2020-2021 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion

[Heroic Shrimp]

https://twitter.com/twolinepass/status/1366594626291916804

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

I think the Leafs beat Columbus last season if Kadri hadn't nixed the Brodie trade and forced the Barrie trade instead. There's a world of difference between what Brodie and Barrie bring to the team.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I think the Leafs beat Columbus last season if Kadri hadn't nixed the Brodie trade and forced the Barrie trade instead. There's a world of difference between what Brodie and Barrie bring to the team.

I was wondering about this exact same thing last night, but at the same time in this hypothetical universe maybe Babcock is doing just well enough that he doesn't get fired.

 

[L K]

I think the Leafs beat Columbus last season if Kadri hadn't nixed the Brodie trade and forced the Barrie trade instead. There's a world of difference between what Brodie and Barrie bring to the team.

I was wondering about this exact same thing last night, but at the same time in this hypothetical universe maybe Babcock is doing just well enough that he doesn't get fired.

Yeah, as much as Brodie and Bogosian have improved the blueline.  As much as the team is playing better as a whole.  So much of this is a byproduct of Keefe being behind the bench.  Losing to Columbus might have also been a "we should have won" moment for the players too.  Losing over and over again to Boston you kind of feel more defeated rather than "man we blew it".

 

[Zee]

I think the Leafs beat Columbus last season if Kadri hadn't nixed the Brodie trade and forced the Barrie trade instead. There's a world of difference between what Brodie and Barrie bring to the team.

I was wondering about this exact same thing last night, but at the same time in this hypothetical universe maybe Babcock is doing just well enough that he doesn't get fired.

Yeah, as much as Brodie and Bogosian have improved the blueline.  As much as the team is playing better as a whole.  So much of this is a byproduct of Keefe being behind the bench.  Losing to Columbus might have also been a "we should have won" moment for the players too.  Losing over and over again to Boston you kind of feel more defeated rather than "man we blew it".

Things are rosy and peachy right now and we should feel happy about this team, but as a long suffering Leafs fan I still want to see them prove it come playoff time. 

 

[L K]

Leafs upcoming milestones:

William Nylander - 100 goals (95)
Mitch Marner - 100 goals (93)
Auston Matthews - 200 goals (176)
John Tavares - 800 points (788)
Morgan Rielly - 300 points (288)
Zach Hyman - 100 assists (88)
Joe Thornton - 1100 assists (1096)
Zach Bogosian - 200 points (198)

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/JhanHky/status/1366750853470765063
Point 3 takes a lot of the pressure off our defense having the likes of Mikheyev and Marner swinging back to support pinching off rushes against. It decreases the potential efficacy of offence of plays in isolation (fewer attackers on turnovers), but over time, the Leafs get the puck back faaar more often and that drives offence through repeated opportunity at reloads to attack together with some speed, vs one-and-done breakaways off stretch passes. The 3-back NZ forecheck also gives F1 far more safety to just go nuts on hounding the puck carrier to force a turnover with F2.

 

[ZBBM]

https://twitter.com/JhanHky/status/1366750853470765063
Point 3 takes a lot of the pressure off our defense having the likes of Mikheyev and Marner swinging back to support pinching off rushes against. It decreases the potential efficacy of offence of plays in isolation (fewer attackers on turnovers), but over time, the Leafs get the puck back faaar more often and that drives offence through repeated opportunity at reloads to attack together with some speed, vs one-and-done breakaways off stretch passes. The 3-back NZ forecheck also gives F1 far more safety to just go nuts on hounding the puck carrier to force a turnover with F2.

Get out of here and go do this for a living. 

I was just thinking the same last night, watching Brodie and other Ds bip it out of our zone.  It's them making good little passes, usually away from danger zones, but it's all possible because of forward support.  It's so refreshing to see them exit the defensive zone efficiently more often than not.

 

[L K]

https://twitter.com/JhanHky/status/1366750853470765063
Point 3 takes a lot of the pressure off our defense having the likes of Mikheyev and Marner swinging back to support pinching off rushes against. It decreases the potential efficacy of offence of plays in isolation (fewer attackers on turnovers), but over time, the Leafs get the puck back faaar more often and that drives offence through repeated opportunity at reloads to attack together with some speed, vs one-and-done breakaways off stretch passes. The 3-back NZ forecheck also gives F1 far more safety to just go nuts on hounding the puck carrier to force a turnover with F2.

Get out of here and go do this for a living. 

I was just thinking the same last night, watching Brodie and other Ds bip it out of our zone.  It's them making good little passes, usually away from danger zones, but it's all possible because of forward support.  It's so refreshing to see them exit the defensive zone efficiently more often than not.

