Maple Leafs 2018 - 19

[HOLLYWOODG]

Can the Leafs send Nylander to the minors? Just fuck it. Let him earn his way back.

Let a hungry and very professional Ben Smith get the call to replace him.

 

[Darts]

The Leafs need a shooter like HOFer Jacques Lemaire. That guy could score from center ice.

"Lemaire's slapshot from centre ice beat Hawks' netminder Tony Esposito"
https://www.hhof.com/htmlSpotlight/spot_pinnaclep198402.shtml

There was also a Russian guy (Balderis?) who fired a rocket from center ice and beat (Dryden?).

 

[gcostanza]

Can the Leafs send Nylander to the minors? Just fuck it. Let him earn his way back.

Let a hungry and very professional Ben Smith get the call to replace him.

Yeah, let's sign a guy from the German Elite League (Mannheim Eagles), who has 10 goals in 40 games there.
He'll solve the Maple Leafs problems, we can plan the parade route now.

 

[shack]

The Leafs need a shooter like HOFer Jacques Lemaire. That guy could score from center ice.

"Lemaire's slapshot from centre ice beat Hawks' netminder Tony Esposito"
https://www.hhof.com/htmlSpotlight/spot_pinnaclep198402.shtml

There was also a Russian guy (Balderis?) who fired a rocket from center ice and beat (Dryden?).

They scored from centre a lot less than Habs defenceman J.C. Tremblay and his bounce shot.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Nylander is untradeable now unless the Leafs eat some of his salary.
Unless it is a significant chunk of his salary, the Leafs would get nothing significant in return.

Untrue, front loaded contract with the Leafs paying bonuses plus his age and skating are too irresistible to GM’s.

There are lots of trades of players who are still work in progress. See Nino who just got traded.

 

[Malibuk]

Nylander is owed $33 million over the next 5 years.
Nobody is going to pay that and give up a significant asset(s), at this point.

 

[chuckertmg]

One positive thing about the Leafs right now is that Montreal and Boston are giving them every conceivable opportunity to maintain their position in the standings....

 

[smuddan]

Nylander played pretty well tonight, as a 4th liner. Someone told me he was holding out because he didn't want to sign only to get traded. He has certainly been doing his best to make it hard for the Leafs to trade him.

Whatever line shuffles Babcock is trying doesn't seem to do much. What I'd really like to see is putting a super line of Matthews-Tavares-Marner for at least a few games. For the odd shifts they've played together I thought they created good chances.

Marner has almost been Taraves' winger exclusively, maybe it's another one of Dubas's promises when negotiating. The team is going nowhere until Matthews gets out of this funk and playing with Marner may help him doing just that.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Nylander played pretty well tonight, as a 4th liner. Someone told me he was holding out because he didn't want to sign only to get traded. He has certainly been doing his best to make it hard for the Leafs to trade him.

Whatever line shuffles Babcock is trying doesn't seem to do much. What I'd really like to see is putting a super line of Matthews-Tavares-Marner for at least a few games. For the odd shifts they've played together I thought they created good chances.

Marner has almost been Taraves' winger exclusively, maybe it's another one of Dubas's promises when negotiating. The team is going nowhere until Matthews gets out of this funk and playing with Marner may help him doing just that.

Hahaha...Babcock changing lines and putting Marner with Matthews? More chance of moving Hainsey down the pairings.

This is the time for Babcock to prove his worth. Always known as a great head coach without getting any awards but with decent success. Now with a team that on paper sounds good but doesn’t play well. We are the counter to teams like Montreal, Vegas and the Islanders who have less talent but collectively play better.

This is coaching. I saw Babcock’s signing as a good form of organizational validation and restructuring. But seeing him closely and his decisions, I wonder if he can get out of his own way and change his stubborn strategies to talent to work. Last year is a free pass. Maybe this year too. But big expectations are coming.

