After 20 games.......

[francis246]

I'm not a Dubas lover or hater, but the one thing we know Shanahan is responsible for is blocking the trade that would have dealt Knies as part of a package for Hagel and Fleury.

I don’t think that’s how that went down. Dubas just didn’t accept that offer. Then Chicago’s GM leaked it to the media to get Knies upset because he was pissed Dubas rejected the offer. Dubas confronted Kyle Davidson at the GM meetings.

Knies was a non-starter for both Shanahan and Dubas. Friedman reported this on 22 thoughts. The Shanahan blocked the trade ish was just a rumour.

"The Maple Leafs were like 'We never were gonna do that deal, it was presented to us' and basically, I think I can say it now, both Dubas and Shanahan made it very clear, they were like 'how stupid do you think we are that either one of us would consider making that trade?' and they were adamant that neither one of them wanted to do it and they defended each other. They were like 'The other guy didn't want to do it either.' I think the story I was told, if I remember correctly, was I guess Shanahan was asking 'what's going on out there?' And they were talking about their talks with Chicago so Dubas showed it to Shanahan and Shanahan's like 'we're not doing this' and Dubas was like 'of course we're not doing it, I'm just showing it to you' and apparently they both laughed." - Elliotte Friedman on a trade proposed to the Leafs by Chicago

 

[thewave]

I don’t think that’s how that went down. Dubas just didn’t accept that offer. Then Chicago’s GM leaked it to the media to get Knies upset because he was pissed Dubas rejected the offer. Dubas confronted Kyle Davidson at the GM meetings.

Knies was a non-starter for both Shanahan and Dubas. Friedman reported this on 22 thoughts. The Shanahan blocked the trade ish was just a rumour.

Just jumping in on this. Regardless of how that went down we should all be glad he is still here. The new issue at game 10 is if he keeps tracking like this...

How are we going to pay Knies when the time comes? He looks better than Hyman so.

 

[francis246]

Just jumping in on this. Regardless of how that went down we should all be glad he is still here. The new issue at game 10 is if he keeps tracking like this...

How are we going to pay Knies when the time comes? He looks better than Hyman so.

I think Knies is gonna get around Byfield money which I’m totally good with. Knies at 6.2 or 5.6 at 5-6 years is good. Don’t think he’s quite as good as Alexei Laf so he’ll be under 7. Term will be the battle. Do we pay a little more to get him at 8 years or bridge him. Both come with risk.

 

[Nineteen67]

They have an interesting mix in the next 10 games. All winnable but no real gimmes

 

[Da Mash]

After 10 games who is your biggest surprise and biggest disappointment relative to expectations. (You can have more than one.)

For me,
Surprise
1. Stolarz
2. Max Patch
3. OEL

Disappointment
1. Holmberg
2. Woll

I think you nailed the surprises.

Disappointments?

Mathews. I expect better because he is a elite player and needs to be a leader.
Woll because he is wound too tight it seems.
Coaches.....I expected better special teams.
Robertson......preseason means nothing if you cant translate that to the regular season.
Kampf just because he is just a black hole

 

[DarkKnight]

Why do Leafs fans always apologize for good goaltending? Potvin, Cujo, Belfour, it’s part of the mix for success. We’re the first to lament ass goalies here, when we finally get some saves, suddenly it’s a bandaid over bad play. Ummm no, it’s imperative.

 

[ACC1224]

I think you nailed the surprises.

Disappointments?

Mathews. I expect better because he is a elite player and needs to be a leader.
Woll because he is wound too tight it seems.
Coaches.....I expected better special teams.
Robertson......preseason means nothing if you cant translate that to the regular season.
Kampf just because he is just a black hole

Yeah, can't say I'd argue with any of the 'Disappointments'.
I thought of listing more 'Disappointments' but wanted to balance it with the 'Surprises' .

 

[banks]

Disappointments:

Robertson: I'm still a Robertson supporter, but even I'm wondering if he's getting close to the end of the line.

Liljegren: Time for the team to move on. Send him to Utah for their other 3rd rounder.

Special teams: I still think they'll get this figured out. There's too much talent for the powerplay to be this bad.

On the upside, I've been pretty happy with everything else. I'm not one to overreact to some weak losses early in the season. Overall I think they've shown that the Berube style will work, and almost all the moves form Tre have worked out great so far.

 

[wingman75]

This is a more detailed version of my post.