I certainly don't miss the days of the two defensemen sitting along the half boards in the defensive zone and the forwards all up past the blueline.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

https://twitter.com/JhanHky/status/1366750853470765063
Point 3 takes a lot of the pressure off our defense having the likes of Mikheyev and Marner swinging back to support pinching off rushes against. It decreases the potential efficacy of offence of plays in isolation (fewer attackers on turnovers), but over time, the Leafs get the puck back faaar more often and that drives offence through repeated opportunity at reloads to attack together with some speed, vs one-and-done breakaways off stretch passes. The 3-back NZ forecheck also gives F1 far more safety to just go nuts on hounding the puck carrier to force a turnover with F2.

The thought of pinching defence and when it should be done has changed greatly over the last few years.
It use to be a "only do it when you know you can get the puck first", but if you play the 1/1/3 forecheck that was mentioned, either that top F or the D partner, should always be able to step in and cover for the pinch. Therefore, you're better off applying pressure on the breakout winger on the wall as it leads to turnovers and removes the space and time required for free breakouts.

(Read the replies about breakouts from our defensive zone. I felt you were referring to the offensive zone. If I'm mistaken, I apologize. That said, the ability to breakout of your own zone certainly helps your ability to forecheck in the offensive zone. i also think that what you're seeing a lot more of is players not being afraid to go back into the defensive zone with the puck. It doesn't always have to move towards the opposing team's net. If bringing the puck back towards your own net provides more time, it's the right play. Controlling the puck and putting the puck into positions that your team can access first and successfully, is the name of the possession game being implemented by Toronto.)

 

[herman]

The thought of pinching defence and when it should be done has changed greatly over the last few years.
It use to be a "only do it when you know you can get the puck first", but if you play the 1/1/3 forecheck that was mentioned, either that top F or the D partner, should always be able to step in and cover for the pinch. Therefore, you're better off applying pressure on the breakout winger on the wall as it leads to turnovers and removes the space and time required for free breakouts.

(Read the replies about breakouts from our defensive zone. I felt you were referring to the offensive zone. If I'm mistaken, I apologize. That said, the ability to breakout of your own zone certainly helps your ability to forecheck in the offensive zone. i also think that what you're seeing a lot more of is players not being afraid to go back into the defensive zone with the puck. It doesn't always have to move towards the opposing team's net. If bringing the puck back towards your own net provides more time, it's the right play. Controlling the puck and putting the puck into positions that your team can access first and successfully, is the name of the possession game being implemented by Toronto.)

I'm not sure what you're referring to in relation to what I wrote, but I was talking about the NZ forecheck in relation to how we sort out as the opposing team tries transition from their DZ through the NZ.

Indeed the Leafs will throw a D-man pinch on the attack (wall pinch by strong side D as F3 rotates up to cover) and on mucking up break outs (horizontal pinch from the weak side D as strong side D backs up to set up gap control) to apply pressure to the winger and buy time for the structure to set up.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1366857204586848256
He played not very much last night, especially with the game essentially in hand. He was labouring on the bench briefly with what appeared to be a minor back thing? I assume this is additional precaution.

 

[Zee]

https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1366857204586848256
He played not very much last night, especially with the game essentially in hand. He was labouring on the bench briefly with what appeared to be a minor back thing? I assume this is additional precaution.

Steve Simmons article tomorrow "Lazy Swede misses practice"

 

[Bullfrog]

https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1366857204586848256
He played not very much last night, especially with the game essentially in hand. He was labouring on the bench briefly with what appeared to be a minor back thing? I assume this is additional precaution.

It was noted he was doing extra stretches on his back during warm-up.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/tictactomar/status/1366861996910649344

 

[bustaheims]

https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1366857204586848256
He played not very much last night, especially with the game essentially in hand. He was labouring on the bench briefly with what appeared to be a minor back thing? I assume this is additional precaution.

No need to panic until tomorrow, right? RIGHT?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Petan skated in Nylander's place in a grey extras jersey, so easy to interpret that means he was just a placeholder and Nylander was given a maintenance day and he'll likely be good for tomorrow.

Matthews skated in his regular spot between Thornton and Marner. Again that points to him playing.

 

[Zee]

Petan skated in Nylander's place in a grey extras jersey, so easy to interpret that means he was just a placeholder and Nylander was given a maintenance day and he'll likely be good for tomorrow.

Matthews skated in his regular spot between Thornton and Marner. Again that points to him playing.

Leafs want to test how many regulars they can sit and still beat the Oilers

 

[Redleaf]

Petan skated in Nylander's place in a grey extras jersey, so easy to interpret that means he was just a placeholder and Nylander was given a maintenance day and he'll likely be good for tomorrow.

Matthews skated in his regular spot between Thornton and Marner. Again that points to him playing.

Leafs want to test how many regulars they can sit and still beat the Oilers

I'll take 6 for the win.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1366857204586848256
He played not very much last night, especially with the game essentially in hand. He was labouring on the bench briefly with what appeared to be a minor back thing? I assume this is additional precaution.

No need to panic until tomorrow, right? RIGHT?

Any instance of a broken Willy is an immediate emergency, man

https://twitter.com/kristen_shilton/status/1366873491040051200