"There is at least the potential"..........come on.
- James_Tanner

Is there at least potential? Says who? You

It is possible what u see is what u get no? No where does it say he has to get better

Is there at least potential? Says who? You

It is possible what u see is what u get no? No where does it say he has to get better
- rinaldo

He played ok for the Leafs, just didn't seem to fit in Babs style.

Scored same points/60 as Kadri from 2014-2016 5v5

They should get rid of the older players and throw more rookies in. Even if they are not ready. Sounds like the Oilers way to rebuild. The Yotes have the same amount of wins as the Leafs. And you talk about how good the Leafs are doing in every other blog. I know it's all luck anyway!

james i must admit i was a little suprised and disappointed that you didn't pull out your nerd boner for nino in your blog.. isn't he a analytic swiss god for # pushers
- gopherwildfan

I am a huge fan of Nino and he's got, what, a ppg for about 12 games now? He's doing good for me in my pool. And he's a defensive presence too. Love that guy.

Pretty crazy that the Wild picked up two core pieces for Cal Clutterbuck and a third round pick (DD).

Gardiner is not a fast skater...smooth yes, a little Wiley....but I wouldn't call him fast.

Faster then Franson for sure
- Garnie

Gardiner is one of the better skaters in the NHL. Are you sure we're talking about the same guy?

Is there at least potential? Says who? You

It is possible what u see is what u get no? No where does it say he has to get better
- rinaldo

It doesn't say that anywhere. But apparently you don't understand probabilities.

Anyone would agree that a player who puts up the rate stats that Holland did in Toronto has at least the chance to become something better. Hell, ignore the stats, he barely played and when he did, it was clear he was decent. So given more ice time and a chance, is the probability that he will improve zero? Of course not.

Therefore, you're wrong and arguing with me about something ridiculous.

They should get rid of the older players and throw more rookies in. Even if they are not ready. Sounds like the Oilers way to rebuild. The Yotes have the same amount of wins as the Leafs. And you talk about how good the Leafs are doing in every other blog. I know it's all luck anyway!
- Gomey

There is nothing else you could write that would make me respect your opinion less.

However, it is also annoying that you aren't listening to what I am saying, but rather taking the broadest and dumbest possible interpretation of it. As I have said countless times, you need to put rookies in a situation to succeed and you need to have a team that spans all age groups if you want to be successful.

I don't think playing all four of your young players among the least icetime on the team is going to accomplish that. And, considering the results literally could not be any worse (ignoring goaltending here for a second) what is the problem with giving guys who've already earned at least a shot at the NHL a chance to succeed?

It is like I am bashing my head into the wall here. It's like I showed you 50 years of proof that trickle down economics is a scam and you still ran on that platform and got elected.

I'm all about patience, but I don't see how playing a 35 and a 40 year old on your power-play when you're losing anyways is good for the development of players.

Confidence gets built from success. These guys already earned their way to the NHL, so why not put them in positions to succeed? No one is saying match them up against Crosby - if anything that's what they should be using their old guys for , sacrifice against the best players. At least at home.
- James_Tanner

A trend I have especially noticed in the last decade or so is that if your team has a bunch of up and coming young guys and you are rebuilding, you need a coach that has that mind set.

What happened in Edmonton before Todd showed up?! The leafs smartly picked up Babs, home run right there. The Wild had Yeo, and he did a fairly good job with their young guys. I guess what I'm getting at is I don't think the Yotes have the right coach for the job. Period. And until they send Tippett packing, you guys are effectively chasing your own tails...

Gardiner is one of the better skaters in the NHL. Are you sure we're talking about the same guy?
- James_Tanner

Smooth and speed are different...smooth for sure but he's not fast as you may think he is...gets beat to the puck lots. It's not a bad thing nor do I think he's the slowest...just don't think he's faster than the avg NHL player or should I say he wouldn't be ranked with the speediest of players.

I am a huge fan of Nino and he's got, what, a ppg for about 12 games now? He's doing good for me in my pool. And he's a defensive presence too. Love that guy.

Pretty crazy that the Wild picked up two core pieces for Cal Clutterbuck and a third round pick (DD).
- James_Tanner

yeah it's taken a year longer than i would have liked but it looks like nino and coyle are finally comfortable in the nhl.. outside of granlund & koivu the whole core is other teams first rnd picks

Yet another pure garbage article by a pure garbage "blogger" good one James.

Yet another pure garbage article by a pure garbage "blogger" good one James.
- jmichael7753

If you have constructive criticism to add to the forum, great, talk some hockey.

If your going to act like human garbage, keep your comments to yourself.

If you have constructive criticism to add to the forum, great, talk some hockey.

If your going to act like human garbage, keep your comments to yourself.
- Flamin_Irishmin

You're*

There is nothing else you could write that would make me respect your opinion less.

