This coach needs to go to a team full of grinders and lacking talent.
- RogerRoeper

He was stuck to Matthews for 2 years. This guy is always going to be top 6 winger no matter what.
- RogerRoeper

I think the Marleau has been dragging Matthews line down this year. He doesnt fit with his style.

Id like to see Marleau on Kadris line when he is back, and Nylander/Hyman back with Matthews

My preferred lines at this point would be

Hyman /Matthews / Nylander
Johnsson / JT / Marner
Marleau / Kadri / Kapanen
Moore / Lindholm/GOAT/Someoneelse / Brown

It's 6.9 on the cap. All that matters.

And he looks better than Marner right now. Every since his idiot agent puled that stunt he's been crap/
- RogerRoeper

clearly - it should be clear as you've stated Marner has been distracted by this. Unfortunately what dubey dubas is forced to deal with his the doinks in the media creating one crisis after another. We just have to accept the fact that this will be the case.

I just hope that Dubas doesn't allow this stuff to simmer in the media too much, as it clear effects the players.

Similarly in terms of results or impact, Jake Gardiner has been really noticeably goofy (to me) since Muzzin's arrival

Again hopefull Dubas realizes that there are consequences to the moves he does or doesn't make.

In all fairness, Matthews should be playing more. He is currently 82nd in the league in TOI.

While penalty kill time factors in to some of the players above him, a lot of them it doesnt. They simply get more time, and more opportunities to produce.

I am not advocating playing him as much as McDavid, but he should easily have an average closer to 19+ mins a game based on his talent level IMO.

There are times where I dont understand why the 4th line is playing. Why play the 4th line with 3 minutes left in the game for example. I am a Babcock fan, but I do find him a bit too stubborn sometimes.
- Archaic

He's 37th in 5v5 play. So we don't have a lot of Power Plays and he doesn't play on the PK. He should be higher in my opinion as well, but I don't think Matthews is the model of fitness at times. He does start to look gassed at some points, so there could be some protection going on in there.

To your other post, I'd like those lines, but I like Johnsson with Matthews. They've looked good together in the small doses I've seen.

I'd leave the Tavares line alone. Marner makes it tick. When he's on, it's a great line. When he's off . . .it doesn't matter if it's Hyman, Marleau or Johnsson, the line isn't going to fly.

I think the Marleau has been dragging Matthews line down this year. He doesnt fit with his style.

Id like to see Marleau on Kadris line when he is back, and Nylander/Hyman back with Matthews

My preferred lines at this point would be

Hyman /Matthews / Nylander
Johnsson / JT / Marner
Marleau / Kadri / Kapanen
Moore / Lindholm/GOAT/Someoneelse / Brown
- Archaic

I would like to see that Matthews line again as well... but I would like to see Kapanen with JT and Marner, Kapanen or Marner play their off wing ... I think Kapanen would open up so much ice for those guys... just my opinion.

2-0 Marlies.

Manning already waived by the oilers. Great trade.

Manning already waived by the oilers. Great trade.
- Aaron_85

Chia pet - the gift that just keeps on giving.

Seriously, having lived through Ballard, and how he "handled" the Leafs from early 70s through late 80s...

watching what is going on in Edmonton and Ottawa is so eerily similar....

and entertaining

I think the Marleau has been dragging Matthews line down this year. He doesnt fit with his style.

Id like to see Marleau on Kadris line when he is back, and Nylander/Hyman back with Matthews

My preferred lines at this point would be

Hyman /Matthews / Nylander
Johnsson / JT / Marner
Marleau / Kadri / Kapanen
Moore / Lindholm/GOAT/Someoneelse / Brown
- Archaic

Like that lineup a lot. The only thing i'd do is switch Marleau and Johnsson because JT and Marner don't really use the 3rd forward. Johnsson actually plays a lot better in the bottom six. He can succeed there. I find when he's on one of the top 2 lines, he looks a little lost at times.

2-0 Marlies.
- GreatGigInTheSky

Bracco is going to look so good with Matthews. Perfect match.

clearly - it should be clear as you've stated Marner has been distracted by this. Unfortunately what dubey dubas is forced to deal with his the doinks in the media creating one crisis after another. We just have to accept the fact that this will be the case.

I just hope that Dubas doesn't allow this stuff to simmer in the media too much, as it clear effects the players.

