I don’t hate the leafs at all. Also, there were lots of pundits saying this is one of the best teams assembled.

I have no issues with the leafs being picked first in the North, that’s a solid pick. If you go back to the start of the season, all the fluff pieces on TSN or other outlets was about this being the leafs year and how they were so stacked with the new additions, was very predominant.

Yes they have 8 points, but that game vs Calgary was not a dominant win and for me, with all that’s been said about the team, leaves me a bit concerned. They were lucky to win yesterday with a few goals off skates. This is supposed to be the team that takes it to opponents with waves of pressure and skill. So far, not so much.

They aren’t living up to the hype.

Yes Simmons is an idiot and your comment adds to my point. The media pushed this team as being Elite. We are taking trades 8 games in and the leafs, if it weren’t for some lucky bounces could be a 500 team.

This isn’t to slander the team, I like the leafs and I’ve watched every game; I think the hype is actually counter productive to helping this team find its identity, is my main point.

Cheers
- munky123

Perhaps we read different articles, but my overall impression was that they were saying "This had better be the Leafs' year - they've run out of excuses, and the window will soon be closing" rather than "The Leafs are so talented there's no way they can lose."

The day thé habs signed Perry, remember the Steve Simmons article saying how big of a mistake that was?

What’s frustrating, it’s not the fan base but the media that represents them... all these changes being discussed 6-7 games in is ridiculous. This off season and the lead up to the start, had the «  flawless leafs » the greatest team since sliced bread..TSN etc James Tanner has the leafs being all world beaters.

I wonder what he can say today? Still the same issues with the team, Thornton is injured 5 games in and no depth to replace him....

Did you see how on Saturday Friedman dropped the little “ mete “note and then saying the leafs would be looking to add a player? Was he suggesting thé habs would look into a Mete deal with Toronto?

Seriously, Habs media can be pretty bad at times, but leafs land, it’s ridiculous ( baring a few outlets )
- munky123

Wtf are you on? Simmonds said it was a mistake the leafs didn't get him.


The leafs aren't hurting (on ice) with a Thornton injury, the depth has been just fine.


Ummm, the leafs are trying to unload a dman, what on earth would they get a guy that would be their 8th guyy for?

Show me one legitimate media person saying the Leafs are the best team ever assembled.

Are they the best Leafs team assembled recently with this core? Sure you could argue that easily.

Do you ever know why they are talking about trades for the Leafs? Its due to injury, not because the Leafs are sucking...
- Archaic

Injuries are a part of the game;

You don’t make trades unless your depth to replace said injuries is not great.

Their neutral zone game is soft, and their zone coverage is about as good as Edmonton’s. Which isn’t saying much.

I want this team to destroy you 5v5 as well as on the pp. they have so much skill to do so, it’s frustrating that they win because of a PP. So the leafs are good on the PP. cool story.

Of course I’d love to see the Habs come out on top of the North, but if the leafs go deep and contend, they have work to do, and again my main point was that the write ups on this team were such that they should be leading this division with ease, along with as you alluded Edmonton.

I have no quick fix for what ailes the leafs when playing 5v5, it isn’t always pretty. We saw what this team can do when they put over 40 shots on the sens a week back and gave less than was it 20? ( I also have money on the leafs for top in the North division, pre playoff haha)

thanks.

Now I need to rejig my pools
- dmnted

Me too. At least I found our now rather than after it was too late.

We all could and would have signed Tavares.

Getting rid of Babcock wasn't a good thing - it was a very bad thing.
He got rid of Babcock to gather more 'Dubas in-crowd' around him.
Imo, it would have been better to keep Babcock and to get rid of players that have too weak of a character to follow Babs' directions - even if that was Matthews.
It's quite a sign that character guys (Rielly, Hyman, others) were ok with Babs.
Matthews demanding not to be put on a line with Hyman imo is a very bad sign re Matthews' character.
I'm really hoping on Torts as the next Leafs coach - that's not happening with Dubas there as a GM though.
- MaximusAurelius

Leafs have the 3rd best NHl record in the 52 games since Babcock got fired.

