It's not BECAUSE they slumped. Secondary scoring has been a huge issue all year. But they were so hot all year that splitting them would have been stupid.

now that they cooled off a little, it gives the opportunity to try something new to try and spark the other lines.

If it was 3 weeks ago when they were getting 2 pts a game each, ya, dumb move. But right now, something needs to be done and quick. If they lose another 2 in a row, it's over.
- Big_Lightnin

I don't think it is punishment, I think it is to get the other going.

How many did they have through the first 40?


(frank) man.. your hard on your players.
- Cherry--Skoal

holy (frank)..

the team isnt scoring because oppostion figured out that if you take kessel and lupul out of the game the leafs have no attack

the best defenders and checking lines are being put on them now.. they are getting smothered.. the only reason they scored last night was because a rookie diefenseman pinched for ottawa and (frank)ed up giving lupul and kessel a 2 on 1...

it wasnt because of anything they did

ya I never said I love that line
I like Lupul -Connolly-Kadri. Would rather have seen more shuffling and put Kulemin with Kessel and get him off the snide that way.

Not taking anything away from Lupul, but he gets a lot of open looks cause Kessel draws 2 defenders and the goalie's attention then slips a pass, like last night. Could be good for Kulemin.

Kessel's line is going to get worked physically
- Big_Lightnin

there is an easy fix.

lupul - Grabo - Phil


load up on the first line....and full out attack.

I don't think it is punishment, I think it is to get the other going.
- stevecarpetman

nothing in my post says it's punishment. just saying that cooling off presents the opportunity to split them up. Splitting them when red hot would have been silly. they are not red hot anymore.

other lines are ice cold. I like the juggling. Not wild about Kessel's line though, but concept is worth a shot

holy (frank)..

the team isnt scoring because oppostion figured out that if you take kessel and lupul out of the game the leafs have no attack

the best defenders and checking lines are being put on them now.. they are getting smothered.. the only reason they scored last night was because a rookie diefenseman pinched for ottawa and (frank)ed up giving lupul and kessel a 2 on 1...

it wasnt because of anything they did
- Dozzer

ahhh lupul had nothing to do with rocketing that puck up under the bar. in a hurry

Proof is the 92-93 Leafs and Gretzky's non-call. Montreal in / Toronto out

Screw what Canadians want we need to market the best player in the NHL on an American team in one of the biggest cities in the U.S.
- stevecarpetman

i also dont believe this either..

non calls happen.. they go both ways.. and even if wayne was penalized there is no guarantee the leafs score

i am seriously not the guy to talk to about this though lol.. my cousin was on the kings that year

there is an easy fix.

lupul - Grabo - Phil


load up on the first line....and full out attack.
- Cherry--Skoal

Sounds great on paper, but Grabo and Kessel don't click well, they both want the puck, go to similar spots on the ice. Not a good combination. They get in each others way too much.

Sounds great on paper, but Grabo and Kessel don't click well, they both want the puck, go to similar spots on the ice. Not a good combination. They get in each others way too much.
- Big_Lightnin

grabo is stronger along the boards than any other centerman though.

i'd say it is worth a shot.....i'd do that before doing the opposite, which is what ron did.

ahhh lupul had nothing to do with rocketing that puck up under the bar. in a hurry
- Cherry--Skoal

dude wide open net. Sure, he hit the bar and it looked awesome, but he could've bunted it and it was still a goal.

i also dont believe this either..

non calls happen.. they go both ways.. and even if wayne was penalized there is no guarantee the leafs score

i am seriously not the guy to talk to about this though lol.. my cousin was on the kings that year
- Dozzer

Was it Mark Hardy?

wow..

well if the leafs are completely relying on kessel and lupul to score together they have zero business calling themselves a playoff team.
- Dozzer

They don't have any business calling themselves a playoff team. If it weren't for knuckle heads for fans, they wouldn't have any business period.

dude wide open net. Sure, he hit the bar and it looked awesome, but he could've bunted it and it was still a goal.
- Big_Lightnin

i know. but to say the two did nothing to socre a goal..is well. dumb.

grabo is stronger along the boards than any other centerman though.

i'd say it is worth a shot.....i'd do that before doing the opposite, which is what ron did.
- Cherry--Skoal

oh I agree, but the issue is Grabo and Kessel want the puck in the same spot on the ice, like all the time.

They've tried them together in practice and on the PP and it just doesn't work. They're games are just not complimentary at all.

ahhh lupul had nothing to do with rocketing that puck up under the bar. in a hurry
- Cherry--Skoal

not sure how this reinforces your point

lupul wont forget how to shoot on another line

i know. but to say the two did nothing to socre a goal..is well. dumb.
- Cherry--Skoal

he was exagerating. Point was the goal was much more a result of errors by the Sens rather than the awesomeness that is Kessel and Lupul

better?

Was it Mark Hardy?


- senstroll

lol no.. warren rychel.. gm of the spits now

They don't have any business calling themselves a playoff team. If it weren't for knuckle heads for fans, they wouldn't have any business period.
- A_Tree

i agree, there are a lot of friggin homers. but this teamhas been in a playoff spot for 75%-80% of the season.


regardless wether it be 6-7-8. they still have a held a spot...that's fact

is it all for not. probabaly.

We're gonna live or die with this team this year. I don't see any deals of any significance getting done by the deadline. Burke wants to deal, but I get the feeling that he's starved for a trade partner. Deals of any impact whatsoever are going to get done in the offseason.

Also, we need to give Reimer the next stretch of games in order for him to get his timing back. Ultimatley our sucess will ride on him, so sitting him for any length of time will make his play(or any other goalie for that matter) suffer. Look at Anderson, he was off to a bad start, they rode him anyway, and now he's hotter than a pistol. I've never been one to split goaltender duties. Hopefully the our fans, and media can give him the space and support while he rounds into form.

maybe could also substitute keywords "good teams" with well coached
- Popcorn Kid

It's less a couching issue and more a lousy-player(s) issue.

because teams have figured out how to stop them.

Look at their numbers the past month and a half.

No one expected them to keep the numbers up, but I don't see anything wrong with it.
- leafs_wingp

So I leave for a bit and now we are breaking up one of the top 2 - 3 forward pairings in the league?
oh gawd.

Was it Mark Hardy?


- senstroll

oh lord

So I leave for a bit and now we are breaking up the one of the top 2 - 3 forward pairings in the league?
oh gawd.
- Fakepartofme

see the new D pairings


*hides*

oh I agree, but the issue is Grabo and Kessel want the puck in the same spot on the ice, like all the time.

They've tried them together in practice and on the PP and it just doesn't work. They're games are just not complimentary at all.
- Big_Lightnin

well lets see how it unfolds. but i predict that breaking up the big two...is not going to pan out. Hope im wrong.

see the new D pairings


*hides*
- Big_Lightnin

this is the equivalent to poking a rabid dog with a stick lol

i never did, but we will fall when we break these two up.


is it news to you that the only reason why we are half good is because of those 2?



now we break it up
- Cherry--Skoal

Not at all. We had a good season because some players decided to live up to their titles, while others rode their coat tails.