Opening Night Observations

One prediction right off the bat: The top-two Leaf lines are going to have to change.

Quite simply, having three right-handed shots on the top line (Tyler Bozak, Phil Kessel and Kris Versteeg) and three left-handed shots on the second unit. (Nik Kulemin, Mikhail Grabovski and Clarke MacArthur) just doesn't make a whole lot of sense. It makes even less sense when Ron Wilson keeps those lines together on power plays.

So we'll see. Each line came up with an even strength goal in Thursday night's 3-2 win over Montreal, which is good. But the power play was horrific, which is bad. With the opportunity for a one-timer only on one side or the other, the Habs defended the Leaf power play with ease, although the biggest issue was the absence of any Leaf forward willing to chase down the puck in the offensive zone.

The easy switch on the forward lines would be to flip Versteeg and Kulemin. But that won't happen after a win.

Otherwise, the surprising development from opening night was the elevation of third-year defenceman Luke Schenn up to No. 4 on the depth chart. Schenn played 21 minutes and 36 seconds, more than he was allotted on a regular basis last year, and skated mostly beside veteran puck-mover Tomas Kaberle.

Mike Komisarek, meanwhile, played the least of all Leaf defencemen, just 12:08, and generally worked on the third pair with Carl Gunnarson. It's a sensible way to deploy Komisarek in the early going as he finds his feet after off-season shoulder surgery.

At the same time, Schenn deserves to play more than Komisarek right now, particularly when he goes with his first instinct. He looks bigger and seems more confident, and if Komisarek can get his game going, those two along with Dion Phaneuf (23:45 in the opener) could make the Leafs intimidating on the right side of their defence.

Of some concern, meanwhile, is the shaky play of Gunnarson, who didn't have a strong training camp. His weak puck play created Montreal's first goal, and right now he seems to lack that simple effiiciency that characterized his play last season.

Next up, Ottawa on Saturday night. Have to believe head coach Ron Wilson will go with J.S. Giguere in net again, then turn to Jonas Gustavsson for a start on the road next week in Pittsburgh or New York.

 

Comments

[James Jack]

I don't want to hear another word about the "high" price Leafs paid in draft choices for Phil Kessell. This guy can flat out fly and is very dangerous anytime in the offensive zone and backchecks with pure energy. Players like him don't come around too often.

[Joe]

aaah yes, you know hockey in toronto has started when not only does the press criticize them when they lose, but when they win as well. go leafs go?

[Nick Williamson]

I couldn't agree more. I found the #1 line seemed to need someone to do the dirty work to give the more skilled guys (Kessel/Bozak) more room. I think that guy is Kulemin. The #2 line I found just looked awkward. This may be due to my constant annoyance with the way Grabovski only plays the perimeter and just can't seem to find the open space up the middle of the ice.

[moe green]

Interesting observation Damien. How is it that Wilson can't see the same thing?

[moe green]

Incidentally, this is excatly the kind of insight and analysis I expect from a columnist following the Leafs. Excellent work as usual Damien.

[Ostrich Lover]

Here are some more observations:

-Gunnerson was absolutley brutal.
- Schenn and Phaneuf were both great
- Cary Price actually player really well,givng his team a chance to win
- Bozak is a really smart hockey player. based on one game only, the leafs have a number one centre
- Don Cherry echoed my exact thoughts -which I have made here time and again- about Kadri
- Kadri is a left handed shot. Put him on the First line wing
-Grabovski, Kulemin, Versteeg is a much better second line anyway
-Macarthurs goal was nice but does anyone see him with a long term future on this club, especially since the third line is so solid?
- Armstrong is an immediate fan favorite. The 3rd line looks tops.

[Steve C.]

Maybe that should read...the powerplay lines need to be tweaked. But I'm all for changing the lines because I can already sense that Versteeg is playing like a Cup winner on a last place team. In other words he seems too 'cool' to get excited about anything - like finishing checks or hustling at all.

