Toronto Maple Leafs - 2016/17 Season

[Ironhead]

Well he did warn the Leafs that he is the true # 1 pick . At 6'5" and with his shot I would have taken him.

It is easy ... sorry I mean it is easy for hockey fans that actually know and understand the game and the needs of the Leafs.
Toronto did not need a winger, they needed a true number one center to build around. I would not and the Leafs would not do anything different today if they had the chance.
Taking Auston Matthews first was the correct choice.

Nope. Haven't watched one game Only guy watching is you. With your vast NHL IQ only you, and you only, know what this team is up to.

No I am watching the Leafs also, almost every game(sometimes life gets in the way) and I respect and trust Von. There are likely a few more of us watching as well.

You do realize they have the highest shots against in the league right? That means they are shit defensively. Leafs won't go anywhere. No rebuild. No nothing. Just the same old bungling garbage team it's been for decades

Big Leafs fan obviously. I think you see the writing on the wall. The Leafs have the awesome rookies they need to move forward and you can barely handle it.

 

[Insidious Von]

Thank you Craig.

I'm like one of those battered Chicago Cubs fans, the Leafs have tested my loyalty.

When I was working at the airport in my very late teens, the Leafs would pass through. I'll never forget Borje Salming, always a total gentleman. Had he left the team in early 80's he would have won several Cups. Still the best Leafs defenseman I've ever seen. The Leafs cannot become a solid contender until they get a defenseman of somewhat equal value. I haven't seen one yet.

He still leads the team in assists.

 

[gcostanza]

Auston Matthews is tied for fourth in the NHL in shots on goal with Seguin and Ovi.
His puck possession numbers lead the team. Gonna be fine.

Bruce Arthur, on Twitter.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Maybe they should move Connor Brown over to the Matthews line to play wing position in place of Zach Hyman.
Hyman seems to lack the ability to create or innovate on the fly out there and adds little to the Nylander, Matthews, Hyman line.

Brown scored 128 points one year with the Erie Otters; so, it's possible the Leafs have a guy who can play there.

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=130232

 

[Ironhead]

WOW ! Marner is awesome.

 

[gcostanza]

Well he did warn the Leafs that he is the true # 1 pick . At 6'5" and with his shot I would have taken him.

And you'd be just about the only one who would've taken him over Matthews.

 

[smuddan]

WOW ! Marner is awesome.

One common ability among great players is that they make line mates better players. Bozak looks better than anytime he played with Kessel. JVR seems coming around after having been out for the second half of the last season. I can foresee somewhere down the road Marner and McDavid play on the same line for team Canada.

 

[SkyRider]

Stamkos injured again. Out at least 4 months.

 

[superstar_88]

Marner is pretty much the new Kessel but Marner is better. Marner blocks shots and chases down on defense. No floating. Kessel has the better shot and that's about it. Hyman is a 4th liner. He kills all the creativity of Matthews. One play along the boards with Matthews right behind him he shoots the puck behind the net and goes to chase it and loses the foot race. Brown brings out the offense in Kadri and Komarov. He could definitely help Matthews Nylander. Hyman to the 4th and try Shoshnikov with Kadri and Komarov.

 

[Dawgger]

Marner is pretty much the new Kessel but Marner is better. Marner blocks shots and chases down on defense. No floating. Kessel has the better shot and that's about it. Hyman is a 4th liner. He kills all the creativity of Matthews. One play along the boards with Matthews right behind him he shoots the puck behind the net and goes to chase it and loses the foot race. Brown brings out the offense in Kadri and Komarov. He could definitely help Matthews Nylander. Hyman to the 4th and try Shoshnikov with Kadri and Komarov.

Hyman plays LW, Nylander and Brown play RW.

 

[superstar_88]

Hyman plays LW, Nylander and Brown play RW.

Good point then Leafs are weak on skill on the left side aside from JVR and perhaps Komarov but Komarov is more skill in a different way.

Nylander, Marner, Brown, Soshnikov is a good set of right wingers. Interesting in that all 4 are rookies so it's a total revamp on the right side. Laine also is a right winger so for sure having Matthews is much more important to the Leafs.

