Gotta be on the right side of the puck. Gotta work hard and play the right way. Can't be playing pond hockey out there. Gotta dig in and win the puck battles in the corners.
- TheMussel

Just take it one shift at a time and focus on doing the little things right.

The other team has come to play - we can't take it for granted. Every game is important this time of year.

You really dislike Ceci huh?
- Dozzer

He's pure garbage.

Boston or Tampa! Pick your poison. It's not going to be gravy and it shouldn't be!
- NewfieStud

Tampa.

With the Leafs having home ice advantage.

Yeah, I just went there.

Ceci or Marincin. Pick your poison. Keep them to 8 mins a night or less.
- aminnes

Yeah there really isn’t a choice that doesn’t make you wince a little for one reason or another is there?

Tampa.

With the Leafs having home ice advantage.

Yeah, I just went there.
- Atomic Wedgie

Home ice huh?

Ok, I can support this.... the leafs could use the boost in their media share

Yeah there really isn’t a choice that doesn’t make you wince a little for one reason or another is there?
- Dozzer

They have to see it as team defence. Strategize to play solid d, they don't need as many chances to score as other teams.

They have to see it as team defence. Strategize to play solid d, they don't need as many chances to score as other teams.
- aminnes

Not happening. Pond hockey, 5-4.

Home ice huh?

Ok, I can support this.... the leafs could use the boost in their media share
- Dozzer

We are currently 9 points back.

We still have two games against them.

They play Boston twice this week.

Stamkos is out.

If you ignore the fact that they are really, really good and our goaltender is really, really bad, making up 9 points is doable!

Glug glug glug - mnmmmmmmm, blue Kool-aid.

They have to see it as team defence. Strategize to play solid d, they don't need as many chances to score as other teams.
- aminnes

They need to score first.

It's really that simple.

This team is completely different when they have the lead.

https://www.hockey-refere...TOR/2020_situational.html

These are crazy numbers.

We are currently 9 points back.

We still have two games against them.

They play Boston twice this week.

Stamkos is out.

If you ignore the fact that they are really, really good and our goaltender is really, really bad, making up 9 points is doable!

Glug glug glug - mnmmmmmmm, blue Kool-aid.
- Atomic Wedgie

We’ve got one top 4 d man who’s having an off year in the line up and we’re talking about over taking the lightning.... the worst part for me is that I can see your point and a part of me thinks it’s valid lol

We’ve got one top 4 d man who’s having an off year in the line up and we’re talking about over taking the lightning.... the worst part for me is that I can see your point and a part of me thinks it’s valid lol
- Dozzer

Win these games on the road trip first.

We will reconvene then about the possible chance of home ice

We’ve got one top 4 d man who’s having an off year in the line up and we’re talking about over taking the lightning.... the worst part for me is that I can see your point and a part of me thinks it’s valid lol
- Dozzer

If you look at Florida's sked, they've got a tough row to hoe over the next few weeks.

My fearless prediction is that Montreal will actually pass them.

Which means the Leafs actually have a bigger cushion right now than five points.

So the Leafs will probably end up in that hockey standings purgatory - no team can catch them, but they can't catch Tampa for 2nd.

Which may not be such a bad thing - ease guys back into the lineup, enforce a ban on blocking shots, steam clean Carlton's costume, get ready for the playoffs.

Considering they already burned the year of ELC off Sandin's contract, they should play him, sink or swim. If he sucks, it's experience. If he succeeds, good for him.

Either way, Ceci should be stapled to the press box unless there is literally nobody else available.
- JohnFergusonJr

sunk costs. need to do what is best for the team and his development.

sandin had gone 13 games without a point prior to picking up an assist against the nucks.

he has been on the ice for 12 goals against in the last 7 games. largely due to teams exploiting his weaknesses.

give him a few more games. 30 or so games is great experience for a 19 year-old. but it's beyond challenging for him out there. it's overwhelming.

writing is on the wall that he is not ready for the show just yet. keeping him up here for much longer will only crush his confidence.

Win these games on the road trip first.

We will reconvene then about the possible chance of home ice
- Santo_44

Just because I started it, let's continue to have fun:

Tampa plays Boston, Montreal, Boston this week.

The Leafs do the formerly dreaded West Coast swing (do Vancouver fans get butt-hurt because they aren't considered part of the West Coast swing? They get butt-hurt about everything else).

Boston wants to beat the brains out of Tampa. Maybe the Bolts look past Montreal, and as a result Tampa goes 0-3 this week while the Leafers go 3-0.

That's down to a 3 point lead in the standings, and looky, looky, looky - Leafs vs. Tampa next Tuesday.

This thing is on, gentlemen. This thing is on.

