Except that's not the only thing you said, you said he has to dominate etc. etc. etc. for 11M dollars. You've been griping about him in this specific blog in 3 or 4 posts - he seems to be the new 'what's wrong with the Leafs" target around here based on his salary vs play and what seems to me to be a sense that for 11M he should be dominating like a Matthews does (which he has never done in Toronto really).

What's I think is fairly funny is that I think you would have struggled to have found many folks in the regular season or now who will feel that his 11M salary is "Great value for money", what they are saying is he brings a lot to the Leafs, the salary is what it is and it's unlikely he goes anywhere and to continually complaining about his salary is much like crying over milk that was spilt quite some time ago and it's a bit tiring to hear it over and over again is all.

Anyhow it is what it is, he's the captain and brings a lot of positives to the team - it could be worse he could be an 11M player who has a pissy attitude, contributes very little to the team and has almost no positive impact on the team.

I do agree with Dozzer in that he does alot of work that isn't 'sexy' so it doesn't get noticed unless your looking for it - digging out pucks and battling for pucks and winning those puck possession battles being some of that work. It's also not generally work that superstars in the league are paid the big $ to do but a point per game is more than you get out of the typical player who's main goal is to go dig out pucks etc.

Game day - Go Leafs Go!
- Cush29

Ok let's disregard the salary. The Leafs still need more production from their 2nd line to win this series.

JT does a lot of things really well but if they want that line to score, they need to give him a shooter/playmaker like Willie. That could weaken them defensively at a time when Cooper has last change and they’ll probably be up against Stamkos. If you can trust Willie, do it.
- Canada Cup

Historically, Tavares works best with planks of wood that skate even slower than him...and Marner.

Ok let's disregard the salary. The Leafs still need more production from their 2nd line to win this series.
- fifty__missions

The Leafs need more production from 3 if not all 4 lines agreed (line 4 if they bring a more skilled / scoring threat to the table tonight by inserting at least Spezza).

Hell they need production (or more production) from everyone except the 2 guys who many lamented were non-playoff performers in past years as Matthew and Marner each have 5 points over 2 games. Kase is the next highest point getter with 2 and then a bunch of 1's and 0's.


https://www.quanthockey.c...ff-nhl-stats.html?sd=&ed=

If Playoff Willy from last year shows up for game 3 and onward and M&M can keep up the pace they are at that alone really changes things, then layer in guys like JT etc. getting on the scoreboard and your cooking with gas!

Willy is due to have a big game and I'm calling it that he has one tonight. I'm also predicting a well rested and very motivated Spezza gets onto the game sheet with a goal or a beauty set up.

Go Leafs Go!

Wait. We're not all piling on Tavares and burying him? Did I join a different HB Forum without paying attention?

I think it's evident that JT isn't quite the player he was. Perhaps he is slowing, or nagging injuries or even his motivation is lower now that he's set for life and where he wants to be? I don't know.

To me a forward line is the sum of its 3 parts. Matthews and Marner are elite players but put Ritchie with them, and the line couldn't hold the O-zone. Nylander is a great player but he's almost too ziggy for that line. But straight-forward guys like Bunting and Hyman are great for the line. You know where they'll be, what they're generally going to do, and how they're going to do it.

With JT, I think because he's slower, you want an infusion of speed on the wings. I still think having a defensively responsible guy like Mikheyev there who also brings that speed is more beneficial to JT having success that Nylander. I'm also not sure I've seen anything from Kase after returning from injury that warrants 2nd line responsibility yet. I know JT with Mikheyev (and Kase) weren't great in game 1, but I think JT with Mikheyev and Kerfoot or Nylander could provide a step up.

I mean to fifty's point - at $11m, you expect a lot more individual capability than we're getting. This isn't the time to focus on it, but it's not an unfair or incorrect statement.
- Monkeypunk

Keefe went power v power for the most part so far.

Matty v Stammer and Snake v. Point/Cirelli. I'm okay with JT being 0-0 (5v5 goals) with the Point line.

If his line can stay even with Point and then make a difference on the PP. I'd be good with that from him.

I think our top line and our 3rd line can win their battles (they have to).

4th line and special teams have to be better than Game 2.

Boiled
- drexel

I ended up doing cast iron seared salmon and turned it into tacos

I think the Leafs are going to win tonight

I ended up doing cast iron seared salmon and turned it into tacos
- TheMussel

that sounds ok too I guess

Historically, Tavares works best with planks of wood that skate even slower than him...and Marner.
- AdamFrench

Is it to late to sign Matt Moulson

I'm going to be guying me some beers for tonight games since it's the weekends soon.

So I hope they win this evening cause I don't want any tears in my beers.


GLG!!!

I think the Leafs are going to win tonight
- TheMussel

If both 'tenders stay good and healthy then this series smells like 7 games.

Is it to late to sign Matt Moulson
- PatC80

Marlies didn't make the AHL playoffs.

Two of my buds are coming over to watch the game...one of these female genitalias is bringing the Rickard's 3 style pack. Is this grounds for end of friendship?

The Leafs need more production from 3 if not all 4 lines agreed (line 4 if they bring a more skilled / scoring threat to the table tonight by inserting at least Spezza).

