Welcome to the Thread!
I’m probably the more opinionated guy on here, hopefully I do a good job of balancing what I don’t like about the team and what makes them great. Not going to claim to be a know it all, I just base my feelings off of what I see, writers I like to follow, and stats I find.
I love to talk about our prospects and guys we could target, feel free to add anything
Herebut I don’t claim to be a scout of any kind, just like to watch and talk hockey.
Now that out of the way, I am definitely more of a Dubas guy than Keefe. For all of the trades (plus lack of moves) Kyle has made I can at least find some rational behind them even if they didn’t always pan out. I still firmly believe (just like the offseason) the TDL was another missed opportunity to add another scorer to the team.
I love the additions of O’Reilly, Acciari, and McCabe but not adding another scorer MIGHT haunt them. I really like ROR, hopefully he was the missing piece.
But looking at the organization as a whole, the Growlers are deep and having a great season, the Marlies are deep and having a great season, the Leafs COULD finish as high as 2nd overall in the NHL. We have a middle of the pack prospect pool despite trading away multiple picks. Since he took over in 2018 TOR is 3rd most regular season wins (268) behind only BOS and TBL (F our division). Like, how is Dubas not already signed?
I’m super mixed on Keefe. He has done a much better job of mixing a defensive structure while still maintaining the high octane offensive players TOR has then Babcock. BUT, he was significantly out coached by Torts, fukcin Dominique Ducharme, and made some very questionable roster decisions last year against TBL.
Keefe is Kyle’s guy but a GM should be able to get another chance at hiring another coach. If a head has to roll after another 1st round exit, it should be Keefe.
Players: You have to make Samsonov priority number 1 with ROR a very close 2nd. They gave up a lot of assets to get him, have to find a way to keep in the fold. I honestly have no idea what to do with Bunting. We have some really nice LW prospects (Robertson, Knies, Abruzzese, Hirvonen) do you really want to lock yourself into Bunting long term. I like the passion he plays with and brings an element some of the prospects don’t have but he is nonexistent if he doesn’t have one on the Core 4 to play with. I’m leaning on moving on is the best approach.
Acciari would be great but I have a feeling an American team might give him a better offer. ZAR sure but only a cheap deal, same too with Zohorna and Schenn.
Move on from Kampf, Kerfoot, Holl. And Gustafsson will get paid somewhere else unfortunately but I like his game.
I fully believe we have the team to beat TBL and whoever else could stand in their way onto a Cup Final. My concerns are Andrei Vasilevskiy going God mode and Sheldon Keefe over thinking the roster decisions.
Go Leafs Go