What’s with Connor McDavid scoring highlight reel goals against Toronto...tonight he goes end to end and splits the Leafs on a 1 on 4 for a breakaway goal...
2020-21 Maple Leafs Thread
- Thread starter gcostanza
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As predicted, The Oilers prevail but the Leafs get a point. Can't contain McDavid forever. Leafs get 7 out of 8 points in Alberta, not too shabby. The Habs suffer their first regulation loss to Calgary.
I also heard that Kertfoot might be involved, that I think would be a better deal for the Leafs than giving up Dermott. Bennett is the type of players the Leafs need. In the few games I saw he played hard and hit hard a lot. He would add an element that makes this team a little harder to play against and he’s still young enough for further development in his skill game.
You pretty much summed it up.
He's under-performed for the the last 5 years and has made a career of taking stupid offensive zone penalties.... but he will hit.
If he requested a trade due to lack of playing time, I think I know why he might not be getting more playing time.
Leafs are not in a position to be trading defensemen right now, unless you consider bringing back Martin Marincin a good idea.
Jake Muzzin is going nowhere, he has a full no-movement clause in his deal.
Morgan Rielly is unlikely to go anywhere. Limited no-trade protection.
There are individuals who say Bennett hits a lot.
William Nylander, not so much.
In the NHL, players tend to hit other players who/when they have the puck.
William Nylander, not so much.
In the NHL, players tend to hit other players who/when they have the puck.
I don’t think any of Nylander’s critics myself included expect him to hit. It’s his defence and half ass effort when the other team has the puck that have been mostly criticized, and I don’t know why Nylander has to be brought into the picture when we’re talking about Bennett.
Question. No one is calling him the second coming of Bob Gainey but he is very talented offensively. Does what he does with the puck in offensive zone more than compensate for his deficiencies in the defensive?
Forget trades or contracts or anything, if he was not on the team, would the Leafs be better or worse.
In my opinion, no. His lazy attitude is a bad influence. You see a guy like Hyman busting his ass every shift and then you watch how Nylander makes half ass breeze by stick checks and avoids contact at all costs. It’s fine if and when the team wins but unfortunately this team has accomplished nothing other than making the playoff. I’m not trying to pin the team‘s failure all on him but he typifies this “soft” image created by Dubas.
To be clear I have nothing against Swedes, actually Salming is one of my all time Leafs favourites, he played with a heart of a lion and endured near inhuman abuses. It’s players like Inge Hammarstrom and Nylander that I have no respect for.
Aside from Salming then (he was a warrior and talented at both ends of the ice and possibly the best Swede ever in the NHL except for maybe Lidstrom), we can agree to disagree. I think Nylander helps them win more games, than being a significant cause of losing more games. If he was not on the team, the Leafs would be weaker.
Not that I am privy to any inside information but I have heard nothing to the effect of him being a drag on the mindset of his teammates. Do you have any knowledge of such a phenomenon or is it simply speculation on your part?
Not that I am privy to any inside information but I have heard nothing to the effect of him being a drag on the mindset of his teammates. Do you have any knowledge of such a phenomenon or is it simply speculation on your part?
It’s just my opinion and I respect yours though its on the opposite end. This is one that I sincerely hope is wrong and the Leafs win. I have the same mindset in real life that talent alone will not get you anywhere. Throughout my business career I have promoted less talented but hard working workers over the gifted but lazy ones and that approach has never failed me.
TBH, I think anyone who makes it to the NHL has had to put in hard work, if nothing else than to hone their skills. It takes, time, work, studying and repetition to get better and learn. It is not automatic. Some guys definitely work harder than others and in different ways, but nobody gets to this level without displaying some proclivity for work hard.
The 2 players were picked 4 spots apart (2014 Entry Draft).
Some might say it's a worthwhile to compare the values of the players.
When William Nylander is on the ice this season, the Maple Leafs control the puck more than 59% of the time.
When Sam Bennett is on the ice, Calgary controls the puck < 49% of the time.
Historically, Nylander is 54%, Bennett 50.8%.
Either Willie's linemates have strapped him on their back and have been carrying him defensively for the
last 5+ seasons, or he's better than some people's eye test make them believe.
The team that has the puck more often tends to score more often.
For some Old School statistics:
Bennett
Games: 373
Goals: 63
Assists: 66
Plus/Minus: -58
Nylander
Games: 317
Goals: 90
Assists: 140
Plus/Minus +11
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