 

[mynameisearl11]

At this point in the season I like the Leafs chances of beating the Lightnings as #1 vs. #8 in the playoff:couch2:
So don't worry,folks. We just need the Leafs go on a long playoff run in the spring. Did Detroit make a playoff at all since Bab left there? Anybody knows? Things will be back to normal after the all-star break. Too many distractions as most players prepare their families for winter vacations.

 

[gcostanza]

Hahaha...Babcock changing lines and putting Marner with Matthews? More chance of moving Hainsey down the pairings.

Leafs lines at practice:

Hyman-Tavares-Kapanen
Marleau-Matthews-Marner
Brown-Kadri-Nylander
Lindholm-Gauthier-Holl (holding for Moore)

Rielly-Hainsey
Dermott-Zaitsev
Marincin-Ozhiganov

Absent:
Gardiner (back spasms)
Johnsson (concussion)

Lines at Maple Leafs practice today

 

[superstar_88]

Too bad they don't have 3 Marners. One for each of Tavaras, Kadri, and Matthews. Gotta at least have Marner and Matthews play together to see what they look like.

Nylander looked decent on the 4th line playing against 4th line competition? Is that what we're grasping on now?

Ben Smith is no longer on the Marlies.

 

[oral.com]

When Johnny Gaudreau held out for a better contract, he came back and barely made an impact his first 20 games. Look at him now!!!
Let’s be patient with Nylander, he will eventually break out.
As for the Babcock no defence (in any zone) all offence system, maybe it’s time for a change

 

[glamphotographer]

At this point in the season I like the Leafs chances of beating the Lightnings as #1 vs. #8 in the playoff:couch2:
So don't worry,folks. We just need the Leafs go on a long playoff run in the spring. Did Detroit make a playoff at all since Bab left there? Anybody knows? Things will be back to normal after the all-star break. Too many distractions as most players prepare their families for winter vacations.

I like the Leafs chances if they cross over into the Metro division (as the 1st wild card) to play either the Pens, Caps, Islanders or Blue Jackets. Forget finishing second in the Atlantic. And forget trying to get home ice advantage, it more like home ice disadvantage, the Leafs are far better on the road. If the Leafs won the cup on the raod, I don't think any Leaf fans would complain.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Leafs lines at practice:

Hyman-Tavares-Kapanen
Marleau-Matthews-Marner
Brown-Kadri-Nylander
Lindholm-Gauthier-Holl (holding for Moore)

Rielly-Hainsey
Dermott-Zaitsev
Marincin-Ozhiganov

Absent:
Gardiner (back spasms)
Johnsson (concussion)

Lines at Maple Leafs practice today

My prayers have been answered! Let’s see it pass one shift, one period, one game!

Does it smell of desperation or is Babcock finally being less stubborn?

 

[superstar_88]

What if NYlander played for the NYIslanders?

 

[glamphotographer]

What if NYlander played for the NYIslanders?

What if Nylander plays in the AHL?

 

[mynameisearl11]

Leafs lines at practice:

Hyman-Tavares-Kapanen
Marleau-Matthews-Marner
Brown-Kadri-Nylander
Lindholm-Gauthier-Holl (holding for Moore)

Rielly-Hainsey
Dermott-Zaitsev
Marincin-Ozhiganov

Absent:
Gardiner (back spasms)
Johnsson (concussion)

Lines at Maple Leafs practice today

I am not a coach or pretend to be better than Bab. But, I would rather see Moore with Kadri. Leave Nylander on the 4th line. Kad and Nylon are both struggled like hell for months. Let's give Moore a little longer leash on the 3rd line and see what he can do.

 

[superstar_88]

What if Nylander plays in the AHL?

What if he played in a woman's league? He'd have the best hair of anyone.

 

[smuddan]

Great game for the Kadri-Nylander-Brown line. Best game Willy has played this season. Kadri finally got some puck luck. The hat trick goal was rebound of Brown's shot off two posts.

I hope Matthews and Marner will be kept together for a few more games. I'm concerned with Marleau though. Perhaps Father Time has finally caught up with him. I'm really impressed by Moore. Maybe put him on with M & M (MMM line) and see what he can do.