I'd rather have some blown leads, when the big 3 rookies are turning heads in a big way, than have them luck out a few wins but it's like oh Marner is invisible, Nylander and Matthews are struggling...I give a poop about these blown leads, the way the blue chip guys are playing is great, great news
- Zezel

Yup.

I was going to include next year. But I hate doing that without knowing what the roster will look like next year. Could be a big difference with all the contracts coming off the books.
- systemtool

I'm guessing there will be at least one Rookie D to make the team but I'm trying to figure out who. Valiev or Nielsen (sp?) It'll be nice to see the scrubs gone on the back end. Marincin out, Polak out, Hunwick out. Addition by subtraction already.

I keep forgetting we only have Zaitsev for a year. He will be an RFA, no? Hopefully we can lock him up longer term

James Mirtle ‏@mirtle 7m7 minutes ago
Kadri line was just destroyed tonight in Chicago. 20% possession. Not sure that trio makes sense.

That's our shutdown line by the way; stupid Andersen.

They're showing their skill, which is what we want. We're excited for. Thats the part where they are leaving us with thinking they should have won.

The problems they're having are correctable with coaching and experience.
- burn

2 years into a rebuild, folks. Everybody sit back and take a chill pill. Seriously.

I'd rather have some blown leads, when the big 3 rookies are turning heads in a big way, than have them luck out a few wins but it's like oh Marner is invisible, Nylander and Matthews are struggling...I give a poop about these blown leads, the way the blue chip guys are playing is great, great news
- Zezel

This. 3 types of players.

1. Core
2. Support.
3 Role.

Let's concentrate on the core players playing well and learning this season. For the most part this is going well so far

Next year we start adding supporting players like Kapanen and then we need to wait and hope Dermott, Nielsen, Timashov, Bracco can becoming supporting players.

Then you constantly work on role players.

We can't defend for poop, which every man and his dog knew about before the season began, but the guys you want playing well are playing well (for the most part).

Goaltending and D will arrive at the same time, can't really have one without the other

I'm guessing there will be at least one Rookie D to make the team but I'm trying to figure out who. Valiev or Nielsen (sp?) It'll be nice to see the scrubs gone on the back end. Marincin out, Polak out, Hunwick out. Addition by subtraction already.

I keep forgetting we only have Zaitsev for a year. He will be an RFA, no? Hopefully we can lock him up longer term
- UsernameUnknown

Hopefully they lock him down next contract. 3 years would be good.

If we want to get Liljegren, we have to lose more in regulation.
- The Shrike

need a #1D, a #3D... and maybe a goalie

I was going to include next year. But I hate doing that without knowing what the roster will look like next year. Could be a big difference with all the contracts coming off the books.
- systemtool

I expect them to use the cap space next year.

And not like AZ by adding dead weight and prospects.

(frank) dude, start watching the games instead of Twitter. He was solid tonight.

Most of those goals can be squarely blamed on the kids the last few nights: Carrick failing to clear it, Marner doing the same tonight, Rielly missing an assignment... the kids are being kids, you can't expect the goaltender to bail them out every night. That's not how good teams play and win.
- gravyface

To be fair, neither Reimer nor Bernier were allowed these excuses so I don't think we should let Andersen cop out easy (fairs fair)

I expect them to use the cap space next year.

And not like AZ by adding dead weight and prospects.
- Tumbleweed

Hopefully wisely. Dreading another long term bust. I'd almost rather them sit on that cap space.

This. 3 types of players.

1. Core
2. Support.
3 Role.

Let's concentrate on the core players playing well and learning this season. For the most part this is going well so far

Next year we start adding supporting players like Kapanen and then we need to wait and hope Dermott, Nielsen, Timashov, Bracco can becoming supporting players.

Then you constantly work on role players.

We can't defend for poop, which every man and his dog knew about before the season began, but the guys you want playing well are playing well (for the most part).

Goaltending and D will arrive at the same time, can't really have one without the other
- walshyleafsfan

I think people tend to forget the Role player kinda guys. I'm going to be happy when we have kids that have a defensive mind first as well. A guy like Gauthier will help our PK (although so far so good this year!) and hopefully will be a player Babcock can depend on to hold a lead in the last minute or two of a game.

need a #1D, a #3D... and maybe a goalie
- fidopro

Yep.... lot of drafting to be done yet

Because the problem is....we're supposed to be better. We were supposed to have shored up our goaltending as well.....apparently scoring 4 goals a night is not enough.
- ThePresident

Better than what, and according to whom? You? This team is clearly and exponentially better than they were last season. That's the goal for this season.

To be fair, neither Reimer nor Bernier were allowed these excuses so I don't think we should let Andersen cop out easy (fairs fair)
- walshyleafsfan

need a #1D, a #3D... and maybe a goalie
- fidopro

Andersen is fine, and we already have top 10 defender Gardiner.

need a #1D, a #3D... and maybe a goalie
- fidopro

Shattenkirk could be the #3?

To be fair, neither Reimer nor Bernier were allowed these excuses so I don't think we should let Andersen cop out easy (fairs fair)
- walshyleafsfan

Gardiner should be able to own 3 on 3 but (frank) he looked so (frank)ing lost out there tonight. That goes for most of our D at times tonight.

We'll be better...id guess we have more than 82 points by the end of the year.

But (frank) it still sucks losing this way.

2 years into a rebuild, folks. Everybody sit back and take a chill pill. Seriously.
- Phenom

Rebuild started in 2011 with the accidental tank that landed us rielly.

Went into turbo speed 2 years ago imo.

StatsCentre
2m
StatsCentre‏ @StatsCentre
#Leafs are the 1st team since the 2002-03 Thrashers to with 18 or more goals in their first 5 games of a season, yet get just 1 win or fewer

To be fair, neither Reimer nor Bernier were allowed these excuses so I don't think we should let Andersen cop out easy (fairs fair)
- walshyleafsfan

To be fair they had more experienced teams and veterans than Anderson does. Plus it's only been 5 games. I don't think suggesting a little more wait and see is letting him off a hook.

Well, you cant get worse.
5 out if 10 points.
About where i expected
- Fakepartofme

Yeah, I think an end result like Buffalo had last season would be a positive turn of events. Of course, then people would complain we missed the playoffs, but finished high enough to ruin our chances at an impact player at the draft.

Hopefully they lock him down next contract. 3 years would be good.
- systemtool

I figured 4 was a good number. None of that 6/7 year bullpoop though

Hopefully they lock him down next contract. 3 years would be good.
- systemtool

Have a feeling (hope) Ziatsev will only get better. They should lock him up to an economic 3-year deal asap, in my opinion.

Better than what, and according to whom? You? This team is clearly and exponentially better than they were last season. That's the goal for this season.
- BetterCallSaul

We'd be 5-0 if we had better goaltending.