2019 Toronto Maple Leafs Offseason Discussion

[CarltonTheBear]

Publically complaining about his treatment/use is unprofessional.

He had a human moment with a reporter in his home country.

If Matthews came out and said that he was upset with how much ice-time he got would you call him unprofessional for complaining about his usage or would you take it as an opportunity to tell everyone you think Babcock sucks again?

 

[herman]

I agree with Carlton and I like Zaitsev even more for the sass.

 

[Chris]

4) seems to complain a little about being stuck in a defence-only role with the Leafs. That 4th point is what stuck out the most to me and could be a reason behind the trade request. But I'd imagine there's gotta be other stuff going on too. If that was it he could have tried working with the coaching staff about adjusting his role.

I've always wondered how much of Zaitsev's struggles with the puck were due to his own limitations, versus how much was due to the "Babcock Leash". I've seen him lug the puck up the ice into the offensive zone successfully often enough to believe that he has that ability, yet he often handles the puck like a grenade and just throws it out of the d zone. Is that due to a lack of vision or low panic point, or is he told to just get it out.

Guess we'll find out if he winds up somewhere else.

 

[Fanatic]

Per James Mirtle:

Director of Sports Science and Performance, Jeremy Bettle is leaving MLSE.

I presume that he also oversaw Kawhi's load management as well. Maybe he is going to LA. I can see the Clippers bringing him on board.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Per James Mirtle:

Director of Sports Science and Performance, Jeremy Bettle is leaving MLSE.

I presume that he also oversaw Kawhi's load management as well. Maybe he is going to LA. I can see the Clippers bringing him on board.

He worked for the Leafs, not all of MLSE. The Raps have their own director of sports science guy: Alex McKechnie (who Sportsnet recently did a story on regarding how he handled Kawhi's season).

 

[Fanatic]

He worked for the Leafs, not all of MLSE. The Raps have their own director of sports science guy: Alex McKechnie (who Sportsnet recently did a story on regarding how he handled Kawhi's season).

Thanks. I really thought he did both - perhaps because he came from basketball.

Anyway, much appreciated.

 

[Highlander]

Perhaps he can handle both teams???

 

[Zee]

It's exactly 2 weeks to the draft and it's eerily quiet.  I wonder if once the Cup is presented the dam breaks and stuff starts to happen.

 

[bustaheims]

It's exactly 2 weeks to the draft and it's eerily quiet.  I wonder if once the Cup is presented the dam breaks and stuff starts to happen.

It'll probably still be pretty quiet until a few days before the draft. I'm sure there's a lot of talks going on right now, but most teams are still going to wait until they're sure they have the best deal they think they'll be able to make.

 

[Zee]

It's exactly 2 weeks to the draft and it's eerily quiet.  I wonder if once the Cup is presented the dam breaks and stuff starts to happen.

It'll probably still be pretty quiet until a few days before the draft. I'm sure there's a lot of talks going on right now, but most teams are still going to wait until they're sure they have the best deal they think they'll be able to make.

This might be the year where we actually see big trades at the draft.  Would be something for Gary to step up with the "we have a trade to announce!"

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/account4hockey/status/1137094374855249921

 

[OldTimeHockey]

4) seems to complain a little about being stuck in a defence-only role with the Leafs. That 4th point is what stuck out the most to me and could be a reason behind the trade request. But I'd imagine there's gotta be other stuff going on too. If that was it he could have tried working with the coaching staff about adjusting his role.

I've always wondered how much of Zaitsev's struggles with the puck were due to his own limitations, versus how much was due to the "Babcock Leash". I've seen him lug the puck up the ice into the offensive zone successfully often enough to believe that he has that ability, yet he often handles the puck like a grenade and just throws it out of the d zone. Is that due to a lack of vision or low panic point, or is he told to just get it out.

Guess we'll find out if he winds up somewhere else.

Man we can't keep putting everything on the coach.

 

[AvroArrow]

Man we can't keep putting everything on the coach.

Well, not with that attitude.

 

[princedpw]

Assuming Kadri doesn?t get himself kicked out of the playoffs every year, I don?t see how the leafs get better by trading him. Trade Kappy, Johnsson, and run with rookies on D for a year if you have to ...

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Assuming Kadri doesn?t get himself kicked out of the playoffs every year, I don?t see how the leafs get better by trading him. Trade Kappy, Johnsson, and run with rookies on D for a year if you have to ...

For me, he only goes if he brings back a top-3 RHD with a decent-to-good contract. If it's just a cap thing then yeah I'd rather lose Kappy and/or Johnsson.

 

[Zee]

Assuming Kadri doesn?t get himself kicked out of the playoffs every year, I don?t see how the leafs get better by trading him. Trade Kappy, Johnsson, and run with rookies on D for a year if you have to ...

For me, he only goes if he brings back a top-3 RHD with a decent-to-good contract. If it's just a cap thing then yeah I'd rather lose Kappy and/or Johnsson.

From an asset management approach you're going to want to deal Kadri soon. He has 3 years left and is turning 29 this fall. They won't want to re-sign him when he's going to turn 32 so the smartest move would be to deal him while he still has at least a year on his deal and the return can be worth it.  If he brings back a significant upgrade on D I think you make the move and try to sign a lesser 3C

 

[Highlander]

Kadri and a good Marlie for Hamilton. I would do it.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Kadri and a good Marlie for Hamilton. I would do it.

Except Hamilton kept missing the net against Boston..lol.

 

[hockeyfan1]

The case for ?heavy hockey?:  small & skilled is still the way to go but in the playoffs...

In Toronto, it was a regular topic of conversation all year long, with head coach Mike Babcock continually saying that the team needed to play heavy hockey. That?s partly why the Leafs lost to the Bruins in Game 7. Had they managed to win, they would have likely ran into a wall, whether it was against the Blue Jackets, Hurricanes or Blues, all of whom play harder and heavier than the Leafs.

?I think that the Washington Capitals were a heavy team last year too,? said Blues head coach Craig Berube. ?But that?s just the way we?re built and I think that?s one of the things we really focused on ? being that heavy team, being a hard team to play against.?

https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/traikos-size-over-skill-winning-recipe-this-nhl-playoffs

 

[Guilt Trip]

Don't buy that article.
Some stats between the Leafs, Bruins. I just used players that have played in the playoffs
Players under 6ft...Tor 4, Bos 8...advantage Leafs
Players under 200lbs...Tor 10, Bos 14...advantage Leafs
Players under 190lbs...Tor 6, Bos 9...advantage Leafs
Players under 180lbs...Tor 3, Bos 3...even
Players over 200lbs..Tor 11, Bos 10...advantage Leafs

The Leafs were the heavier team on paper and on the ice during the series. They outhit, outchanced and outplayed the Bruins 5 vs 5. They lost the special teams battle. You can be smaller, skilled and play a heavy game. Playing heavy is a style. Having a size advantage means little without the commitment to play that style, Leafs did it and still came up short. This notion that the Leafs are a small speedy team simply isn't true.