Leafs @ Canucks - Mar. 6th, 7:00pm - CBC, TSN 1050

[ZBBM]

Not Marner's very best game.

What pisses me off the most is they aren't punished for poor play. Been horrible for 3 games. Staple his ass to the bench. Starting to wonder with his points he thinks he's in McDavid territory. Sorry Mitch you're no where near that calibre. Quit trying to be so fancy is his problem. I didn't watch any of the 3rd period which was a good thing. Maybe rushing Auston back was a mistake as he looks off and personally I think the team plays differently when he's not in the lineup. They seem to play better as a whole and everyone steps up their game in his absence. Don't get how you can smother the Oilers and play 3 flawless games and then look average.

Oh come on Azzurri.  They aren't going to bench Marner and he's been great up most of the season.  It's like saying bench Matthews because he hasn't scored in 5.  The whole team looked off these last two games.

You think what you want. He has been benched in the past. I don't expect 3 points a night from him but when you're dogging it defensively you need talking to or benched. Stars are stars and they are there to produce which isn't always going to happen but you still have to put in an effort defensively. Almost cost us in the second while on the PP with lazy back check. For me that's unacceptable.

Or, you know, the coach recognizes that benching him isn't going to increase your chances of winning the game.

My point is sometimes they have to be straightened out. I understand he's one of the stars but are you saying it's ok to dog it defensively and cough up the puck at will and foolishly. I only watched the goal highlights from the 3rd and he was the reason for 2 of them. But hey that's ok he's a star. Maybe if he would have sat the 3rd they don't score twice against us because of him. Can look at it that way to. Problem with Mitch is he tries to get cute too often.

I get your frustration but your reflexive action is to bench whoever's playing poorly.  Like Chris said, Thornton looked tired (very tired, in fact ... as I posted earlier in this thread they need to account for that, especially in the playoffs) and I think Matthews is not 100% either.  Benching Marner just isn't going to do any good.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Not Marner's very best game.

What pisses me off the most is they aren't punished for poor play. Been horrible for 3 games. Staple his ass to the bench. Starting to wonder with his points he thinks he's in McDavid territory. Sorry Mitch you're no where near that calibre. Quit trying to be so fancy is his problem. I didn't watch any of the 3rd period which was a good thing. Maybe rushing Auston back was a mistake as he looks off and personally I think the team plays differently when he's not in the lineup. They seem to play better as a whole and everyone steps up their game in his absence. Don't get how you can smother the Oilers and play 3 flawless games and then look average.

Oh come on Azzurri.  They aren't going to bench Marner and he's been great up most of the season.  It's like saying bench Matthews because he hasn't scored in 5.  The whole team looked off these last two games.

You think what you want. He has been benched in the past. I don't expect 3 points a night from him but when you're dogging it defensively you need talking to or benched. Stars are stars and they are there to produce which isn't always going to happen but you still have to put in an effort defensively. Almost cost us in the second while on the PP with lazy back check. For me that's unacceptable.

Or, you know, the coach recognizes that benching him isn't going to increase your chances of winning the game.

My point is sometimes they have to be straightened out. I understand he's one of the stars but are you saying it's ok to dog it defensively and cough up the puck at will and foolishly. I only watched the goal highlights from the 3rd and he was the reason for 2 of them. But hey that's ok he's a star. Maybe if he would have sat the 3rd they don't score twice against us because of him. Can look at it that way to. Problem with Mitch is he tries to get cute too often.

I get your frustration but your reflexive action is to bench whoever's playing poorly.  Like Chris said, Thornton looked tired (very tired, in fact ... as I posted earlier in this thread they need to account for that, especially in the playoffs) and I think Matthews is not 100% either.  Benching Marner just isn't going to do any good.

Matthews may not be 100% but Marner is the one that looks "more" off then him. He's reverted back to these cutesy passes instead of just making the play. Over all his decision making the last few games hasn't been good and his effort on that PP breakaway in the 2nd was terrible. However I have no doubt he will bounce back and so will Matthews. Like I said earlier, these guys can't keep that pace all year. Leafs still generated the better chances so it isn't like they played horrible. Willy could have had 4 or 5 goals the last few games with the chances he had. Is what it is, on to the next.

 

[azzurri63]

Not Marner's very best game.

What pisses me off the most is they aren't punished for poor play. Been horrible for 3 games. Staple his ass to the bench. Starting to wonder with his points he thinks he's in McDavid territory. Sorry Mitch you're no where near that calibre. Quit trying to be so fancy is his problem. I didn't watch any of the 3rd period which was a good thing. Maybe rushing Auston back was a mistake as he looks off and personally I think the team plays differently when he's not in the lineup. They seem to play better as a whole and everyone steps up their game in his absence. Don't get how you can smother the Oilers and play 3 flawless games and then look average.

Oh come on Azzurri.  They aren't going to bench Marner and he's been great up most of the season.  It's like saying bench Matthews because he hasn't scored in 5.  The whole team looked off these last two games.

