Andersen set to face Maple Leafs for first time with Hurricanes on Monday

[Fogelhund]

Imagine a fan base, that suddenly wishes for Andersen back, after endlessly complaining about him, and his lack of playoff successes... always being the second best goalie, letting in those soft goals that broke the team, and so on... I liked Freddy, and at times he was a great goalie. But more Leafs fans revisionist thinking, along with wanting Babcock back, blah, blah, blah... I hope we light Freddy up tonight... bn

 

[ACC1224]

Imagine a fan base, that suddenly wishes for Andersen back, after endlessly complaining about him, and his lack of playoff successes... always being the second best goalie, letting in those soft goals that broke the team, and so on... I liked Freddy, and at times he was a great goalie. But more Leafs fans revisionist thinking, along with wanting Babcock back, blah, blah, blah... I hope we light Freddy up tonight... bn

The fans want Andersen back? Where are you seeing that?

 

[stonec]

There’s no doubt in my mind Freddie is better than Toronto’s current goalies. I wouldn’t have paid him 6mill but 4.5 x 2 was definitely a fair deal. Too bad Toronto can’t manage the cap properly to make the right decisions.

I would say there is little doubt that he is better than Mrazek at least. Mrazek had one of the best defenses in the league behind him and still managed to look inconsistent. Toronto's less than amazing defense, the high scoring in the Canadian division and general pressure or whatever factor that make goalies look worse in Toronto seemed to hit Andersen last year.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

I see no reason to believe the Leafs are going to remember how to score tonight, Andy shutout guaranteed. At most he’ll allow only one goal, Spezza’s fourth as he tries desperately to give this team some spark again.

 

[ToneDog]

Canes made right decision going with Andy over Mrazek but I gotta believe Matty will put at least one by him tonight.

 

[Fogelhund]

The fans want Andersen back? Where are you seeing that?

Twitter, Facebook...

 

[Carltons Cup]

it's amazing what better defensemen and a better defensive team will do for a goalie's stats and confidence.

 

[Blanche Blanche]

If leafs lose tomorrow night (which I think they will) people are gonna lose their minds. And I would be happy for Freddie. He was right , there's something going on in Toronto., and I bet it's Marner's attitude.

Im with this sentiment.

 

[Fogelhund]

The last time Toronto played against Frederik Andersen, the goal scorers were: Tyler Bozak x2, Nazem Kadri x2, Frankie Corrado, Connor Brown

 

[makbeer]

Canes made right decision going with Andy over Mrazek but I gotta believe Matty will put at least one by him tonight.

haha so far this take is dead on.

 

[Polaris1010]

Canes made right decision going with Andy over Mrazek but I gotta believe Matty will put at least one by him tonight.

See ... you know your hockey!

Unlike too many around here.

========== ==========

This is what is wrong with the Leafs, the forwards edition, first part.

In essence, the forward group is too predictable.


BREAKOUTS

They breakout the same way every time. So they have a situation of three going against four all the time.

The defense will not back up the rush like Gardiner used to do. Since there is only Rielly who would to it now, the opposing team would key on him on the rush, just have someone skate in front of Reilly, and all of Toronto defence will not join the rush. The rush, after the breakout, is always 3 against 4.

Since they do not forecheck as a group, other than the 4th line, all chances tend to come off the rush, and that is why they are not scoring, because they are not getting any chances.

No one stands in front of the net generally. They need more than one guy to do that.

Remember Babcock and the stretch pass? It is clearly evident now why coach Babcock insisted on that. The stretch pass is like the 50/50 ball the QB throws in football. His guy might come down with it. Babcock knew. He knew that this team will be ineffective offensively on the rush, and they have no net presence or forechecking ability.

If they throw up the 50/50 ball with the stretch pass, they might come up with the puck, and get something going with their speed. Now they do not even speed, lol.


OFFENSIVE ZONE TIME

All defending teams do this. Clog up the middle, force the play to bad ice, strip the puck.

Since the bad ice in the offensive zone is along the boards, and the Leafs with small wingers, the other team forces the play to the boards then they easily out muscled the small Leaf wingers for the puck.


I don't get it.

1. Why build a team like this?

2. Why play to the team's weaknesses instead of their strengths?

Guess that is why they fired Babcock. He knew what he was doing. But he was not well liked. LOL!



If the team on offense is this predictable, it is easy to defend.

Hyman was unpredictable because he was like a wild-man-author on skates.

 

[Bluelines]

Maybe he came into their camp in shape instead of fat like he did here last year.

..or maybe he was never the issue to begin with. He's the same size this year as last.

 

[Bluelines]

For those of you that voted shut out... soooooooo close

 

[varano]

Remember when we had a good goalie and made him eat shit for years. I'm happy for Freddy. Might win a Vezina this year

 

[Leafshater67]

Remember when we had a good goalie and made him eat shit for years. I'm happy for Freddy. Might win a Vezina this year

He was never good when it counted though. Time and time again, when the pressure was on, he folded. This team is full of regular season stars who can’t get it done in the playoffs but he was one of them for sure.

 

[17 Clark]

Imagine a fan base, that suddenly wishes for Andersen back, after endlessly complaining about him, and his lack of playoff successes... always being the second best goalie, letting in those soft goals that broke the team, and so on... I liked Freddy, and at times he was a great goalie. But more Leafs fans revisionist thinking, along with wanting Babcock back, blah, blah, blah... I hope we light Freddy up tonight... bn

Looks like you were wrong I hated the soft goals but I don’t think he was that bad of a goalie 5-0 .He seems like he was a problem I wander like Joe Thornton side this team is poisonous starting to make sense and that’s not a good thing

 

[keonsbitterness]

..or maybe he was never the issue to begin with. He's the same size this year as last.

Maybe the bigger issue is that he's now in a place with a team-first mentality instead of me-first.

 

[Bluelines]

Maybe the bigger issue is that he's now in a place with a team-first mentality instead of me-first.

My jealousy meter just exceed 100%

 

[Bluelines]

He was never good when it counted though. Time and time again, when the pressure was on, he folded. This team is full of regular season stars who can’t get it done in the playoffs but he was one of them for sure.

That would be the Leaf fan narrative in some circles but look at the stats from all those first round playoff exits, Andy did his part, yes he usually had one stinker every series but he also had enough Quality starts to win the series too.