Hes not a afraid to take a hit. Nylander is, hes easily knocked off the puck some nights. But has some great moves.
Am, mm, and willie are inconsistent players, that will need to change in order for this team to take the next step.
Both mm and am really need to improve their overall game, theyre getting points sure but at 10m plus i have to see more.
But.
Its only 11 games, we'll get a better idea of things after 20-30 games
Way too early to be talking trades
- Fakepartofme

Marner does his best to avoid contact as much as all of them do. I know the optics of those blocks in the playoffs last year has everyone thinking Marner is a good ol' tough Canadian boy vs. euro-puff Meelander, but let's be honest here.

Agreed on everything else. They are driving possession at 5v5 more than they ever have and taking less chances, less stretch passes, basically trying to play Babcock's way and it takes time to get that together.

Matthews pulled a Sparx last night:

“It’s just not good enough,” Auston Matthews said after Tuesday’s 4-2 loss to the Boston Bruins. “We need to be better and I think it comes from the leadership group. I need to be better. All of us need to be better.

“I think we just need to look each other in the eye and hold each other accountable and put this game aside and take a couple steps forward and just be better for one another.”

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...results-show-bruins-loss/

Time to run him out of town.

Amirite?
- Atomic Wedgie

He was a "Babcock needs to be better" away from pulling a Jason Zucker.

Angry Auston is good.
- Zezel

but not tired jerking off to fortnite Glassthews

but not tired jerking off to fortnite Glassthews
- Symba007

Yeah it's gonna fall off at this rate.

Yeah it's gonna fall off at this rate.
- Zezel

that explains the ugly 'stache

that explains the ugly 'stache
- Symba007

Really wish he'd shave it or grow a beard.

Marner does his best to avoid contact as much as all of them do. I know the optics of those blocks in the playoffs last year has everyone thinking Marner is a good ol' tough Canadian boy vs. euro-puff Meelander, but let's be honest here.

Agreed on everything else. They are driving possession at 5v5 more than they ever have and taking less chances, less stretch passes, basically trying to play Babcock's way and it takes time to get that together.
- gravyface

Of course if they can move around a hit or avoid it without losing the puck they do. Im talking about losing the play or puck cause a hit may be coming, i see that with willie too often. Doesnt stick with it sometimes.
Dont care where hes from, thats just weak argument.

I agree that kadri is a better scorer, but ya i find kerfoot just fits this role better.
Kadri is doing well in Colorado.
But kerfoot was a steal. 7pts in 11games
Kadri has 5 in 9.
- Fakepartofme

Kadri is also dumb as a bag of rocks, while Kerfoot is a Harvard grad. Kadri has more ice time than Kerfoot and is centre of the first power play unit of Colorado. Very happy with Kerfoot so far, Leafs need more hard workers on the team, starting to get sick of getting into the offensive zone and pulling a button hook to avoid contact and coughing up the puck.

Of course if they can move around a hit or avoid it without losing the puck they do. Im talking about losing the play or puck cause a hit may be coming, i see that with willie too often. Doesnt stick with it sometimes.
Dont care where hes from, thats just weak argument.
- Fakepartofme

I'm not seeing a clear distinction between the two, sorry. They both avoid it as much as possible. Maybe Marner gets caught more, with his east/west shifty style vs. Willy's head's up roaming style?

Kadri is also dumb as a bag of rocks, while Kerfoot is a Harvard grad. Kadri has more ice time than Kerfoot and is centre of the first power play unit of Colorado. Very happy with Kerfoot so far, Leafs need more hard workers on the team, starting to get sick of getting into the offensive zone and pulling a button hook to avoid contact and coughing up the puck.
- winsix

Last night Kerfoot and Kapanen were our two best forwards. Which kinda hurts because they are supposed to be our 3rd line..

What I don't get is how both Matthews and Marner have said that they would love to play together on the same line for a while now and when finally given the chance, they haven't been very good.

