Maple Leafs 2018 - 19
- Thread starter Insidious Von
- Start date
I know there's a love affair with Babcock locally because he's been very successful coaching overwhelmingly talented teams before --- but 26 giveaways last night, the disorganization in their own end, and a pathetic power play in the last 6 games despite expensive talent... an objective observer would admit the Leafs don't look well coached relative to other teams this year.
A team which is up and rising and looks really well coached right now are the New York Islanders.
It would be the ultimate irony for Tavares if, at the end of the season, the Islanders end up bumping Toronto out of a wild card spot.
UFA as was Tavaras. Those were the going rates for UFA's. But at that price yes Marleau looks like a waste of money right now. You'll probably be saying the same in Tavaras' last few years as well.
Once Matthews, Marner and Nylander becomes UFA's watch out. Add Rielly and Kadri also. Gardiner and Kapanen next year. Look at Bozak and JVR. Once they became UFA's not worth keeping. Gardiner may fall under this category of not worth keeping.
your just figuring this out now? defence has been terrible for at least 8 years.
Pitts won a cup with no Letang and a noname defense. Think getting Dermott in and Marincin out will make a huge difference. Marincin can't make a play if his life depended on it.
As big a fan as I am, I never thought this team should be considered as a favourite as so many made them out to be. This team lacks defence and toughness necessary for a playoff run to the cup unless Dubas makes the necessary improvements in those areas.
Even during the 7 game hot streak to start the season when Matthews led offence was piling up record breaking points, I thought they were lucky and took advantage of some sub par goaltending and early season defence miscues. It would be naive for anyone to think that pace could continue. This team wasn't as good as the stats showed.
By the same token, the last 5 games where the offence struggled to score goal isn't necessarily an indication of any inherent problems with this core of offensive talent. For different reasons teams will go up and down during the long haul of a regular season . They
are not as good as they showed in the first 7 games, but not as bad as the last 5 where they only scored 9 goals and 2 wins.
For those Babcock doubters and haters, maybe wait till the 60th game mark before you dump on him. Seriously, do you really think any coach in the history of the game could have done better with this team than he has ?
Even during the 7 game hot streak to start the season when Matthews led offence was piling up record breaking points, I thought they were lucky and took advantage of some sub par goaltending and early season defence miscues. It would be naive for anyone to think that pace could continue. This team wasn't as good as the stats showed.
By the same token, the last 5 games where the offence struggled to score goal isn't necessarily an indication of any inherent problems with this core of offensive talent. For different reasons teams will go up and down during the long haul of a regular season . They
are not as good as they showed in the first 7 games, but not as bad as the last 5 where they only scored 9 goals and 2 wins.
For those Babcock doubters and haters, maybe wait till the 60th game mark before you dump on him. Seriously, do you really think any coach in the history of the game could have done better with this team than he has ?
I don't think they are the realistic favourites. Only the betting favourites because of all the Leafs fans with rose coloured glasses putting money down on them. Andersen is unproven in playoffs. They haven't won a round of playoff in what 14 years? They lack size and grit which is very much needed in playoffs. Their players with size play soft. Their most rugged is probably Kadri and Hyman and that's it. That says it all.
The only thing really going for them is the top end skill at forward but even their PP teams have already figured out. JVR really had a dimension to him that Tavaras doesn't look like he has. Size for screening and gaining position, tipping, and soft hands in close to roof it.
The only thing really going for them is the top end skill at forward but even their PP teams have already figured out. JVR really had a dimension to him that Tavaras doesn't look like he has. Size for screening and gaining position, tipping, and soft hands in close to roof it.
Andersen like he did last year can hide their deficiencies. Other than last year's game 7 of course.
Auston Matthews is a bit of a comic, that was quite the reaction to spooky Carlton the Bear...but I'm concerned about his injury problems.
He has massive shoulders, he shouldn't be getting injured from a clean hit. I suspect that he was juiced up to improve his draft rating. He could be playing clean now and his body hasn't adjusted yet. I thought last year's problems were due to over training, not so.
He has massive shoulders, he shouldn't be getting injured from a clean hit. I suspect that he was juiced up to improve his draft rating. He could be playing clean now and his body hasn't adjusted yet. I thought last year's problems were due to over training, not so.
Could you please explain the physiology/dynamics/body mechanics that would prove your theory there. I've never heard of a correlation between shoulder size and chance of getting injured by a "clean" hit. Are clean hits always less forceful? Are guys with big shoulders more often properly braced to take a hit than guys with small shoulders? Does it apply to other body parts? Do guys with big heads get less concussions?
I know what you are getting at. It is intuition, but as I've tried to point out, it does not stand up to scrutiny.
Another wild theory. Proof? Evidence? Speculation? Gut feeling.
Stop over analyzing. Just a freak accident. It happens. Time for Kadri and Tavares to step up without Matthews.
Marner and Tavares have good chemistry. I'm happy with them being on the same line. This is how I would formulate forward lines if I were Babcock.
Marleau-Kadri-Kapanen
Hyman-Tavares-Marner
Jonsson-Lindholm-Leivo
Ennis-Gauthier-Brown
I'd actually like to see Josh Jooris given a chance even though he's been subpar down with the Marlies. I think he's a hidden talent.
Agree. I am not sure why KD tried to speculate on why/how it happened.
That would be nice.
Against a one line team like Dallas at home with the last change, Babcock may want to put
his two best checkers (Hyman & Brown ?)with either Kadri or Taraves trying to neutralize
the Benn line. If they can do that, they'll win. Marner and Marleau with either Kadri or JT
will have better matchup and scoring chances. Without Matthews and Nylander, it has a
trickle down effect and the 3rd and 4th lines don't look quite as promising.
Just heard the tsn guys were saying that 3 Hurricanes scouts will be at the game tonight. They've been rumoured in possible trade talks for Nylander. Maybe something big is in the works.
Any trade should help both teams so bring it on. It'll have to be a grade A type of defenseman though otherwise it could have a Taylor Hall type ending.
If that's the case, I'd be more interested in what the Leafs' scouts are looking at. The Canes scouts can't be looking at anyone major.
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I do not think so as well. What they do have is a good club that if it get's hot at play-off time could easily make a run of it like a lot of recent cup winners.
Actually, yes - I won't write an essay about it, but the observation is based on their last 95 games, not the futuristic 60.
It's irrelevant in any case; Babcock and Shanahan are so tight he's not going anywhere anytime soon. So let's put the focus on polishing up our golf clubs; April is coming.
