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Toronto Maple Leafs 2017 - 2018 thread

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  • Seems to be some very blind opinions on here. Two sides to the game and keeping the puck out of your net is as important as scoring. I was at the game Monday and Komorov and often Polak were on the ice in many of the most critical defensive situations. Both are sound positionally and two of the strongest players on the team. Both are key penalty killers as well. Everyones darlings Nylander and Marner barely see the ice when the game is on the line.... and that is not because Babcock is dumber than random people watching on T.V. From where I sit, his record isn't bad.

    You need both types of players but fans love the flash while intelligent educated coaches respect the savy and strength of role players as well.

    Offence looks great on TV, I learned long ago that you can't judge defensive play on tv. The biggest key to good defence is positioning and anticipation, those need to be watched in person as most of it is off camera. There is a reason coaches game film is super wide angle, they don't care how pretty a dangle is, they care about players doing their job and you need to see the whole ice to be able to read that.

    The other factor defensively is being willing and able to do the dirty work in the corners and along the boards, neither Willy or Mitch are either of those things. As for Soshnikov, like him but he is 5'11" and generously 185lbs with a concussion history. I don't want him over Komorov at 209lbs on the ice to finish off a game and neither does Babcock.

    The Leafs have a good thing going and a nice balance right now. Don't be in a hurry to dump assets just because you have been remarkably healthy this year and they seem redundant at they moment. If you have an opportunity to significantly upgrade, great. If not, hold on to your assets. You will likely need them if you go on a significant playoff run and if not, next year there will be room as some of the UFA's will walk.

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    • Originally posted by High cut View Post
      The Leafs have a good thing going and a nice balance right now. Don't be in a hurry to dump assets just because you have been remarkably healthy this year and they seem redundant at they moment. If you have an opportunity to significantly upgrade, great. If not, hold on to your assets. You will likely need them if you go on a significant playoff run and if not, next year there will be room as some of the UFA's will walk.
      Agreed. The Leafs are going to make the playoffs this season and in the playoffs special teams are even more important. They need their top penalty killers.

      And over a 7 game series, there is generally more 'grinding' and often much less 'space'.

      That is why teams that succeed have a mix of players.

      As for trade talk, remember that for a trade to happen it needs to make sense to the GM's of both teams. So one team will not usually trade a 'core' player for a bag of spare parts.

      Comment


      • Originally posted by High cut View Post
        Seems to be some very blind opinions on here. Two sides to the game and keeping the puck out of your net is as important as scoring. I was at the game Monday and Komorov and often Polak were on the ice in many of the most critical defensive situations. Both are sound positionally and two of the strongest players on the team. Both are key penalty killers as well. Everyones darlings Nylander and Marner barely see the ice when the game is on the line.... and that is not because Babcock is dumber than random people watching on T.V. From where I sit, his record isn't bad.

        You need both types of players but fans love the flash while intelligent educated coaches respect the savy and strength of role players as well.

        Offence looks great on TV, I learned long ago that you can't judge defensive play on tv. The biggest key to good defence is positioning and anticipation, those need to be watched in person as most of it is off camera. There is a reason coaches game film is super wide angle, they don't care how pretty a dangle is, they care about players doing their job and you need to see the whole ice to be able to read that.

        The other factor defensively is being willing and able to do the dirty work in the corners and along the boards, neither Willy or Mitch are either of those things. As for Soshnikov, like him but he is 5'11" and generously 185lbs with a concussion history. I don't want him over Komorov at 209lbs on the ice to finish off a game and neither does Babcock.

        The Leafs have a good thing going and a nice balance right now. Don't be in a hurry to dump assets just because you have been remarkably healthy this year and they seem redundant at they moment. If you have an opportunity to significantly upgrade, great. If not, hold on to your assets. You will likely need them if you go on a significant playoff run and if not, next year there will be room as some of the UFA's will walk.
        Totally agree with this.

        Gave my daughter tickets for her bday and she and a friend were there Monday as well, exciting game.
        "Don't cry because it's over, Smile because it happened "

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        • Originally posted by High cut View Post
          ...

          The Leafs have a good thing going and a nice balance right now. Don't be in a hurry to dump assets just because you have been remarkably healthy this year and they seem redundant at they moment. If you have an opportunity to significantly upgrade, great. If not, hold on to your assets. You will likely need them if you go on a significant playoff run and if not, next year there will be room as some of the UFA's will walk.
          Great post. I'd put Hyman in that category to. He may not play pretty, but he sure generates a lot of loose pucks.
          In The Bag

          Golf clubs


          "You're just expected to work and die ...
          and maybe buy some useless s**t you don't need inbetween"

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          • I've just come from reading the fine hockey analysis one gets on HFBoards, and I've gotta say the last 4 posts here are a breath of fresh air. Thank you for restoring (some of) my sanity.

            Comment


            • Originally posted by Fredk View Post
              Great post. I'd put Hyman in that category to. He may not play pretty, but he sure generates a lot of loose pucks.
              Thanks, I agree on Hyman. His hands may not be great but his wheels and head are and he creates opportunities for Mathews and Willie via puck pressure, turn overs and doing the little things correctly. He also somewhat offsets the defensive liability that Nylander can be and frees him up to showcase his offensive talent.

