Mike Augello: Leafs Defensive Inadequacies Costing Them Points

Mike Augello: Leafs Defensive Inadequacies Costing Them Points
- mikeinbuffalo

Gateway time-out Error code 504

Yes, Mike, the Leafs have a "bad gateway error" on the defensive side.

Har har.

I can buy in to 11-7 for a while.

Its basically what Keefe has been doing in close games with the forwards.

Klingberg can do PP1 and extremely sheltered 5v5 mins.

Its not ideal but buys some time in a period where trades just aren't going to happen.

I’ll never understand how all the fans can see issues and management can’t, or maybe won’t!? This D issue has been going on for years and, we keep playing the same record over and over. Hello!!!!

I’ll never understand how all the fans can see issues and management can’t, or maybe won’t!? This D issue has been going on for years and, we keep playing the same record over and over. Hello!!!!
- Bullot

I’ll never understand how all the fans can see issues and management can’t, or maybe won’t!? This D issue has been going on for years and, we keep playing the same record over and over. Hello!!!!
- Bullot

Here’s what’s going on behind the scenes..

Shanny is actually a (frank)ing idiot. Terrible choice for Pres. He changed the logo to an oak leaf. He chose that stupid Hall and Oats goal song. He did one thing right, tank. Lou would’ve been better than Kyle, but he forced Lou out and put his boy Kyle in. During the Dubas regime he convinced Shanny (big dummy) that hockey is changing, and you need to play a certain style to win. No more rock em sock em hockey. Let’s be cool to the Snapchat generation, the 17 year olds who vape and know how to do all the fortnight dances. Shanny realized that he’s starting to get blamed for Dubas lack of playoff success, so he fired Dubas to save himself. There’s nothing wrong with Brad Treliving. It’s the President who’s getting in the way of success. Tre probably had multiple trades ready for Nylander this summer, and Shanny probably nixed them all. We could probably have Heiskenen rn, but Shanny wants to keep the core intact. Shanny’s too dumb to build a winning NHL team.

Here’s what’s going on behind the scenes..

Shanny is actually a (frank)ing idiot. Terrible choice for Pres. He changed the logo to an oak leaf. He chose that stupid Hall and Oats goal song. He did one thing right, tank. Lou would’ve been better than Kyle, but he forced Lou out and put his boy Kyle in. During the Dubas regime he convinced Shanny (big dummy) that hockey is changing, and you need to play a certain style to win. No more rock em sock em hockey. Let’s be cool to the Snapchat generation, the 17 year olds who vape and know how to do all the fortnight dances. Shanny realized that he’s starting to get blamed for Dubas lack of playoff success, so he fired Dubas to save himself. There’s nothing wrong with Brad Treliving. It’s the President who’s getting in the way of success. Tre probably had multiple trades ready for Nylander this summer, and Shanny probably nixed them all. We could probably have Heiskenen rn, but Shanny wants to keep the core intact. Shanny’s too dumb to build a winning NHL team.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Woooow. Steve Simmons is that you?!?! 😳😖🤯🤯🤯🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

Here’s what’s going on behind the scenes..

Shanny is actually a (frank)ing idiot. Terrible choice for Pres. He changed the logo to an oak leaf. He chose that stupid Hall and Oats goal song. He did one thing right, tank. Lou would’ve been better than Kyle, but he forced Lou out and put his boy Kyle in. During the Dubas regime he convinced Shanny (big dummy) that hockey is changing, and you need to play a certain style to win. No more rock em sock em hockey. Let’s be cool to the Snapchat generation, the 17 year olds who vape and know how to do all the fortnight dances. Shanny realized that he’s starting to get blamed for Dubas lack of playoff success, so he fired Dubas to save himself. There’s nothing wrong with Brad Treliving. It’s the President who’s getting in the way of success. Tre probably had multiple trades ready for Nylander this summer, and Shanny probably nixed them all. We could probably have Heiskenen rn, but Shanny wants to keep the core intact. Shanny’s too dumb to build a winning NHL team.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

What about the 53 year olds who used to vape and know exactly one fortnite dance?

