#1 that whole bullpoop about no calling penalties on one team because the other team doesn't get called for pp has to stop. Call penalties when penalties are committed whether it's the 7th consecutive pp for one team or not.

The leafs were one of the lowest pp opportunities last year and that is utterly ridiculous.


#2 had their pp been effective then they would have scored more and led to more wins and more pp goals means other team worried about taking penalties.
- burn

Leafs are 31st in PP opportunities the past 2 years. Not a lot of people talk about it, but it really hurts the team.

And on top of that, our coach will take our #1 PP unit off after 40 seconds when they are dominating so he can line-match when back 5 on 5....

Over the course of a season that's akiller

Back when the Red Wings were a scoring machine, Holland used to always say the Red Wings power play was their enforcer. It's especially true nowadays. You can bury teams in the playoffs with a great power play. With the guys the Leafs have, there's no reason why they can't do that.
- gergeswillems

They also won their cups with utterly stacked defences.

Ceci is poop minus the grit, and matches the description above. Why did we take him?
- Byfuglien Ate Me

Because we had to move out an even worse player on a longer term deal?

Because he might not be as bad as some thing? The team thinks they can turn him around?

Some engagement would help. Avoiding engagement ad hoping for PPs led to the lowest amount of PPs so the strategy did backfire to an extent.

I would like to see some sort of response in the regular season when a guy takes a run at say, Matthews in the corner on a dangerous hit, rather than getting a 2 minute PP. Need to create at least a bit of fear for the opposition in taking runs at the top guys.
- aminnes

Problem is, by the time you retaliate - it's usually too late, your player has already taken the cheap shot. I like the better players stepping up as Gergeswillems pointed out. Having a goon on the bench takes up a roster spot for not much added value. A tough player that can skate for the fourth line will be ok.

I agree with this. Dubas has done well, but why does that mean no one can point out things they would like to see or questions they have about the roster without it being perceived as Dubas hate?

Have the trolls gotten to us around here?
- Byfuglien Ate Me

I'm not saying they should not, it's just no team is perfect and the complaints go overboard.

I look at our core and find it weird people still complain so much.

Dubas had an amazing summer.
- RogerRoeper

He did indeed. Looking forward to watching this crew this year

#1 that whole bullpoop about no calling penalties on one team because the other team doesn't get called for pp has to stop. Call penalties when penalties are committed whether it's the 7th consecutive pp for one team or not.

The leafs were one of the lowest pp opportunities last year and that is utterly ridiculous.


#2 had their pp been effective then they would have scored more and led to more wins and more pp goals means other team worried about taking penalties.
- burn

To the first point, that's kinda the point. they are relying a very inconsistent league in terms of calls and suspensions. A a little fear - not of the ref - can go a long way.

It's comical seeing the Bernier Wives Club in denial after the divorce...

"I wasn't a Bernier fan!" ... except that you cupped his bawls for 3 years
- SofaKingBored

Good to see I wasn’t the only one to notice that.

To the first point, that's kinda the point. they are relying a very inconsistent league in terms of calls and suspensions. A a little fear - not of the ref - can go a long way.
- aminnes

I do not agree at all. It's no inconsistent, in fact very consistent. They've show that the refs tend to not call penalties against a team like the leafs because they don't take penalties. They deliberately try to match penalties.

Bernier leads to Mandela.
- gergeswillems

That was embarrassing.


Trade us Applicator for grit. Keep most of his salary- name your ask

Problem is, by the time you retaliate - it's usually too late, your player has already taken the cheap shot. I like the better players stepping up as Gergeswillems pointed out. Having a goon on the bench takes up a roster spot for not much added value. A tough player that can skate for the fourth line will be ok.
- winsix

This.

Babcock won’t play guys because their “Dubas guys”

Now I’ve heard it all


DERP

Problem is, by the time you retaliate - it's usually too late, your player has already taken the cheap shot. I like the better players stepping up as Gergeswillems pointed out. Having a goon on the bench takes up a roster spot for not much added value. A tough player that can skate for the fourth line will be ok.
- winsix

Doesn't have to be retaliation per say. But a few guys that the other team knows are going to put them through the boards would help. And sure, the odd dust up if necessary doesn't hurt. All I'm saying, based on the liberties taken on the Leafs - including the playoffs, and including the best players, and including JT - hoping for refs and the league to help probly isn't going to work. Right now the 4th line of Spezza, Goat, and Moore doesn't scream "I better not make this borderline hit."

I do not agree at all. It's no inconsistent, in fact very consistent. They've show that the refs tend to not call penalties against a team like the leafs because they don't take penalties. They deliberately try to match penalties.
- burn

Either way, the strategy isn't likely to start working.

Because we had to move out an even worse player on a longer term deal?

Because he might not be as bad as some thing? The team thinks they can turn him around?
- burn

Is Zaitsev worse? His deal is.

He’s as bad as some thing.

Like they have turned who around?

Doesn't have to be retaliation per say. But a few guys that the other team knows are going to put them through the boards would help. And sure, the odd dust up if necessary doesn't hurt. All I'm saying, based on the liberties taken on the Leafs - including the playoffs, and including the best players, and including JT - hoping for refs and the league to help probly isn't going to work. Right now the 4th line of Spezza, Goat, and Moore doesn't scream "I better not make this borderline hit."
- aminnes

Remember when Martin was on the roster and all the liberaties stopped? Yeah me neither. Goons on the bench doesn't stop nonsense from happening.its a waste of space

Is Zaitsev worse? His deal is.

He’s as bad as some thing.

Like they have turned who around?
- Byfuglien Ate Me

Zaitsev is horrendously bad, ceci can't possibly be worse. It literally can't be possible so at worst we get an exhale bad player and only have to deal for one year.

I'm not saying they should not, it's just no team is perfect and the complaints go overboard.
- RogerRoeper

Fair nuff, seems like the trolls have this place a bit on tilt lately as well

I do not agree at all. It's no inconsistent, in fact very consistent. They've show that the refs tend to not call penalties against a team like the leafs because they don't take penalties. They deliberately try to match penalties.
- burn

Agree, but Leafs will also have to show some discipline and not whine to the refs when a call is missed - and that includes Babcock. No sour faces, nose to the grindstone and play.

Zaitsev is horrendously bad, ceci can't possibly be worse. It literally can't be possible so at worst we get an exhale bad player and only have to deal for one year.
- burn

To get out from Zaitsev's 5 years remaining on the deal is a massive plus. That was a big waste. Especially with him being used completely different than the year that got him that deal.

Zaitsev is horrendously bad, ceci can't possibly be worse. It literally can't be possible so at worst we get an exhale bad player and only have to deal for one year.
- burn

Now that I can agree with

McAvoy
3 years x 4.9m
😡

Because we had to move out an even worse player on a longer term deal?

Because he might not be as bad as some thing? The team thinks they can turn him around?
- burn

I agree with this assessment. Ceci was a decent player, playing on the second D, during the Karlsson era. He was paired with Phaneuf for a while. That would effect any players career. His recent play, with the Sens, was a reflection of the talent that he was playing with. A new start, better talent and his career may take off for the better. A good gamble, to get rid of Zeitsev and Brown.

McAvoy
3 years x 4.9m
😡
- mr.sir

McAvoy
3 years x 4.9m
😡
- mr.sir

Like a good hometown boy.