Purity*
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The Case for Tyler Bozak: All Tyler Bozak Discussion Here
- Thread starter HockeyThoughts
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Bozak is our #1 center and important to the team in the same way that Brendon Morrison was the #1 center and important tot he Canucks (if only Kessel was as good as Naslund and JVR as good as Bertuzzi).
Peasy
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... They're even strength stats so the PK has nothing to do with it
Yeah again, how many minutes has he played away from Kessel all of his career? Its not a high number, and I guarantee you half of that time was when hes out in the defensive zone to take faceoffs
Do people not realize that really the only times he hasn't played with Kessel is when hes on the PK or out there in the last minute of a game lmao... Obviously those stats aren't going to be good...
So when Bozak doesn't put up points in previous seasons its because he sucks but when Kadri doesnt he gets every excuse ok
Even strength doesn't include the PK lol, but nice try. If you think he's played 38/39 games worth of last minute lead kills without Kessel, then all the power to ya.
When has Bozak played without Kessel at even strength? There was a few games in the last week or so(in which he did fine) and other than that it must have been like 5 years ago.
Or the minutes he played with JVR away from Kessel this season, during which the line was awful.
Assuming we've reached peak Kessel, no, he's not quite as good as peak Naslund, but he's not far and his peak should last longer. JVR and Bozak are not near what Bertuzzi and Morrison were.
I used to think that Morrison was really the guy that anchored that line, maybe the most important player on it, but the truth is that it was pretty much all Naslund and Bertuzzi. Having said that, Morrison actually had a decent career after leaving Vancouver, barring his final season. He was around 49.5% CF% but a whopping 58% GF% and had a very low GA/60, so even in the twilight of his career he was a good two-way player 5v5.
Peasy
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Yeah again, how many minutes has he played away from Kessel all of his career? Its not a high number, and I guarantee you half of that time was when hes out in the defensive zone to take faceoffs
Man you Bozak guys are you're worst enemies. The guy sucks when not paired up with the top 5 point producer for the last 3 seasons. Then you say he is pretty much joined at the hip with the top 5 point producer for the last 3 seasons..but he himself cannot manage to crack 50 lousy points.
Are we to believe that this guy is good? Somebody keeps posting how only Claude Giroux has outscored Kessel in the last 3 years combined...yet his sidekick can't seem to crack 50 points?
Doesn't add up. He has to go. And not soon enough.
He doesn't deserve to be there. The reason he is there is due to circumstance; he's on the top-line either because (a) there is nobody better on the roster to succeed him, or (b) the team is attempting to spread its offence out (Bozak isn't a driver of offense but a mere passenger). The Leafs' circumstance is (a) but hopefully, one day, it'll be (b).
Gary Nylund
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I love the way you keep insisting you have nothing against Kessel but nevertheless, keep taking thinly veiled shots at him. Better zip it up, your bias is showing.
He doesnt deserve to be there anymore than Mike Santorelli does. Tyler Bozak will never center the top line of a contender.
If the goal is to become a SC contender, then Bozak has to go. Either down the depth chart or out of town.
Pretty simple really.
I love the way you keep insisting you have nothing against Kessel but nevertheless, keep taking thinly veiled shots at him. Better zip it up, your bias is showing.
Isn't it possible to appreciate Kessel for what he brings but still not think he is as good as Naslund?
Gary Nylund
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Well I suppose anything is possible.
Usually though, when you add 2 and 2 together the answer is 4.What exactly does Bozak need to do? He's been good this year he's 16th in points among centers, 11th in goals, 19 in assists and top 5 in faceoffs. He's playing some of the best hockey in his career, would Toronto look better with a big elite center? sure, but Bozak is not the problem on this team.
I believe it's both (a) and (b). I am in no way saying Bozak is a driver of the line, but when he's on that line, JVr is a top 10 producing LW and Kessel is a top 10 producing RW. And Bozak does this at a measly 4.2m cap hit. I think it's great that we are able to put Bozak on the top line because he has shown he can compliment his linemates style so they still produce and it lets us have more naturally talented players down in the lineup, letting them face easier competition.