There was a time when my grandson was impressed by his pops doing some silly fortnite poop, but now I just make him cringe.

Here’s what’s going on behind the scenes..

Shanny is actually a (frank)ing idiot. Terrible choice for Pres. He changed the logo to an oak leaf. He chose that stupid Hall and Oats goal song. He did one thing right, tank. Lou would’ve been better than Kyle, but he forced Lou out and put his boy Kyle in. During the Dubas regime he convinced Shanny (big dummy) that hockey is changing, and you need to play a certain style to win. No more rock em sock em hockey. Let’s be cool to the Snapchat generation, the 17 year olds who vape and know how to do all the fortnight dances. Shanny realized that he’s starting to get blamed for Dubas lack of playoff success, so he fired Dubas to save himself. There’s nothing wrong with Brad Treliving. It’s the President who’s getting in the way of success. Tre probably had multiple trades ready for Nylander this summer, and Shanny probably nixed them all. We could probably have Heiskenen rn, but Shanny wants to keep the core intact. Shanny’s too dumb to build a winning NHL team.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

So …… they’re trading Marner?

Russian Rifle just shot Mrazek.

What about the 53 year olds who used to vape and know exactly one fortnite dance?

There was a time when my grandson was impressed by his pops doing some silly fortnite poop, but now I just make him cringe.
- GalacticStone

Awesome. I can’t do the dances and I only know what the floss is.

Kids who call people cringe, are cringe.

All of the ppl who work for me under the age of 25 vape. (frank)ing ridiculous lol. They all smell like vanilla or cotton candy.

So …… they’re trading Marner?
- Canada Cup

Depends how dumb Shanny is I guess.

Awesome. I can’t do the dances and I only know what the floss is.

Kids who call people cringe, are cringe.

All of the ppl who work for me under the age of 25 vape. (frank)ing ridiculous lol. They all smell like vanilla or cotton candy.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

I smelled like grape for about 5 years. Went from 2 packs of cigs a day, to vaping. Now I just smoke an occasional cigar with my bourbon. Vaping served a purpose for me. It allowed me to slowly step down on my nicotine dose by closely controlling it. 32mg to 18mg to 12mg to 6mg to 4mg to 2mg to zero. Just took me about five years to pull it off. LOL.

Edit : old friend Tyler Johnson just made the Lightning pay.

I’ll never understand how all the fans can see issues and management can’t, or maybe won’t!? This D issue has been going on for years and, we keep playing the same record over and over. Hello!!!!
- Bullot

Last three seasons Toronto is 4th in Points%, 6th in xGA/G, and 9th in GA/G. I've very confused how this has been a long on-going "problem" when it is not manifesting in the stats? Any team with the top end offensive threats will not have a lot of cap available to allocate to defense and goaltending. But teams with no high end offensive talent don't win SCs either.

Last three seasons Toronto is 4th in Points%, 6th in xGA/G, and 9th in GA/G. I've very confused how this has been a long on-going "problem" when it is not manifesting in the stats? Any team with the top end offensive threats will not have a lot of cap available to allocate to defense and goaltending. But teams with no high end offensive talent don't win SCs either.
- jfkst1

It's kinda funny watching fellow Leaf fans spiral out of control and forget everything that happened more than one game ago. Our defense is TRASH this year, but it has been above average for quite a while before that.

One thing that has been consistently bad is Keefe. I've been saying for the better part of two years that he has to go, and I will die on this hill. No clue why he was extended.

Last three seasons Toronto is 4th in Points%, 6th in xGA/G, and 9th in GA/G. I've very confused how this has been a long on-going "problem" when it is not manifesting in the stats? Any team with the top end offensive threats will not have a lot of cap available to allocate to defense and goaltending. But teams with no high end offensive talent don't win SCs either.
- jfkst1

Imagine if we had a decent Dman! Might be able to get somewhere. Numbers don’t tell the whole story.

Here’s what’s going on behind the scenes..

