Kerfoot is the Leafs 4C right now...

Definitely can afford to lose him. In fact I would argue trading him and bringing in a UFA C would benefit the team. Takes his cap out for next season and we bring in a better fit.
- Santo_44

Good point on unloading Kerfoot's salary for next season as another net positive outcome. He's almost certainly not in next year's lineup and isn't exactly contributing as a C in this current lineup.

One thing is painfully obvious. We'll be in a world of hurt if Hyman gets injured. Team MVP right now.
- Leafsmart

I think the hyman hype train is a little out of control.

world of hurt
team mvp

I'm not concerned about points. Obviously they are nice, and contribution is going to help take some of the stress out of the games. What I want to see from Joe is his level of compete elevated. He does an awful lot of standing around and not battling when the puck is there. Of late, I watch him lose battles, lose the puck, and not have enough time to make plays when he does have the puck. It's not just his skating that looks slow lately - it's his hands and reactions. These last two are probably the largest indicator to me that he's done. Maybe it's a slump and because he is who is, the scrutiny is more severe, but he doesn't look like a guy who is invested in any capacity right now.

I say that and yet the numbers show that his line is effective. This confuses me, because I know what I'm seeing!
- Monkeypunk

Thornton's not a 4th line grinder though, I think he'd be more effective on the Matthews line, but I don't see it happening at the moment. Hyman is really good with Matthews and Marner.

Galchy has been effective with JT nd Will.I.Am.

If/when Andersen comes back, do you think he'll be ok with being the backup to Campbell?
- PatC80

I think the idea off the start of the season was to have a 1A / 1B relationship where Andersen would probably play 35 and Campbell would play around 20. Andersen seemed good with that proposal at the time.

Coming back from injury, he should have to play his way back in to the starter's role. The Leafs have a 6 point lead, but when every game is a 4 point game, that can vanish awfully quickly.

In 2018 when Holtby lost the starting job to Grubauer, he had a better reputation that Andersen, having just posted a Vezina winning season, and a Jennings winning season, and being named to the first team and second team all-star. And then *poof*, a 26 year old with 66 games of NHL experience at the start of the season steps in and takes your job.

Not for nothing, but Campbell was 28 with 64 games of NHL experience at the start of this season.

A month ago he was great.

Ups and downs. It’s a down right now but he’ll ramp it up for playoffs.
- Santo_44

I hope so. I have no faith in 40+ year old players having a second gear.

Even if Freddie comes back are you willing to risk having Hutch as your backup if Freddie or Jack gets injured again?

Ullmark would not command a king's ransom to acquire. He's a UFA goalie and, historically, those assets don't go for much (a 3rd maybe?).
- mjones242

Hutch will get some more starts to help ease the load on Campbell and let them get a better sense if last night was a fluke. Trade priorities

1. Strengthen forward situation with either a top 6 or someone for 3rd line
2. Defensive depth - keep Marincin down the chart
3. An upgrade on 3rd string goalie

I hope so. I have no faith in 40+ year old players having a second gear.
- Monkeypunk

goes and takes a nap

goes and takes a nap
- senstroll

That’s my first gear

I think the hyman hype train is a little out of control.

world of hurt
team mvp
- senstroll

Matthews and his league leading 25 goals, Campbell and his .951 save % are a close 2nd

I hope so. I have no faith in 40+ year old players having a second gear.
- Monkeypunk

Well I did not expect Thornton to be balls to the wall for the whole season.

His season has been better than I expected.

Thornton's not a 4th line grinder though, I think he'd be more effective on the Matthews line, but I don't see it happening at the moment. Hyman is really good with Matthews and Marner.

Galchy has been effective with JT nd Will.I.Am.
- PatC80

Gally has been fine. There are better that could make that line lethal. Willie and JT are on fire right now. I like the way Gally has been playing but he’s not at their level.

Thornton's not a 4th line grinder though, I think he'd be more effective on the Matthews line, but I don't see it happening at the moment. Hyman is really good with Matthews and Marner.