[Ernest Reed]

Thankfully Damien, hockey generally does not follow your pattern of logic. Just because something does not appear to make sense, does not necessarily mean it will not work. Come on Damien, its only one game and already you are on the Leafs. One can only imagine if you worked for the press in Montreal, you'd have Carey Price's head on a stick and parading it downtown already. Enough already of your negative views...Is this a Star columnist requirement?

[Geoff Read]

To me the story of the game, from the perspective of the Leafs anyway, was Kaberle. He got the loudest cheer at the introductions, he was the Leafs' best defensemen all night long, he and Phaneuf looked good on the power play (while, as you say, the forwards looked hopeless), and he shot the puck (for once!) regularly and with authority. It's only one game, but this all leads me to think two things 1) there isn't going to be any moping from this guy, who has always been a classy (and underappreciated in my view) individual, despite the fact that the organization has publicly humiliated him by stripping him of his "A" after shopping him around the league like a used car 2) that the failure to move him, if he keeps playing like this, might end up being a blessing in disguise for the Leafs. He is one of the top puck moving D-men in the league, he's a beautiful skater, and his salary is very reasonable for what he brings to the team.

[Mrbill]

I agree, I would put Kulemin on the top line. We could call it the triple K line.

[Paul]

Line combos weren't the problem, they just couldn't deal with Montreal's aggressive PK.

Yes Carl G was bad early (looked better late), but Beauchemain was borderline terrible all game, just as he was last year... what do people see in this guy?

[Adam]

I totally agree, Geoff. Kaberle played with a lot of consistency and confidence, which is exactly what the Leafs need out of one of the oldest players on their roster. I think the cheer he got before the game shows that even though the media likes to play up the Kaberle trade angle, the fans here in Toronto are happy to have him on their team. Everyone understands that the Leafs are thin up front and that Kaberle may be the best chip to use to improve, but I think Kaberle is more well-liked than many in the media give him credit for.

[Dan]

@JamesJack
The Leafs definitely overpaid for Kessel. He is a soft player who doesn't play with heart and I would trade him back to Boston for Seguin straight up if we could.

@Damien
Schenn made a few costly mistakes during the game.

[Mike Higgins]

to moe green and the others---praising damien's insight, or criticizing his, well, criticizing: this is the man who has been muted at most in his criticism of Brian Burke, and in fact has been often complimetary. yet he dumped mercilessly and tirelessly on Pat Quinn (even questioning his integrity), the man who not only brought the leafs to respectability from a laughing stock (remember Ken Dryden and Mike Murphy anyone?) but did it as both a GM and a Coach, and in less than one season---apart from winning the cup (a failing, certainly, even if winning the cup is sometimes a matter of luck or a hot goalie) Quinn was consistenly as successful as anyone until the powers at MLSE took Damien's advice and took a lot of his power and the gm job away. What is Burke's record so far? How have his trades and draft picks and roster moves worked out? The guy who for some crazy reason boasted that he was going to trade for the top pick a couple of years ago (of course ending any chances of that happening). he may yet bring the leafs back, but so far, lets at least be objective about what he's done so far, its been a non-competitive team and a wasted few years for you Leafs fans. Let's at least subject him to the same criteria used against Quinn

[Moe Green]

Maybe "shopping" Kaberle was a bargaining strategy by Burke for the resign. Same as stripping the "A." Maybe Burke is looking to resign him on the cheap now that he is not gonna get anything for him at the deadline. Otherwise the removal of the "A" is a cheap and classless move and should disgust all Leaf fans. Frankly, I'd rather remove the "C" from Wilson's jersey! Frankly, the removal of the "A" smacks of Wilson not Burke. Burke seems like a decent man.

[Andy]

Gunnerson was bad, easily the worst. But did people notice how bad Komisarek was?

