Thoughts On Last Night
What can be said about Luke Schenn? He has been phenomenal this preseason with the Maple Leafs, and has gotten better with every game. Last night was no exception.
Aside from playing his usual 20-plus minutes of solid two-way hockey, Schenn also found the back of the net on the shootout winner, a pretty deke that made him look like a veteran of the tiebreaking procedure.
Schenn, taking his first every shootout attempt at any level of hockey, deked goalie Manny Legace of St. Louis to seal the deal for the Maple Leafs last night, as they edged the Blues 4-3.
Despite the depth the Maple Leafs have on the back end, it is getting very hard to see how the Leafs can send Schenn back to the WHL now. He has displayed maturity beyond his years, and has been used on the ice in key situations, responding well to all challenges so far in this young preseason.
On the downside, though, you have to remember that he is taking the minutes of Jeff Finger, who is out nursing a sore foot. When Finger comes back, it would leave the Leafs in a bit of a bind.
Suppose Finger comes back, and he is planted in the top four. Does it really make sense to have Schenn playing small minutes in the NHL, as opposed to huge minutes in the WHL, where he can being relied upon in all situations?
It's tough to say. Surely right now Schenn has played better than Finger—though to his credit, Finger hasn't played much due to his injury. Having a $3.5 million dollar defenseman as your number five or six guy doesn't make much sense either, but it could be the reality Toronto faces.
Certainly, there is still much to be decided within the next week for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
My personal opinion, if I had to make this choice today, would be to have Luke Schenn on the Toronto Maple Leafs blue line when the season opens next Thursday in Detroit.
Schenn has improved every game, and there is no reason to stop now.
At the very least, the Leafs could get a look at him in regular-season competition, and if worst comes to worst, send him back to Kelowna before his ten games are up, if that's what the team feels is best.
Bobby Ryan Rumours
Has it really come to this? Are we so connected that we are now going to start reporting when teams make strong pitches for players?
In any event, a report has surfaced today that the Toronto Maple Leafs were in the running to acquire Mathieu Schneider and Bobby Ryan from the Anaheim Ducks, in exchange for a conditional first-round draft choice and two prospects.
I'm not too sure what to make of this. Ryan is still a talented kid with lots to show. Schneider would only be included for cap relief. In all likelihood, the Leafs would then shop Schneider for a draft pick.
Still, there really aren't enough details to this trade to say how it would go down. It all depends on which prospects would be going to Anaheim in return.
Former Leafs player O'Neill ends comeback bid
Former Maple Leafs player Jeff O'Neill, who was in training camp with the Carolina Hurricanes on a tryout basis, has decided to end his comeback bid, and has been released from training camp.
The decision was mutual.
11 comments Last one added 9 months ago — Leave a Comment
Jordan Vertone 9 months ago
I agree about schenn. I mean i beleive u need to give younger players time to develop before rushing them into the league, but when he has been playing so well, what can you tell him, oh you played better than most of our defenceman but were going to send u back to the dub anyways. I think hes ready, and he shouldnt have any problems developing more and more throught the next couple of seasons. As for scheneider coming to T.O, that better not be true, the last thing we need is another defenceman, espeacially one the age of schneider to take the spot of a younger guy on the team.
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Spencer Callaghan 9 months ago
Wow, I know the Leafs are desperate for some good news but rushing this kid into the NHL and proclaiming him the next Bobby Orr is not the right way to go about it.
Unless the kid is going to see 20+ minutes a game it serves no purpose to keep him in Toronto.
Having him as a #5 or #6 defenceman is not going to be good for his development.
This is a rebuilding year for the Leafs, don't subject him to that.
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Anthony Kern 9 months ago
No one is calling him the next Bobby Orr.
I have to agree with Derek, keep him around for at least the first 10 games of he regular season.
Schenn has been my favorite player all training camp, he's been solid, (i.e. manhandling Keith Tkachuck last night). It would be in the Leafs best interest to keep him on the second line and use him on the Penalty kill. I say keep him with Kabie, he'll teach him how to move the puck better, and while he's learning, he'll have a quick outlet to feed it too. Also, he'll get the minutes needed, even if he's on the second pairing, because he's been our best d-man on the PK.
