Is Ryan Hollweg Smarter Than A 5th Rounder?
July 14th, 2008 by Steve
Ok, so the Leafs dealt a 5th round pick in the 2009 draft. Admittedly it was Pittsburgh’s pick, so it’s unlikely to be high in the round, but seriously? They traded a 5th rounder next year for an 8th round choice that has 12 career points in 200 career NHL games. But what he lacks in skill he makes up for in annoying, thuggery. Hollweg brings 311 career PIMs to Toronto, to go along with a reputation for getting under the opposition’s skin. In the past two seasons with the Rangers, Hollweg has managed to get into 19 scraps. Jamal Mayers managed to get into 16 over the past two seasons. Over the same stretch, the Leafs as a team have gotten into 49. So the two new guys who drop the mitts have a combined 35 fights between them… the entire Leafs team has only managed 49? We’re going to be a lot tougher at least.
Unfortunately you might notice something about Hollweg. He loses a lot of his fights. In fact, he’s only considered to have won 3 of his 19 fights over the past two years according to www.HockeyFights.com. A 16% success rating isn’t really a quality the Leafs should be looking for. That being said, like Darcy Tucker, Hollweg doesn’t back down from anyone, and he takes on all comers. He will give the Leafs some much needed back bone.
You might remember Hollweg from the Chris Simon throat slash incident over a year ago. To be fair to the newest Leaf, while he did get slashed across the throat/face with a two hander, he did take a run at one of the league’s noted psychos, and boarded him from behind a bit to boot. Basically the Leafs have found a replacement for the shenanigans of Darcy Tucker that they only have to put on the ice as an “energy” guy, once every 10 minutes or so.
Don’t expect glorious things out of Hollweg. He’s got decent speed, and he’s not particularly old, only coming in at 25 years of age. He was with a very good Memorial Cup finalist Medicine Hat Tigers outfit in junior, and he is considered to have decent leadership and character. Hopefully he helps make the Leafs less pleasant to play against next season.
I would also like to make it perfectly clear that I have no idea if this is related to Brian Burke coming to Toronto… and frankly I don’t care. Hollweg will make the Leafs tougher to play against, but he’ll also take his share of stupid penalties. Who knows how this one pans out in the long run. In 2 years nobody will remember the Leafs dumped a 5th rounder on him, but then again in 10 years, it’s quite likely that most people won’t be filling scrapbooks with pictures of Ryan in a Leafs uniform either. Then again, we might be seeing him on the set of Leafs TV one day alongside Mark Osborne and Bob McGill… who knows these days?
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14 Responses to “Is Ryan Hollweg Smarter Than A 5th Rounder?”
By PPP on Jul 14, 2008
A little more jam in the lineup is never a bad thing. Worse case he is a bust and gets waive which could just as likely happen to a high 5th rounder.
Best case? He finds a little bit more of his scoring touch from junior and replaces Tucker’s lost insanity.
By Doug on Jul 14, 2008
For the next few years the Leafs will be beating ‘em in the alley, because it’s gonna be a while before they start winning on the ice. It seems Hollweg may be more willing than able. However, win or lose fans will have something to cheer for.
By neande tal on Jul 14, 2008
maybe all he needs is some hockey fighting classes
if you watch his fights you can see this guy has a stone chin
By eyebleaf on Jul 15, 2008
i don’t mind the toughness, but Sean at Down Goes Brown made the best point: couldn’t kris newbury and ben ondrus have filled this type of role? Sean’s absolutely right.
http://downgoesbrown.blogspot.com/2008/07/ryan-hollweg-leafs.html
and i like the word “thuggery”
By general borschevsky on Jul 15, 2008
Thanks for the good analysis. I also liked the title. I like this move because I think Kris Newbury is still a question mark for the NHL. No sense having all your eggs in one basket, epecially when the basket has a hole in it.
By mark on Jul 15, 2008
i’m fine with this trade. he’s cheap and young and is a pest. a cheap avery. Leafs will be tough to play against.
By LeaferSutherland on Jul 15, 2008
I believe the reason Cliff traded for Hollweg, was the fact that he happens to be known to throw a hit or two. I know everyone seems to be focusing on penalty minutes and fights won and lost, but the Buds really have little in the way of checking on the resume.
If Ryan can throw a hit on each of his few shifts and come to the aid of a teammate here and there, I like the deal. We haven’t heard a lot of boards crashing in the ACC for quite a while now.
By Mike on Jul 15, 2008
It will be nice to have a player who isn’t afraid of his own shadow like Stajan and Ponikarovsky
By bullspitt on Jul 15, 2008
this is a guy who is going to fit into the leafs new plan. A guy who is a real competiter, his speed in the forward posittion will be awsome for the trap.(same with hagman,and garbovski) Fletcher turned alot of his old players into draft picks. (or faster, younger players to fit the trap style) from what i see in this off season the leafs are now a stronger faster team its to bad they couldnt lock up sundin now. i really like where the team is heading the only concern i have is, i think they could have got some of the free agents they signed a little cheaper than what they went for. but i do know its hard to convince a player to come to a hockey town were they will be critazized for every move they make( so mabe thats why so much money had to be spent) oh ya and with fletcher getting so many defenceman watch for a trade, macabe most likly but, to get someone to take him they will need to sweetin the deal with a good young player ( white,stralman,)watch out fletcher doesnt make a 6 player trade.
By dan on Jul 15, 2008
6 player trades have me dreaming of plucking Iginla from Calgary… just like killer…
By Down Goes Brown on Jul 15, 2008
How many times a day do you think Fletcher calls up Risebrough in Minnesota?
By Steve on Jul 15, 2008
“We’ll ship you Jason Blake and Bryan McCabe… you send us Brent Burns and Marion Gaborik… deal?… deal!”
By Steve on Jul 15, 2008
Oh and comparing Hollweg to Avery is pretty ridiculous. Avery WINS most of his fights. He also has a hell of a lot more skill than Hollweg. Hollweg hits a lot, and then lets the other team use his face as a speed-bag… takes a licking and keeps on ticking. I wonder if he’ll retire from concussion issues a la Kypreos one day?
By LeaferSutherland on Jul 16, 2008
True, Steve. But then again Hollweg will take on anyone while Avery tends to pick his spots.
No argument on the skill side though.