You think what you want. He has been benched in the past. I don't expect 3 points a night from him but when you're dogging it defensively you need talking to or benched. Stars are stars and they are there to produce which isn't always going to happen but you still have to put in an effort defensively. Almost cost us in the second while on the PP with lazy back check. For me that's unacceptable.

Or, you know, the coach recognizes that benching him isn't going to increase your chances of winning the game.

My point is sometimes they have to be straightened out. I understand he's one of the stars but are you saying it's ok to dog it defensively and cough up the puck at will and foolishly. I only watched the goal highlights from the 3rd and he was the reason for 2 of them. But hey that's ok he's a star. Maybe if he would have sat the 3rd they don't score twice against us because of him. Can look at it that way to. Problem with Mitch is he tries to get cute too often.

I get your frustration but your reflexive action is to bench whoever's playing poorly.  Like Chris said, Thornton looked tired (very tired, in fact ... as I posted earlier in this thread they need to account for that, especially in the playoffs) and I think Matthews is not 100% either.  Benching Marner just isn't going to do any good.

Matthews may not be 100% but Marner is the one that looks "more" off then him. He's reverted back to these cutesy passes instead of just making the play. Over all his decision making the last few games hasn't been good and his effort on that PP breakaway in the 2nd was terrible. However I have no doubt he will bounce back and so will Matthews. Like I said earlier, these guys can't keep that pace all year. Leafs still generated the better chances so it isn't like they played horrible. Willy could have had 4 or 5 goals the last few games with the chances he had. Is what it is, on to the next.

Thank you.

 

[Bender]

Not Marner's very best game.

What pisses me off the most is they aren't punished for poor play. Been horrible for 3 games. Staple his ass to the bench. Starting to wonder with his points he thinks he's in McDavid territory. Sorry Mitch you're no where near that calibre. Quit trying to be so fancy is his problem. I didn't watch any of the 3rd period which was a good thing. Maybe rushing Auston back was a mistake as he looks off and personally I think the team plays differently when he's not in the lineup. They seem to play better as a whole and everyone steps up their game in his absence. Don't get how you can smother the Oilers and play 3 flawless games and then look average.

Oh come on Azzurri.  They aren't going to bench Marner and he's been great most of the season.  It's like saying bench Matthews because he hasn't scored in 5.  The whole team looked off these last two games.

I just watched the 3rd period goals. That line stunk especially Marner giveaway after giveaway. Peewee hockey from a 10.5 million dollar player. You don't think that deserves benching. Wow. Told you I would have talked to him if I was Keefe after that lazy back check in the 2nd and he wasn't any better before that. Sometimes they need to be put in their place.

I can?t ever recall a coach benching their superstar down by 1.

I guess you bench him and move Boyd up?  That?ll work out

I thought John Tortorella was too busy coaching the Blue Jackets to post here [emoji23]

 

[Champ Kind]

Benching Skinner has sure worked out well for Buffalo.

 

[azzurri63]

Benching Skinner has sure worked out well for Buffalo.

Like Skinner is a superstar. No comparison. So ok to bench Willy when he underperforms but not Marner. Hmmm.

 

[Bullfrog]

Whatever the dev team did with Bogosian, I like it.

I really can't tell if you're being serious here or not.

 

[Bullfrog]

I just watched the 3rd period goals. That line stunk especially Marner giveaway after giveaway. Peewee hockey from a 10.5 million dollar player. You don't think that deserves benching. Wow. Told you I would have talked to him if I was Keefe after that lazy back check in the 2nd and he wasn't any better before that. Sometimes they need to be put in their place.

When a puppy has an accident in the house, you should rub it's face in it, amiright??

 

[OldTimeHockey]

I can't believe that after that subpar effort by the Leafs that Andersen's name even gets mentioned as needing to be better.

Yes Demko played great(ish) but that doesn't mean Andersen played poor. Toronto couldn't get the puck out of their own zone. And when they actually had the puck into Vancouver's zone, it was usually a turnover at the top of the circles. Especially with the top line.

The bottom 6 can't score all your goals for you. The top line has been off for a couple games. They will be back soon. I consider the last two games as the let down after playing 3 playoff type games in Edmonton. So much emotion and then they relax for Vancouver and can't put it back in gear.

 

[L K]

Personally I think we should bring back caning.  That would fix the issue of the Leafs not going 82-0

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Personally I think we should bring back caning.  That would fix the issue of the Leafs not going 82-0

At first I thought you meant to bring it back for the irrational fans. If it's for that, I'm good.

 

[herman]

Whatever the dev team did with Bogosian, I like it.

I really can't tell if you're being serious here or not.

He is surprisingly patient with the puck coming out of his zone. He isn?t worth his draft slot, but given that he spent so long in the Buffalo system of neutering all capability and will to live from defensemen... he looks relatively competent. I expected more icings and pointless hitting, but Bogo has been honestly good for his role.