On like Donkey Kong.

sunk costs. need to do what is best for the team and his development.

sandin had gone 13 games without a point prior to picking up an assist against the nucks.

he has been on the ice for 12 goals against in the last 7 games. largely due to teams exploiting his weaknesses.

give him a few more games. 30 or so games is great experience. but it's beyond challenging for him out there. it's overwhelming.

writing is on the wall that he is not ready for the show just yet. keeping him up here for much longer will only crush his confidence.
- Tumbleweed

That depends entirely on him. Getting demoted could be more crushing than being in the NHL and struggling.

The year on his contract is burned anyway, play him ahead of Ceci no matter what.

sunk costs. need to do what is best for the team and his development.

sandin had gone 13 games without a point prior to picking up an assist against the nucks.

he has been on the ice for 12 goals against in the last 7 games. largely due to teams exploiting his weaknesses.

give him a few more games. 30 or so games is great experience for a 19 year-old. but it's beyond challenging for him out there. it's overwhelming.

writing is on the wall that he is not ready for the show just yet. keeping him up here for much longer will only crush his confidence.
- Tumbleweed

I've been reading on the interdweebs that teams are now happy to burn off a year on the ELC - because it means the kid has lower numbers when negotiating the 2nd contract.

That depends entirely on him. Getting demoted could be more crushing than being in the NHL and struggling.

The year on his contract is burned anyway, play him ahead of Ceci no matter what.
- JohnFergusonJr

I'd drop Liljegren before Sandin.

Just sayin'...

That depends entirely on him. Getting demoted could be more crushing than being in the NHL and struggling.

The year on his contract is burned anyway, play him ahead of Ceci no matter what.
- JohnFergusonJr

he's an offenseive dman not putting up points and getting caved in defensively.

getting sent back down because injured players get healthy shouldn't get him all butthurt and rock his confidence. will never make it if he gets rattled by something out of his control like that.

I've been reading on the interdweebs that teams are now happy to burn off a year on the ELC - because it means the kid has lower numbers when negotiating the 2nd contract.
- Atomic Wedgie

it's always been a balance.

Six of one, half dozen of the other.

would have been nice if we burned marner's and nylander's 1st year in hindsight.

They need to score first.

It's really that simple.

This team is completely different when they have the lead.

https://www.hockey-refere...TOR/2020_situational.html

These are crazy numbers.
- Atomic Wedgie

Unlike Boston and Tampa Bay, they're 1-5 in 1 goal games.

Being 1-5 in one goal games in concerning. Only having 6 one goal games is even more concerning. Not playoff friendly at all.

Getting outscored in the 3rd period is also not good.

They definitely do need to score first but even if they do, their ability to defend a lead in the playoffs never allows them to be safe, even with a lead.

I'd drop Liljegren before Sandin.

Just sayin'...
- Atomic Wedgie

yup.

but yup to both, in that order.

If you look at Florida's sked, they've got a tough row to hoe over the next few weeks.

My fearless prediction is that Montreal will actually pass them.

Which means the Leafs actually have a bigger cushion right now than five points.

So the Leafs will probably end up in that hockey standings purgatory - no team can catch them, but they can't catch Tampa for 2nd.

Which may not be such a bad thing - ease guys back into the lineup, enforce a ban on blocking shots, steam clean Carlton's costume, get ready for the playoffs.
- Atomic Wedgie

I thought it was dry clean only

But agree, best odds at a third place finish but against TB? Who cares? The crowds will be like home ice regardless of what arena they’re in.

Unlike Boston and Tampa Bay, they're 1-5 in 1 goal games.

Being 1-5 in one goal games in concerning. Only having 6 one goal games is even more concerning. Not playoff friendly at all.

Getting outscored in the 3rd period is also not good.

They definitely do need to score first but even if they do, their ability to defend a lead in the playoffs never allows them to be safe, even with a lead.
- JohnFergusonJr

lots of empty netters both ways this year.

Unlike Boston and Tampa Bay, they're 1-5 in 1 goal games.

Being 1-5 in one goal games in concerning. Only having 6 one goal games is even more concerning. Not playoff friendly at all.

Getting outscored in the 3rd period is also not good.

They definitely do need to score first but even if they do, their ability to defend a lead in the playoffs never allows them to be safe, even with a lead.
- JohnFergusonJr

Ok UG

he's an offenseive dman not putting up points and getting caved in defensively.

getting sent back down because injured players get healthy shouldn't get him all butthurt and rock his confidence. will never make it if he gets shaken by something out of his control like that.
- Tumbleweed

I agree but he's still better than Ceci. Him sucking is a learning experience and the alternative will suck just as bad but has no future with the team.

Sandin is done with the AHL at this point. There's nothing left for him to do there. If it was Sandin vs. an All-Star, yeah, demote Sandin. Sandin vs. Ceci? (frank) Ceci.