I thought Leafs d looked good at start of season to be honest and was thinking the mid 6 forward group was the weak point (and net)…Super impressed with how the depleted dcore has played man. Unreal solid play.

I think that all those injuries on the back end forced a system tweak that demanded better defensive positioning of the forwards. This forced them to be responsible and learn. It was maybe the best thing to happen to the Leafs early on. This will be big help come playoffs.

This is also to me why 34 looks ‘less dominant’ - I don’t think he is at all (maybe offensively). He is almost spit on playing above his checks and digging in forcing plays in the neutral zone.
- Big23Questions

You can see exactly when they turned it around. It was at the start of November when Liljegren came back. With him back in the lineup, Brodie was free to play with Holl which started to cut back on Holl’s errors. He moved on to Gio when Brodie went down and Sandin and Lilli have started to emerge as the guys we hoped for.

With him back the goals against fell to 1 vs Boston (penalty shot), 2 vs Carolina, 4 vs Vegas in OT, 4 vs Pit in a loss, 2,2, 3 in an OT loss, 2, 3 in an OT loss, 1,3,1, 2,1, 4 in an OT loss and shutout.

The forwards have been buying in but a critical first step was getting Holl calmed down by having him play with Brodie. Like in the past, Holl with good Muzzin played well. Holl with bad Muzzin was awful.

The numbers guy on the pre show yesterday was going on about defensive touches from forwards being an important indicator of team defence or at least forwards contributing to it. Since he said Leafs were good, I believe him. He said Leafs were #1 overall and Matthews/Marner were the top two in the league. (Can’t remember order.)

Keefe deserves big credit for the way the team is playing. We can crucify him in a month but right now, a lot of this is on him.

Gio, gets credit for Holl but so does fact that there are a poop load of Leaf forwards nearby so Justin doesn’t have to spend 3 Mississippis deciding where to put the puck. Same with Sandin’s lack of passes to opposing forwards. All this stuff builds confidence in the defence and between the defence and the forwards. Having Murwall doesn’t hurt either.
- Canada Cup

Totally agree. But for me the most significant decision he's made is moving to Matty-Willie and JT-Mitch. We basically have two first lines now, and both are good defensively. It works better this way for all sorts of reasons. And our bottom six forwards give up very, very little. Team has much better balance.

Reynolds from the Pirates
- Canada Cup

Sounds like the Red Sox snagged Yoshida. Best Left handed bat available.

Tage Thompson kid is something. Take him over Willy any day.

Tage Thompson kid is something. Take him over Willy any day.
- TurdFergeson

Holy crap
4 goals in 1st😯
6-0

Holy crap
4 goals in 1st😯
6-0
- mr.sir

and a helper as well.

Tage Thompson chasing Sittler tonight.

Tage Thompson kid is something. Take him over Willy any day.
- TurdFergeson

Willys numbers are far superior and there's only one year diff in age. But i understand...

Tage Thompson kid is something. Take him over Willy any day.
- TurdFergeson

I took them both this week

Tage Thompson kid is something. Take him over Willy any day.
- TurdFergeson

Ya (frank)in think?

Ya (frank)in think?
- .HOHO.

When I said that this summer this place exploded saying I was crazy!

Sounds like the Red Sox snagged Yoshida. Best Left handed bat available.
- winsix

Lengthy MLB resume

When I said that this summer this place exploded saying I was crazy!
- TurdFergeson

Imagine that

Imagine that
- Canada Cup

Yeah a whole fan base being blinded by homer goggles.

Wow Tage.
4 goals and 1 assit in 16:40 mins
Crazy

5 goals for Tage

Tage Thompson kid is something. Take him over Willy any day.
- TurdFergeson

He has turned into a nice player but what does that have to do with the leafs?

He has turned into a nice player but what does that have to do with the leafs?
- shack67

All the leafs fans were saying his new contract was awful. I said he was better than Willy. Everyone here disagreed.

Yeah a whole fan base being blinded by homer goggles.
- TurdFergeson

Nope.
It was simply too early and foolish to say that at that time.
Could change

All the leafs fans were saying his new contract was awful. I said he was better than Willy. Everyone here disagreed.
- TurdFergeson

But when you said it you were trolling as usual. What did you expect a pat on the back?

But when you said it you were trolling as usual. What did you expect a pat on the back?
- shack67

The place exploded!
Everyone said I was crazy!
The whole fan base base blinded!
Homer glasses!
All the Leaf fans!
Everyone!

The place exploded!
Everyone said I was crazy!
The whole fan base base blinded!
Homer glasses!
All the Leaf fans!
Everyone!
- Canada Cup

Cute

The place exploded!
Everyone said I was crazy!
The whole fan base base blinded!
Homer glasses!
All the Leaf fans!
Everyone!
- Canada Cup

But when you said it you were trolling as usual. What did you expect a pat on the back?
- shack67

Nope. I even picked him in the prediction thread to win the Richard this year.

The place exploded!
Everyone said I was crazy!
The whole fan base base blinded!
Homer glasses!
All the Leaf fans!
Everyone!
- Canada Cup

Almost exactly as it happened.