Monday, February 23, 2004
The power of Toronto
Normally sensible Globe and Mail columnist Eric Duhatschek gets caught up in overhyping Maple Leaf players in his Saturday column. From the column, which is speculating on Toronto acquiring Sergei Gonchar:
Few teams could match the Leafs' top four of Gonchar and Klee, Bryan McCabe and Tomas Kaberle and then it wouldn't much matter who played as their No. 5 and 6 defencemen, because the first four would be playing between 22 and 25 minutes per night anyway.
Since when did Ken Klee become such a valuable defenceman? He's always been considered an average defenceman at best. But now he's on the best top 4 in the league? Only the power of playing in Toronto can elevate an average blueliner to such status.
And about that top 4, except for the average Klee, none of them are great in their own end. The Leafs would have three top 4 defencemen who can make major mistakes in their own end. Neither Gonchar nor Kaberle are guys who lay the body on their opponents every chance they get.
Even if the Leafs were to get Gonchar, their top four would still be behind Detroit, Colorado, New Jersey, Vancouver, the Islanders and Ottawa's top four. Plus who knows if those teams will add additional blueliners before the trade deadline.
Few teams could match the Leafs' top four of Gonchar and Klee, Bryan McCabe and Tomas Kaberle and then it wouldn't much matter who played as their No. 5 and 6 defencemen, because the first four would be playing between 22 and 25 minutes per night anyway.
Since when did Ken Klee become such a valuable defenceman? He's always been considered an average defenceman at best. But now he's on the best top 4 in the league? Only the power of playing in Toronto can elevate an average blueliner to such status.
And about that top 4, except for the average Klee, none of them are great in their own end. The Leafs would have three top 4 defencemen who can make major mistakes in their own end. Neither Gonchar nor Kaberle are guys who lay the body on their opponents every chance they get.
Even if the Leafs were to get Gonchar, their top four would still be behind Detroit, Colorado, New Jersey, Vancouver, the Islanders and Ottawa's top four. Plus who knows if those teams will add additional blueliners before the trade deadline.
