He also took 2 penalties.

Which has been a major problem.

Babs seems to like Shore better...I like Spezza better personally but it’s close.

It’s not worth complaining about.
- Santo_44

I wouldn't make this a thing. He has just 3 penalties. He took 2 penalties against the Flyers. Frankly the Leafs have no bloody compete level whatsoever. A guy gets in and tries to compete and gets called for holding and high sticking. The second one is an accident that can happen, and yeah, the first was a bit lazy - but it was also a pretty weak call that is more of a puck battle than a penalty half the time.

The only way that gets held against Spezza is if Babcock wants to. He was one of our best players that game. It doesn't say a lot for the team, but it's true. Frankly I'd be applauding the team for taking penalties if they were actually competing.

I know I'm beating a dead horse. I'm just irritated by it.

So they have 22 on the roster right now, with the bubble players being Petan, Marincin, Timashov, Spezza and Shore.

Once Hyman is activated, only 2 can stay. Petan goes down. I think Timashov stays. So it's between Marincin, Spezza, and Shore who stays.

Whoever is kept is likely in spot duty, but I'd be keeping Spezza.

Hyman - Tavares - Marner
Johnsson - Matthews - Nylander
Mikheyev - Kerfoot - Kapanen
Timashov - Gauthier - Moore

I'd swing him in for Timashov and Gauthier alternately or use him for injury replacement in the bottom six where Kap or Mikheyev has to slot up in the line-up.
- Monkeypunk

I would keep Spezza too. Timashov can be sent back down or traded for a draft pick

So they have 22 on the roster right now, with the bubble players being Petan, Marincin, Timashov, Spezza and Shore.

Once Hyman is activated, only 2 can stay. Petan goes down. I think Timashov stays. So it's between Marincin, Spezza, and Shore who stays.

Whoever is kept is likely in spot duty, but I'd be keeping Spezza.

Hyman - Tavares - Marner
Johnsson - Matthews - Nylander
Mikheyev - Kerfoot - Kapanen
Timashov - Gauthier - Moore

I'd swing him in for Timashov and Gauthier alternately or use him for injury replacement in the bottom six where Kap or Mikheyev has to slot up in the line-up.
- Monkeypunk

I think Dubas will keep Spezza for sure.

Petan has value. He will go for a low pick.

Marincin and Shore get waived I think.

Islanders are playing great.
I was told this would be impossible and they couldnt continue last years success.

But look at them.

Geez, cant trust know-it-alls anymore

Lol

I wouldn't make this a thing. He has just 3 penalties. He took 2 penalties against the Flyers. Frankly the Leafs have no bloody compete level whatsoever. A guy gets in and tries to compete and gets called for holding and high sticking. The second one is an accident that can happen, and yeah, the first was a bit lazy - but it was also a pretty weak call that is more of a puck battle than a penalty half the time.

The only way that gets held against Spezza is if Babcock wants to. He was one of our best players that game. It doesn't say a lot for the team, but it's true. Frankly I'd be applauding the team for taking penalties if they were actually competing.

I know I'm beating a dead horse. I'm just irritated by it.
- Monkeypunk

I see what you are saying.

Like I said, I’m on team Spezza....but I see both sides. They are both average 4th line Cs...I am not surprised if Babs picks Shore.


I don’t think Babs or Dubas thought the Goat would be this good...I’m sure they thought it was going to be easy to plug Spezza in.

But I do have some pills that can enhance it.
- AdamFrench

Where did you get them!?!

Asking for Scabeh a friend.

I wouldn't make this a thing. He has just 3 penalties. He took 2 penalties against the Flyers. Frankly the Leafs have no bloody compete level whatsoever. A guy gets in and tries to compete and gets called for holding and high sticking. The second one is an accident that can happen, and yeah, the first was a bit lazy - but it was also a pretty weak call that is more of a puck battle than a penalty half the time.

The only way that gets held against Spezza is if Babcock wants to. He was one of our best players that game. It doesn't say a lot for the team, but it's true. Frankly I'd be applauding the team for taking penalties if they were actually competing.

I know I'm beating a dead horse. I'm just irritated by it.
- Monkeypunk

Play well. Get sat
Its the babs way

I see what you are saying.

Like I said, I’m on team Spezza....but I see both sides. They are both average 4th line Cs...I am not surprised if Babs picks Shore.


I don’t think Babs or Dubas thought the Goat would be this good...I’m sure they thought it was going to be easy to plug Spezza in.
- Santo_44

agreed.

I don't think it matters much though. 4th line center is far from the most serious problem with this team.

agreed.

I don't think it matters much though. 4th line center is far from the most serious problem with this team.
- Aetherial

I like both players.

Dubas ain’t dropping Spezza(at least I doubt he will)

So it’s quite possible Shore is playing to show another team.

But agreed, it’s not a problem.

agreed.

I don't think it matters much though. 4th line center is far from the most serious problem with this team.
- Aetherial

Of course not. The issues are backup goaltending and the broken give-a-poop meter.

