I was just trying to sound as ridiculous as you. But it’s difficult. It’s early season sloppy hockey ffs. Get over it already, you’re becoming the laughing stock of this whole site.
- shack67

No, it's actually not. It's the way they've played for two years. It's a problem. It's a bad habit. If it's just "early season" hockey, why didn't the Habs (a garbage team on paper) suffer from it? Why are they playing the same way on the 1st game as they did during the playoffs last year?

I was just trying to sound as ridiculous as you. But it’s difficult. It’s early season sloppy hockey ffs. Get over it already, you’re becoming the laughing stock of this whole site.
- shack67

ummmm...

No, it's actually not. It's the way they've played for two years. It's a problem. It's a bad habit. If it's just "early season" hockey, why didn't the Habs (a garbage team on paper) suffer from it? Why are they playing the same way on the 1st game as they did during the playoffs last year?
- Unholy_Goalie

All I know is that I just checked the standings and we’re in first place.

All I know is that I just checked the standings and we’re in first place.
- shack67

You know those teams that finish in 1st place and then they lose in the playoffs and wonder why? That's going to be the Leafs if they're not careful. Some teams do it for 10+ years and eventually figure it out (like Washington) other teams go all the way and lose in the end (like Vancouver and San Jose) and other teams just score a lot of goals, finish in 1st and just go nowhere (St. Louis, Buffalo and Ottawa).

The process matters as much as the results.

i fell asleep. too tired from playing real hockey

how did the defense look?

did we miss Nylander?

Should we trade him for weber jones or doughty?

i fell asleep. too tired from playing real hockey

how did the defense look?

did we miss Nylander?

Should we trade him for weber jones or doughty?


- Skalapy

Defense looked what you would expect:
Rielly and Dermott - played quite ok.
Zaitsev and Ozhighanov - mediocre, but still a pass.
Hainsey and Gardiner - bad game for both, lots of giveaways.

We obviously missed Nylander, although Ennis did quite a few things well - but he's not the same threat as Nylander is.

Brown and in particular Johnsson were very bad.
Hyman didn't play well either.

Best players on the ice were Andersen, Matthews and Tavares.
Marner was meh.
Lindholm played quite ok.

I wonder whether Babcock eventually could change things in some games, giving quite a bit of ice time to two toplines:

Kadri - Tavares - Marner
Marleau - Matthews - Nylander

and then 3rd line of:
Brown - Hyman - Kapanen (all three can take a faceoff)

4th:
Johnsson - Lindholm - Ennis

Ennis does show that he can play anywhere in lineup and can do what's needed in all situations.
But unless Johnsson improves quickly, I could see him being out of the lineup by game 3/4 - and a bit later in the season other players like Grundstrom, Marchment being called up to join that 4th line.

At this point in time, Leafs should probably be best of to try and trade Gardiner + Johnsson (+) for a good young d-man.

Defense looked what you would expect:
Rielly and Dermott - played quite ok.
Zaitsev and Ozhighanov - mediocre, but still a pass.
Hainsey and Gardiner - bad game for both, lots of giveaways.

We obviously missed Nylander, although Ennis did quite a few things well - but he's not the same threat as Nylander is.

Brown and in particular Johnsson were very bad.
Hyman didn't play well either.

Best players on the ice were Andersen, Matthews and Tavares.
Marner was meh.
Lindholm played quite ok.

I wonder whether Babcock eventually could change things in some games, giving quite a bit of ice time to two toplines:

Kadri - Tavares - Marner
Marleau - Matthews - Nylander

and then 3rd line of:
Brown - Hyman - Kapanen (all three can take a faceoff)

4th:
Johnsson - Lindholm - Ennis

Ennis does show that he can play anywhere in lineup and can do what's needed in all situations.
But unless Johnsson improves quickly, I could see him being out of the lineup by game 3/4 - and a bit later in the season other players like Grundstrom, Marchment being called up to join that 4th line.

At this point in time, Leafs should probably be best of to try and trade Gardiner + Johnsson (+) for a good young d-man.
- plantheparade

Thanks

who should they trade for in your opinion?

Thanks

who should they trade for in your opinion?
- Skalapy

I don't think there is any good d-man available to be honest..

Only really interesting players for Leafs would be (in order of bestest to still really good):

Ivan Provorov
Seth Jones
Charlie McAvoy
Parayko
Slavin
Lindholm

couldn't see any of those be made available though.

tough spot for Leafs to be in, but seems to me that there are a few holes in lineup still:

Rielly - ??
Dermott - Zaitsev
Borgman - Ozhighanov
Hainsey

That's this year, and next year, Liljegren should be able to slot in on 2nd/3rd pair.
I guess they're playing him with Borgman this year on the Marlies - and might bring up both only next year for that bottom pairing if things go well.

Seems that Ozhighanov - if extended - would slot in as 6/7 d-man.
Dermott-Zaitsev pairing should be ok.

Rielly still needs a solid partner on that first line.

