Leafs 2024-2025 Season Thread

[superstar_88]

Florida was the best offensive team in 2022 when they won the President's Trophy. They scored a whopping 340 goals. No other team was even close. They got trounced in the playoffs.
They revamped their strategy. Last season they allowed only 200 goals. Only 1 team allowed less.
They scored 268 goals. For comparison Leafs were the second highest scoring team with 303.
Panthers won the cup.

 

[superstar_88]

What I noticed about the Panthers was they didn't play like the angry Panthers.
No scrums, no cheap shots, no big hits. Just end of play turn around line change.
Missing so many regular forwards really showed for the Leafs this game. Lack of finish aside from Marner. They're going to need Matthews and Knies for the TB game. Probably McMann as well for their full compliment of top 6. Of the AHL players Minton looks the best.
I can see now why Robertson asked for a trade before the season started. He's not a fit for Berube's style of play.

 

[shack]

I can see now why Robertson asked for a trade before the season started. He's not a fit for Berube's style of play.

And he's ham-handed. He just cannot finish. He's all flash and dash, shakin' and shimmyin', but no results.

 

[tml]

Latest rumours:
--Leafs are negotiating with Tavares for a contract extension.
--Marner wants more money than Matthews is getting.

 

[Sonic Temple]

BrianBeLeafs

 

[glamphotographer]

 

[bemeup]

My favourite moment from last night’s game: Craig Simpson wondering why Auston Matthews wasn’t out there with Mitch Marner to kill a penalty in the 3rd period. Umm, Craig, maybe it’s because it was Matthew’s in the penalty box?

 

[shack]

My favourite moment from last night’s game: Craig Simpson wondering why Auston Matthews wasn’t out there with Mitch Marner to kill a penalty in the 3rd period. Umm, Craig, maybe it’s because it was Matthew’s in the penalty box?

Was he giggling while he was wondering?

 

[glamphotographer]

My favourite moment from last night’s game: Craig Simpson wondering why Auston Matthews wasn’t out there with Mitch Marner to kill a penalty in the 3rd period. Umm, Craig, maybe it’s because it was Matthew’s in the penalty box?

The only way you can kill a penalty while in the penalty box is to pray that you sit for the full 2 minutes.

 

[superstar_88]

The Selke has been won by predominantly Centers. Only 4 wingers have ever won the award. The last was over 20 years ago. With Bergeron retired and Florida not being the defensive juggernaut they were last year it opens up an opportunity for a new winner. Barkov was last year's winner.

It may be time for Marner to get some serious consideration. The Leafs are playing a more defensive style and they've allowed the second fewest five on five goals. Unlike last year the PK is good this year, currently 8th and Marner is their primary PK forward. Even at 5 on 3 he is usually the forward out there.

Marner is also top 10 in points. Only 6 behind the leader. Amongst the top offensive players no one puts in as much time on the PK as Marner aside from Hagel who interestingly is also a winger but Hagel is not top 10 in points. Barkov kills penalties but not to the extent of Marner and Hagel.

Unlike the Lady Byng the Selke is a prestigious award to win. Marner never had a chance prior to this year because of their overall defense. This year he's primed. In 2023 Marner was 3rd in Selke voting won by Bergeron and that year no team was even close to Boston defensively. Ryan O'Reilly won the Selke with St Louis in 2019 coached by none other than Berube.

 

[superstar_88]

Leafs are now only 2 pts behind the mighty Jets.
They've also played 1 less game.

 

[Sonic Temple]

BrianBeLeafs

 

[Sonic Temple]

BrianBeLeafs

 

[K Douglas]

I have to be the first to admit that I was wrong about the Leafs this season. I thought that they would struggle and just make the playoffs. The Berube effect seems to be much larger than I anticipated. Particularly on two Leafs that fans were critical of last season - Marner and Tavares. They are both playing exceptionally well. Particularly when Matthews was out.

 

[superstar_88]

Regulation wins:
Leafs were criticized last season for lack of.
They currently have 14. The most in their Division.
Only 6 teams have more. 2 each from the other 3 Divisions.
Of those 6, 5 have 15 regulation wins or 1 more than the Leafs.
New Jersey has 16 but they've played 3 more games than the Leafs.

 

[tml]

I'll wait for Friday's game before passing judgement. Florida beat them handily. If Washington does too it might signal a problem with stiffer competition.

 

[superstar_88]

They've been winning missing half their regular forwards including 9 games of Matthews and you're waiting one game against a good team. Have you forgotten already Leafs were the only team to beat Winnipeg when they were 15 and 1. Why not choose that one game to make your judgement.

Leafs have also beaten New Jersey (good team), LA (good team), TB twice (good team), Vegas (good team).
By the way, they've already beaten Washington once this season. No team wins every game they play.
So why base judgement on just one game.

That game against Florida they had 4 AHL forwards and McMann was injured mid game.
Their 4th, 5th, and 6th forwards in ice time were Holmberg, Minton, Dewar in that order.

 

[glamphotographer]

The Leafs have the goaltending tandem that Boston wants right Bullitt

 

[tml]

They've been winning missing half their regular forwards including 9 games of Matthews and you're waiting one game against a good team. Have you forgotten already Leafs were the only team to beat Winnipeg when they were 15 and 1. Why not choose that one game to make your judgement.

Leafs have also beaten New Jersey (good team), LA (good team), TB twice (good team), Vegas (good team).
By the way, they've already beaten Washington once this season. No team wins every game they play.
So why base judgement on just one game.

That game against Florida they had 4 AHL forwards and McMann was injured mid game.
Their 4th, 5th, and 6th forwards in ice time were Holmberg, Minton, Dewar in that order.

How the Leafs play against Florida and Washington currently is a better indicator of how they are than how they play against Chicago and Nashville. You won't be meeting teams like Chicago and Nashville in the playoffs, and the main goal of the Leafs this year is playoff success. Injuries are a fact of life for all teams to have to deal with during a long season, and how a team plays through injuries indicates the depth of that organization. The fact that Matthews missed 9 games is not as catastrophic as you think because historically they have a very good record when he's not in the lineup.
As a Leaf fan I'm impressed with how they have played this year, especially the defence. Absolutely thrilled with the goaltending.

 

[superstar_88]

How the Leafs play against Florida and Washington currently is a better indicator of how they are than how they play against Chicago and Nashville. You won't be meeting teams like Chicago and Nashville in the playoffs, and the main goal of the Leafs this year is playoff success. Injuries are a fact of life for all teams to have to deal with during a long season, and how a team plays through injuries indicates the depth of that organization. The fact that Matthews missed 9 games is not as catastrophic as you think because historically they have a very good record when he's not in the lineup.
As a Leaf fan I'm impressed with how they have played this year, especially the defence. Absolutely thrilled with the goaltending.

The regular season is tuning for the playoffs. Seeing what they have and what they need. Regular season is not the playoffs. Regular season you're playing 31 teams within a 6 month period. Playoffs is 1 team for 7 games times 4 if you get there and those teams are the better half of the league. I wouldn't focus on just one regular season game. They've already beaten good teams. With plenty injuries to boot to the forwards. Leafs are not playing 4 AHL players in the playoffs and Holmberg in your 4 spot. So how is the game against Florida any indication of this team? How is the Winnipeg game or the Vegas game or the or the Jersey game or the LA game or the TB games not any indication of this team? Or even the Washington game they've already played. The only real indication is the Florida game and the game tonight? Really?