lol. Frattin isn't going to be ready come season start, so he'll most likely be in the AHL when he does return from injury.

What makes Kadri so special to put him in that spot over a proven 2nd line winger?

No way would MacArthur ever be on the 4th line. Never.
- jbold

funny, he was last year for a bit.

Fighters don't frighten anybody.
- AdamFrench

i call bullpoop

people do not take the same liberties with a team who has a heavyweight on the bench

its not like his 5min a game is a difference maker either

lol. Frattin isn't going to be ready come season start, so he'll most likely be in the AHL when he does return from injury.

What makes Kadri so special to put him in that spot over a proven 2nd line winger?

No way would MacArthur ever be on the 4th line. Never.
- jbold

yeah frattin wont be ready at the start, 100% not. im assuming connolly will be plugged in somewhere, we are paying the guy 5 mil afterall.

and kadri is the type of player who needs to play with skill, hes not a third line type player, and certainly not a 4th liner.

Think they, oh, maybe Orr will come off the bench and fight me.

And their 2nd thought is. "Nah, I'll just skate around him and turn down the fight. Im gonna hit this guy anyways".
- jbold

thats why the instigator rule is stupid head

lol. Frattin isn't going to be ready come season start, so he'll most likely be in the AHL when he does return from injury.

What makes Kadri so special to put him in that spot over a proven 2nd line winger?

No way would MacArthur ever be on the 4th line. Never.
- jbold

actually before the leafs mac was used primarily as a 3rd / 4th liner

i call bullpoop

people do not take the same liberties with a team who has a heavyweight on the bench

its not like his 5min a game is a difference maker either
- Dozzer

100% it has an impact.

i wish they took away the instigator rule.

and kadri is the type of player who needs to play with skill, hes not a third line type player, and certainly not a 4th liner.
- big_dion

But MacArthur is?

No. Kadri doesn't get the 2nd line wing position as long a MacArthur is on the team. its either 3rd line for Kadri or the AHL.

He's not taking a proven 2nd line wingers position, and that 2nd line winger isn't going to be played on the 4th line....

actually before the leafs mac was used primarily as a 3rd / 4th liner
- Dozzer

that he was, the leafs gave him a shot at top 6 minutes with Kulemin and Grabovski 2 years ago.

actually before the leafs mac was used primarily as a 3rd / 4th liner
- Dozzer

He was used on the 3rd line. Doesn't change the fact that he's a 2nd line winger now and has proved he should stay on that line..

Not be put on the 4th line because some unproven winger comes up and "should have" his spot...

i call bullpoop

people do not take the same liberties with a team who has a heavyweight on the bench

its not like his 5min a game is a difference maker either
- Dozzer

Mike Rupp was on the bench when Crosby got dropped, didn't stop anything. Fighters can't hit back since they are slow and have 3 minutes of ice-time, so why should I fear a guy who will not see any playing time and who I could just say "(frank) you I won't fight." If the fighter jumps him then he gets the instigator and the guy is laughing. Aka Kaleta/Avery/Lappierre who are the masters of this. How did the Habs do with George Laraque the best fighter in the league? Nobody would fight him so how is he protecting his team? The 80's and 90's are over.

But MacArthur is?

No. Kadri doesn't get the 2nd line wing position as long a MacArthur is on the team. its either 3rd line for Kadri or the AHL.

He's not taking a proven 2nd line wingers position, and that 2nd line winger isn't going to be played on the 4th line....
- jbold

for NHL 12 on xbox or in the real NHL?

So, Voracek signs a 4 year $17M deal.

He is a RW who was an RFA. point total max at this time is 50 pts.

He is making $4.25M/year

Does this not make Grabos $5.5 seem pretty damn reasonable, when he signed it as a UFA?
- mfreedman

Considering Grabovski had 51 pts last season and his highest season was 58, and the fact that Voracek is much younger than Grabovski, I'd say that the Voracek deal is a better one than G-BOVSKY.

i call bullpoop

people do not take the same liberties with a team who has a heavyweight on the bench

its not like his 5min a game is a difference maker either
- Dozzer

People took liberties at Kessel when Orr was on the team, though.

