Samsonov sucked that’s what my we lost to the BB’s.
- Garnie

Yup
- Fakepartofme

One thing to keep in mind that Samsonov is partially responsible, but if we'd have won that game it only would have been because of Samsonov stealing it. The Leafs were outplayed and for the most part Ullmark didn't have to make any huge saves - most of our play was on the outside with very few clean looks in the slot. Optically we had a better expected goals than Boston, but that's because an HD chance includes shots from the edge of crease - but they don't consider that the goalie is already there, down, and you're just banging it into him with a 0% chance to score.

Boston deserves credit for winning the game and the leaves deserve admonishment for not doing enough to get the puck to where they needed it to be as well as making too many poor decisions defensively - again.

I pass. I don't think the leafs need Demko with Samsonov.
- Aaron_85

If Demko or Saros is available the Leafs IMO have to go all in with one of them. They are miles better then Samsonov.

If Demko or Saros is available the Leafs IMO have to go all in with one of them. They are miles better then Samsonov.
- Archaic

While I won't fight hard against this...what has Demko ever done to be this "star" goalie everybody seems to think he is? Had a great performance in the bubble and one very good regular season?

For the record you are also incorrect to some extent. Kampf is not there to produce offense. He is also there to contribute in keeping the puck out of our net - often against very difficult opposition. Overall he was more successful at it last year than this year to be fair, but he mucks against the boards and competes physically. He is doing the hard work that Engvall doesn't like to do. Once the puck is sprung to Engvall, then he gets to do his work - but it's a guy like Kampf that does that hard work to make the puck available.

These guys have roles and Kampf & Engvall perform theirs well. We can give our suspicious looks to the guys who aren't living up to expectations this year - Kerfoot, Aston-Reese and in all honesty both Matthews and Rielly have been below expectations (well below in Rielly's case).
- Monkeypunk

But he doesn’t produce defense without Engvall

Xgf% is 39% and his goals for is 42%

Good pk guy for sure, he shouldn’t be any higher then 4c and special teams guy IMO.

I’d move Holmberg to 3c for awhile

Find a top 6 winger then

Engvall Holmberg Jarnkrok

One thing to keep in mind that Samsonov is partially responsible, but if we'd have won that game it only would have been because of Samsonov stealing it. The Leafs were outplayed and for the most part Ullmark didn't have to make any huge saves - most of our play was on the outside with very few clean looks in the slot. Optically we had a better expected goals than Boston, but that's because an HD chance includes shots from the edge of crease - but they don't consider that the goalie is already there, down, and you're just banging it into him with a 0% chance to score.

Boston deserves credit for winning the game and the leaves deserve admonishment for not doing enough to get the puck to where they needed it to be as well as making too many poor decisions defensively - again.
- Monkeypunk

A couple shoddy goals don’t go in and the game is way closer. I don’t agree with the stats showing we outplayed them by a large margin but…

Rielly has been ass.... that contract is a massive problem and a NMC....

awful defence play, no shot from the point....wtf is he good for?

dubas should be at least trying to trade him ...

While I won't fight hard against this...what has Demko ever done to be this "star" goalie everybody seems to think he is? Had a great performance in the bubble and one very good regular season?
- AdamFrench

I mean you arent wrong, he did show he could show up big time in the playoffs, and he is considered an elite goalie. I still think id go with him over our goalies easily.

I mean you arent wrong, he did show he could show up big time in the playoffs, and he is considered an elite goalie. I still think id go with him over our goalies easily.
- Archaic

He played 4 games in those playoffs...one in relief if I remember correctly. Gun to my head, I would probably go with him (healthy) over current Murray and Samsonov, but what has he actually done to show he's elite? Or even a top tier starter. He literally has one great year at 27 years old. He was dreadful this season before being put out of his misery via injury and the general malaise of playing on the Casucks.

He played 4 games in those playoffs...one in relief if I remember correctly. Gun to my head, I would probably go with him (healthy) over current Murray and Samsonov, but what has he actually done to show he's elite? Or even a top tier starter. He literally has one great year at 27 years old. He was dreadful this season before being put out of his misery via injury and the general malaise of playing on the Casucks.
- AdamFrench

Definitely fair points. I could see the argument there. He did have a 985 sv% i believe in those playoffs. He has had a good SV% on awful vancouver teams the last few years too

I would still prefer to see 3 scoring lines. No team can shutdown 3 lines.

