Mike Augello: Internal Shakeups The First Option; Leafs Vs. Flyers

5-2 Leafs

5-2 Leafs
- Symba007

I think they realize they don’t really have to try

Rielly-Mete

🤦‍♂️

Rielly-Mete

🤦‍♂️
- fifty__missions

If Lyubushkin worked out (currently the 7th d man for the Sabres), then it’s not impossible for Mete to work out as well.

He just needs to play a simple, laid back defensive game and let Rielly be their puck mover.

If Lyubushkin worked out (currently the 7th d man for the Sabres), then it’s not impossible for Mete to work out as well.

He just needs to play a simple, laid back defensive game and let Rielly be their puck mover.
- Dozzer

We don't need another undersized, soft, unreliable in the D zone player. We might as well just kept Travis Dermott. The entire hockey world sees Mete as a minor leaguer, but he's on our top pair.

If Lyubushkin worked out (currently the 7th d man for the Sabres), then it’s not impossible for Mete to work out as well.

He just needs to play a simple, laid back defensive game and let Rielly be their puck mover.
- Dozzer

My guess is that Brodie gets double shifted - a lot. Keefe gets last change and you’ll probably see Rielly-Mete get O-zone starts when the big boys are on the ice.

We don't need another undersized, soft, unreliable in the D zone player. We might as well just kept Travis Dermott. The entire hockey world sees Mete as a minor leaguer, but he's on our top pair.
- fifty__missions

No offence but you’re being a tad dramatic.

The guy has 240 career NHL games. Minor leaguers don’t play in the NHL that much, not even close.

Everyone felt Lyubushkin was an NHLer but even he doesn’t have as many games played, only 217.

Edit: also keep in mind Rielly is over 220lbs so it’s not like they’re an overall tiny pairing

We don't need another undersized, soft, unreliable in the D zone player. We might as well just kept Travis Dermott. The entire hockey world sees Mete as a minor leaguer, but he's on our top pair.
- fifty__missions

For all it's worth, this pairing will likely be as successful as Rielly-Barrie.

It may not last 30 minutes into the game.

Mete can skate, he can pass, and he can shoot. He is not tough, he doesn't clear the front of the net, and he doesn't pin guys against the wall. Positionally he's questionable, and I'm not sure he understands how to defend a 2 on 1. No, no. I'm still talking about Mete, not Rielly.

Honestly, if Mete can keep an active stick, stay poised and not panic, and manage to cut off lanes and recognize when Rielly is jumping, his ability to skate may be better than most RHD options we put up there. Lately you have guys like Holl puck watching or Brodie getting trapped or being too slow to catch up to plays he missed by a beat.

Mete is not a top-4 defenseman by any measure - but if he can be a stopgap tonight until Liljegren is ready on Saturday, I have no problem with seeing how it fares.

I'm as pessimistic about this experiment as you are, but honestly at this point the way the D has been playing - who cares? Maybe Marner really should be playing D on this team.

My guess is that Brodie gets double shifted - a lot. Keefe gets last change and you’ll probably see Rielly-Mete get O-zone starts when the big boys are on the ice.
- Canada Cup

Brodie is going to be their primary shutdown defender for the next little while. Him and Holl will get the majority of the defensive zone starts (it’s an open guess admittedly but it’s what I believe)

For all it's worth, this pairing will likely be as successful as Rielly-Barrie.

It may not last 30 minutes into the game.

Mete can skate, he can pass, and he can shoot. He is not tough, he doesn't clear the front of the net, and he doesn't pin guys against the wall. Positionally he's questionable, and I'm not sure he understands how to defend a 2 on 1. No, no. I'm still talking about Mete, not Rielly.

Honestly, if Mete can keep an active stick, stay poised and not panic, and manage to cut off lanes and recognize when Rielly is jumping, his ability to skate may be better than most RHD options we put up there. Lately you have guys like Holl puck watching or Brodie getting trapped or being too slow to catch up to plays he missed by a beat.

Mete is not a top-4 defenseman by any measure - but if he can be a stopgap tonight until Liljegren is ready on Saturday, I have no problem with seeing how it fares.

I'm as pessimistic about this experiment as you are, but honestly at this point the way the D has been playing - who cares? Maybe Marner really should be playing D on this team.
- Monkeypunk

I’ll be absolutely shocked if Liljegren isn’t just on the bottom pairing with Giordano tbh, especially in his first game of the year.

If Lyubushkin worked out (currently the 7th d man for the Sabres), then it’s not impossible for Mete to work out as well.

He just needs to play a simple, laid back defensive game and let Rielly be their puck mover.
- Dozzer

Have you met Victor Mete?

Great guy but NOT his cup of tea.

Lyubushcigskgin at least fitted the "laid back" role.

Have you met Victor Mete?

Great guy but NOT his cup of tea.

Lyubushcigskgin at least fitted the "laid back" role.
- Scabeh

But Lyubushcidfgjsidgjuinsdlkgklpoopoosdngklsdgnklsdgmgskgin plays for Buffalo

Have you met Victor Mete?

Great guy but NOT his cup of tea.

Lyubushcigskgin at least fitted the "laid back" role.
- Scabeh

All he has to is get the puck up to the forwards or over to Rielly, if he focuses on that I think he’ll do alright tbh.

But Lyubushcidfgjsidgjuinsdlkgklpoopoosdngklsdgnklsdgmgskgin plays for Buffalo
- Symba007

Not in their last two games.

He’s the 6th/7th for them.

I’ll be absolutely shocked if Liljegren isn’t just on the bottom pairing with Giordano tbh, especially in his first game of the year.
- Dozzer

And that's fine too. At least we'll be able to count on that pairing.
I say we just give #3 a few games off. That move alone will inprove things on the backend.

All he has to is get the puck up to the forwards or over to Rielly, if he focuses on that I think he’ll do alright tbh.
- Dozzer

As long as no defending is actually asked, he'll do fine.

As long as no defending is actually asked, he'll do fine.
- Scabeh

I doubt he gets much more that 10 minutes of ice time unless the Leafs have a “big, there’s non way” lead

And that's fine too. At least we'll be able to count on that pairing.
I say we just give #3 a few games off. That move alone will inprove things on the backend.
- Leafsmart

When Liljegren is back it means they still only have two righties, Holl won’t be sat anytime soon.

Nor should he be, it’s about time Keefe put one of their primary d men on the shutdown pair and not rely on a bottom pairing puck mover like Sandin and the 4th/5th guy like Holl to be the primary shutdown pairing.

I’m guessing it’s Sandin that gets sat on Saturday

Leafs win, easily.

As long as no defending is actually asked, he'll do fine.
- Scabeh

They’re trying to be a puck moving team who doesn’t sit back in a defensive mode so he might be a good fit

I doubt he gets much more that 10 minutes of ice time unless the Leafs have a “big, there’s non way” lead
- Canada Cup

He’s on the top pairing so try closer to 20mins

Leafs win, easily.
- Zezel

They’re trying to be a puck moving team who doesn’t sit back in a defensive mode so he might be a good fit
- Dozzer

they are who they are defensively but they have not been who they are offensively.

Leafs are expected to win 6-4, not lose 4-2.

they are who they are defensively but they have not been who they are offensively.

Leafs are expected to win 6-4, not lose 4-2.
- Symba007

Exactly, it’s their offence not getting the job done at their supposed ability.

Line 2 has been solid, line 1 has been iffy, the bottom 6 has been next to no threat.

If that forward group can finally get things rolling across the board all these complaints about the team will disappear in a hurry. Same as usual.