of them. No matter how many times it's been pointed out that Dubas has always had plenty of toughness in the teams he's managed during his career, some people just refuse to budge from the false narrative.

 

[Bust]

I think it's a great name but whatever, not important.



Edit

hey so this was a large portion of my post that I lost a few reply’s above yours.

I honestly think (and I can say this from experience) that Dubas’ fellow GM’s, media and even fans feel entitled to question all of Dubas’ moves based mostly on his age (being the leafs GM doesn’t help) and also his calm demeanour. I experience this first hand on a daily basis as I am a young professional in my field, and it’s damn hard to get any type of respect from anyone being just as if not more qualified, while being 20-30 years younger.

The old boys club mentality is engrained in hockey, be it the GM’s, players, refs, media, even fans. “The past was ALWAYS better and will always be better than the future”, ext. dubas will be in tough until he actually does something, and if he does end up winning here, I’m sure these same guys will have something to say in regards to that (it was all Lou, hunter, babs and so on)