He's extremely weak on the puck and an abortion defensively. The power fwd label he somehow was given is a joke. That's why we made no effort to resign him. I don't think it's a bad move he may find some chemistry with someone and who knows after that but to say he's under rated isn't accurate. Quite the contrary.
- Cptmjl

He scored 64 points in in 79 games last year to finish 6 points behind team leader John Tavares and yet he receives an ungodly amount of criticism and ire from fans. I'd call that underrated.

OK, I had to read your comment a few times, to determine whether or not it was written in English. Still unsure, but I think I got the gist of it. I hope you're either 7 years old, or just moved here from Kazakhstan

Moving on...

Rielly is superior to Risto in all ways. All of them. Every single one

Zaitsev was leveraged as a top-pairing defender for Team Russia in the World Cup. He was far more valuable than Kulikov, and will continue to be so in the NHL. Better player all-around

You do understand why Matthews was chosen to play on the top line with McDavid, right? It wasn't due to "chemistry". They'd been playing on separate lines, so there was no way to accurately determine any pre-existing chemistry. Matthews was outplaying Eichel severely, so they promoted him. He should easily surpass Eichel's numbers from his first year. Eichel wasn't even nominated for the Calder as a rookie. Matthews is the projected favourite

Buffalo has a few nice pieces up front, but a lot of dead weight too. Lehner is a back-up goalie, and the defense is awful. Last place in the Atlantic. Sorry
- AxlRose91

Matthews might be better than Eichel but when the argument is that Matthews is projected to win the Calder and Eichel wasn't even nominated, that's brutal. When was the last time the first overall pick wasn't projected to have a good shot at the Calder. How many people projected Panarin to win the Calder last year and no one in the world projected Gostisbehere to be a finalist

There was no push to resign him by Snow. I'm not saying the guy is Moulson but he's completely overrated if anything. Like I said who knows maybe he'll find some chemistry with someone and who knows but let's not forget he played with one of the best centers in the league most of the time.
- Cptmjl

How's his skating/speed? Idk what style the NYI play, but maybe in Bylsma's up-tempo system he can keep his points up with his speed, if he has any.

He scored 64 points in in 79 games last year to finish 6 points behind team leader John Tavares and yet he receives an ungodly amount of criticism and ire from fans. I'd call that underrated.
- mjones242

He was also directly responsible for a ton of goals against and failed to get up for big games. He'll put up some points if he finds his groove with a new teammate but power forward he is not and he'll be on the ice for a lot of ga. That's the reason for the criticism

How's his skating/speed? Idk what style the NYI play, but maybe in Bylsma's up-tempo system he can keep his points up with his speed, if he has any.
- SDSabre

The few times I saw him play, he looked pretty fast for a guy his size.

Solid too, I know our friend from the Island doesn't seem to like him much but I do.

I've seen him take over a game all by himself and while playing with Tavares helps, I've seen him produce with other players as well.

If anything Okposo is overrated.
- Cptmjl

I guess we'll find out this year, though I'm not sure replacing Okposo with Ladd was the best idea either

How's his skating/speed? Idk what style the NYI play, but maybe in Bylsma's up-tempo system he can keep his points up with his speed, if he has any.
- SDSabre

He's not going to impress you with his speed. He's not slow but he's not going to amaze you with his speed either. Not really strong on his skates that's why islander fans have always laughed at the power forward label he somehow got.

I guess we'll find out this year, though I'm not sure replacing Okposo with Ladd was the best idea either
- mattmoulson

Why is that?

He was also directly responsible for a ton of goals against and failed to get up for big games. He'll put up some points if he finds his groove with a new teammate but power forward he is not and he'll be on the ice for a lot of ga. That's the reason for the criticism
- Cptmjl

So basically, he's a scoring winger who has been misrepresented as a "power forward". Fair enough.

If you believe he's the latter he's overrated but I would suggest that he's underrated as the former.

I'm not saying this guy is an all-star but I think he's unfairly maligned because people have miscast him into a role he was never meant to fulfill. He'll be just fine on Buffalo.

Why is that?
- Cptmjl

Because he's older and seemingly not as good and has a similar contract

I never in my days expected to see a Habs fan admit this, even after last season. Much respect for you sir.
- leafsfann

You havn't been paying attention then...
LOTS of Habs fans said this all last year.

So basically, he's a scoring winger who has been misrepresented as a "power forward". Fair enough.

If you believe he's the latter he's overrated but I would suggest that he's underrated as the former.

