Looks like all of the teams have us figured out now. Abandon the track meet style and clog the middle. Can't beat us by trading chances. And we have no idea how to counteract that style of play.

Yep Muzzin has been pressing too hard.
- jribout

Agreed, and like I said is this the coach’s instruction or his desperation?

Yes it seems like Muzzin is trying to be something that he’s not. We need him to be a good physical defensive player.
- shack67

Totally, that pairing wouldn’t be bad if they embraced the idea of simply being a shutdown pairing. Holl is okay as the secondary guy who accents the primary one, but if Muzzin keeps leaving Holl alone it’s going to continue being ugly.

Looks like all of the teams have us figured out now. Abandon the track meet style and clog the middle. Can't beat us by trading chances. And we have no idea how to counteract that style of play.
- Leafsmart

There are a bunch of good teams off to bad starts this year. I wonder if Avs fans and media are like ours. We all expect Colorado to turn it around so I guess we should expect the leafs to do the same.

Totally, that pairing wouldn’t be bad if they embraced the idea of simply being a shutdown pairing. Holl is okay as the secondary guy who accents the primary one, but if Muzzin keeps leaving Holl alone it’s going to continue being ugly.
- Dozzer

Yeah we need Muzzin to hammer a few guys, we don’t need him going deep into the ozone.

Yeah we need Muzzin to hammer a few guys, we don’t need him going deep into the ozone.
- shack67

That’s what gets me, he’s playing a style that doesn’t seem like his own…. Hence me wondering if the coaches are trying to get each pair to move the puck, especially now that Sandin is on the 3rd pairing and not Bogosian.

I say fine, let Dermott/Liljegren and Sandin move the puck more like the top pair, to me that means that second pairing should truly embrace a pure shut down role and nothing more. However it seems like the coaching decision has been to have the D pairings move the puck a lot no matter which pairing it is.

If that’s the case fine, pair Sandin up with Muzzin. That way Sandin moves the puck and Muzzin shuts things down…. And bump Holl down to be the shutdown guy for Dermott/Liljegren

At least that anyways.

That’s what gets me, he’s playing a style that doesn’t seem like his own…. Hence me wondering if the coaches are trying to get each pair to move the puck, especially now that Sandin is on the 3rd pairing and not Bogosian.

I say fine, let Dermott/Liljegren and Sandin move the puck more like the top pair, to me that means that second pairing should truly embrace a pure shut down role and nothing more. However it seems like the coaching decision has been to have the D pairings move the puck a lot no matter which pairing it is.

If that’s the case fine, pair Sandin up with Muzzin. That way Sandin moves the puck and Muzzin shuts things down…. And bump Holl down to be the shutdown guy for Dermott/Liljegren

At least that anyways.
- Dozzer

Mirtle wrote in the athletic that Muzzin looks like he’s playing hurt. That would explain a few things.

Mirtle wrote in the athletic that Muzzin looks like he’s playing hurt. That would explain a few things.
- shack67

It also doesn’t add up, if he’s hurt why is he moving the puck himself more? If anything you think he’d be more inclined to pass it.

I don’t know, maybe it’s a desperate decision to move the puck out of the zone?

I’m honestly thinking that Keefe is expecting his shutdown pair to be able to move the puck themselves at least reasonably. Let’s hope Muzzin staying it’s time to go back to the drawing board makes Keefe adjust the game they’re taking to the ice.

It also doesn’t add up, if he’s hurt why is he moving the puck himself more? If anything you think he’d be more inclined to pass it.

I don’t know, maybe it’s a desperate decision to move the puck out of the zone?

I’m honestly thinking that Keefe is expecting his shutdown pair to be able to move the puck themselves at least reasonably. Let’s hope Muzzin staying it’s time to go back to the drawing board makes Keefe adjust the game they’re taking to the ice.
- Dozzer

Muzzin is hurt, I think from the Sens pre season game.

Time to play the poop out of Sandin-Dermott...Have Muzzin and Holl get sheltered a bit because Muzzin is a fraction of himself right now.

There are a bunch of good teams off to bad starts this year. I wonder if Avs fans and media are like ours. We all expect Colorado to turn it around so I guess we should expect the leafs to do the same.
- shack67

Except weve seen this from the leafs before.

Except weve seen this from the leafs before.
- Fakepartofme

On the plus side the 3rd and 4th lines have been really good...Kampf and Kase look great together. We know AM and Marner can be top players in the league.

Its really up to those 2, they have to drive the bus.

Hopefully not into the ground.

Muzzin is hurt, I think from the Sens pre season game.

