NHL Thread

[jaysblue]

Leafs in trouble guys, amirite...

 

 

Leafs will make the Playoffs no problem, but you know very well Spanky they're not a team built to go on a long run. Other teams like Boston and Florida and other teams turn it up a notch in the Playoffs in terms of physicality, which is something the Leafs don't have. Guys like Matthews, Marner and Nylander are fantastic players during the regular season. They could out skate and use their skills to beat up on the bad teams and even good teams as well, though when it comes to Playoff hockey, they get shut down, they're afraid to go into the boards, take a hit etc.

 

Leafs need two defensemen at the deadline IMO.

[Laika]

Leafs will make the Playoffs no problem, but you know very well Spanky they're not a team built to go on a long run. Other teams like Boston and Florida and other teams turn it up a notch in the Playoffs in terms of physicality, which is something the Leafs don't have. Guys like Matthews, Marner and Nylander are fantastic players during the regular season. They could out skate and use their skills to beat up on the bad teams and even good teams as well, though when it comes to Playoff hockey, they get shut down, they're afraid to go into the boards, take a hit etc.

 

Leafs need two defensemen at the deadline IMO.

 

They have had opportunities to sell high on Marner or Nylander over the past few years and have chosen not to.

 

Really think they needed to move one of them for two-way talent. Most of these teams ahead of them are built around two-way players like Marchand, Barkov, Tkachuk...

 

Not sure a couple of defensemen fix much. I think it starts down the middle, with C.

[Laika]

Leafs right now sort of remind me of peak Penguins teams

 

Crosby-Kessel-Malkin-Letang

 

Of course, they don't have a Sidney Crosby

[Spanky99]

Ignorance is bliss.

[Krylian]

Leafs right now sort of remind me of peak Penguins teams

 

Crosby-Kessel-Malkin-Letang

 

Of course, they don't have a Sidney Crosby

 

Leafs need to play with balls when it matters to be mentioned in the same sentence as those champions.

[Laika]

Leafs need to play with balls when it matters to be mentioned in the same sentence as those champions.

 

But that's the comparison

 

Offense-driven team.

 

It's not about balls, it's about talent. The Leafs are that kind of roster, they just don't have quite enough star power to pull it off. I guess?

 

If Matthews was McDavid or Mackinnon you could make a more direct comparison, but he's a bit worse.

[Krylian]

But that's the comparison

 

Offense-driven team.

 

It's not about balls, it's about talent. The Leafs are that kind of roster, they just don't have quite enough star power to pull it off. I guess?

 

If Matthews was McDavid or Mackinnon you could make a more direct comparison, but he's a bit worse.

 

Talent alone won't win you anything. Leafs can get pushed around. When the game gets tight, hard, and rough, it's much harder to score. When you can only score 2, you have to be willing to do whatever it takes to keep the other team to one.... Meaning you can't be soft in your own zone and you have to lean on your opponent and slowly wear them down physically. They haven't been willing to do that or at least want to do it as much as their opponents do.

[burlingtonbandit]

They have had opportunities to sell high on Marner or Nylander over the past few years and have chosen not to.

 

Really think they needed to move one of them for two-way talent. Most of these teams ahead of them are built around two-way players like Marchand, Barkov, Tkachuk...

 

Not sure a couple of defensemen fix much. I think it starts down the middle, with C.

 

I mean to be fair Matthews is a great 2 way player, he's actually really good defensively which he doesn't seem to get much credit for. He's had his playoff duds but the biggest problem is Taveras can't skate anymore and is no longer a #2C and getting paid like a top 10 player.

 

Their bottom 6 is no where near good enough compared to elite teams in the NHL either, and you combine that with bad defense and unproven goaltending and you're left with an above average but not great team.

[Laika]

Talent alone won't win you anything. Leafs can get pushed around. When the game gets tight, hard, and rough, it's much harder to score. When you can only score 2, you have to be willing to do whatever it takes to keep the other team to one.... Meaning you can't be soft in your own zone and you have to lean on your opponent and slowly wear them down physically. They haven't been willing to do that or at least want to do it as much as their opponents do.

 

I dunno, I would say that the Crosby Penguins won their cups based on pure talent, wouldn't you?

 

They were 27/30 in PIMs in 2015-2016, that's pretty soft. I know there are other measures of what we are talking about ("talent" vs. "grit")

[Laika]

I mean to be fair Matthews is a great 2 way player, he's actually really good defensively which he doesn't seem to get much credit for. He's had his playoff duds but the biggest problem is Taveras can't skate anymore and is no longer a #2C and getting paid like a top 10 player.

 

Their bottom 6 is no where near good enough compared to elite teams in the NHL either, and you combine that with bad defense and unproven goaltending and you're left with an above average but not great team.

 

Yeah Taveras is a waste of money

 

I actually did not know that Matthews was rating out as a 2-way player. Is that knew or a career long thing?

[Spanky99]

Not to mention he's talking about one of the best 2 way players in the game. A fool's errand replying to that s***.

 

Ignorance is bliss.

 

Yeah Taveras is a waste of money

 

I actually did not know that Matthews was rating out as a 2-way player. Is that knew or a career long thing?

 

...

[Laika]

...

 

Spanky, it can't be as true as you think.

 

The Leafs would be better if Matthews was actually a "two way superstar" that scored 60 goals a year

 

He might be good at defense by possession metrics and stuff, but something must be off. There are different ways to play defense and different times that it works.