              Comment


              • Polak is so good that the best he could do is a PTO. Then had such an impressive camp that no other team offered him a contract. He’d better be decent in his own end...it’s where the Leafs seem to be more often than not when he’s on the ice.

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                • Gardiner did not return for the second period, wonder if the Leafs made a trade or if he is hurt. Didn't notice anything wrong with him in the first?

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                  • Originally posted by wrigley View Post
                    Gardiner did not return for the second period, wonder if the Leafs made a trade or if he is hurt. Didn't notice anything wrong with him in the first?
                    Highly doubt it. He was slashed in the first period around when he left the game.

                    Comment


                    • Originally posted by P25 View Post

                      Highly doubt it. He was slashed in the first period around when he left the game.
                      Was thinking Pheneuf, good time to trade Gardiner, he is playing well and we now have Dermott.

                      Comment


                      • Its nice to see the Leafs offence firing on all cylinders. Anderson, 50+ shots. Not gonna fly in the playoffs.

                        I chuckled when the announcer said what a smart pickup Hainsey was over the summer. That trade was widely panned at the time
                        In The Bag

                        Golf clubs


                        "You're just expected to work and die ...
                        and maybe buy some useless s**t you don't need inbetween"

                        Comment


                        • More smart comments.

                          Hainsey was signed as a UFA last summer, no trade involved. It has worked out very well, listen to the people that get paid to know these things. He hasn't played more shorthanded minutes than any other player in the league by accident.

                          As for Polak, he was coming off a very badly broken leg. Described as "Leafs defenseman Roman Polak suffered a grotesque injury during Game Two of the Leafs’ first-round series against the Capitals."

                          The Leafs only offered him a PTO because no one knew whether he would be able to play again and they had no reason to commit more than a PTO because of that. In camp he played a few games but was clearly a long way from ready. Even now, he is not a star but a very valuable contributor in certain situations. Not sure if you noticed but he played important minutes down the stretch again despite the fact some think he is terrible.... Once again I defer to the highest paid coach in the game.

                          Comment


                          • Originally posted by High cut View Post
                            More smart comments.

                            Hainsey was signed as a UFA last summer, no trade involved. It has worked out very well, listen to the people that get paid to know these things. He hasn't played more shorthanded minutes than any other player in the league by accident.

                            As for Polak, he was coming off a very badly broken leg. Described as "Leafs defenseman Roman Polak suffered a grotesque injury during Game Two of the Leafs’ first-round series against the Capitals."

                            The Leafs only offered him a PTO because no one knew whether he would be able to play again and they had no reason to commit more than a PTO because of that. In camp he played a few games but was clearly a long way from ready. Even now, he is not a star but a very valuable contributor in certain situations. Not sure if you noticed but he played important minutes down the stretch again despite the fact some think he is terrible.... Once again I defer to the highest paid coach in the game.
                            I agree. Sometimes I wonder about some of the moves the team makes, but then I realize we have one of the best management teams in the league, and while they aren't always right they know what they are doing. What they've done in the last 2 years is incredible and I defer to them.

                            Comment


                            • Lineup choices is only one part of Babcock’s job. In many people’s opinion, it’s not his strength. When he was playing Komarov more minutes than any other forward, was that right? Martin over Kapanen? Because it sure seems to have worked out since changes were made.

                              Comment


                              • Yes, the Leafs have a good thing going but greatly due to Andersen easily being the MVP.

                                Six weeks ago people on here were getting mad at me for saying Kappy should be playing ahead of Martin....now everybody loves Kappy.

                                Last night JVR barely played 10 minutes while Moore took Bozak's place several times. Trust me, the 3C and 4C are a big issue with Babcock as is, I suspect, the whole third line. If he wanted to play JVR more he could have double shifted AM34.

                                Now everybody loves Dermott, who I have praised many times as a Marlie, but the stats say he is giving up shots at a Polak rate. He'll be good but it will take a little time.

                                Don't forget, the Marlies just are 15-0-0-1 in their last 16 games. There is a wee big of NHL talent down there that won't be waiver exempt next year.


                                Originally posted by P25 View Post
                                Lineup choices is only one part of Babcock’s job. In many people’s opinion, it’s not his strength. When he was playing Komarov more minutes than any other forward, was that right? Martin over Kapanen? Because it sure seems to have worked out since changes were made.
                                Agreed....at one point Hyman and Leo were playing 20 minutes while Polak, the 4C and Martin were playing 15 minutes. Not a lot of goals there hence the long period they weren't scoring.

                                Babs playing favorites has been a long term issue and some believe it hurts his team when it comes to FA. Leo has played a lot better at 7 minutes.

                                I like big putts and I cannot lie
                                You other putters can't deny
                                That when a putt goes in with an itty bitty pace
                                You're gonna fist pump in their face - Sir Putts-A-Lot

                                It's how well you golf fast!!!!

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