I agree, you as a former goalie probably have a much different perspective than I and i respect your view. I believe the Leafs play very tentatively when Hutch is in the net, until he stands on head and steals one, I doubt that will change. Overall a weak team effort all night. Playing great in the last ten or fifteen minutes is a like a crap team padding their stats to finish just out of the playoffs. Every team uses the same tactic against the Leafs, hit them hard, they're soft, and they will turtle.
- winsix

I've played net as well. My take is that Hutchinson's biggest problem, aside from his rebound control, is that he over commits to puck movement without recognizing the play. It can lead to making some wonderful saves - but he also leaves himself out of position too often. He has a decent glove, and decent reflexes. His positioning isn't terrible initially, but his read is awful. It leaves him over committed or over extended. In the case where the puck deflected off of Ceci and rolled slowly between his legs, I think 95% of NHL goalies get that. Maybe you or I don't, but I hold them to a much higher standard. I felt that there was one other goal that may still have gone in, but Hutch's read had him out of the play and completely unable to stop the puck.

I remember when they used to talk about Potvin's "soft pads". By that contrast, Hutch's are made of iron.

The team defense is terrible, but Hutchinson in net does nothing to help his D, whether its his incompetent puck handling skills, or poor rebound control. He adds to the already porous defense by adding chaos to it.

Agreed with everything except playing Barrie a bit more. Please dear God no. I'm starting to miss Gardiner and i hated Gardiner
- walshyleafsfan

As much as it could hurt, I think Barrie needs to be given a partner who will let him just go and wheel. He'll make mistakes, but we'll benefit from it. Just don't confuse him for a "defenseman" 'cos that is not his role.

Otherwise, yeah, I also agree.

Leafs played like crap in front of hutch again.
But he should have had 1 extra save as well.

Agreed with everything except playing Barrie a bit more. Please dear God no. I'm starting to miss Gardiner and i hated Gardiner
- walshyleafsfan

Barrie's strength is never going to be defensively; same with Rielly. But when both of those guys are on, playing confidently with the puck with deep carries, jumping into the rush, etc., you tend to forget about the defensive lapses.

Dermott and Barrie could take on more minutes than the Dermott-Holl (5/6) pairing is getting now, that's all I'm saying.

Last 15-20 years, I watched all/most Leafs games Saturday (starting 1am CET where I am located) and quite a few other games. Never had any issues with staying up for the games - even during the really really bad seasons with bad teams, bad coaching etc.

This is the first year that I just cannot be motivated to stay up for the game.
This team is really broken - lots of talent, but lack of heart, and bad attitude. In addition, very bad managed lineup - with glaring weaknesses going unaddressed (and actually made even worse) by the new GM and management overall.

Apart from getting good players while drafting high (difficult to miss with 1st, 4th and 8th overall) a lot of other decisions really didn't pan out well (backup goalie - we had McElhinney; Zaitsev was way better than Ceci; Barrie is an unneeded asset we gave up a lot for; etc.).

Babcock is a good coach - but management should give him the right players to win with.
So far, that hasn't happened with trading for the wrong guys, and keeping the effortless on the team.

It seems true that some of the players on this team aren't a good fit for Babcock's playing style and Dubas' hockey philosophy.
One could argue to get a different coach in.
NHL past results actually argue for getting rid of some of the effortless players, and only keep the ones that are willing to give it all to win a Stanley Cup.
In my view, that even includes considering trading a player like Matthews. The guy is a top 5 player in my book as for talent, but not sure about his character.

This Leafs team and management is just a disappointment, it's missing the excitement factor due to the fact that there is a lack of effort, in combination with the 'I know better' mentality of the green GM.
- MaximusAurelius

Reallly? THIS is the team you dont have the heart to watch? Not the Kessel, Phaneuf and Bozak one? Oh ok....

Leafs played like crap in front of hutch again.
But he should have had 1 extra save as well.
- Fakepartofme

Hutch has a GSAA of -5.63 in 6 games
only 2 others worse in the same amount of games.

Dubas needs to find another option, now since Marner is out, they might give enough space to do something, it comes around since MM held out for 2mil more than he should get, he gets injured and maybe that helps create space

I've played net as well. My take is that Hutchinson's biggest problem, aside from his rebound control, is that he over commits to puck movement without recognizing the play. It can lead to making some wonderful saves - but he also leaves himself out of position too often. He has a decent glove, and decent reflexes. His positioning isn't terrible initially, but his read is awful. It leaves him over committed or over extended. In the case where the puck deflected off of Ceci and rolled slowly between his legs, I think 95% of NHL goalies get that. Maybe you or I don't, but I hold them to a much higher standard. I felt that there was one other goal that may still have gone in, but Hutch's read had him out of the play and completely unable to stop the puck.

I remember when they used to talk about Potvin's "soft pads". By that contrast, Hutch's are made of iron.

The team defense is terrible, but Hutchinson in net does nothing to help his D, whether its his incompetent puck handling skills, or poor rebound control. He adds to the already porous defense by adding chaos to it.
- Monkeypunk

I'm trying to remember when the Leafs actually had good team defense. I honestly can't remember. We can all look fondly towards the Quinn-era runs, but all I remember is Cujo or Eddie standing on their heads night in, night out.