I'm not seeing a clear distinction between the two, sorry. They both avoid it as much as possible. Maybe Marner gets caught more, with his east/west shifty style vs. Willy's head's up roaming style?
- gravyface

Marner can avoid while staying in the play and keeping the puck most times. I find willie avoids hits and is completely taking out of the play as a result or loses the puck. I noticed this alot at the game i went to against the wild.

I'm not seeing a clear distinction between the two, sorry. They both avoid it as much as possible. Maybe Marner gets caught more, with his east/west shifty style vs. Willy's head's up roaming style?
- gravyface

Agreed, both of them won't take a hit to make a play..

I think our October is bad, but overall the Leafs have a schedule that's around the middle of the pack in terms of how many Back-to-Back games we play (there are 9 teams who play more), and how many times we get to face an opponent who is on the second half of their back-to-back (there are 17 teams who have fewer opportunities).

I think Philly has the worst schedule, with Montreal, Detroit and Carolina all having pretty advantageous schedules. Here's the detail for anyone who's curious:

The Philadelphia Flyers have a net of -8 based on 17 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 9 times
The Florida Panthers have a net of -6 based on 16 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 10 times
The Ottawa Senators have a net of -6 based on 14 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 8 times
The Boston Bruins have a net of -5 based on 13 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 8 times
The Buffalo Sabres have a net of -4 based on 14 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 10 times
The Chicago Blackhawks have a net of -4 based on 16 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 12 times
The Dallas Stars have a net of -4 based on 15 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 11 times
The Pittsburgh Penguins have a net of -4 based on 17 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 13 times
The Tampa Bay Lightning have a net of -3 based on 15 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 12 times
The Colorado Avalanche have a net of -2 based on 12 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 10 times
The Arizona Coyotes have a net of -1 based on 13 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 12 times
The Columbus Blue Jackets have a net of -1 based on 15 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 14 times
The San Jose Sharks have a net of -1 based on 12 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 11 times
The Toronto Maple Leafs have a net of -1 based on 14 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 13 times
The Vancouver Canucks have a net of -1 based on 12 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 11 times
The St. Louis Blues have a net of 0 based on 9 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 9 times
The Washington Capitals have a net of 0 based on 11 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 11 times
The Los Angeles Kings have a net of 1 based on 14 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 15 times
The Minnesota Wild have a net of 1 based on 11 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 12 times
The New Jersey Devils have a net of 1 based on 15 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 16 times
The Calgary Flames have a net of 2 based on 10 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 12 times
The Nashville Predators have a net of 2 based on 12 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 14 times
The Vegas Golden Knights have a net of 2 based on 12 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 14 times
The New York Islanders have a net of 3 based on 11 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 14 times
The Winnipeg Jets have a net of 3 based on 9 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 12 times
The Anaheim Ducks have a net of 4 based on 12 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 16 times
The New York Rangers have a net of 5 based on 13 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 18 times
The Edmonton Oilers have a net of 6 based on 9 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 15 times
The Carolina Hurricanes have a net of 7 based on 16 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 23 times
The Detroit Red Wings have a net of 7 based on 13 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 20 times
The Montreal Canadiens have a net of 7 based on 13 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 20 times

Last night Kerfoot and Kapanen were our two best forwards. Which kinda hurts because they are supposed to be our 3rd line..

What I don't get is how both Matthews and Marner have said that they would love to play together on the same line for a while now and when finally given the chance, they haven't been very good.
- PatC80

Look, they gel (frank)ing magically on NHL20 and they just figured it would be the same. Give them a break!

Leafs beat Minnesota last week
Minnesota shutout Edmonton last night

Therefore Leaf > Wild > Oilers and should be #1 in the league

I'm not seeing a clear distinction between the two, sorry. They both avoid it as much as possible. Maybe Marner gets caught more, with his east/west shifty style vs. Willy's head's up roaming style?
- gravyface

Maybe Leafs do something about it. How about forced fighting training as part of the program. Bring in a great, boxing, karate/coach and help them grow a pair. Don't want them fighting but need to play tougher. Hit a little sure, Pastrnak hits, he's no bigger than Willie, plays with confidence as a result. You knew the game was over when Pasta bonked Muzzin over the head with a strong two hander and smiled about it when he got away with it.