With one addition being, I think Marner just looks off.

He could be. I find he looks the same. Has been good the last couple games.

 

[Fogelhund]

I'm not sure where else to post this.. but here are the lines in today's practice.

""

 

[Clark4Ever]

My biggest concern is the 3rd line as it's currently constructed. They aren't overly physical or defensively sound and haven't been a threat offensively. We need a 3rd line with some sort of identity.

 

[m1ker]

I don't understand the Kampf hate. This year the 4th line has been our best line for many games and just look at what happened the game he was scratched, the line was complete garbage. He's also been a part of many solid lines that went on runs for stretches like kamp-jarkok. Even the playoffs kampf easily becomes one of our better players.

 

[LeafEgo]

I'm not sure where else to post this.. but here are the lines in today's practice.

""

So close. Swap Robo and Holmberg. Swap Mitch and Willy.

 

[Fogelhund]

I don't understand the Kampf hate. This year the 4th line has been our best line for many games and just look at what happened the game he was scratched, the line was complete garbage. He's also been a part of many solid lines that went on runs for stretches like kamp-jarkok. Even the playoffs kampf easily becomes one of our better players.

It's his cap hit. We paid him way too much for a 4th line C. If he was paid $1.2 or $1.5, not many people would complain. He's a decent player though. The challenge is often that his line lacks some identity last year. He's not your physical guy, and his line wasn't great defensively. He needs the right type of players, to maximize his value. Guys who are pretty quick, and effective puck carriers. It's been better this year.

 

[ULF_55]

What? If he wasn't getting chances, then I would agree with you.

I don't stress (or even care) about how well Leafs fair in fantasy hockey.

Has there been any analysis on why he's not scoring?

Shooting percentage is a result, not a cause.

Is his velocity off?
Is he shooting from worse positions?
Is he burdened by the weight of 'C'?

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Has there been any analysis on why he's not scoring?

Shooting percentage is a result, not a cause.

Is his velocity off?
Is he shooting from worse positions?
Is he burdened by the weight of 'C'?

I don't have all the answers. I only have another question:

When have we worried about Matthews not scoring goals?

Career low: 34 goals in 62 games

Career high: 69 goals in 81 games

He's going to score. He already has 4 this season.

 

[NinjaKick]

waive my kampf. no one will claim him so maybe it will wake him up

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

The biggest surprise is the coaching.

Berube isn't all that tough. Still haven't seen any of the accountability we were promised either. It's looking like more of the same old, same old, except with a few more dump outs than last year.

That and the special teams stink.

Which is why the biggest disappointment so far is easily Marc Savard. I think he overly complicates things. I remember reading about this play book of his and he basically had a set play for virtually every state of the game.

Sounds like a lot to try and remember in a split second decision.

With regards to the players the biggest surprise has been McMann. The biggest disappointment has been Tavares. With regards to the team overall the biggest surprise and biggest disappointment belong to the same individual.

It's both surprising, and extremely disappointing, that Brendan Shanahan still has a job.

 

[arso40]

The biggest surprise is the coaching.

Berube isn't all that tough. Still haven't seen any of the accountability we were promised either. It's looking like more of the same old, same old, except with a few more dump outs than last year.

That and the special teams stink.

Which is why the biggest disappointment so far is easily Marc Savard. I think he overly complicates things. I remember reading about this play book of his and he basically had a set play for virtually every state of the game.

Sounds like a lot to try and remember in a split second decision.

With regards to the players the biggest surprise has been McMann. The biggest disappointment has been Tavares. With regards to the team overall the biggest surprise and biggest disappointment belong to the same individual.

It's both surprising, and extremely disappointing, that Brendan Shanahan still has a job.

Maybe he’s just getting comfortable with the team before that switch goes off but it’s been a mixed bag and not a good one in my opinion someone in that top 4 gets injured it’s not gonna look good our whole right side with the exception of the leftys playing on the right side are injury prone so let’s hope they can stay healthy

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Game 11 felt good man...

The biggest surprise is the coaching.

Berube isn't all that tough. Still haven't seen any of the accountability we were promised either. It's looking like more of the same old, same old, except with a few more dump outs than last year.

That and the special teams stink.

Which is why the biggest disappointment so far is easily Marc Savard. I think he overly complicates things. I remember reading about this play book of his and he basically had a set play for virtually every state of the game.

Sounds like a lot to try and remember in a split second decision.

