2021-22 Maple Leafs Thread
- Thread starter John Wick
- Start date
From William Cann, approx 3 months ago.
His points came mostly from dirty areas and he is known for his incredible work ethic. He has good speed, a good shot, anda crazy high compete level. He’s not a big guy, at 5″11 and 190lbs, but he plays hard and finishes his checks. He is strong with good balance and he uses those traits to win a lot of puck battles.
His points came mostly from dirty areas and he is known for his incredible work ethic. He has good speed, a good shot, anda crazy high compete level. He’s not a big guy, at 5″11 and 190lbs, but he plays hard and finishes his checks. He is strong with good balance and he uses those traits to win a lot of puck battles.
I'd still be nervous.
I don't think that anyone can say that the Leafs beat an AHL team tonight.
Getting off to a 3-0 start was great but I think the key was the 4th goal (Tavares?) Avs had the momentum at 3-2 and we've seen the Leafs wilt too many times at a point like this. But they kept playing their patient game and dominated.
The only thing I didn't like, strictly for stats, was seeing Campbell giving up the 3rd goal.
With the Leafs‘ playoff records any fan would be nervous come playoff time. Intensity and physicality will be at a different level that you don’t see in the regular season.
Here’s a chicken and eggs question: is it the Leafs’ great performance that makes the opposition goaltending look bad ? Or is it the bad goaltending that makes the Leafs look great ?
There have been instances of both this season for the Leafs. Last night, it was definitely the latter. In the end, a win is a win and they all count in the standings. If they can keep this up to a reasonable degree, bodes well to wind up with weaker opponents in the first round of the playoffs. Winning a first round series might be a major catalyst for this team.
"Mod99
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Friday at 8:09 PM
Further - this forum is now zero tolerance for trolling, insults and attacks.
Speak to the issue, not the poster.
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If this guy isn't trolling, I don't know what is. Over and over and over.
That's why I'm starting to get a bit excited but I can't let go yet. That extra pressure, less time and space with the added physicality,
incremental changes can produce exponential changes in performance.
Case in point Martin Marincin. Against non elite teams in a regular season game, he showed a lot of composure, good IQ, nice first out pass,
I liked him. Kind of a 2nd tier Tomas Kaberle.
As soon as the stakes got cranked up against better teams, his game fell apart completely.
He's an extreme case but at the same time, these guys still have something to prove.
Assuming everyone is healthy when the playoffs start, based on what you've seen so far, who do you think might wind up as the steady core six defensemen going in? If everyone is healthy at the trade deadline, do the Leafs stand pat with who they have, or do they shop for an upgrade?
I think it's still too early to tell.
To be honest I don't think I've watched enough to give you a more precise perspective.
I would always be sniffing around for available players but the real team is always reflected in the last 25 games,
especially if they're trending.
Off the cuff my concern would be around the bottom three D and goalie.
Two of the four rotating are totally unproven and have very little experience even with regular games.
One of them gets hurt or one of the top 3 go down can one of those guys pull that weight?
And under any circumstance we better pray to god that Campbell doesn't go down.
You can hope everyone stays healthy but you shouldn't bet on it.
If the Leafs are still playing close to this level they have to go for it, lose more top draft picks and/or good prospects to trade up.
They're all in as it is, if they keep this up you have to go for it and pay the price.
March 21.
Still a lot of time left. injuries and availability of players will dictate what moves to make. They have good puck movers but size and physicality are lacking on defence. in the playoffs there’ll be a lot more battles along the boards and in front of the net so I’d like to see them add at least one guy who can be a presence.
There are a thousand eventualities that may occur to dictate what the Leafs need to do between now and then. The beginning of Feb may be a more appropriate time.
Right now, they're hitting on all cylinders.
They’re hitting on all cylinders because this is the regular season and they have time and space which will disappear in the playoffs. The only eventuality that would eliminate the need of additional size and toughness on defence is if they just fall out of the playoff picture. I do think they have the grit, toughness and size up front but not so much on defence.
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Gotta believe Spezza will be gone for at least 2-3 games for the deliberate knee to the head on Pionk. My guess is Pionk gets no more than a fine. Simmonds' attempt to flip Harkins with his stick off the face off and then cross-check him in the back as he was getting up looked so bush league. 
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Some comments from my other site ( where "Discussions are moderated for civility"). about the officiating in last night's game vs Winnipeg Jets. Yes, the officiating was terrible.
"Agree that it is hard to imagine the officials missing serious infractions but at the same time calling these 'barely makes contact' stick infractions is annoying, slows the game action and does nothing to level the playing field. Focus on illegal actions that do or could result in injury as well as...See more
Reply
Kojak's Cousin
3 hours ago
Precisely, ResDog! You nailed it. This league is so frustrating, and that's part of the reason it's a hard sell with our American friends.
Miss Jayden
3 hours ago
Bettman just doubles down. Sending out memos asking people not to complain about the bad officiating while the Refs keep messing up! Wow!
"
"Agree that it is hard to imagine the officials missing serious infractions but at the same time calling these 'barely makes contact' stick infractions is annoying, slows the game action and does nothing to level the playing field. Focus on illegal actions that do or could result in injury as well as...See more
Reply
Kojak's Cousin
3 hours ago
Precisely, ResDog! You nailed it. This league is so frustrating, and that's part of the reason it's a hard sell with our American friends.
Miss Jayden
3 hours ago
Bettman just doubles down. Sending out memos asking people not to complain about the bad officiating while the Refs keep messing up! Wow!
"
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