I love my Leafs but the way this team plays defence, they will be a long time getting past the first round. Way too soft in there own end. They're cute & pretty but like warm butter on the back end. I hope I get proven wrong sometime in the near future and they will be good enough to make it all the way but I am not sold.
- NewfieStud

A large % of the defense's issues are forwards not helping them out. For the most part, the Leafs defense is asked to do all the defending. The forwards collapse to the middle.

If these defensemen are lucky enough to achieve the puck after 15 seconds of battling against two of the opposition, they are then required to launch an 80 foot pass up to the forwards, through opposition players in sufficient time that the forwards aren't then offside.

I expect this to change come playoff time, but it puts a lot of stress of the defensemen's responsibilities

Isn't an alt account to avoid a ban even more obvious to spot when it's flagging posts?
- Unholy_Goalie

Kadri needs to be moved off the PP1 unit. I know he was a 30 goal guy last year but with Nylander back let’s make the switch, yes?

Matthews-Tavares-Marner-Rielly-Nylander

Marleau(Johnsson?)-Kadri-Kapanen-Gardiner-Dermott
- mjones242

Matthews, Nylander, Kadri, Rielly, Kapanen

Tavares, Marner, Marleau, Zaitsev, Johnsson

Matthews, Nylander, Kadri, Rielly, Kapanen

Tavares, Marner, Marleau, Zaitsev, Johnsson
- walshyleafsfan

Zaitsev on the PP? (frank). That.

Zaitsev on the PP? (frank). That.
- Unholy_Goalie

He's much more useful than Gardiner. Jake's hesitates and takes a split second too long in every decision he makes. That's costly on a PP. Zaitsev would do a much better job there.

He's much more useful than Gardiner. Jake's hesitates and takes a split second too long in every decision he makes. That's costly on a PP. Zaitsev would do a much better job there.
- walshyleafsfan

Definitely no. Zaitsev misses more passes (very simple ones) than anybody else on defense. He absolutely has no place on the PP.

A large % of the defense's issues are forwards not helping them out. For the most part, the Leafs defense is asked to do all the defending. The forwards collapse to the middle.

If these defensemen are lucky enough to achieve the puck after 15 seconds of battling against two of the opposition, they are then required to launch an 80 foot pass up to the forwards, through opposition players in sufficient time that the forwards aren't then offside.

I expect this to change come playoff time, but it puts a lot of stress of the defensemen's responsibilities
- walshyleafsfan

It's a flawed system and there doesn't seem to be a back-up plan when it's not working. As time rolls on teams review constant video of there opposition's systems and prepare ways to counter attack it! Leafs seem to want to try the same method over & over again even if it's not working. Are Babcock's systems becoming outdated? He's still a good coach but it's quite possible his teaching methods are not quite as effective as once was. I just have a feeling we will endure the exact same problems as before come playoff time.

It's a flawed system and there doesn't seem to be a back-up plan when it's not working. As time rolls on teams review constant video of there opposition's systems and prepare ways to counter attack it! Leafs seem to want to try the same method over & over again even if it's not working. Are Babcock's systems becoming outdated? He's still a good coach but it's quite possible his teaching methods are not quite as effective as once was. I just have a feeling we will endure the exact same problems as before come playoff time.
- NewfieStud

Babcock has a young, fast team so he tries to use that to his benefit which is the reason why the Leafs are #1 in the NHL in stretch passes. Problem with that is that as soon as a team figures out how to block the neutral zone, those passes become interceptions and counter attacks. This is why Boston always kills the Leafs, especially in the playoffs.

This is 50% on Babcock and 50% on Dubas for not giving the Leafs more players that can play the game differently. The Leafs need more players that can play a harder style, spend more time in the offensive zone and less time trying to hit long bomb passes and free wheel their way to every win.

Leafs have enough talent that they shouldn't rely on their goalie to win every game for them. Hutchison wasn't great but he was good enough. Leafs created a lot of chances in the 3rd, they just didn't finish. They gave the puck away too much for the majority of the game and started playing well too late.
- Unholy_Goalie

But don't you know that it's the greatest Leafs roster ever assembled, or since the 1940's? It's just an NHL conspiracy that the shot keepers are under counting the Leafs shots and over counting the opposition shots. At least that is what most of the fan-base on here believe. Time to Ouija the spirits of Turk Broda, Johnny Bower and Terry Sawchuk and get answers.

