It's actually a fair question. Despite AM34's lack of success in the post-season, how have all of the intangibles that make Tkachuk an elite player translated in the playoffs?

He's been pretty terrible and does not compare favourably to AM34 even in the post-season.
- mjones242

Matthews has 19 points in 25 playoff games, including 12 goals. He has never really been the problem in the playoffs.

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

yeah.

I also don't get the narrative that they need to trade a Dman. If there is one thing that seems guaranteed it's that NHL teams need plenty of defensive depth over the course of a season.

Well they traded Kap/AJ ...signed a couple players to replace them (and Robertson)..but have now had injuries to a couple of them..

so lots of depth...but not enough depth
- senstroll

They have lots of Barabanovs but with two injuries to players that were expected to play in th top 9 they are very thin on top 9 players.

I mean...Ennis on the 3rd line over Simmonds.

The Leafs have 10 points and are 5-2 to start the season. They're coasting right now, haven't even found their legs, and are still managing to win.

Imagine when they put it all together or play with more consistency?

But please, do continue not-slandering the Leafs.
- mjones242

If not for the Oilers getting 17 lucky bounces, the Leafs could be 6-1, but yeah.. We need to blow it up. Dubas sucks

yeah.

I also don't get the narrative that they need to trade a Dman. If there is one thing that seems guaranteed it's that NHL teams need plenty of defensive depth over the course of a season.
- Aetherial

I think the suggestion is that they could trade Dermott (who could get taken in the expansion draft) for a decent forward, and give his minutes to Sandin/Lehtonen who are sitting and not playing.

Matthews has 19 points in 25 playoff games, including 12 goals. He has never really been the problem in the playoffs.
- Archaic

That production is meh for a player of his talent, and salary.

The entire team needs to cowboy-up in the playoffs, and that includes Matthews.

I think the suggestion is that they could trade Dermott (who could get taken in the expansion draft) for a decent forward, and give his minutes to Sandin/Lehtonen who are sitting and not playing.
- Archaic

Yes this, and the fact that Simmonds is on the 3rd line long term right now.

If not for the Oilers getting 17 lucky bounces, the Leafs could be 6-1, but yeah.. We need to blow it up. Dubas sucks
- PatC80

You forgot to mention that even with those bounces the refs needed to call the Leafs for a well deserved tripping penalty after Edmonton tripped themselves.

They have lots of Barabanovs but with two injuries to players that were expected to play in th top 9 they are very thin on top 9 players.

I mean...Ennis on the 3rd line over Simmonds.
- Santo_44

I don't know, I like Simmonds on the 3rd line with Kerfoot and Mikheyev. Once Thornton is back, put the Wayne Train back on the 4th line.

small sample size but Hintz has 5 points in 2 games playing C
- TheMussel

And I have his Future Watch Auto 👍

I don't know, I like Simmonds on the 3rd line with Kerfoot and Mikheyev. Once Thornton is back, put the Wayne Train back on the 4th line.
- PatC80

I don't at all.

I think the suggestion is that they could trade Dermott (who could get taken in the expansion draft) for a decent forward, and give his minutes to Sandin/Lehtonen who are sitting and not playing.
- Archaic

Yes, definitely... We have the depth to replace a Travis Dermott

That production is meh for a player of his talent, and salary.

The entire teams needs to cowboy-up in the playoffs, and that includes Matthews.
- Aetherial

You could use Dermott+ for a decent player...not high end. Someone like Miles Wood, Tanner Pearson or that ilk that could help the Leafs toughness and fill in for now.

You forgot to mention that even with those bounces the refs needed to call the Leafs for a well deserved tripping penalty after Edmonton tripped themselves.

- Archaic

I did feel bad for Muzzin on that, all he did was stand still..

You could use Dermott+ for a decent player...not high end. Someone like Miles Wood, Tanner Pearson or that ilk that could help the Leafs toughness and fill in for now.
- Archaic

Leafs can't add cap hit. Has to be a 700K-1M player coming back.

You could use Dermott+ for a decent player...not high end. Someone like Miles Wood, Tanner Pearson or that ilk that could help the Leafs toughness and fill in for now.
- Archaic

I would offer Dermott, Engvall and a mid-round pick to Pittsburgh for McCann and Tanev

I think he’s just concerned. Speaking of which, haven’t been hearing from Nightsweat in a while.
- Canada Cup

Youse guys know the Habs haven't lost in regulation yet, right?

Media just want stories, like Ennis was once a leaf, so they have something to say/write about.

I do like how fans of every other team come and say how the leafs "aren't that good." They are that good and can get better.

I would offer Dermott, Engvall and a mid-round pick to Pittsburgh for McCann and Tanev
- PatC80

Are they trading Brodie away so they can fit them under the cap?

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

You're not very good at trolling. Are you perhaps related to or also known as Spatso? Aren't you the Troll Idiot individual that said the Leafs should trade Matthews and pick up a really good centre like Danault? Maybe you should go to the Oilers blog and suggest they trade Draisaitl for Evans?

Cheers

Media just want stories, like Ennis was once a leaf, so they have something to say/write about.

I do like how fans of every other team come and say how the leafs "aren't that good." They are that good and can get better.
- Aaron_85

I mean they are looking for a forward and he has shown he can fit on the PP here and in the lineup. This makes a lot of sense.

Youse guys know the Habs haven't lost in regulation yet, right?
- Atomic Wedgie

Hi Wedgie - are you aware that the Habs lost their only game to the Leafs and have only played Vancouver and Edmonton to this point?

Are they trading Brodie away so they can fit them under the cap?
- Santo_44

I know, it over $6M in cap to bring both in, but if it something that could work out for both sides, I think the Leafs could make it work.

It wouldn't need to be Brodie.. The cap difference is roughly $4M.

Those are 2 guys I would try to go after.

Hi Wedgie - are you aware that the Habs lost their only game to the Leafs and have only played Vancouver and Edmonton to this point?
- winsix

Does this mean the Leafs suck because we couldn't beat them in regulation time?

That production is meh for a player of his talent, and salary.

The entire team needs to cowboy-up in the playoffs, and that includes Matthews.
- Aetherial

Agree and hopefully they do, to avoid being continually egregiously trolled by the unibrow trolls of HB