Versteeg had 14 and 12 points in the 2010 and 2009 years of playoffs. I'm guessing with points and HEART like that, he'd be a first or second liner on any team besides the 2009-10 hawks. Nice try though.
Versteeg To Leafs
- Thread starter MojoRisin'
- Start date
The Leafs are trying to improve their team by hoping that B & C level players on other teams will become A level players once they get to Toronto.
Even though a tree can achieve better growth when not in the shadow of a larger tree, this tree still has a limit to its maximum growth.
What if these players already are as good as they are going to be ??
The last thing the Leafs need is to turn themselves into a carbon copy of the teams they will be competing most closely with throughout the entire 2010-11 season. Namely Carolina, Tampa, Florida & the Islanders.
Even though a tree can achieve better growth when not in the shadow of a larger tree, this tree still has a limit to its maximum growth.
What if these players already are as good as they are going to be ??
The last thing the Leafs need is to turn themselves into a carbon copy of the teams they will be competing most closely with throughout the entire 2010-11 season. Namely Carolina, Tampa, Florida & the Islanders.
Anything in sports represents a certain amount of risk. Versteeg was a third line on Chicago and produced 20 goals. On Toronto his ice time will increase significantly over the 15:43 he averaged in Chicago and he will also have more PP time. This should lead to higher production as it is clear that he has the skills.
He was not a third liner on any team - he played third line on the Stanley Cup champions and that has to mean something. If it were not for the cap he would still be there, Chicago by no means wanted to get rid of him.
Finally he is 24 - generally the best years for a player are about 25-29. He therefore likely still has a bit of an upside. It is a risk no doubt but a sensible one. It is much more of a risk to expect Stalberg to do the same.
He was not a third liner on any team - he played third line on the Stanley Cup champions and that has to mean something. If it were not for the cap he would still be there, Chicago by no means wanted to get rid of him.
Finally he is 24 - generally the best years for a player are about 25-29. He therefore likely still has a bit of an upside. It is a risk no doubt but a sensible one. It is much more of a risk to expect Stalberg to do the same.
These guys like Versteeg wont show their real worth unless or until the Leafs get top 2 line Players. I laugh at the Leaf Nation who think these types of Players are going to take them back to the Playoffs. This team needs 1st line forwards and a number 1 Goaltender and until they do get just that, there is no reason to get excited about guys like Versteeg.
You don't know what you are talking about.
Versteeg IS NOT a top 6 forward in the NHL. Maybe with the Leafs because they are so bad.
He's a grinder NOT a sniper. He got a few goals with Chicago because he played a few shifts with Toews, Kane, Sharp, and Hossa.
Anybody like that play for the Leafs? Nope.
Period.
Nice try though.
Geek dude, he is a childish soccer fan. I, among others, was on the soccer threads and called the sport boring. But, in my defence, they did ask 'how can you call today's game boring'. As far as I can tell no hockey fan asked their opinion of anything.This is a Canadian board, thank you for the contribution, dicksqueeze.
Olympics. 1980; The Americans looked pretty pleased with themselves when they won the Gold.
The Czechs, the Russians and their fans looked very happy as they celebrated their victories when it was their turn through the ages.
To-day's Toronto Sun has Versteeg on a line with Tyler Bozak (centre) and Phil Kessel (RW). The Sun also has Nazem Kadri as centre on the second line.
I saw Versteeg played in the playoff and I like him a lot. He is a top-6 forward and a good addition to the Leafs. However, the Leafs still need at least one natural top-notch scoring talent to be a serious contender. We might fantasize all we want about Nazim or Bozak - neither is unproven and the Leafs would be lucky if either could make the NHL at any time soon. Both have the potential of becoming a 2nd to 3rd line center; neigther IMHO is star 1st liner material that the Leafs need to be a cup contender.
Keep stocking up guys like C. Armstong, who could be a grreat agitator (Burke's type of guy), but no more than a 3rd line forward for the better NHL teams - at some 3 million a year - won't really do it. So far, I would say that the Burke's Leaf is a bit better than the team he took over. But I've also seen a lot of GM smoke screen that his predecessors have presented. I have not seen a major move that I could say the Leafs have truned the corner. The 2010-2011 Leafs would compete for the 7 - 8 playoff spot a bit better than the past season; but nothing more.