However, it is also annoying that you aren't listening to what I am saying, but rather taking the broadest and dumbest possible interpretation of it. As I have said countless times, you need to put rookies in a situation to succeed and you need to have a team that spans all age groups if you want to be successful.

I don't think playing all four of your young players among the least icetime on the team is going to accomplish that. And, considering the results literally could not be any worse (ignoring goaltending here for a second) what is the problem with giving guys who've already earned at least a shot at the NHL a chance to succeed?

It is like I am bashing my head into the wall here. It's like I showed you 50 years of proof that trickle down economics is a scam and you still ran on that platform and got elected.
- James_Tanner

How have the young guys not had a chance to succeed? When Duclair is on the ice he looks like crap! Strome looked like crap! The Yotes have ten young players on the team. How many more do you want? And If you were ever right about anything, I would respect your opinion. But you have not been right, ever. It's very frustrating that you think, bringing up more rookies or playing the ones that haven't been good at all is your answer! Play them more and destroy their confidence. Like I said, The Oilers tried this for years. How did that work out? But then again you think they are going to make the playoffs. And what proof have you provided other than your opinion, that more ice time for rookies who aren't playing well is a good idea? Hey coach Tanner the rookies are playing like crap what should we do? Give them more ice time of course.

How have the young guys not had a chance to succeed? When Duclair is on the ice he looks like crap! Strome looked like crap! The Yotes have ten young players on the team. How many more do you want? And If you were ever right about anything, I would respect your opinion. But you have not been right, ever. It's very frustrating that you think, bringing up more rookies or playing the ones that haven't been good at all is your answer! Play them more and destroy their confidence. Like I said, The Oilers tried this for years. How did that work out? But then again you think they are going to make the playoffs. And what proof have you provided other than your opinion, that more ice time for rookies who aren't playing well is a good idea? Hey coach Tanner the rookies are playing like crap what should we do? Give them more ice time of course.
- Gomey

This.

Gardiner is one of the better skaters in the NHL. Are you sure we're talking about the same guy?
- James_Tanner

Gardiner wouldn't be top 4 on the Penguins and I'm sure he's barely making top 3 on most teams so that maybe puts him in the top hundred for dmen.

yeah it's taken a year longer than i would have liked but it looks like nino and coyle are finally comfortable in the nhl.. outside of granlund & koivu the whole core is other teams first rnd picks
- gopherwildfan

So good they were in fact traded away.

Gardiner wouldn't be top 4 on the Penguins and I'm sure he's barely making top 3 on most teams so that maybe puts him in the top hundred for dmen.
- Dcoms

After Letang, Gardiner would be the Penguins best defenseman.

After Letang, Gardiner would be the Penguins best defenseman.
- James_Tanner

This may be true, but he was horrendous last night. Him and Carrick pretty much handed the Pens the game....the Leafs got lucky which is nice for a change.

It's not Tippetts fault that his GM has given him very little to work with. Scott Bowman would miss the playoffs with this group. I have them behind Carolina, Buffalo, Toronto, Colorado, Calgary, and Edmonton in regards to taking the next step, and making the playoffs.

After Letang, Gardiner would be the Penguins best defenseman.
- James_Tanner

This may be true, but he was horrendous last night. Him and Carrick pretty much handed the Pens the game....the Leafs got lucky which is nice for a change.
- Garnie

Now I know you're just trolling. You might remember the guy who scored the winning goal.

Toronto dusted the Penguins last night, putting 50 shots on Fleury/Murray and attempting over 80. In fact, whenever people say the Leafs aren't going to make the Playoffs, you can point to their absolute domination of the best team in hockey as proof that they will.

Gardiner's CF% last night was like 62.......I can't even comprehend the post you just made.

- jimi james

If you think that's funny, you might find it hilarious that I don't even consider Letang that much better than Gardiner. Certainly Gardiner is among a handful of players so far this year who should get consideration for the Norris.

It's not Tippetts fault that his GM has given him very little to work with. Scott Bowman would miss the playoffs with this group. I have them behind Carolina, Buffalo, Toronto, Colorado, Calgary, and Edmonton in regards to taking the next step, and making the playoffs.
- shoreorrpark

You're not wrong, but the GM you should be blaming is Don Maloney, not the current one. The Coyotes are in the middle of a rebuild and their record doesn't matter. I do however think that the coach could utilize his rookies a little bit better.

For instance, a 35 year old gets the most PP time. Why not give that to young players? When you're gonna lose anyways?

You're not wrong, but the GM you should be blaming is Don Maloney, not the current one. The Coyotes are in the middle of a rebuild and their record doesn't matter. I do however think that the coach could utilize his rookies a little bit better.

For instance, a 35 year old gets the most PP time. Why not give that to young players? When you're gonna lose anyways?
- James_Tanner

Let the vets handle the tough assignments while the rookies struggle with accountability and get fed PP time regardless of merit.

Lets call it the Yakupov System.

On a more serious note: pro Coaches have a reason for not doing that. That's no way to develop a player.