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2019-2020 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion

herman said:
The Kessel contract has been on our books just one year less than Morgan Rielly, the current longest serving Leaf, as been an NHLer.
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The retained portion of that contract has been a Leaf for only one season fewer than Kessel was. He's played only 48 fewer games with other teams since being moved than he did with the Leafs.
 
I'm surprised, actually. I didn't realize that many teams were carrying that dead weight. I've always been annoyed by that carry-over, but it really doesn't look bad in comparison.
 
Bates said:
herman said:
If Phil Kessel retired when this season is declared over (heaven forfend), would we be free and clear?
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Phil retired after last season, moved down to AZ and now just plays rec hockey.  I have seen it.
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;D That's the best line I've heard since the world went belly up.
 
https://twitter.com/connorcarrick/status/1255673003813359616

These two went toe to toe every year for fittest player on the team
 
herman said:
https://twitter.com/kristen_shilton/status/1260605313595703298

How do you feel about 1 yr 750k, Kyle?
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I like the guy, and he certainly adds some sandpaper that the Leafs need, but I can only see him fitting in if he's under $1m per.
 
Marner talking some sense about restarting play

https://twitter.com/steve_dangle/status/1260958753941323776
 
Some subjective rankings to rile people up by someone I swear is not me:

https://twitter.com/fauxcentre/status/1258454267607707649
https://twitter.com/fauxcentre/status/1255568103594844160
https://twitter.com/fauxcentre/status/1260671076800925701
https://twitter.com/fauxcentre/status/1261048826342694913
 
Nik Bethune said:
CarltonTheBear said:
I'm more surprised at the Preds topping that list. Their leading scorer isn't even a forward.
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They have 8 forwards over 4 million.
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The Leafs have only 4!

Islanders and Preds are the two teams on this list who don?t have game breaking goal scorers.
 
This originates with the Marlies, but the results ended up on the Leafs.

https://theathletic.com/1823765/2020/05/20/departing-staffer-jack-han-offers-insight-into-his-time-with-the-leafs-marlies/

?The thing that I?m most proud of in the past three years is Pierre Engvall,? Han said, as we discussed various players he saw come and go in his time with the player development department. ?He was a seventh round pick. We had some scouts that really liked him, but, really, he wasn?t a guy that was highly touted even internally at that time (in 2017-18). Then I started watching his games with HV71 (in Sweden) and you notice things. His ability to drive play down the ice. Obviously he?s a big guy who skates really well. He makes plays off both his forehand and backhand and has a pretty good shot.

?We started having these conversations ? (player development directors) Scott (Pellerin), Stephane (Robidas) and myself ? and we thought ?This guy can play in North America.'?

Engvall arrived not long after that point and formed part of a dominant line in the AHL playoffs with Frederik Gauthier and Colin Greening, a trio that played a prominent role in the Marlies winning a Calder Cup. Even then, Han believed there was more there.

When Keefe then needed a centre the following season due to considerable roster turnover, Han argued Engvall could fill that spot, despite it not being his natural position and the fact he had played only 30 games in North America at that point.
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Also this topical tidbit:
Han also had an interesting observation on the notion of a righty-lefty imbalance in Toronto, an issue that has been talked about for years on the blue line. Going into next season, the Leafs? only experienced defenceman with a right-hand shot is Justin Holl.

?Considering that there?s twice as many lefties as righties in the NHL, I would think it?s only natural that an ideally constructed team has four left Ds and two right Ds,? Han said. ?If you?re to balance it out and make it three and three, that probably means your third righty probably shouldn?t be there. I don?t think balancing makes all that much sense.

?Plus, if you think about the handedness thing ? sure, it?s much harder to pick up a puck and make a play through the middle of the ice on your off side. But on the other hand, if you?re in the O-zone then you?re open for a one-timer all the time ? So offensively I think it?s actually beneficial actually to have two lefties together. Defensively? It?s just a matter of figure out ?Are you comfortable pivoting to both sides? Are you comfortable making stops on both sides?? And the Leafs are uniquely equipped to identify and address that.?
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I'm a teeny-tiny bit disappointed to hear that Han left partially because the Marlies/Moore wanted to go in a "different direction". Even if there wasn't going to be room for him behind the Marlies bench anymore, you'd think the Leafs could have found something for him to do.
 
CarltonTheBear said:
I'm a teeny-tiny bit disappointed to hear that Han left partially because the Marlies/Moore wanted to go in a "different direction". Even if there wasn't going to be room for him behind the Marlies bench anymore, you'd think the Leafs could have found something for him to do.
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Me too. But I'm also happy because his stuff is public-sphere again.
And it really sounds like he also wanted to get back to writing (book szn).
 
More Jack Han, who is making the podcast rounds since he is free from the MLSE Cone of Silence and in the midst of moving back to Montreal and releasing a book
https://twitter.com/TheAthleticNHL/status/1263450783812669441
 
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