2021-22 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion

[Bullfrog]

It seems a bit disorganized and just a bit scattered. Other teams, like Carolina, seem in much more control.

The game where they absolutely got goalied probably flatters their stats a bit.

 

[Bender]

So I do think there are times where the PP should get loaded up and the team needs to have a system in place for when that happens, but I also don't think throwing out separate units from time to time even if it's just to throw the opposing penalty killers off is a bad idea either. You could run:

To me this is sort of the Dubas era Leafs in a nutshell. The team works out what they think are best practices, sticks to them resolutely even when the opposition shows they know what's coming and can defend it, the team never changes things up.

I mean, at what point is Dubas' (and I guess Keefe's?) face going to be illustrated next to the definition of insanity?

 

[Bender]

The Leafs really feel kind of predictable.  Their passes on the PP seem slow and plodding rather than crisp.  They don't seem to make the goalie move side to side much.

It's Rielly passing to Marner or Mathews back and forth until they finally take a shot.  They don't have guys skating and shifting positions.  I just don't understand how a team with this much offensive talent (at least in the top 4-5 forward and 1-2 defensemen) can be so boring and predictable.

I don't usually jump into the fray and I'm usually an optimist with the Leafs. But I think we need a new coach, nothing against Keefe as I think he has a bright future as a head coach. Not sure who's available and if they would do any better. The Amazon series really didn't add any confidence I have in Keefe, despite all the F bombs, the one on ones he had on the ice with Spezza and Matthews didn't inspire me as an employer talking to an employee.

Just my two cents...

Go Leafs Go

We need a player traded. The players can't be coach killers every single time, but Keefe really has to start holding his players to account at minimum.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

The Leafs really feel kind of predictable.  Their passes on the PP seem slow and plodding rather than crisp.  They don't seem to make the goalie move side to side much.

It's Rielly passing to Marner or Mathews back and forth until they finally take a shot.  They don't have guys skating and shifting positions.  I just don't understand how a team with this much offensive talent (at least in the top 4-5 forward and 1-2 defensemen) can be so boring and predictable.

I don't usually jump into the fray and I'm usually an optimist with the Leafs. But I think we need a new coach, nothing against Keefe as I think he has a bright future as a head coach. Not sure who's available and if they would do any better. The Amazon series really didn't add any confidence I have in Keefe, despite all the F bombs, the one on ones he had on the ice with Spezza and Matthews didn't inspire me as an employer talking to an employee.

Just my two cents...

Go Leafs Go

We need a player traded. The players can't be coach killers every single time, but Keefe really has to start holding his players to account at minimum.

I'm not sure if a trade is the move or not, but you're correct. It can't just keep being the coach's fault.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/marnylandersen/status/1453733196189732873
I'm weeping with parasocial joy

 

[Arn]

I?m kind of hoping that this little bad run is that little run that growing teams have to go through where finally the players learn what they have to do. Thing like Matthews shouting at others on the bench and getting people to take ownership. The apparent nature of the players taking charge of between period discussions to change the course of the game etc.

Probably I?m being naive.

 

[Nik]

I?m kind of hoping that this little bad run is that little run that growing teams have to go through where finally the players learn what they have to do.

One of the things I'll very much believe for a long time is that one of the major mistakes that Dubas made was making Tavares the Captain over Matthews. I understand the reasons people favoured Tavares at the time but I still think that the really important message that needed to be sent was that this team was only every going to go as far as Matthews/Marner/Nylander would take them. Continuing to think of them as "the Kids" instead of team leadership was I think ultimately a the wrong call in favour of a safer choice.

 

[hobarth]

I?m kind of hoping that this little bad run is that little run that growing teams have to go through where finally the players learn what they have to do. Thing like Matthews shouting at others on the bench and getting people to take ownership. The apparent nature of the players taking charge of between period discussions to change the course of the game etc.

Probably I?m being naive.

Possibly but MM, AM, Willie and many others on TO continue to throw blind or ill advised passes, often in truly precarious situations usually when pressured, I rarely see other teams do this, it's stupid and emblematic of the mindset of this team.

