Club Dynasty
Toronto Escorts

Maple Leafs 2018 - 19

Ref

Committee Member
Oct 29, 2002
5,058
1,003
113
web.archive.org
Its funny, every time I expect a loss, they win. Great game tonight.
The Devils are one of those teams that usually play them well. Nice to see others contribute to the scoring.

The Bruins will be a big test tonight.
 

Ref

Committee Member
Oct 29, 2002
5,058
1,003
113
web.archive.org
In almost every game I've seen so far this year, it is obvious that the NHL is, indeed, the NHL ("No Hit League"). I've seen more body contact in figure skating. Great time to be a skilled player.
Agree and like it.

I am one who enjoys a game where the players who have the talent to play, are able to showcase that talent.

The game is also faster, players do not stand still as much, passes are faster and plays develop much quicker.

Youtube has a number of games from previous era's and it is surprising how much the game has changed from a speed and size perspective.

I also think that the changes that are being taught in the minor and college leagues is finally paying off at the major level. Those players have developed different habits and as they populate the NHL, those attitudes become slowly become the norm (less fighting, headshots, etc.).

Gone are the days that teams need to have a fourth line of fighters and tough guys. Teams that want to win cannot afford to lose a line that could otherwise feature a player who can skate and score.

Besides, the players of today are big and tough. These guys want to win and they realize that the perceived old style of yesteryear is not going to win them championships.

Just my humble opinion.
 

superstar_88

The Chiseler
Jan 4, 2008
5,277
964
113
My post was in jest as the Habs have a poor offense this year.
Well, lookie here. Montreal just 3 pts behind Toronto with same number of games played and the powerhouse offensive Leafs have only scored 4 more goals than Montreal. There's your offense. And they still have Price. 6 of those Leafs goals came yesterday.
 

chuckertmg

Active member
Mar 26, 2013
610
176
43
not always sure...
Well, lookie here. Montreal just 3 pts behind Toronto with same number of games played and the powerhouse offensive Leafs have only scored 4 more goals than Montreal. There's your offense. And they still have Price. 6 of those Leafs goals came yesterday.
Montreal has a really fast, exciting team this year and they clearly outplayed the Leafs in their one meeting so far. They'll be interesting to watch.
Having Price doesn't look to be a clear advantage over Anderson's play this past year and a half, though - the Leafs are still winning a number of games entirely on Anderson's back as happened last year.
 

superstar_88

The Chiseler
Jan 4, 2008
5,277
964
113
Leafs 3rd in win percentage and goal differential behind only TB and Nashville. All without Nylander all year albeit he's only their 6th most important player behind Matthews, Marner, Tavaras, Andersen, and Rielly. You could say Tavaras was the upgrade to Nylander on the team. Nylander may have more offensive skill but no coach in their right mind would counter Crosby with him.
 

Ref

Committee Member
Oct 29, 2002
5,058
1,003
113
web.archive.org
Well, lookie here. Montreal just 3 pts behind Toronto with same number of games played and the powerhouse offensive Leafs have only scored 4 more goals than Montreal. There's your offense. And they still have Price. 6 of those Leafs goals came yesterday.
I am surprised as well as most people in hockey. Lets see if they can keep up the pace.
 

gcostanza

Well-known member
Jul 24, 2010
7,818
527
113
I am surprised as well as most people in hockey. Lets see if they can keep up the pace.
The 2 clubs have played 16 games (~19.5% of the season), let's round that to 20% for easy figuring.
If both clubs continue their pace, Montreal will finish ~15 points back of Toronto.
Last season, 15 points behind Toronto would be 90 pts, well out of the playoffs.
Montreal is on pace for 95 points, 7th seed in the conference in 2018-19.
2017-18 playoff teams Washington, New Jersey, Pittsburgh are lurking behind them, with 1 or 2 games in hand.
It's early yet.
 

chuckertmg

Active member
Mar 26, 2013
610
176
43
not always sure...
Well, lookie here. Montreal just 3 pts behind Toronto with same number of games played and the powerhouse offensive Leafs have only scored 4 more goals than Montreal. There's your offense. And they still have Price. 6 of those Leafs goals came yesterday.
Speaking of the Leafs powerhouse offence… an update for tonight:

Total "Goals For" after 17 games, Atlantic Division only:

Tampa Bay - 63
Ottawa - 61
Montreal - 58
Toronto - 58
Buffalo - 53
Boston - 49 (16 games)
Detroit - 47
Florida - 42 (13 games)
 

superstar_88

The Chiseler
Jan 4, 2008
5,277
964
113
The point is no one gave Montreal any semblance of a team this year. On a Leaf note Sparks is looking a lot like an AHL goalie. He's got a long way to go to develop his NHL game. If he has one.
 

smuddan

Well-known member
Mar 7, 2007
2,235
259
83
The point is no one gave Montreal any semblance of a team this year. On a Leaf note Sparks is looking a lot like an AHL goalie. He's got a long way to go to develop his NHL game. If he has one.
I didn't think letting McElhinney go was a wise move in a year you're expected to compete seriously.
 

shack

Nitpicker Extraordinaire
Oct 2, 2001
46,710
7,987
113
Toronto
I didn't think letting McElhinney go was a wise move in a year you're expected to compete seriously.
They should make the playoffs with either Sparks or McIlhenny as backup. Once in the playoffs, it is all Freddie.
 

glamphotographer

Well-known member
Nov 5, 2011
15,901
15,641
113
Canada
Was never a fan of Bob Cole. Hughson I do not mind (he used to call Blue Jay games).

