Oilers make a nice move.
- The Law

Yeah. Bjugstad for a 3rd is a good move.

7.5 needs to buy you more than PP2.

He has no physical element to his game at all. He is clueless in his own end, and sacrifices defense for offense... and is achieving nothing on offense.

He is bringing less than nothing to the team.
- Aetherial

You gotta cut your losses. Get the best you can out of him. Slot him to succeed. He's got a no move. Nothing else you can do.

Btw I agree with you re his game - see my post above.

You gotta cut your losses. Get the best you can out of him. He's got a no move. Btw I agree with you re his game - see my post above.
- fifty__missions

The painful part is that I want him to be great... Leaf draft pick, shown flashes in the past of being elite offensively. He also may have taken a bit of a home-town discount. If he would be even an average #1 D it would have helped so much.

The NMC hurts, but I suspect players would waive them if the destination was to their liking, who knows.

Sadly, he is Phaneuf 2.0, except maybe not even that good right now.

Its discussion.

But whatever moving on, hope you did something about page 23 on the last page
- Santo_44

It's not discussion. You're being a total asshat in the way you're approaching. Don't hide behind "it's discussion" like a child. You've continually gone after Fake blog after blog and his opinion. It's creepy at this point.

It's not discussion. You're being a total asshat in the way you're approaching. Don't hide behind "it's discussion" like a child. You've continually gone after Fake blog after blog and his opinion. It's creepy at this point.
- Aaron_85

There is something wrong there.

The painful part is that I want him to be great... Leaf draft pick, shown flashes in the past of being elite offensively. He also may have taken a bit of a home-town discount. If he would be even an average #1 D it would have helped so much.

The NMC hurts, but I suspect players would waive them if the destination was to their liking, who knows.

Sadly, he is Phaneuf 2.0, except maybe not even that good right now.
- Aetherial

He's struggling. He's always played better with a caretaker partner - Hainsey, Brodie. Give him that, shelter him best you can, and try other stuff on PP1.

There is no guile whatsoever. Rielly telegraphs virtually every pass, and he cannot get the puck to net with a wrister. Gets blocked every time. Gets, Connor Timmins can at least get the puck on the net from the blueline (and, no, Im not advocating Timmins run our PP...)
- fifty__missions

I can't argue with any of that. Morgan's best shots come off of the rush - not while stationary or gliding - and it's because he does tend to telegraph everything he does when he's moving at a slow speed. You get him _moving_ and he goes on instinct and he's not bad - decent shot, decent look-offs, decent passing - etc. But on the PP there has to be a number of options - and frankly Timmins is plausibly one of them. The key is smooth passing, smooth skating, and the ability to put a low shot by the far post.

Again, our PP would be a little better if we had a little more dynamics to it. You see the Oilers just basically give the puck to McDavid and then watch him go score. Or he pops the puck off to Hyman or Draisaitl and everyone is so focused on McDavid they forget about the others. Now there's only one McDavid, but we have guys who can drive the lane with the puck - like Matthews - and then dish once you've drawn some bodies. Add it as a weapon, throw the puck back and collapse in front to create a screen.

More dynamics makes it harder to plan and defend. Then it wouldn't even necessarily matter WHO was back there.

There is something wrong there.
- Aetherial

Let's just leave it alone at this point and discuss the deadline and how there's no players left except JVR

Let's just leave it alone at this point and discuss the deadline and how there's no players left except JVR

- Aaron_85

how bout those standings eh??

I still don't understand the Gavrikov and Korpse trade.

If we do need some goalie insurance, wouldn't that have been a good trade?

Columbus got Jack when they flipped Quick to Vegas.

Wouldn't Gavrikov and Korpse have been a good deal for what Columbus got back? Especially considering they held 50% of Quick's cap?

Is Gavrikov an upgrade on Gio? Similar? You wouldn't have had to pick up Schenn with a 3rd for instance.

With a couple of deals going through that on the surface appears to be good or reasonable ones for The Leafs (Chychrun, Korpisalo, Gavrikov, even Bertuzzi etc...) it makes me think Dubas has set his sights on an even bigger trade.

What's on the horizon?

Let's just leave it alone at this point and discuss the deadline and how there's no players left except JVR

- Aaron_85

I think Dubas made his moves - he might move out a defenseman for a depth forward or futures, but I think this lot is what we're going with. I think he wanted to get the moves out of the way largely so they could be on the road trip together and start to gel.

What do I know, though? I didn't think he'd pursue ROR, Acciari or Schenn - and definitely not Gustafsson. I did think both Lafferty and McCabe were options he'd look at.

