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2020-21 Maple Leafs Thread

Fun For All

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Nylander has 4 goals and 11 assists in his past 12 games. Yes he's been productive but I don't think he's necessarily playing well. To me he is the most frustrating player on the team. He's horrendous defensively, he gets knocked off the puck way too easy, and at times does not put in an effort to win pucks. Instead you'll find him circling around the center ice line. In my day we called those players cherry pickers. He is gifted offensively and puts himself in positions to score or set up plays.
Tavares is playing well at both ends of the ice. He would have even more points if he didn't have such a propensity to hit the post or crossbar.
Marner and Matthews have been outstanding offensively this year. Matthews has also dramatically improved his two way game. Marner still coughs the puck up too much trying to be cute with the puck. That could cost us in the playoffs.
You are hard to please...pretty critical on Nylander's success and making excuses for Tavaras 2nd down year in a row...
 

superstar_88

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... and lead the league last year in net front goals
 

Fun For All

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he,s not wrong. nylander biggest flake on this team. soft as shite. like i said in an earlier thread, you can have him.
Not wrong but unfair...if your expectations are for Nylander to start playing like Terry O'Reilly you're going to be disappointed, not his style, never was never will be...
 
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superstar_88

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Interesting stat came up last week during one of the games.
Leafs may be near the bottom of the league in hits but they are something like 4th in winning puck battles.
People only want to see what they want to see from Nylander.
What they choose not to see is his elite skills. He skates probably better than anyone else on the team. Including Matthews and Marner.
He scores a lot of net front goals. Why don't other players score more net front? Players like Simmonds or Kerfoot or Engvall?
 
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maurice93

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glamphotographer

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Are they considered to be on LTIR? Certainly in prior years a short injury does not provide any cap relief.. but I know the rules were tweaked this year.
They may have to move some on LTIR. But when the playoffs start, cap space rules don't apply.
 

gcostanza

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maurice93

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They may have to move some on LTIR. But when the playoffs start, cap space rules don't apply.
Aware of the playoff rule. Canadiens also using it to their advantage when Gallagher went out.

When I go for walks I listen to TSN Radio podcasts. A few of their analysts, recently Dreger a few days ago said they did not see how it would be possible to get Anderson in for a reg game. I think Dave Poulin was the other last week. I guess they were wrong. I guess the moral of the story is never trust Dreger. I will still trust the others still.
 

superstar_88

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Fun will be happy to hear Andersen will get to play in his simulated game with NHL shooters. No guarantee he won't get injured though.
 
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glamphotographer

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Teams like to run our goalies for some reason, so it's important to have depth in goalies. Andersen and Rittich as backups don't hurt, it's better than Hutchinson as a backup unless you consider the Zamboni driver better.
 
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gcostanza

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Are they considered to be on LTIR? Certainly in prior years a short injury does not provide any cap relief.. but I know the rules were tweaked this year.
Explanation of how to fit FA31 under the cap.

 
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glamphotographer

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superstar_88

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Teams like to run our goalies for some reason, so it's important to have depth in goalies. Andersen and Rittich as backups don't hurt, it's better than Hutchinson as a backup unless you consider the Zamboni driver better.
Ok about the Zamboni driver let's get some perspective here. He was terrible in that game. The team in front of him though played spectacular. They protected him. Blocking shots and playing with intensity giving up very few high danger chances. The Leafs on the other hand had no intensity or killer instinct. Almost looked like they didn't want to beat up on a friend. That's no excuse but that's how the Leafs usually operate. They play down to lesser opponents and play inspired against the top teams. Hence why they usually have trouble with the likes of Detroit and Buffalo and Ottawa this year. Against teams like TB, Boston, Vegas they look good because they play inspired and focused. This year when Edmonton was a legit threat to jump them in the standings they played the best they've played all season. Then when Winnipeg was the threat to jump them in the standings they also played great.

Teams running Leaf goalies is overblown. Quite frankly I don't recall once this year when a team ran a Leaf goalie. If you're talking about Tkachuk stomping on Campbell's head that is Tkachuk being Tkachuk. He's just sneaky dirty and surely he's not reserving his antics just for Leaf goalies.
 
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