The "this team needs to learn D" narrative is kind of tiring to be honest. It's like saying, "this needs needs to be better at hockey". Well no poop.

This team hasn't been good at D for as long as I can remember (and no, Sundin's teams weren't particularly good at D; maybe Dougie days, but my memory is fading there).

Two things are different this year over last few years, years where we were locks to make the playoffs (I don't really buy "contenders": if you're in the playoffs, you can do damage; it's that simple):

1. Goaltending has been bad.
2. We've had more injuries than we've ever had since the Matthews era.

I don't even really consider this a Babcock vs. Keefe thing either, although I did like how they were playing the first 20 odd games under Keefe.

Other than that, this team is full of inconsistent young players. Hell, our D corps has been basically rookies with Holl, Sandin, Liljegren, and to some degree, Dermott, who hasn't even played two full seasons yet.

The rest of the team needs to learn hard lessons and there is no shortcut to doing so.

Play the games, the sky isn't falling, stay the course and don't make any stupid moves.
- gravyface

Yep, this for the most part!!! 👍

You missed on every point.

Thats seems almost impossible but you nailed it. Well done.
- bryant

tick tock tick tock tick tock

Except Marchmant will probably be on Florida's second line.
- bobbyisno1

Lets hope

sure, but when STl traded him they still had Pietrangelo, Bouwmeester, and Parayko...........that's 3 guys who were, at the time, better than the leafs best dman this year (considering that Rielly's been having a rough year).

even without Shattenkirk, the Blues had a GREAT top 4......even with Barrie, the leafs top 4 isn't that strong, trading him (without replacing him) would make it significantly worse. Sandin and Lillejgren (sp?) will be great, but probably not ready to be top 4 guys on a playoff team yet.

I think trading barrie essentially means throwing in the towel on the season....without subsequent moves to bolster the top 4
- sensarmy_11

You are actually making sense... So, why are you in a Leafs blog?

Big big night for Andersen tonight
- bryant

Big night period, getting to games that can make or break the year.

I think we’re in tough with all the new D, hopefully they prove me wrong and we make a run into the playoffs.

Lets hope
- senstroll

I love that guy, the move really pisses me off.

Guys, calm down, everything will be fine, there is no shame in finishing 9th in the conference.

Guys, calm down, everything will be fine, there is no shame in finishing 9th in the conference.
- Symba.007

We know the shame well....

Guys, calm down, everything will be fine, there is no shame in finishing 9th in the conference.
- Symba.007

We know, pretty sure we were trend setters in that department.

Guys, calm down, everything will be fine, there is no shame in finishing 9th in the conference.
- Symba.007

Don't count the Habs out of 9th place yet

Malgin play with Matthews right away?

I think they need to move lines back.

Hyman JT Marner
Malgin ( or whoever ) Matthews Nylander
The rest

Don’t mind him.....he also thinks that you can’t win with Leon Draisaitl and so on and so forth
- RatedR80

No, I've been saying for a few years Draisaitl > Matthews. Draisaitl is awesome and I would be very hesitant to trade him...buuuuut...I'd sure like to see him give more than 75% effort. It seems to be his game, and that seems to be working alright for the team. Ovechkin, Pavel Bure, Hull....there is a long list of players who do not put in the work defensively and have personal success. "Team success" is another story with those players but I'm hoping for the best for our young Leon and the Oilers.

As an investment professional realizing that value is value is value, I don't think it is out of the realm of successful asset management to explore the king's ransom one would receive for Draisaitl because he would bring in such incredible assets and I truly think Nugent-Hopkins could fill that C2 void relatively well. This is my rational asset management opinion. Emotionally, I want to keep Draisaitl. (see also Oilers losing the Taylor Hall trade but becoming a better team).

Matthews...he just seems like one of the biggest wastes of incredible talent out there. He really seems (from a total outsider's perspective) that he does not care whatsoever. I would take Draisaitl over Matthews every day of the week. Also, the conversation used to be Matthews vs McDavid, which is now absurd. It is now Matthews vs Draisaitl.

tick tock tick tock...what's coming in 2 more years? Matthews vs. Scheifele? (and I'm not even sure I'd make that swap today actually).

Matthews will be one of those great players that doesn't win a cup.

