Yeah but playing the percentages most of the time it's safer to go down cover the ice and centering possibility. There's only a handful of players in the league that can make that shot from there - additionally that's actually a signature move by JvR.
- Pixote Andolini

He had both 15 and 22 in the slot in front of him to negate the centering threat... I'm w/ Hammarby... the right play was probably staying on his feet, hugging the post.

without question
He can and certainly should improve his defensive play but I'm not sure how much he can really improve his puckhandling. You either have soft hands or you don't, its not something that can really be taught
- BiggE

True. While I do understand hockey is a game of mistakes and not everybody is gonna win a Selke, it would be nice to see gradual improvement over time -- though we are in the preseason, we all know

it was a nice, well placed shot. mason gave himself no chance to make the save if it was shot there. it's just become the automatic, go-to blocking technique in that situation with the puck below the circle. if mason positions himself so that his shoulder is blocking the corner, fine, but he didn't. i'd prefer the goalie to stay on his feet until he has to go down.
- hammarby31

Are you Craig Button?!?!!

craig button killing mason. exactly what i said. stay on your feet.

Are you Craig Button?!?!!
- Streit2ThePoint

yes. yes, i am.

yes. yes, i am.
- hammarby31

craig button killing mason. exactly what i said. stay on your feet.
- hammarby31

thanks craig

Are you Craig Button?!?!!
- Streit2ThePoint

Classic Button diarrhea of the mouth, he makes me thankful for the mute button

I hope Akeson isn't a slightly bigger version of Jon Sim.
- Pixote Andolini

Think he's got better hands and thinks the game better than Sim, but unfortunately for Akeson, Sim was a better skater at this point of their careers.

I think Akeson's biggest challenge is that it's just hard to make it if you are smaller, not as strong, and aren't an amazing skater. It just gets trickier to stick -- and remember, I always wanted the player to get a shot

I think it's fair to say that while he brings other things to the table, puckhandling and defense could see improvement
- AllInForFlyers

Yes, but that was really a simple fundamental play. A simple chip off the glass doesn't take great puckhandling. Instead he weakly banks it off the boards on the ice, and it's an easy keep in for Toronto.

JVR actually banked that puck in off of Mason's shoulder.

He had both 15 and 22 in the slot in front of him to negate the centering threat... I'm w/ Hammarby... the right play was probably staying on his feet, hugging the post.
- Tomahawk

It was a nice snipe by JvR, but Mason was down too soon. It's preseason, though, getting his first work in.

Lets not forget the Flyers are playing without G, Jake and Coburn while the Leafs are playing with most of their best players.

Lets not forget the Flyers are playing without G, Jake and Coburn while the Leafs are playing with most of their best players.
- PhillySportsGuy

So basically, one team is playing with around five NHLers and the other team is the Flyers.

So basically, one team is playing with around five NHLers and the other team is the Flyers.
- aflyerpower8

There are rules for pre season games that each team needs to have a certain minimum of NHL players.

There are rules for pre season games that each team needs to have a certain minimum of NHL players.
- MJL

I was joking about the Leaf's struggle to fill that quota with their roster.

Wayne Simmonds is without question my favourite player on this team. More so for his hard work and I made the mistake of saying guys like him, Hartnell and Knuble are not skilled players. What I should have said is, he doesn't have that level of skill Giroux has or Voracek has or even JvR like we just saw. On the JvR goal, I think we just saw one of the things Simmonds needs to work on. He just doesn't have the hands with the puck you'd like a top six forward to have.
- SuperSchennBros

I've been saying this for a while. If he could improve upon that part of the game he is a no doubt a top line winger in this league. I don't know how much a guy his age can still improve there but it would be huge for him if he could.

Only other knock I have on Simmonds is he sometimes goes full retard after whistles, just completely ignoring multiple warnings from refs and it costs us. If he's going to wear an A than I really want to see him show a little more restraint when possible.

I've been saying this for a while. If he could improve upon that part of the game he is a no doubt a top line winger in this league. I don't know have much a guy his age can still improve there but it would be huge for him if he could.

Only other knock I have on Simmonds is he sometimes goes full retard after whistles, just completely ignoring multiple warnings from refs and it costs us. If he's going to wear an A than I really want to see him show a little more restraint when possible.
- hereticpride

Like any player, he has his strengths and weaknesses. But last year he was tied for 22nd overall in goals. And he was tied for 12th among all RW with 60 points. There's 30 teams in the League. I think that makes him a top line Winger in this league.

Like any player, he has his strengths and weaknesses. But last year he was tied for 22nd overall in goals. And he was tied for 12th among all RW with 60 points. There's 30 teams in the League. I think that makes him a top line Winger in this league.
- MJL

There's no denying that. I just think his hands, or lack thereof, will keep him off top lines at 5 on 5.

There's no denying that. I just think his hands, or lack thereof, will keep him off top lines at 5 on 5.
- hereticpride

He's not much of an open-ice puck-carrier, but he's got the hands to make some real nifty moves in tight.

There's no denying that. I just think his hands, or lack thereof, will keep him off top lines at 5 on 5.
- hereticpride

Didn't stop Hartnell.

Morin!

Didn't stop Hartnell.
- Jsaquella

My wedding singer was just on The Voice. He didn't get chosen

There's no denying that. I just think his hands, or lack thereof, will keep him off top lines at 5 on 5.
- hereticpride

Simmonds isn't a puck carrier or a playmaker. But he's got some pretty good hands around the net.

My wedding singer was just on The Voice. He didn't get chosen
- PhillySportsGuy