Boston had more points during the regular season and won in playoffs vs leafs - so not sure where you got the 'leafs had the better team' part...
- MaximusAurelius

Because regular season points matter in a best of seven. 5v5 the leafs were the better team in the playoffs if you actually watched the games.

I don't see the Leafs making a single trade this year.

And I think the Sabres will hang onto Ristolainen as long as they are above .500 - sends a bad signal if you trade a guy who doesn't want to be there because he doesn't think the team can win.

Just win, and it all goes away.
- Atomic Wedgie

You are probably right with the super risk averse approach dubas has taken so far...
It's clear though leafs need a better 2nd line lw and a proper 3c and a decent backup goalie.
If leafs fall in 1st/2nd round this year 'fans' will blame babcock but it is obvious that dubas is too conservative and needs to make a trade involving one or 2 of kapanen johnsson kerfoot nylander to address at least 2 of those three gaps.

In all honesty, it must have been great for you.
- bixll

Of course.

But it's all bittersweet when it helps the Bruins.

Because regular season points matter in a best of seven. 5v5 the leafs were the better team in the playoffs if you actually watched the games.
- harps43

In the real world, the team that wins, gets to say it was the better team.. nice try though

I don't see the Leafs making a single trade this year.

And I think the Sabres will hang onto Ristolainen as long as they are above .500 - sends a bad signal if you trade a guy who doesn't want to be there because he doesn't think the team can win.

Just win, and it all goes away.
- Atomic Wedgie

You don't always hear about the number of scouts at a game, but Friedman said that almost every team in the league had scouts at that game. Would seem like, Buffalo management contacted teams to say, what's your best offer for this guy - we're moving him. Remember, the president of the team is Kim Pegula.

In the real world, the team that wins, gets to say it was the better team.. nice try though
- MaximusAurelius

5v5 the leafs were the better team, because I did say 5 on 5. The bruins powerplay won that series which isn't hard to see.

And no they don't, there are plenty of games where the better team doesn't win or is that just not true either in your world?

5v5 the leafs were the better team, 5 on 5. The bruins powerplay won that series which isn't hard to see
- harps43

You should write gary bettman and suggest that he gives the leafs the "2018-2019 5 on 5 nhl champiosnhip trophy"

5v5 the leafs were the better team, because I did say 5 on 5. The bruins powerplay won that series which isn't hard to see.

And no they don't, there are plenty of games where the better team doesn't win or is that just not true either in your world?
- harps43

Credit should go where its due, if a team wins a series, they were the better team. Officiating, coaching, luck, bad ice conditions are meaningless. Champions overcome. St. Louis was a giant pile for the first half but they were the best team, not Tampa. plain and simple, the rest is fantasy.

You are probably right with the super risk averse approach dubas has taken so far...
It's clear though leafs need a better 2nd line lw and a proper 3c and a decent backup goalie.
If leafs fall in 1st/2nd round this year 'fans' will blame babcock but it is obvious that dubas is too conservative and needs to make a trade involving one or 2 of kapanen johnsson kerfoot nylander to address at least 2 of those three gaps.
- MaximusAurelius

I don't think it's a matter of being risk averse - it's a matter of them having absolutely no cap room.

They aren't getting a 2nd line winger without giving up significant assets - and that has to be in the form of an actual roster player making 2nd line money - there's nobody that really fits that bill. Johnsson or Kapanen isn't going to get you anything better in return, unless you give up another 1st rounder - and I don't think they are willing to go 3 drafts without a 1st.

We signed Kerfoot for 4 years - he's our 3rd line centre.

Backup? Yeah, maybe.

Credit should go where its due, if a team wins a series, they were the better team. Officiating, coaching, luck, bad ice conditions are meaningless. Champions overcome. St. Louis was a giant pile for the first half but they were the best team, not Tampa. plain and simple, the rest is fantasy.
- winsix

I'm not saying the Bruins weren't better, they were outplayed 5v5 though. You can say that, a team can win on special teams or lose on special teams. That is part of being the better team. It's not taking credit away by stating a losing team was better and lost because of special teams. This was just in reponse that the leafs were badly outcoached which wasn't true based on the flow of that series and how it played out.

You should write gary bettman and suggest that he gives the leafs the "2018-2019 5 on 5 nhl champiosnhip trophy"
- MaximusAurelius

So stating that the leafs weren't badly outcoached because for the most part were beter when most of the hockey was played isn't reasonable?

