After 20 games.......

[Mess]

"Defense wins Championships"

Thanks to Treliving goaltending choices particularly Stolarz who is top 5 in both GAA and SV%.

We currently with our goalie tandem have the BEST goaltending we have had at any time in the past 5-6 years. This gives us hope come playoff time.

 

[DarkKnight]

 

[ULF_55]

"Defense wins Championships"

Thanks to Treliving goaltending choices particularly Stolarz who is top 5 in both GAA and SV%.

View attachment 934087

We currently with our goalie tandem have the BEST goaltending we have had at any time in the past 5-6 years. This gives us hope come playoff time.

Minimum 5 games played:

 

[Aashir Mallik]

To be fair that is maybe the worst defensively the keefe leafs were.

I wonder how this years team stacks up to 22-23. Probably the best iteration of the leafs with keefe, that team was bottom 5 in GA and from memory had a really solid PK.

 

[Dekes For Days]

To be fair that is maybe the worst defensively the keefe leafs were.
I wonder how this years team stacks up to 22-23. Probably the best iteration of the leafs with keefe, that team was bottom 5 in GA and from memory had a really solid PK.

Yeah, it's not all that helpful to compare to last season, when defense was abandoned. This season compares pretty similarly defensively to the years before that.
In 2022-2023, we were 7th in goals against and 9th in expected goals against, with +24.1 GSAx goaltending.
This year, we are 6th in goals against, and 9th in expected goals against, on pace for +21.3 GSAx goaltending.

 

[Mess]

Minimum 5 games played:

View attachment 934114

In the playoffs this past 2 seasons the Leafs scored more than 2 goals in only 1 of 12 last playoff games.

That is why you need goaltending that surrenders GAA at or near 2 GAA/g to have a chance to win low scoring tight checking games.

 

[ULF_55]

In the playoffs this past 2 seasons the Leafs scored more than 2 goals in only 1 of 12 last playoff games.

View attachment 934118

View attachment 934119

That is why you need goaltending that surrenders GAA at or near 2 GAA/g to have a chance to win low scoring tight checking games.

Woll, looks like the man if he's available.

 

[Mess]

After 20 games under Berube system and goaltending the Leafs sit 6th in GA/g and 4th in SV% overall.

&

 

[Mess]

Woll, looks like the man if he's available.

Woll might be our new Felix Potvin if his health hold out.

 

[notdoneyet]

At the quarter mark, I'd say the biggest positive surprises so far have been Stolarz, OEL, Knies, and Lorentz, and the biggest negative surprises so far have been Domi, Robertson, Holmberg, Liljegren, and Benoit.

If you look at Benoit last year he lead the team in hits on a nightly basis and McCabe was his partner. Benoit knew if he hit someone and got jumped McCabe had his back. This year for most of the season he was with Timmins and Benoit had some games with zero hits.
In order for him to be effective he has to play his game which is taking the body and he has to know that his partner has his back.
Last game he hit everything in sight and had knies back.

 

[Azail]

Surely the Leafs made great runs with the 22/23 teams with Samsonov being 5th best in GAA and the Leafs being 5th best in goals against in the whole league.

Surely it couldn't have been a Keefe coached team who did that right?

To be clear I don't really care who is the coach, but the spin in some of the arguments here is hilarious.

 

[kb]

Surprised Timmins hasn't been mentioned more.....he not only made Liljegren expendable, but entirely forgettable.

 

[Azail]

Surprised Timmins hasn't been mentioned more.....he not only made Liljegren expendable, but entirely forgettable.

Timmins looks comfortable and confident when he has the puck (maybe sometimes too confident). I liked Lil and always wanted him to succeed, but he just always seemed to be panicky. Not sure if it was a confidence thing or not.

 

[arso40]

Surprised Timmins hasn't been mentioned more.....he not only made Liljegren expendable, but entirely forgettable.

Hes still good for a bone head play or two a game but he hasn’t hurt us which is good if he was playing in front of last years tandem might be singing a different tune hopefully he irons out the unnecessary errors before the playoffs we need him to

 

[Ianturnedbull]

It's hard to write a review of this team when i'm on a high from the game vs. VGK.

Elite Negatives:

Robertson has been bad beyond recognition. The hockey media has changed in that they don't mention his name anymore. Commenting on his bad play is now considered kicking a dead horse. I used to think that he was wrecking TOR's chances to trade him for an asset. His play is so bad that he's just hurting himself. With Minton and Grebenkin exploding in their season debute, it's all but over Robertson.

