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blowing_the_zone

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Forum: Armchair-GM24 nov. 2019 à 11 h 30
Sujet: Blues Fans what do they want from Leafs
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>mokumboi</b></div><div>Again, we're talking about a <em><strong>Parayko</strong></em> trade here. We aren't even looking for top 4 upgrades, and if we were, switching Parayko out for Dermott sure as hell ain't gonna do it.</div></div>

Gotta think that if Parayko is on the table (and why would he be?) then it has to be one of Toronto's TOP young guns that goes the other way (but why would they do that? And how could the blues make that work with the cap hit discrepancy between players?)

Maybe Petro is in the mix.. but why would the Blues trade their Captain from a cup winning team when theyre right in the mix again?

If there is anything to this at all is it maybe something around Johnson for Bortuzzo? If that's the angle then itd have to mean that there is another trade with Ceci heading out cause Holl is looking good and Barrie is looking like who they want him to be. But Ceci played like 27 mins last night!? So Keefe and Dubas must see something they like in him.

I don't know. The whole thing seems confusing to me. Maybe Armstrong just likes to watch hockey and he visiting a buddy in Colorado, so he took in a game.
Forum: Armchair-GM23 nov. 2019 à 17 h 4
Sujet: Lines when healthy
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>MikeyThePensFan</b></div><div>No, I don't think you can have those Marner-Matthews-Nylander on a line because even though it's crazy skill, there's not enough forechecking and structure.

I have a trade proposal:

To PIT:
Mitch Marner

To TOR:
Bryan Rust
Marcus Pettersson (Resigned)
Samuel Poulin
1st Round Pick

What'd you think?</div></div>

I'd say no. And I doubt very much that any trade of substance is coming any time soon.

Everything kinda makes more sense now that Keefe is the coach. And I kinda think that alot of the moves that Dubas has made he's done with Keefe in mind. I think this roster is pretty close to what they want.

Who knows if it works? But I betcha they give this team ample time to show what it can do.
Forum: Armchair-GM23 nov. 2019 à 14 h 52
Sujet: Leaf fans
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>OldNYIfan</b></div><div>As usual, I agree with every point you make. Assuming the constructor's (perhaps implied) premise that Dubas feels he <strong>has</strong> to do something, this is a very good idea. And I agree with you completely that with the coaching change, any further move right now is premature. And as to your comment on the comparative strengths of Toronto's defense and other teams', I need only direct observers to the second-place Florida Panthers' goals-against figure.</div></div>

Yeah, the narrative on what the leafs are, or are not, could change pretty quickly now. It really does seem like there is cohesion now in how management envisions what this team should be and how it should play - from Shanahan to Dubas to Keefe and tight on through to the players.

I could actually see a Toronto "super" line of Nylander/AM/Marner whenever the team is fully healthy. Things seem much more fluid now.

Edit: "super" was meant to be a comparable to how teams like Boston, Colorado and Edmonton stack their top lines. Thought I better clarify my intent before the invective from the south starts... ;)
Forum: Armchair-GM23 nov. 2019 à 14 h 36
Sujet: Leaf fans
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>OldNYIfan</b></div><div>Well, whatever scorn gets heaped upon your head, I will share. From Toronto's perspective, this checks a lot of boxes: (1) Dumba is more valuable to the Maple Leafs in their current state than Nylander; (2) Toronto's need for a back-up goalie is well documented; (3) Donato is likely to be more productive on Toronto's third line than where he is now, and more valuable than Ceci is; and (4) Maple Leafs fans aren't going to vilify Dumba the way they did first to Nikita Zaitsev and now are doing to Ceci. Of course, there is the hurdle of a belief among a significant segment of Leafs Nation that Liljegren is the next Brett Pesce, and therefore untouchable, but I haven't bought into that yet. The only possible adjustment I could see being reasonable is substituting Toronto's 2020 second for Liljegren as a concession to that sentiment. And the trade works out well for both teams' cap situation. In short, really well done!!