Of course not. The issues are backup goaltending and the broken give-a-poop meter.
- PatC80

n33d more TRUCULENCE and GR!T

n33d more TRUCULENCE and GR!T
- RickJames77

Let's be honest..
We need this guy, but in a Leafs jersey.

Let's be honest..
We need this guy, but in a Leafs jersey.




- PatC80

He's our Golden Ticket...no deal.

OK, here's the gameplan for tonight:

Score more goals than the other team

Islanders are playing great.
I was told this would be impossible and they couldnt continue last years success.

But look at them.

Geez, cant trust know-it-alls anymore

Lol
- Fakepartofme

here is the thing, you just look at the standings and say they are playing great.
i have to bet you havent watched a game.

I havent watched them either and to be honest didnt really look at the standings until today. But when I look at the underlying stuff.

103 PDO (2nd highest in the League) and a 44 cf% (2nd worst in the League) doesnt say to me a team playing great.

.929 team sv% lots of highly unsustainable things going on.

but in todays NHL, a hot streak like that is sometimes enough to get a playoff spot if you coast a lot of the way

He's our Golden Ticket...no deal.
- RickJames77

- winsix

OK, here's the gameplan for tonight:

Score more goals than the other team
- BestRapperAlive

It's better than our last plan: Win in the 11th round of the Shootout.

here is the thing, you just look at the standings and say they are playing great.
i have to bet you havent watched a game.

I havent watched them either and to be honest didnt really look at the standings until today. But when I look at the underlying stuff.

103 PDO (2nd highest in the League) and a 44 cf% (2nd worst in the League) doesnt say to me a team playing great.

.929 team sv% lots of highly unsustainable things going on.

but in todays NHL, a hot streak like that is sometimes enough to get a playoff spot if you coast a lot of the way
- senstroll

Same as last year almost

OK, here's the gameplan for tonight:

Score more goals than the other team
- BestRapperAlive

Apres gameplan: If Leafs happen to win, don't female dog for five hours about how ugly the win was. Or read that piece of sh!t and Leaf Hater MJ's blog justifying how the Leafs are 30th in power rankings.

Islanders are playing great.
I was told this would be impossible and they couldnt continue last years success.

But look at them.

Geez, cant trust know-it-alls anymore

Lol
- Fakepartofme

They're really not, though. They're winning and that's great for them but they're not playing overly good hockey.

Same as last year almost
- Garnie

same but a bit more extreme.
doesnt scream contender to me. stuff like that comes crashing down at some point

here is the thing, you just look at the standings and say they are playing great.
i have to bet you havent watched a game.

I havent watched them either and to be honest didnt really look at the standings until today. But when I look at the underlying stuff.

103 PDO (2nd highest in the League) and a 44 cf% (2nd worst in the League) doesnt say to me a team playing great.

.929 team sv% lots of highly unsustainable things going on.

but in todays NHL, a hot streak like that is sometimes enough to get a playoff spot if you coast a lot of the way
- senstroll

The Islanders last year were similar. They don't restrict shots - they restrict high danger shots. Last year they were 5th worst in CF%, but they were 12th in HDCF%. This year they are 5th. They are also 8th in HDGF%. I would suppose from that that they are willing to trade high danger chances because they are better at limiting them than most teams (9th best in chances against) and they are great (1st) in generating them.

Trotz is a very good coach. I think he's really underrated all things considered. He had Washington playing a similar system.

The Islanders last year were similar. They don't restrict shots - they restrict high danger shots. Last year they were 5th worst in CF%, but they were 12th in HDCF%. This year they are 5th. They are also 8th in HDGF%. I would suppose from that that they are willing to trade high danger chances because they are better at limiting them than most teams (9th best in chances against) and they are great (1st) in generating them.

Trotz is a very good coach. I think he's really underrated all things considered. He had Washington playing a similar system.
- Monkeypunk

I agree, Trotz is an excellent coach. I also believe the impact of the coach on an NHL team is less than 5% in either direction.

same but a bit more extreme.
doesnt scream contender to me. stuff like that comes crashing down at some point


- senstroll

Never said contender, but they keep winning league games and a playoff round...it’s almost like a dream for us.

I agree, Trotz is an excellent coach. I also believe the impact of the coach on an NHL team is less than 5% in either direction.
- winsix

I disagree with that very much. I think Carolina has a good team, but I don't think they're anywhere near as effective without the relentless forecheck that Brind'Amour has them employing. Conversely, I think the Islanders are a good, but not great team. They are having excellent success by utilizing the pieces they do have in a way that maximizes their roles.

To the larger point you're probably inferring which is that the composition of the team is more important - I'd agree. This does go back to the core argument around Dubas' plan; Lou likes to have specific roles for his lines and his players, and I think Trotz does too. I think the application of forecheckers and checkers and so on is working for them.

The Leafs have hoped to skill teams to death, and that could work - but first they need to give-a-crap. Getting intimidated when you're hit, or not playing through adversity will be the death of this team if they don't start playing like it's hockey. If they can't, the skill-first idea needs to get canned.