krsmith17

You're really making it seem a LOT more difficult / confusing than it really is. Again, even when there are two units with the exact same system, injuries happen. Does that mean, when the next man up comes in, they're completely out of place and have no idea what is going on? Hell no. You know why? Because they practiced for a day or two in that system and they now know it. That's what off day / game day practices are for... And no, hockey players in general are not idiots, far from it. Especially when talking about hockey sense, knowledge of the game they've played their entire lives and payed millions of dollars a year to play... Do you really think, in my scenario, if we had to for whatever reason, take Mantha off the first unit and put him on the second in Larkin's spot or even Athanasiou's spot, that he would forget how to play hockey? Probably not. He's told to play right point or net front instead, and he practices in that position for one day, everything is fine. Do you think everyone else on that second unit is going to be confused? S*** what happened to AA, where did Mantha come from... *gives puck away*... So what happens mid game when a player from one of the units gets injured? Do we go with one unit for the rest of the game because the other unit is all of a sudden useless? No, we insert someone else, and they don't miss a beat. In the end, whether it's even strength, power-play, penalty kill, they're just playing the game. There is always movement all over the ice, rotating coverage in the defensive zone, cycling in the offensive zone, so they're never set at one position, or at least they shouldn't be. As for the "Nobody has EVER done it, in the 100 years of the NHL" part, I'd love to know where you came up with that... Is this fact, or are you just stating it as fact. Somehow I find it very difficult to believe that as fact...

Completely disagree. Why would every player need to learn both systems? They wouldn't. If there's an injury now, with one system the new player still needs to learn the system. Makes no difference with two. You make it sound like hockey players are idiots... Every single player on both power-play units have learned how to play all the different power-play systems throughout their hockey careers. It's not rocket science. The ONLY thing two different systems would do, is make it harder on the opposing penalty killing units. It would force other teams to be on their toes and always keep them guessing.

I'd like to see a different setup for each unit. 2-1-2 and 1-3-1... Vanek Mantha Zetterberg Green Larkin Vanek and Mantha down low on their strong shooting / passing side. Zetterberg directing traffic and making plays from the middle. Green and Larkin on the points, again in position to make a one-time shot or pass. Athanasiou Sproul Nyquist Tatar Nielsen Athanasiou plays net front, has great hands to deflect pucks and speed to retrieve. Sproul and Tatar are the trigger men, on their strong shooting / passing sides. Nyquist is in the middle for the shot from the slot if it's open. Nielsen is up top as the QB, directing traffic and making plays.

I agree, but there are also plenty of us that lie somewhere in between. Mrazek has had a rough stretch, no question, but it would be foolish to give up on him at this point in his career.

First off Lefty, you've mentioned this trade of our first for Trouba or Hamilton plus their first countless times now, and there's no way either Cheveldayoff or Treliving are that dumb. Maybe they would trade one of them without adding their first, for our first (if it's top 5) plus Ouellet or Sproul, but no way do they even think about your proposed trade. Also, there's zero chance Murray gives any thought to a Vanek (pending UFA) for Fowler (top 3 defenseman, just turned 25, with a great cap hit for another season) trade. The way I see it, if there's a trade you're thinking about, first think, would I do it from the other side... If the answer is no (which it most certainly should be in these two cases) you're probably right... Anyway, I think any upgrades to this team should happen in the offseason. We shouldn't even be thinking about upgrading at the deadline. The prices are always way too high, it's a sellers market. Vanek should be the one player that must be traded. If we want to re-sign him after the expansion draft, fine, but re-signing him before then would be a huge mistake. Vanek should easily fetch us a 1st or 2nd plus prospect the way he's currently producing. I'd also throw out other names, including Green (could fetch a 2nd, maybe more), Smith, Marchenko, Tatar (could be an attractive piece for a team looking for depth on the wing, cost controlled RFA), Ott and Miller (if a team is looking for super amazing shutdown / penalty killers...). If any team has any interest in Ericsson or Howard, we do what we can to make a deal work. If we have to eat a portion of the contract, we do it. People keep saying so and so is untradeable, but if the Leafs have proven anything over the past few years, it's that no player or contract is untradeable. Although, I do think either of those trades would have to wait until the offseason, and I don't have much confidence that Holland could pull it off. Not because they're untradeable, but Holland may not be willing to sell low on such "valuable pieces" to this team...

