I'm hoping Reilly calms the (frank) down with the bad pinches when the games matter most (playoffs) - I think he thinks he has to be that scoring threat he was when he had his big year, he doesn't!

I still prefer him over Cornrows Mc Banana Hammock. At least Reilly can score........
- Cush29

And then you realize Rielly has two more goals than Dermott.

Yes assists... I'm sure Dermott would have a ton more of those if he was on the ice with Matthews and Marner all the time too.

Rielly has honestly been worse defensively than Dermott, and that's not a compliment to Dermott. What he's supposed to do is score, but his 4 goals is nowhere near a trade off for what seems like the 4 scoring chances he's responsible for against per game.

He has to be better, now... Or he has to go away.

On Hall vs. Foligno

Last year against Columbus the Leafs gave me one of my top Leafs memories.

Jason Spezza gave us a moment of "whatever it takes". It was the only such moment I have seen from the Leafs in the last 4 playoffs, with the possible exception of Marner's blocked shots. It sparked the team to one of the most amazing wins in their history IMO.

It may not be dropping the gloves, or maybe it will be, but which player is more likely to go to the wall and give the Leafs that "whatever it takes" moment?

You can never have enough scoring but with Matthews, Marner, Tavares, Nylander, Hyman, Rielly, Spezza et al, I don't think you can say the Leafs have a scoring weakness.
- Aetherial

Yeah. I think think goes hand-in-hand with the idea of the Shanaplan conversation. The two go hand-in-hand. I think Dubas had initially wanted to be able to roll out 4 lines of skill players who could control the puck and the play, but has had to evolve the plan as he went to understand that more grit is required. The NHL pays lip service to rule changes, but they simply won't do that. So they evolve the roster and move and tweak. This is what well managed teams do. This year they are following in similar steps to Tampa: Get solid playable grit to compliment the skill. The Leafs have better leadership, I think, than Tampa has had.

I generally like what they're doing. I will agree with the sentiment that Oleksiak would be a nice add, but I'm going to agree with Max on this: Dallas is not going to see themselves as sellers. I am pretty sure they think they can make it. For the record, I also think they have a legitimate shot. Nashville and Chicago are catchable. But the idea that adding some physicality on the back end to compliment Muzzin and Bogosian is not a bad idea.

Yeah. I think think goes hand-in-hand with the idea of the Shanaplan conversation. The two go hand-in-hand. I think Dubas had initially wanted to be able to roll out 4 lines of skill players who could control the puck and the play, but has had to evolve the plan as he went to understand that more grit is required. The NHL pays lip service to rule changes, but they simply won't do that. So they evolve the roster and move and tweak. This is what well managed teams do. This year they are following in similar steps to Tampa: Get solid playable grit to compliment the skill. The Leafs have better leadership, I think, than Tampa has had.

I generally like what they're doing. I will agree with the sentiment that Oleksiak would be a nice add, but I'm going to agree with Max on this: Dallas is not going to see themselves as sellers. I am pretty sure they think they can make it. For the record, I also think they have a legitimate shot. Nashville and Chicago are catchable. But the idea that adding some physicality on the back end to compliment Muzzin and Bogosian is not a bad idea.
- Monkeypunk

We absolutely have to fix the defence even though we’re among league leaders in goals against and have had the worst goalie in the history of the NHL in net for over half our games.

And oh, we just added two premier defensive forwards. We’re not going to get someone to play in the top four so we’re talking about bidding for Oleksiak, the number one guy (who may or may not be available) to play 3rd pairing minutes with teams who really need D and are going to pay.

I get the Marincin phobia and agree we should insure ourselves against it but our D has been fine.

Looks like Freddie is .783% to Campbells .893% for PK S%.

Conversely, Freddie has been better at stopping short handed chances against than Jack. Go figure!
- mjones242

Most short-handed chances are breakaways at speed. Looks like that's an area Jack has to work on. Powerplay goaltending has as much to do with your D putting appropriate pressure and blocking lanes to reduce the zero-chance plays as it does with positioning, anticipation, battling through screens, controlling the puck and second effort when the other stuff isn't working.

Obviously we're all high on Jack - I am, too. If I go to his first 2 years here, Freddy was very successful on the penalty kill compared to his peers. You could easily argue that those first couple of years had guys who were more suited a D-role and that probably helped significantly on the PK.

And then you realize Rielly has two more goals than Dermott.

Yes assists... I'm sure Dermott would have a ton more of those if he was on the ice with Matthews and Marner all the time too.

Rielly has honestly been worse defensively than Dermott, and that's not a compliment to Dermott. What he's supposed to do is score, but his 4 goals is nowhere near a trade off for what seems like the 4 scoring chances he's responsible for against per game.

He has to be better, now... Or he has to go away.
- joel878

Josh Manson might be available and would be a decent add. Not entirely convinced Rielly will be re-signed so he might be moved for assets before the draft.

Josh Manson might be available and would be a decent add. Not entirely convinced Rielly will be re-signed so he might be moved for assets before the draft.
- winsix

If they trade Reilly, id look for a younger player like Werenski or Jones in return in the offseason. Probably have to add, but id do it.

Robertson-Engvall-Simmonds on the 4th line tonight?

Dallas claims vatenen

Sens claim mete

I wonder if Rittich is just going to travel in with the flames and just switch locker rooms tomorrow night.

Sheldon Keefe on Nick Foligno:

"Does whatever it takes to win, versatile, can play any position in the lineup, can play the game any way you want. Great leadership qualities, plays extremely hard. He just checks so many boxes that you need to win when it counts the most."

Sounds like the reason they wanted him over hall.

I wonder if Rittich is just going to travel in with the flames and just switch locker rooms tomorrow night.
- bryant

I hope he does and I hope he stares at them on the entire flight to Toronto with a steely gaze.

And then shuts them out.