I hope this kid keeps it up and if he's still in Toronto come november you can bet your bottom dollar that I'm ordering a Schenn jersey.
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Spencer Callaghan 9 months ago
Clearly I was exaggerating.
However on last night's sports shows the #1 story wasn't the Sens, Pens, Rags and Bolts in Europe it was "Will Schenn Make the team?"
Keeping him for 9 games (the first year of his contract kicks in at 10) wouldn't hurt, but I don't think subjecting him to a rebuilding year in Toronto with 3rd pairing minutes is good for his development.
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Bryan Thiel 9 months ago
Thats the frustrating thing Spencer: The Leafs are rebuilding and dont want to hurt him, but he's also looked exceptionally good—one goal against in four games for an 18 year-old rookie.
It's ridiculously agitating...
BT
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Spencer Callaghan 9 months ago
True, but keep in mind that is one goal against in PRESEASON, where you are playing against soon-to-be AHLers, 4th liners and the occasional roster player who is just trying not to pull a groin.
I'm not knocking the kid, just trying to temper expectations.
I have every interest as a Sens fan to see this kid fail, but I came to like him too much as a Canadian World Junior player to want to see that happen.
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Jeff Badger 9 months ago
Both games against the Pens had the majority of their lineup in them. Malkin sat one game, Crosby sat the other, but aside from that they had maybe 3 guys not on the roster in those games - those were real tests. Buffalo iced nearly a full team for their 2nd game too. Sure, still preseason, but the last 2 games have been against more complete teams than the first 2.
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Shane House 9 months ago
It all matters as to when Finger gets back. I mean, if it is going to take a couple of games for his injury to go away, then keep Schenn up for the ten minimum then send him back. As for Ryan, I say we don't get him. I honestly don't think he will be amazing and at best will turn into a Dustin Penner type player which to me isn't worth a 1st round draft pick.
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Jeff Badger 9 months ago
Right now Schenn is their 3rd best defenseman, hands down. I'm not sure why Derek thinks it would be Finger getting bumped down, as opposed to Coliacovo or Van Ryn (Unless he's got Frogren in the top 4 too, but I don't see that yet).
The top 4 D we've seen so far are Kaberle-Kubina and Finger-Schenn. Coliacovo is not top 4 just by default, nor are Van Ryn or Frogren. Schenn has outplayed all of them to this point. Stralman should be 6th, and is the best option as a #2 PP QB, as you want him to get more experience in that area. When (not if...when) Kaberle is traded at the deadline, Stralman will take over as the #1 on the PP.
One things for sure - 1 of White, Coliacovo, or maybe Van Ryn will be traded in the next few weeks. I just don't see a spot for White on this roster (4th deep in the puck moving department makes him #8 overall). He'd have to clear waivers to be sent down, and somebody would snap him in a second, particularily the Pens. "Healthy Scratching" any of those guys doesn't make sense either, when they do carry some trade value, though you never know.
It's easier if they just send Schenn back to the WHL, but given his level of play, that doesn't seem fair to him. There is the big IF though, of what if his learning curve levels off after 15 games or so and he's no longer playing at a level of the top 4...then he's stuck up with the Leafs, playing only a few minutes a night. It's a gamble that some would say just isn't worth it.
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Derek Harmsworth 9 months ago
That is a good point Jeff about bumping Coli or Van Ryn down. For me personally I think Van Ryn has been pretty solid though. Nothing flashy but he is solid, and man he gets the shot on net quick.
As for Frogren, I forgot to mention in my article that Ron Wilson has not been impressed with Frogren in the game he played or the practices. According to Wilson he has been slow to react and is having trouble keeping up with the play.
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Miah D. 9 months ago
isn't it always like that for the youngsters ? we keep them till the injured ones come back ...
however, Schenn has been amazing.
cant wait to see how it goes if he stays with the team ..
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