I like hockey.

I like the core..

But I think the core is malleable. So far it’s been smooth sailing, guys have been living up to their contracts. But there’s a whole new level of pressure this year. Willy got his ass hairs singed last year because he didn’t live up to his. This could turn fast, and Willy has the shortest leash, then Mitch, then Matthews, then probably Kap... We’re a new generation of fans, we’re starting to forget what it’s like to be bad, but I’m getting comfortable yet, cautiously optimistic.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Why would Kap have less EDIT: *more* leash than AM34? Sure, Matthews signed a massive deal that he'll be held accountable for but Kap's deal is short and easily movable. If Kapanen doesn't produce this year as expected he'll be next to go to clear Kap... err.. cap space.

except when you've had too much
- daeth

That’s never fun.. done it once.. felt more like mushrooms but not mushrooms..

Im liking the play of Agostino and Matt Read.

Read has been very industrious.

Nylander also looks like how i remember him. Playing with a lot of energy.


Cody Ceci looks lost a little bit unfortunately. I have alot of respect for him and he'll turn it around.
- Tom Dusome

I expect Ceci, Kerfoot, Harpur, Barrie, Spezza and Schmaltz to all look lost for the first 2-3 games. I'm pretty sure that guys like Harpur may never not look lost. The book is out on Schmaltz,but I'm optimistic. Ceci's body of work isn't encouraging, but let's wait and see.

That's the only issue is the capspace but thinking Domingue is far better than a chance on Neuvirth being healthy and if/when he breaks then what? hutch again? Or worse Kaskisuo? I wouldn't mind ditching off a low end salary somewhere like Marincin, etc to make the difference work to get him in than chance it. 21-5 last season and would be a definite solid young backup option behind Freddy.
- Roadrunner75

So I posted this earlier today in an older thread, but . . .

__
Domingue might be a better option than what we have, but his cap hit is $450k more than we currently have for Hutchinson. He's also not that good overall.

The league average Low Danger Save Percentage is .976.
Domingue has been .956, .977 and .974 in his last three years.

Medium Danger, the league average is .917
Domingue is at .915, .897 and .908.

High Danger chances, the league average is .799;

with Arizona three years ago he was great at .844, but his last two years have been .796 and .757

So last year on one of the best teams in recent history, he posted below average save statistics at 5v5 in all three categories.
___

So, while Domingue is probably better than Hutchinson, it's probably not significant enough to justify the problems it causes with our cap - since it's so close to bubbling over. That said - that's my take from looking at some numbers, and seeing him in Arizona 3 years ago when he sucked donkey balls - and not in a good way.

Why would Kap have less leash than AM34? Sure, Matthews signed a massive deal that he'll be held accountable for but Kap's deal is short and easily movable. If Kapanen doesn't produce this year as expected he'll be next to go to clear Kap... err.. cap space.
- mjones242

Precisely because of that big contract, and he’ll probably be captain. If the Leafs don’t perform up to potential, Matthews’ leadership will be tested by the media. He’ll be feeling the heat. If Kap moreso, then why not mango too? If Rielly has another Norris caliber season, will he pressure Dubas into resigning earlier? They’re all feeling a ton of pressure I guess...

I expect Ceci, Kerfoot, Harpur, Barrie, Spezza and Schmaltz to all look lost for the first 2-3 games. I'm pretty sure that guys like Harpur may never not look lost. The book is out on Schmaltz,but I'm optimistic. Ceci's body of work isn't encouraging, but let's wait and see.
- Monkeypunk

I thought Barrie and Schmaltz looked pretty good their first game overall, Ceci actually wasn't too bad either. Harpur seemed to be 50/50 did some things but seemed a bit, slow lost. Spezza seemed to be a bit lost and trying to settle in too, same with Kerfoot after the first game. Gonna take them a bit of time to adjust I think and whole new systems teammates expectations for them too.

It's only game 3 of the pre season no less too. Have to have patience here some till we get some cuts made and we start to get more towards the roster.

But they’re not winning the right way. So they suck.
- Steven_Seagull

absolutely.

blow it up now...

before the sky falls, the cap goes down, and everyone gets offer sheets - endless offer sheets.


I just realized... what is Dreger going to do to feed his family next year - when there are no RFAs

I just realized... what is Dreger going to do to feed his family next year - when there are no RFAs
- BorjeFan4Ever

Sign up and be a Carolina ice girl in their red/black lil outfits?!

