Leafs @ Avs - Dec. 22nd, 9:00pm - TSN4, Fan 590

[bustaheims]

I don't get it. Why wouldn't Greening or Michalek be taking Martin out of the lineup?

Well, in that case, I'm working under the assumption that he was signed with the idea that Michalek and/or Greening might make the NHL roster, and would be in the lineup regardless of their presence.

 

[McGarnagle]

Well, the issue there is that they wouldn't be replacing those guys (especially Smith/Froese, as neither Greening nor Michalek play C - Laich, on the other hand, would move Smith/Froese out of the lineup). They'd be taking guys like Soshnikov, Brown, and/or Hyman out of the lineup. Their presence would change the dynamic of the team, the line combos, etc. It's sort of an unknowable situation, but I imagine the end result wouldn't be drastically different. I also don't think your other suggestions would have had much of an impact on things, either - maybe a point or two, but, that's about the extent of it.

I don't get it. Why wouldn't Greening or Michalek be taking Martin out of the lineup?

I'm guessing if they thought Martin's (ahem) contribution could be replicated by the guys like greening and michalek, they wouldn't have signed Martin in the first place.

 

[Kin]

Well, in that case, I'm working under the assumption that he was signed with the idea that Michalek and/or Greening might make the NHL roster, and would be in the lineup regardless of their presence.

Right but I think the thought exercise here is whether or not you or I or ZBBM could, if given complete control over the roster, put out a slightly more successful 12/6/1 than the one they go with on a nightly basis.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Just wanted to add that Jake Gardiner is almost certainly a top pairing player. I'd argue he's one of the top 15 dmen on the planet.

 

[TBLeafer]

Interesting comments here today about the Leafs inexperienced talent and level of talent compared to other teams.

I think a few surprises are still in store this season as far as the roster is concerned, but in the meantime, let this youth movement continue and enjoy a very exciting brand of Leafs hockey, win or lose.

It's all about sticking to a proper rebuild process.

GO LEAFS GO!!!

 

[McGarnagle]

No. I'm tired of the rebuild process. Let's play hungry hungry hippos.

 

[wnc096]

No. I'm tired of the rebuild process. Let's play hungry hungry hippos.

the waiting game sucks

 

[Highlander]

Interesting comments here today about the Leafs inexperienced talent and level of talent compared to other teams.

I think a few surprises are still in store this season as far as the roster is concerned, but in the meantime, let this youth movement continue and enjoy a very exciting brand of Leafs hockey, win or lose.

It's all about sticking to a proper rebuild process.

GO LEAFS GO!!!

Babcock is only in his 2nd season as head coach. We have somewhere around 9 Rookies on the team?  We have several very good prospects in the pipeline and most nights we can play with or beat the best. How many real blowouts have there been? They are playing very high energy entertaining hockey and the future is bright. Just sit back and enjoy the Shanaride.  Now if they could only clone Borje Salming and Matts Sundin life would be next to perfect.

 

[freer]

Everyone is saying defence is the problem

07 Dec 3 -2 MIN -  Goalie beat us
10 Dec 4 - 1 TO - Rask did not beat us
11 Dec 3 - 1 COL - Goalie beat us (IT SHOULD HAVE NOT BEEN A GAME)
13 Dec 3 - 2 SJS - Our goalie keep us in the game. a Vet team beat us in a shot out.
15 Dec 3 -2 ARI SOL - goalie beat us. Nothing to do with defence
17 Dec 2-1 TO - Andersen won this one
19 Dec 3 -2 ANA - a vet team beat us because they are bigger, stronger and better.


Everyone stop blaming the defense. if our guys can't score more then 2 goals, we will lose most games, it has nothing to do with the defense.

thank you for reading my rant!

 

[Kin]

My guess is people are saying the defense is a problem because the Leafs are still bottom 5 in the league in shots allowed and bottom 3 in the league in CA/60.

 

[Tigger]

The defense group and overall team defensive play is poor just with the eye test. Andersen seems fine and offensive play is coming along, hopefully with more experience they won't have to sacrifice much of that to improve substantially.

