The "it's only 5 games" narrative would jive with me more if it wasn't for the team looking as ineffective and unable to solve the defensive puzzle as they did against the Habs last post-season.

I'm starting to think Keefe's possession strategy may not be all its cracked up to be. And I've never been a big Keefe detractor but I think I'm warming up to the idea that some of this lack of production is on him.

But yes, it is 5 games in, so there's plenty of time to figure this poop out. But this is not the start I was hoping for. I had imagined this team would look a lot hungrier and want to show their quality earlier. Oops.
- mjones242

I hear ya.
Honestly, this team is soft.
I really dont expect them to ever be hungry or extremely motivated most games.
Young stars and Muskoka 5 entitlement all over again.

You could be right.

I actually really like Ritchie right in front of the goalie on PP2. He's better there than Tavares, and I wouldn't mind seeing him get some PP time there with some higher end players.

I don't like his game for a top 6 role 5v5.
- fifty__missions

That line has been brutal so far this year and that’s not just Ritchie

Hopefully whatever Keefe chooses gets them rolling one way or another

The deranged takes after 5 games are absolutely delightful, thanks guys. I've been a little down lately and needed the laugh.
- Zezel

Keefe says reporters should be asking as many questions about Matthews and Marner as they are about Ritchie tonight. Not happy with that top line in general instead of one player.

Says it seems like media wants to pile on Ritchie, but "let's not narrow the focus."
- mjones242

Sounds like he was just mid game line juggling to get them going then

So instead of playing a young starting goalie in b2b games, they went with their 3rd string goalie.
Another slow start for the rested leafs again.

Ah well.

Scottie Barnes looking good for the raps.
- Fakepartofme

It's weird, I don't get why the Leafs don't just activate full spectrum dominance and tilt the ice for 60 minutes and go 5-0. I'm starting to suspect there may be another NHL team also participating in the game, thus creating an ebb and flow within games and across the season itself!

That line has been brutal so far this year and that’s not just Ritchie

Hopefully whatever Keefe chooses gets them rolling one way or another
- Dozzer

Wait a sec. Matthews was actually really good inhis first game, despite his shooting percentage, and not good last night. Marner has been....ok....but not productive? Ritchie has been utterly inconsequential.

It's weird, I don't get why the Leafs don't just activate full spectrum dominance and tilt the ice for 60 minutes and go 5-0. I'm starting to suspect there may be another NHL team also participating in the game, thus creating an ebb and flow within games and across the season itself!
- Zezel

Now you're going all subtle on us..


Nice..

I'm looking for a more concentrated effort on the D end tonight by the whole squad.. F boxing out in front.. Spez that's you...D clearing guys out.. Guys getting marked and knocked off pucks.. and just an all around harder time entering the zone for the opposition.

I hear ya.
Honestly, this team is soft.
I really dont expect them to ever be hungry or extremely motivated most games.
Young stars and Muskoka 5 entitlement over again.
- Fakepartofme

It's hard to argue with this statement. I feel like Dubas wanted to show that a team could be successful with a pure skill based roster that could tilt the ice with dominant puck possession.

We're a few years in now and I see a highly skilled team that doesn't have the heart or the - dare I say - truculence to win puck battles or hammer their way through a defensive shell when they've been hemmed to the perimeter. The team lacks answers and plays very predictably.

Skill may be crushingly dominant in the OHL but it simply doesn't translate as effectively in a league with grown men who can grow actual beards.

I'm playing a bit facetious with this last point but I strongly believe this team lacks a fiercely competitive - win at all costs - energy line. The kind of players who can shame the fancy, finesse teammates into raising their compete level a few orders of magnitude.

Five games in but it's hard to deny, IMHO, the systemic issues at the core.

Sounds like he was just mid game line juggling to get them going then
- Dozzer

I think Keefe has been afraid to break up the dynamic duo. One wonders if we'll see Marner demoted to 2RW if the Leafs lose tonight and he's not on the box score.

Truly I have no idea what this means...

I just don't think that is a popular take among Leaf faithful....

But that was such a mindnumbingly dumb play from in deep to blindly throw it up to the point that he needed a timeout... It just sucked the air out of the building...
- dozerD10

Code - I thought maybe you were using the word minority to convey the notion that benching the Leaf’s best player who didn’t get any preseason games and needs games to get up to speed was a joke and not to be taken seriously. I thought maybe that it was understood that the team still needed it’s best scorer.

I didn’t hear anybody suggest anything about benching JT when he made a similar mistake leading to a goal a game or so ago. There have been plenty of mistakes to go around. If anything, Dubas should have been checking out the frat houses of U of T looking for the baby goalie.

It's hard to argue with this statement. I feel like Dubas wanted to show that a team could be successful with a pure skill based team that could tilt the ice with dominant puck possession.

We're a few years in now and I see a highly skilled team that doesn't have the heart or the - dare I say - truculence to win puck battles or hammer their way through a defensive shell when they've been hemmed to the perimeter. The team lacks answers and plays very predictably.

Skill may be crushingly dominant in the OHL but it simply doesn't translate as effectively in a league with grown men who can grow actual beards.