Waxing philosophically, I often thought that playing like the 95 Devils would be the antithesis to the limelight and media exposure that the Toronto market craves.

Reallly? THIS is the team you dont have the heart to watch? Not the Kessel, Phaneuf and Bozak one? Oh ok....
- Aaron_85

The phaneuf kessel bozak one at least tried most nights.

But i dont miss them.

Hutch has a GSAA of -5.63 in 6 games
only 2 others worse in the same amount of games.

Dubas needs to find another option, now since Marner is out, they might give enough space to do something, it comes around since MM held out for 2mil more than he should get, he gets injured and maybe that helps create space
- senstroll

I keep getting screwed up in how LTIR pooling works, but 28 days of Marner's salary is $1.64m which should be enough to upgrade the backup position.

The part I'm still unclear about is how the salary relief is defrayed. Is it applied only while Marner is on LTIR, in which case we're unable to upgrade anyway, because we can't fit it in when Marner returns - or is it an amount that is calculated and still available in the pool once Marner returns? I was under the impression that it's the former, but that doesn't entirely make sense.

I'm trying to remember when the Leafs actually had good team defense. I honestly can't remember. We can all look fondly towards the Quinn-era runs, but all I remember is Cujo or Eddie standing on their heads night in, night out.

Waxing philosophically, I often thought that playing like the 95 Devils would be the antithesis to the limelight and media exposure that the Toronto market craves.
- gravyface

The quinn era leafs made the other team work for every piece of the ice and pay for it.

Ah well

Connor mcdavid is simply 2 levels above every other player in the league.
Unbelievable

Am, mm, wn for draisaitl and mcdavid please

Hutch has a GSAA of -5.63 in 6 games
only 2 others worse in the same amount of games.

Dubas needs to find another option, now since Marner is out, they might give enough space to do something, it comes around since MM held out for 2mil more than he should get, he gets injured and maybe that helps create space
- senstroll

That's a very short term fix that really doesn't do much for the Leafs and their cap down the road.

The phaneuf kessel bozak one at least tried most nights.

But i dont miss them.
- Fakepartofme

the comments on this current team are exactly like the Kessel team
Lazy, dont care, no defence, no grit, cant win with these players.

Chi 12 - Leafs 4 high danger chances for

* I think that’s what it was


Not going to win many games regardless which Patty Roy we put in the nets.

Chi 12 - Leafs 4 high danger chances for

* I think that’s what it was


Not going to win many games regardless which Patty Roy we put in the nets.
- Garnie

Good game by willie last night.

I keep getting screwed up in how LTIR pooling works, but 28 days of Marner's salary is $1.64m which should be enough to upgrade the backup position.

The part I'm still unclear about is how the salary relief is defrayed. Is it applied only while Marner is on LTIR, in which case we're unable to upgrade anyway, because we can't fit it in when Marner returns - or is it an amount that is calculated and still available in the pool once Marner returns? I was under the impression that it's the former, but that doesn't entirely make sense.
- Monkeypunk

https://www.capfriendly.com/ltir-faq

reading this makes it clear as mud

Leafs played like crap in front of hutch again.
But he should have had 1 extra save as well.
- Fakepartofme

Stop drinking your goalie kool aid.

He has a 06 record with 4.50 Gaa and a .880 save percentage.

You can look at the worst teams every year and goalies are still aren’t even close to that level.

Hutch has driven the bus in these loses.

the comments on this current team are exactly like the Kessel team
Lazy, dont care, no defence, no grit, cant win with these players.
- senstroll

The last season of that team sure, when they were tanking.
But prior to that season, they were ok.

Chi 12 - Leafs 4 high danger chances for

* I think that’s what it was


Not going to win many games regardless which Patty Roy we put in the nets.
- Garnie

I see a lot of the statsy folks been commenting on this the last couple weeks.
Leafs have transformed into a point shot low danger team.

their xgf has dropped off from the last few seasons. Babs trying to change how the team plays...I guess.

But its pretty boring and so far is not really working.

Stop drinking your goalie kool aid.

He has a 06 record with 4.50 Gaa and a .880 save percentage.

You can look at the worst teams every year and goalies are still aren’t even close to that level.

Hutch has driven the bus in these loses.
- Santo_44

Yawn.
Hes hasnt help the cause
But hes usually hung out to dry.

Nice win by the raps.

Good game by willie last night.
- Fakepartofme

He’s more engaged, for sure..

He was actually in a few puck battles down low at the end of the game.

That’s encouraging, I took him this week in my SN pool.

It could be worse guys.

You could have lost 4 straight in regulation like Buffalo.

Yawn.
Hes hasnt help the cause
But hes usually hung out to dry.
- Fakepartofme

He doesn’t have help on every goal but neither does every NHL team in the league.

Every team let’s in high danger shots every game. Usually a goalie will stop more than a few of them.

But as the stats show Hutch has let in a large amount of those this season.

Hutch has been one of the worst players on the team every game he has played in. You aren’t winning much games when that happens.

It was his last game as a leaf.