No, it's actually not. It's the way they've played for two years. It's a problem. It's a bad habit. If it's just "early season" hockey, why didn't the Habs (a garbage team on paper) suffer from it? Why are they playing the same way on the 1st game as they did during the playoffs last year?
- Unholy_Goalie

They played nothing like this against Boston. Boston was a good experienced team that was able to stifle them. Even when the Leafs lost and were outplayed they played totally differently, they lost to Boston because Boston played well. Tonight they were out of step and lethargic, probably due to home opener nerves and pressure. The Habs out worked them and were quicker, the Bruins were more experienced and played a really tight defensive game.

Far from it. The Leafs have a habit of playing poorly and winning because of talent, not because of effort. It's a bad habit, the core of this team has done it for the past couple years and it's not good. It's need improvement.
- Unholy_Goalie

Bullpoop. 3 years ago they were the worst team in the NHL. How many wins because of talent did they have then?

It's 1 (frank)ing game, how about we give them 10 or so before we really judge what kind of team this is?

Bullpoop. 3 years ago they were the worst team in the NHL. How many wins because of talent did they have then?

It's 1 (frank)ing game, how about we give them 10 or so before we really judge what kind of team this is?
- Kinger34

my favourite part is how he speaks of the core of the team as if Phaneuf Kessel JVR Bozak and Komo are still Leafs.

Bullpoop. 3 years ago they were the worst team in the NHL. How many wins because of talent did they have then?

It's 1 (frank)ing game, how about we give them 10 or so before we really judge what kind of team this is?
- Kinger34

UG is already throwing in the towel. Such a fan.

No, it's actually not. It's the way they've played for two years. It's a problem. It's a bad habit. If it's just "early season" hockey, why didn't the Habs (a garbage team on paper) suffer from it? Why are they playing the same way on the 1st game as they did during the playoffs last year?
- Unholy_Goalie

Im confused... are you saying the Habs played well or that they didn’t show up?

Because they didn’t make the playoffs last year...

It sucks that the guys on PP1 are the ones usually drawing the penalty. Means that PP2 starts, and PP1 has to waste time and energy trying to enter the zone.

Maybe we can get Luke Schenn back too! Our D is gonna be so sic. Well, either that, or our D will make me sick.
- Thecakeisalie

Don't forget about the Human Eraser: XLB!

my favourite part is how he speaks of the core of the team as if Phaneuf Kessel JVR Bozak and Komo are still Leafs.
- systemtool

I like how it's game 1 of the season. Game (frank)ing 1 of the season and he's torpedoing the club's chances, bringing up Boston. We didn't even play them last night!

They played like poop, no doubt, but c'man: it's Game ONE of EIGHTY-TWO games.

You know those teams that finish in 1st place and then they lose in the playoffs and wonder why? That's going to be the Leafs if they're not careful. Some teams do it for 10+ years and eventually figure it out (like Washington) other teams go all the way and lose in the end (like Vancouver and San Jose) and other teams just score a lot of goals, finish in 1st and just go nowhere (St. Louis, Buffalo and Ottawa).

The process matters as much as the results.
- Unholy_Goalie

If the Leafs ever win the Cup are you gonna feel joy for a moment or just start in about why they don't have what it takes to repeat?

Ew what a hapless win.. Good thing with leaf snipers they just need one shot to score because they got worked that entire third period and most of the game outside of the last half of the first period. 2 goals for Matthews and 1 for Tavares and they were both pretty much invisible. Gonna be a rude awakening when they go toe toe with teams that can actually score goals. Good ol schedule makers give them bottom feeders like Ottawa and Montreal to start every year. First 6 leaf games of the year are against teams that didn't make the playoffs last year. Gotta make sure they get a nice head start I guess hey. God I hate the leafs and everything about them.
- Leichs

Good thing you told us, we couldn't tell.

If the Leafs ever win the Cup are you gonna feel joy for a moment or just start in about why they don't have what it takes to repeat?
- Zezel

Good thing you told us, we couldn't tell.
- justmike

It sucks that the guys on PP1 are the ones usually drawing the penalty. Means that PP2 starts, and PP1 has to waste time and energy trying to enter the zone.
- Feeling Glucky?

It's the only negative I see to this 3 C powerplay. There is a good chance one of them is on the ice for a shift when the penalty is taken, effectively making the 2nd PP the first because Babcock has to rest the guy/guys from unit 1

Marchand saved Eller from the embarrassment of getting beat up by his own teammates.
- Woderwick

Don't stick up for the biggest piece of $hit that has ever put on a pair of skates.

Did anyone else think Hainsey, Johnsson and Gardiner were terrible tonight?
- mr.sir

yes, you can also throw in Brown and Hyman too.

Was it a nervous start? Rust? Had the majority of players that played last season no? Or at least half. Or were the Habs good?

Did anyone else think Hainsey, Johnsson and Gardiner were terrible tonight?
- mr.sir

Yes.
But gards is bad most nights.