A team can be taught D if its willing to learn and execute D strategies.
Seth would be a huge add...but not for matthews
- Fakepartofme

Yup. trade Marner before you move Matthews.

I don't think either need to be protected now?
- Garnie

I read yesterday that lucic would take up a protected spot.

He can average 3 more minutes a game and you could argue he's not being overplayed.

18 minutes in game 7. That's insanity by the coach.
- RogerRoeper

In a game 7 do or die elimination game Matthews should've played at least 25 minutes.

We can debate the wisdom of signing Tavares, or the Matthews contract or giving up a first to get away from the Marleau final year...

It find it interesting that the Leafs now have almost no horrible contracts. There *may* be slight overpayments but they are for young payers.

The only contract you could seriously question is Ceci. I still think that is a head-scratcher. Why not let him go to arbitration, let him walk away, sign Marner, and pick up a Dman off the scrap heap. At the very least sign him to bonus heavy contract to make a trade somewhat easier.

The only answer is that the Leafs appear to think Ceci offers real value at 4.5. I have no idea what they are basing that on. By anything I have seen he is no better than the September dumpster dive-ees.

So Dubas gets full marks for fixing an enormous problem. It looks like he was just one big question mark away from pretty much a perfect off-season

so far.
- Aetherial

I am reminded of a scene from the movie Awakenings:

Dr. Sayer: [about the catatonic patients] What's it like to be them? What are they thinking?
Dr. Peter Ingham: They're not. The virus didn't spare the higher faculties.
Dr. Sayer: We know that for a fact?
Dr. Peter Ingham: Yes.
Dr. Sayer: Because?
Dr. Peter Ingham: Because the alternative is unthinkable.

In a game 7 do or die elimination game Matthews should've played at least 25 minutes.
- gergeswillems

Yuo. Mckinnon was getting 25 minutes for Colorado. Seeing Gauthier taking shifts in that 3rd period was hilarious.

He can average 3 more minutes a game and you could argue he's not being overplayed.

18 minutes in game 7. That's insanity by the coach.
- RogerRoeper

His line was getting owned in game 7, maybe thats why....

You wanna jump on the "Nylanders going to score 80 points this year" and praise him, his line was getting all the chances in game 7.

Insanity is saying the same thing day after day after day.

I read yesterday that lucic would take up a protected spot.
- Fakepartofme

Why? I thought after they waived their NMC/NTC they were free to be traded again and again etc.

His line was getting owned in game 7, maybe thats why....

You wanna jump on the "Nylanders going to score 80 points this year" and praise him, his line was getting all the chances in game 7.

Insanity is saying the same thing day after day after day.
- Garnie

He had 5 goals in his last 5 games with that same usage. He was the hottest goal scorer on either team.


Gauthier got shifts in the 3rd. Gauthier..

You're reaching for excuses here. The best 5 on 5 goal scorer in the NHL doesn't crack thew top 80 in TOI.

In a game 7 do or die elimination game Matthews should've played at least 25 minutes.
- gergeswillems

My fellow Leafs fans will be all over me for this but I seriously question his fitness.

I don't think either need to be protected now?
- Garnie

Lucic will still have a NMC.

My fellow Leafs fans will be all over me for this but I seriously question his fitness.
- Aetherial

You can question it, but we can't tell as he's uderused every season.

His line was getting owned in game 7, maybe thats why....

You wanna jump on the "Nylanders going to score 80 points this year" and praise him, his line was getting all the chances in game 7.

Insanity is saying the same thing day after day after day.
- Garnie

I'd still take my chances with Matthews because he's that player who can win a game at any time even if he isn't playing well. If I lose because I played AM too much I'm fine with that.

I'd still take my chances with Matthews because he's that player who can win a game at any time even if he isn't playing well. If I lose because I played AM too much I'm fine with that.
- gergeswillems

And Freddie Gauthier was playing. Is that better than Matthews getting more?

Matthews was the best goal scorer on either team.

