I think Keefe is afraid to lose the players.

But he might lose his job.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Can only hope there.

It's possible. Honestly Nylander is on a heater, so you want him to get more ice. If you had Marner on the third it would elevate that line with the puck, but you can't overload on small guys (Domi, Marner, Robertson). A simple Marner/Nylander swap would be the best kick. The thing with Tavares is that Marner knows his role with him and plays it well.

But juggling some things around would be good.

I think the biggest problem is really the most obvious - on defense we have Morgan Rielly. That's it. Ignore that I have been on and off the Trade Rielly bandwagon - right now he's the only back there I have consistent faith in.

I like Gio, but he's slower and best kept to lower calibre competition. I think McCabe is decent, but he's not great at facing top tier competition. But ultimately when you put it all together (even healthy), they aren't tough enough and the lynchpin of our D performance is Brodie and he has been really struggling on and off this year. He's shying away from contact, losing almost every board and net front battle and his foot speed is almost certainly slower than last year judging by his positioning off the rush against.
- Monkeypunk

The rest of the league is thanking their lucky stars that the Leaf defence consists of Rielly and a bunch of pluggers. I think this offseason it might actually get fixed. I mean come on!

I think Keefe is afraid to lose the players.

But he might lose his job.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Don’t even know why he has a job. This team lacks the killer instinct right from the top down.

https://twitter.com/frent...tatus/1728578151536595018

"Trouba is just playing good, hard hockey"- Absolute (frank)ing morons

The guy is a gutless sack of poop and always has been.

In Woll we trust

Samsosoft

Saros is a small goalie who relies on athleticism. As he ages, that will likely become an issue

Josi we can’t afford

Marner is succubussed
- mr.sir

Rielly Brodie
Giordano McCabe
Benoit Liljegren
(Lagesson Timmins)
- mr.sir

Healthy Liljegren > everyone on the right side D.

https://twitter.com/frent...tatus/1728578151536595018

"Trouba is just playing good, hard hockey"- Absolute (frank)ing morons

The guy is a gutless sack of poop and always has been.
- GreatGigInTheSky

Holy poop, I actually didn't see this until now-

NHL Player Safety

@NHLPlayerSafety
NY Rangers’ Jacob Trouba has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for High-sticking Boston’s Trent Frederic.

This is unbelievably pathetic from Parros.

Holy poop, I actually didn't see this until now-



This is unbelievably pathetic from Parros.
- GreatGigInTheSky

It's Parros. Enough said right there.

It's Parros. Enough said right there.
- Roadrunner75

I don't care if the PA represents all players, they should 100% fine a complaint against the Department of "Player Safety".

Trouba is out there deliberately trying to hurt guys. Every. Single. Game.

https://twitter.com/frent...tatus/1728578151536595018

"Trouba is just playing good, hard hockey"- Absolute (frank)ing morons

The guy is a gutless sack of poop and always has been.
- GreatGigInTheSky

He's a player literally *every* team in the league would die to have in their squad.

That you have the opposite opinion does not surprise me one bit. The guy you idolize, Timothy Liljgren is a fine player, but he gets smoked more than salmon and is about as mean as a golden retriever.

A guy that wants to hurt people every single shift? Yeah, sign me up. I want him on my team. It's a tough sport, a man's game, and intimidation has always been an effective tactic.

If that makes you too queasy maybe stick to immersing yourself in video games, gigse, with all of the *simulated* carnage and violence you could ever ask for. (Which in and of itself is a very strange place to choose to immerse your brain on a constant basis, but that's a whole other conversation)

Keefe usually has the blender out every game. Recently, he has stuck to his guns and kept the top two lines together…. I think it’s time to drop Marner down to the second line and put Willy with Matthews. Let Marner figure it out with Bert and JT. Let Matthews and Willy go full nuclear. If his play continues like this I would let Maner ride the pine for a period…

Oh, and I blame last night on Reeves…

Leafs hardly ever win when the game means something! Losing twice to bottom feeder Chicago. Now to frankin Dubas, and the senior citizens. Frustrating.
- Bullot

This is true.