The bottom 6 is still a jumble but mostly a stumble. Reaves, Robertson, and Holmberg are not so good. Lorentz/Kampf have been decent. Dewer might help. Jarnkrok might too. Perhaps Grebenkin/Minton are the makings of something much better...

The power play has started quite bad. I think they are on their way to improving it, but it certainly makes you wonder how it will iron out when the playoffs come.



Elite positives:

OEL. Just so good to have a player like him in the top 4 defence. He makes good defensive plays, makes good decisions with the puck, and stirs it up in terms of physicality. I hope he can play like this continually. Does anyone know how many nhl fights he's had? He might have to answer the bell one of these days.

Chris Tanev has been a rock so far. I thought he would be more noticeable (crashing/bashing). Just steady. He's just really good.

Goalies: Stolarz & Woll. They seem to be solid so far. No back breaking goals. Sturdy/Big goalies!

The Star Wingers: Nylander + Marner. Both playing great so far. Knies as well.

Team system/team defence. Credit to Berube for coaching so well despite many players having to learn a new system
Also TOR keep winning despite many injuries.

Young Stars - It's just 1 game, but what a meteoric debut for Minton and Grebenkin.

The penalty kill has improved quite a bit.

 

[thewave]

Surely the Leafs made great runs with the 22/23 teams with Samsonov being 5th best in GAA and the Leafs being 5th best in goals against in the whole league.

Surely it couldn't have been a Keefe coached team who did that right?

To be clear I don't really care who is the coach, but the spin in some of the arguments here is hilarious.

Keefe let the team rack up points and cheat to do it. They failed in the playoffs every time because you can't cheat when teams buckle down.

They are now attempting playing right and will have the benefit of playing right come the playoffs.

 

[Azail]

Keefe let the team rack up points and cheat to do it. They failed in the playoffs every time because you can't cheat when teams buckle down.

They are now attempting playing right and will have the benefit of playing right come the playoffs.

I sure hope so. I actually like what Berube has done, team looks good overall. But Keefe had some good defensive success in the past if we are just comparing GAA and GA.

The problem in the playoffs has pretty much always been the ability to score, defensively they have been more then adequate, hopefully the different style lends itself to more scoring in the playoffs.

 

[NinjaKick]

once matthews is back at 100%... watch the f*** out, we're going to be dangerous.

we feel completely different this season. playoff hockey ladies and gentlemen

 

[peconcan]

No Alex Nylander signing thread yet?

 

[Jojalu]

Minimum 5 games played:

View attachment 934114

Unless of course you are the Jays. Best defensive team in the league 2 years running.

No playoff wins

 

[Evilhomer]

Keefe let the team rack up points and cheat to do it. They failed in the playoffs every time because you can't cheat when teams buckle down.

They are now attempting playing right and will have the benefit of playing right come the playoffs.

It really is as simple as this. It is coaching. It was always coaching. I honestly don't know how anyone can watch the current team and not cringe (or maybe rage) at the years wasted under Keefe.

 

[conFABulator]

It really is as simple as this. It is coaching. It was always coaching. I honestly don't know how anyone can watch the current team and not cringe (or maybe rage) at the years wasted under Keefe.

I agree, but am more philosophical about it. This team is ready to be coached this way now, after learning and knowing they can't win in the playoffs the way they used to play.

Maybe the Keefe era (and Dubas era) will be seen as steps that got us there. I don't know that this team would have played this way under a Berube-type three years ago.

Who knows? It's definitely better now and reason for actual hope come playoffs.

 

[authentic]

once matthews is back at 100%... watch the f*** out, we're going to be dangerous.

we feel completely different this season. playoff hockey ladies and gentlemen

Completely different I don’t buy just yet, but I’m a little more comfortable with this group going into the playoffs especially if both our goalies are healthy.

 

[Evilhomer]

I agree, but am more philosophical about it. This team is ready to be coached this way now, after learning and knowing they can't win in the playoffs the way they used to play.

Maybe the Keefe era (and Dubas era) will be seen as steps that got us there. I don't know that this team would have played this way under a Berube-type three years ago.

Who knows? It's definitely better now and reason for actual hope come playoffs.

You may be right. In any event. after this season I think that fans will completely forget about 2019 through 2024. This team is going to the Cup final this season, unless Shesterkin stops them.

 

[LeafEgo]

It really is as simple as this. It is coaching. It was always coaching. I honestly don't know how anyone can watch the current team and not cringe (or maybe rage) at the years wasted under Keefe.

Berube is a superior coach but Tre has played a significant role as well. A strong defensive corps and goaltending makes it's much easier to get structured play and consistency. It's a necessary foundation to bring everything together - Tanev, OEL, and Stolarz have made a big impact.