Logan
- Atomic Wedgie

Yes.

Terry

My fellow Leafs fans will be all over me for this but I seriously question his fitness.
- Aetherial

Maybe. We'll never know about it. That's inexcusable if true. Matthews is very young and should be in optimal shape. Send him to Gary Roberts this summer.

I am reminded of a scene from the movie Awakenings:

Dr. Sayer:
- Atomic Wedgie[about the catatonic patients] What's it like to be them? What are they thinking?
Dr. Peter Ingham: They're not. The virus didn't spare the higher faculties.
Dr. Sayer: We know that for a fact?
Dr. Peter Ingham: Yes.
Dr. Sayer: Because?
Dr. Peter Ingham: Because
the alternative is unthinkable.

I'd still take my chances with Matthews because he's that player who can win a game at any time even if he isn't playing well. If I lose because I played AM too much I'm fine with that.
- gergeswillems

Put another way, playing Matthews in the 3rd is like pulling your goalie: high risk, high reward.

Playing Gauthier just means you aren't going to lose by a higher margin. You are still conceding defeat.

Maybe. We'll never know about it. That's inexcusable if true. Matthews is very young and should be in optimal shape. Send him to Gary Roberts this summer.
- gergeswillems

Tread very lightly when you mention his hallowed name. The man was the very first person, anywhere, to conceive of mixing protein and other nutrients into a consumable beverage. Take care not to dirty his name.

Put another way, playing Matthews in the 3rd is like pulling your goalie: high risk, high reward.

Playing Gauthier just means you aren't going to lose by a higher margin. You are still conceding defeat.
- Atomic Wedgie

I get your overall theme, but I don't see high risk with Matthews at all given his numbers. He's also a puck posession beast and shot generator.

Only Mike Babcock would have Matthews sitting that much in the 3rd and play his 4th line C.

Well, let's not start sucking each other's Richards just yet.

... watched Pulp Fiction last night

He had 5 goals in his last 5 games with that same usage. He was the hottest goal scorer on either team.


Gauthier got shifts in the 3rd. Gauthier..

You're reaching for excuses here. The best 5 on 5 goal scorer in the NHL doesn't crack thew top 80 in TOI.
- RogerRoeper

TOI/GP

#29 Auston Matthews

What are you talking about??????????

He's a 1:37 behind Mackinnon at #5, talk about reaching for excuses, and Mackinnon had no one close to John Tavares on his team to share ice with.

Put another way, playing Matthews in the 3rd is like pulling your goalie: high risk, high reward.

Playing Gauthier just means you aren't going to lose by a higher margin. You are still conceding defeat.
- Atomic Wedgie

That was always my beef with Babs in Detroit. He'd play it too safe in game 7 and it bit him in the a$$ in the 2009 SCF vs Pittsburgh. Safe is death. He plays not to lose rather than play to win. That game will always pi$$ me off.

Lucic will still have a NMC.
- Atomic Wedgie

oh, I thought once you waived it you were free to be moved.

Seattle probably wouldn't take him anyways.

TOI/GP

#29 Auston Matthews

What are you talking about??????????

He's a 1:37 behind Mackinnon at #5, talk about reaching for excuses, and Mackinnon had no one close to John Tavares on his team to share ice with.
- Garnie

There were games Mackinnon was getting 24-26 minutes. Same with a guy like Panarin. in the clinching game in the 1st round for Colorado Mackinnon played 25 minutews

That was always my beef with Babs in Detroit. He'd play it too safe in game 7 and it bit him in the a$$ in the 2009 SCF vs Pittsburgh. Safe is death. He plays not to lose rather than play to win. That game will always pi$$ me off.
- gergeswillems

Agreed. Also, when you obsess over "Line-Matching", you are allowing the opposition tp always dictate your game plan. He's coaching the Leafs like they are a 1st year expansion team (Not Vegas).

You have more depth upfront than any team and so much starpwer. Use it.o