Did I read the Leafs stats correctly? Grabo has zero shots on goal in two games?![]()
Yeah its MacArthurs fault though(kiddin)
Last night Kadri had about the same icetime as the Grabo line. I dont think this is about 'demoting' Grabo and JVR to 'promote' Kadri. I think it's more about getting Grabo and Kulemin going, and I think more icetime for Kadri likely means 1st PP unit.
Did I read the Leafs stats correctly? Grabo has zero shots on goal in two games?![]()
Last night Kadri had about the same icetime as the Grabo line. I dont think this is about 'demoting' Grabo and JVR to 'promote' Kadri. I think it's more about getting Grabo and Kulemin going, and I think more icetime for Kadri likely means 1st PP unit.
I know SOG isn't a stat that determines EVERYTHING, but Mac at least has seven. I'd say the weakest links of the line so far have been Grabo and Kulemin, and it kills me to say that because I really like Grabovski.
Grabs, Kulemin and MacArthur all suck to some degree as individuals.
Grabovski has tunnel vision for a center, makes terrible off tempo passes that dribble into turnovers or end up behind his wingers and looks like he is in 2nd gear at least 40% of the season when he's not doing his Gilmour impressions and making fans forget the rest of play.
MacArthur is a somewhat lazy player who isn't particularly defensively conscientious, and only seems to shine when someone else is spoon-feeding him with bang bang plays. He's not fast, he's not strong, he doesn't care about winning puck battles.
Kulemin used to have some offensive instinct, but it looks like he's more comfortable just making the least technically difficult/creative play and running back to the bench.
Very interesting point of view... Although I wouldn't tag them with "suck" but they do have limitations that's for sure.
Kulemin is a two way forward but he has one short coming in that he's not a very good stick handler with the puck to make passing plays, although he's struggled to score he does have a lethal shot, big & strong who can flat out skate... He's smart positionally and reads the play pretty good, does all the little things if on an offensive line that allow the other 2 who should be the SKILL on that line mesh and do there thing. He's a glue player on an offensive line not the skill player on an offensive line. The real issue with that line is the other 2 don't mesh. MacArthur is a passenger and I agree 100% of your view of him, Grabo I think part of the reason he's like that is do to MacArthur being a passenger. Grabo isn't a star player and is being asked to do too much, at times when he's on his warrior mode we see good things from the line cause he's everywhere but he can't sustain that level of play HE NEEDS HELP not passengers.
MacArthur is lethal from the hash marks in as a trigger guy a one trick pony just don't ask him to make plays, he's not a very heady player in making plays or understand off the cycle where to position himself which is why that line struggles on the offensive cycle when Grabo isn't in warrior mode.
the GK part of the line is fine in fact the K part of it can play on any line being as he's a glue guy however the MG part of the line doesn't work unless G plays like a god.
This made me laugh! I know all the Goalies in NHL can hardly sleep the night before they face Clark MacArthur
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Jonas Siegel @jonasTSN1050
van Riemsdyk flips onto the second line with Grabovski and Kulemin. MacArthur joins Kadri and Komarov.
Hmm, trying to figure it out. It almost looks like it's a promotion for Mac, not a demotion. He's been the only one on his line actually taking shots on net, and now he gets to play with a hot Kadri, replacing JVR, who's started the season pretty slowly.
Mac: 7 shots, 1 hit
Kadri: 3 shots, 4 hits
Komarov: 2 shots, 9 hits
JVR: 3 shots, 1 hit
Kulemin: 3 shots, 6 hits
Grabo: 0 shots, 0 hits
^ This looks like this season's "sleeper" line. Who's going to pass on this line?
P.S.: Apparently Randy reads HFBoards.![]()
Ya, when I heard those line combos I really questioned them. I don't understand why we have to keep the same guys together year after year. It's a mentality that the team has had since the time of the big head. I'm not saying split them up and keep them there, just give it a shot for a game or two.
JVR Kadri Kessel -------- #1 line with big man, playmaker and sniper
MacA Grabbo Lupul ------- Offence in increased on the second with the addition of Lupes
Komorov Bozak Kulemin ------ Pain in the azz shutdown line.
I think we gotta get a kkk line going if our offence doesn't start kickin.
Kulemin-Kadri-Kessel
JVR-Grabo-Lupul
Komorov-Bozak-Mac
Brown-McClement-Orr
Just experimental![]()
Those are some lines I'd seriously consider giving a try at some point this season (when we need a shakeup). I like the thought process on all 3.