When was the last time the Leafs showed up big against a formerly player or coach? Almost always the opposite is true. Former leafs come back and beat us.

Notice #55 score last night? And there was no fire at all to beat Dubas…

This shows you the mental makeup of these guys. They don’t have ‘it’. No killer instinct at all…. No team pack mentality. Someone gets hurt and they just stand around. Someone runs teh goalie and they do nothing. Someone punches Matthews and they just laugh…. Try that poop on Tampa or Boston…

I see a core of guys (and a coach) satisfied with personal glory but not willing do what it takes.

https://twitter.com/frent...tatus/1728578151536595018

"Trouba is just playing good, hard hockey"- Absolute (frank)ing morons

The guy is a gutless sack of poop and always has been.
- GreatGigInTheSky

dats fine when you play the big bad B's

He's a player literally *every* team in the league would die to have in their squad.

That you have the opposite opinion does not surprise me one bit. The guy you idolize, Timothy Liljgren is a fine player, but he gets smoked more than salmon and is about as mean as a golden retriever.

A guy that wants to hurt people every single shift? Yeah, sign me up. I want him on my team. It's a tough sport, a man's game, and intimidation has always been an effective tactic.

If that makes you too queasy maybe stick to immersing yourself in video games, gigse, with all of the *simulated* carnage and violence you could ever ask for. (Which in and of itself is a very strange place to choose to immerse your brain on a constant basis, but that's a whole other conversation)
- fifty__missions

If Jacob Trouba played for the Leafs he would be suspended for over 40 games / season.

Everyone appreciates hard nosed hockey. We all want a guy to take someone heavily into the boards, win those board battles, clear the front of the net and stick up for their teammates - especially the goalie. Trouba does all of that very well - but the extra stuff he does? There is literally no place for it in hockey and the league turning a blind eye to it repeatedly is a problem.

I'm not making it up - you can see examples of Makar or McDavid being given multiple game suspensions for less than what Trouba does _all the time_.

For the record I think Liljegren is too soft for what _we_ need unless we start making over some of the other pieces around him and Rielly, but it doesn't mean anyone should like the dangerous ancillary stuff Trouba does. That's not hockey.

If Jacob Trouba played for the Leafs he would be suspended for over 40 games / season.

Everyone appreciates hard nosed hockey. We all want a guy to take someone heavily into the boards, win those board battles, clear the front of the net and stick up for their teammates - especially the goalie. Trouba does all of that very well - but the extra stuff he does? There is literally no place for it in hockey and the league turning a blind eye to it repeatedly is a problem.

I'm not making it up - you can see examples of Makar or McDavid being given multiple game suspensions for less than what Trouba does _all the time_.

For the record I think Liljegren is too soft for what _we_ need unless we start making over some of the other pieces around him and Rielly, but it doesn't mean anyone should like the dangerous ancillary stuff Trouba does. That's not hockey.
- Monkeypunk

I'm calling a big, fat, (frank)ing bullpoop on this take re. Trouba in Toronto. Bullpoop excuse, period. Every single team in the league would take Trouba in a heartbeat. It absolutely is part of the game whether you like it or not.

I'm calling a big, fat, (frank)ing bullpoop on this take re. Trouba in Toronto. Bullpoop excuse, period. Every single team in the league would take Trouba in a heartbeat. It absolutely is part of the game whether you like it or not.
- fifty__missions

https://twitter.com/i/status/1728613905642270854

A two handed tomahawk chop at the guy's head? Seriously, dude. That's literally worse than what McSorley did - the only difference is that he didn't clip his temple. if he played elsewhere that's a suspension. If you had a real head of the DoPS that could literally be over 30 games - there is precedent for it.

There's no bullpoop in the fact that Trouba doesn't just play on the line, he is routinely over it and there are markets where those players are scrutinized far more than others. We are in that market like it or not.

What happened there is NOT a part of the game. Believing that is a massive problem.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1728613905642270854

A two handed tomahawk chop at the guy's head? Seriously, dude. That's literally worse than what McSorley did - the only difference is that he didn't clip his temple. if he played elsewhere that's a suspension. If you had a real head of the DoPS that could literally be over 30 games - there is precedent for it.