Edit: lol 2008 draft

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

Whatever the dev team did with Bogosian, I like it.

I really can't tell if you're being serious here or not.

He is surprisingly patient with the puck coming out of his zone. He isn?t worth his draft slot, but given that he spent so long in the Buffalo system of neutering all capability and will to live from defensemen... he looks relatively competent. I expected more icings and pointless hitting, but Bogo has been honestly good for his role.

Edit: lol 2008 draft

It's not just Buffalo, he's been on bad teams his whole career. After stints in Atlanta, Winnipeg and Buffalo, he's 30 and has 668 games played, but his Cup run last year was his *first* trip to the playoffs. Then he averaged 17:40 for a Cup winning team.

He's no Norris candidate, and he certainly didn't drag any of these bad teams into respectability, but I think it's fair to say his potential for competency on a good team has probably been overlooked for years. Good for him for the Cup run last year and finding a solid job on a solid team this year.

 

[herman]

The rising tide effect is pretty crucial for developing your top end players: see Edmonton?s many top picks before McDavid, Buffalo?s Eichel and Dahlin (and other top 5-10 ?busts?). Very few first overall picks can turn the inertia of a bad team around alone. Crosby had Malkin and Gonchar and other UFAs who wanted to play with a generational talent. Ovechkin had Backstrom. Matthews had Nylander and Marner (and Hyman and Marincin  8))

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

Whatever the dev team did with Bogosian, I like it.

I really can't tell if you're being serious here or not.

He is surprisingly patient with the puck coming out of his zone. He isn?t worth his draft slot, but given that he spent so long in the Buffalo system of neutering all capability and will to live from defensemen... he looks relatively competent. I expected more icings and pointless hitting, but Bogo has been honestly good for his role.

Edit: lol 2008 draft

It's not just Buffalo, he's been on bad teams his whole career. After stints in Atlanta, Winnipeg and Buffalo, he's 30 and has 668 games played, but his Cup run last year was his *first* trip to the playoffs. Then he averaged 17:40 for a Cup winning team.

He's no Norris candidate, and he certainly didn't drag any of these bad teams into respectability, but I think it's fair to say his potential for competency on a good team has probably been overlooked for years. Good for him for the Cup run last year and finding a solid job on a solid team this year.

I wanted to look at Bogosian's team history year by year just to see how bad it was and, yikes. Excluding last year with Tampa, the average yearly team point total throughout Bogo's career is 79, and that's pumped up a couple of points from 77 by one 43-26-13 season in Winnipeg in which he was traded away mid-season. He's consistently played on bottom-third teams throughout his career.

 

[herman]

If he wants to stay for sub-1M I would entertain it

 

[Bender]

I can't believe that after that subpar effort by the Leafs that Andersen's name even gets mentioned as needing to be better.

Yes Demko played great(ish) but that doesn't mean Andersen played poor. Toronto couldn't get the puck out of their own zone. And when they actually had the puck into Vancouver's zone, it was usually a turnover at the top of the circles. Especially with the top line.

The bottom 6 can't score all your goals for you. The top line has been off for a couple games. They will be back soon. I consider the last two games as the let down after playing 3 playoff type games in Edmonton. So much emotion and then they relax for Vancouver and can't put it back in gear.

I don't understand how his name doesn't get mentioned honestly. He hasn't been good most of this year.

 

[ZBBM]

Personally I think we should bring back caning.  That would fix the issue of the Leafs not going 82-0

At first I thought you meant to bring it back for the irrational fans. If it's for that, I'm good.

I disagreed with Azzurri but I don't mind his complaining.  He's a passionate fan(atic) ... he just expresses it through projected retribution.

 

[Zee]

Personally I think we should bring back caning.  That would fix the issue of the Leafs not going 82-0

At first I thought you meant to bring it back for the irrational fans. If it's for that, I'm good.

I disagreed with Azzurri but I don't mind his complaining.  He's a passionate fan(atic) ... he just expresses it through projected retribution.

I have a bit of Azzurri in me too (maybe cause my background is Italian too). I've waited long enough to see a winner and my patience is running out even though I agree with the Shanaplan as implemented by our boy king Dubas

 

[azzurri63]

We are all here for the same reason. We all express our opinions and we are not always going to agree. My thoughts are this. Whether you are a star or a fringe 4th liner if you're not cutting it then you should be dealt with by Keefe. Marner is a great player and I have commended him more often than I slam him but last night he deserved to sit. Careless plays that you make in peewee hockey. The problem with Mitch I think at times is he tries to make everything look spectacular almost trying to showboat if you will. Instead he should keep it simple and not try to do too much or make something out of nothing. Regardless it was his play that cost us last night, not Willy and not Freddy.

A talking to, moved down the lineup or simply benched sometimes sends a message. That was the point I was trying to make.