Realistically, you can't turn over 8+ players on the roster and expect everything to go smoothly right from the hop. Rielly has been very poor in his end to start the year. Ceci may not offer him the same support/confidence that Hainsey did - I don't know. With Ceci, I think his game is fragile. It's like - if he makes a good play or two early he seems to have a good game. If he makes a mistake or two early, it seems just be a poor game for him.

Barrie is what we knew we were getting - a great skater who is going to contribute to the offense wonderfully, but who is not a good defender. He will contribute by driving puck possession and opportunity, but he is weaker than I thought he'd be. I don't think there's anyone in the league he can win a physical battle against.

Muzzin - he's been okay, but he looks very slow. Was he always that slow?

Sandin and Holl have both played well given their relative level of competition. I don't think either would do well with a promotion to harder competition, though.
- Monkeypunk

This is way too reasonable for the morning after a blowout game.

The problem with this leafs team is that management and quite a few players are focused on getting more goals and assists vs actual wins.
There is no use in being #1 in league in goals scored per game if you cannot win sufficient games with it.
- MaximusAurelius

This is the unreasonable stupidity I've come to expect from this blog, and Max specifically.

You can't blame Freddy on Kucherov (goal 2), Stamkos (goal 4) or Point (goal 5). He overplayed the first goal - diving out to grab the puck and not getting it. He put himself out of position. He let a weak backhander get by him from Shattenkirk (goal 3). He completely poop the bed on Kucherov's last goal (goal 7).

Goal 6 is just a freak goal that you can't really blame anyone one way or the other.
- Monkeypunk

Backhanders are tough, he probably should have had it but there’s no way the guy should even got close to the net.

This isn't a bad thing, guys.

We got slapped by Carolina last game and Stammer ripped the tam a new one (in the media and apparently even harsher in the dressing room). I love how we responded, and I love the Cooper is finally waking up and saying "hey, Stammer, Kuch and Pointer have some chemistry... maybe I should play them together 5 on 5!"

About damned time.


Anyways, point (heh), being- this is a good time for the leadership group to take a hard look at this game and do better. It's early. Better now than January.

Ya. Our D need to play D instead of pinching all the time. Shattenkirk goal, Barrie nowhere to be found and then he walks Rielly ( pretty sure it was Barrie lol )
- Garnie

That is not the D’s fault. It is the team system. If they can pinch they will. I don’t really like it, better to play it safe and focus on defence...

Rielly always wasnt very good defensively and muzzin always was that slow.
Barrie is a player leafs didnt really need - needed a guy that can play well in d-zone since enough offense.
So far, kerfoot looks more like a good add than barrie. (Barrie is good but a luxury leafs cannot afford - similar to nylander on fw)
- MaximusAurelius

We'll continue to disagree about Nylander. Nylander+Matthews & Tavares+Marner gives you two very credible top lines.

I debate this with myself - the way the Leafs play, which is a fluid offensive game - would a shut down D-man work? While there is some credibility to the argument that a big man would help clear space in front of the net, maybe block some shots, maybe hit some people, or whatever . . . the Leafs offense is based on speed and breakout passes from the back-end. So any shut-down type D you get has to be able to contribute to that, or else they are constantly icing the puck or throwing the puck to no one.

Backhanders are tough, he probably should have had it but there’s no way the guy should even got close to the net.
- Garnie

He should never have gotten to the point where he was making the play at the net - especially given that he didn't exactly make any clever moves - he just moved the puck slightly away from Nylander's poke check - and then skated faster than Nylander (which is what Max is pointing out - if Willy skates back into his zone as quickly as he skates out of the zone with the puck, he stops that play), and then he easily skates by Rielly.

Backhands are hard. Backhands along the ice at a moderate speed should be stopped by an NHL goalie. I'm picky about goalies, and I blame them for a lot, so you can take that with as many grains of salt as you need!

This isn't a bad thing, guys.