There's no bullpoop in the fact that Trouba doesn't just play on the line, he is routinely over it and there are markets where those players are scrutinized far more than others. We are in that market like it or not.

What happened there is NOT a part of the game. Believing that is a massive problem.
- Monkeypunk

Agree here. I love a good clean solid hit. Sign me up to watch old-school hip checks all day long. Take a run at my guys, we run your guys. Eye for an eye. Play with an edge and a chip on your shoulder. Love that.

Do not try to include dirty ass poop with the above. Trying to ring a guy's bell is a lot different than trying to end his career. Trouba might not *intend* to end a guy's career with any given hit, but he plays like he doesn't give a single phuck if he does. There is no honor in that. It's bad for his own team in the form of penalties and suspensions, and it's bad for the entire league.

Many of these players are family men. Working hard (on the ice) to feed their families. They get paid a lot more than most of us do, but it's the same damn thing. How would you like it if one of your coworkers decided to sucker-punch you on the job and you end up in a hospital for it?

It's a fine line to walk between old-school physical play and causing serious injuries. Players are bigger and stronger now than back in the day. Play is faster. Trouba has not learned to reign it in and dole out just what is needed and nothing more. He's a step away from being a Perry or Marchand. (in terms of dirty poop, not play)

That stick swing was reckless as phuck at best. At best. You want another Kadri on your team, so he can cripple your team again at the worst time?

https://twitter.com/frent...tatus/1728578151536595018

"Trouba is just playing good, hard hockey"- Absolute (frank)ing morons

The guy is a gutless sack of poop and always has been.
- GreatGigInTheSky

this has got to be the dumbest post ever! You wish he played for your team that’s why you’re mad! And another thing Leafs lose AGAIN! BOO YEAH! Go ahead dozer BAN ME I DARE YOU!

this has got to be the dumbest post ever! You wish he played for your team that’s why you’re mad! And another thing Leafs lose AGAIN! BOO YEAH! Go ahead dozer BAN ME I DARE YOU!
- Bobd62

Well you would know dumb. What are you 5. " Na na na na na na your team lost"

Keefe usually has the blender out every game. Recently, he has stuck to his guns and kept the top two lines together…. I think it’s time to drop Marner down to the second line and put Willy with Matthews. Let Marner figure it out with Bert and JT. Let Matthews and Willy go full nuclear. If his play continues like this I would let Maner ride the pine for a period…

Oh, and I blame last night on Reeves…
- Hockey_Reverend

Agree that Keefe usually has the blender out ... but dropping Marner to play with Tavares is NOT the right move in my opinion. Not this time. Both Marner & Matthews get tunnel vision playing with each other - happens periodically - but in this case Marner is literally not contributing anything offensively 5v5.

leave Tavares Nylander Bertuzzi to play together.

move Marner down to play with Domi and move Jarnkrok up with Matthews.

Well you would know dumb. What are you 5. " Na na na na na na your team lost"
- jribout

Nice comeback! All of you ranger haters should look at both angles of that hit Fredric has as much to do with it as trouba a two minute penalty at best!

Keefe on the performance of the top line:

"I thought they were good. Those guys had lots of jump. They were on the attack. No issues with them."

This is an awful take. Matthews and Marner were not good. Matthews in particular - far too passive. He needs watch how Crosby plays the game. Hard, ALL the time.

Nice comeback! All of you ranger haters should look at both angles of that hit Fredric has as much to do with it as trouba a two minute penalty at best!
- Bobd62

“Ranger haters”

Keefe on the performance of the top line:

"I thought they were good. Those guys had lots of jump. They were on the attack. No issues with them."

This is an awful take. Matthews and Marner were not good. Matthews in particular - far too passive. He needs watch how Crosby plays the game. Hard, ALL the time.
- fifty__missions

Stop paying attention to what coaches or players on the Leafs say to the media.

Its all bull poop.

Stop paying attention to what coaches or players on the Leafs say to the media.

Its all bull poop.
- Santo_44

Yeah. Not all coaches operate this way, Santo.

Keefe is scared poopless.