Center with Matthews, Bozak, Kadri, and a face off specialist 4th is fine. Matthews alone makes the Leafs down the middle so much better. They'll need to replace Bozak with something better eventually to contend. At least someone comparable.

Their skill on LW looks to be on the Marlies. Leipsic for one. They aslo have Timashov but he's not ready. Then there's Leivo. He can shoot. So perhaps he's the answer. Replace Hyman with Leivo on that line which would mean Hyman would be out of the lineup since he won't be replacing JVR, Komarov, or Martin.

 

[Dawgger]

Good point then Leafs are weak on skill on the left side aside from JVR and perhaps Komarov but Komarov is more skill in a different way.

Nylander, Marner, Brown, Soshnikov is a good set of right wingers. Interesting in that all 4 are rookies so it's a total revamp on the right side. Laine also is a right winger so for sure having Matthews is much more important to the Leafs.

Center with Matthews, Bozak, Kadri, and a face off specialist 4th is fine. Matthews alone makes the Leafs down the middle so much better. They'll need to replace Bozak with something better eventually to contend. At least someone comparable.

Their skill on LW looks to be on the Marlies. Leipsic for one. They aslo have Timashov but he's not ready. Then there's Leivo. He can shoot. So perhaps he's the answer. Replace Hyman with Leivo on that line which would mean Hyman would be out of the lineup since he won't be replacing JVR, Komarov, or Martin.

While it is fun to speculate, where to play who, I think those decisions are best left with the coach the Leafs are paying multi millions of dollars to make these decisions. Mathews will be fine, just give him time.

 

[gcostanza]

Marner is pretty much the new Kessel but Marner is better.....

You've figured that out 17 games into his NHL career?
Mmmkay.

 

[gcostanza]

Stamkos injured again. Out at least 4 months.

Geez, what a baseball player....

 

[SkyRider]

I think this Leaf team is a slightly sub-par playoff team. They might barely make the playoffs but most likely will just miss.

BTW: In hindsight, it is probably a good thing the Leafs didn't sign Stamkos. He's hurt again.

 

[shack]

While it is fun to speculate, where to play who, I think those decisions are best left with the coach the Leafs are paying multi millions of dollars to make these decisions.

This sounds exactly like a Blue Jays discussion.

 

[jackjackjohnson]

I think this Leaf team is a slightly sub-par playoff team. They might barely make the playoffs but most likely will just miss.

BTW: In hindsight, it is probably a good thing the Leafs didn't sign Stamkos. He's hurt again.

There is a reason Stamkos stayed put and that reason was the offers rolling in were reflecting the fact that he is injury prone and no one knew to what extent. It's becoming clear he may be Lupul like in the luck factor. The reported 8+ million per year for Stamkos were exaggerated. His highest offer was 6.8 million from other teams so he took the highest offer from Tampa.

The Leafs have ton of potential.Not sold on Babcock. Never was. He has always done a lot with a lot. Never seen him do a lot with a little.

 

[glamphotographer]

There is a reason Stamkos stayed put and that reason was the offers rolling in were reflecting the fact that he is injury prone and no one knew to what extent. It's becoming clear he may be Lupul like in the luck factor. The reported 8+ million per year for Stamkos were exaggerated. His highest offer was 6.8 million from other teams so he took the highest offer from Tampa.

The Leafs have ton of potential.Not sold on Babcock. Never was. He has always done a lot with a lot. Never seen him do a lot with a little.

Stamkos = TB lightning's version of Lupul. Out 4 months. An major injury every season. His career is pretty much done. Babcock work with little when he started in Anahiem but this Leafs team is the best rookie crop he has ever seen. Anyways anything JJJ says doesn't make any sense and just trolls add him to your ignore list.

 

[jackjackjohnson]

Stamkos = TB lightning's version of Lupul. Out 4 months. An major injury every season. His career is pretty much done. Babcock work with little when he started in Anahiem but this Leafs team is the best rookie crop he has ever seen. Anyways anything JJJ says doesn't make any sense and just trolls add him to your ignore list.

Paul Kariya
Petr Sykora
Steve Rucchin
Adam Oates

Giguere/Gerber


I would say that's a lot more than little.

 

[SkyRider]

Stamkos = TB lightning's version of Lupul.

Hockey injuries happens but the blood clot is genetic (bad genes).