We got slapped by Carolina last game and Stammer ripped the tam a new one (in the media and apparently even harsher in the dressing room). I love how we responded, and I love the Cooper is finally waking up and saying "hey, Stammer, Kuch and Pointer have some chemistry... maybe I should play them together 5 on 5!"

About damned time.


Anyways, point (heh), being- this is a good time for the leadership group to take a hard look at this game and do better. It's early. Better now than January.
- OzBolts

This may be an issue

We'll continue to disagree about Nylander. Nylander+Matthews & Tavares+Marner gives you two very credible top lines.

I debate this with myself - the way the Leafs play, which is a fluid offensive game - would a shut down D-man work? While there is some credibility to the argument that a big man would help clear space in front of the net, maybe block some shots, maybe hit some people, or whatever . . . the Leafs offense is based on speed and breakout passes from the back-end. So any shut-down type D you get has to be able to contribute to that, or else they are constantly icing the puck or throwing the puck to no one.
- Monkeypunk

Just a guy that knows what he's doing in his own end would be nice.

Just a guy that knows what he's doing in his own end would be nice.
- walshyleafsfan

I agree. The name that wasn't coming to me when I typed that was Jason Smith. He was a good enough defenseman - but he didn't fit with Quinn's strategy of generating offense from the back-end, and his penchant for chipping it off the glass instead of making an outlet pass ultimately got him traded from Toronto.

That's sort of the same problem - a guy like him is what it feels like we need, but that type of player might just be a square peg.

All said, it's six games in, the sky is still above us, and there's plenty of room for improvement.

Just a guy that knows what he's doing in his own end would be nice.
- walshyleafsfan

this is my point.
it's clear that Zaitsev >> Ceci, even considering the contracts.
Ceci on the PP goal in first period looked exactly as Ceci from last year - completely lost in his own zone with 0 defensive awareness.
At some point, Leafs will need to get a D that can play D - Leafs have enough fw depth to give up anyways.

how many more games like that until Babcock gets the punt...

I say 2 more stinkers and hes gone...

I agree. The name that wasn't coming to me when I typed that was Jason Smith. He was a good enough defenseman - but he didn't fit with Quinn's strategy of generating offense from the back-end, and his penchant for chipping it off the glass instead of making an outlet pass ultimately got him traded from Toronto.

That's sort of the same problem - a guy like him is what it feels like we need, but that type of player might just be a square peg.

All said, it's six games in, the sky is still above us, and there's plenty of room for improvement.
- Monkeypunk

we all agree on this.
as a question though - do you really enjoy leafs' playing style?
the 'harlem globetrotters on ice' type of play where the skills are clear, but it is apparent as well that 'will to win' is not present?

The Oilers have more points then the Leafs, what a Leafy start to the season. #fireMarner

how many more games like that until Babcock gets the punt...

I say 2 more stinkers and hes gone...
- CarlitoBrigante

LOL.....sound reasoning.

The title of this blog is now comical.

we all agree on this.
as a question though - do you really enjoy leafs' playing style?
the 'harlem globetrotters on ice' type of play where the skills are clear, but it is apparent as well that 'will to win' is not present?
- MaximusAurelius

I enjoy the playing style when it's organized, yes. This year has been highly discombobulated and inconsistent. Whether it's Kapanen throwing the Tavares line off, or the defensive pairings not knowing where each other is supposed to be, or the fourth line when Shore & Timashov play or the first couple of games while the third line was finding their way . . .

Ultimately the line of Tavares and Marner has seen no 5v5 success yet, and that's probably the largest problem with the team offensively. Defensively, I am hoping that they learn to properly support one another.

I don't think old school defense works, so you need mobile defensemen who are positionally sound. That said, they also have to be able to win a f'n battle on the boards or in front of the net.

I enjoy the playing style when it's organized, yes. This year has been highly discombobulated and inconsistent. Whether it's Kapanen throwing the Tavares line off, or the defensive pairings not knowing where each other is supposed to be, or the fourth line when Shore & Timashov play or the first couple of games while the third line was finding their way . . .

Ultimately the line of Tavares and Marner has seen no 5v5 success yet, and that's probably the largest problem with the team offensively. Defensively, I am hoping that they learn to properly support one another.