5 years and counting, things never change and as the Cap continues to whittle at the Leaf depth, it can only get worse without true change. Pitts. beat TO with a team of mostly 3rd liners, they might not be as talented as some of the Leafs but they did seem to understand basic premises of hockey which are necessary to win.   

 

[ZBBM]

To beat a different well-beaten drum, PP1 last night was suddenly back to the moribund strategy of making sure the puck was mostly on the sticks of the two guys least likely to cause the motion of said puck to contact the woven fibers we call the "net."  I know what herman's solution is; I know what (part of) my solution is (38 > 44).  But if the Collective Keefebrain? insists on running 44 / 16 / 34 on the first unit, why not let Matthews play and do where and what Marner does?  I kept watching Marner get the puck, a decent amount of space, he moves toward the net and either (a) shoots a shot that we know will not beat just about anybody, or (b) pass it back to Rielly where the whole time-wasting sequence starts again, or (c) pass cross-seam to a stationary Matthews who is not really open.

Long story short: let Matthews handle the puck more than anyone else on PP1.  Sure, they won't give him the space they give Marner, but he needs less.  I missed his first game back, but ever since I haven't seen him let fly with his deadly slingshot once.  In my book they ought to be trying to get Matthews at least two shot attempts every PP.

It just grinds me that these guys seemingly haven't got a clue about how to get this PP back on track.

 

[Arn]

I?m kind of hoping that this little bad run is that little run that growing teams have to go through where finally the players learn what they have to do.

One of the things I'll very much believe for a long time is that one of the major mistakes that Dubas made was making Tavares the Captain over Matthews. I understand the reasons people favoured Tavares at the time but I still think that the really important message that needed to be sent was that this team was only every going to go as far as Matthews/Marner/Nylander would take them. Continuing to think of them as "the Kids" instead of team leadership was I think ultimately a the wrong call in favour of a safer choice.

I tend to agree and I think it should have been Matthews. I wonder how much his (very bad) incident/behaviour led to a change in tack though. It wouldn?t have done any harm to wait another year, to anoint a captain.

 

[Frank E]

I?m kind of hoping that this little bad run is that little run that growing teams have to go through where finally the players learn what they have to do.

One of the things I'll very much believe for a long time is that one of the major mistakes that Dubas made was making Tavares the Captain over Matthews. I understand the reasons people favoured Tavares at the time but I still think that the really important message that needed to be sent was that this team was only every going to go as far as Matthews/Marner/Nylander would take them. Continuing to think of them as "the Kids" instead of team leadership was I think ultimately a the wrong call in favour of a safer choice.

I tend to agree and I think it should have been Matthews. I wonder how much his (very bad) incident/behaviour led to a change in tack though. It wouldn?t have done any harm to wait another year, to anoint a captain.

"Who should be captain?" is one of the things that I don't wade into because I really don't know the internal dynamics of the team/leadership core.  For all we know Matthews didn't want it and wanted it to be Tavares.

 

[Nik]

"Who should be captain?" is one of the things that I don't wade into because I really don't know the internal dynamics of the team/leadership core.  For all we know Matthews didn't want it and wanted it to be Tavares.

I suppose my thinking on that is that I think choosing Matthews wouldn't so much have been about reflecting the team/leadership core but attempting to shape it. I don't generally think things like who wears letters really changes internal chemistry/leadership/the group dynamic or whatever you want to call it but I do think it can be a powerful statement by the team of what they expect out of certain players.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/markhmasters/status/1454121879313264641

 

[Guilt Trip]

https://twitter.com/markhmasters/status/1454121879313264641

That's one way to shake it up. Brodie should help Muzz and his struggles.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1454136273250172939

 

[Guilt Trip]

https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1454136273250172939

Nice...

 

[Bullfrog]

That's good news.

 

[Bullfrog]

Time for Dermott to shine. I really like his game, but he's got to bring it. This seems like a big test for him.

 

[herman]

Amadio is on waivers today. While Mrazek is coming back, there is no cap reason to waive Amadio to bring him back since Hutchinson is up on emergency loan.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Amadio is on waivers today. While Mrazek is coming back, there is no cap reason to waive Amadio to bring him back since Hutchinson is up on emergency loan.

Semyonov has 5 points in 5 games, leading the Marlies in that department. Wonder if they just want to give him a look.