yes you are right.
leafs are playing really bad because of Shore and his 9 1/2 ATOI per game
- MaximusAurelius

Please translate this for me?

what if Mikheyev isnt that good
- senstroll

that's only a problem... if he isn't the best forward on the ice...

which he was last night.

that's only a problem... if he isn't the best forward on the ice...

which he was last night.
- BorjeFan4Ever

I thought Spezza had a good game last night

Could you imagine the cap hell you'll be in when his ELC is up!? That's like 9th Circle of Cap Hell! Hard pass
- RickJames77

not a problem...

Matthews deal will be up by then.

I know the common narrative is that the Leafs problems are mostly defensive, and specifically talent on the D-end and lack of forwards playing team defense.

The things is, they aren't scoring either.

How different would the games look if they scored, or scored first once in a while.

Some of this appears to be bad luck, but every team and every players goes through this. It simply is not an excuse.

I wonder if the *real* problem is that they are one and done in the offensive zone most of the time, combined with a barely-average poweplay. If Dubas wants to assemble a team of high-skilled guys to out skate and out-score the oppostion, I don't have a philosophical argument with that.

They aren't doing that. They aren't putting much effort into the offensive zone play either.

If they would at least try at ONE end of the ice, I gotta think they would be better than what we are seeing.
- Aetherial

It is one and done combined with too much perimeter play. Plus, I wouldn't call it 'talent on the d-end'. Defensive hockey doesn't take talent. It takes a good system and guys committed to that system who are not afraid...

yes you are right.
leafs are playing really bad because of Shore and his 9 1/2 ATOI per game
- MaximusAurelius

maybe it has something to do with overpaying rfa's.

Oct 3, 2018 to Nov 30 2018: .692 pts %
Dec 1, 2018 to Feb 4, 2019: .596 pts %
Feb 5, 2019 to Apr 6, 2019: .550 pts %
Oct 2, 2019 to Nov 19, 2019 .523 pts %

Dec 1, 2018: Willy signs
Feb 5, 2019: Captain underpants sign
Sept 13, 2019: mitch money signs

I thought Spezza had a good game last night
- RickJames77

he had a couple of good shifts... and he actually shot the puck on net - which does differentiate him from his team mates quite a bit....

but largely invisible - which is what you'd expect for a guy in his role.

problem was Mikheyev was their best forward last night... and he's on the 3rd line...

I know the common narrative is that the Leafs problems are mostly defensive, and specifically talent on the D-end and lack of forwards playing team defense.

The things is, they aren't scoring either.

How different would the games look if they scored, or scored first once in a while.

Some of this appears to be bad luck, but every team and every players goes through this. It simply is not an excuse.

I wonder if the *real* problem is that they are one and done in the offensive zone most of the time, combined with a barely-average poweplay. If Dubas wants to assemble a team of high-skilled guys to out skate and out-score the oppostion, I don't have a philosophical argument with that.

They aren't doing that. They aren't putting much effort into the offensive zone play either.

If they would at least try at ONE end of the ice, I gotta think they would be better than what we are seeing.
- Aetherial

Matthews is nothing more than a shot.
One and done is his game.
At least he believes honesty is the best policy.
😂

I think a shakeup could be done without getting rid of a guy who doesn't appear to be a problem.

I think you could get rid of Barrie. You don't get much in return, but at this point, he is no better than any other dman in the system. Might as well save those cap$. I don't see the Leafs re-signing him anyway.
- Aetherial

Then it is simple you don't trade him.

If Barrie gets traded its for another UFA RD...Not many out there.

It would take three teams for it to work.

Could you imagine the cap hell you'll be in when his ELC is up!? That's like 9th Circle of Cap Hell! Hard pass
- RickJames77

(frank) it. At that point not only will we not need a backup, we won't need a starter either

he had a couple of good shifts... and he actually shot the puck on net - which does differentiate him from his team mates quite a bit....

but largely invisible - which is what you'd expect for a guy in his role.

problem was Mikheyev was their best forward last night... and he's on the 3rd line...
- BorjeFan4Ever

Maybe we should throw Mikheyev up with one of our big guns to try and get them going... Mikheyev and JT?

I think a shakeup could be done without getting rid of a guy who doesn't appear to be a problem.

I think you could get rid of Barrie. You don't get much in return, but at this point, he is no better than any other dman in the system. Might as well save those cap$. I don't see the Leafs re-signing him anyway.
- Aetherial

exactly...

if you want to shake something up... you don't getting rid of a guy who isn't a problem.

Barrie - fine, doesn't seem to have his mojo in Toronto

and...