I don't think old school defense works, so you need mobile defensemen who are positionally sound. That said, they also have to be able to win a f'n battle on the boards or in front of the net.
- Monkeypunk

yup - I agree the defensemen need to be mobile. not sure whether there are much left that aren't mobile though (muzzin is quite slow - he might be one of the least mobile out there playing top4).

but when you look at Matthews and Nylander - it's not really 'dominant' play ; it's basically quick breakouts with quick shots, but not a playing style where they have the other team hemmed in their d-zone for half a minute + and tire them to eventually force a goal. I don't think that line is dominant at all so far.

This isn't a bad thing, guys.

We got slapped by Carolina last game and Stammer ripped the tam a new one (in the media and apparently even harsher in the dressing room). I love how we responded, and I love the Cooper is finally waking up and saying "hey, Stammer, Kuch and Pointer have some chemistry... maybe I should play them together 5 on 5!"

About damned time.


Anyways, point (heh), being- this is a good time for the leadership group to take a hard look at this game and do better. It's early. Better now than January.
- OzBolts

Good take.

I like when the leafs take a beating every once in awhile. They usually come out way better the next game.

Leafs played well against St. Louis but lost a 1 goal game. Now babs can really rip into them and hopefully they come out flying against det sat night.

He should never have gotten to the point where he was making the play at the net - especially given that he didn't exactly make any clever moves - he just moved the puck slightly away from Nylander's poke check - and then skated faster than Nylander (which is what Max is pointing out - if Willy skates back into his zone as quickly as he skates out of the zone with the puck, he stops that play), and then he easily skates by Rielly.

Backhands are hard. Backhands along the ice at a moderate speed should be stopped by an NHL goalie. I'm picky about goalies, and I blame them for a lot, so you can take that with as many grains of salt as you need!
- Monkeypunk

Nylander had a weak game, but yet his Corsi was as beautiful as his hair.

this is my point.
it's clear that Zaitsev >> Ceci, even considering the contracts.
Ceci on the PP goal in first period looked exactly as Ceci from last year - completely lost in his own zone with 0 defensive awareness.
At some point, Leafs will need to get a D that can play D - Leafs have enough fw depth to give up anyways.
- MaximusAurelius

Yeah i think Zaitsev is better than Ceci. If you want to move Zaitsev, furry muff, but they replaced him with a worse version. And if they were going for it this year, any amount of years remaining on their contracts is irrelevant for this year.

yup - I agree the defensemen need to be mobile. not sure whether there are much left that aren't mobile though (muzzin is quite slow - he might be one of the least mobile out there playing top4).

but when you look at Matthews and Nylander - it's not really 'dominant' play ; it's basically quick breakouts with quick shots, but not a playing style where they have the other team hemmed in their d-zone for half a minute + and tire them to eventually force a goal. I don't think that line is dominant at all so far.
- MaximusAurelius

Stylistically that's not who they are. It's also not who Tavares and Marner are. I can appreciate a well executed cycle, but I don't find it exciting or even good hockey - it's pretty boring. It is winning hockey, though, because you force the puck along the wall, and keep it there until you can generate a scoring chance. The worst case is that it eats the clock when you're ahead.

I expect, to your point, that a good argument is that having one line, at least, that can effect this style of play would be beneficial. I wouldn't argue that. I think we'll see better balance once Hyman is back and Kapanen moves to the 3rd or 4th line (I'd be reluctant to change the 3rd line, and I think Kapanen being sprung by Spezza could work well - especially against the opposition's 4th line).

Nylander had a weak game, but yet his Corsi was as beautiful as his hair.
- Garnie

that was the most pathetic stick check on shattenkirk ive ever seen...

thats why this team will never win a cup with players like him....

The title of this blog is now comical.
- ClaudeFather

Along with the Flyers changes of making the playoffs....

Dear Mr Dubas.

Please waive Mr Spezza and sign Mr Boyle. Thanks in advance.

Garnhole