Toronto Maple Leafs: Brett Lebda and the Top 5 Most Useless Players on the Leafs
Some experts say you can't get a true reading of a team until nearly the halfway mark of the season. Well, we are near that time and, for the most part, my mind is already made up about these five players.
Now, nothing personal against them as people, but as hockey players, the Leafs would be better off spending their money elsewhere, or filling the void from within.
These players don't provide anything to the team on a consistent basis and that's why they belong here.
Maybe in a few years, things will change, but judging by their hockey talents, I severely doubt.
So here's the list of five, hopefully all of you agree.
5. Tim Brent
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After a fast start that included two goals in two games, Brent offensively has cooled off, only scoring one goal since the second game of the season, coming off a tip of Tomas Kaberle's shot.
What Brent was brought in for was to provide a checking center to a Leafs team that was desperate to limit their goals against, and improve an outright embarrassing penalty kill.
Well Brent accomplished that to start out the year, but since then has really digressed and has shown a lot of holes in his game, mainly turnovers in the defensive zone, inconsistency in the face-off circle, and lastly, a real lack of offensive touch.
Who Should Replace Him?
Mike Zigomanis
Why?
Zigomanis is a much better skater, but also has a better offensive touch and face-off ability. Why he isn't up right now is beyond me.
4. Colton Orr
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Colton, despite what Brian Burke thinks about fighters in the NHL, is becoming less and less needed on this team by the passing day.
What is concerning me about Orr is that he's big, he's slow, he's got no offensive skill whatsoever, and always seems to be out there when the other team is buzzing around the Leafs goaltenders. What started out as a grind line, has really turned into an all out free for all against the fourth line of the Leafs which includes Tim Brent and Fredrick Sjostrom.
With only two goals this season, one being a fluky goal against the Panthers which should never of counted, Orr's calling card is not offence; frankly I have no idea what his calling card would be if the NHL didn't allow fighting in the game.
Who Should Replace Him?
Christian Hanson
Why?
Christian is a much better skater, and offensive talent, but is also fairly responsible in his own zone. He's young, and frankly, should be playing in the NHL right now, if anything, to get more used to the speed of the game.
3. Mike Komisarek
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Back when the Leafs signed Mike Komisarek to that outrageous contract worth over $4.25 million a season last offseason, the Leafs truly believed they acquired their defensive stopper to play alongside Tomas Kaberle.
What they in fact got, was the complete opposite of what they were hoping for.
Komisarek, who played on a great defensive Habs club, and alongside stalwart defender Andrei Markov, was more or less masked by the team for his inconsistent play and overall shotty defensive work.
Sadly, in a year that the Leafs have struggled to put the puck in the net, Komisarek is second amongst defenseman in scoring on the Leafs with a goal and six assists. This just gives you an idea of how bad things are for a vastly underachieving Leafs blueline.
What concerns me is the simple plays that Komisarek makes look difficult. A pass across to his defensive partner, an outlet pass, and playing with some offensive touches, are clearly aspects of hockey that eludes the West Islip, New York native.
Who Should Replace Him?
Keith Aulie
Why?
The Leafs are stuck with Komisarek since he has a no movement clause, but there's nothing that says you suck like a seat in the press box.
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2. Brett Lebda
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Brought in to give the Leafs back-end some much needed veteran depth, Lebda has really provided the Leafs with nothing, and shouldn't even see the ice time he's given.
Having played alongside Hall of Famer Nicklas Lidstrom, you would think he absorbed a little bit of the man's hockey sense and overall sound play in both ends. But that is clearly not the case with Lebda.
He rushes the offensive zone as if he was a forward, and he pinches at the most inopportune times. He really has no offensive game so far, evident by his lone assist in 16 games played.
Most concerning regarding Lebda is he's a team worst (amongst defenders) with a -12 rating. This looks doubly bad when you look at Kris Versteeg, who has played 14 more games and leads the team with a -13 rating.
Clearly the stats don't lie, Lebda right now is a waste of space and hockey equipment
Who Should Replace Him?
Carl Gunnarsson
Why?
A silky smooth skater, a better offensive game, more international competition experience, and lastly, even in a down year by his standards, Gunnarsson is showing at least some potential for good overall play.
1. John Mitchell
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So we come to the center of the shrubbery maze, and the Leafs most ineffective and useless player, John Mitchell.
Mitchell earns this distinction for the sheer fact he's got no upside anymore and has clearly shown he has no defined role with this team.
In junior, he put up respectable numbers that made you believe he was a top two line talent in the NHL, but since being drafted he hasn't shown much offensive flare whatsoever. He has the right moves to get into the zone, but often passes when he should shoot, or shoots when he should pass. Often that shot he takes misses the net by at least 10 feet.
What makes matters worse is Ron Wilson puts Mitchell in a checking role, clearly a role he stinks at. A career minus player, and currently sitting at -7 this season, Mitchell really has no defensive bone in his body.
He can win a face-off here and there, but that's about the only positive thing I can think of. Playing on a line with Kris Versteeg and Nazem Kadri, you would think he would put up points, but according to my stats, he's got but one assist in 18 games this season.
To add to the misery, last night Coach Wilson put Mitchell on a line with Tyler Bozak and Phill Kessel in an attempt to create offence when the Leafs were down 5-1. Seriously, that's like asking the man to make orange juice from apples. Obviously that's not going to happen.
Who Should Replace Him?
Luca Caputi
Why?
I've never felt as if he's got a fair shot to show what he's got with the Leafs. Widely regarded as one of the Leafs top pre-season performers, along with Christian Hanson, Colby Armstrong, Mike Brown and Kris Versteeg, Caputi was shown the door due to the fact he didn't supposedly beat out the likes of Colton Orr, Fredrick Sjostrom and others for a roster spot.
It's time he got his shot to make his mark in the NHL.
What the Lineup Should Look Like
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So after all that explanation, I've come to a conclusion this is what lineup would best serve the Leafs going forward.
Line Combinations
Caputi/Bozak/Kessel
Kulemin/Grabovski/MacArthur
Armstrong/Kadri/Versteeg
Sjostrom/Zigomanis/Hanson
Orr
IR: Brown
Phaneuf/Beauchemin
Kaberle/Schenn
Aulie/Gunnarsson
Komisarek
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