Does putting Santorelli there make us a contender? Does Kadri? I can understand where you are coming from, but to advocate removing him from the top line so vehemently when we have no replacements that makes us a contender seems silly doesn't it?
AustonMitchWilly
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- Jul 3, 2013
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Bozak has scored plenty of goals when Kessel was not on the ice. Your facts are very misleading. You can say 7 years, but we havent had Kessel for 7 years. How are your stats affected by that?
BertCorbeau
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I think this is quite accurate TBH .. Except Bozak is much better on face-offs and is a good penalty killer .. Is also a shootout killer (though Morrison was in a different era, to be fair)
Without Kessel, Bozak would be a ~40 point centre who is great on the draw, solid at the PK and great in the shootout .. But he's also shown that he can excel in a complimentary role, so there is additional value in that
A good player but not great
I read a lot of knocks against Bozak in this thread and some of the points are ridiculous.
Look it, the guy is a decent center who shouldn't be on the first line but because the Leafs don't have a true first line center! That doesn't mean he isn't a quality player, he most definitely is. He is good on the PK, is really good at faceoffs and has decent talent to put up the points. He is NOT overpaid in the least and would make a good second line center but out of necessity, is needed to play where he is. Anyone who suggests that he is a 'garbage' player must not follow any hockey outside of Leaf land.
To the individuals saying that the Leafs couldn't win a cup with Bozak as the first line center...it's true, they couldn't...but there is nobody on this team who should play on that line (Kadri, that's a joke right??) instead.
Look it, the guy is a decent center who shouldn't be on the first line but because the Leafs don't have a true first line center! That doesn't mean he isn't a quality player, he most definitely is. He is good on the PK, is really good at faceoffs and has decent talent to put up the points. He is NOT overpaid in the least and would make a good second line center but out of necessity, is needed to play where he is. Anyone who suggests that he is a 'garbage' player must not follow any hockey outside of Leaf land.
To the individuals saying that the Leafs couldn't win a cup with Bozak as the first line center...it's true, they couldn't...but there is nobody on this team who should play on that line (Kadri, that's a joke right??) instead.
AustonMitchWilly
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Also, how many goals has Bozak scored while Kessel did not register an assist? That would be equally as helpful of a stat.
Score more 5v5 and not let his line get hemmed in their own zone 5v5 regularly.
Case in point... Bozak with Kessel this season is at a 45% GF% 5v5. No fancy stats here, they're simply getting outscored 5v5. Actually, his CF% with Kessel isn't as bad as usual at 48%.
Peasy
Registered User
You realize theres 2 other people on his line right? Why is all the responsibility on Bozak? Hard to get the puck out when one player won't even engage in any physical contact.
I don't get it. How is this thread not just filled with praise?
This guy has been UNREAL for an undrafted college pick up. Yeah I'd like a toews or koptiar over him but they don't grow on trees. Considering our situation this guy has been a beast for us.
If he tops 70pts this year does everyone finally shut up?
This guy has been UNREAL for an undrafted college pick up. Yeah I'd like a toews or koptiar over him but they don't grow on trees. Considering our situation this guy has been a beast for us.
If he tops 70pts this year does everyone finally shut up?
lol...
I used 7 years because it is the max the site allows (and stems his entire career). Bozak has scored 11 ES points TOTAL in his career without Kessel on the ice. Period. It's completely irrelevant how long we've had either player.
Doesn't seem like you are grasping the concept. As for the points that actually have Kessel getting a point, I'm not sure how to check this or I would. I'm sure the numbers are pretty damming as well.
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Because he is the center? The center is supposed to be the forward deepest in the zone to help get the puckup the ice and to the wingers. Bozak is almost equally as soft as Kessel, not sure what game you are watching.
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