One of the things you'll typically see in cases where a defenseman is getting power play goals is large forwards supporting him - and guys who will go to the crease and screen the goalie. Even with a great clapper, goalies will stop those if they can see them. The Leafs power play relies on moving the puck around the outside until they find a seam they like - but as a result doesn't usually result in the forwards collapsing to the net and creating havoc or a screen. You might see that on PP2 which simplifies things in order to get results. But on PP1, even our net front guy (typically JT) plays too high in the slot to act as a screen - or even get off a good tip.

Remember - I don't really like Rielly that much, but I don't think his lack of a clapper is what stops him from scoring on the power play - it's more the fact that all of his shots are seen and our PP rotation and structure is geared towards seam passes down low as opposed to generating net shots from out high.
- Monkeypunk

What prevents him from scoring on the power play is the era of defencemen scoring on the power play is long gone.

Al MacInnis has retired.

Two defencemen have 8 powerplay goals this year.

Another four have 5 goals.

Another seven have 4.

So there are only 13 defencemen in the league who have more than 3 powerplay goals this year.

The slapshot is dead.

We don't need a defenceman who can get pucks on the net, because no one can.

We need a guy who can distribute, and keep the puck alive.

Rielly's 25th in the league in power play points. 23rd in powerplay assists.

That's not bad.

I can't argue with any of that. Morgan's best shots come off of the rush - not while stationary or gliding - and it's because he does tend to telegraph everything he does when he's moving at a slow speed. You get him _moving_ and he goes on instinct and he's not bad - decent shot, decent look-offs, decent passing - etc. But on the PP there has to be a number of options - and frankly Timmins is plausibly one of them. The key is smooth passing, smooth skating, and the ability to put a low shot by the far post.

Again, our PP would be a little better if we had a little more dynamics to it. You see the Oilers just basically give the puck to McDavid and then watch him go score. Or he pops the puck off to Hyman or Draisaitl and everyone is so focused on McDavid they forget about the others. Now there's only one McDavid, but we have guys who can drive the lane with the puck - like Matthews - and then dish once you've drawn some bodies. Add it as a weapon, throw the puck back and collapse in front to create a screen.

More dynamics makes it harder to plan and defend. Then it wouldn't even necessarily matter WHO was back there.
- Monkeypunk

Tied for 4th best in the league.

I can't get into my twitter account - has anyone seen a projected lineup for tonight?

I can't get into my twitter account - has anyone seen a projected lineup for tonight?
- Atomic Wedgie

About 12 forwards, 6 d and a goalie will play in the game. Some may or may not be named Austin Matthews or Mitch Marner

I can't get into my twitter account - has anyone seen a projected lineup for tonight?
- Atomic Wedgie

from nhl,com:

Michael Bunting -- Auston Matthews -- Mitchell Marner

John Tavares -- Ryan O'Reilly -- William Nylander

Alexander Kerfoot -- David Kampf -- Calle Jarnkrok

Zach Aston-Reese -- Noel Acciari -- Sam Lafferty

Morgan Rielly -- Justin Holl

Jake McCabe -- TJ Brodie

Mark Giordano -- Timothy Liljegren

Joseph Woll

Ilya Samsonov

I still don't understand the Gavrikov and Korpse trade.

If we do need some goalie insurance, wouldn't that have been a good trade?

Columbus got Jack when they flipped Quick to Vegas.

Wouldn't Gavrikov and Korpse have been a good deal for what Columbus got back? Especially considering they held 50% of Quick's cap?

Is Gavrikov an upgrade on Gio? Similar? You wouldn't have had to pick up Schenn with a 3rd for instance.

With a couple of deals going through that on the surface appears to be good or reasonable ones for The Leafs (Chychrun, Korpisalo, Gavrikov, even Bertuzzi etc...) it makes me think Dubas has set his sights on an even bigger trade.

What's on the horizon?
- Leaffrog

I don't get the goaltending conversation. We have Sammy and Murray. Murray has a 10 team NTC so that could be a condition. We know Buffalo is on his NTC. That said, I have a problem with Korpisalo . . .I have no idea if he's good and neither does he. He is not consistent (he's having a good year) - these are his career save percentages: .920, .905, .897, .897, .911, .894, .877, .911

So this year he's back up to .911, but . . what sets him off and turns him into Korpisucko again?

Gavrikov is good, but you're not trading or sitting Gio in lieu of him. The guy took an $800k dream contract with your team to play specifically for your team. That's how you destroy all good will you've accrued in one fell swoop. We have McCabe - at $2m. He's going to bring the same thing.

