So I am here just to have a chat about the Leafs current record of 9-7-4
Over the first 20 games the Leafs are below 500. for winning percent and things have gotten to the point were everyone is over reacting. Relax. Things ned to change but what does? I am here to look at the issues and talk about what should be stressed about and what shouldn't.
Lets start with the back up goalie situation: Relax. I am not too worried about our backup situation, Hutch never had a good team in front of him and all five of his starts he allowed 5 goals plus. Not good at all, yet he did make some big saves. That being said it was time to move on and Kask is up for the Leafs. Is he the answer? No, he won't be but getting a back up goalie in todays NHL is easy so I wouldn't be that worried in the long run. Who knows, Kask could play well enough to keep the job.
Secondly the Power Play: Meh? The problem is not who is on the power play, its how its being run. Every team in the NHL knows about the drop back pass and can just load up the blue line to prevent the flying forward moving the puck in. Secondly, once inside the zone, their attack is too predictable. With no shot from the point, the PP is shooting only from the wings which can make life for opposing teams PK a lot easier. The people on the PP don't need change though I would move JT down to the second unit to allow for a better scoring chance. Fix the movement and fix the set up and the goals will come
Thirdly the PK: Yikes. Its ugly, so ugly its now 6th last in the NHL. This needs to be fixed ASAP. The biggest problem isn't again the players its the set up. The Leafs PK is covering the right guy at the right time. A great example was vs the Burins , Capitals and Blackhawks. When you leave Kane, Ovi and Pasta on the wing completely open, arguably the three best RWs in the game, its going end up in your net. Fix the set up, and also get guys on the PK who have a cool style of play. Soup man is great for fitting int he corners but when he's on the PK and gets the puck, he kinda just freaks out and throws it up the boards hoping it gets out. Fix the set up and get that cool mojo back and it should be ok.
Babcock: Well ... Here is the thing I think about Babcock, he is a fantastic NHL Coach. He has one of the best defensive structures in the NHL and has a gold medal and Stanley Cup to his name. Heres the problem, he doesn't play to the Leafs skills. The leafs are a fast and skilled team and yet are playing a defensive style game. It doesn't work, its tough to tell guys who are use to scoring every day to forget about that and play D. The team needs to know that they are a scoring team and Babcock is the last one to figure that out. He needs to change or he needs to move over. If Babcock can't figure out that Matthews or JT should be leading your team in ice cream rather than Hyman. Overall, I would give Babcock another 10 games to change. if over that 10 games, we have at least 7 wins and have been playing an offensive style of game, then keep Babcock. If not, we cannot have another season of a 1st round exit or WORST, missing the playoffs.
I want to hear what other Leafs fan think, what is your biggest concern so far and do you think we can change it all?
Also my lines are based on what I would like to see once Marner is back and healthy
1. ".. he doesn't play to the Leafs skills. The leafs are a fast and skilled team and yet are playing a defensive style game."
I've heard that line many times on social media. I don't know where that idea comes from. The Leafs don't play defensively. We are among the very worst teams in goals allowed. And we have been for years. Yesterday against the Isles, the Leafs were playing offensively during the first two periods, and dominating. They lost because they make fatal mistakes in their own zone. Defensive play is their weakness.
What I don't like about Babcock is line/TOI usage. Matthews didn't play enough last year, and should have more time this year. Maybe that's what you mean by "playing defensively", but that's not the same.
2. PPs around the league score on one-timers, or because of the threat of one-timers. We have only one player on the team who can take one timers: Barrie. Aside from Matthews who has been developing it but doesn't use it consistently. The solution is simple.
3. Glad that Dubas spoke on the Ceci case. Leaf fans' subjective appreciation of our D has become preposterous. Holl is doing great, but placing him against top opposition is not going to help him, or the team. Meanwhile, Ceci has proven to be very reliable, and plays above expectations. He's not elite, and not great at zone exits. But he's the best defensive player on the roster this year. Can't afford to lose him.
1. ".. he doesn't play to the Leafs skills. The leafs are a fast and skilled team and yet are playing a defensive style game."
