The Leafs Must Find a Way to Keep Peca!
Posted 6:54 PM ET | Comments 3
Mike Peca only played 35 games last season but was big part of the PK.
Peca in the Lineup 85% PK
Without Peca in the Lineup 78% PK
Thats a 7% drop in the PK when Peca isnt in the line up. He not only can kill penalties but can play against teams best centres ex. Speeza, Koivu, Savard, Crosby etc. He will also bring leadership to a team that could use some. Would Peca comeback well the door is open but only because he's best friend Jason Blake is signed on for 4 years. With other teams like Carolina, Buffalo, Ottawa and the New York Islanders in the race JFJ better move cap space soon before its too late.
Now if Peca is coming back then looking down the middle for the Leafs could be there best strength. As used in the Stanley Cup Final Pahlsson, Niedermayer and Moen the Leafs could make a nice shutdown line with Kilger, Peca and Devereaux.
Last year we would see Tucker on that line but he is -11 5 on 5.
Projected Lines for 2007-2008 Maple Leafs.
Forwards Lines
ALEXEI PONIKAROVSKY - MATS SUNDIN - NIK ANTROPOV
ALEX STEEN/MARK BELL - KYLE WELLWOOD - JASON BLAKE
CHAD KILGER - MICHAEL PECA - BOYD DEVEREAUX
BATES BATTAGLIA - JOHN POHL - DARCY TUCKER
Defensive Pairings
TOMAS KABERLE - PAVEL KUBINA
CARLO COLAIACOVO - BRYAN MCCABE
HAL GILL - IAN WHITE
Spares S. Kronwall, WOZNIEWSKI and Pilar.
Goalies
Toskala
Raycroft
Peca in the Lineup 85% PK
Without Peca in the Lineup 78% PK
Thats a 7% drop in the PK when Peca isnt in the line up. He not only can kill penalties but can play against teams best centres ex. Speeza, Koivu, Savard, Crosby etc. He will also bring leadership to a team that could use some. Would Peca comeback well the door is open but only because he's best friend Jason Blake is signed on for 4 years. With other teams like Carolina, Buffalo, Ottawa and the New York Islanders in the race JFJ better move cap space soon before its too late.
Now if Peca is coming back then looking down the middle for the Leafs could be there best strength. As used in the Stanley Cup Final Pahlsson, Niedermayer and Moen the Leafs could make a nice shutdown line with Kilger, Peca and Devereaux.
Last year we would see Tucker on that line but he is -11 5 on 5.
Projected Lines for 2007-2008 Maple Leafs.
Forwards Lines
ALEXEI PONIKAROVSKY - MATS SUNDIN - NIK ANTROPOV
ALEX STEEN/MARK BELL - KYLE WELLWOOD - JASON BLAKE
CHAD KILGER - MICHAEL PECA - BOYD DEVEREAUX
BATES BATTAGLIA - JOHN POHL - DARCY TUCKER
Defensive Pairings
TOMAS KABERLE - PAVEL KUBINA
CARLO COLAIACOVO - BRYAN MCCABE
HAL GILL - IAN WHITE
Spares S. Kronwall, WOZNIEWSKI and Pilar.
Goalies
Toskala
Raycroft
I can't see tucker playing on the 4th line, he has quite a scoring touch as well, and if steen is on the 2nd line where does bell play? its one too many players.. Agree with you on the defence though. I agree tucker is a minus player, but sticking him on the 4th line won't make use of any of his offensive skill. Bringing back peca is a good argument, and he defn is key to the PK prob toronto's most glaring weakness. Do we have the cap room for it is an entirely other question, I would figure after last season he would take a discount to play here, but lets see how it pans out. Personally I predict he won't end up in toronto or buffalo, but we'll see. Great blog.
While I agree that the Leafs need Peca, you must be stoned to put Tucker on the 4th line. Same goes for Pohl. Pohl belongs in the AHL, not taking Stajan's spot on this team. Stajan has more points and does everything better than Pohl all while being 5 years younger.
lol UG he is stoned... note that in his scenario one of Steen and Bell won't be in the line up... :lol: