Stop holding on to what was or what could have been. Look towards the future...AM34 baby!!!
Maple Leafs 2017-2018 Season Thread
- Thread starter smuddan
- Start date
Still think they are a top 6 forward and top 4 D man away from being a serious threat. When Malkin and Crosby are playing like they did in Saturday not many teams can match up with that. Window is closing already though as there will be cap limitations in the coming years when everyone's rookie contracts expire
With 3 forwards on expiring contracts, there'll be some significant changes up front next year. It's highly unlikely all 3 will be back. We'll miss JVR's goals, Bozak's shootout might and/or Komarov's pk and defence's work. Brown and Kapanen will probably play more prominent roles and whoever the replacements will be better defensively than Bozak and JVR. Altonnen and Johnsson may be ready next year.
The defense will likely remain intact for next season unless Lou pulls off a major trade, and improvements will have to come from within, i.e. Demott and Liljgren. Andersen will have to continue to cover the defense's deficiencies until major improvements can be made when Gardiner's contract expires and replaced by Doughty, I hope.
The defense will likely remain intact for next season unless Lou pulls off a major trade, and improvements will have to come from within, i.e. Demott and Liljgren. Andersen will have to continue to cover the defense's deficiencies until major improvements can be made when Gardiner's contract expires and replaced by Doughty, I hope.
Are you folks purposely dissing the young Fin? It's Kasperi Kapanen.
Same argument persists, what would you rather have: Connor McDavid's pure talent or Auston Matthews guile.
Based on pure talent, Dan Marino was a better Quarterback than Joe Montana.
Same argument persists, what would you rather have: Connor McDavid's pure talent or Auston Matthews guile.
Based on pure talent, Dan Marino was a better Quarterback than Joe Montana.
I really don't know who I would rather have as Matthews has the chance to be the best American born player in NHL history and can lead the Leafs to a Stanley Cup. If McDavid were in Toronto instead of Matthews, I think the result would be the same (Stanley Cup win) just with a bit more speed and flashy play from McDavid. And being from the Toronto area, would cement McDavid as a hockey GOD.
McDavid spends his summers in Toronto. Last summer he played in a tennis charity event in The Beaches for The Heart and Stroke foundation. Matthews was in Buffalo training with Patrick Kane. I sincerely hope the Oilers don't waste McDavid like they did with Taylor Hall.
https://cdn.nhlpa.com/img/assets/nhlpa.com/gallery/61f4e7a4-1d6f-4079-8f0f-f345523c3631/rogerscup-thumb.jpg
https://cdn.nhlpa.com/img/assets/nhlpa.com/gallery/61f4e7a4-1d6f-4079-8f0f-f345523c3631/rogerscup-thumb.jpg
My point was those were some sad years if JVR and Bozak are your 1st line and it was Kessel who was carrying those 2. Kessel carried Lupul too. Lupul owes Kessel for that big contract he received.
Komarov now has zero scoring ability but Babcock loves his veterens. He should have had Kapanen up with Matthews and Nylander in the Pitt game when they needed a goal. Kapanen would have buried that brilliant pass from Matthews to Nylander to Komarov. Waste of 2 great plays. It's no coincidence that Komarov took away all of Kadri's scoring as well. Play Komarov only when trying to protect a lead.
Has there been any real danger for that to happen ? I don't think Lou's middle name is Von,
and guess who was on the ice to protect a one goal lead for the last 35 seconds in their own zone ? Yeah, it's the much disliked Polak,
And Matthews had a big block to help saving the shutout, hope he's not hurting too badly.
What are the other options? Why do you think Hainsey stays out for the whole 2 min penalty? Down a man as a defenseman you're not expected to skate up the ice.
There were at least two other d men on the bench as other options. Obviously Babcock disagrees with those armchair coaches who think Polak doesn't belong on the ice.
Matthews day-to-day with shoulder injury.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/leafs-auston-matthews-mri-shoulder/
Damn, we could sure use him against Boston!
https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/leafs-auston-matthews-mri-shoulder/
Damn, we could sure use him against Boston!
With a 21 pt lead on a playoff spot. I think the Leafs can shutdown Matthews for 2 weeks. The Leafs won't catch Boston. Also the Leafs have been good without AM34.
Good game tonight and really big win for the Leafs.
The game winner with a minute and a half left was a little questionable due to goalie interference. I felt that although Hyman pushed the Bruin slightly into Rask, Rask still had plenty of time to be in position for Hainsey's shot, so IMO the contact was inconsequential.
So the Leafs are, I think, one point ahead of Bost. but they have 5 games in hand. The silver lining is that Bost will have a busier schedule down the road. That could help the Leafs overtake them (tough task) or at least make the B's a little more tired for the playoffs.
The game winner with a minute and a half left was a little questionable due to goalie interference. I felt that although Hyman pushed the Bruin slightly into Rask, Rask still had plenty of time to be in position for Hainsey's shot, so IMO the contact was inconsequential.
So the Leafs are, I think, one point ahead of Bost. but they have 5 games in hand. The silver lining is that Bost will have a busier schedule down the road. That could help the Leafs overtake them (tough task) or at least make the B's a little more tired for the playoffs.
Nice win, and it's even more encouraging to see Marner impacted the scores prominently. He and Nylander will be the difference makers on most nights. Kapanan was also fantastic. I'm more excited about the performance of the young guys than the win.
Boston didn't have the physical edge as they did the last game. Even Gardiner had a big hit. I suspect the next time they play the Bruins will be a lot more physical.
