Can't wait for the season to start. With the added experience of last years regular season and playoffs and with management having a better idea of what they have, I am not as worried about the Leafs lack of a "true" stud on the blue line. Defence is a team game and Babcock will have the system where the forwards will commit to playing in both ends of the ice. My biggest concern is goaltender because for some reason I just don't have the confidence in Andersen but I hope I am wrong. I really think one area the leafs will improve on this season is holding onto leads in the third period. They better as I can't see their overtime or shootout issues of last year getting better.
Maple Leafs 2017 Off Season Moves
- Thread starter smuddan
- Start date
It's not the lack of a true stud d that concerns me the most, after all Pittsburgh proved you could win without one. It's the lack of true shut down guys and guys that can protect the crease well. I think that's what caused the lead blowing in so so many games. Not much improvement in that area this year. I have a lot of confidence in Andersen but there's not much depth in the organization. If he goes down for any extended period of time, things might get dicey.
On the bright side we probably have the most talented and exciting group of young forwards in the league and win or lose, the games will be very entertaining.
He's no longer with MLSE. I wish he was still, cause he turns sport teams into champs.
Leafs 3 best players last year were all rookies. That is astounding. And they had a goalie rather than a sieve.
If you talk about the Leafs' best forwards last season, I think you have to include Kadri somewhere in the top 3. An argument can be made that he was the second best forward. Nylander and Marner were very entertaining to watch but Kadri's strong two way play was more vital to the team success.
Kadri has improved immensely since his drinking buddies left the team. That, and Babcock's one on one meeting with him at Harbour Sixty Steakhouse which left Kadri in tears. He's taking things seriously now, and the competition amongst the rookies is great for the team in general.
This is a good read: https://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2017/09/14/leafs-depth-promises-to-keep-pre-season-interesting-feschuk.html