Marner can avoid while staying in the play and keeping the puck most times. I find willie avoids hits and is completely taking out of the play as a result or loses the puck. I noticed this alot at the game i went to against the wild.
- Fakepartofme

exactly this.

I think our October is that bad, overall the Leafs have a schedule that's around the middle of the pack in terms of how many Back-to-Back games we play (there are 9 teams who play more), and how many times we get to face an opponent who is on the second half of their back-to-back (there are 17 teams who have fewer opportunities).

I think Philly has the worst schedule, with Montreal, Detroit and Carolina all having pretty advantageous schedules. Here's the detail for anyone who's curious:

The Philadelphia Flyers have a net of -8 based on 17 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 9 times
The Florida Panthers have a net of -6 based on 16 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 10 times
The Ottawa Senators have a net of -6 based on 14 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 8 times
The Boston Bruins have a net of -5 based on 13 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 8 times
The Buffalo Sabres have a net of -4 based on 14 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 10 times
The Chicago Blackhawks have a net of -4 based on 16 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 12 times
The Dallas Stars have a net of -4 based on 15 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 11 times
The Pittsburgh Penguins have a net of -4 based on 17 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 13 times
The Tampa Bay Lightning have a net of -3 based on 15 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 12 times
The Colorado Avalanche have a net of -2 based on 12 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 10 times
The Arizona Coyotes have a net of -1 based on 13 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 12 times
The Columbus Blue Jackets have a net of -1 based on 15 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 14 times
The San Jose Sharks have a net of -1 based on 12 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 11 times
The Toronto Maple Leafs have a net of -1 based on 14 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 13 times
The Vancouver Canucks have a net of -1 based on 12 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 11 times
The St. Louis Blues have a net of 0 based on 9 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 9 times
The Washington Capitals have a net of 0 based on 11 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 11 times
The Los Angeles Kings have a net of 1 based on 14 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 15 times
The Minnesota Wild have a net of 1 based on 11 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 12 times
The New Jersey Devils have a net of 1 based on 15 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 16 times
The Calgary Flames have a net of 2 based on 10 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 12 times
The Nashville Predators have a net of 2 based on 12 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 14 times
The Vegas Golden Knights have a net of 2 based on 12 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 14 times
The New York Islanders have a net of 3 based on 11 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 14 times
The Winnipeg Jets have a net of 3 based on 9 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 12 times
The Anaheim Ducks have a net of 4 based on 12 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 16 times
The New York Rangers have a net of 5 based on 13 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 18 times
The Edmonton Oilers have a net of 6 based on 9 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 15 times
The Carolina Hurricanes have a net of 7 based on 16 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 23 times
The Detroit Red Wings have a net of 7 based on 13 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 20 times
The Montreal Canadiens have a net of 7 based on 13 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 20 times
- Monkeypunk

If they shortened the bye week this wouldn't be an issue. Or eliminate 2 games from pre-season.

Marner can avoid while staying in the play and keeping the puck most times. I find willie avoids hits and is completely taking out of the play as a result or loses the puck. I noticed this alot at the game i went to against the wild.
- Fakepartofme

I think that's more a product of the fact that Marner has better hands in tight. Marner makes shifty plays with the puck and controls it well. If a guy stops playing the puck and plays the man, he can take Marner off the puck, but if given the opportunity, Marner plays well in tight.

Nylander's game is based more on speed, but he doesn't have the same in-tight hands that Marner has, so he naturally tries to stay away from situations where he's going to lose the puck. Marner, I think, is used to being able to move through people because he has that skill.

Neither one can take a hit and retain the puck or fight through it - yet. I'm not sure either one ever will, but they both play to the strengths of their skills.