If there was another penalty called, we would have been down 5 on 3. So while a team can't play with less than 3, the other team can play with up to 5 if there are two or more penalties called against. Terrible missed call on DeKeyser's clear attempt though. That goal should have never happened the way it did. Should have never got to that point anyway. Oh well... The Mrazek hate is even more annoying than the Franzen hate a few years back. Mrazek played great last night and had zero support in front of him. But sure, blame the goalie. Anyone who blames Mrazek in that game, will not convince me they watched the game. You looked at the box scores and came here to b**** that Mrazek sucks...

Or insert Jurco...

4th line looks great!

If Holland tries to extend Vanek, his best trading chip to help the team beyond this season, he is an idiot. If he tries to trade Jurco when his value is at an all time low, he is an idiot...

Yup, because that's exactly what I was referring to...

I edited long before you responded... Keep trolling though. Looks good on you.

Sure, let's base an opinion on who is better based on Blashill's usage. Rock solid logic there... Ericsson is better than Ouellet and Glendening is better than Athanasiou, right? Anyway, I'm done with this back and forth with you 9, if you want to continue, by all means...

You are aware who is starting tonight right? Blash is just going with the hot hand, so if Mrazek continues to play well, like he did last game, he will continue to get starts... making him the starter once again...

His advanced stats have always shown that. This is the first year, his underlying numbers have been down, and they're still far from bad, despite the injuries. He absolutely does bring a dimension to the team, one that no other player currently does, with the exception of maybe Ouellet. He plays with an edge, can move the puck up ice and skates exceptionally well. In saying that, I absolutely would trade him if the right deal came along. But to compare him to Marchenko? Give me a f***ing break. They're "exactly the same"? Haha whatever. Anyway, back to Mrazek... Trading him would be a mistake. You disagree? Cool. On a really good team, he may slide down to the number 5 slot, but on most teams, he is a top 4 in my opinion.

Smith still hasn't put up the points I (or anyone else) expected him to, but he still drives possession, can skate and move the puck really well, and plays with an edge. He's a solid top 4 defenseman. Mrazek has proven that he can be a top goaltender in this league, and he will again in time. He's going through a rough stretch right now, but will soon climb out of it I'm sure.

Yeah, the only way I have any interest in a pending UFA like Shattenkirk, is if we're dumping a Howard or Ericsson, which isn't going to happen...

This.

Why would we give up anything of significance for a pending UFA that can and possibly would walk this summer? He would be one of the few big names in free agency this year, and Is likely looking to get paid. More than we could likely afford, unless we offload Howard and / or Ericsson or something. Anyway, it's a hard pass for me, and hopefully Holland stays away from any rentals. We need to either sell or stand pat, buying shouldn't be an option for this team...

No thanks! I can see him ending up in Boston or New York. Why would Anaheim want him? They need offense, not defense... Colorado? Seriously? What would a team dead last want with a rental?

Hahaha

What skill set? Sorry, but I just don't see it. Never have with Marchenko. He's decent in the defensive zone, that's it. Also, size is useless unless you use it to your advantage. Marchenko doesn't. I see Alexey Marchenko as the defense version of Drew Miller. Way over valued for his defensive play, that really isn't that good, and is terrible at generating offense...

For sure. Within a week Jurco will be in the lineup and Ericsson will be healthy scratched...

You of all people want to waive Smith and lose him for nothing when we can easily trade him and get a decent return? You don't want to waive a Nestrasil type player that has little to no value, but want to waive Smith who still has quite a bit of value? By the way, Smith >>> Marchenko and it's not even close, and I'd even argue Ericsson > Marchenko... Marchenko is a less physical version of Ericsson. Big, slow, defensive defenseman with little to no offensive instincts, that refuses to use his size to his advantage...

Exactly the pairs I'd like to see, posted the exact same thing a few days ago. Three pairs that can skate and move the puck... What a concept...

This. I feel like ChristopherReevesLegs level of hate for Mrazek right now, is on par with a past user... number9's hate for Brendan Smith... Maybe it's because he's being hyped so much, the same way Smith was back then, but I really don't get why you would be so adamant on giving up on a player with such a high ceiling... Mrazek is still the goalie of the future, despite his struggles. He will find his game again and be a very good, possibly great starter for us for many years. People seem to forget that Petr is still just 24 (25 next month) years old. How old was Jimmy when he made the Wings full time? 24 or 25 wasn't he? Mrazek will be fine. I still say we trade Howard if it all possible, and go into next season with Mrazek and Coreau. Very good tandem in my opinion. I agree. The only way I'm okay with a late 2nd for Vanek, is if a decent prospect is coming along with it...