2020-21 Maple Leafs Thread
- Thread starter gcostanza
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Justice is done. I don’t want to promote violence but the hit was so dangerous that could potentially end a player’s career. Only Edler knows his intentions but since he’s not known as a dirty player I’ll give him benefit of the doubt. I give him credit for taking the fight even though he’s never fought before and no other Canuck went after Simmonds afterwards. That tells me the players knew Edler had to pay for his gross negligence. That settled the score and they shifted back to hockey “peacefully”.
Hyman wrecked pionk after getting a couple of cross checks from him, Simmonds went after Dubois for running Campbell, Thornton was angry because he was elbowed by Ehlers. Just because they decided to engage rather then turning the other cheek doesn’t make them a dirty team. I’m happy to see the change in attitude and I think that will give them the “swagger” they need to feel like they can play any way the opponents want to.
Quinn Hughes one time blast from the point good to have on the PP, but in his defensive play, he fell flat on his ass on the Nylander goal and finished the night with a minus 4. Hughes is the Jake Gardiner of the Canucks.
Poulin made a good point on that yesterday where it wasn't needed because Edler is not a fighter nor a dirty player. Agreed.
Got my wish. Elder is lucky that fighting is watered down these days, but Simmonds still cut him so some measure of revenge was served.
Vancouver looked nothing like in their previous games. Nothing to get excited about here. Individually Sandin, Brooks, Brodie looked good. Engvall looked more inspired and engaged. I wouldn't say Rittich necessarily played well. No real threats and that goal he let in he was totally discombobulated. Hutch could have won this game. Maybe the Leafs are saving their good PP stuff for the playoffs.
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Edler's first fight and Simmonds beats him up for something that was an accident and he got suspended for it...I'd like to see Vancouver do the same thing to one of Toronto's non-fighters...
At this point I would just rotate the regulars in and out of games. And with all the games left with the Habs I would start Rittich or Hutchinson and give most of the minutes to the likes of Brooks, Engvall, Galchenyuk, Sabourin, Hutton, Liljegren....etc. Don't want Montreal to get familiar with the main guys and test schemes for the playoffs.
Edler's hit was an accident yes but the point was he took a run at Hyman. That he choose to do and as a result the "accident" happened when he stuck out his leg as Hyman dodged the hit. Part of the reason why you don't see incessant runs at all the little guys around the league is because there is so called "protection". The threat of retribution. If there wasn't the little guys wouldn't be able to survive.
I have no problems with what Simmonds did. It sends a message to the other teams and players in the league. A so called "league memo" is how Smudden would put it. A way to protect own players in future. If a team is known to be soft and you know no one on the team cares then other teams are much more willing to take runs. A deterrent if you will.
Edler also didn't have to accept the fight. It's not as if Simmonds blind sided and jumped him ala Bertuzzi.
I have no problems with what Simmonds did. It sends a message to the other teams and players in the league. A so called "league memo" is how Smudden would put it. A way to protect own players in future. If a team is known to be soft and you know no one on the team cares then other teams are much more willing to take runs. A deterrent if you will.
Edler also didn't have to accept the fight. It's not as if Simmonds blind sided and jumped him ala Bertuzzi.
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The Leafs send a message "bring it on". The Leafs aren't putting up with shit. Too many times the Leafs were a soft team and other teams took advantage of them.
...and the message Vancouver should send Toronto is to beat up one of their non-fighters.
As I said before, if the Canucks fell what Simmonds did was out of line, they would have sent someone to go after him. The fight happened so early that they had ample time to seek retribution if they wanted to. The players seemed to move on from that and stuck to playing hockey afterwards.
