Good goaltending can cover defensive mistakes. Bad goaltending can make defensive mistakes look worse.


They need to add another D-man to pair with Rielly, and they need Andervember to show up.
- Steven_Seagull

Good goaltending has a calming effect on the entire team; yes, we need Anders0n or Anders1n back.

Also, can we try Holl with Rielly? Or even Barrie? Rielly is poo right now; he needs somebody to perk him up until he can find his game and carrying Ceci around doesn't help.

Muzzin's a rock right now and I think he's better prepared to support Ceci than Rielly is and before everyone freaks out about Rielly-Barrie, Barrie has not looked bad defensively at all.

before this season, most people would classify Neal as an AHL winger though
- MaximusAurelius

Uh, no. He had one crappy year with the Flames last year. That doesnt classify him as an AHLer.

Honestly Nylander doesnt shoot enough right now. He's got a great shot, and needs to start being more selfish.
- Archaic

Matthews hardly ever passes him the puck on odd man rushes. If Matthews passed Willy the puck after that spin-o-rama it was likely a tap in for Willy. We would've went up 3-0.

I dont see ceecee working at all with Rielly, both weak defensivly. putting them both out against the top lines is asking for problems

Babs put ceecee out for the 2nd most ice time last night.,
- senstroll

that's probably to make it clear to dubsie that ceci isnt magically a first line d ...

what if I told you that the Leafs are doing fine and the goaltendin will level off and not stay at .891





- senstroll

Probably need to play some better hockey in front of them too.

what if I told you that the Leafs are doing fine and the goaltendin will level off and not stay at .891





- senstroll

7ndersen should level off

Hutch (frank)ing sucks. He needs to be replaced. I think he knows that was his last game.

Uh, no. He had one crappy year with the Flames last year. That doesnt classify him as an AHLer.
- LeafGuy89

Didn’t fit with the Flames top 6 where he needs to be to score.

that's probably to make it clear to dubsie that ceci isnt magically a first line d ...
- MaximusAurelius

if there is a stupid childish dynamic going on like that, just dump Babs.

I honestly dont think that Babcock thinks ceci is awful and plays him 22 mins just to prove a point to Dubas

7ndersen should level off

Hutch (frank)ing sucks. He needs to be replaced. I think he knows that was his last game.
- Tumbleweed

How many of those were really stoppable though? Vranna's wide-open one-timer?
That 5-3 PP rocket from the slot? Kutz walking in with the deke in tight? Behind the net pass out front for a waiting Backstrom?

Those were all difficult saves to make... maybe peak Andersen would've stopped like one of those.

if there is a stupid childish dynamic going on like that, just dump Babs.

I honestly dont think that Babcock thinks ceci is awful and plays him 22 mins just to prove a point to Dubas
- senstroll

Yep. Guys like babs have hardons for guys like ceci.

All the physical tools, but not enough hockey sense to put it all together.

How many of those were really stoppable though? Vranna's wide-open one-timer?
That 5-3 PP rocket from the slot? Kutz walking in with the deke in tight? Behind the net pass out front for a waiting Backstrom?

Those were all difficult saves to make... maybe peak Andersen would've stopped like one of those.
- gravyface

Goalies need to make 1-2 hard saves.

Hutch can't catch. It's in his head and a real problem.

Early candidate for Downer of the Year post. Jesus H.

- gravyface

Sure thing Sparky. Drink the Koolaid. The "young kids" are not so young anymore. The "young kids" are now being paid big boy money. That means excelling and winning against teams that are actually good.

The NHL has evolved over the last decade. But the fact remains. The Stanley Cup winners continually are teams that grind you down and are hard to play against. They win the battle of attrition. Can you honestly say the Leafs could win FOUR series in such a fashion? They haven't even been able to win one.

Their only hope is a coaching change. Installing a new culture of accountability from top to bottom.

How many of those were really stoppable though? Vranna's wide-open one-timer?
That 5-3 PP rocket from the slot? Kutz walking in with the deke in tight? Behind the net pass out front for a waiting Backstrom?

Those were all difficult saves to make... maybe peak Andersen would've stopped like one of those.
- gravyface

I agree. The goals by Vrana and Carlson, no goalie would stop those.. That was a great fake by OV on the Carlson goal.
The thing with Hutch, isn't so much about him playing poorly, it's that the team plays different in front of him. They don't have any confidence in him, players seem to squeeze their sticks tighter when he is in goal.