Orr doesn't frighten anyone, anymore.

for NHL 12 on xbox or in the real NHL?
- big_dion

Scared to answer my question? I see.

that he was, the leafs gave him a shot at top 6 minutes with Kulemin and Grabovski 2 years ago.
- big_dion

and he excelled.
I'm not his biggest fan but if you can get 20+ goals a year out of your second line LW and have him play pretty solid D....then he's not really an issue on the team.

He was used on the 3rd line. Doesn't change the fact that he's a 2nd line winger now and has proved he should stay on that line..

Not be put on the 4th line because some unproven winger comes up and "should have" his spot...
- jbold

"should have" or maybe he earns the spot?

mac is by no means a bad player, but kadri is the future, so if they can get him in a top 6 role and have him get the job done, why wouldnt they?

Mike Rupp was on the bench when Crosby got dropped, didn't stop anything. Fighters can't hit back since they are slow and have 3 minutes of ice-time, so why should I fear a guy who will not see any playing time and who I could just say "(frank) you I won't fight." If the fighter jumps him then he gets the instigator and the guy is laughing. Aka Kaleta/Avery/Lappierre who are the masters of this. How did the Habs do with George Laraque the best fighter in the league? Nobody would fight him so how is he protecting his team? The 80's and 90's are over.
- AdamFrench

Yup. And when you have tough guys in your top 6 taking liberties at other players, they can easily skate away and say "Im not fighting you, you goon".

Mike Rupp was on the bench when Crosby got dropped, didn't stop anything. Fighters can't hit back since they are slow and have 3 minutes of ice-time, so why should I fear a guy who will not see any playing time and who I could just say "(frank) you I won't fight." If the fighter jumps him then he gets the instigator and the guy is laughing. Aka Kaleta/Avery/Lappierre who are the masters of this. How did the Habs do with George Laraque the best fighter in the league? Nobody would fight him so how is he protecting his team? The 80's and 90's are over.
- AdamFrench

THE INSTIGATOR RULE IS STUPID HEAD!!

"should have" or maybe he earns the spot?

mac is by no means a bad player, but kadri is the future, so if they can get him in a top 6 role and have him get the job done, why wouldnt they?
- big_dion

Because that role is taken by a legit 2nd line winger. Kadri needs to EARN his way into the top 6.

By playing on the 3rd line.

If they can get him in the top 6 role, cool? But they can't, because Macarthur is there.

that he was, the leafs gave him a shot at top 6 minutes with Kulemin and Grabovski 2 years ago.
- big_dion

And he earned his spot. Kadri and Frattin will have to show that they're as consistant and better than MacArthur. Play him again, on the second line. If he continues to produce, package up either Kadri or Frattin. If not, trade him, if the offer seems sound. I think the way the Leafs are heading, this year, draft picks might be something that they may want to stockpile.

Considering Grabovski had 51 pts last season and his highest season was 58, and the fact that Voracek is much younger than Grabovski, I'd say that the Voracek deal is a better one than G-BOVSKY.
- Pecafan Fan

I agree...with the exception of the whole UFA RFA thing.

It does make Kessel's contract look fantastic though.

Scared to answer my question? I see.
- jbold

scared to answer? what i hurt your buddys feelings because he and i dont share the same views and you come in here and try and 1 up me?

lol give me a (frank)in break kid.

Because that role is taken by a legit 2nd line winger. Kadri needs to EARN his way into the top 6.

By playing on the 3rd line.
- jbold

this is dumb

the roles of the 3rd liner and second liner arent even close to the same thing

you really want kadri shutting down opposition top lines?

dumb.

scared to answer? what i hurt your buddys feelings because he and i dont share the same views and you come in here and try and 1 up me?

lol give me a (frank)in break kid.
- big_dion

Uh, what?

this is dumb

the roles of the 3rd liner and second liner arent even close to the same thing

you really want kadri shutting down opposition top lines?

dumb.
- Dozzer

You really want MacArthur playing on the 4th line?


dumb.