Hell they need production (or more production) from everyone except the 2 guys who many lamented were non-playoff performers in past years as Matthew and Marner each have 5 points over 2 games. Kase is the next highest point getter with 2 and then a bunch of 1's and 0's.


https://www.quanthockey.c...ff-nhl-stats.html?sd=&ed=

If Playoff Willy from last year shows up for game 3 and onward and M&M can keep up the pace they are at that alone really changes things, then layer in guys like JT etc. getting on the scoreboard and your cooking with gas!

Willy is due to have a big game and I'm calling it that he has one tonight. I'm also predicting a well rested and very motivated Spezza gets onto the game sheet with a goal or a beauty set up.

Go Leafs Go!
- Cush29

Simmonds and Clifford are not as effective because the refs are calling everything against them.. The divers Tampa has Corey Perry and Pat Maroon, they don't get called

The Leafs need more production from 3 if not all 4 lines agreed (line 4 if they bring a more skilled / scoring threat to the table tonight by inserting at least Spezza).

Hell they need production (or more production) from everyone except the 2 guys who many lamented were non-playoff performers in past years as Matthew and Marner each have 5 points over 2 games. Kase is the next highest point getter with 2 and then a bunch of 1's and 0's.


https://www.quanthockey.c...ff-nhl-stats.html?sd=&ed=

If Playoff Willy from last year shows up for game 3 and onward and M&M can keep up the pace they are at that alone really changes things, then layer in guys like JT etc. getting on the scoreboard and your cooking with gas!

Willy is due to have a big game and I'm calling it that he has one tonight. I'm also predicting a well rested and very motivated Spezza gets onto the game sheet with a goal or a beauty set up.

Go Leafs Go!
- Cush29

Playoff Willy likely won't unless Keefe puts him back with Kerfoot, but I think Keefe has a very short memory.

Two of my buds are coming over to watch the game...one of these female genitalias is bringing the Rickard's 3 style pack. Is this grounds for end of friendship?
- AdamFrench

I do like the Rickard Red and I usually like to order a draft pint of it.
Not sure about the White.

this not ground for ending a friendship unless he bring Labatt's 50 or Blue

Two of my buds are coming over to watch the game...one of these female genitalias is bringing the Rickard's 3 style pack. Is this grounds for end of friendship?
- AdamFrench

No but you order a good Italian pizza for you and your good friend and order a cheese pizza from pizza pizza for rickards guy. You need to make a point.

No but you order a good Italian pizza for you and your good friend and order a cheese pizza from pizza pizza for rickards guy. You need to make a point.
- The Law

The other guy is bringing 4 St. Bernardus Abt 12.

Two of my buds are coming over to watch the game...one of these female genitalias is bringing the Rickard's 3 style pack. Is this grounds for end of friendship?
- AdamFrench

yes

Simmonds and Clifford are not as effective because the refs are calling everything against them.. The divers Tampa has Corey Perry and Pat Maroon, they don't get called
- PatC80

I'm probably crazy but if I'm Keefe I'm doubling-down. I'd dress them both (sit Blackwell) with instructions on finishing checks hard and just keeping it inside the lines. We need the energy and I think that TB 4th line is going to want to play hard at home. Those two keep them honest and hopefully can change the narrative ...get Moron to take a dumb penalty or two.

Honestly don't get the whole Tampa dominated game 2 narrative here. They were down at one point late in the first 12-4 in shots. The only dominating was Vas having his typical bounce back game between the pipes and he saved them HUGE.

Couple bad puck bounces and idiot moments, and a couple bad penalties that our guys should have known better and it came back to bite us and we were simply playing from behind. Clean it up some and we should be good.

As for who comes out agree dance with who brought you like Cush said, but then leave Simmonds and Clifford out. Spezz in and let the fourth line provide something. What if Tampa goons it? Then we do what we have done for years and go pack mentality and we can and will push back. We have the guys who won't back down. Bottom line we need depth scoring not watching offence die on Simmonds stick time and again. Look at Tampa, it was their third line of Coleman-Gourde-Goodrow that carried them last year.

To beat them we need to control the puck, stay out of the box, and skate on them. We have shown the ability to raise the tempo and take it right to them and overwhelm them. We just need to stick with that.
- Roadrunner75

I don't like sitting both Simmonds and Clifford. You think Maroon and Perry are bad now, wait until they know they can do whatever they want and there's no check or balance coming out.

We are one Campbell injury away from being completely and utterly (frank)ed.

The other guy is bringing 4 St. Bernardus Abt 12.
- AdamFrench

St.Bernardus Abt 12 is a rich, fruity, dark caramelly nutty beer, great with dark fruit cake or chocolate.

Two of my buds are coming over to watch the game...one of these female genitalias is bringing the Rickard's 3 style pack. Is this grounds for end of friendship?
- AdamFrench

In short, yes

Frankly anybody that gravitates towards red beer in general is probably untrustworthy

I do like the Rickard Red and I usually like to order a draft pint of it.
Not sure about the White.

this not ground for ending a friendship unless he bring Labatt's 50 or Blue
- dmnted

The white is decent but if you hate those orangey type beers you'll hate it.

The other guy is bringing 4 St. Bernardus Abt 12.
- AdamFrench

At least you've got 1 good friend. That guy deserves good food.

Simmonds and Clifford are not as effective because the refs are calling everything against them.. The divers Tampa has Corey Perry and Pat Maroon, they don't get called
- PatC80

Which penalty against Clifford or Simmonds wasn’t deserved?