2021-22 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion

[Heroic Shrimp]

https://twitter.com/evolvinghockey/status/1488880648580472832

 

[Joe S.]

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

<insert witty disappointed gif that I can?t find right now>

 

[Joe S.]

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.

Agreed. I know I was being overly simplistic in how I view this. I realize that?s there?s a necessity for each team to play every other team.

 

[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

<insert witty disappointed gif that I can?t find right now>

I think you just need to say, "Jamie, can you find us a witty disappointed gif?" and then it's provided for you.

 

[lamajama]

https://twitter.com/evolvinghockey/status/1488880648580472832

Well this is a jinx?.

 

[Kaberle15]

https://twitter.com/evolvinghockey/status/1488880648580472832

Well this is a jinx?.

They got scored on a couple of time just after the PP expires, as they over use the #1PP unit sometimes.

But it is real nice to have a great PP and a top PK units.

 

[herman]

They got scored on a couple of time just after the PP expires, as they over use the #1PP unit sometimes.

But it is real nice to have a great PP and a top PK units.

There was that recent example of PP1 not leaving a checker to pressure the dump in on the change, leading to the player serving the penalty to nab a goal. Tavares took ownership, and Keefe subsequently tried to take that blame. Would not be surprised if Dubas takes responsibility for that play at his next presser.

 

[L K]

In general I like how aggressive our forwards are on the PK.  It looks like they are constantly looking to counterattack but I think that's just borne out of them getting to the point quickly and pressuring the defender to make rushed passes.

 

[Joe S.]

Who is in the mood for a hot take?

https://twitter.com/sas11h/status/1489032018461614085?s=20&t=_ftkwn-Q8ax6Q2nkNC5blQ

 

[Frank E]

Spicy!

 

[bustaheims]

This twit also seems to think Batherson is better than Matthews, so . . .

 

[Guru Tugginmypuddah]

Most nights, I watch JT and think that money could have been better spent elsewhere.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Who is in the mood for a hot take?

https://twitter.com/sas11h/status/1489032018461614085?s=20&t=_ftkwn-Q8ax6Q2nkNC5blQ

I will agree that the JT line isn't the best in it's own end but it's not just because of him.

 

[Highlander]

The line is just not as in tune as you would hope. Nylander has not been as dynamic as he was a few weeks ago.  JT seems to get really motivated for 2 or 3 games and then goes back to just being competent in other games.  The line needs something but I can't put my finger on it.

 

[L K]

1) I agree that Tavares is overpaid.  He's not worth 11M, particularly when the team is stuck against a flat cap.  Doesn't mean I don't like him.  Doesn't mean I'm not happy to have him as a Maple Leaf but 11M is a big chunk of money that really limits team flexibility.  No-one expected him to be great for the duration of his contract.

2) Why do I care about the random opinion of a 20-year old Sens fan.

 

[herman]

I think the covid/holiday break derailed the conditioning momentum of all the older players (Tavares, Spezza, Simmonds, Campbell, Muzzin). Rest is good, but rest without any opportunity to maintain conditioning (Covid isolation) is rough to get ramped up again. The All-Star break might help as they can rest but build up the routine again.

I'd have to dig into the numbers, but every time Tavares struggles, his line loses flow and the chain of plays is cut off. He has the puck a lot and likes to wait and draw attention to free up space and time for his linemates. When he's off (conditioning and/or game speed processing), that attention leads to pucks turned over and more time/energy on spent on defense.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I don't think anyone expected Tavares' contract to be an absolute steal, especially once it got into the second half of it. But we'd probably have different thoughts about it's value right now if the cap was hovering around $90mil like most people projected it to be by this time. As long as he's scoring around the PPG mark then I don't see the point about stewing over his deal, even if the post-covid market has made it tougher to deal with.

 

[L K]

I think the covid/holiday break derailed the conditioning momentum of all the older players (Tavares, Spezza, Simmonds, Campbell, Muzzin). Rest is good, but rest without any opportunity to maintain conditioning (Covid isolation) is rough to get ramped up again. The All-Star break might help as they can rest but build up the routine again.

I'd have to dig into the numbers, but every time Tavares struggles, his line loses flow and the chain of plays is cut off. He has the puck a lot and likes to wait and draw attention to free up space and time for his linemates. When he's off (conditioning and/or game speed processing), that attention leads to pucks turned over and more time/energy on spent on defense.

Advanced stats might say otherwise but I felt like a lot of the earlier season success had more to do with Nylander's play driving the line.  Willy seemed off the last week or so.  Not winning puck battles as much.  Not beating guys with his speed.  I'm wondering if he was banged up a bit because it didn't look like he was floating but there were a few chases for pucks where he would normally win them pretty easily and he was struggling to break away from guys.

 

[ZBBM]

They got scored on a couple of time just after the PP expires, as they over use the #1PP unit sometimes.

But it is real nice to have a great PP and a top PK units.

There was that recent example of PP1 not leaving a checker to pressure the dump in on the change, leading to the player serving the penalty to nab a goal. Tavares took ownership, and Keefe subsequently tried to take that blame. Would not be surprised if Dubas takes responsibility for that play at his next presser.

Up the chain it goes, until it lands at the Throne of God.  He should be ashamed, especially sinces He's omnipotent.

 

[ZBBM]

The line is just not as in tune as you would hope. Nylander has not been as dynamic as he was a few weeks ago.  JT seems to get really motivated for 2 or 3 games and then goes back to just being competent in other games.  The line needs something but I can't put my finger on it.

They're conserving energy.  Not that it will ever be admitted, but almost nobody gives 100% every night ? intentionally.  They can't.  Too many damn games and way too long of a season.