Bunting Matthews _____ (trade)
______ Tavares Marner (Rielly?)
______ Kerfoot Nylander (Engvall)
______ Kampf _______ (ZAR/HolmBoy)

I would still prefer to see 3 scoring lines. No team can shutdown 3 lines.

Bunting Matthews _____ (trade)
______ Tavares Marner (Rielly?)
______ Kerfoot Nylander (Engvall)
______ Kampf _______ (ZAR/HolmBoy)
- mr.sir

they gotta deal rielly somehow.....that 7 years is a disaster

engvall is a cream puff for his size, just like holl....

this team is way too soft to win a round .....

One thing to keep in mind that Samsonov is partially responsible, but if we'd have won that game it only would have been because of Samsonov stealing it. The Leafs were outplayed and for the most part Ullmark didn't have to make any huge saves - most of our play was on the outside with very few clean looks in the slot. Optically we had a better expected goals than Boston, but that's because an HD chance includes shots from the edge of crease - but they don't consider that the goalie is already there, down, and you're just banging it into him with a 0% chance to score.

Boston deserves credit for winning the game and the leaves deserve admonishment for not doing enough to get the puck to where they needed it to be as well as making too many poor decisions defensively - again.
- Monkeypunk

Had sammy not let those 2-3 softies in, the leafs could have won that game...or at least got to OT.
Anywho, its one game, its done.

they gotta deal rielly somehow.....that 7 years is a disaster

engvall is a cream puff for his size, just like holl....

this team is way too soft to win a round .....
- CarlitoBrigante

What does Engvall's size have to do with anything? He's tall so unless he's out there smashing poop and being a liability and critically out of position he's useless? He is positionally sound, very smart, a great skater, excellent at maintaining and controlling the puck, including possessing the puck for handoffs on line changes . . . everything he does is what the team's style needs. Going out and hitting things is literally the opposite of what he's expected to do.

Are there times when he could hit a guy and doesn't and we all wish he would? Sure. But those hits would - in every scheme of things - be irrelevant and accomplish nothing.

feels like a 99 red balloons kinda day

If Demko or Saros is available the Leafs IMO have to go all in with one of them. They are miles better then Samsonov.
- Archaic

I am not sold on Demko being much better than Samsonov. Saros? I'd likely figure a way to do that deal.

Edit: It's fine if you are sold on Demko. He wouldn't be the worst option if the leafs got him but I wouldn't search him out if I were in Dubas' shoes.

Can Boeser play left wing?

Canucks are willing to retain apparently.
- Santo_44

Gross. Hard no thank you. He can't get around the ice and has zero edge. And I don't see them doing anything with the goaltending besides maybe adding a veteran third stringer.

The way forward this year is pretty clear imo. They need to add a defenceman to replace some of what Muzzin brings, and some size and tenacity in the bottom six forwards. Playoff style player(s). It's not going to be easy.

Kyle has bet the farm on this core and I guess we'll see where the chips land.

What does Engvall's size have to do with anything? He's tall so unless he's out there smashing poop and being a liability and critically out of position he's useless? He is positionally sound, very smart, a great skater, excellent at maintaining and controlling the puck, including possessing the puck for handoffs on line changes . . . everything he does is what the team's style needs. Going out and hitting things is literally the opposite of what he's expected to do.

Are there times when he could hit a guy and doesn't and we all wish he would? Sure. But those hits would - in every scheme of things - be irrelevant and accomplish nothing.
- Monkeypunk

So. Does this year feel different than last year? Is this team better?

After 52 games last season, the Toronto Maple Leafs were 5th in the league with a .692 winning percentage (34-14-4).

This year after 52 games, the Toronto Maple Leafs are 5th in the league with a .673 winning percentage (31-13-8).

Last year at 5v5 the Leafs had outscored the opposition 128-115;
This year at 5v5 the Leafs have outscored the opposition 112-86.
While we have 16 fewer goals for, we have allowed 29 fewer for a net +13 positive. Those are better defensive results no matter how you slice it.

