Mike Augello: Mr. Hyde returns, Leafs lackadaisical in loss to Sharks

I don't want to hear nothing about some other dude's wispy taint-tickler, especially not that Bixyll chap. My moustache is the only moustache.

The blueline is weak. And it's not just the injuries. Even with a fully healthy lineup, the Leafs have very few players that defend well.

Leafs need a coach that can implement a system that allows fewer than 30 shots a game (something they haven't done since 2009/2010).

They need to start playing like Vegas. 34.4 shots for, 29.6 shots against, per game. That's how this Leafs team will succeed given how they are constructed.

Theodore / Schmidt
McNabb / Martinez
Merill / Holden

Whitecloud / Engelland

Cap hit: 22.85 AAV combined.

Does that look like a blueline that can keep teams to under 30 shots a game? Any better on paper than the Leafs? Difference is coaching.

Mike Augello: Mr. Hyde returns, Leafs lackadaisical in loss to Sharks
- mikeinbuffalo

Sharks played well, Leafs not so much. Leafs continue to have issues letting the rubber fly and hitting the net. No excuse for Kappy to miss the net on a clean break away.

The blueline is weak. And it's not just the injuries. Even with a fully healthy lineup, the Leafs have very few players that defend well.

Leafs need a coach that can implement a system that allows fewer than 30 shots a game. They need to start playing like Vegas. 34.4 shots for, 29.6 shots against, per game. That's how this Leafs team will succeed given how they are constructed.

Theodore / Schmidt
McNabb / Martinez
Merill / Holden

Whitecloud / Engelland

Cap hit: 22.85 AAV combined.

Does that look like a blueline that can keep teams to under 30 shots a game? Any better on paper than the Leafs? Difference is coaching.
- JohnFergusonJr

and something other than the worst starting goalie in the league.

and something other than the worst starting goalie in the league.
- Aetherial

Campbell .892 SV% last night.

Andersen's fault?

and something other than the worst starting goalie in the league.
- Aetherial

MAF:

2.76

0.906

MAF:

2.76

0.906
- Tumbleweed

Terrible goalie. One of the worst ever.

Campbell .892 SV% last night.

Andersen's fault?
- JohnFergusonJr

Naw. Campbell wasn't the issue last night. SJ got some lucky bounces. It happens some times. The Sharks beat Pittsburgh 5-0 last Saturday.
I fully expect a better effort from the Leafs tomorrow night. Regardless, who starts in goal for us.

Go Leafs Go

Go Leafs Go
- Zezel

Naw. Campbell wasn't the issue last night. SJ got some lucky bounces. It happens some times. The Sharks beat Pittsburgh 5-0 last Saturday.
I fully expect a better effort from the Leafs tomorrow night. Regardless, who starts in goal for us.
- PatC80

If I'm using the logic some people use around here to blame Andersen, yes, it was Campbell's fault. 4 goals against, sub-.900 SV% therefore, blame the goalie.

But I agree, it wasn't Campbell's fault. He stood on his head for as long as he could. But he could only hold Helm's Deep for so long. It's the exact same bullpoop they do when Andersen is in net.

Like I said earlier, the blueline sucks, healthy or not. What needs to change is how they play. Vegas' blueline isn't better than the Leafs on paper. Where they are better however, is behind the bench. Peter DeBoer has them allowing 27 shots a game since he took over. There's no reason the Leafs can't play that way with who they have on this team.

The blueline is weak. And it's not just the injuries. Even with a fully healthy lineup, the Leafs have very few players that defend well.

Leafs need a coach that can implement a system that allows fewer than 30 shots a game (something they haven't done since 2009/2010).

They need to start playing like Vegas. 34.4 shots for, 29.6 shots against, per game. That's how this Leafs team will succeed given how they are constructed.

Theodore / Schmidt
McNabb / Martinez
Merill / Holden

Whitecloud / Engelland

Cap hit: 22.85 AAV combined.

Does that look like a blueline that can keep teams to under 30 shots a game? Any better on paper than the Leafs? Difference is coaching.
- JohnFergusonJr

So this is the new narrative you’re trying to make, huh? Weak.

- winsix

Dude sweet Trans Am!