With regards to the players the biggest surprise has been McMann. The biggest disappointment has been Tavares. With regards to the team overall the biggest surprise and biggest disappointment belong to the same individual.

It's both surprising, and extremely disappointing, that Brendan Shanahan still has a job.

I'll see you in the 1st official "Fire Berube" thread.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

Game 11 felt good man...


I'll see you in the 1st official "Fire Berube" thread.

My timing couldn't be any better being as Tavares also just had the two best games he's liable to have all year.

I don't think it's time to start a "Fire Berube" thread yet but if you were to start a "Fire Savard" thread I would have a few things to say...

 

[Ianturnedbull]

X

My timing couldn't be any better being as Tavares also just had the two best games he's liable to have all year.

I don't think it's time to start a "Fire Berube" thread yet but if you were to start a "Fire Savard" thread I would have a few things to say...

It's OK. You're like a lot of people. Some pay to come to events like WWE wrestling where cheering for the good guys is not fun at all for people. Instead they pay money to go and Boo/Yell/Scream at the bad guys.

There are two truths about the Leafs Culture:

1) People in Canada have an unhealthy hatred towards the Leafs.

2) There's a culture of leaf fans that take pleasure in hating the Leafs.

Have you ever heard the expression: "pay for the sins of their fathers". or "the sins of the fathers are visited upon the children"?

It's this idea that children shouldn't be punished for the short-comings of their parents. So do you believe they should?

Is Savard to blame for last year's power play? I think 11 games is not enough to say that and assistant coach should be fired, but that's the media narrative (hate fuel for fans) right now which is kind of insane.

Last years' best PP was CAR at 27%. If that's the best then you can expect most teams to not score on the PP close to 80% of the time.

Do you have any optimism for this season?

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

X

It's OK. You're like a lot of people. Some pay to come to events like WWE wrestling where cheering for the good guys is not fun at all for people. Instead they pay money to go and Boo/Yell/Scream at the bad guys.

There are two truths about the Leafs Culture:

1) People in Canada have an unhealthy hatred towards the Leafs.

2) There's a culture of leaf fans that take pleasure in hating the Leafs.

Have you ever heard the expression: "pay for the sins of their fathers". or "the sins of the fathers are visited upon the children"?

It's this idea that children shouldn't be punished for the short-comings of their parents. So do you believe they should?

Is Savard to blame for last year's power play? I think 11 games is not enough to say that and assistant coach should be fired, but that's the media narrative (hate fuel for fans) right now which is kind of insane.

Last years' best PP was CAR at 27%. If that's the best then you can expect most teams to not score on the PP close to 80% of the time.

Do you have any optimism for this season?

Optimistic in what way?

To win the cup? Oh God no don't be ridiculous. There's a better chance Alyssa Milano is gonna show up on my doorstep with a big bow on and not much else.

Maybe these guys can do something they've never done before.

Dig in deep to find that next level to take them to the conference finals and beyond. I'm not seeing anything yet to convince me that's the case but you never know. History has a tendency to repeat itself and the team's record isn't one to give fans much reason to be optimistic.

But I suppose if we ignore all the bad things and hope for the moon and the sun and the stars to align perfectly right anything is possible.

Some guy was mopping the floor last night at work and I had to cross over to get into the kitchen. He said something like "Make way for Jesus". I thought it was cause I'm such a good person with a big heart but I realized a few hours later it's because I walked on water.

Miracles happen.

 

[beleaf101]

My biggest take is goaltending. We finally have good goaltending. Not since the days of Ed Belfor has it been this good.

People always seem to lay the blame at the feet of the core 4 but l always thought the reason for lack of success in the playoffs was mediocre goaltending.

 

[wingman75]

I know realistically it is going to take 20ish games for this team to be what they are going to be (based on a new coach and playing style, plus new players).

BUT, I am super concerned with what we have seen so far.

- Terrible PP
- Inconsistent star power
- Lack of depth scoring
- Too cute too often (there is a time and a place for it)
- Overpowered in board battles (eye test only)
- Poor discipline

American Thanksgiving is 26 days away. It's a day on the calendar where a lot of pundits claim a team is what they are at that point in the season.
- Based on PTS% we are a WC1 team
- Leafs have 10 games before then

They usually have a hot November. What happens if they do not. These next 10 games are going to be telling.

If this team is in a playoff battle, my level of concern might be 'Nic Cage'.

I need to go for a walk