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Leaf Rumours

The only true weakness remains at the 1st line center spot.

Though i guess a marginal improvement from Tyler Bozak this season is likely. If he can get into 60 point territory, he will have reached adequate status.
 
Kadri may not play on the first line, but he's still the teams best center. Just like Lupul is the teams best left winger even though he isn't on the top line.

Bozak doesn't have to be a #1 center.
 
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Bozak isn't a #1 centre so much as he is "Phil Kessel's centre". When I look at:

JVR-Bozak-Kessel
Lupul-Kadri-Clarkson

I see 2 1st lines, not a #1, #2 set up. In fact, I imagine that when we need a goal, you'll see Randy go with Lupul-Kadri-Kessel as our #1 line.
 
the real wildcard in that will be Kadri improving in the faceoff circle. If he can get good enough to be in the 48% range, it's really hard to not give him prime time PP minutes.
 
Phaneuf is better on the PP than Franson is. You don't take him off.

IMO the only question is whether Gardiner or Rielly is a better QB.
 
If Burke appoints himself as Calgary's GM I could see him and Nonis swinging a deal for Franson in exchange for a prospect/pick. Burke loves his big all around blueliners, and he was foaming at the mouth to get Franson 2 years ago it, I could see him offering up some value in exchange for Franson, what do u guys think?
 
leafman101 said:
Phaneuf is better on the PP than Franson is. You don't take him off.

IMO the only question is whether Gardiner or Rielly is a better QB.
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It's nice having a righty/lefty combo on the point of your PP though.

And frankly, both Gardiner and Franson can hit the net from the point more consistently than Dion can.
 
No they can't. Since Phaneuf entered the league only Chara has more PP goals (63 -61). Phaneuf is flat out one of the best PP-shooting/scoring dmen in the NHL. And only Weber has more goals period (108-106). Neither Franson nor Gardiner's shot hold a candle to Phaneufs. He has one of the best in the league. Taking him off the PP would be stupid. Even last year Phaneuf outscored Franson on the PP.


And the L/R doesn't matter on the PP. You want Phaneuf on the right side so he can unload the one timer, and that is way better set up by a lefty on the other side. Like Kaberle and McCabe used to do.

And that Kabby playing making weapon on the blueline is something that was missed last year with essentially two shooters in Franson and Phaneuf. It held the PP back from being one of the top units in the NHL. Replacing Franson with a guy like Gardiner or Rielly is an upgrade to the unit.
 
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Yeah, I dig Franson but I think long term, for our PP to take the next step into being an elite weapon, we need someone with more playmaking creativity on the point. Either Gardiner or Rielly.
 
With that uncanny ability, our PP was almost identical in efficiency last year, to what it was the year prior when it lacked that uncanny ability.
 
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