Get a mind first.
- Atomic Wedgie

Tkachuk> Mathews
It’s not even close! Try to change my mind.
- K-man25

Tkachuk> Mathews
It’s not even close! Try to change my mind.
- K-man25

I love how Tkachuk can be such a playoff bust and no one has noticed.

Perhaps we read different articles, but my overall impression was that they were saying "This had better be the Leafs' year - they've run out of excuses, and the window will soon be closing" rather than "The Leafs are so talented there's no way they can lose."
- Atomic Wedgie

Truth, it could come down to interpretation. I did read the articles I’m talking about, but it’s also in how you see it.

I agree there are no excuses for this year.

We all could and would have signed Tavares.

Getting rid of Babcock wasn't a good thing - it was a very bad thing.
He got rid of Babcock to gather more 'Dubas in-crowd' around him.
Imo, it would have been better to keep Babcock and to get rid of players that have too weak of a character to follow Babs' directions - even if that was Matthews.
It's quite a sign that character guys (Rielly, Hyman, others) were ok with Babs.
Matthews demanding not to be put on a line with Hyman imo is a very bad sign re Matthews' character.
I'm really hoping on Torts as the next Leafs coach - that's not happening with Dubas there as a GM though.
- MaximusAurelius

Getting rid of (a) a bad coach and (b) a jackass is bad?

You don't actually beleive the poop you, you just can't. You only spout junk to get reaction.

Tkachuk> Mathews
It’s not even close! Try to change my mind.
- K-man25

Very true if you're ranking based on how big of a weasel they are.

Kristen Shilton
@kristen_shilton

Tyler Ennis placed on waivers today. Was a very popular figure in #Leafs dressing room during his season in Toronto and produced well enough (12 goals and 18 points in 51 games). On a one-year, $1 million deal. Wonder if Leafs don't ponder a claim given their injuries.

- - - - - - - - - --

I'm perplexed by the narrative that we need more depth.

Didn't we sign 100 depth guys before the season began?

Team GP G A P
2016-2017 TOR 82 40 29 69
2017-2018 TOR 62 34 29 63
2018-2019 TOR 68 37 36 73
2019-2020 TOR 70 47 33 80
2020-2021 TOR 6 3 3 6
Career - 288 161 130 291

Team GP G A P
2016-2017 CGY 76 13 35 48
2017-2018 CGY 68 24 25 49
2018-2019 CGY 80 34 43 77
2019-2020 CGY 69 23 38 61
2020-2021 CGY 4 3 1 4
- Archaic

Exactly! You see what I’m getting at. Points aren’t everything there’s lots of other tangibles that make you a better player.
Mathew Tkachuk will win a Stanley Cup before Austin Mathews!

Ennis on waivers

Kristen Shilton
@kristen_shilton

Tyler Ennis placed on waivers today. Was a very popular figure in #Leafs dressing room during his season in Toronto and produced well enough (12 goals and 18 points in 51 games). On a one-year, $1 million deal. Wonder if Leafs don't ponder a claim given their injuries.

- - - - - - - - - --

I'm perplexed by the narrative that we need more depth.

Didn't we sign 100 depth guys before the season began?
- Atomic Wedgie

Cheap depth guys, not good depth guys...

I guess.

Sure. Your pov is valid but I think the 500k is worth more somewhere else.

end of the day though the big guys need to get the job done more than Simmonds.
- Aaron_85

All that matters to me, is how Simmonds will perform in the playoffs.
If he's the added element this team has missed for years, then the signing will be worth it

Clear Leafs overpay....

I wonder if the Leafs could pry Miles Wood out of NJ. Could be a decent add.
- Archaic

Wood for Dermott?

He won't do anything.
He's a guy that just makes 2 low-risk changes during the off-season, and then calls it a day.
Dubas' main objective is for Kyle Dubas to stay as long as possible Leafs' GM -- not for the Leafs to win as many Stanley Cups as possible during next 10 years.
- MaximusAurelius

wining the cup would guarantee he was the GM for the next 300 years.
he would be imortalized...it would be the greatest thing in Leafs history

..but he just want to remain GM...not anything else

Injuries are a part of the game;

You don’t make trades unless your depth to replace said injuries is not great.