So stating that the leafs weren't badly outcoached because for the most part were beter when most of the hockey was played isn't reasonable?
- harps43

In my opinion, Babcock is a very good coach. I don't agree with every decision, but in my view, coaching has only a minor impact on the outcome of hockey games.

So stating that the leafs weren't badly outcoached because for the most part were beter when most of the hockey was played isn't reasonable?
- harps43

Throughly outcoached.... is a stretch, jmo

I'm not saying the Bruins weren't better, they were outplayed 5v5 though. You can say that, a team can win on special teams or lose on special teams. That is part of being the better team. It's not taking credit away by stating a losing team was better and lost because of special teams. This was just in reponse that the leafs were badly outcoached which wasn't true based on the flow of that series and how it played out.
- harps43

We all know it was the refs.

In my opinion, Babcock is a very good coach. I don't agree with every decision, but in my view, coaching has only a minor impact on the outcome of hockey games.
- winsix

one thing that makes a big difference though - and something that can make / break players, is icetime.
players that get more icetime (and i'm not saying 20mins vs 17.30mins, but 12mins vs 6mins) tend to look better, and definitely will get more points.
it's very tough to make a difference when only playing 6-8mins a night.
so coaching makes a difference for guys that are anything between fringe 2nd liners and 4th liners - a coach that believes in them can make their career by giving them more time, opportunities to make a mistake and learn from them without directly being 'punished'.
I think Babcock does that part quite well - the only players he was/is harder on were/are the guys that are top end talent (marner/nylander/matthews).

We all know it was the refs.
- RickJames77

To be honest, Chara gets away with more than any player i have ever seen in the NHL. Jmo

We all know it was the refs.
- RickJames77

I know you are joking, but refs rarely influence games. Unless we are talking Tim Donaghy

To be honest, Chara gets away with more than any player i have ever seen in the NHL. Jmo
- bixll

They should have a new award in Vegas this year. The Chara award for most uncalled cross-checks in a season.

They should have a new award in Vegas this year. The Chara award for most uncalled cross-checks in a season.

- winsix

It would be a staggering number

To be honest, Chara gets away with more than any player i have ever seen in the NHL. Jmo
- bixll

I always have the feeling that Chara is really playing with the breaks on.
If he'd really want, he'd obliterate some of these smaller players - in a legal way.
I don't get the criticism on him - he's a great player, a great defender, and a great role model - seems like a good guy and on top of that very intelligent as well. (not being sarcastic here).

new blog everyone

I know you are joking, but refs rarely influence games. Unless we are talking Tim Donaghy
- winsix

Game 2 was a franking joke.

The NHL officiating is a franking joke - but it's not the refs' fault.

The league wants games called a certain way.

As a result, we are the only sport in the world where an infraction is dependent upon what the score is, how much time is left in the game, how many penalties have already been called on each team, and if the defenceman is over 6'4" (Chara, Pronger, etc.).

I'd prefer NBA style, where at least it is consistent: superstars can do whatever they want, whenever they want, with no call.

I always have the feeling that Chara is really playing with the breaks on.
If he'd really want, he'd obliterate some of these smaller players - in a legal way.
I don't get the criticism on him - he's a great player, a great defender, and a great role model - seems like a good guy and on top of that very intelligent as well. (not being sarcastic here).
- MaximusAurelius

And a great crosschecker.

one thing that makes a big difference though - and something that can make / break players, is icetime.
players that get more icetime (and i'm not saying 20mins vs 17.30mins, but 12mins vs 6mins) tend to look better, and definitely will get more points.
it's very tough to make a difference when only playing 6-8mins a night.
so coaching makes a difference for guys that are anything between fringe 2nd liners and 4th liners - a coach that believes in them can make their career by giving them more time, opportunities to make a mistake and learn from them without directly being 'punished'.
I think Babcock does that part quite well - the only players he was/is harder on were/are the guys that are top end talent (marner/nylander/matthews).
- MaximusAurelius

Line matching, ice time and cheerleading are all coaching tasks. I think we give them way to much credit for wins and also for losses. If Matthews has a bad case of diarrhea, it will have more effect on the game than whether Babcock plays him 16 minutes or 20 minutes.

And a great crosschecker.
- Atomic Wedgie

Best ever, by far...