[Leaf fan in Van]

And for everyone hating on Kaberle - did you watch the other D men trying to get the puck out all night? The only 2 D last night who had a clue in their own end were Kabs and Phaneuf! Schenn was solid but still a little shaky...Burkie better have an idea in mind when he starts putting Kaberle on the block around Christmas time again...

[Chris]

Kaberle was the best defenceman on the ice last night. I don't know what everybody is going on about; the Leafs didn't play that great last night. Giguere was good. Kaberle was great. Schenn was also great. The third line is awesome defensively. However, the power play wasn't bad because of three right shots as Kaberle and Phaneuf are both lefties and the power play isn't a statinoary one. The problem was that they don't move the puck fast enough. Montreal's PK was agressive and the Leafs couldn't move the puck fast enough to keep up. The biggest issue continues to be turnovers particularly down low in the defensive end. Part of it has to do with forwards taking off too early and part of it has to do with defenseman hanging on to the puck too long or rushing their passes (not a contradiciton just need to know when to do what). If the Leafs keep turning the puck over they won't win that often. The good news is that the PP and turnovers are both fixable. The forecheck and cycle looked fine particularly with the first line. Fortunately it's only game 1 and there's lots of hockey to go.

[TBot]

Kulemin was on the top line in training camp prior to the exhibition games, but they found he worked better on the second line with Versteeg on the first. This may still change as the season progresses.

[Krakondack]

It's not that hard to one-time the shot off the other wing. You only have to pivot to take the puck behind you. And there's less chance of it slipping off the end of the stick, going way wide. The disadvantage is on a 2-on-1, where you have an edge on the defenceman, and can't pass to the forehand without going through the D-man, where normally you can put it past his reach.

[TBot]

Contrary to popular opinion (and I know this will not be a favourable comment), I don't disagree with the removal of Kaberle's A. I don't believe this is any slight or slap in the face against him, the media has certainly played it up this way though. The Cs and As are not there to be given as awards, nor do they speak of a player's caliber of play. The Cs and As have a certain set of responsibilities on the team such as outspoken leaders, on-ice interaction with the officials, off-ice interaction between players and management, the face and voice of the team in the media, etc. Kaberle was not this type of player, quiet, but leading by example on the ice. Perhaps, as he appeared in the game last night, this will allow him to focus better on his game and the way he plays. This is also why you don't give them to Goalies either, they have enough to focus on. While having the C or A can give you an apparent stature with the fans, players will be far better remembered for what they did on-ice. For Kaberle's contribution and committment to the Leafs, I would expect to someday see his number hanging in the rafters, which is a far better honour than any A will ever be.

[mark]

Andy... I noticed how bad Komisarek was last night. And I think the Leafs'coaching staff did too. His lame poke check attempt on the Habs first goal was followed by a lecture at the bench and reduced ice time. That's why I think he played 12 minutes and Schenn played 20+, not (as Damien speculated) that they were trying to ease him into the lineup. It's not mid season Damien. Everyone is being 'eased into the lineup.' Shoulder surgery or not... if Komisarek can't play the man instead of the puck, he doesn't belong on the ice.

[BRS]

J.S.G won that game for us last night and will win some more for us if he can continue to play at this level.

Give this team time to come together, forwards were WAY to far up the ice and therefore the defence had trouble clearing the zone with any effectiveness.

Hopefullly the defence had opening night jitters.

@ Damian, You were crack on the money with your synopsis' of the way the lines were sey up and the way the team could not handle a very aggressive PK.

[Arhtur Bailey]

Damien, you really believe moving Kulemin to the top line is the answer? Was it not observed that he played infinitely better with Grabovski as his center/playmaker?

[A Leaftime Ago]

How come Beauchemin is flying under the radar of criticism today? He coughed the puck up numerous times (and kicked in the Habs 3rd goal). And yes, Kaberle seemed like a whole new player out there! Loose as creamed corn, taking shots, jumping in down low in the offensive zone, like he was actually having fun instead of feeling the burden of being the longest-serving, best D-man on the team.