Chychrun was probably never someone we were going to afford with our draft position and prospects. Niemela and Knies are our best two - and I think they value Knies future and contract flexibility enough to want to keep him and Niemela is a bit undersized - teams might balk at him.

Bertuzzi - meh. I think he could have value. I know he's put up 30 goal seasons. I also don't like him - but I don't think this is all about my opinion!

I think in terms of adding competitive pieces and guys who can win battles and fight in the playoffs, they've done a good job of adding guys who can do that up and down the line-up.

Personally, I don't think there's a bigger move here at all. I think we're going in with this - and I'm relatively happy with it. Boston is a powerhouse who are running like a machine. Hopefully we can throw a wrench in it if we get there.

About 12 forwards, 6 d and a goalie will play in the game. Some may or may not be named Austin Matthews or Mitch Marner
- Aaron_85

Who's the total asshat now?

from nhl,com:

Michael Bunting -- Auston Matthews -- Mitchell Marner

John Tavares -- Ryan O'Reilly -- William Nylander

Alexander Kerfoot -- David Kampf -- Calle Jarnkrok

Zach Aston-Reese -- Noel Acciari -- Sam Lafferty

Morgan Rielly -- Justin Holl

Jake McCabe -- TJ Brodie

Mark Giordano -- Timothy Liljegren

Joseph Woll

Ilya Samsonov
- 21peter

Thank you, Blackjack.

At least someone around here is helpful.

Who's the total asshat now?
- Atomic Wedgie

You didn't specify how specific you wanted the answer to be! I'm not a mind reader you know. So I guess you?

What prevents him from scoring on the power play is the era of defencemen scoring on the power play is long gone.

Al MacInnis has retired.

Two defencemen have 8 powerplay goals this year.

Another four have 5 goals.

Another seven have 4.

So there are only 13 defencemen in the league who have more than 3 powerplay goals this year.

The slapshot is dead.

We don't need a defenceman who can get pucks on the net, because no one can.

We need a guy who can distribute, and keep the puck alive.

Rielly's 25th in the league in power play points. 23rd in powerplay assists.

That's not bad.
- Atomic Wedgie

It's not great - not with this offense in front of him. Now different teams move the puck differently and have different strategies, but Tyson Barrie on Edmonton was absolutely killing it. That said, my concern has more to do with the games when the team looks stymied - and the other team is making adjustments to prevent the seam passes. We need more options to adjust their defensive strategy - that's all. I believe the lack of dynamics is why the Leafs PP keeps getting shut down in the post season.

That isn't on Rielly's shoulders. But the D can be a part of the solution.

Tied for 4th best in the league.
- Atomic Wedgie

Yeah but that's only because they play in a weak division.

And that's why I didn't say that. I said the whole line ..and yes, I was being a little dramatic to make the point that's it's a pretty ridiculous 3rd line.
- The Law

But you kinda did say that. There's only 3 parts to a line and the C is, arguably, the biggest piece. So yeah, definitely dramatic but I get the gist.

The Bruins, annoyingly, have zero weaknesses as it stands.

The Leafs will have to get supernova hot to get through the 1st and 2nd rounds.

Thank you, Blackjack.

At least someone around here is helpful.
- Atomic Wedgie

So Keefe is coming back with exactly the same line-up that got crunched last night?

Michael Bunting -- Auston Matthews -- Mitchell Marner
John Tavares -- Ryan O'Reilly -- William Nylander
Alexander Kerfoot -- David Kampf -- Calle Jarnkrok
Zach Aston-Reese -- Noel Acciari -- Sam Lafferty

Morgan Rielly -- Justin Holl
Jake McCabe -- TJ Brodie
Mark Giordano -- Timothy Liljegren

Joseph Woll
Ilya Samsonov


. . .I wouldn't mind seeing Lafferty on the 3rd instead of Kerfoot to give that line some moxy, and keep Kerfoot on the 4th to skate the puck up. There's enough strength on the 4th without Lafferty that you might lose some of what he brings there.

Holl & Rielly . . . God. Maybe Dubas has to trade Holl to stop Keefe from Keefing.

We've had 7 D-pairs with over 150 minutes. Most are relatively successful:

Gio - Lilly +6
Rielly - Lilly + 2
Sandin - Lilly +7
Brodie - Timmins +3
Gio - Holl +1
Rielly - Holl even
Brodie - Rielly -2

how bout those standings eh??
- 21peter

How about them eh? top 6 teams in the league are in the East.

Top 6 are in the east then the next 8 are West then the final 6 of the top 20 are East again. Kind of interesting it's book ended like that.