Comments on: I can’t understand why they have struggled…

By: Vic Ferrari

Vic Ferrari — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:46:56 +0000

Terrific post, David. Personally I prefer the analysis by shifts as you’ve done here, though Tolensky’s table of ice times is excellent also, and probably more compelling to a lot of other people.

If it isn’t too obvious already, you can go also go to here to see how often Finger was going out on the ice for defensive zone draws, as opposed to the ones at the good end of the rink.

He trails Liles by and bunch, but he’s next in line. He played a lot with Liles by my memory, at least in games vs the Oilers. And Sauer is at the other end of the spectrum, 74 more defensive zone draws than O-zone ones in just 50 some games played. Granted the Avs were, and are, spoilt for choice with a raft of very good defensive defensemen.

All the arrows point in the same direction here.

By: Americanario

Americanario — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:12:29 +0000

I think the Leafs did screw the pooch here. I like Finger and I would love to have him back, but he is definitely not a top line guy. But who knows, maybe in the Leafs organization he will be a top line guy?

As for screwing the pooch…
The rumor out there is that the Leafs thought they were getting Sauer…they signed the wrong guy. Even the thought of that happening to the Leafs is hilarious…now if only it had happened to the Dead Things.

By: RJ

RJ — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 02:53:53 +0000

Ouch! Once again, Why the fuck did we let Sauer go? Fletcher looks to be horrible. FG isn’t much better I guess. But hey we have Raycroft just in case a few more get through without Sauer back there.

By: Shane

Shane — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 02:04:51 +0000

“You’ve got a GM who apparently is using an ex-coach who can’t judge talent as a scout and you’ve got a coach who seemed to be watching a different game than the one he was coaching.”

My uncle is a Leafs fan and that’s pretty much what I told him late this afternoon. Every time the day seems its darkest, I always remind myself that it could be worse…I could cheer for the Leafs.

By: David Driscoll-Carignan

David Driscoll-Carignan — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:33:26 +0000

don’t get me wrong - he is good. just not quite what’s being advertised

By: eyebleaf

eyebleaf — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:18:16 +0000

“the leafs are absolutely crazy.”
thanks, thedoctor! i’ll take that as a compliment.

as for the information re: finger on thornton…wow…thanks for that…

i was actually believing that finger was a shutdown defenseman, and now you’ve gone and completely burst my bubble.

we might really have fucked up here…but i’m hoping not…look how much coin orpik got…

By: thedoctor

thedoctor — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:39:15 +0000

i’d take it as confirmation of your observation. the leafs are absolutely crazy.

By: David Driscoll-Carignan

David Driscoll-Carignan — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:32:07 +0000

yeah, I just saw that as well. I have impeccable timing.

By: thedoctor

thedoctor — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:30:42 +0000

nice post. this article echoes you and goes a step further: Sauer is far better than Finger, something I’ve always believed.

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=16043