Toronto Maple Leafs 2017 - 2018 thread

[Pingeye2_fan]

All good. I didnt see the mistake vs Columbus but outside of the bad pinch late, thought he played very well. These 2 mistakes were costly but all players make mistakes. When a d man or a goalie does, it just gets magnfied with the end result often bad. Rielly is young and on a team that lacks team defensive strength overall. While Polak is arguable their best "defensive" d, Reilly isnt awful. His value is more in his skating and offensively Gardiner on the other hand looks lost many nights. For fear of making another identity error, was it him that Duchene made look silly ?

hope the hangover is subsiding

Was shocked that Hainsey went so far outside the dots to engage on that play.

[Weirfan]

Was shocked that Hainsey went so far outside the dots to engage on that play.

This time i wasnt sure , so protected myself.

It looked very Gardiner Esque , so why i thought it was him.

[P25]

There is zero chance Polak is our best defensive Dman. Not even close. Nothing supports this idea.

[Chambokl]

There is zero chance Polak is our best defensive Dman. Not even close. Nothing supports this idea.

That is what I thought . . . but was not going to get involve in that discussion. Leafs are having a great year, you guys should be all happy.

[The Troll]

Its the same song and dance every year. Some players play well most nights and some players seem to be out for a skate and a pay check most nights. IMO naming players like Polak, Martin, Moore as "problematic" is ridiculous. You can't have an NHL lineup filled with stars. Polak is strong on the puck and defensively is a pretty good checker, Martin is an awesome 4th line tough guy who is very positive and creates a ton of chances (I have his Jersey), and Moore has a ton of experience and makes very good "hockey plays". The problem, as discussed every year... is how to eliminate the 30-50 shots against every other night.

The game has passed Martin's role by.

Moore has been a very good player in the past but looks close to done.

Polak is only effective on the PK when he can stay in a same small area where he doesn't have to skate which would happen more often if he could kill off all the penalties he takes by boarding guys from behind.

[P25]

Even the PK...

The Toronto Maple Leafs PK, 2017/18
With Roman Polak Scratched: 83.8%
With Roman Polak Dressed: 83.6%
With Polak Dressed, Him on PK: 83.3%
With Polak Dressed, Killing Polak Penalties: 84.6%

[4wedges]

The game has passed Martin's role by.

Moore has been a very good player in the past but looks close to done.

Polak is only effective on the PK when he can stay in a same small area where he doesn't have to skate which would happen more often if he could kill off all the penalties he takes by boarding guys from behind.

Obviously Babcock disagrees with your opinion of Martin and Polak. Not sure where Moore stands though.

[Pingeye2_fan]

I think Lou would have to move Polak to get Babcock to stop using him.

[Hope469]

The game has passed Martin's role by.

Moore has been a very good player in the past but looks close to done.

Polak is only effective on the PK when he can stay in a same small area where he doesn't have to skate which would happen more often if he could kill off all the penalties he takes by boarding guys from behind.

I do not disagree. I just don't think the bad losses and poor defensive play stems from a few 3rd and 4th line players. All teams have mediocre players who make an abundance of mistakes. Guys like Martin and Polak won't win you games but won't lose you games either. They at least bring a small amount of "fear factor and hearing footsteps" for opposing forwards and opposing d men. I would rather see the team get rid of Kadri, Carrick, Gardiner or Brown. It drives me crazy watching these guys tip toe around the ice. Kadri is a head case who needs Don Cherry to boost his confidence, Carrick can't even get a puck to the net, Gardiner continues to give the puck away, and if I see Conner Brown playing alongside Matthews in any situation again Im going to snap. And its not just Brown. Matthews cannot play with these "stone hands" 2nd or 3rd line guys ahem Hyman. Let him play with Marleau or Bozak or Marner or even Moore and of course Nylander. Matthews is going to turn into a Phil Kessel, and start to play on his own and try to do everything on his own. Babcock must be careful with his Phenom. Just my HO obviously.

[jawbee]

Kadri and Brown are the least of the Leafs problems.

