Leafs 2024-2025 Season Thread

[superstar_88]

It's preseason but Robertson has 5 goals in 4 games and his overall game looks so much better.
They'll certainly give him a legit shot to see how he performs in the regular season.

 

[roddermac]

With 3 (Tanev, OEL and Weber) new guys the defence looked bad. Understandably they need time to jell.

I’m not sure I like the Nylander at centre experiment. Even a step slower Tavares is still their second best centre and Nylander has proven that he’s an elite winger when he wants to be and the wing positions get a lot weaker with him at centre. Their first priority is to get the top two line going. Getting a competent 3rd line centre is a lot easier than replacing Nylander’s presence on the wing. Just mho.

They should play Marner at center. I don't see why they think Nylander at center is the better move.

 

[smuddan]

They should play Marner at center. I don't see why they think at center is the better move.

While I agree Marner would make a better centre than Nylander because he’s better defensively, I still don’t like the idea of switching an elite winger to a centre because playing centre adds more responsibilities and It would be very difficult for either to learn those responsibilities at this stage of their careers. It would be a lot easier for a centre to switch to wing. Nylander did play centre at different times but I’d think all his coaches would think he’s better suited as a winger as he eventually would go back on the wing.

Tavares has slowed down because of aging but I still see him as the second best centre on the team. He’s not worth the 11 million they’re paying him but that’s not his fault. Taking away his captaincy and then announce to the whole hockey world that he’s not even good enough to be a second line centre on this team is rather insulting imo.

 

[roddermac]

While I agree Marner would make a better centre than Nylander because he’s better defensively, I still don’t like the idea of switching an elite winger to a centre because playing centre adds more responsibilities and It would be very difficult for either to learn those responsibilities at this stage of their careers. It would be a lot easier for a centre to switch to wing. Nylander did play centre at different times but I’d think all his coaches would think he’s better suited as a winger as he eventually would go back on the wing.

Tavares has slowed down because of aging but I still see him as the second best centre on the team. He’s not worth the 11 million they’re paying him but that’s not his fault. Taking away his captaincy and then announce to the whole hockey world that he’s not even good enough to be a second line centre on this team is rather insulting imo.

So who should play centre on the second line

 

[bemeup]

My predictions for the 4 lines:
Knies-Matthews-Marner
Robertson-Tavares-Nylander
Pacioretty-Domi-McMann
Kampf-Jarnkrok-Reaves
Possibly a switch with Tavares and Domi.

 

[smuddan]

My predictions for the 4 lines:
Knies-Matthews-Marner
Robertson-Tavares-Nylander
Pacioretty-Domi-McMann
Kampf-Jarnkrok-Reaves
Possibly a switch with Tavares and Domi.

Until Tavares leaves or they find a better 2nd line centre, I’d keep him there. Domi is also more suited as a winger because he’s also prone to defensive glitches. They also have Holmberg and Kampf who are “natural centres” for their 3rd and 4th lines, although Kampf and Jarnkrok may be on the trading block for cap relief.

 

[tml]

So the Nylander at center experiment is over?

 

[smuddan]

So the Nylander at center experiment is over?

I can’t answer that question but there were reports that he was back on the wing in practice. Regardless, he can fill in at centre if and when injuries occur.

Looking towards next season, I can see that they could potentially lose one or both of Tavares and Marner. The question I have is, can they afford to lose both ? Or, can they afford to keep both ?

Marner seems to be the one more likely to walk because of what he’ll demand. The fact that they’ve demoted Tavares to the 3rd line starting last season could mean they’ll probably only offer a 3rd line centre’s money, My guess will be somewhere between 3.5 to 4.5 mil ?
Will Tavares take that ?

 

[tml]

Former Leaf Jack Campbell enters the player assistance program. I feel bad for him because when he was here he seemed like a nice, genuine guy. Had his good moments on the ice, too. Hope Soupy gets things back on track.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/articl...ck-campbell-enters-player-assistance-program/

 

[tml]

Mark January 16 2025 on your calendars. That's the night Sheldon Keefe makes his return to Toronto. Hope the crowd gives him a nice hand, he deserves it.

 

[superstar_88]

Jersey is tied for 3rd behind only Edmonton and Florida as cup odds favourites.
Leafs are 9th according to fanduel.

 

[shack]

Jersey is tied for 3rd

They are the favourite team of my 2nd born male child.

Best player is J'accuse.

 

[roddermac]

Mark January 16 2025 on your calendars. That's the night Sheldon Keefe makes his return to Toronto. Hope the crowd gives him a nice hand, he deserves it.

He''ll win coach of the year. You watch.

 

[superstar_88]

 

[shack]

There seems to be the intensity of Nylander that people previously said he didn't possess. That's the shit that a team leader says.

 

[tml]

Leafs first regular season game is Wednesday against Montreal. I wonder if Reaves and Xhekaj will be in the starting lineups.

 

[superstar_88]

Leafs first regular season game is Wednesday against Montreal. I wonder if Reaves and Xhekaj will be in the starting lineups.

We all know the answer to this one ...
Treliving signed him to 3 years.
Berube was a fighter and loves fighting still.
Treliving and Berube both like big players unlike Dubas and Keefe.
Laine injured during a game vs Leafs.
It's game 1. Not game 82 must win.

 

[smuddan]

I don’t think there’s much argument who’s the current heavyweight champ, but if Xhekaj loses control like he did against Pare, that could cost them the game. Reaves might have been the champ at one time but the age and size differences favour Xhekaj.

 

[superstar_88]

No doubt Xhekaj is the better fighter but Reaves is the closest thing to counter. Imagine if a top forward for the Leaf gets injured in game 1. It was pre-season, I'm sure that had an influence on how Xhekaj acted. Winning that game had no meaning. Pare will never play a game of significance for the Leafs. It was then or never for Xhekaj. He knew what he was doing. The alternative was to go after Matthews or Marner.

There are still teams with a fighter. Especially in the East. Boston picked up Lucic last year to counter. TB traded plenty of draft picks for Jeannnot. NYR has Rempe, Philly has Hathaway and Deslauriers, Columbus has Olivier. Wilson in Washington, Ottawa has Tkachuk do all their fighting.

 

[tml]

No doubt Xhekaj is the better fighter but Reaves is the closest thing to counter. Imagine if a top forward for the Leaf gets injured in game 1. It was pre-season, I'm sure that had an influence on how Xhekaj acted. Winning that game had no meaning. Pare will never play a game of significance for the Leafs. It was then or never for Xhekaj. He knew what he was doing. The alternative was to go after Matthews or Marner.

There are still teams with a fighter. Especially in the East. Boston picked up Lucic last year to counter. TB traded plenty of draft picks for Jeannnot. NYR has Rempe, Philly has Hathaway and Deslauriers, Columbus has Olivier. Wilson in Washington, Ottawa has Tkachuk do all their fighting.

If the Leaf game is a blowout, fireworks are a possibility in the last few minutes.