Galchy has been effective with JT nd Will.I.Am.
- PatC80

Let's be objective about this. And again, this is me. This is how I see it.

If the contention is that based on the style that he plays and the type of player he is, Joe Thornton should be in the top-6.

Then I'd ask that we try and name a top-6 on any team that would benefit from Joe Thornton playing there.

For instance, I understand that Buffalo sucks. Greatly. There's no limit to how much Buffalo sucks, in fact I might espou . . .where was I? Oh yeah. Even if we inserted Thornton into Buffalo's top-6, they would be worse for it. They would be scored against more than they are today. He can't keep up with the top-6 competition.

I absolutely know what you're saying - Thornton's style and play is made for top-6 play, but I think he's incapable of that anymore, and he never reinvented himself to adapt to other styles. Now he's a relic that doesn't fit anywhere - like a Beta tape.

Gally has been fine. There are better that could make that line lethal. Willie and JT are on fire right now. I like the Gally has been playing but he’s not at their level.
- Canada Cup

I have been pleasantly surprised by how well Galchenyuk has played. He has some fire to his game, and he's not a floater like I was led to believe. He may not be the best defensively, but he's not an utter liability. He's decent with the puck, and has a nice shot and good one-timer. All that said, they could certainly upgrade on him and reap some serious benefits from it.

Let's be objective about this. And again, this is me. This is how I see it.

If the contention is that based on the style that he plays and the type of player he is, Joe Thornton should be in the top-6.

Then I'd ask that we try and name a top-6 on any team that would benefit from Joe Thornton playing there.

For instance, I understand that Buffalo sucks. Greatly. There's no limit to how much Buffalo sucks, in fact I might espou . . .where was I? Oh yeah. Even if we inserted Thornton into Buffalo's top-6, they would be worse for it. They would be scored against more than they are today. He can't keep up with the top-6 competition.

I absolutely know what you're saying - Thornton's style and play is made for top-6 play, but I think he's incapable of that anymore, and he never reinvented himself to adapt to other styles. Now he's a relic that doesn't fit anywhere - like a Beta tape.
- Monkeypunk

I think you are looking into this a bit too much. Thornton was very effective up until about a month ago. His skating is the same...he was good behind the net and always has hit smarts.

For whatever reason he hasn’t had it the past little while. Maybe he’s injured or maybe is just going through a rough patch which I’m sure he has 100 times in his career. He’ll be fine.

Leaf game blacked out in NS, 2nd day in a row.
(frank) RIGHT OFF
- .HOHO.

What are you using for a provider? You can trick out Expressvu and Shaw Direct with a postal code jimmy. There's one that gives you Leafs, Habs and Sens on a regional basis.

Hutch will get some more starts to help ease the load on Campbell and let them get a better sense if last night was a fluke. Trade priorities

1. Strengthen forward situation with either a top 6 or someone for 3rd line
2. Defensive depth - keep Marincin down the chart
3. An upgrade on 3rd string goalie
- Canada Cup

I guess we'll find out if #3 is actually #1 soon enough!

J
@Account4hockey
·
28m
Pierre Lebrun says:

Eric Staal, if he wasn't dealt and was still a Buffalo Sabre right now, might go for less than what MTL paid. Maybe just a 4th instead of the 3rd + 5th they paid. Prices are going to drop as teams don't want to be stuck with UFAs they aren't resigning.

Sounds like teams are trying to take advantage of the Canadian teams. Would be smart for Dubas to wait...rentals not named Hall, Palmeri or Foligno will be cheap. Some for free.

Isn't southern NS full of dirty Bruins fans anyway?
- TheMussel

We got a mix of leafs and habs fans. Bruins would be the 3rd most popular here in NS

Let's be objective about this. And again, this is me. This is how I see it.

If the contention is that based on the style that he plays and the type of player he is, Joe Thornton should be in the top-6.

Then I'd ask that we try and name a top-6 on any team that would benefit from Joe Thornton playing there.