Last year we were averaging 4:19 on the PP and had scored 42 PP goals (and allowed none);
This year we are averaging 5:10 on the PP / game, and have scored 41 PP goals (and allowed 4; a lot of that can be attributed to the ill-advised 5-man PP Keefe tried to employ).

So the PP is basically producing at a similar pace, although it is getting more looks.

Last year we were averaging 4:52 on the PK / game and had allowed 22 goals, while scoring 8.
This year we are averaging 5:17 on the PK / game and have allowed 32 goals, while scoring 6.

Compared to the expected goals again, both years our goaltenders have played to expectation on the penalty kill - which objectively means that we are simply executing on the PK worse this year than last.

Overall including PP and PK we have scored 19 fewer goals at this time than we had last year, despite allowing 15 fewer goals. The team's 5v5 play has improved considerably, but the special teams are failing.

It should probably be noted that at this point last year, Matthews had 37 goals vs. 25 this year - that 12 goal difference is over 60% of the missing goals, but while it likely improve the PP numbers - the PK numbers have to get better and I would suggest that any addition we're seeking at the TDL has to consider this requirement.

I would still prefer to see 3 scoring lines. No team can shutdown 3 lines.

Bunting Matthews _____ (trade)
______ Tavares Marner (Rielly?)
______ Kerfoot Nylander (Engvall)
______ Kampf _______ (ZAR/HolmBoy)
- mr.sir

I feel like moving Willy to line 3 is a sure fire way to upset him and risk having him leave here when his contract is up or ask for a trade prior to. That guy is a top 6 if not top line winger on almost every team in the league & will want to play there.

I would do 2 scoring lines (which they have - just need a LW for line 2 that has the size and snarl), a defensive speciality line that can chip in offensively - again they aren’t far from having that either. Then a 4th line that can bang bodies and grinds down the other team. No knuckle dragging defensive liabilities though but guys with size and maybe can fight or at least will muck it up when needed.

That’s just me though.

Muzzin has been injured most of the past 2 years so the leafs are accustomed to playing without him.
The leafs had a great record without morgan and played the best team D theyve ever played without him.
And the leafs werent missing their top two goalies at the same time.
The leafs have had a lot of injuries but they played their best hockey throughout most of those injuries.
So i don't see what the "injury" argument is suppose to prove?
- Fakepartofme

It’s a rebuttal to a Bruins fan claiming that his team had more injuries. And the goalie we were using was our 4th stringer. Woll was also hurt. You sound like a Boston fan.

I am not sold on Demko being much better than Samsonov. Saros? I'd likely figure a way to do that deal.

Edit: It's fine if you are sold on Demko. He wouldn't be the worst option if the leafs got him but I wouldn't search him out if I were in Dubas' shoes.
- Aaron_85

Agreed.
I wouldn't waste assets on him unless murray is going the other way

Gross. Hard no thank you. He can't get around the ice and has zero edge. And I don't see them doing anything with the goaltending besides maybe adding a veteran third stringer.

The way forward this year is pretty clear imo. They need to add a defenceman to replace some of what Muzzin brings, and some size and tenacity in the bottom six forwards. Playoff style player(s). It's not going to be easy.

Kyle has bet the farm on this core and I guess we'll see where the chips land.
- fifty__missions

Don't think they add a Muzzin D.

likely a Schenn type or an outside chance at Chychrun or Karlssonn(very very unlikely for either)

They have lots of capable top 4 D.

Nyqvist potentially out for the remainder of season with shoulder injury...Leafs made a Nash trade with CBJ like this before.

Nyqvist potentially out for the remainder of season with shoulder injury...Leafs made a Nash trade with CBJ like this before.
- Santo_44

That would be a nice bit of work for Dubas.

Nyqvist potentially out for the remainder of season with shoulder injury...Leafs made a Nash trade with CBJ like this before.
- Santo_44

And Nyquist says he still intends to play.

Spend a pick and have some extra LTIR room until the playoffs and you might get Gustav Nyquist to plug into the lineup then too. Not a bad strategy