As a kid I remember listening to Bill Hewitt. Below is a link to an interesting article about him. I guess he had some health/mental issues and one day just walked away from the job. Had to be tough being Foster's son.

http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2011/07/the-on-air-meltdown-of-bill-hewitt.html

Bill called Sittlers 10 point game against the Bruins.

The Bruins must have watched this video before they beat up the Leafs 5-1.
 

smuddan

Well-known member
Mar 7, 2007
2,235
259
83
They should make the playoffs with either Sparks or McIlhenny as backup. Once in the playoffs, it is all Freddie.
The problem I have with this line of thinking is that :

1) a few lost points in the regular season because of inferior backup goaltending could result in lost home ice advantage and/or unfavourable matchups' and

2) if Freddie has to miss a game or two in the playoffs, the backup will have a much more significant impact on whether winning or losing the series.

Bottom line is McIlhenny has proven that he's a very capable backup while Sparks hasn't.
 

gcostanza

Well-known member
Jul 24, 2010
7,818
527
113
Garret Sparks 2-1 with a 4.00 g.a.a. .879 s.p.
Curtis Mcilhinney 3-2 with 2.81 g.a.a. .884 s.p.

They're both backup goaltenders, neither particularly good.
Sparks played for the 1st time in 25 days last night, tough situation against a good team.
Garret Sparks is 25 years old, Curtis McIlhinney is 35 years old.
Toronto kept the right player.
 

smuddan

Well-known member
Mar 7, 2007
2,235
259
83
Garret Sparks 2-1 with a 4.00 g.a.a. .879 s.p.
Curtis Mcilhinney 3-2 with 2.81 g.a.a. .884 s.p.

They're both backup goaltenders, neither particularly good.
Sparks played for the 1st time in 25 days last night, tough situation against a good team.
Garret Sparks is 25 years old, Curtis McIlhinney is 35 years old.
Toronto kept the right player.
McIlhinney's : NHL Career 191 140 65 73 -- 13 4,945 455 2.86 .908

Sparks : NHL Career20 20 8 10 -- 1 555 61 3.17 .890

Sparks is much younger and he would be the right goalie to keep as a starting goalie if you
didn't have Andersen and you're still rebuilding. He hasn't shown much in the NHL yet. As a backup playing once in 2 weeks or longer would be the norm and it should not be an excuse.

Sparks may one day develope into a decent starter, but I don't see him ever becoming better than Andersen and in a year you have aspersions to compete for the cup, McIlhinney would be the better backup. Two years ago the Leafs wouldn't have made the playoffs if not for the McIlhinney's stellar performance against Pittsburgh in one of their final games.
 

chuckertmg

Active member
Mar 26, 2013
610
176
43
not always sure...
The 2 clubs have played 16 games (~19.5% of the season), let's round that to 20% for easy figuring.
If both clubs continue their pace, Montreal will finish ~15 points back of Toronto.
Last season, 15 points behind Toronto would be 90 pts, well out of the playoffs.
Montreal is on pace for 95 points, 7th seed in the conference in 2018-19.
2017-18 playoff teams Washington, New Jersey, Pittsburgh are lurking behind them, with 1 or 2 games in hand.
It's early yet.
I'm not sold on those stats.
The Leafs had a start to the season they've been unable to sustain, so currently Montreal is trending upward where Toronto is trending downward.
Over the last 10 games the Leafs are playing 500 hockey - if that trend continues they'll finish the season with about 87 points and it's highly unlikely that would translate into a wild card spot.

They're now heading west to meet the weakest team in the league though; undulations will continue to occur.
 

superstar_88

The Chiseler
Jan 4, 2008
5,277
964
113
Leafs are not looking for a starter in Sparks. They're looking for a backup. Mac had proven more than adequate. Only reason was age. With Sparks you're rolling the dice. With Mac you know what you're getting albeit it'll be on a year by year basis. Sparks may prove to be a starter one day or he may be proven to be an AHL goalie only.

Backups come cheap. They could have kept Mac and found another backup the same way they found Mac or the same way Hurricanes found Mac when the time came they needed a replacement. If Sparks fails they'll give him the Enroth treatment. Backups play about 20 games. That's a lot of games and if Andersen gets injured for the playoffs that's it no chance whereas with Mac you get a sense that they could still win cause they did.
 

Darts

Well-known member
Jan 15, 2017
23,061
11,160
113
The John Tavares signing is turning out even better than originally thought. The guy is a leader on and off the ice and shows up ready to play every game. He (or Kadr or Rielly) should be named Captain.

2018-2019 Regular Season
GP G A P +/-
18 11 11 22 5
 

superstar_88

The Chiseler
Jan 4, 2008
5,277
964
113
He's playing with Marner. Anything less would be a disappointment. I think Rielly is vying for captaincy. Should be someone the Leafs drafted and was here from day 1. I would have put money on Matthews all the way. First overall pick after all but Rielly may very well be more suitable.

LA looks extremely slow so if Leafs are going to upgrade on grit they'll need to get someone with speed and not just size.
 
Toronto Escorts