For instance, I understand that Buffalo sucks. Greatly. There's no limit to how much Buffalo sucks, in fact I might espou . . .where was I? Oh yeah. Even if we inserted Thornton into Buffalo's top-6, they would be worse for it. They would be scored against more than they are today. He can't keep up with the top-6 competition.

I absolutely know what you're saying - Thornton's style and play is made for top-6 play, but I think he's incapable of that anymore, and he never reinvented himself to adapt to other styles. Now he's a relic that doesn't fit anywhere - like a Beta tape.
- Monkeypunk

I agree, I don't think he's been very good for the past few weeks... I am not defending Thornton, I think if he had any other name on the back of his jersey, he'd be a healthy scratch already..

Thornton's game is more suited to play with Matthews or Tavares, he's not a high energy guy or a bang and crash type player, he doesn't seem like a fit on the 4th line..

I think the idea off the start of the season was to have a 1A / 1B relationship where Andersen would probably play 35 and Campbell would play around 20. Andersen seemed good with that proposal at the time.

Coming back from injury, he should have to play his way back in to the starter's role. The Leafs have a 6 point lead, but when every game is a 4 point game, that can vanish awfully quickly.

In 2018 when Holtby lost the starting job to Grubauer, he had a better reputation that Andersen, having just posted a Vezina winning season, and a Jennings winning season, and being named to the first team and second team all-star. And then *poof*, a 26 year old with 66 games of NHL experience at the start of the season steps in and takes your job.

Not for nothing, but Campbell was 28 with 64 games of NHL experience at the start of this season.
- Monkeypunk

I know it’s a small sample size, but I have more faith in Campbell right now, and I suspect the team does, too.

I know it’s a small sample size, but I have more faith in Campbell right now, and I suspect the team does, too.
- Atomic Wedgie

Campbell passes the eye test vs. Andersen too

He doesn't look like Reimer getting wins while battling the puck out there, and he hasn't really let in terrible softies either. Just looks... solid.

I guess we'll find out if #3 is actually #1 soon enough!
- mjones242

If the sun refuse to shine
I don’t mind, I don’t mind

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vZuFq4CfRR8

I think you are looking into this a bit too much. Thornton was very effective up until about a month ago. His skating is the same...he was good behind the net and always has hit smarts.

For whatever reason he hasn’t had it the past little while. Maybe he’s injured or maybe is just going through a rough patch which I’m sure he has 100 times in his career. He’ll be fine.
- Santo_44

Maybe. He had 10 points in 10 games to start. He was +5. He has 2 points in 16 games since and is -4.

How much of that start was adrenaline, and the "feeling of youth" that you get around young guys, and how much of now is what we're seeing now that his body is bouncing back and saying, "I can't do this".

I'm 50. I can go and workout like I'm 25. The difference is that at 25, I'd bounce back in a day or two. Now it can take a week - if I don't strain something! Thornton is a far more athletic and healthy person than I am with likely a far better and healthier lifestyle. He still, I'm sure, works out and keeps himself fit. But at some point the mind is willing but the flesh is weak.

To reiterate my point so it's not muddied: The team loves him. He's a part of why this year has been successful, I think. They can't get rid of him because of how much the team loves him. He's not going anywhere out of the lineup. His play, however, needs to be insulated and limited in the scope of the level of competition because he's overmatched against higher levels of competition.

Your point that he's fine, and perhaps it's a rough patch. I hear you, and I really hope so, I really do - because he's not going anywhere. He might actually benefit from some recuperation games (like skip b2b) - if our cap allowed it to happen, but I don't think it does.

I know it’s a small sample size, but I have more faith in Campbell right now, and I suspect the team does, too.
- Atomic Wedgie

So do I. I was more trying to say that Andersen's ego should have to be checked at the door. If Holtby could do it with better credentials, so can he.

The initial point was that Andersen had already conceded to a reduced workload. Now having to play his way back in to beat out the guy who's winning all the games shouldn't come as a surprise.

He has to do something more than he is doing now. Not that it is make or break anything...
- bixll

Agreed,

Better 3rd line would be

Mikey 🦒Spezza me thinks