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2024-25 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion

https://x.com/markhmasters/status/1843673582217634293

One thing that could be really impactful this season is finally having a well set-up PP2. In 21/22 we had guys like Mikheyev, Engvall, and Kase seeing regular minutes there. Jarnkrok, Kerfoot, Engvall were regulars in 22/23. Last season the additions of Bertuzzi and Domi improved the unit on paper but it still didn't really result in much success. Domi only ended up with just two PP points. Jarnkrok was still the 3rd most used forward and he had zero PP goals. Knies was behind Jarnkrok in ice-time and also somewhat surprisingly had zero PP goals last season.

Obviously it's a challenge with the way the top unit gets most of the ice-time but still PP2 has to start doing something other than just killing 30-45 seconds on the clock every time they go out or you may as well have Ryan Reaves out there.
 
Zee said:
Lorentz has the passion.

fXgsbOZ.jpeg
Click to expand...

I now love Steven Lorentz and am a major fan.
 
I dismiss any model that says a team has a 21% chance of winning the Stanley Cup.

But of course these aren't serious exercises.
 
https://x.com/NHLtoSeattle/status/1843696990301106483

The Leafs start the season with the oldest roster in the Atlantic, and the 4th oldest one in the entire league.

The time is now.
 
Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate said:
I dismiss any model that says a team has a 21% chance of winning the Stanley Cup.

But of course these aren't serious exercises.
Click to expand...

A lot of folks are saying some nice things about this team.
That chart is one example of that.
That's about all I take from it.

There is a fair amount of opinion that they're improved.
 
CarltonTheBear said:
https://twitter.com/NHLtoSeattle/status/1843696990301106483

The Leafs start the season with the oldest roster in the Atlantic, and the 4th oldest one in the entire league.

The time is now.
Click to expand...

They're going to need all the depth they got.

The window on OEL & Tanev is a lot shorter than the 4-6 years left on their contracts.
 
CarltonTheBear said:
One thing that could be really impactful this season is finally having a well set-up PP2. In 21/22 we had guys like Mikheyev, Engvall, and Kase seeing regular minutes there. Jarnkrok, Kerfoot, Engvall were regulars in 22/23. Last season the additions of Bertuzzi and Domi improved the unit on paper but it still didn't really result in much success. Domi only ended up with just two PP points. Jarnkrok was still the 3rd most used forward and he had zero PP goals. Knies was behind Jarnkrok in ice-time and also somewhat surprisingly had zero PP goals last season.

Obviously it's a challenge with the way the top unit gets most of the ice-time but still PP2 has to start doing something other than just killing 30-45 seconds on the clock every time they go out or you may as well have Ryan Reaves out there.
Click to expand...

I really hope this is the case. I've been asking myself across the offseason what would be the indicator that the Leafs special teams can be counted on to not go missing again, and I think that getting production from the second PP unit could be it.
 
https://twitter.com/PuckPedia/status/1844095360249287097

Woll on the IR means he's missing at least 7 days. Strong sign Hildeby could make his NHL debut this week, possibly even tomorrow.
 
CarltonTheBear said:
https://twitter.com/PuckPedia/status/1844095360249287097

Woll on the IR means he's missing at least 7 days. Strong sign Hildeby could make his NHL debut this week, possibly even tomorrow.
Click to expand...
Cool. Looking forward to it.
 
https://x.com/BruinsWyan/status/1844598243910447472

which got me thinking, maybe Berube is on to something:
[list type=decimal]
[*]Core Four aren't scoring
[*]Powerplay is completely ineffective
[*]Controlling play all game but get "goalied" and lose
[/list]

Somehow Berube has figured out how to replicate Playoff-style structures during the regular season, so that we can finally work out problems over the course of the year (rather than being surprised for the millionth time when suddenly these issues arise as soon as the postseason begins)
 
bustaheims said:
Just playing the season in reverse this year. It?s a bold strategy.
Click to expand...

Yeah. This is exactly the style that needs to be instilled into this team at the beginning of the season and not just come playoff time.

Once these ?core? guys start getting the hang of the new system, they?ll still rack up goals and points. I?m pretty confident of that. I?m just not counting on as many under Berube.
 
I was watching a bit of Kyper/Bourne and Kypreos was freaking out that no other team offered Lorentz to a contract. I know he's been a good story through 2 games but c'mon, he had 1 goal in 38 games last year and you're wondering why teams weren't busting down the door for him??
 
Zee said:
I was watching a bit of Kyper/Bourne and Kypreos was freaking out that no other team offered Lorentz to a contract. I know he's been a good story through 2 games but c'mon, he had 1 goal in 38 games last year and you're wondering why teams weren't busting down the door for him??
Click to expand...

Kypreos is slipping.

Sportsnet (Luke Fox): 'Pinch me': Why Steven Lorentz and the Maple Leafs are a good mix

Yes, Lorentz had other offers. He could have signed elsewhere for more money and better security in free agency. But the Ontario-born dreamer took a flyer ? a PTO with a cap-tight, winger-heavy roster ? for a chance to repeat.

This time with the team he grew up worshipping as a kid westbound on the 401.
Click to expand...
 
RedLeaf said:
bustaheims said:
Just playing the season in reverse this year. It?s a bold strategy.
Click to expand...

Yeah. This is exactly the style that needs to be instilled into this team at the beginning of the season and not just come playoff time.

Once these ?core? guys start getting the hang of the new system, they?ll still rack up goals and points. I?m pretty confident of that. I?m just not counting on as many under Berube.
Click to expand...

That is something Berube was credited for when he became coach in St. Louis.
On Day One, they started working on how they needed to play to win in the playoffs.
That's what they did for the rest of the season - rather than trying to turn it on when the playoffs start.
When he took over, they were in last place in January.
They rose to 12th in the NHL by playoff time.
They won the Cup in June and the rest, as they say, is history.

They need luck and health plus to do something like that.
But to their credit, they analyzed the shortcomings. They changed most of the coaches, the systems, a bunch of the players and the captain to attempt to address the PK, the defense, the playoff playing style, etc.

I think they have a pretty good shot at a deeper playoff run.
Time will tell.
 
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