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2024-25 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion

https://twitter.com/x/status/1849192779462692900
They’ve become an elite breakout team

People notice Tanev blocking shots, but I’m not sure they see how often he goes back on a contested puck and then get it heading up ice the other way without incident. Save for his bad night against Columbus, Ekman-Larsson has been elite in this way, too.

The Leafs are the second-best team in the league when it comes to defensive zone exits that are followed by a successful play (like a clean pass, or a zone entry, or a dump-in, etc.), and they’ve been the best team in the league in carry-out exits that are followed by a successful play.

Last year they were 10th in exits that were followed by successful plays, and 13th in the carry-out department.

That’s part of what’s made the Leafs feel more solid this season, up until peeing down their collective leg in Columbus. They’ve transported the puck from zone to zone well, and without much incident.
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Under Keefe, practices typically stretched on for well over an hour (even later in the regular season). That didn’t include the skill development sessions that took place across multiple pads beforehand.

Berube likes his practices to be short and sweet — or short and intense, rather. These days, the Leafs practise for around 30 minutes most days, never coming close to sniffing the hour mark. Skill development sessions appear less frequent too.

“I think he likes those short, intense practices, get more out of it (rather) than just get us mentally tired,” said Benoit. “We just get out there, we know what we have to do — in and out, in and out — and that’s it. I think it’s a good way to approach it.”
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Shorter practices seem like a good idea that everyone will like. Hopefully it will help keep guys fresh.

I'd also like to see the Leafs start to roll 4 lines more evenly. Preservation for the playoffs and hopefully prepare for potential injures.
 
Honestly, I don't know what Treliving/Berube are thinking regarding Liljegren and Kampf. It's clear they don't see those players ending the season with the Leafs, and it's also pretty clear their replacements are on LTIR right now. Shelving them is not making it easier to trade them without having to give up assets. Unless they've Lamoriello'd an agreement made in principle already and are just preserving their health...
 
Although the Leafs are showing the same patterns as past seasons ..... trying to out talent the other team to win..... starting late or not at all, particularly when playing 'down' to competition, I am seeing some positives with the new additions.

First, within 10 games we have already seen 2 professionally executed games under Berube.....Tampa and Winnipeg. I don't think under Keefe we saw such execution during the first part of the season.

Stolarz is a treat to watch. He's probably getting a bit tired from playing most of the games but he gives the team (and fans) a lot of confidence on every shot.
 
Ozzie said:
Although the Leafs are showing the same patterns as past seasons ..... trying to out talent the other team to win..... starting late or not at all, particularly when playing 'down' to competition, I am seeing some positives with the new additions.

First, within 10 games we have already seen 2 professionally executed games under Berube.....Tampa and Winnipeg. I don't think under Keefe we saw such execution during the first part of the season.

Stolarz is a treat to watch. He's probably getting a bit tired from playing most of the games but he gives the team (and fans) a lot of confidence on every shot.
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Welcome to the forum!

I see much of the same. And when the going gets tough, some of them are defaulting to those old habits. Granted it's like 5 years vs 8-10 games, so that's natural. It will probably take half a season if Florida's program was anything to go by.
 
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