Imagine if Leafs lose this series? Wow. So much pressure. Everyone will have to be traded and Shanahan and Dubas removed.
- RogerRoeper

You're 'lowering the expectations' mode now....

40.4 million on 4 forwards...

Thoughts? Comments??
- bruceflyers

Such a lazy analysis.

You're 'lowering the expectations' mode now....
- fifty__missions

Just commenting on what others would say...

They win this series. it's a lock

Imagine if Leafs lose this series? Wow. So much pressure. Everyone will have to be traded and Shanahan and Dubas removed.
- RogerRoeper

Removed?

Thank goodness. For a moment i thought you wanted them fired.

Removed? Definitely
Fired? Absolutely Not

Such a lazy analysis.
- RogerRoeper

Agre-yawn-ed!

I think you cannot judge any player while given less than 8-10 mins of icetime in a game. Spezza played 6-7 shifts, and I think most starting in defensive zone as well. It's exactly the same way Babcock destroyed Matt Martin (giving him 7-8mins per game in Toronto vs 12-15 with Islanders).


in broad terms:
20mins for top 3 guys
18 mins for 2nd line guys
13 mins for 3rd line
9 mins for 4th line

seems more like an appropriate division of playing time.
- MaximusAurelius

Maybe on a balanced team.

But this offense is top heavy.

If our top two lines can handle 40-45 mins a night, you give them the time.

Agre-yawn-ed!
- bruceflyers

Instead of having Marner making 10.8, get 2 much less talented forwards making 5.4 each.

Maybe on a balanced team.

But this offense is top heavy.

If our top two lines can handle 40-45 mins a night, you give them the time.
- Leafs43

You're saying this because of 40 million on 4 forwards. The Leafs statistically have great depth and outscore contenders on the 3rd and 4th lines.

Forget about the 40 million, look at the facts. Leafs are not "Top Heavy" at all.

The minute the 40 million cap kicked-in this year everyone started saying this. But the depth is better than last year...

Such a lazy analysis.
- RogerRoeper

Actual NHL value.

Matthews $12mil
Marner $10mil
Tavares $8mil
Nylander $5.5mil

Actual NHL value.

Matthews $12mil
Marner $10mil
Tavares $8mil
Nylander $5.5mil
- Arctic_AARDVARK

They need to "spread-out" that cap, right?

You're saying this because of 40 million on 4 forwards. The Leafs statistically have great depth and outscore contenders on the 3rd and 4th lines.

Forget about the 40 million, look at the facts. Leafs are not "Top Heavy" at all.
- RogerRoeper

But lag far behind on defence as those contenders.

You're saying this because of 40 million on 4 forwards. The Leafs statistically have great depth and outscore contenders on the 3rd and 4th lines.

Forget about the 40 million, look at the facts. Leafs are not "Top Heavy" at all.
- RogerRoeper

Ok...

Point is, if Matthews, Tavares, Nylander and Marner can handle the time, you give it to them over Spezza and Gauthier.

But lag far behind on defence as those contenders.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Depends who you consider a contender. I didn't think their D looked bad last night at all

Ok...

Point is, if Matthews, Tavares, Nylander and Marner can handle the time, you give it to them over Spezza and Gauthier.
- Leafs43

WE can't say if they can or can't. It's 1 game. They spent the first 3 playoffs being underlayed every game.

Relax everyone, it was a good game and we got beat by the better team last night. Hopefully tomorrow we’re the better team.

GLG

they quit in the 3rd. 3rd period from last night seemed a little too familiar.

canes proved you can beat the leafs with a zamboni driver in net by imposing your will on them. looks like torts followed the same game plan.

leafs are far too predicable. jackets were able to pressure almost every puck carrier instantly.
- Tumbleweed

Remember the power house TBL last year? I think this was way less quitting and way more smothering. Guys like Marner don’t dial up a notch by running around hitting people. When things aren’t working, they look like crap. They have to play better but it’s hard to day they aren’t trying or aren’t committed.

The one personnel change I’d make would be to try to find a way to get Sandin in. The D were too often too slow in getting to and making a first pass outlet pass allowing the forecheckers to get on them. I know you give up some ability to defend against the cycle but I’d take that chance to improve the transition against a team where the D rushes so much. If we’re having trouble when they’re set in their zone, let’s try to score off the rush.

4 players for 40 million=no depth due to the cap. Am I getting this right?

Might want to check the bottom 6 numbers...Can't judge players by cap hits, especially bottom 6 which you should not be paying a lot for.

But lag far behind on defence as those contenders.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Our D are suspect, that’s for sure. Not terrible but not where I think we need to be.

Barrie is terrible - Ceci isn’t very good but got unlucky with those 2 pims last night
Holl has been ok but it’s such a small sample and he’s been riding shotgun with our best D.

If we get by CBJ it should give them some confidence which will help for the next series.

Relax everyone, it was a good game and we got beat by the better team last night. Hopefully tomorrow we’re the better team.

GLG
- Garnie

People forget that in sports you win and lose sometimes

Colorado won a series last year with Barrie as their top-used D. Leafs are actually using him much less than the Avs did.


I don't think it's some issue we have Barrie.

Kind of shows you the narrative diference between Leafs and other teams.

4 players for 40 million=no depth due to the cap. Am I getting this right?

Might want to check the bottom 6 numbers...Can't judge players by cap hits, especially bottom 6 which you should not be paying a lot for.
- RogerRoeper

Depth players are what win you Stanley Cups. Our bottom 6, and D is just not there, gents.

Dubas bigly, yugely, fücked up the Naz trade.

Worst trade for the Leafs in a looong, long time.

Anything positive he’s done (not much) is completely wiped out by that trade.

Depth players are what win you Stanley Cups. Our bottom 6, and D is just not there, gents.
- fifty__missions

Where are you getting this from? Leafs have great depth in the bottom 6.

Seriously, get the 40 million out of your head. That does not equal no bottom 6 depth at all.

People seriously think a 3 million 4th liner is better than Jason Spezza at 750K. that's not how it works at all.

Dubas bigly, yugely, fücked up the Naz trade.

Worst trade for the Leafs in a looong, long time.

Anything positive he’s done (not much) is completely wiped out by that trade.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

You haven't see Robertson, Sandin, Lehtonen, Mikeyev in their prime yet. And he did the Hyman trade. He did the Muzzin trade...

I think in 1-2 years we view Kerfoot alone as better than Kadri

Zach Hyman: "They play playoff hockey. This is playoff hockey."