that sounds all well, but let's see 30th of November vs Buffalo when normally Leafs' backup should start the game.
0 points by a backup goalie so far - that's not going to get you into playoffs.
- MaximusAurelius

Absolutely. I commented on this a few pages back as well.

If the Leafs can play like they did yesterday - pressuring the puck in the D-Zone and moving the puck up the ice with support, including maintaining possession on line changes and so on, they will reduce the pressure on the goalie. Arizona is not a pressure offense, so the dynamics change with each game, obviously.

Whether they had quit on Babcock or the defense-first shell was creating more static positioning, I don't know - but we didn't see a lot of guys just standing in the wide open or getting clean breakaways yesterday. There will always be a couple of breakdowns, but I believe that if Kaskisuo had been in net last night, they still could have won that game.

They still need to find a way to upgrade the position, but I don't know who would be a willing trade partner nor who is really an upgrade over what we have. I think a lot of teams would be more content to hold onto their 3rd tier goaltending assets as insurance in case of injury rather than trade them.

Absolutely. I commented on this a few pages back as well.

If the Leafs can play like they did yesterday - pressuring the puck in the D-Zone and moving the puck up the ice with support, including maintaining possession on line changes and so on, they will reduce the pressure on the goalie. Arizona is not a pressure offense, so the dynamics change with each game, obviously.

Whether they had quit on Babcock or the defense-first shell was creating more static positioning, I don't know - but we didn't see a lot of guys just standing in the wide open or getting clean breakaways yesterday. There will always be a couple of breakdowns, but I believe that if Kaskisuo had been in net last night, they still could have won that game.

They still need to find a way to upgrade the position, but I don't know who would be a willing trade partner nor who is really an upgrade over what we have. I think a lot of teams would be more content to hold onto their 3rd tier goaltending assets as insurance in case of injury rather than trade them.
- Monkeypunk

there are probably 30 candidates that fit this profile.
even Woll is already better than Kaskisuo

there are probably 30 candidates that fit this profile.
even Woll is already better than Kaskisuo
- MaximusAurelius

I know you like him, and I also think has the tools to be a very good goalie in the NHL, but Woll is not there yet.

Behind the same D, Kaskisuo posted a 2.13 and .928%. Woll is posting a 3.43 and .891%. It's not like he's getting better game-by-game. His first game was a shutout, and after that he has allowed 5, 4, 5, 3 and 4 goals in each of the subsequent games.

He needs time.

there are probably 30 candidates that fit this profile.
even Woll is already better than Kaskisuo
- MaximusAurelius

No he isn’t.

I know you like him, and I also think has the tools to be a very good goalie in the NHL, but Woll is not there yet.

Behind the same D, Kaskisuo posted a 2.13 and .928%. Woll is posting a 3.43 and .891%. It's not like he's getting better game-by-game. His first game was a shutout, and after that he has allowed 5, 4, 5, 3 and 4 goals in each of the subsequent games.

He needs time.
- Monkeypunk

I know he still needs 2 seasons.
But he is already better than any option Leafs have on backup right now - a terrible situation.

Spezza is turning out to be a pretty good pick up for 700k
the more I think about game 1..what a (frank)ing dink move by babs

The guy is extremely likable also.

on pace for 41 points. good for him

there are probably 30 candidates that fit this profile.
even Woll is already better than Kaskisuo
- MaximusAurelius

no way anyone can critique Kaskisuo for that horrible "thing" in Pittsburgh...

that's his only NHL appearance.

the team owes the guy a shot of playing behind a team that isn't comatose

no way anyone can critique Kaskisuo for that horrible "thing" in Pittsburgh...

that's his only NHL appearance.

the team owes the guy a shot of playing behind a team that isn't comatose
- BorjeFan4Ever

nothing is 'owed' in professional sports.
the guy is never going to be an NHL goalie.
that is independent of his 1 game in NHL.

Spezza is turning out to be a pretty good pick up for 700k
the more I think about game 1..what a (frank)ing dink move by babs

The guy is extremely likable also.

on pace for 41 points. good for him
- senstroll

Spezza is turning out to be a pretty good pick up for 700k
the more I think about game 1..what a (frank)ing dink move by babs

The guy is extremely likable also.

on pace for 41 points. good for him
- senstroll

"I definitely have a little bit of a chip on my shoulder," Spezza said. "I think that I was surprised to be scratched the first couple playoff games, and I think I took it on as a challenge…In talking to Babs, he's willing to work with me and help me transition my game to that bottom-six role where I can be a good complementary player. That excited me…coming to play for a guy as demanding as him could help me play a little bit longer, and that's what I want to do."