I think our October is that bad, overall the Leafs have a schedule that's around the middle of the pack in terms of how many Back-to-Back games we play (there are 9 teams who play more), and how many times we get to face an opponent who is on the second half of their back-to-back (there are 17 teams who have fewer opportunities).

I think Philly has the worst schedule, with Montreal, Detroit and Carolina all having pretty advantageous schedules. Here's the detail for anyone who's curious:

The Philadelphia Flyers have a net of -8 based on 17 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 9 times
The Florida Panthers have a net of -6 based on 16 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 10 times
The Ottawa Senators have a net of -6 based on 14 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 8 times
The Boston Bruins have a net of -5 based on 13 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 8 times
The Buffalo Sabres have a net of -4 based on 14 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 10 times
The Chicago Blackhawks have a net of -4 based on 16 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 12 times
The Dallas Stars have a net of -4 based on 15 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 11 times
The Pittsburgh Penguins have a net of -4 based on 17 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 13 times
The Tampa Bay Lightning have a net of -3 based on 15 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 12 times
The Colorado Avalanche have a net of -2 based on 12 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 10 times
The Arizona Coyotes have a net of -1 based on 13 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 12 times
The Columbus Blue Jackets have a net of -1 based on 15 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 14 times
The San Jose Sharks have a net of -1 based on 12 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 11 times
The Toronto Maple Leafs have a net of -1 based on 14 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 13 times
The Vancouver Canucks have a net of -1 based on 12 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 11 times
The St. Louis Blues have a net of 0 based on 9 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 9 times
The Washington Capitals have a net of 0 based on 11 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 11 times
The Los Angeles Kings have a net of 1 based on 14 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 15 times
The Minnesota Wild have a net of 1 based on 11 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 12 times
The New Jersey Devils have a net of 1 based on 15 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 16 times
The Calgary Flames have a net of 2 based on 10 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 12 times
The Nashville Predators have a net of 2 based on 12 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 14 times
The Vegas Golden Knights have a net of 2 based on 12 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 14 times
The New York Islanders have a net of 3 based on 11 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 14 times
The Winnipeg Jets have a net of 3 based on 9 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 12 times
The Anaheim Ducks have a net of 4 based on 12 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 16 times
The New York Rangers have a net of 5 based on 13 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 18 times
The Edmonton Oilers have a net of 6 based on 9 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 15 times
The Carolina Hurricanes have a net of 7 based on 16 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 23 times
The Detroit Red Wings have a net of 7 based on 13 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 20 times
The Montreal Canadiens have a net of 7 based on 13 B2B games, and playing tired opponents 20 times
- Monkeypunk

- Scabeh

League favouritism.

League favouritism.
- Aaron_85

We need all the help we can get!

League favouritism.
- Aaron_85

You're missing at least one accent aigu and a mysterious cedilla in there.

We need all the help we can get!
- Scabeh

They (frank)ed Boston in the schedule, but not to worry, refs to the rescue. They can’t give us every advantage, right Scabbies?

Maybe Leafs do something about it. How about forced fighting training as part of the program. Bring in a great, boxing, karate/coach and help them grow a pair. Don't want them fighting but need to play tougher. Hit a little sure, Pastrnak hits, he's no bigger than Willie, plays with confidence as a result. You knew the game was over when Pasta bonked Muzzin over the head with a strong two hander and smiled about it when he got away with it.
- winsix

I think that over time, theses guys will get tougher, more scarred physically and emotionally. They're still young, and they've been the best on their teams with lopsided skill levels among their peers, so this is all new to them.

The Bruins, Blues, Tampa, San Jose, etc. these are all older, more experienced teams; that experience took time, took grudges, took bad losses, etc.

I keep reminding people of how Kadri was when he first entered the league: he was getting knocked over all the time, couldn't stay on his feet for an entire shift, then as his metabolism slowed down, the gym hours piled up, he got thicker, stronger, more pissed off, and eventually became one of the more physical forwards in the league.