There is simply no excuse for not being in game-shape. None.

I get that your timing will be off. Your skating will probably be rusty too, as skating with the Modo Juniors (or whom-the-frank-ever) won't be the same as NHL games.

But conditioning? No franking excuse.

Get Daddy Nylander to hire a personal trainer (full-time, one on one), and get him to work your franking arse off - every single franking day.

He should have arrived in the dressing room after his holdout as the fittest guy on the team - it shouldn't have even been close.
- Atomic Wedgie

It did seem like Melander enjoyed a bit too much of his Mom's home cooking when he was in Sweden. I assumed that he would be in far better shape - if I can make it to the gym almost every day then he can, too. As far as a trainer goes, that's a given - but I assume he had access to the full resources that the SEL team he was practising with had? They would have a full gym with - gasp - pro trainers.

Leafs have a good team. I believe they are 2nd in winning percentage...or 3rd. I haven’t checked in a few days.

Lots of time to improve and add at the deadline. And IMO when you are a contender and have 20+ million in deadline cap space over the Lighting and Caps where they have about 500k a piece...you will absolutely use that advantage.

I think people will be surprised with what Dubas does this deadline.
- Santo_44

Whatever Doobie does I still expect the avalanche of comments from the folks who think they know better.

It did seem like Melander enjoyed a bit too much of his Mom's home cooking when he was in Sweden. I assumed that he would be in far better shape - if I can make it to the gym almost every day then he can, too. As far as a trainer goes, that's a given - but I assume he had access to the full resources that the SEL team he was practising with had? They would have a full gym with - gasp - pro trainers.
- TrashPanda

I don’t think the gym can be simulated into an NHL game....that was the problem. He wasn’t playing any sort of game.

Whatever Doobie does I still expect the avalanche of comments from the folks who think they know better.
- TrashPanda

I can’t wait until he trades lilybust or a 1st round pick.

It’ll be madness.

I don’t think the gym can be simulated into an NHL game....that was the problem. He wasn’t playing any sort of game.
- Santo_44

We were talking about physical conditioning, which is something you don't get in a game. You need to use a gym for that.

As far as reflexes, getting to know your linemates, etc., etc. - yeah, you actually need to play to get that. Which is why his Leaf teammates are two months ahead of him and he might not be able to completely catch up this season.

EK now had 25 pts in 14 games.

I don’t think the gym can be simulated into an NHL game....that was the problem. He wasn’t playing any sort of game.
- Santo_44

He was training with another team. So he had a prolonged training camp, just no preseason games.
No excuse for how hes playing now. Imo

He was training with another team. So he had a prolonged training camp, just no preseason games.
No excuse for how hes playing now. Imo
- Fakepartofme

He had maybe a quarter of a training camp. Training camp includes hitting the gym hard and getting tested by the trainers and coaching staff, which he clearly didn't do.

Training camp doesn't include eating poorly, travelling and enjoying the local night life, which are things he clearly did.

If his father was (reportedly) so instrumental in his new contract, I'm kinda surprised he didn't make sure he was as ready as possible to play once it was signed. The Melander family has a lot of experience as pro athletes and know what it takes to succeed.

I can’t wait until he trades lilybust or a 1st round pick.

It’ll be madness.
- Santo_44

He had maybe a quarter of a training camp. Training camp includes hitting the gym hard and getting tested by the trainers and coaching staff, which he clearly didn't do.

Training camp doesn't include eating poorly, travelling and enjoying the local night life, which are things he clearly did.

If his father was (reportedly) so instrumental in his new contract, I'm kinda surprised he didn't make sure he was as ready as possible to play once it was signed. The Melander family has a lot of experience as pro athletes and know what it takes to succeed.
- TrashPanda

He was training with another team, so he did go through the paces, except the testing part.

I can’t wait until he trades lilybust or a 1st round pick.

It’ll be madness.
- Santo_44

I have no issues with trading the first round pick this year, Doobie might have to package that to get rid of Zaitsev's contract.

He was training with another team. So he had a prolonged training camp, just no preseason games.
No excuse for how hes playing now. Imo
- Fakepartofme

That wasn't an NHL team with NHL players, NHL competition and NHL trainers.

I'm not excusing him, because he knows what it takes. He had trained the previous year; he knew what to do, or who to get to help him if he wasn't in tip top shape.

His game-level was basically training with a team lower than AHL calibre, so he sure looked good to them. But nowhere near NHL-level. And again, once you have NHL-level athletes in mid-season form, you are so far behind them, it's a big hill to climb. Just about every hold out in history has royally sucked for a prolonged period.

Bottom line: I'm trying to be patient with him, but am not impressed by his performance on or off the ice.

He was training with another team, so he did go through the paces, except the testing part.
- Fakepartofme

Kind of.

He was also seen in other parts of Europe, like Austria and Switzerland. Remember that meeting he had with Doobie in Switzerland? He told Doobie to meet him there because he decided to take a vacation.

so 0 teams mentioned
- plantheparade

Rangers!

I can’t wait until he trades lilybust or a 1st round pick.

It’ll be madness.
- Santo_44

Seattle draft looming - we can only protect 3 defencemen.

So if you consider Rielly and Dermott to be our guys moving forward, they are going to have decide between Lillybust and Sandin.

For that reason, I'm not opposed to the idea of trading Lillybust.

Kind of.

He was also seen in other parts of Europe, like Austria and Switzerland. Remember that meeting he had with Doobie in Switzerland? He told Doobie to meet him there because he decided to take a vacation.
- TrashPanda

He probably hit the treadmill in the hotel gym for 20 minutes, before heading out to tour the Toblerone factory.

Seattle draft looming - we can only protect 3 defencemen.

So if you consider Rielly and Dermott to be our guys moving forward, they are going to have decide between Lillybust and Sandin.

For that reason, I'm not opposed to the idea of trading Lillybust.
- Atomic Wedgie

matthews
tavares
nylander
marner
kadri
kapanen
johnsson/hyman

rielly
dermott
liljegren/sandin

andersen



checks out

He probably hit the treadmill in the hotel gym for 20 minutes, before heading out to tour the Toblerone factory.
- Atomic Wedgie

And drinking a 12 pack of cardinal a day

And drinking a 12 pack of cardinal a day
- TheMussel

If you do it while standing on a treadmill, it doesn't count...

...is what I keep telling myself.

In other Hockeybuzz news, Tanner has officially thrown in the towel on the Coyotes' season.

Who saw this one coming?

I mean, besides anyone who has ever watched a hockey game...

matthews
tavares
nylander
marner
kadri
kapanen
johnsson/hyman

rielly
New guy
liljegren/sandin

andersen



checks out
- TheMussel

*fixed

Seattle draft looming - we can only protect 3 defencemen.

So if you consider Rielly and Dermott to be our guys moving forward, they are going to have decide between Lillybust and Sandin.

For that reason, I'm not opposed to the idea of trading Lillybust.
- Atomic Wedgie

They won't be eligible will they? I think players have a minimum NHL games played etc?

He probably hit the treadmill in the hotel gym for 20 minutes, before heading out to tour the Toblerone factory.
- Atomic Wedgie

#dedication

They won't be eligible will they? I think players have a minimum NHL games played etc?
- annoyed

Nope.

It's "professional experience" or some sort of weird phrasing like that. If you have an NHL contract, you are eligible.

As an example, Leafs lost Leipsic to Vegas.

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...s/pdisplay.php?pid=130673

He had 6 games of NHL experience at the time.

EK now had 25 pts in 14 games.
- Fakepartofme

time to start to include him in my HBSL team.