It's a flawed system and there doesn't seem to be a back-up plan when it's not working. As time rolls on teams review constant video of there opposition's systems and prepare ways to counter attack it! Leafs seem to want to try the same method over & over again even if it's not working. Are Babcock's systems becoming outdated? He's still a good coach but it's quite possible his teaching methods are not quite as effective as once was. I just have a feeling we will endure the exact same problems as before come playoff time.
- NewfieStud

I think it will change come playoff time. Play tje first 70 odd games this way because they have the talent to walk into the playoffs, then tighten it up come playoff time and have the forwards support the D.

Like the forwards are allowed to do it now, they just don't . You're not gonna be scratched or fined because you're back supporting the D.

Babcock has a young, fast team so he tries to use that to his benefit which is the reason why the Leafs are #1 in the NHL in stretch passes. Problem with that is that as soon as a team figures out how to block the neutral zone, those passes become interceptions and counter attacks. This is why Boston always kills the Leafs, especially in the playoffs.

This is 50% on Babcock and 50% on Dubas for not giving the Leafs more players that can play the game differently. The Leafs need more players that can play a harder style, spend more time in the offensive zone and less time trying to hit long bomb passes and free wheel their way to every win.
- Unholy_Goalie

They should scout the Finland jr team

Definitely no. Zaitsev misses more passes (very simple ones) than anybody else on defense. He absolutely has no place on the PP.
- Unholy_Goalie

Gardiner doesn't have the brain capacity to be on the PP. Thankfully after this season, it should no longer be an issue.

He's much more useful than Gardiner. Jake's hesitates and takes a split second too long in every decision he makes. That's costly on a PP. Zaitsev would do a much better job there.
- walshyleafsfan

I’d put dermott there way before Zaitsev. Gardiner is ok in that position but leafs need a heavy shot from the point.

I’d put dermott there way before Zaitsev. Gardiner is ok in that position but leafs need a heavy shot from the point.
- bryant

I think Zaitsev has a heavier shot than both Gardiner and Dermott

I'm not opposed to Dermott, it just can't be Jake

I think Zaitsev has a heavier shot than both Gardiner and Dermott

I'm not opposed to Dermott, it just can't be Jake
- walshyleafsfan

Gardiner's shot reminds me of a pitch and run

But don't you know that it's the greatest Leafs roster ever assembled, or since the 1940's? It's just an NHL conspiracy that the shot keepers are under counting the Leafs shots and over counting the opposition shots. At least that is what most of the fan-base on here believe. Time to Ouija the spirits of Turk Broda, Johnny Bower and Terry Sawchuk and get answers.
- PrinceLH

How kind of you to take a break from posting racist poop on Twitter and grace us with your presence...

How kind of you to take a break from posting racist poop on Twitter and grace us with your presence...
- lumlums

I was hoping no one would acknowledge it. Boo-urns, Lums, boo-urns.

But don't you know that it's the greatest Leafs roster ever assembled, or since the 1940's? It's just an NHL conspiracy that the shot keepers are under counting the Leafs shots and over counting the opposition shots. At least that is what most of the fan-base on here believe. Time to Ouija the spirits of Turk Broda, Johnny Bower and Terry Sawchuk and get answers.
- PrinceLH

I was hoping no one would acknowledge it. Boo-urns, Lums, boo-urns.
- Dongull_Trump

- TheMussel

Babcock has a young, fast team so he tries to use that to his benefit which is the reason why the Leafs are #1 in the NHL in stretch passes. Problem with that is that as soon as a team figures out how to block the neutral zone, those passes become interceptions and counter attacks. This is why Boston always kills the Leafs, especially in the playoffs.

This is 50% on Babcock and 50% on Dubas for not giving the Leafs more players that can play the game differently. The Leafs need more players that can play a harder style, spend more time in the offensive zone and less time trying to hit long bomb passes and free wheel their way to every win.
- Unholy_Goalie

Exactly...they do have a ton of skill to wing it by free wheeling many nights but lack the maturity to realize that being cute and pretty is just that....not a recipe for long term playoff success.

How kind of you to take a break from posting racist poop on Twitter and grace us with your presence...
- lumlums

It's your favourite season....winter.....many snowflakes, more recruits.....same results.

It's your favourite season....winter.....many snowflakes, more recruits.....same results.

- PrinceLH

I see that you've found a dictionary and learned some more words. Now all you have to do is learn how to put them into a coherent sentence

Matthews, Nylander, Kadri, Rielly, Kapanen

Tavares, Marner, Marleau, Gardiner, Johnsson
- walshyleafsfan

Fixed.

Fixed.
- gravyface

Not quite, I still see Kadri on PP1.