Been hoping for years the Leafs got Kase, hopefully its not too late and he can contribute like he did in Anaheim
- senstroll

If he can stay healthy, he can contribute for sure.

It's a big IF though.

I think it is a preference, not a requirement.

I always envisioned a shutdown C as being someone who is positionally sound. Being a fast skater is a good tool when you find yourself on the wrong side of the puck. I thought shutdown guys generally stay on the right side of the puck.
- Leafs43

I think you need to have some footspeed and be an above average skater to be an elite shutdown player -- especially in today's NHL. 🤷

There's a good article in The Athletic today.

The short points:
- Dubas has been chasing him for years;
- He's All D all the time ...loves the role;
- He's a work-out beast (pic of his wife working out too ..hawt ..and her thighs are bigger than mine ..she'd kick our collective asses);
- Stats show he's great at DZone and getting puck into OZone;
- Going to be used heavily in that role.

“My goal is to shut down the best players in the NHL,” Kampf said.
- The Law

People are quick to chirp the contract, but Danault got how many million for how many years after how long of being a good shutdown guy?

Kampf will be a bargain if he can hit that level.

People are quick to chirp the contract, but Danault got how many million for how many years after how long of being a good shutdown guy?

Kampf will be a bargain if he can hit that level.
- joel878

5.5M for 6 years after being a top shutdown guy for 3 years.

But Kampf isn't as good as Danault.

And Danault is now overpaid.

5.5M for 6 years after being a top shutdown guy for 3 years.

But Kampf isn't as good as Danault.

And Danault is now overpaid.
- Scabeh

Now?

Now?
- bobbyisno1

Loved him at 3.085M.

I've been crying for some better 'roles' for the lineup and some line matching. Keefe seems more intent on doing it than Babs.

I grew up on Berg-Zezel-Osborne so I want to see a line that can defend the DZ, and grind the boards in the OZ. I think they're going to try. We haven't had a real dedicated checking line in forever. I guess Tucker-Green-Corson during the Sundin years was pretty good. They weren't quite so much defensive as they were frustrating to play against.

Give me a 4th line that can bring some intangibles like energy and a little scoring. Spezza, Simmonds and maybe Bunting might be nice.
- The Law

Agreed. A proper shutdown line and an energy line to balance out two strong scoring lines seems like the best strategy for this team.

Looking forward to seeing Kampf on the PK as well. The Leafs were near the bottom of the pack in the NHL (and last in the North!) on the PK so it would be nice to see them have a bit more success on that front.

5.5M for 6 years after being a top shutdown guy for 3 years.

But Kampf isn't as good as Danault.

And Danault is now overpaid.
- Scabeh

Habs are good at developing this type of player. Danault is a big overpay, probably more of an overpay than Hyman.

I think you need to have some footspeed and be an above average skater to be an elite shutdown player -- especially in today's NHL. 🤷
- mjones242

The Bobby Holik types went the way of the dinosaur..

What can it help? I’ve seen almost every game for the last 10 years.

Not sure I’m going to see much uplifting.

I ducking sauntered around in my underwear for a full day with a sick stomach after the 4-1 debacle against the Bruins. 🥺
- Garnie

i chucked my leaf bowl out into the yard
lmfaooooooooo 🤣😭

Habs are good at developing this type of player. Danault is a big overpay, probably more of an overpay than Hyman.
- winsix

It's mostly by lack of having top offensive players on the roster.

But yeah, going back to... the 80's, we've always had a guy who was great at facing the best players from other teams. Gainey, Carbo, Juneau, Plekanec, Danault....

Evans now? Let's hope so.

5.5M for 6 years after being a top shutdown guy for 3 years.

But Kampf isn't as good as Danault.

And Danault is now overpaid.
- Scabeh

4.5M I think would have been a fair number. He's a perennial Selke candidate and he did a marvelous job last post-season against some exceptional players.

5.5M though? Ehh...

The Bobby Holik types went the way of the dinosaur..
- PatC80

Holik was a severely underappreciated player. Sort of a proto-Bergeron.

Oh, I'm aware! I just mean that in terms of general effectiveness, Marner expends a lot of energy in the defensive zone at 5v5 accomplishing little. I don't feel he flushes the puck, wins battles or forces the play. Often times he's out of position as the right winger because he's chasing the play when he should be supporting his defensemen on the wall (that said it could be Keefe's D-zone system). I'm not saying Willy is much better, but I don't mistake his defensive inaction of not caring - it's what you're supposed to do when you're the supporting winger on the wall to enable a breakout.