Edit: it's like Burt Reynolds' car from Smokey and the Bandit! SWEET.

Naw. Campbell wasn't the issue last night. SJ got some lucky bounces. It happens some times. The Sharks beat Pittsburgh 5-0 last Saturday.
I fully expect a better effort from the Leafs tomorrow night. Regardless, who starts in goal for us.
- PatC80

They did. I think it was the second goal they got (weird angle at the side of the net) the puck had a weird bounce off the boards and then deflected off the refs' skate right to a Sharks player.

Then another goal also had a weird bounce off the boards right to a Sharks player at the side of the net for an easy tap in.

That said, the Leafs played pretty crappy for the 2nd period while Campbell played his ass off to keep them in it. They even got the game tied up even though they only had, what was it, 3 or 4 shots on net? Then the third period came and they played slightly better than the 2nd, which wasn't enough. I'm pretty annoyed they didn't rally around Campbell and come out harder in the third.

Maybe the time zone change really messed with them, which is why they only played strong for one period? It's a weak excuse, but maybe there's some truth there. They better perform better in the next two games or Florida is right back in this.

So this is the new narrative you’re trying to make, huh? Weak.
- Steven_Seagull

Narrative is a weak word. And you use it a lot. Makes sense.

If I'm using the logic some people use around here to blame Andersen, yes, it was Campbell's fault. 4 goals against, sub-.900 SV% therefore, blame the goalie.

But I agree, it wasn't Campbell's fault. He stood on his head for as long as he could. But he could only hold Helm's Deep for so long. It's the exact same bullpoop they do when Andersen is in net.

Like I said earlier, the blueline sucks, healthy or not. What needs to change is how they play. Vegas' blueline isn't better than the Leafs on paper. Where they are better however, is behind the bench. Peter DeBoer has them allowing 27 shots a game since he took over. There's no reason the Leafs can't play that way with who they have on this team.
- JohnFergusonJr

You're not using the same logic though. you're cherry picking and purposely misinterpreting that "logic", partly through oversimplification. People complaining about Andersen aren't focusing purely on one game's gaa. They also (except roger) acknowledge that while Andersen hasn't been his usual stellar self, the defense also is subpar. But carry on...

You're not using the same logic though. you're cherry picking and purposely misinterpreting that "logic", partly through oversimplification. People complaining about Andersen aren't focusing purely on one game's gaa. They also (except roger) acknowledge that while Andersen hasn't been his usual stellar self, the defense also is subpar. But carry on...
- Thecakeisalie

I’m convinced UG is either Damian Cox or Steve Simmons.

That Marner goal was one of the illest, brownest chunks of chocolate you'll see this year. Gotta be a top 5 highlight of the season. Just brown like dirt.

It was as beautiful as Burt Reynolds' Trans Am.

They did. I think it was the second goal they got (weird angle at the side of the net) the puck had a weird bounce off the boards and then deflected off the refs' skate right to a Sharks player.

Then another goal also had a weird bounce off the boards right to a Sharks player at the side of the net for an easy tap in.

That said, the Leafs played pretty crappy for the 2nd period while Campbell played his ass off to keep them in it. They even got the game tied up even though they only had, what was it, 3 or 4 shots on net? Then the third period came and they played slightly better than the 2nd, which wasn't enough. I'm pretty annoyed they didn't rally around Campbell and come out harder in the third.

Maybe the time zone change really messed with them, which is why they only played strong for one period? It's a weak excuse, but maybe there's some truth there. They better perform better in the next two games or Florida is right back in this.
- Thecakeisalie

Let's put it this way.

.892 SV% on 37 shots against. That equals 4 goals allowed.

.926 SV% on 27 shots against. That equals 2 goals allowed.

If the Leafs had taken 37 shots on Jones and held the Sharks to 27 shots on Campbell and both goalies have the exact same SV% as they had, that game is 3-3 and they at least get a point. That just goes to show that even if you have sub-.900 SV% and the other team has otherworldly goaltending, you can still get points if you simply play the right way.

Sharks won the game because they controlled it better. If the Leafs routinely out shot their opponents 37-27, they'd rarely lose a game. If we want the Leafs to be a legit contender, that should be the goal.

