I think it’s just a Pat driven narrative
- Canada Cup[/quot

Here’s some #’s for ya.

Cf%44
Shots for 43%
Expected goals 44%
Scoring chances 42%
High danger changes for 38%


GLG
- Garnie

You mean at the start of the season when the team structure was a mess? Cool. The team has proven so far that those stats early on were an anomaly.

I just like that the third line has a clearly defined role, and an identity. Finally. And those guys COMPETE every single night. Engvall is still frustrating, but if I'm Keefe I'm not changing that line unless things go seriously sideways.

Looks like the Growlers may have found a new home with Conception Bay South Arena, in Conception Bay South aka CBS Arena.

Your contribution to that convo is starting to hurt my brain. Please stop
- Santo_44

please do continue preaching.. Oh holy one.

For it is the great Santo that has foretold the path the Maple Leafs will follow.

tell us, oh great wise Santo, when will the Maple Leafs fans be able to celebrate a Leafs Cup win?

Bold statement.

But he's looking good out there.
- Scabeh

But how good is it, considering his age? Niemelä is still just 19 in his D+2 season, making him an U20 player. You can sort by position and age for Liiga stats going back forever. I checked back on the past 20 years worth of Liiga seasons for the highest point per game pace (minimum 10 games played) for U20 defensemen.

Simply put, Topi Niemelä is having a potentially record breaking season. His 0.89 point per game pace is well ahead of the next closest U20 Finnish defensemen:

Miro Heiskanen: 23 points in 30 games (0.77) — as an 18 year old
Sami Vatanen: 31 points in 52 games (0.60)

At his current rate, Niemelä will blow right past Sami Vatanen’s 31 point season. And that is not driven entirely by the powerplay or luck, either. He is tied for the fifth most powerplay points with five, but that is equal to or less than all the players with as many or more points than him.

Lets just say the circumstantial evidence is reasonably significant

- winsix

twitter

Q from JPat: Did you put too much stock in what you accomplished in the bubble?

Benning: "I don't know the answer to that question."

i guess he cant say yes, but exactly like the 2017 Sens, fooled by a luck driven run with poor underlying numbers all season.

its easy to predict a let down...stuff you can see with public stats sites...just incredible a hockey GM cant see it

I think it’s just a Pat driven narrative
- Canada Cup

Yup, I am the only one...You're right..

please do continue preaching.. Oh holy one.

For it is the great Santo that has foretold the path the Maple Leafs will follow.

tell us, oh great wise Santo, when will the Maple Leafs fans be able to celebrate a Leafs Cup win?
- PatC80

Here’s some #’s for ya.

Cf%44
Shots for 43%
Expected goals 44%
Scoring chances 42%
High danger changes for 38%


GLG
- Garnie

wuts dis?

You mean at the start of the season when the team structure was a mess? Cool. The team has proven so far that those stats early on were an anomaly.
- Santo_44

Others have good stats for the same time frame.

Good line, not driven by Kampf though. Good on the draws but certainly doesn’t drive the line like the other 2. 🤷🏻‍♂️

wuts dis?
- senstroll

Kampf’s stats away from the great Pierre Engvall 🤣

Lassi Alanen
@lassialanen
After adding a goal and an assist in Kärpät's 10-1 win over JYP, Topi Niemelä (TOR) now leads the entire Liiga in points with five goals and 20 points in 22 games. Pretty special stuff from the 19-year-old defenceman. #LeafsForever


Oh

Others have good stats for the same time frame.

Good line, not driven by Kampf though. Good on the draws but certainly doesn’t drive the line like the other 2. 🤷🏻‍♂️
- Garnie

The line is ok. Two of the three players have lead hands and should hire a shot coach.

The line is ok. Two of the three players have lead hands and should hire a shot coach.
- winsix

Agreed, they would be awesome if Kase can score 60

Some fans: waive Engvall

Keefe: Pierre you’re playing PP2

Others have good stats for the same time frame.

Good line, not driven by Kampf though. Good on the draws but certainly doesn’t drive the line like the other 2. 🤷🏻‍♂️
- Garnie

What do you mean being driven?

Yup, I am the only one...You're right..
- PatC80

You were there. I’m sorry if you feel used.

What do you mean being driven?
- Canada Cup

Kase and Engvall drive the Zamboni during the intermissions.

Agreed, they would be awesome if Kase can score 60

Some fans: waive Engvall

Keefe: Pierre you’re playing PP2


- Garnie

Keefe tends to think of pairs of forwards - AM,MM - JT, WN - The two wild and crazy brothers from the Czech Republic. He then adds a guy. Right now, Engvall is the guy with Czechs.

Kase and Engvall drive the Zamboni during the intermissions.
- Garnie

I do the bad jokes here

Keefe tends to think of pairs of forwards - AM,MM - JT, WN - The two wild and crazy brothers from the Czech Republic. He then adds a guy. Right now, Engvall is the guy with Czechs.
- Canada Cup

Good thing he is, play stays more in our end when he doesn’t.

I do the bad jokes here
- Canada Cup

My bad

Good thing he is, play stays more in our end when he doesn’t.
- Garnie

As frustrated as people get with Engvall, I think it's due to skewed expectations. He's not offensively-minded, but he's a good puck carrier, decent skater, and you can _usually_ rely on him to make a safe decision with the puck which lends itself strongly to the puck possession game that Keefe wants to deploy. When you place this on a third line against an opposition's top line, and you have someone who helps to keep the puck and keep it away from their own net . . that's a positive.

I think Kampf is a far better board worker and is a great worker - he's definitely the hardest working player on that line and he has the largest responsibility (as the centre). Kase has speed, offensive instincts, but also a really good sense of where and how to support the play.

They each bring something useful to that line.

As frustrated as people get with Engvall, I think it's due to skewed expectations. He's not offensively-minded, but he's a good puck carrier, decent skater, and you can _usually_ rely on him to make a safe decision with the puck which lends itself strongly to the puck possession game that Keefe wants to deploy. When you place this on a third line against an opposition's top line, and you have someone who helps to keep the puck and keep it away from their own net . . that's a positive.

I think Kampf is a far better board worker and is a great worker - he's definitely the hardest working player on that line and he has the largest responsibility (as the centre). Kase has speed, offensive instincts, but also a really good sense of where and how to support the play.

They each bring something useful to that line.
- Monkeypunk

I also get frustrated but see that he creates a lot of chances, some don’t I guess. 🤷🏻‍♂️

When he went to line 4, that line started to dominate zone time too.

I think Spezza would bring more scoring to that line but that’s just me and I don’t mind Kampf.

Lassi Alanen
@lassialanen
After adding a goal and an assist in Kärpät's 10-1 win over JYP, Topi Niemelä (TOR) now leads the entire Liiga in points with five goals and 20 points in 22 games. Pretty special stuff from the 19-year-old defenceman. #LeafsForever


Oh
- senstroll

Ya, I called it 🤔