Keep stocking up guys like C. Armstong, who could be a grreat agitator (Burke's type of guy), but no more than a 3rd line forward for the better NHL teams - at some 3 million a year - won't really do it. So far, I would say that the Burke's Leaf is a bit better than the team he took over. But I've also seen a lot of GM smoke screen that his predecessors have presented. I have not seen a major move that I could say the Leafs have truned the corner. The 2010-2011 Leafs would compete for the 7 - 8 playoff spot a bit better than the past season; but nothing more.
I think the Leafs are significantly better than the beginning of last year:
Goal - Giguerre and a healthy Monster who now has some experience. Way better than Joey Macdonald, Toskola and an injured Monster.
Defence - An older Schenn, a healthy Komisarek, Phaneuf, Beauchemin had a way better second half an older Gustavsson etc.
Forwards - Do we really miss Stajan, Poni, Antropov, Blake, Hagman, Wallin, Primeau etc.
I think the forward group right now is better. And Kessel is healthy and he will be here from the start of the season.
The Leafs will be better then last year - maybe not playoff bound but certainly better. And of course the summer is not over yet.
Goal - Giguerre and a healthy Monster who now has some experience. Way better than Joey Macdonald, Toskola and an injured Monster.
Defence - An older Schenn, a healthy Komisarek, Phaneuf, Beauchemin had a way better second half an older Gustavsson etc.
Forwards - Do we really miss Stajan, Poni, Antropov, Blake, Hagman, Wallin, Primeau etc.
I think the forward group right now is better. And Kessel is healthy and he will be here from the start of the season.
The Leafs will be better then last year - maybe not playoff bound but certainly better. And of course the summer is not over yet.
Adding to Mexican's statement.
In goal the Leafs will also have the Finn, Rynnas, pushing Gustavsson and Giguere.
On D, I think Mex meant to say Gunnarsson when he mentioned the Leaf defence. This unit looks good and they will have gelled somewhat. As Mex points out Schenn and Gunnarsson will be season more experienced which will only help.
I do not think the Leafs will miss any of the forwards mentioned ... well maybe Primeau a bit. Good news is they could still bring him back if they though he could fit in somewhere.
I think Modano would be a good one season fit for the Leafs while they wait for the type of center they want to shake loose.
In goal the Leafs will also have the Finn, Rynnas, pushing Gustavsson and Giguere.
On D, I think Mex meant to say Gunnarsson when he mentioned the Leaf defence. This unit looks good and they will have gelled somewhat. As Mex points out Schenn and Gunnarsson will be season more experienced which will only help.
I do not think the Leafs will miss any of the forwards mentioned ... well maybe Primeau a bit. Good news is they could still bring him back if they though he could fit in somewhere.
I think Modano would be a good one season fit for the Leafs while they wait for the type of center they want to shake loose.
i think maybe you do not know what you are talking about, with all due respect.
versteeg is a grinder? you serious? i am a huge hawks fan, and watch all their games. versteeg is far from a grinder, although he does not shy away from chippy play.
what the leafs and their fans can expect from kris versteeg, is a guy who definitely has talent, and plays with alot of jam. what will drive leaf nation crazy though, is his many attempts to be a one man stickhandling show. i cannot begin to tell you how many times he goes 1 on 3 into the opposing zone, and he always turns over the puck. he is maddening and frustrating, because he has major skills, just does not use his head, and is very inconsistent. i think he tries to hard to be like patrick kane, but no one told him otherwise.
the leafs and their fans will enjoy him overall, as he will make many dazzling plays, to go along with his many turnovers. for those who think stalberg has the same skillset/upside as versteeg, maybe. all i will say, is versteeg has played two solid, productive years in the league already, and has a winning pedigree. stalberg has yet to play a productive month, yet alone a whole year!
Plyrs99
One area that may be overlooked is special teams. The Leafs were the worst in the NHL at PPGA and very near the bottom for PPG. With the addition of Versteeg, Armstrong and Sjorstrom - the Toronto PK should be one of the best. Also Versteeg, Phaneuf and Kessel all year should help the power play as well.