I'm playing a bit facetious with this last point but I strongly believe this team lacks a fiercely competitive - win at all costs - energy line. The kind of players who can shame the fancy, finesse teammates into raising their compete level a few orders of magnitude.

Five games in but it's hard to deny, IMHO, the systemic issues at the core.
- mjones242

This is it.

It's weird, I don't get why the Leafs don't just activate full spectrum dominance and tilt the ice for 60 minutes and go 5-0. I'm starting to suspect there may be another NHL team also participating in the game, thus creating an ebb and flow within games and across the season itself!
- Zezel

How many periods has this supposedly "elite" team dominated this year? It'd be fun if it was more periods than not... but I'm not sure if it has been?

Wait a sec. Matthews was actually really good inhis first game, despite his shooting percentage, and not good last night. Marner has been....ok....but not productive? Ritchie has been utterly inconsequential.
- fifty__missions

Until Matthews and Marner start producing they’re failing no matter how well they play. Ritchie is only supposed to be an added touch to the skill but not be what the line is based around whatsoever.

Therefore the line failing falls onto Marner, Tavares, and now Matthews and not the other grit players.

I think Keefe has been afraid to break up the dynamic duo. One wonders if we'll see Marner demoted to 2RW if the Leafs lose tonight and he's not on the box score.
- mjones242

Put marner back with Jt and wilster with AM.

I think Keefe has been afraid to break up the dynamic duo. One wonders if we'll see Marner demoted to 2RW if the Leafs lose tonight and he's not on the box score.
- mjones242

It’s one of my concerns about Keefe tbh. After last playoffs he tends to stick to his line combos through hell and high water. Hopefully he treats this season with a bit more flexibility

It's hard to argue with this statement. I feel like Dubas wanted to show that a team could be successful with a pure skill based team that could tilt the ice with dominant puck possession.

We're a few years in now and I see a highly skilled team that doesn't have the heart or the - dare I say - truculence to win puck battles or hammer their way through a defensive shell when they've been hemmed to the perimeter. The team lacks answers and plays very predictably.

Skill may be crushingly dominant in the OHL but it simply doesn't translate as effectively in a league with grown men who can grow actual beards.

I'm playing a bit facetious with this last point but I strongly believe this team lacks a fiercely competitive - win at all costs - energy line. The kind of players who can shame the fancy, finesse teammates into raising their compete level a few orders of magnitude.

Five games in but it's hard to deny, IMHO, the systemic issues at the core.
- mjones242

Agreed. The possession game failed them horribly in the playoffs and it doesn't seem to be working to well so far this season yet.

Put marner back with Jt and wilster with AM.
- Fakepartofme

I think if Marner fails to find the scoresheet tonight you have to consider this move. I think a demotion to the 2nd line may send a message.

Then again, maybe you put him on the 3rd line for a game and force him to work his way up the lineup?

I think if Marner fails to find the scoresheet tonight you have to consider this move. I think a demotion to the 2nd line may send a message.

Then again, maybe you put him on the 3rd line for a game and force him to work his way up the lineup?
- mjones242

A teamwide focus on the D side tonight would be a welcome change this early in the season... and would most likely lead to a better outcome against the Pens.

Agreed. The possession game failed them horribly in the playoffs and it doesn't seem to be working to well so far this season yet.
- Fakepartofme

A serious banger and crasher line that gives opposing team's another look would be awesome.

I'm not entirely sure how the hell we acquire that.

A teamwide focus on the D side tonight would be a welcome change this early in the season... and would most likely lead to a better outcome against the Pens.
- dozerD10

I definitely like the idea of tightening up the D and making it a primary focus. The chances will come if you're dedicated to - and are effective at - shutting down the other team.

Just because MM and AM want to play together doesn’t mean they should every game! You have to earn it. Put MM back with JT and move Willie up.

On another note…….I’m affraid this year is going to end like last year, if they even make the playoffs. It’s a poor build and changing Auxiliary pieces isn’t enough.

Agreed. The possession game failed them horribly in the playoffs and it doesn't seem to be working to well so far this season yet.
- Fakepartofme

Possession game, right everybody says the Leafs play a possession game and just skate around the perimeter with the puck. Yet somehow, they outshot the Sharks from high scoring areas and outchanced them. Playing a poopty goalie who controlled 0% of his rebounds may have been a factor. Pretty clear where the shots are coming from.

https://www.naturalstattr...2&game=20063&view=limited

First line sucked last night. Here’s Ritchie on the forecheck.

https://mobile.twitter.co.../1451674991339008000?s=12

I definitely like the idea of tightening up the D and making it a primary focus. The chances will come if you're dedicated to - and are effective at - shutting down the other team.
- mjones242

One thing I forgot is that on the broadcast on the AM giveaway, they said he was trying to hit 16 on a stretch pass.

This is indicative of the offense 1st philosophy that leads to breakdowns.. What the hell is 16 doing flying the zone with possession just gotten deep in the D zone.. It's not shinny out there... Focus on the fundamentals and forget the fancy crap for a while.

I saw an interesting stat; hyman has more goals than matthews, wilster, Jt and marner combined so far this season.
Obviously that wont last but its kind of funny.
- Fakepartofme

I think it will last. Hyman will get 55-65