2021-22 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion

[CarltonTheBear]

Toronto ended up going 8-2-1 in the month of January, a points percentage that would translate to a 126-point season over 82 games. Because the NHL is absolutely bonkers this season they only had the 5th best points percentage last month, behind Colorado, Minnesota, Florida, and Carolina.

The Leafs however did that while finishing 32nd in 5-on-5 save percentage in the month.

 

[bustaheims]

Toronto ended up going 8-2-1 in the month of January, a points percentage that would translate to a 126-point season over 82 games. Because the NHL is absolutely bonkers this season they only had the 5th best points percentage last month, behind Colorado, Minnesota, Florida, and Carolina.

The Leafs however did that while finishing 32nd in 5-on-5 save percentage in the month.

As much as the team has been struggling with the quality of their play, it certainly hasn't impacted their results in a significant way so far. Hopefully, the break after tonight's game helps them clean up some of the issues that have started creeping in.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

As much as the team has been struggling with the quality of their play, it certainly hasn't impacted their results in a significant way so far. Hopefully, the break after tonight's game helps them clean up some of the issues that have started creeping in.

Even in that regard, they had the 3rd best CA/60 in the league last month and the 8th best xGA/60. Not absolutely perfect stats to determine defensive play sure, but it does indicate more that any issues there were more brainfarts than systemtic problems (plus poor goaltending).

One other thing: the Leafs finished 1st in the league in PP% and 2nd in PK%. Not other team finished top-5 in both categories (Carolina was 3rd in PK, 6th in PP).

 

[bustaheims]

Even in that regard, they had the 3rd best CA/60 in the league last month and the 8th best xGA/60. Not absolutely perfect stats to determine defensive play sure, but it does indicate more that any issues there were more brainfarts than systemtic problems (plus poor goaltending).

One other thing: the Leafs finished 1st in the league in PP% and 2nd in PK%. Not other team finished top-5 in both categories (Carolina was 3rd in PK, 6th in PP).

That, too. The complaints about their play are largely overblown. They haven't looked great the last few games, but earlier in the month, they were still playing very well, but weren't getting saves. They were paying more for their mistakes than they had earlier in the season. It did feel like, maybe, they were making more big mistakes, but that impression is probably influenced by how many more mistakes were ending up in the net.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Looking through some player stats... Justin Holl went from having the worst GA/60 and 2nd worst xGA/60 among all Leafs skaters during October-December to having the best GA/60 and 2nd best xGA/60 in January.

 

[herman]

Looking through some player stats... Justin Holl went from having the worst GA/60 and 2nd worst xGA/60 among all Leafs skaters during October-December to having the best GA/60 and 2nd best xGA/60 in January.

I think the time off really did him some good after that early season illness wrecked his conditioning. Also, he's better as the stopper option, rather than the puck handler of the pair, so with Muzzin down, he can focus on that.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

Toronto ended up going 8-2-1 in the month of January, a points percentage that would translate to a 126-point season over 82 games. Because the NHL is absolutely bonkers this season they only had the 5th best points percentage last month, behind Colorado, Minnesota, Florida, and Carolina.

The Leafs however did that while finishing 32nd in 5-on-5 save percentage in the month.

[emoji52]

 

[Joe S.]

So after going 9-2-1 since jan 1st the leafs have gained 2 points on Florida and 3 on TB.

They also don?t play Florida until March 27th and Tampa until April. But they play Seattle 2 times prior to that. Yay nhl!

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

So after going 9-2-1 since jan 1st the leafs have gained 2 points on Florida and 3 on TB.

They also don?t play Florida until March 27th and Tampa until April. But they play Seattle 2 times prior to that. Yay nhl!

They've played Tampa twice already, no?

 

[Joe S.]

So after going 9-2-1 since jan 1st the leafs have gained 2 points on Florida and 3 on TB.

They also don?t play Florida until March 27th and Tampa until April. But they play Seattle 2 times prior to that. Yay nhl!

They've played Tampa twice already, no?

I guess my point is criticizing the unbalanced schedule. How do you play an equal amount of games against Florida and Seattle and only one more game against Tampa. Divisional position is a factor in playoff brackets yet there?s no weighted schedule relative to the division.

It just pisses me off. The nhl, I don?t think has ever gotten playoff seeding right? ever.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

It just pisses me off. The nhl, I don?t think has ever gotten playoff seeding right? ever.

Astonishingly, there were stretches in the 6 team NHL when the playoff seeding was 1v3 and 2v4! Who could possibly think that makes sense, besidesthe NHL?

But yes, you're right, the schedule is full of nonsense, and the Florida nonsense in particular is baffling

 

[Joe S.]