Their neutral zone game is soft, and their zone coverage is about as good as Edmonton’s. Which isn’t saying much.

I want this team to destroy you 5v5 as well as on the pp. they have so much skill to do so, it’s frustrating that they win because of a PP. So the leafs are good on the PP. cool story.

Of course I’d love to see the Habs come out on top of the North, but if the leafs go deep and contend, they have work to do, and again my main point was that the write ups on this team were such that they should be leading this division with ease, along with as you alluded Edmonton.

I have no quick fix for what ailes the leafs when playing 5v5, it isn’t always pretty. We saw what this team can do when they put over 40 shots on the sens a week back and gave less than was it 20? ( I also have money on the leafs for top in the North division, pre playoff haha)
- munky123

They got injured, they are tight against the cap....they have depth, but it also got injured (See Robertsen) Not sure you heard, but there is a flat cap due to this small thing called covid.

What team truly destroys all teams? This it he NHL, most games are close, even against the bottom teams. Does Tampa/Colarado destroy the Leafs? No they dont.

The Leafs are a very good team. Could this use some more players with some added toughness, sure.

You still havent provided any media references stating they Leafs are a flawless team, and the best team assembled. Ill wait.

Kristen Shilton
@kristen_shilton

Tyler Ennis placed on waivers today. Was a very popular figure in #Leafs dressing room during his season in Toronto and produced well enough (12 goals and 18 points in 51 games). On a one-year, $1 million deal. Wonder if Leafs don't ponder a claim given their injuries.

- - - - - - - - - --

I'm perplexed by the narrative that we need more depth.

Didn't we sign 100 depth guys before the season began?
- Atomic Wedgie

Not sure why they are pushing this narrative? I would hope we have enough players in the taxi squad to fill for injuries...without having to pick up meh players and use cap space.

Injuries are a part of the game;

You don’t make trades unless your depth to replace said injuries is not great.

Their neutral zone game is soft, and their zone coverage is about as good as Edmonton’s. Which isn’t saying much.

I want this team to destroy you 5v5 as well as on the pp. they have so much skill to do so, it’s frustrating that they win because of a PP. So the leafs are good on the PP. cool story.

Of course I’d love to see the Habs come out on top of the North, but if the leafs go deep and contend, they have work to do, and again my main point was that the write ups on this team were such that they should be leading this division with ease, along with as you alluded Edmonton.

I have no quick fix for what ailes the leafs when playing 5v5, it isn’t always pretty. We saw what this team can do when they put over 40 shots on the sens a week back and gave less than was it 20? ( I also have money on the leafs for top in the North division, pre playoff haha)
- munky123

They've been a lot better defensively this year and they talked a lot about the leafs neutral zone, so not sure you know what you're talking about.

Wood for Dermott?
- PatC80

Id do it and I think it works for NJ who are a young team, and likely no to make the playoffs. There would have to be some salary matches as he makes over 2M.

Not sure why they are pushing this narrative? I would hope we have enough players in the taxi squad to fill for injuries...without having to pick up meh players and use cap space.
- Fakepartofme

But maybe Tyler Ennis can help play a mean game, throwing his body around and making it rougher and tougher to play against the Leafs?









(It's weird that I'm mocking his lack of size, considering he's almost exactly the same size as me. You'd think I'd be praising him).

Exactly! You see what I’m getting at. Points aren’t everything there’s lots of other tangibles that make you a better player.
Mathew Tkachuk will win a Stanley Cup before Austin Mathews!
- K-man25

How come those intangibles don't help come playoff time?

wining the cup would guarantee he was the GM for the next 300 years.
he would be imortalized...it would be the greatest thing in Leafs history

..but he just want to remain GM...not anything else
- senstroll

I dont believe Dubas would be immortalized...the players would for sure.
But it would definitely add a few years to his tenure.