I am curious now that we are pretty much half way through the season and can pretty much confirm a playoff spot for the Leafs. I want to ask the question Leaf fans have been asking themselves all year. Here are my notes from this season good and bad from each line:
Offense:
Line 1:Bunting - Matthews - Nylander
Good: That line is dominant and we can confirm Matthews can easily get into people's heads when he's on the ice. Matthews also makes the people around him better (see Nylander). Bunting has started to develop his stride again and Nylander is on pace for his best season.
Bad: Besides Matthews, the line produces no defence and can go into a slump of not being able to find the back of the net
Line 2: Jarnkrok - Tavares - Marner
Good: Dubas has found a place for Jarnkrok and Tavares doesn't look like he is slowing down. Marner is starting to be a late back checker which is good
Bad: I looked up no defence in the dictionary, I saw a picture of Mitch Marner. Tavares is also getting older which worries me due to his high cap hit.
Line 3: Kerfoot - Kampf - Engvall
Good: Normal checking line
Bad: Normal checking line
Line 4: Zack Aston-Reese - Holmberg - Hunt/Simmonds
Good: Holmberg is phenomenal and ZAR has been sneaky good. I love the Wayne Train. I don't have a full opinion on Hunt
Bad: I don't get to see Simmonds more often
Defense
Pairing 1: Morgan Rielly - Timothy Liljegren
Good: I love these 2. both are puck moving defensemen
Bad: Rielly is just coming back from an injury and Lilly is inexperienced in the playoffs
Pairing 2: Mark Giodarno - Justin Holl
Good: By far, this has looked like our best pairing
Bad: Gio is old and Holl has wandering disease sometimes
Pairing 3: Rasmus Sandin - Connor Timmins
Good: Sandin is great in a low risk situation and Timmins should get Norris votes if he continues to play like he is
Bad: Both are inexperienced and are injury prone
Paring 4: T.J. Brodie
Good: I really like Brodie
Bad: I don't know where to put him in the lineup
Goalies:
1A: Matt Murray
Good: Murray has bailed us out a bunch of times
Bad: He has 2 minutes every game where his brain shuts down which could be bad in the wrong 2 minutes
1B: Ilya Samsonov
Good: Cheap, 10 - 0 - 1 at home, bails us out sometimes
Bad: Is known to be out the gate quick and slow down tremendously as the season goes on
The question is: Do you think the Toronto Maple Leafs are a legitimate contender at the Stanley Cup? (ignore their history but the team itself)
They've played better TEAM D this season than ever before. Their scoring is down by their standards, but there aren't many teams I would expect to outscore them in a 7 game series.
No matter what, TOR is destined to play a good team in the first round- most likely TB.
I think TOR is good enough to win & advance, but TB is their best in the postseason, and Vasi can steal a series.
Vasy can but it was down to the wire last season and the Leafs got better whereas TB got worse
Rage44 a aimé ceci.
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