 

Or his colleagues are just dogshit at it.

[burlingtonbandit]

Yeah Taveras is a waste of money

 

I actually did not know that Matthews was rating out as a 2-way player. Is that knew or a career long thing?

 

He's always been pretty good as far as I can tell. He's got the size, stickwork and wins battles along the boards. Always been a positive player at EV. The Leafs problem is they paying guys like Bertuzzi 5M for providing nothing, Reaves etc..

 

Teams like Florida, Vegas have 4 capable lines where at the Leafs bottom 6 is atrocious. And now that Taveras had declined even the 2nd line isn't as strong, which is why they are where they are.

[Spanky99]

Spanky, it can't be as true as you think.

 

The Leafs would be better if Matthews was actually a "two way superstar" that scored 60 goals a year

 

He might be good at defense by possession metrics and stuff, but something must be off. There are different ways to play defense and different times that it works.

 

Or his colleagues are just dogshit at it.

 

He's a legit top 2 way player for a long time and just gets better, Marner was in the top 10 in '23, but not anymore.

 

Leafs just weren't getting it done with their depth, they've been much better as of late. Treviling's signs haven't showed what everyone thought. He gets at least the deadline and playoffs this year from me, before I bark.

[Krylian]

I dunno, I would say that the Crosby Penguins won their cups based on pure talent, wouldn't you?

 

They were 27/30 in PIMs in 2015-2016, that's pretty soft. I know there are other measures of what we are talking about ("talent" vs. "grit")

 

I think it's more complex than that. They weren't goons like, say, Florida is now. But they didn't wilt (like the Leafs do) when a team tried to play a mean and heavy game against them. Crosby can play a low key dirty game... And that is a must in the playoffs. Matthews rarely gets mad and uses his size. Nylander and Marner don't have a mean bone in their body. Add Tavares to that too.

 

They need a couple of guys (not 4th line clowns like Reaves) that can play. Skate, hit, score a bit, and if need be play nasty and beat you senseless. This is a game of aggression and the Leafs don't strike fear in any opponent, from a physicality standpoint.

[P2F]

I dunno, I would say that the Crosby Penguins won their cups based on pure talent, wouldn't you?

 

They were 27/30 in PIMs in 2015-2016, that's pretty soft. I know there are other measures of what we are talking about ("talent" vs. "grit")

 

They were definitely talented offensively, but good all-around depth and Murray playing like a then-franchise goalie really helped their cause.

Edited February 21, 2024 by P2F

[burlingtonbandit]

I think it's more complex than that. They weren't goons like, say, Florida is now. But they didn't wilt (like the Leafs do) when a team tried to play a mean and heavy game against them. Crosby can play a low key dirty game... And that is a must in the playoffs. Matthews rarely gets mad and uses his size. Nylander and Marner don't have a mean bone in their body. Add Tavares to that too.

 

They need a couple of guys (not 4th line clowns like Reaves) that can play. Skate, hit, score a bit, and if need be play nasty and beat you senseless. This is a game of aggression and the Leafs don't strike fear in any opponent, from a physicality standpoint.

 

Sounds like they could use Ridley Greig. We all know he has a great slapshot.

[Spanky99]

Am34 50!!!

[Krylian]

Sounds like they could use Ridley Greig. We all know he has a great slapshot.

 

It'd love to have 2 Ridly Greig's. You need pieces of s*** in your playoff lineup, as long as they can skate, and chip in the odd goal.

[Spanky99]

Depth has been scoring lately.

 

[Spanky99]

I think it's more complex than that. They weren't goons like, say, Florida is now. But they didn't wilt (like the Leafs do) when a team tried to play a mean and heavy game against them. Crosby can play a low key dirty game... And that is a must in the playoffs. Matthews rarely gets mad and uses his size. Nylander and Marner don't have a mean bone in their body. Add Tavares to that too.

 

They need a couple of guys (not 4th line clowns like Reaves) that can play. Skate, hit, score a bit, and if need be play nasty and beat you senseless. This is a game of aggression and the Leafs don't strike fear in any opponent, from a physicality standpoint.

 

It'd love to have 2 Ridly Greig's. You need pieces of s*** in your playoff lineup, as long as they can skate, and chip in the odd goal.

 

You don't deserve this team.

[Spanky99]

52 goals in 55 games, lol

[Spanky99]

Great Leaf win. Schooled the Vegas Knights.

[Krylian]

You don't deserve this team.

 

You need to pay attention to what gets it done in the playoffs

[Spanky99]

You need to pay attention to what gets it done in the playoffs

 

[Pendleton]

Georgiev is up to 30 wins, with an outside shot at pushing the single season record (48) with 24 games remaining. Yet he's currently sitting below a .900 SV% (.898).

[Spanky99]

Georgiev is up to 30 wins, with an outside shot at pushing the single season record (48) with 24 games remaining. Yet he's currently sitting below a .900 SV% (.898).

 

His season reminds me of Vasilevski. So bizarre.

[Pendleton]

His season reminds me of Vasilevski. So bizarre.

 

Both seem like they are being propped up by their strong teams right now, has definitely never been the case for Vasi prior to this year

[Krylian]

Vasi's coming back from surgery to repair a herniated lumbar disk. Back injuries are a bitch to come back from. This season is a write-off for him. I expect him to bounce back with a full off-season in his back pocket.

[Horses Fart]

Why can’t the Buds roll like this in the playoffs? Ugh!