Similarly in terms of results or impact, Jake Gardiner has been really noticeably goofy (to me) since Muzzin's arrival

Again hopefull Dubas realizes that there are consequences to the moves he does or doesn't make.
- BorjeFan4Ever

Zaitsev the only Leafs defenseman to have not posted a minus rating in the last 6 games. Starting to pick it up as we head towards the playoffs.


They score more goals than they concede with the big Z out there.

Zaitsev the only Leafs defenseman to have not posted a minus rating in the last 6 games. Starting to pick it up as we head towards the playoffs.


They score more goals than they concede with the big Z out there.
- walshyleafsfan

okay - so here comes the most leading question of the day

what has changed in Zaitsev's game in that span?

okay - so here comes the most leading question of the day

what has changed in Zaitsev's game in that span?



- BorjeFan4Ever

who is on the ice when the Leafs have an empty net?

- TrashPanda

There you are Roger.

Like that lineup a lot. The only thing i'd do is switch Marleau and Johnsson because JT and Marner don't really use the 3rd forward. Johnsson actually plays a lot better in the bottom six. He can succeed there. I find when he's on one of the top 2 lines, he looks a little lost at times.
- walshyleafsfan

I honestly think Marleau needs to be out of the top 6. He's not playing well against that level of competition and he's only going to get worse. He is ineffective at the cycle. He's not winning puck battles. His net front presence has been okay, but his hands aren't what they were.

Even if Johnsson isn't quite there (and I agree, the lower calibre of competition is definitely helping him), he can be and is still learning. I'd rather give that shot to him. Also, if you look at the SCF%, he has elevated both Matthews and Tavares this year. Probably by the simple fact that he is more offensively gifted than Hyman or 2019's Marleau.

who is on the ice when the Leafs have an empty net?
- senstroll

Just 1 tender for sure.

who is on the ice when the Leafs have an empty net?
- senstroll

defensemen they can trust to keep a lead?

okay - so here comes the most leading question of the day

what has changed in Zaitsev's game in that span?



- BorjeFan4Ever

Muzzin?

Chia pet - the gift that just keeps on giving.

Seriously, having lived through Ballard, and how he "handled" the Leafs from early 70s through late 80s...

watching what is going on in Edmonton and Ottawa is so eerily similar....

and entertaining
- BorjeFan4Ever

'member when we traded Lanny McDonald, just to piss off Sittler?

Good times.

I honestly think Marleau needs to be out of the top 6. He's not playing well against that level of competition and he's only going to get worse. He is ineffective at the cycle. He's not winning puck battles. His net front presence has been okay, but his hands aren't what they were.

Even if Johnsson isn't quite there (and I agree, the lower calibre of competition is definitely helping him), he can be and is still learning. I'd rather give that shot to him. Also, if you look at the SCF%, he has elevated both Matthews and Tavares this year. Probably by the simple fact that he is more offensively gifted than Hyman or 2019's Marleau.
- Monkeypunk

Agreed.. Johnsson should be on one of the top two lines.. Seems to click with Matthews and he isn't afraid to take/throw a hit.

Yep, hung with the game last night till the end. Thought we might pull it out, but the ref decided he should get in the way of Mitch somehow. Liked the test against the "heavy "teams. Eventually the gang will adapt to that style, once they get more beef on the bones. Hoping we add McQuaid by the deadline. Just what we need when teams decide they want to pinch in deep. Imagine that scenario. Other than that, stand pat. Happy where we are at. A rhyme? Go Leafs!

defensemen they can trust to keep a lead?
- walshyleafsfan

Speaking of defensemen.. should we still trade for Gudas, even though he will be suspended?

defensemen they can trust to keep a lead?
- walshyleafsfan

very helpful

Speaking of defensemen.. should we still trade for Gudas, even though he will be suspended?
- PatC80

Yeah why not. Him and Kadri can alternate suspensions.

To be honest as long as Gardiner isn't in the lineup I'd be happy with however. Gardiner is a guy I can never trust in a must win game.

Muzzin?
- PatC80

It's a mixed bag:

Stl: 11m with Gardiner, 72.73 SCF%
Stl: 5m with Muzzin, 40 SCF%
Arz: 13m with Muzzin, 50 SCF%
Veg: 13m with Muzzin, 61.54 SCF%
Avs: 9m with Muzzin, 50 SCF%
Avs: 4m with Gardiner, 66.7 SCF%
NYR: 10m with Gardiner, 50 SCF%
Mtl: 12m with Gardiner, 62.5 SCF%