Shanny is actually a (frank)ing idiot. Terrible choice for Pres. He changed the logo to an oak leaf. He chose that stupid Hall and Oats goal song. He did one thing right, tank. Lou would’ve been better than Kyle, but he forced Lou out and put his boy Kyle in. During the Dubas regime he convinced Shanny (big dummy) that hockey is changing, and you need to play a certain style to win. No more rock em sock em hockey. Let’s be cool to the Snapchat generation, the 17 year olds who vape and know how to do all the fortnight dances. Shanny realized that he’s starting to get blamed for Dubas lack of playoff success, so he fired Dubas to save himself. There’s nothing wrong with Brad Treliving. It’s the President who’s getting in the way of success. Tre probably had multiple trades ready for Nylander this summer, and Shanny probably nixed them all. We could probably have Heiskenen rn, but Shanny wants to keep the core intact. Shanny’s too dumb to build a winning NHL team.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

I think there is some truth to this. I also think Keefe is a big issue. I mean, how good is he as a coach? I don’t think there is a coach in the league that couldn’t do as well……move Keefe to the Oilers or San Jose and let’s see if he’s any good!

At the hotel pool with the boy
He is the big RHD we need!

4 day tournament starts tomorrow

Lightning game turned into a tire fire.

How do you lose to a Chicago team that has Mrazek in net?

Bedard. That's how.

Imagine if we had a decent Dman! Might be able to get somewhere. Numbers don’t tell the whole story.
- Bullot

Rielly is a good dman. Brodie at least was a good dman. Maybe the defense is weaker this season. Though IME fan bases are entirely incapable of differentiating goaltending from defense. But the notion that any individual or collective opinions are somehow more veritable than three seasons of data is utter delusion.

Rielly is a good dman. Brodie at least was a good dman. Maybe the defense is weaker this season. Though IME fan bases are entirely incapable of differentiating goaltending from defense. But the notion that any individual or collective opinions are somehow more veritable than three seasons of data is utter delusion.
- jfkst1

Leafs had good team defence plus a puck possession offence previous seasons and Sammy played well regular season (specifically last year). That combo has sheltered the dcores warts. The loss (from 4ths ago to today) is a lot of good defensive forwards who play a focused 200 foot game. These are the most notable subtractions over last 4 years:

- Kerfoot
- Engvall
- Hyman
- Kapenen
- Johnsson
- Mikahyev
- Acciari (last season)
- Laferety (last season)
- ROR (last season)

Not all great players (Kapenen/Johnsson example) but took the defensive side of the game serious.
The dcore has been too soft in own zone on board battles and in front of net for a while. They allow far too many high risk chances, can’t stop a cycle, allow 2nd/3rd chances in front of net, allow opposing players to feel comfy while in their zone and entering zone.

This is what it looks like when forwards aren’t committing to a defensive game (as I believe I read Keefe alluded too) and the tenders are playing to what they are.

Rielly is a good dman. Brodie at least was a good dman. Maybe the defense is weaker this season. Though IME fan bases are entirely incapable of differentiating goaltending from defense. But the notion that any individual or collective opinions are somehow more veritable than three seasons of data is utter delusion.
- jfkst1

Never underestimate the importance of long held delusions

Lightning game turned into a tire fire.

How do you lose to a Chicago team that has Mrazek in net?

Bedard. That's how.
- GalacticStone

If Woll was in net, Bedard would have had 47 pts by the end of the 2nd.

Honestly we lost three big guys to the 200ft game and also to winning faceoffs. Keefe is where a lot of this starts and ends. His blendering lines so nobody has chemistry, getting outcoached, all the bench minors. The structure and style is offence, outscore. Stick check and chase. We lose board battles and cant get the puck out because its always hit the breaking early forwards. We stand around following the puck and all chase it into a corner. Who doesnt know the plan is to play drop it back and last man skate it up into the wall of people all standing at the blueline? Or come down the wing and curl back looking to make a pass? Everyone knows it. Thats all on Keefe.

We replaced the 200ft players with offensive minded supposedly gritty players who dont play defense well or at all. Technically we lost 3 centers and replaced with one who cant really win faceoffs. Im not going to blame Tree here but what he does and how he fixes this is going to be crucial. How he moves us from Dubas failed Im smarter than everyone build will be curious.