Yes and no. Give him Engvall, Mikheyev; guys with some natural skills and you'll see Tavares elevate them. Give him poop bags like Kerfoot and well, good luck.

Also, Tavares use to be a cycle machine in Long Island. But the Leafs don't play that way at all. They need to get him some linemates that can dig in the corners and get back to that cycle game. That's why Hyman always works well with Tavares.
- JohnFergusonJr

I don't agree with you often... but you are 100% here.

Tavares is wasted with Kerfoot and Nylander... neither of which is particular good (or interested) at puck retrieval or 50/50 battles. I suggest a while back the Engvall would be a better option on the left wing than Kerfoot... but low and behold it seems like CAP and contract matter more than actually contributions.

at very least - when the offense dries up - try switching it up for a period or two.

wasn't that one of the reasons that Bablord got canned?

This coach seems to think that his game plan isn’t flawed at all. The goalies don’t quite understand every time a goal is scored under his system it’s their fault.
If Frederick Anderson played for the Blues last year they would have won the Stanley cup with him playing every game.
- Camel

You are 100% correct.

Everybody thinks Binnington was some kind of .980 SV% goalie last year. He wasn't. All he was, was average. And it was enough. Rask had better numbers and the Blues still won. Why? Because the Blues relied on good goaltending, not miracle goaltending.

Got home late and just finished watching the game on PVR.

What a complete poop show. Total lack of compete up and down the lineup. Left Freddy completely out to dry. This team will not win in the playoffs if by some miracle we make it. Anyone who says otherwise is delusional...

Just trying to be realistic, i have no problem calling out anyone on this team. It seems like that a lot this year...anyways, we’re still hanging in there and need to gel over the next 10 if we want to do anything this year.
- Garnie

I’m beginning to think that we’re screwed. Whether it’s the system or the players I don’t know, but now that the games have tightened up our offence has dried up.

Our defence was always suspect but I thought the goals would always be there.

At this point the Kadri trade looks like a complete failure... Kerfoot is half the player Kadri is... real bad trade.

I don't agree with you often... but you are 100% here.

Tavares is wasted with Kerfoot and Nylander... neither of which is particular good (or interested) at puck retrieval or 50/50 battles. I suggest a while back the Engvall would be a better option on the left wing than Kerfoot... but low and behold it seems like CAP and contract matter more than actually contributions.

at very least - when the offense dries up - try switching it up for a period or two.

wasn't that one of the reasons that Bablord got canned?
- BorjeFan4Ever

Tavares has benefited Nylander. We can all see the jump in his goal and point totals from last year to this year. But the other wing, not so much.

This is why I'd like them to go out and get Bennett. I think they're just about to give up on him in Calgary and I think he'd be a good, cheap option beside Tavares. He fights, he hits, he digs, he has a good body and has just enough talent to become another Hyman.

Remember when people question how holl could wasnt brought up last year?

I wouldnt mind seeing him back on the marlies for a bit.

What could he have done better or differently to help the team?

People are literally asking for miracle saves on multiple plays and think it's a reasonable ask of a goalie.

Spectacular saves should be miracles, not expectations.
- JohnFergusonJr

When players go out and score a few goals early it gives the goalie confidence.

When the goalie saves a few big ones it gives the players confidence.

When neither happens everyone is accountable. Hence why I think Campbell gets the next game. You can’t change the whole team but you can change the goalie if they need a spark. Well see how Campbell responds.

Remember when people question how holl could wasnt brought up last year?

I wouldnt mind seeing him back on the marlies for a bit.
- Fakepartofme

All of these guys are marginal NHL’rs... Holl, Engvall, Timoshov, Marincin, Goat...

Our system depth is not great...

I’m beginning to think that we’re screwed. Whether it’s the system or the players I don’t know, but now that the games have tightened up our offence has dried up.

Our defence was always suspect but I thought the goals would always be there.
- shack67

It's 50% the GM and 50% the coach, the same as it was under Babcock.

The GM refuses to populate the lineup with players that play hard, aggressive, tough, gritty, playoff hockey.

The coach (now hired by the GM) refuses to play a style that forces his players to be defensive.

Can't tell me the Islanders or the Blue Jackets have more talent than the Leafs and yet look where they are in the standings. Imagine those teams with the Leafs talent. Perhaps you'd call them the Boston Bruins? Gasp.