Nylander or Johnsson

can't move Tavares
can't move Matthews
unlikely that Marner would get your Seth Jones - only a deal like that would warrant moving Marner

moving a 4th line guy buys you nothing

so who does that leave... Nylander, Johnsson or Kerfoot

It is one and done combined with too much perimeter play. Plus, I wouldn't call it 'talent on the d-end'. Defensive hockey doesn't take talent. It takes a good system and guys committed to that system who are not afraid...
- Hockey_Reverend

Who is responsible for that?

exactly...

if you want to shake something up... you don't getting rid of a guy who isn't a problem.

Barrie - fine, doesn't seem to have his mojo in Toronto

and...

Nylander or Johnsson

can't move Tavares
can't move Matthews
unlikely that Marner would get your Seth Jones - only a deal like that would warrant moving Marner

Also a lot of people have recency bias with Kapanen.

moving a 4th line guy buys you nothing

so who does that leave... Nylander, Johnsson or Kerfoot
- BorjeFan4Ever

Yeah just get players that work hard. We will be the Leafs of 2015....works hard but gets last place. Awesome.

Also people have recency bias with Kapanen right now.

exactly...

if you want to shake something up... you don't getting rid of a guy who isn't a problem.

Barrie - fine, doesn't seem to have his mojo in Toronto

and...

Nylander or Johnsson

can't move Tavares
can't move Matthews
unlikely that Marner would get your Seth Jones - only a deal like that would warrant moving Marner

moving a 4th line guy buys you nothing

so who does that leave... Nylander, Johnsson or Kerfoot
- BorjeFan4Ever

Why can’t they move Matthews?

Back to Gudbranson at 3rd overall
- Steven_Seagull

Yep. Back to when GMs made a stupid pick at 3 once a decade.

The good old days

Why can’t they move Matthews?
- daws44

They wouldn't.

It would be stupid.

I know the common narrative is that the Leafs problems are mostly defensive, and specifically talent on the D-end and lack of forwards playing team defense.

The things is, they aren't scoring either.

How different would the games look if they scored, or scored first once in a while.

Some of this appears to be bad luck, but every team and every players goes through this. It simply is not an excuse.

I wonder if the *real* problem is that they are one and done in the offensive zone most of the time, combined with a barely-average poweplay. If Dubas wants to assemble a team of high-skilled guys to out skate and out-score the oppostion, I don't have a philosophical argument with that.

They aren't doing that. They aren't putting much effort into the offensive zone play either.

If they would at least try at ONE end of the ice, I gotta think they would be better than what we are seeing.
- Aetherial

Leafs have a horrible expected goals % after being one of the best in the league the last 2 seasons.

imo a large chunk is coaching when it comes to that, we have seen this team can score goals

Who is responsible for that?
- PatC80

The system is on Babs and it looks awful.

The personnel is on Dubas. Our players are soft and not willing to do what it takes. Some of this I think is just from youth and will correct itself over time, but it also speaks to the lack of balance Dubas has created...

Maybe we should throw Mikheyev up with one of our big guns to try and get them going... Mikheyev and JT?
- Hockey_Reverend

I'd move Mikheyev into Nylander's spot... Moore into Johnsson spot

Tavares Hyman Nylander
Matthews Moore/Timashov and Mikheyev
Kerfoot/Spezza Johnsson and Kapanen
Goat Engvall Shore/Timashov

whatever is happening with Matthews and Nylander - they look stale and unmotivated for large periods of the game... so break them up

soon as Marner returns ...

shoot Nylander into the moon
shoot Barrie into the moon now - give him a chance to revive his season elsewhere... looks like a change of scenery might help

I'd move Mikheyev into Nylander's spot... Moore into Johnsson spot

Tavares Hyman Nylander
Matthews Moore/Timashov and Mikheyev
Kerfoot/Spezza Johnsson and Kapanen
Goat Engvall Shore/Timashov

whatever is happening with Matthews and Nylander - they look stale and unmotivated for large periods of the game... so break them up

soon as Marner returns ...

shoot Nylander into the moon
shoot Barrie into the moon now - give him a chance to revive his season elsewhere... looks like a change of scenery might help
- BorjeFan4Ever

Lists the Center first...classic boomer move

Is Rielly on the PK?

if so, get him off

also, the Leafs have been bad D wise since Rielly have been around.
makes you think

Why can’t they move Matthews?
- daws44

oh... I don't know.... let me think... franchise center, large CAP hit... might make the GM look like an ass... that kind of thing

Spezza on pace for 45 points over a 82 game season

The system is on Babs and it looks awful.

The personnel is on Dubas. Our players are soft and not willing to do what it takes. Some of this I think is just from youth and will correct itself over time, but it also speaks to the lack of balance Dubas has created...
- Hockey_Reverend

We do have some guys that are "gritty" like Muzzin, Kapanen, Hyman, Holl, Mikheyev (to an extent). Gauthier could probably be more physical too.
We need our top players to play with more intensity.. I don't know if that's coaching on motivate them or if the players don't give a poop anymore.