[Hope469]

I like Brown. On PK and as a checker. He has no scoring or passing touch but works extremely hard. The same goes for Hyman. Matthews should be scoring more points tho. I dont think there are a million problems, just that we have such a talented team who should never lose to the bottom tier teams and be giving up so many shots. If they wont use Kadri alongside or with the top scorers, IMO no use to have him.

[wrigley]

I do not disagree. I just don't think the bad losses and poor defensive play stems from a few 3rd and 4th line players. All teams have mediocre players who make an abundance of mistakes. Guys like Martin and Polak won't win you games but won't lose you games either. They at least bring a small amount of "fear factor and hearing footsteps" for opposing forwards and opposing d men. I would rather see the team get rid of Kadri, Carrick, Gardiner or Brown. It drives me crazy watching these guys tip toe around the ice. Kadri is a head case who needs Don Cherry to boost his confidence, Carrick can't even get a puck to the net, Gardiner continues to give the puck away, and if I see Conner Brown playing alongside Matthews in any situation again Im going to snap. And its not just Brown. Matthews cannot play with these "stone hands" 2nd or 3rd line guys ahem Hyman. Let him play with Marleau or Bozak or Marner or even Moore and of course Nylander. Matthews is going to turn into a Phil Kessel, and start to play on his own and try to do everything on his own. Babcock must be careful with his Phenom. Just my HO obviously.

Hyman's role on Matthews line is to get him the puck and be responsible defensively. Most of the schools are going to be closed to the net off rebounds. He's extremely effective along the boards getting the puck.

Brown scored 20 goals last year and is on pace to do the same this year. He can play on any line and not look out of place, can't picture him going anywhere Babcock really likes him.

[Weirfan]

So Matthews is the only Leaf selected to the All Star game ( deserving for sure). Thought Rielly might have gotten a look but too many good D in the league and need to have a repesentative from every team.

[Hope469]

Hyman's role on Matthews line is to get him the puck and be responsible defensively. Most of the schools are going to be closed to the net off rebounds. He's extremely effective along the boards getting the puck.

Brown scored 20 goals last year and is on pace to do the same this year. He can play on any line and not look out of place, can't picture him going anywhere Babcock really likes him.

Ya everybody says that about Hyman.. I get it and understand his role on the team, he's a good nhl player. Matthews is NOT Brett Hull however. He needs to play with guys who can handle his vision, his shiftiness, and his non stop speed and motion. Hyman is good but unable to make the 1st line type plays like you see with Washington or Tampa or other top teams. The tic tac toe, hard cross ice passes, and one timers and controlling the puck with confidence. And like I said, Brown is great, great skater in his role. If he scores 20 goals its most likely from rebounds and offensive plays made by somebody else.
My point went too far, I was initially debating why we shouldn't get rid of Martin or Polak or Moore like somebody else was saying. Not like it would help the team or benefit from a trade. I mentioned players with more VALUE, like Brown, like Kadri, like Gardiner..

[Weirfan]

Ya everybody says that about Hyman.. I get it and understand his role on the team, he's a good nhl player. Matthews is NOT Brett Hull however. He needs to play with guys who can handle his vision, his shiftiness, and his non stop speed and motion. Hyman is good but unable to make the 1st line type plays like you see with Washington or Tampa or other top teams. The tic tac toe, hard cross ice passes, and one timers and controlling the puck with confidence. And like I said, Brown is great, great skater in his role. If he scores 20 goals its most likely from rebounds and offensive plays made by somebody else.
My point went too far, I was initially debating why we shouldn't get rid of Martin or Polak or Moore like somebody else was saying. Not like it would help the team or benefit from a trade. I mentioned players with more VALUE, like Brown, like Kadri, like Gardiner..

Being a fan means questioning coaches but I would leave the coaching to the guy with years of experience in the NHL, the guy being paid the millions of dollars to do it , with multiple major wins and awards under his belt.
Babs is one of the best coaches in the league, and knows his players. Im sure he understands what type of players work well together.

His resume , understanding and knowldege don't include
" I watch 2 hours of hockey from my lazy boy chair on Saturday nights. "