Comments on: Who takes Wellwoods Spot?

By: FarFromFreedom

FarFromFreedom — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 21:05:04 +0000

My opinion .. Johnny Pohl! this guy was giving a shot late last season and finished the year with 26 points in 47 games. he had a rough start simply because he was playing 4th line minutes lucky to hit the 9min mark .. then started playing 13 minutes a night and produced. He's definatly deserved it so far in pre-season having 5 points and 2 goals in 4 games. Now i know stats in preseason means nothing but this guy has impressed me.

By: BLUE_AND_WHITE

BLUE_AND_WHITE — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 16:55:22 +0000

one word: everybody.

mark my wards, 10 gam4es into the season at least 4 guys will have played 2nd line center.

By: Hoondog2

Hoondog2 — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 13:38:32 +0000

I am usually a big fan of McCreary, but there were some bad calls (noncalls) in that game. Hopefully preseason is just an adjustment for the officials as well as players.

By: the_word

the_word — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 10:28:18 +0000

I think the best option in terms of winning games is putting Antropov at center on the 2nd line, maybe between Poni and Steen. Antropov did have a really good season under Quinn as the second line center so he the most has LNH experience at the position outside of Sundin. If he plays well, he could even force Wellwood to the wing when he returns (I think Blake - Sundin - Wellwood would be worth taking a look at).

If the Leafs are going to evaluate their talent, then give the spot to Steen. Whether or not Steen has earned it, he needs to play a bigger role with the team this year, to see if he'll sink or swim.

By: 92-93

92-93 — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 10:07:14 +0000

right now the lines should be:

Blake---Sundin---Antropov

Poni-----Steen----Tucker

Kilger----Stajan----Gamache

Battaglia---Pohl----Devereaux

[Salamanien or Newbury]

Bell - suspended

Wellwood - injured

Tlusty or Williams = the first to be called up

oh, as for last night's game - thankfully it was just a preseason game ... but you look at this:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/apphoto/photo?sportId=90&photoId=1694095

or you look at the Sundin goal that didn't count and you hope that all of these crummy calls are done and over with in the preseason.

the photo of McCabe is as blatant a hit from behind and leaving your feet to hit as there can be.

Sundin did no kicking motion - simply a redirection and the rules allow for that.

Leafs win 4-3 (possibly more with the boarding call on Neil that was never called).

but again, thankfully, this is just a preseason game.

Tlusty is impressing me and surprising me more and more.

By: I-BE-LEAF

I-BE-LEAF — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 09:52:06 +0000

foot infection

By: phat_cat

phat_cat — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 09:19:57 +0000

Just a question, but I have watched every pre-season game of the leafs so far and deveraux has been no where to be found. Is he even still a part of this team?

By: Hoondog2

Hoondog2 — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 17:16:05 +0000

Yeah, agreed about Devereaux.

By: mojo19

mojo19 — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:53:06 +0000

Looks good hoondog. I have to say that Devereux should not be in the Dev's/Pohl/Battaglia etc. category. He's on the team for sure.

And I like Tlusty too, if Maurice decides not to put him in there I was reading he was considering moving Kilger over to centre that line temporarily saying that "Kilger plays his best hockey with Tucker." Kilgers comments to this kind of bothered me though because he said when he plays centre he doesn't forecheck the same way, and I love the way Chad forechecks.

Here's my opening day line up:

Blake - Sundin - Antropov
Poni - Steen - Tucker
Dev's - Stajan - Gamache
Kilger - Pohl - Salmelainen/Battaglia

I'd like to see Steen get a lot of ice time this year and have a good year.

By: Carlton60

Carlton60 — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:13:21 +0000

My initial response would be Chad Kilger - he's not flashy but he is one of the Leafs most dependable 5-on-5 five players. Lines would look like this:

Antropov / Sundin / Blake
Ponikarovsky / Kilger / Tucker
Steen / Stajan / Devereaux
Belak / Pohl / Battaglia

Another option would be Antropov at centre on the second line, although this would create some really odd line combinations. Lines might look something like this:

Ponikaroksy / Sundin / Blake
Kilger / Antropov / Tucker
Steen / Stajan / Devereaux
Belak / Pohl / Battaglia

Wellwood's absence could also create an opportunity for Steen or Stajan to move up to the second line, but I have a hunch that Devereaux might turn out to be a hidden gem...