I've heard that line many times on social media. I don't know where that idea comes from. The Leafs don't play defensively. We are among the very worst teams in goals allowed. And we have been for years. Yesterday against the Isles, the Leafs were playing offensively during the first two periods, and dominating. They lost because they make fatal mistakes in their own zone. Defensive play is their weakness.
What I don't like about Babcock is line/TOI usage. Matthews didn't play enough last year, and should have more time this year. Maybe that's what you mean by "playing defensively", but that's not the same.
2. PPs around the league score on one-timers, or because of the threat of one-timers. We have only one player on the team who can take one timers: Barrie. Aside from Matthews who has been developing it but doesn't use it consistently. The solution is simple.
3. Glad that Dubas spoke on the Ceci case. Leaf fans' subjective appreciation of our D has become preposterous. Holl is doing great, but placing him against top opposition is not going to help him, or the team. Meanwhile, Ceci has proven to be very reliable, and plays above expectations. He's not elite, and not great at zone exits. But he's the best defensive player on the roster this year. Can't afford to lose him.
Missed muzzin Rielly and Dermott on one timers. Don’t let Dermott fool you. He actually can load up a heavy shot.
I think it is a lot of brain farts. The systems seem to work well but a couple times a period things go to the ****s for 1 second and other teams seems to capitalize quite easily. Not sure how you fix that. It could just be something that takes time.
Matthews needs to play more... period. The Matthews and Tavares lines should have much more time than the 3rd and 4th. The Matthews line should also have more time than JT’s line.
1. ".. he doesn't play to the Leafs skills. The leafs are a fast and skilled team and yet are playing a defensive style game."
I've heard that line many times on social media. I don't know where that idea comes from. The Leafs don't play defensively. We are among the very worst teams in goals allowed. And we have been for years. Yesterday against the Isles, the Leafs were playing offensively during the first two periods, and dominating. They lost because they make fatal mistakes in their own zone. Defensive play is their weakness.
What I don't like about Babcock is line/TOI usage. Matthews didn't play enough last year, and should have more time this year. Maybe that's what you mean by "playing defensively", but that's not the same.
2. PPs around the league score on one-timers, or because of the threat of one-timers. We have only one player on the team who can take one timers: Barrie. Aside from Matthews who has been developing it but doesn't use it consistently. The solution is simple.
3. Glad that Dubas spoke on the Ceci case. Leaf fans' subjective appreciation of our D has become preposterous. Holl is doing great, but placing him against top opposition is not going to help him, or the team. Meanwhile, Ceci has proven to be very reliable, and plays above expectations. He's not elite, and not great at zone exits. But he's the best defensive player on the roster this year. Can't afford to lose him.
Ceci being the best defensive player is a hot take for the ages. He hasn't been a pile of garbage but he also hasn't been good. He is really not at all capable of playing against top players and for being such a big guy he doesn't do very well clearing the front of the net either. He also is just hands down not good on the PK. I think if he was on the bottom pair the team would benefit greatly. Move Dermott to the right side with Rielly and that pair will be good. I think Holl has been really solid all year. He just goes out there and plays simple and smart. Personally I'd move Dermott up to the top pair, get rid of Ceci and bring Sandin back up to play on the bottom pair with Holl.
Ceci being the best defensive player is a hot take for the ages. He hasn't been a pile of garbage but he also hasn't been good. He is really not at all capable of playing against top players and for being such a big guy he doesn't do very well clearing the front of the net either. He also is just hands down not good on the PK. I think if he was on the bottom pair the team would benefit greatly. Move Dermott to the right side with Rielly and that pair will be good. I think Holl has been really solid all year. He just goes out there and plays simple and smart. Personally I'd move Dermott up to the top pair, get rid of Ceci and bring Sandin back up to play on the bottom pair with Holl.
Ive wanted Dermott to move up sooooooo badly beside Reilly but it won't happen
Ive wanted Dermott to move up sooooooo badly beside Reilly but it won't happen
Why I don't think it'll happen is because I think Babs won't want to play Holl or Ceci on their off side and won't be willing to give Sandin a shot on the bottom pair over Ceci.
McDavid, Connor
250 000 $)
GenXHockey et Trickster a aimé ceci.
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