You know, I almost said ?not since the original 6??

 

[bustaheims]

So after going 9-2-1 since jan 1st the leafs have gained 2 points on Florida and 3 on TB.

They also don?t play Florida until March 27th and Tampa until April. But they play Seattle 2 times prior to that. Yay nhl!

They've played Tampa twice already, no?

I guess my point is criticizing the unbalanced schedule. How do you play an equal amount of games against Florida and Seattle and only one more game against Tampa. Divisional position is a factor in playoff brackets yet there?s no weighted schedule relative to the division.

It just pisses me off. The nhl, I don?t think has ever gotten playoff seeding right? ever.

You don't. The Leafs play Florida 3 times and Seattle twice.

The NHL schedule has each team facing every team in the other conference twice, every team in their conference 3 times, and 5 of the 7 teams in their division 4 times. Florida happens to be one of the two divisional teams the Leafs only face 3 times this season.

 

[Frank E]

It just pisses me off. The nhl, I don?t think has ever gotten playoff seeding right? ever.

Astonishingly, there were stretches in the 6 team NHL when the playoff seeding was 1v3 and 2v4! Who could possibly think that makes sense, besidesthe NHL?

But yes, you're right, the schedule is full of nonsense, and the Florida nonsense in particular is baffling

That's incredible.

 

[Kin]

I like it. Make the #1 seed earn it.

 

[Joe S.]

So after going 9-2-1 since jan 1st the leafs have gained 2 points on Florida and 3 on TB.

They also don?t play Florida until March 27th and Tampa until April. But they play Seattle 2 times prior to that. Yay nhl!

They've played Tampa twice already, no?

I guess my point is criticizing the unbalanced schedule. How do you play an equal amount of games against Florida and Seattle and only one more game against Tampa. Divisional position is a factor in playoff brackets yet there?s no weighted schedule relative to the division.

It just pisses me off. The nhl, I don?t think has ever gotten playoff seeding right? ever.

You don't. The Leafs play Florida 3 times and Seattle twice.

The NHL schedule has each team facing every team in the other conference twice, every team in their conference 3 times, and 5 of the 7 teams in their division 4 times. Florida happens to be one of the two divisional teams the Leafs only face 3 times this season.

Last night I just quickly did a search on the leafs schedule and for some reason I searched ?kraken? and it came up 3 times so I just assumed they played them 3x. Poor research on my side.

Honestly though just to not give up on my rant - the divisions are pointless. Just have 2 conferences and the top 8 teams in each conference are in 1v8 and so on. And weigh the schedule heavier towards conference play.

 

[L K]

It just pisses me off. The nhl, I don?t think has ever gotten playoff seeding right? ever.

Astonishingly, there were stretches in the 6 team NHL when the playoff seeding was 1v3 and 2v4! Who could possibly think that makes sense, besidesthe NHL?

But yes, you're right, the schedule is full of nonsense, and the Florida nonsense in particular is baffling

That's incredible.

Right now the East lines up (by pt%)

Carolina (2nd) vs. Boston (12th)
Florida (3rd) vs. Washington (11th)
Toronto (4th) vs. Tampa (5th)
NYR (7th) vs. Pittsburgh (8th)

The West:

Colorado (1st) vs. Calgary (14th)
Vegas (13th) vs. St. Louis (10th)
Minnesota (6th) vs. Nashville (9th)
LA (15th) vs. Anaheim (17th)

I gave Anaheim the edge as they have the same pt% as Edmonton but have 8 more points in 7 more games played.

The Pacific division is a pile of crap so LA gets to host a playoff series as the 15th best team in the league.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

Last night I just quickly did a search on the leafs schedule and for some reason I searched ?kraken? and it came up 3 times so I just assumed they played them 3x. Poor research on my side.

Joe S. = Joe Rogan

 

[Kin]

Last night I just quickly did a search on the leafs schedule and for some reason I searched ?kraken? and it came up 3 times so I just assumed they played them 3x. Poor research on my side.

Joe S. = Joe Rogan

Joe S. is one letter worse.

 

[Kin]

Honestly though just to not give up on my rant - the divisions are pointless. Just have 2 conferences and the top 8 teams in each conference are in 1v8 and so on. And weigh the schedule heavier towards conference play.

I just think you're never going to be able to completely disengage the schedule from financial concerns. You're going to want to do home and homes with every team in the league so that every big ticket player(in theory) will hit every city during a year. Then you're going to want to emphasize close rivals. Then you're going to have to group your road games to cut down on travel costs.

I think expecting something that achieves all that while also leaving no weird gaps is probably asking more than you think.