Rielly is taking penalties because of Ceci's pooptiness plus the idiotic 5 on 3 PP he caused.

Ceci is garbage.
- JohnFergusonJr

I was told by Leaf fans that Ceci is a top 4 defensemen AND Dubas stole him from OTT.

if there is a stupid childish dynamic going on like that, just dump Babs.

I honestly dont think that Babcock thinks ceci is awful and plays him 22 mins just to prove a point to Dubas
- senstroll

it's the only option he has.
the earlier he can get 'the genius' to understand action on D needs to be taken, the better for Babcock.

I was told by Leaf fans that Ceci is a top 4 defensemen AND Dubas stole him from OTT.
- RedRevenge

I dont beleive this.

post some proof that Leaf fans said this or gtfo

I know I get a lot of blow back on my criticisms of the Tavares signing. But, it has adversely impacted the essential synchronicity or natural order necessary for building a Stanley Cup winner. Most problematic are the huge CAP pressures on the top end of the roster. It gets worse next year.

As Tavares assumes a stronger leadership role (going back to around Christmas of last year) the Leafs have started to look more and more like the Islanders. It is pure blah.

Trading Kadri was a huge error.

I was huge supporter of Shanaplan. Starting to have doubts about Dubas' understanding of how it can be delivered.
- spatso

Dude, shut the (frank) up

Sure thing Sparky. Drink the Koolaid. The "young kids" are not so young anymore. The "young kids" are now being paid big boy money. That means excelling and winning against teams that are actually good.

The NHL has evolved over the last decade. But the fact remains. The Stanley Cup winners continually are teams that grind you down and are hard to play against. They win the battle of attrition. Can you honestly say the Leafs could win FOUR series in such a fashion? They haven't even been able to win one.

Their only hope is a coaching change. Installing a new culture of accountability from top to bottom.
- BernardShakey

Keep in mind I've only had about a half a cup of coffee this morning, but I'm finding it hard to understand how firing the coach would make the Leafs a harder team to play against.

Is Babcock telling guys not to throw checks?

To appease the Debbie Downer Patrol, I will say that the Leafs have only won 24 of their last 50 regular season games, one ahead of the Oilers.

Do we blow it up or do we blow each other? The time has cum to decide.
- gravyface

Both... The former and the latter

Keep in mind I've only had about a half a cup of coffee this morning, but I'm finding it hard to understand how firing the coach would make the Leafs a harder team to play against.

Is Babcock telling guys not to throw checks?
- Atomic Wedgie

No, he needs to stop telling them to throw sticks

I know I get a lot of blow back on my criticisms of the Tavares signing. But, it has adversely impacted the essential synchronicity or natural order necessary for building a Stanley Cup winner. Most problematic are the huge CAP pressures on the top end of the roster. It gets worse next year.

As Tavares assumes a stronger leadership role (going back to around Christmas of last year) the Leafs have started to look more and more like the Islanders. It is pure blah.

Trading Kadri was a huge error.

I was huge supporter of Shanaplan. Starting to have doubts about Dubas' understanding of how it can be delivered.
- spatso

We would have been fine if we had taken Laine instead of Matthews.

Then we wouldn't have a cap problem.

It sucks to have so much talent on the team - you Ottawa fans sure are lucky.

No, he needs to stop telling them to throw sticks
- Symba007

Sundin is in the HHOF.

Suck on that all morning.

it's the only option he has.
the earlier he can get 'the genius' to understand action on D needs to be taken, the better for Babcock.
- MaximusAurelius

Dubas has brought in Muzzin, Barrie and Ceci. and to lesser extent Holl, Sandin and Marincin as bottom pair fill ins

Dermott is out, that hurts.

The GM has made changes, and is giving the coach lots of options. imo Babs is just a tad to stubborn to try some other combos sometimes. He plays the Polaks, Hainseys and now ceci entirely too much.

again imo, its the coaches job to find the best combo to get the most out of the D

Sundin is in the HHOF.

Suck on that all morning.
- Atomic Wedgie

finish your coffee, you're not yourself without a full cup of coffee in you

Keep in mind I've only had about a half a cup of coffee this morning, but I'm finding it hard to understand how firing the coach would make the Leafs a harder team to play against.

Is Babcock telling guys not to throw checks?
- Atomic Wedgie

Nope, he's just the guy putting guys like Kapanen and Kerfoot out in the final minutes of a game, when down by a goal, instead of loading up with Matthews/Marner/Tavares