At this point the Kadri trade looks like a complete failure... Kerfoot is half the player Kadri is... real bad trade.
- Hockey_Reverend

Not even that. Weak 3rd line winger. Brown and Ennis were better.

The Leafs are really struggling and it looks like if they make the playoffs they’ll be another easy out for a real contender. They are not good and Pittsburgh really fisted em tonight.

The Leafs are really struggling and it looks like if they make the playoffs they’ll be another easy out for a real contender. They are not good and Pittsburgh really fisted em tonight.
- jimmy mcnaulty

LOL. Freddie got fingered

All of these guys are marginal NHL’rs... Holl, Engvall, Timoshov, Marincin, Goat...

Our system depth is not great...
- Hockey_Reverend

If you look around the league, there's some teams out there getting equal or better results using the same type of marginal NHLers in the right system.

Look at the Islanders, the Blue Jackets; there's teams out there doing more with less just because the coach knows how to make them play the right way.

When I watch the games now I still think about how bad it was to trade Kadri away and then sell out to sign Nylander. Kadri wanted to be a Leaf forever and was so cap friendly it was ridiculous. On the other hand Nylander’s holdout should have turned a light on in some Dumbass head so he could see what it means to be a Mapleleaf. In my own opinion these 2 moves and the firing of Babcock paved the road to the decline in this teams progression to become a true challenger for the cup

All of these guys are marginal NHL’rs... Holl, Engvall, Timoshov, Marincin, Goat...

Our system depth is not great...
- Hockey_Reverend

Marincin is marginal beer leaguer.....

All of these guys are marginal NHL’rs... Holl, Engvall, Timoshov, Marincin, Goat...

Our system depth is not great...
- Hockey_Reverend

I like timo and engvall.

rebuild #2 coming up....your dressing room is full of greasy selfish cancers.

Marincin is marginal beer leaguer.....
- ToMaLe

When I watch the games now I still think about how bad it was to trade Kadri away and then sell out to sign Nylander. Kadri wanted to be a Leaf forever and was so cap friendly it was ridiculous. On the other hand Nylander’s holdout should have turned a light on in some Dumbass head so he could see what it means to be a Mapleleaf. In my own opinion these 2 moves and the firing of Babcock paved the road to the decline in this teams progression to become a true challenger for the cup
- Camel

Kadri doesn't change this team or is results.
Willie is earning his cap hit.

I like timo and engvall.
- Fakepartofme

Timo is an AHL player

Engvall is a 4th line player with size who doesn’t hit...

rebuild #2 coming up....your dressing room is full of greasy selfish cancers.
- Pacificgem

Oh ffs.

If you look around the league, there's some teams out there getting equal or better results using the same type of marginal NHLers in the right system.

Look at the Islanders, the Blue Jackets; there's teams out there doing more with less just because the coach knows how to make them play the right way.
- JohnFergusonJr

Very true. We were all pissed because Babcock lost with this team in game 7 but now we are just hoping to see a game 1 in April.

When I watch the games now I still think about how bad it was to trade Kadri away and then sell out to sign Nylander. Kadri wanted to be a Leaf forever and was so cap friendly it was ridiculous. On the other hand Nylander’s holdout should have turned a light on in some Dumbass head so he could see what it means to be a Mapleleaf. In my own opinion these 2 moves and the firing of Babcock paved the road to the decline in this teams progression to become a true challenger for the cup
- Camel

Kadri trade was stupid from day 1. Only looks worse now.

Nylander has played very well this year and has increased his value tremendously. He will be a good piece to trade to get the defense the Leafs need.

Babcock's time had run out but his message was the correct one. They needed to bring somebody in who had the same message but a different way to deliver it. Sad to say, Keefe is not that guy. He's not the guy to get the job done.

When I watch the games now I still think about how bad it was to trade Kadri away and then sell out to sign Nylander. Kadri wanted to be a Leaf forever and was so cap friendly it was ridiculous. On the other hand Nylander’s holdout should have turned a light on in some Dumbass head so he could see what it means to be a Mapleleaf. In my own opinion these 2 moves and the firing of Babcock paved the road to the decline in this teams progression to become a true challenger for the cup
- Camel

Nylander is a hell of a hockey player when he wants to be. Sakic really took Lubeass to the woodshed on the Kadri trade though. Wasn’t anybody wondering why the Avs would retain on Barrie? Because he was the Western Conference Gardiner and Kerplunk is a plug.