Don't know why you think Spezza, Thornton and Dermot. aren't NHLers, especially at their very modest cap. Simmons I'm not sure and Bogosian...you're right not an NHLer.
Don't know why you think Spezza, Thornton and Dermot. aren't NHLers, especially at their very modest cap. Simmons I'm not sure and Bogosian...you're right not an NHLer.
Don't take the actual transactions that seriously. The overall point is that they should be playing the talented youth and should stop relying on these plodding veterans who are hurting more than helping.
Don't take the actual transactions that seriously. The overall point is that they should be playing the talented youth and should stop relying on these plodding veterans who are hurting more than helping.
Is Lehtonen a" talented youth"? He's older than Dermot, plus Lehtonen had a bad camp. Nothing wrong with Dermot. He plays 17 minutes a night is a plus player and for the past two seasons has played with inferior partners. Spezza even at his age isn't "plodding". Thornton isn't "plodding" either. Lehoten and Sandin will be playing at sometime and I think soon.
Now coaches/managemet try to put together a team the best they can and we we can discuss the merits of there actions....but geez stay away from "cliches" to try to prove a point.
Funny, for years folks have said, The Leafs need "character" and "tough" guys. So they get Thornton, Simmons and Bogosian for a total of 3.25m and after two games that recipe is apparently no good either.
Vesey and Thornton are probably going to lose their top 6 spots sooner rather than later. Don't think Keefe has enough NHL game experience to be overtly clever. Just go with what works.
You can't fix the Leafs. Their big four makes up way too much of the cap. The rebuild was badly bungled due to massive incompetence and they are not developing their prospects properly (also due to massive incompetence).
Don't know why you think Spezza, Thornton and Dermot. aren't NHLers, especially at their very modest cap. Simmons I'm not sure and Bogosian...you're right not an NHLer.
Bogosian played pretty important minutes for Tampa Bay in the finals, the Leafs are simply giving him too much 5v5 ice. He's a PK specialist that should be out for D zone draws. Spezza, Thornton and Simmonds are way past their prime. I don't know why they decided to bring them in. There were a lot of better discount options available (Rodrigues, Sheary, Brassard) that get similar cap hits and bring a similar game. It's not 2014 anymore, the guys their bringing in just aren't good anymore.
Bogosian played pretty important minutes for Tampa Bay in the finals, the Leafs are simply giving him too much 5v5 ice. He's a PK specialist that should be out for D zone draws. Spezza, Thornton and Simmonds are way past their prime. I don't know why they decided to bring them in. There were a lot of better discount options available (Rodrigues, Sheary, Brassard) that get similar cap hits and bring a similar game. It's not 2014 anymore, the guys their bringing in just aren't good anymore.
Not that the Leafs can/should give up on Bogosian after a one or two games, though the Leafs have other Dman options. Between Bogosian, Lehtonen, Sandin, Liljegren someone(s) have to step to be NHL competent. The other five, no worries IMO Spezza certainly was average to good last season. Thornton and Simmonds were signed to bring some"heaviness" to the lineup. You're right they certainly are past their peak but can they be effective (enough) for one last NHL season? The other players you mentioned, they had the option to sign with 31 teams so teams that can basically that can only offer the minimum due to cap. reasons are at the whim of the players where they sign.
Not that the Leafs can/should give up on Bogosian after a one or two games, though the Leafs have other Dman options. Between Bogosian, Lehtonen, Sandin, Liljegren someone(s) have to step to be NHL competent. The other five, no worries IMO Spezza certainly was average to good last season. Thornton and Simmonds were signed to bring some"heaviness" to the lineup. You're right they certainly are past their peak but can they be effective (enough) for one last NHL season? The other players you mentioned, they had the option to sign with 31 teams so teams that can basically that can only offer the minimum due to cap. reasons are at the whim of the players where they sign.
It's one thing to sign them for heaviness, it's another thing to have Vesey and Thornton in the top 6 when that's clearly not their roles. Thornton was a 3C in San Jose, one of the worst teams in the league. Vesey couldn't stick in Buffalo or New York, two teams with weak bottom 6 corps. It just doesn't make sense and to your point, there's a lot of players trying to make the line-up that could contribute in a better way. The good news is there's tons of time to figure out who.