Now for the invective from north of the border.</div></div>

Lol. I thought us Canadians were seen as polite by our southern neighbors? I get your point though - Leaf Nation has quite a different cultural identity than the nation of Canada.

I like the trade for the reasons you spelled out. But I'm kinda thinking that Dubas is pretty happy with this roster now that Keefe is coaching. And now that he is I'm really looking forward to what this team, and some players, look like over the next 20 games. Barrie looked like a completely different player the other night. Holl looked super solid to me, too.

I've been arguing for a while now that a d corps of Reilly, Muzzin, Barie, Dermott, Holl and Ceci isnt inherently bad when compared to other d groups from across the league.

There's no doubt that the leafs d could be improved. But they might not be god awful either - I'm really curious to see if some guys blossom under Keefe. I do think, though, that the d isn't so bad that Dubas would be compelled to part with Nylander. In fact, he's specifically one of the players I fully expect to take things to another level with Keefe as the coach.
Forum: Armchair-GM20 nov. 2019 à 20 h 30
Sujet: Thoughts On Mike Babcock
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>leaflet</b></div><div>People repeat the same bits all over the place on social media: Babcock played a defensive style, Babcock wants a system where players wait for opponents to mess up, Babcock believed in an outdated style of play.

Not the case. It's the opposite. Babcock always preached an offensive style. He's the one who introduced the trademark North-South stretch pass system we used all these years, with Gardiner at QB. His "defensive system" had nothing conventional. He wanted players to put intense pressure along the boards to regain possession (read: puck chasing), by outnumbering the puck carrier, with the hope of generating fast counter-attacks. Instead of a more conservative, positional play.

We are the second worst defensive team in the league! If Babcock taught a defensive style, we would lose games 2-1. Not the case. The problem is, the defensive system was lacking in the first place, and he couldn't find a solution to it this year.

My guess: this run and gun system, with intense pressure on puck carriers, worked in the past because the lineup was more balanced. And we had players who had been trained with that system for years. They knew Gardiner would reach them with a pass if they cheated. Change the lineup, and new players are not used to that. They don't know where to go, make errors, which leads to silly looking goals.</div></div>

That's a pretty solid assessment, I think. I was of the thinking that he handcuffed the strength of team in favour of defense play. But your take makes alot of sense . They look lost out there so much this year. It'll be interesting to see how they look witt with Keefe in place
Forum: Armchair-GM19 nov. 2019 à 0 h 45
Sujet: The only trade to get the leafs back
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>blowing_the_zone</b></div><div>Yeah, I think that's generally fair that it's easy to blame the coach. But not in this case. Babcock comes with all sorts of credentials and he was a big part of what fast tracked the team after they tanked. And mighta been the perfect coach for the first couple of years. But it's gotten pretty obvious that he's a big part of the problem right now. And credentials or not, he's not putting up the results , hasn't since about this time last year, and their regressing this year. He'd be a tough guy to fire just on optics alone but it seems like his time is pretty close.

I'd say the last thing this group needs is someone to massage their egos. That ego thing is also a big part of the problem, imo. But it might not hurt to have a new guy saying they need to be checked at the door. That should include the coach too.

You could be right with the roster construction. But I'd say it's almost impossible to really get a sense of what this team is with Babcock at the helm. I think the difference in how Dubas and Babcock envision a hockey club is another big part of the problem. Usually a coach goes before the GM. If the next guy doesn't get any better results than Babs then Dubas's vision, roster construction and cap structure are all going to increasingly come into question.</div></div>
Forum: Armchair-GM19 nov. 2019 à 0 h 44
Forum: Armchair-GM18 nov. 2019 à 21 h 21
Sujet: Leafs fans
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>BeterChiarelli</b></div><div>Why wait that long? If management was considering firing him after last year's annual out-coaching by the Bruins, and they're still considering it, then why wait? Enough of the foreplay, fire him after they lose to Vegas.