No, I've been saying for a few years Draisaitl > Matthews. Draisaitl is awesome and I would be very hesitant to trade him...buuuuut...I'd sure like to see him give more than 75% effort. It seems to be his game, and that seems to be working alright for the team. Ovechkin, Pavel Bure, Hull....there is a long list of players who do not put in the work defensively and have personal success. "Team success" is another story with those players but I'm hoping for the best for our young Leon and the Oilers.

As an investment professional realizing that value is value is value, I don't think it is out of the realm of successful asset management to explore the king's ransom one would receive for Draisaitl because he would bring in such incredible assets and I truly think Nugent-Hopkins could fill that C2 void relatively well. This is my rational asset management opinion. Emotionally, I want to keep Draisaitl. (see also Oilers losing the Taylor Hall trade but becoming a better team).

Matthews...he just seems like one of the biggest wastes of incredible talent out there. He really seems (from a total outsider's perspective) that he does not care whatsoever. I would take Draisaitl over Matthews every day of the week. Also, the conversation used to be Matthews vs McDavid, which is now absurd. It is now Matthews vs Draisaitl.

tick tock tick tock...what's coming in 2 more years? Matthews vs. Scheifele? (and I'm not even sure I'd make that swap today actually).

Matthews will be one of those great players that doesn't win a cup.
- JLO961

Matthews has been in beast mode for awhile, he can’t do everything...we have issues on the backend.

I wouldn’t trade Matthews for anyone at this moment 🤷🏻‍♂️

Guys, calm down, everything will be fine, there is no shame in finishing 9th in the conference.
- Symba.007

Maybe there is still time to pull Boyd devereaux out retirement. We could really use his 4 goal performances

No, I've been saying for a few years Draisaitl > Matthews. Draisaitl is awesome and I would be very hesitant to trade him...buuuuut...I'd sure like to see him give more than 75% effort. It seems to be his game, and that seems to be working alright for the team. Ovechkin, Pavel Bure, Hull....there is a long list of players who do not put in the work defensively and have personal success. "Team success" is another story with those players but I'm hoping for the best for our young Leon and the Oilers.

As an investment professional realizing that value is value is value, I don't think it is out of the realm of successful asset management to explore the king's ransom one would receive for Draisaitl because he would bring in such incredible assets and I truly think Nugent-Hopkins could fill that C2 void relatively well. This is my rational asset management opinion. Emotionally, I want to keep Draisaitl. (see also Oilers losing the Taylor Hall trade but becoming a better team).

Matthews...he just seems like one of the biggest wastes of incredible talent out there. He really seems (from a total outsider's perspective) that he does not care whatsoever. I would take Draisaitl over Matthews every day of the week. Also, the conversation used to be Matthews vs McDavid, which is now absurd. It is now Matthews vs Draisaitl.

tick tock tick tock...what's coming in 2 more years? Matthews vs. Scheifele? (and I'm not even sure I'd make that swap today actually).

Matthews will be one of those great players that doesn't win a cup.
- JLO961

You would love if Matthews was a hab, shut up.

Don't count the Habs out of 9th place yet
- TheMussel

Habs have a secret weapon, call up Kinkaid and let him start every game

Yes you can. St. Louis did it with Shattenkirk.
- Steven_Seagull

Completely different.
They had a stacked top 4 who knew how to play D.
The leafs dont.

No, I've been saying for a few years Draisaitl > Matthews. Draisaitl is awesome and I would be very hesitant to trade him...buuuuut...I'd sure like to see him give more than 75% effort. It seems to be his game, and that seems to be working alright for the team. Ovechkin, Pavel Bure, Hull....there is a long list of players who do not put in the work defensively and have personal success. "Team success" is another story with those players but I'm hoping for the best for our young Leon and the Oilers.

As an investment professional realizing that value is value is value, I don't think it is out of the realm of successful asset management to explore the king's ransom one would receive for Draisaitl because he would bring in such incredible assets and I truly think Nugent-Hopkins could fill that C2 void relatively well. This is my rational asset management opinion. Emotionally, I want to keep Draisaitl. (see also Oilers losing the Taylor Hall trade but becoming a better team).

Matthews...he just seems like one of the biggest wastes of incredible talent out there. He really seems (from a total outsider's perspective) that he does not care whatsoever. I would take Draisaitl over Matthews every day of the week. Also, the conversation used to be Matthews vs McDavid, which is now absurd. It is now Matthews vs Draisaitl.

tick tock tick tock...what's coming in 2 more years? Matthews vs. Scheifele? (and I'm not even sure I'd make that swap today actually).