Carolina has terrible goalies. You know what they do? They outplay the other team so badly that they still win games. Just imagine if they had a legit goalie. You can apply the same logic in reverse to the Leafs. They have a legit goalie, now imagine they played properly in front of him.

Contact Carolina and dangle Andersen, Liljegren, Bracco and Johnson for Pesce, Edmundson and Mrazek (and maybe their emergency back up too?)

Campbell is a team player and can hold his own. Mrazek has shown he can be 1B type so if Campbell struggles we have depth.
I see Campbell as a starter and I think if given the reigns he would thrive. With a cushion 1B option in Mrazek it could turn into a steal for the Leafs.

Carolina says yes because Andersen fills a 1A goalie position and allows them time to resign him if they want. Johnson is another top-six option or can be used on the 3rd line for depth at a very reasonable cap hit.
Bracco included as per the current rules of mock trades including Leafs.

Pesce becomes expendable with Hamilton, Skeij, Slavin, Gardiner, Edmundson, Fleury, Bean and Vatanen, if resigned, leading a very impressive defense core including veteran leadership and young pieces ready to take on more responsibility.

Leafs would be paying Mrazek and Campbell a combined cap hit of 4.7M.
If Campbell excels in the 1A role there is cap space in the “goaltender budget” to resign him long term at a similar cap hit of Andersen currently.


And of course the Leafs get their puck moving, defensively sound and feisty top pairing RHD in Mr. Pesce, who is also signed for four more years at 4M.

Edmundson gives the UG crowd their big tough mean defender, or depth for the rest of us English speaking folk.
I loved Liljegren falling to us at 17 in 2017 but I think it’s time to move on before his “top 4” potential and “1st round pick” decadent is tarnished.

Maximize value and turn the page on the defense core and revamping the goaltending. It’s a bold move.

You're not using the same logic though. you're cherry picking and purposely misinterpreting that "logic", partly through oversimplification. People complaining about Andersen aren't focusing purely on one game's gaa. They also (except roger) acknowledge that while Andersen hasn't been his usual stellar self, the defense also is subpar. But carry on...
- Thecakeisalie

The point that keeps getting missed is that Andersen shouldn't have to be stellar for the Leafs to win games. The inherit flaw in how this team plays is that they EXPECT to be outplayed and outshot and yet still win the game because the goalie stood on his head. If the goalie has to stand on his head every game to win it, the team is doing something wrong.

Contact Carolina and dangle Andersen, Liljegren, Bracco and Johnson for Pesce, Edmundson and Mrazek (and maybe their emergency back up too?)

Campbell is a team player and can hold his own. Mrazek has shown he can be 1B type so if Campbell struggles we have depth.
I see Campbell as a starter and I think if given the reigns he would thrive. With a cushion 1B option in Mrazek it could turn into a steal for the Leafs.

Carolina says yes because Andersen fills a 1A goalie position and allows them time to resign him if they want. Johnson is another top-six option or can be used on the 3rd line for depth at a very reasonable cap hit.
Bracco included as per the current rules of mock trades including Leafs.

Pesce becomes expendable with Hamilton, Skeij, Slavin, Gardiner, Edmundson, Fleury, Bean and Vatanen, if resigned, leading a very impressive defense core including veteran leadership and young pieces ready to take on more responsibility.

Leafs would be paying Mrazek and Campbell a combined cap hit of 4.7M.
If Campbell excels in the 1A role there is cap space in the “goaltender budget” to resign him long term at a similar cap hit of Andersen currently.


And of course the Leafs get their puck moving, defensively sound and feisty top pairing RHD in Mr. Pesce, who is also signed for four more years at 4M.

Edmundson gives the UG crowd their big tough mean defender, or depth for the rest of us English speaking folk.
I loved Liljegren falling to us at 17 in 2017 but I think it’s time to move on before his “top 4” potential and “1st round pick” decadent is tarnished.

Maximize value and turn the page on the defense core and revamping the goaltending. It’s a bold move.
- optimus-reim

No.

That Marner goal was one of the illest, brownest chunks of chocolate you'll see this year. Gotta be a top 5 highlight of the season. Just brown like dirt.
- Zezel

It really was a thing of beauty.

I was thinking of a gift for someone. Question is, should it be hairy? or smooth?