Remember during the summer how you guys were saying you'd be happy if Matthews turns out to be as good as Kopitar one day??

Good times
- Arctic_AARDVARK

I would've been damn happy!

He literally saved Kadri from a beating tonight.
- Blazed

kadri would have just turtled..

I don't see much value in him. He's too slow

I like Leivos offensive game..

But defence not so much.. he doesn't backcheck very hard and he seems to take a long time to reengage in the play after a shot
- Arctic_AARDVARK

He started to leave the zone early after his second assist. His ice-time will plummet if that continues.

I would've been damn happy!
- daeth

Matthews>>>Kopitar.

kadri would have just turtled..

I don't see much value in him. He's too slow
- Arctic_AARDVARK

I highly doubt that, I actually thought Kadri was going to bang for a minute, he's a gamer.

He adds a nice crash and bang to the fourth line, his hits are heavy, as a D that sucks. Kadri played a heavy game and Martin backed him up.

Matthews>>>Kopitar.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Right now? Coming into the season I'd probably have put Kopitar behind only Bergeron for best defensive center in the league. Offensively Matthews is better I'd say but I don't know about overall.. yet!

I highly doubt that, I actually thought Kadri was going to bang for a minute, he's a gamer.

He adds a nice crash and bang to the fourth line, his hits are heavy, as a D that sucks. Kadri played a heavy game and Martin backed him up.
- Blazed

Meh..

I'm not sure what the solution is, but Martin just can't keep up with the play.

Meh..

I'm not sure what the solution is, but Martin just can't keep up with the play.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Can't keep up with what? His stats are completely appropriate for his role. He is fast on the forecheck and he can break up a cycle down low in the defensive end and carry to the red line, literally all Babcock wants to happen in that scenario.

I don't mind Martin either. He's overpaid but he does what you want a 4th liner to do really. I'm the defender of plugs apparently.

Can't keep up with what? His stats are completely appropriate for his role. He is fast on the forecheck and he can break up a cycle down low in the defensive end and carry to the red line, literally all Babcock wants to happen in that scenario.
- Blazed

The goal of a 4th line is simply not to get scored on lol. That's about it.

Can't keep up with what? His stats are completely appropriate for his role. He is fast on the forecheck and he can break up a cycle down low in the defensive end and carry to the red line, literally all Babcock wants to happen in that scenario.
- Blazed

He can't keep up with the pace that the Leafs play. Sosh can't get much going and when he does Martin is always chasing. I don't think Martin is terrible, but I'd rather more speed

Leivo earned his role IMO .

Go Leafs!

He can't keep up with the pace that the Leafs play. Sosh can't get much going and when he does Martin is always chasing. I don't think Martin is terrible, but I'd rather more speed
- Arctic_AARDVARK

He can't keep up with the pace the Leafs play is a pretty abstract thing to say. I disagree. Leivo is a guy with similar skating but he has hands and is a top 9 guy. He can keep up with the pace.

I don't think replacing Martin's 6-9 role specific minutes with a guy like Kapanen is going to make a substantial change either way, we have a team full of wingers like that.

Leivo earned his role IMO .

Go Leafs!
- MCharisma91

He's been good

He can't keep up with the pace the Leafs play is a pretty abstract thing to say. I disagree. Leivo is a guy with similar skating but he has hands and is a top 9 guy. He can keep up with the pace.

I don't think replacing Martin's 6-9 role specific minutes with a guy like Kapanen is going to make a substantial change either way, we have a team full of wingers like that.
- Blazed

When you learn that LV doesn't take Martin don't wonder why..

Also if someone like Kap or Leipsic comes up they'll be replacing Hyman/Komarov.. who may bump Martin out.

But do u think Kane gets us that?

Let's say Kane gets us Lindholm (or someone similar)
Which I doubt, but let's just go with it...

"Lindholm"-Risto
McCabe-trade/ufa
Kulikov-Bogosian
*subtract Kane from the forwards

When you learn that LV doesn't take Martin don't wonder why..

Also if someone like Kap or Leipsic comes up they'll be replacing Hyman/Komarov.. who may bump Martin out.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Why would anyone care what LV would do over Babcock?

Leivo earned his role IMO .

Go Leafs!
- MCharisma91

poop man, where the fudge have you been...?!?!?!?

Why would anyone care what LV would do over Babcock?
- Blazed

No clue..

Why would anyone make the case for Martin being a useful player?

No clue..

Why would anyone make the case for Martin being a useful player?
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Also Hyman and Komarov average over 5 minutes of PK time combined a game, if Kapanen is replacing one of them I hope he can PK.

But do u think Kane gets us that?

Let's say Kane gets us Lindholm (or someone similar)
Which I doubt, but let's just go with it...

"Lindholm"-Risto
McCabe-trade/ufa
Kulikov-Bogosian
*subtract Kane from the forwards



- nbboy

Lindholm is their best D. What's he smoking. It'd take a Marner type offer to land him and Kane sure isn't a Marner.

Also Hyman and Komarov average over 5 minutes of PK time combined a game, if Kapanen is replacing one of them I hope he can PK.
- Blazed

I don't expect them to come out of the lineup. But if it's an important game I'd rather keep Leivo over Martin. When Marner comes back, someone's going down.

Hey everybody...I need a favour. Go on twitter and encourage Richard Cloutier to come back to HockeyBuzz @rdcloutier. Get on it.

I'm fine with Gardiner playing only offensive zone starts. He's really picked it up as the 3rd defender (in a good way).

Trade Nylander for some reason.

Matthews vs Laine is really looking like the Sid vs OV hype of old. Much more exciting than the bullpoop behind Taylor vs Tyler. Shame they won't play super often. Matthews vs Eichel seems better on paper than it has been because those two seem to actually like each other.

I'm fine with Gardiner playing only offensive zone starts. He's really picked it up as the 3rd defender (in a good way).

Trade Nylander for some reason.

Matthews vs Laine is really looking like the Sid vs OV hype of old. Much more exciting than the bullpoop behind Taylor vs Tyler. Shame they won't play super often. Matthews vs Eichel seems better on paper than it has been because those two seem to actually like each other.
- AdamFrench

Comparing Marner and Laine is more realistic as rookie wingers