 

[TBLeafer]

Interesting comments here today about the Leafs inexperienced talent and level of talent compared to other teams.

I think a few surprises are still in store this season as far as the roster is concerned, but in the meantime, let this youth movement continue and enjoy a very exciting brand of Leafs hockey, win or lose.

It's all about sticking to a proper rebuild process.

GO LEAFS GO!!!

Babcock is only in his 2nd season as head coach. We have somewhere around 9 Rookies on the team?  We have several very good prospects in the pipeline and most nights we can play with or beat the best. How many real blowouts have there been? They are playing very high energy entertaining hockey and the future is bright. Just sit back and enjoy the Shanaride.  Now if they could only clone Borje Salming and Matts Sundin life would be next to perfect.

The future is here, but it will take a little bit longer for us to contend. I'm okay with that.

 

[freer]

I am expecting a blow out either way. The Leafs should of won the last game hands down. I do not expect their goalie to hold them in if we get 50+ shot again.

 

[McGarnagle]

On the radio, they were saying that the Leafs are near the top of the league in shots missing the net. I see that from Nylander and Marner a fair bit - trying to snipe the corner instead of shooting for a rebound at times. I think it's probably the difference between goaltending in lesser leagues where you can see a lot more net than what an NHL goalie leaves open.

 

[herman]

On the radio, they were saying that the Leafs are near the top of the league in shots missing the net. I see that from Nylander and Marner a fair bit - trying to snipe the corner instead of shooting for a rebound at times. I think it's probably the difference between goaltending in lesser leagues where you can see a lot more net than what an NHL goalie leaves open.

Good eye!

Kadri had this to say yesterday about this very thing: http://www.tsn.ca/leafs-get-set-for-return-date-with-avalanche-1.636596

Babcock cited a deficiency in the scoring area for Toronto on Tuesday when he joked about his team missing the net too much. It is a real issue for the forwards though, who miss out on those coveted second chances they talk about daily by trying to be too cute. ?I think we have to stop trying to pick the exact corner of every single net, especially on the flank side,? said Kadri. ?When you?re on the outside and putting pucks on the net and it misses the net it can wrap around the boards and create an odd-man rush for [the other team]. And if you miss the net, you don?t get secondary opportunities. So realistically we don?t have to put it in the top upper corner of the net, or go post and in, just hit the net and hope for a rebound and get goals that way.?

 

[L K]

On the radio, they were saying that the Leafs are near the top of the league in shots missing the net. I see that from Nylander and Marner a fair bit - trying to snipe the corner instead of shooting for a rebound at times. I think it's probably the difference between goaltending in lesser leagues where you can see a lot more net than what an NHL goalie leaves open.

Good eye!

Kadri had this to say yesterday about this very thing: http://www.tsn.ca/leafs-get-set-for-return-date-with-avalanche-1.636596

Babcock cited a deficiency in the scoring area for Toronto on Tuesday when he joked about his team missing the net too much. It is a real issue for the forwards though, who miss out on those coveted second chances they talk about daily by trying to be too cute. ?I think we have to stop trying to pick the exact corner of every single net, especially on the flank side,? said Kadri. ?When you?re on the outside and putting pucks on the net and it misses the net it can wrap around the boards and create an odd-man rush for [the other team]. And if you miss the net, you don?t get secondary opportunities. So realistically we don?t have to put it in the top upper corner of the net, or go post and in, just hit the net and hope for a rebound and get goals that way.?

Something that will get better with time.  In the minors the goaltenders don't play the angles consistently and those chances are easier to target.

 

[L K]

I have actually been quite impressed with Gauthier so far.  His skating looks much better than last year.  He's not going to score a lot but his improved mobility will make him a more valuable defensive player outside of faceoffs and the penalty kill.  It also means we can stop paying 2+ million to useless 4th liners who don't provide much in the way of meaningful physicality.

 

[barney_rebel]

We rule man!

 

[Kin]

Woof, that shot is nasty.

 

[barney_rebel]

There's the Beauchemin we all know.