Time to play the poop out of Sandin-Dermott...Have Muzzin and Holl get sheltered a bit because Muzzin is a fraction of himself right now.
- Santo_44

If he’s hurt why is he trying to skate with the puck so much? and being hurt doesn’t justify his giveaway passes I’m sorry.

On the plus side the 3rd and 4th lines have been really good...Kampf and Kase look great together. We know AM and Marner can be top players in the league.

Its really up to those 2, they have to drive the bus.

Hopefully not into the ground.
- Santo_44

The rot was pretty deep last night. A couple of guys were ok but that’s it. But let’s assume that’s a one-off. It really is time to move Marner away from Matthews. He needs to find his was and they can’t afford to have it cost too much. Mirtle is right that they should put Willie with Auston. If they really want to load up that line, throw Bunting there. He works well with Willie. If they want to leave something for Marner, then add in anyone but Ritchie. Second line could be Marner, JT and Bunting or anybody but Ritchie. Maybe Spezza can move up somewhere.

To be fair Kampf has played extremely well, he’s just not an offensive guy whatsoever, Staal won’t have an easy time against him.
- Dozzer

Sure he's played "fine". But he has literally ZERO offensive ability. I don't think a third line C that literally never scores is a particularly great add. There's a reason a team like Chicago let him walk. Same thing with Ritchie. Boston was happy see him go. When you sign other team's castoffs on the cheap....that's what you're getting. Players with pretty big flaws, usually.

The rot was pretty deep last night. A couple of guys were ok but that’s it. But let’s assume that’s a one-off. It really is time to move Marner away from Matthews. He needs to find his was and they can’t afford to have it cost too much. Mirtle is right that they should put Willie with Auston. If they really want to load up that line, throw Bunting there. He works well with Willie. If they want to leave something for Marner, then add in anyone but Ritchie. Second line could be Marner, JT and Bunting or anybody but Ritchie. Maybe Spezza can move up somewhere.
- Canada Cup

So what's his deal?

Too slow after all?

If he’s hurt why is he trying to skate with the puck so much? and being hurt doesn’t justify his giveaway passes I’m sorry.
- Dozzer

I disagree, especially if his back or arm is injured.

Sure he's played "fine". But he has literally ZERO offensive ability. I don't think a third line C that literally never scores is a particularly great add. There's a reason a team like Chicago let him walk. Same thing with Ritchie. Boston was happy see him go. When you sign other team's castoffs on the cheap....that's what you're getting. Players with pretty big flaws, usually.
- fifty__missions

Given he has had like 6% o ZONE starts I'd say him and Kase have done well creating chances.

Out of all Leaf players him and Kase are doing just fine. As long as they get like 90% O zone starts they wont be putting up a bunch of points anyways.

Looks like all of the teams have us figured out now. Abandon the track meet style and clog the middle. Can't beat us by trading chances. And we have no idea how to counteract that style of play.
- Leafsmart

Our players avoid contact, stay on the perimeter, and don't like the dirty areas. Good luck winning with that style.

So what's his deal?

Too slow after all?
- Scabeh

Low hockey IQ.

Should be on the 3rd line, he doesn't mesh well with the chaos AM and Marner like to play.

It’s not just one thing, it’s 100 things.

And it all stems from the top. From the culture created by giving out undeserved contracts, to firing a hard-ass coach because they couldn’t handle him.

Add in allowing the players who compete the hardest to walk, and this is what you get.

They have to admit the Dubas experiment was a colossal failure and fix it while the core is still young enough.

Our players avoid contact, stay on the perimeter, and don't like the dirty areas. Good luck winning with that style.
- fifty__missions

I’ve been saying this forever.

I’m always right about these things, then years later people come around to it.

I disagree, especially if his back or arm is injured.
- Santo_44

Answer my question then. He’s skating with the puck a lot why?

Also it’s early in the season, sit him, play Liljegren, and let him heal up

Somehow this is the coach’s fault either way then

If he’s hurt why is he trying to skate with the puck so much? and being hurt doesn’t justify his giveaway passes I’m sorry.
- Dozzer

Pretty sure in the presser he said he was fine.

I’ve been saying this forever.

I’m always right about these things, then years later people come around to it.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Quick question: why is it always somehow about you?

😐

Sure he's played "fine". But he has literally ZERO offensive ability. I don't think a third line C that literally never scores is a particularly great add. There's a reason a team like Chicago let him walk. Same thing with Ritchie. Boston was happy see him go. When you sign other team's castoffs on the cheap....that's what you're getting. Players with pretty big flaws, usually.
- fifty__missions

He’s playing for the one line on the team that’s doesn’t have a primary goal of creating offence. Most of his face offs for instance are in his own zone.

Maybe bump Engvall back up there, him and Kase seemed to add the minimum offensive threat you’d want from a checking line