Spezza is turning out to be a pretty good pick up for 700k
the more I think about game 1..what a (frank)ing dink move by babs

The guy is extremely likable also.

on pace for 41 points. good for him
- senstroll

that sounds all well, but let's see 30th of November vs Buffalo when normally Leafs' backup should start the game.
0 points by a backup goalie so far - that's not going to get you into playoffs.
- MaximusAurelius

I wouldn’t be surprised if Keefe runs Andersen back to back.

They need to make up some ground. No point in resting your starter if your aren’t going to make playoffs. Put some points in the bank and let andersen take other nights off.

It’s not like it was successful.

Spezza is turning out to be a pretty good pick up for 700k
the more I think about game 1..what a (frank)ing dink move by babs

The guy is extremely likable also.

on pace for 41 points. good for him
- senstroll

He probably would have been waived by now if Tavares didn’t get injured.

"I definitely have a little bit of a chip on my shoulder," Spezza said. "I think that I was surprised to be scratched the first couple playoff games, and I think I took it on as a challenge…In talking to Babs, he's willing to work with me and help me transition my game to that bottom-six role where I can be a good complementary player. That excited me…coming to play for a guy as demanding as him could help me play a little bit longer, and that's what I want to do."
- MaximusAurelius

sounds similar to Mike Commodore.
hey come play here we can use you...scratched

No he isn’t.
- DrunkSkunk

yes he is

no he isn't

yes he is!
no he isn't!
YES HE IS!
NO HE ISN'T!

He probably would have been waived by now if Tavares didn’t get injured.
- bryant

I am not so sure

and I said that at the time. People were assuming he was one to get waived.
But didnt make sense to me

sounds similar to Mike Commodore.
hey come play here we can use you...scratched
- senstroll

he played 13 out of 23 games for babcock...

he played 13 out of 23 games for babcock...
- MaximusAurelius

i know..we see how babs wasted talent

I am not so sure

and I said that at the time. People were assuming he was one to get waived.
But didnt make sense to me
- senstroll

True. If it was up to babcock yes, but considering Dubas was the GM he probably would have kept him.

i know..we see how babs wasted talent
- senstroll

Gauthier and Timashov all played better.
Over half of the people on here were complaining about Spezze after his first 5 games or so that he looked finished ('he's slow', 'he can't follow the rest of the team', 'he cannot finish' etc. etc.).

nothing is 'owed' in professional sports.
the guy is never going to be an NHL goalie.
that is independent of his 1 game in NHL.
- MaximusAurelius

seriously, go back and listen to the Blues management team talking about how they viewed Binnington at the beginning of last season...

making a statement like "never going to be an NHL goalie" is exactly the same as saying "Ceci has great underlying numbers"...

and to be clear - the Team definitely owes that guy an actual chance to play behind an NHL team...

"I definitely have a little bit of a chip on my shoulder," Spezza said. "I think that I was surprised to be scratched the first couple playoff games, and I think I took it on as a challenge…In talking to Babs, he's willing to work with me and help me transition my game to that bottom-six role where I can be a good complementary player. That excited me…coming to play for a guy as demanding as him could help me play a little bit longer, and that's what I want to do."
- MaximusAurelius

What he actually wanted to say:

"Well actually I can't stand the (frank)ing guy, but the wife wants our kids to be closer to their grandparents and Texas is a hellhole so I thought "Why the (frank) not, I could use a few extra grand"...."

I wouldn’t be surprised if Keefe runs Andersen back to back.

They need to make up some ground. No point in resting your starter if your aren’t going to make playoffs. Put some points in the bank and let andersen take other nights off.

It’s not like it was successful.
- bryant

Back to back coming against buffalo next week. Then not again until dec 20th.

I think kabackup should get a 2-3 games in before the new year. Gotts give him a fair shot to see why he is.

The pens game was a debacle.

Gauthier and Timashov all played better.
Over half of the people on here were complaining about Spezze after his first 5 games or so that he looked finished ('he's slow', 'he can't follow the rest of the team', 'he cannot finish' etc. etc.).
- MaximusAurelius

I wasnt one of them.

But great point..babs made the whole team look slow and finnished

yes he is

no he isn't

yes he is!
no he isn't!
YES HE IS!
NO HE ISN'T!

- 21peter

which one is Dubas? which one is Babcock?