I thought Barrie and Schmaltz looked pretty good their first game overall, Ceci actually wasn't too bad either. Harpur seemed to be 50/50 did some things but seemed a bit, slow lost. Spezza seemed to be a bit lost and trying to settle in too, same with Kerfoot after the first game. Gonna take them a bit of time to adjust I think and whole new systems teammates expectations for them too.

It's only game 3 of the pre season no less too. Have to have patience here some till we get some cuts made and we start to get more towards the roster.
- Roadrunner75

Yeah, that's exactly what I mean. They don't all have their legs. They don't have a sense of one another yet. What is sensible to the system you played may be a terrible idea in the new system. I like, individually, what I see from most of them. I don't like what I've seen from Harpur, but I know some people will love that he stood up for a teammate in his first 5 minutes of ice times.

Preseason . . . I mentioned a few days ago going to a game where we saw Tellqvist play against Buffalo (where he said after the game something like, "People over here one-time the puck a lot more than people in Sweden, I'm not used to that") . . . in that game, newly signed Alexander Mogilny dropped the puck back - at Buffalo's blue line - to NO ONE. He was the last man back.

Buffalo went in on a 3 on 0. It was brutal. That's preseason hockey.

. . . Or hockey night if you're Jake Gardiner!

Yeah, that's exactly what I mean. They don't all have their legs. They don't have a sense of one another yet. What is sensible to the system you played may be a terrible idea in the new system. I like, individually, what I see from most of them. I don't like what I've seen from Harpur, but I know some people will love that he stood up for a teammate in his first 5 minutes of ice times.

Preseason . . . I mentioned a few days ago going to a game where we saw Tellqvist play against Buffalo (where he said after the game something like, "People over here one-time the puck a lot more than people in Sweden, I'm not used to that") . . . in that game, newly signed Alexander Mogilny dropped the puck back - at Buffalo's blue line - to NO ONE. He was the last man back.

Buffalo went in on a 3 on 0. It was brutal. That's preseason hockey.

. . . Or hockey night if you're Jake Gardiner!
- Monkeypunk

Poor Jake still will never live down all his giveups like that will he?!

And yeah preseason is just that, not till the last few games when the battles really kick in for a few spots is it gonna matter and the guys really start having that chemistry.

As for Harpur, I like his physical side, willingness to block shots etc. Need to see him a bit more honestly to see if he settles more and can contribute. I don't mind him as a 6/7 D guy though, like him more than Marincrap out there.

Yeah, that's exactly what I mean. They don't all have their legs. They don't have a sense of one another yet. What is sensible to the system you played may be a terrible idea in the new system. I like, individually, what I see from most of them. I don't like what I've seen from Harpur, but I know some people will love that he stood up for a teammate in his first 5 minutes of ice times.

Preseason . . . I mentioned a few days ago going to a game where we saw Tellqvist play against Buffalo (where he said after the game something like, "People over here one-time the puck a lot more than people in Sweden, I'm not used to that") . . . in that game, newly signed Alexander Mogilny dropped the puck back - at Buffalo's blue line - to NO ONE. He was the last man back.

Buffalo went in on a 3 on 0. It was brutal. That's preseason hockey.

. . . Or hockey night if you're Jake Gardiner!
- Monkeypunk

Maybe they’ve only heard rumours about Babs, and they’re a little tentative to really show their game? They look like they’re trying to play it safe because they know one mistake and they’ll be in the doghouse.

Cody Ceci wearing an A
- Atomic Wedgie

Some guys would tell you it's for....Ahahahahahahaha

Holy hell Nylander gets utterly robbed right there!

that save on nylander lol

Sick snipe willy

Holy hell Nylander gets utterly robbed right there!
- Roadrunner75

dont even know what was more impressive, that nylander got the puck on net or that the goalie made the save

dont even know what was more impressive, that nylander got the puck on net or that the goalie made the save
- daeth

50/50. Willy needs to learn to aim.

Im liking the play of Agostino and Matt Read.

Read has been very industrious.

Nylander also looks like how i remember him. Playing with a lot of energy.


Cody Ceci looks lost a little bit unfortunately. I have alot of respect for him and he'll turn it around.
- Tom Dusome

I am also noticing a lack of communication between the young defense and anderson. Decisons need to be quicker.

Sandin is really making a case for being part of the team here

andersen can still hockey

andersen can still hockey
- daeth

Hoping he skips his Octobersen stage and goes right to midseason form.

Agostino is looking good too out there, tryin to get noticed and making a bit of a mark in this game with an assist already and some more good work

Hoping he skips his Octobersen stage and goes right to midseason form.
- UsernameUnknown

im just hoping he's on a hot streak come playoff time

sabres making nylander look bure fast