Matthews will be one of those great players that doesn't win a cup.
- JLO961

what if they are both really (frank)ing great players and both teams fans are happy with the players and we dont have to settle in 2020 which one is better or who we want on our teams.

also, losing taylor hall and becoming better lol

No, I've been saying for a few years Draisaitl > Matthews. Draisaitl is awesome and I would be very hesitant to trade him...buuuuut...I'd sure like to see him give more than 75% effort. It seems to be his game, and that seems to be working alright for the team. Ovechkin, Pavel Bure, Hull....there is a long list of players who do not put in the work defensively and have personal success. "Team success" is another story with those players but I'm hoping for the best for our young Leon and the Oilers.

As an investment professional realizing that value is value is value, I don't think it is out of the realm of successful asset management to explore the king's ransom one would receive for Draisaitl because he would bring in such incredible assets and I truly think Nugent-Hopkins could fill that C2 void relatively well. This is my rational asset management opinion. Emotionally, I want to keep Draisaitl. (see also Oilers losing the Taylor Hall trade but becoming a better team).

Matthews...he just seems like one of the biggest wastes of incredible talent out there. He really seems (from a total outsider's perspective) that he does not care whatsoever. I would take Draisaitl over Matthews every day of the week. Also, the conversation used to be Matthews vs McDavid, which is now absurd. It is now Matthews vs Draisaitl.

tick tock tick tock...what's coming in 2 more years? Matthews vs. Scheifele? (and I'm not even sure I'd make that swap today actually).

Matthews will be one of those great players that doesn't win a cup.
- JLO961

So was Ovechkin. 🤷‍♂️

No, I've been saying for a few years Draisaitl > Matthews. Draisaitl is awesome and I would be very hesitant to trade him...buuuuut...I'd sure like to see him give more than 75% effort. It seems to be his game, and that seems to be working alright for the team. Ovechkin, Pavel Bure, Hull....there is a long list of players who do not put in the work defensively and have personal success. "Team success" is another story with those players but I'm hoping for the best for our young Leon and the Oilers.

As an investment professional realizing that value is value is value, I don't think it is out of the realm of successful asset management to explore the king's ransom one would receive for Draisaitl because he would bring in such incredible assets and I truly think Nugent-Hopkins could fill that C2 void relatively well. This is my rational asset management opinion. Emotionally, I want to keep Draisaitl. (see also Oilers losing the Taylor Hall trade but becoming a better team).

Matthews...he just seems like one of the biggest wastes of incredible talent out there. He really seems (from a total outsider's perspective) that he does not care whatsoever. I would take Draisaitl over Matthews every day of the week. Also, the conversation used to be Matthews vs McDavid, which is now absurd. It is now Matthews vs Draisaitl.

tick tock tick tock...what's coming in 2 more years? Matthews vs. Scheifele? (and I'm not even sure I'd make that swap today actually).

Matthews will be one of those great players that doesn't win a cup.
- JLO961

So, all this to say you've never watched Matthews play a game?

Next time, just post "I don't watch Matthews". It's far more effective

I love that guy, the move really pisses me off.
- bobbyisno1

Ghost for Kapanen would help both teams

Matthews has been in beast mode for awhile, he can’t do everything...we have issues on the backend.

I wouldn’t trade Matthews for anyone at this moment 🤷🏻‍♂️
- Garnie

agreed.

he's pretty dominate. smart player.

he thinks the game at a different level than most. what might look like lack of effort is him just calmly stalking the puck.

Malgin play with Matthews right away?

I think they need to move lines back.

Hyman JT Marner
Malgin ( or whoever ) Matthews Nylander
The rest
- Garnie

Malgin goes from floridas 4th line/bench to the leafs top line? That would be so leafy.
But agreed, keefe needs to move marner back with jt. It was out best line last year. AM can score with anyone on his wing, move willie back there. Theyll both be scoring threats.

Ghost for Kapanen would help both teams
- flyfreak

No need for a ghost, we already have enough players scared of their own shadow.. A ghost in the locker room would freak everyone out..

Ghost for Kerplunk would help both teams
- flyfreak

agreed.