I'm not saying this guy is an all-star but I think he's unfairly maligned because people have miscast him into a role he was never meant to fulfill. He'll be just fine on Buffalo.
- mjones242

OK. I didn't say he wouldn't but he's overrated in the expectations I've read which was exactly what I was replying to in my post. The guy played with one of the best centers in the league and was anything but a power forward. If you want to split hairs and try to find some insult in my post knock yourself out. I was replying to a post that said he was underrated. I disagree after watching every game he's played since he's been in the league. Move on.

Because he's older and seemingly not as good and has a similar contract
- mattmoulson

Ladd is a more complete player who is actually a power forward. Our entire thread wanted to trade him straight up for Ladd not long ago. Funny how that worked out. Maybe a few years from now we'll see some wear and tear due to his style of play but that was a risk we were all willing to take for a more complete player. Not sure what "seemingly" means is that just assumption?

1. Tampa Bay
2. Florida
3. Montréal
4. Boston
5. Buffalo
6. Ottawa
7. Detroit
8. Toronto

Toronto is used for click bait, and/or Toronto fans are delusional. Rookies wont get them out of the basement this year.

I wasn't arguing over who's better (I personally havent' seen either guy play enough to have an opinion)....but in typical Axl fashion he makes a big huge blanket statement without actually looking at the facts.

perhaps rielly is better, but he's not better by much, and he's CERTAINLY not better in "every way"
- sensarmy_11

Blanket statements are my favourite kind of statements...

Facts, shmacts. Here's a fact for you: Ottawa has never won a cup. Neither has Buffalo. BAM!

Tampa
Montreal
Florida
Ottawa
Buffalo
Boston
Toronto
Detroit
- Aetherial

Florida
Tampa
Boston
Toronto







Buffalo
Ottawa
Detroit

Florida
Tampa
Boston
Toronto







Buffalo
Ottawa
Detroit
- James_Tanner

No Montreal?

No Montreal?
- SDSabre

You can tell alot of thought has been put into Tanner's list.

OK. I didn't say he wouldn't but he's overrated in the expectations I've read which was exactly what I was replying to in my post. The guy played with one of the best centers in the league and was anything but a power forward. If you want to split hairs and try to find some insult in my post knock yourself out. I was replying to a post that said he was underrated. I disagree after watching every game he's played since he's been in the league. Move on.
- Cptmjl

Sensitive much?

I stated he was underrated and you countered with him being overrated. It turns out that you think he's overrated in the role of "power forward". Fair enough. I think he's NOT a power forward but is a very decent scoring winger. In fact, he's an underrated scoring winger.

Maybe if you stopped thinking of him as a "power forward" you would recognize what kind of player he actually is.

But whatever. Moving on.

Sensitive much?

I stated he was underrated and you countered with him being overrated. It turns out that you think he's overrated in the role of "power forward". Fair enough. I think he's NOT a power forward but is a very decent scoring winger. In fact, he's an underrated scoring winger.

Maybe if you stopped thinking of him as a "power forward" you would recognize what kind of player he actually is.

But whatever. Moving on.
- mjones242

Agree to disagree.

Agree to disagree.
- Cptmjl

Sounds good!

Now can we talk about what Matt Martin might mean to the Leafs? Is he going to be a benefit or a distraction?

Sounds good!

Now can we talk about what Matt Martin might mean to the Leafs? Is he going to be a benefit or a distraction?
- mjones242

I don't think he'll be a distraction.

I do think he'll suck terribly because well... he's Matt Martin.

Sounds good!

Now can we talk about what Matt Martin might mean to the Leafs? Is he going to be a benefit or a distraction?
- mjones242

He's (frank)ing terrible jk

I was a big Martin fan. All heart played a clean game while leading the league in hits consecutive seasons. Gives it all most nights some fans questioned whether there's a place in the new nhl for Martin's type. I think there is and I think he'll be a great player for a team transitioning like the Leafs.

Ladd is a more complete player who is actually a power forward. Our entire thread wanted to trade him straight up for Ladd not long ago. Funny how that worked out. Maybe a few years from now we'll see some wear and tear due to his style of play but that was a risk we were all willing to take for a more complete player. Not sure what "seemingly" means is that just assumption?
- Cptmjl

Lads contract is Dustin Brown/Ryan Callahan 2.0

Lads contract is Dustin Brown/Ryan Callahan 2.0
- rangerdanger94

What I'm curious about is how you feel about Grabner being a Ranger? Is he a great player now that he's a Ranger?