For the record, when I commented that Willy was getting better, last year - especially later in the year - he was getting back in the D-zone in a timely fashion when he was the high forward. He was applying appropriate backchecking and even retrieving pucks. Again, because he has always done it so infrequently or so poorly, it's more noticeable when he DOES it. He'll need to do it consistently in order to change opinions.
- Monkeypunk

I’m cheering and watching. We’ll go back and forth once the real games commence.

People are quick to chirp the contract, but Danault got how many million for how many years after how long of being a good shutdown guy?

Kampf will be a bargain if he can hit that level.
- joel878

I am convinced the Leaf series got him multiple millions more in total dollars.

There were a lot of eyes on the series, and he shut down two pretty good players.

It's mostly by lack of having top offensive players on the roster.

But yeah, going back to... the 80's, we've always had a guy who was great at facing the best players from other teams. Gainey, Carbo, Juneau, Plekanec, Danault....

Evans now? Let's hope so.
- Scabeh

Is there any overreaction going on due to KK's game last night?

Sandin spent the summer training with the Nylander bros

When are we trading for Alex?🤨
- mr.sir

How to avoid contact 101?



I kid I kid….

Is there any overreaction going on due to KK's game last night?
- RickJames77

Not really. It's only one preseason game.

Give him a few weeks and a strong start next to Trochek and Teuravainen and then we'll talk.

Not really. It's only one preseason game.

Give him a few weeks and a strong start next to Trochek and Teuravainen and then we'll talk.

- Scabeh

That's why I used the word overreaction, because it's a god damn preseason game, but we all know how people are

That's why I used the word overreaction, because it's a god damn preseason game, but we all know how people are
- RickJames77

Oh you can bet I've seen bullpoop articles on the internet named "KK showing Carolina was right in first preseason game" already.

i chucked my leaf bowl out into the yard
lmfaooooooooo 🤣😭
- Skalapy

Holik was a severely underappreciated player. Sort of a proto-Bergeron.
- mjones242

yeah, he was... Also, he wasn't the fastest skater, but was a mean SOB

There's a good article in The Athletic today.

The short points:
- Dubas has been chasing him for years;
- He's All D all the time ...loves the role;
- He's a work-out beast (pic of his wife working out too ..hawt ..and her thighs are bigger than mine ..she'd kick our collective asses);
- Stats show he's great at DZone and getting puck into OZone;
- Going to be used heavily in that role.

“My goal is to shut down the best players in the NHL,” Kampf said.
- The Law

“Kampf” is German for “fight” so that’s a great sign 👍🏿

Who plays on Kampf's line? Will it be Engvall and Mikheyev or Kase and Ritchie?
- PatC80

I don't see Ritchie in a shut down role. Kerfoot, Mikky or Kase.

Has to be one of the understatements of the year. Biggio has upside for sure, but likely has more value as a utility extra player for the Jays. He's not good enough to be an every day infielder on this squad. Not defensively and not with his bat. And no player can replace Semien
- winsix

There's some recency bias in this. I think Biggio is still developing and getting better - he's 26 years old. I am giving him a massive break for this season, because he has been hurt all season, so I don't count the year. Next year is sort of his make-or-break year, though in terms of whether he can establish himself as a regular. Look at these comparisons:

Biggio when he was 24 had an OBP of .364 with an OPS of .793 and a WAR of 3.0 (in a 500 AB season, he projected to 23 HR); as a 2B, he basically had 1 run saved above average, so he was marginally above average.

Biggio when he was 25 had an OBP of .375 with an OPS of .807 and a WAR of 2.0 (in a 500 AB season, he projected to 18 HR); as a 2B, he basically had 2 runs saved above average, so he was marginally above average.

Semien when he was 24 had an OBP of .310 with an OPS of .715 and a WAR of 1.7 (in a 500 AB season, he projected to 13 HR); as a SS, he basically had -8 Runs saved against average, which was well below average.

Semien when he was 25 had an OBP of .300 with an OPS of .735 and a WAR of 3.5 (in a 500 AB season, he projected to 24 HR); as a SS, he basically had 1 run saved above average, so he was marginally above average.


In a head-to-head, age-for-age comparison, Biggio doesn't look that bad compared to the 31 year old guy who is about to get paid $25m / year for at least 6 years.