By the time this roadie is done, it'll be damn near Chirstmas and there'll be less than 50 games left. Why waste the dozen or so chances at two points?</div></div>

I think they wait cause there's a fair bit a stake. If they fire a guy who is very likely a future Hall of Famer and they still suck then Dubas wears it, which means Shanahan will wear it too. Which means this core will wear it. They got to be pretty crystal that Babs is the main problem. I think they've been giving him lots of rope for that reason. And it seems to be pretty clear at this point that Babcock is a pretty big part of the problem. Especially if it's true that the core is calling him out.
Forum: Armchair-GM18 nov. 2019 à 21 h 2
Sujet: Leafs fans
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Jamiepo</b></div><div>Maybe I’m just old fashioned but I would like to see the leafs win. Seems to be such an odd sentiment with such a confused fan base.

I don’t think Babs job should be based on results but how he deploys players. Does he start riding his top two lines. Does he adjust the PP personal. Does he give some better and more starts for our back ups and let andersson steal some games. If Babs makes the right decisions keep him... but he won’t.</div></div>

Yup. He needs to be able to show he can change things up especially when things aren't working. If he can't demonstrate that quality, then he's digging his own grave. And that's what he's being doing for this whole calendar year, imo.

Maybe things change. But I doubt it
Forum: Armchair-GM18 nov. 2019 à 20 h 59
Sujet: Leafs fans
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Isles777</b></div><div>Yeah bob Mackenzie reported islanders were front runners for panarin and this account doubled down that he was going to the rangers. He’s pretty legit. Also said that management met with players today and the core leafs players said Babcock is the main problem, doesn’t utilize them correctly</div></div>

Huh. Well, if that's true and the core is ID'ing Babcock as the main problem, then barring some miracle on this road swing I'd say he's cooked.

But this could be the miracle... if the core called him out then they better show up and put in a solid effort while on the road. Cause if they're personally outing Babcock as the problem then there better be no question to their effort and play. And if Babcock knows that he got outed then it could be wise to play the core the way they want to be played. And if they still blow it then it's a pretty clear sign that it's not just Babcock..

So, back to the miracle idea...Core outs Babcock. Babs finds out. The Babcock adapts and plays the team the way the core wants to play. This playing to a team's strength gives a positive result. Leafs win. Babs and core forced to repeat the process in order for everyone to keep their jobs. Leafs win. Fanbase calms down. Viola... a miracle!

Or.. Babcock doubles down on his method of madness. Leafs suck. We lose. Babs is fired.. and there will be pain.

I think the second scenario is more likely.
Forum: Armchair-GM18 nov. 2019 à 19 h 0
Forum: Armchair-GM18 nov. 2019 à 1 h 23
Sujet: LEAFS SELL OFF NON-CORE PLAYERS AND PROMOTE MARLIES
I think we need to collectively pump the brakes, although I realise that the whole point of these acgms is to post trades and generate discussion. So, don't take that as a dig, it's not intended that way .

I'd imagine that the leafs will take this road trip to see if they can sort things out. If things look bleak at the end of that then Babcock is likely cooked.

The leafs have bet on this core and cap structure. By all accounts, and from everything we've heard outta Dubas, Nylander is part of that core. If a new guy comes in, and you gotta think that's Keefe,and things dont show signs of improvement, then some non core guys probably get moved in the offseason in order to address weaknesses. And if that doesn't remedy things then Dubas's seat will start to get pretty hot.

But I doubt that even in the worse case scenario do we see any core guys going anywhere within the next 3 years. They'll be given time.

Things might be rocky right now, but sh*t happens. Regardless of how they looked the other night the leafs have a young and talented core, with good prospects coming, that would be the envy of alot of teams in the league.

This season could turn into a complete tire fire, but even if it does I still think the leafs are set up pretty good moving forward. We're no where near meltdown territory yet. Despite what Steve Dangles says...although his last vid is a pretty epic rant.