Around the League - 2022-23 Season Edition

[Stephen]

If you think McDavis is trying to pad his stats and not trying to win you are sorely mistaken.

He knows who is behind him and knows full well their best chance to win is if they put up 4.

Their structure is weak and they are top heavy like the Leafs but without reliable goaltending and D.

If he cut down his production, he would have to turn into the undisputed Selke winner to even out the lack of scoring

No NHL team actually requires 2x 150 point winners to be successful in the NHL. We've seen time and again with this Leafs team that when the big guns tilt towards offense it creates a disproportionate amount of chances coming back, creating even more pressure coming back the other way. But good luck reigning McDrai in to play a more conventionally responsible game. Glad our guys are going through that maturation process though.

 

[Jojalu]

No NHL team actually requires 2x 150 point winners to be successful in the NHL. We've seen time and again with this Leafs team that when the big guns tilt towards offense it creates a disproportionate amount of chances coming back, creating even more pressure coming back the other way. But good luck reigning McDrai in to play a more conventionally responsible game. Glad our guys are going through that maturation process though.

I agree.

I kind of rambled on but my main point really was that McDavid doesn't look to pad stats.

Why Edm hasn't brought someone in that can come up with any defensive structure is beyond me.

 

[Fogelhund]

There is a certain level of obsession some of you have with the Oilers.

 

[Stephen]

I agree.

I kind of rambled on but my main point really was that McDavid doesn't look to pad stats.

Why Edm hasn't brought someone in that can come up with any defensive structure is beyond me.

Yeah I don't think they pad stats or that's what drives them but I do they they're a little too offensively focused in a negative way though.

 

[BallardEra]

#35 for McDavid.

 

[BayStBullies]

Yeesh, the top 4 teams right now by P% are all in the East. The league needs to balance this out. 4 of the bottom 5 are in the West.

 

[notDatsyuk]

I mean sure, we can pretend his goal is to help his team, not to improve his stats as much as possible.


He is playing 23 min a game while they are under 20.

If there was a scale with the Selke Trophy winner on one end, this season McDavid is it for the other end.



btw +20 and +15 , name one player in league history who was considered a defensive juggernaut among Rocket trophy winners/runner-ups.

Some unknown named Gretzky is the all-time leader in short-handed goals and points, and in +/- among forwards.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Yeesh, the top 4 teams right now by P% are all in the East. The league needs to balance this out. 4 of the bottom 5 are in the West.

Yesterdays stats, but Atlantic is +68 in goal differential, Metro is +45, Western is -40 and Pacific is -73.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Bedard on Anaheim would be fun with Zegras and McTavish

 

[leafsfan5]

Yeesh, the top 4 teams right now by P% are all in the East. The league needs to balance this out. 4 of the bottom 5 are in the West.

Leafs are 2nd in the NHL but will play the Lightning who are currently 7th in the NHL

It's a wonderful system

 

[Gabriel426]

That’s a whole other level of dysfunction. Not going to happen here.

Well we did signed two 1st overall via Free agency but only one of them remains.
Maybe we can sign one or two via free agency in the future. Think Kane was drafted 1st overall

 

[LeafalCrusader]

Phoenix Copley 11-2 with LA. I guess he's won the job over Quick and Petterson lol.

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

Phoenix Copley 11-2 with LA. I guess he's won the job over Quick and Petterson lol.

If LA can get steady goaltending, I can see them going on a deep run. Doughty is playing like it's 2013 and I really like their forward group. They're deep and I'm sure they'll add another top 6 forward at the deadline. Just need some saves

 

[deprw]

That’s a whole other level of dysfunction. Not going to happen here.

They would have enforced rule change and fast, if we would have got even two 1st overalls in three years.

 

[CincoHolio]

Yeesh, the top 4 teams right now by P% are all in the East. The league needs to balance this out. 4 of the bottom 5 are in the West.

Just re-seed during the playoffs and be done with it.

 

[SprDaVE]

Leafs are 2nd in the NHL but will play the Lightning who are currently 7th in the NHL

It's a wonderful system

If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best I guess.

It sucks there isn't an easy path compared to other teams but the Leafs had their shot at an easier route in the playoffs and still lost (Columbus, Montreal).

 

[TheTotalPackage]

There is a certain level of obsession some of you have with the Oilers.

Yup.

Some Leaf fans are insecure over the Oilers (and Matthews over McDavid) just as much as some Oilers fans are insecure about the Leafs.

It's actually a weird dynamic because they are not direct rivalries and they play in different conferences. A lot seems to stem from Matthews vs. McDavid, and really, outside of a few blinded Leaf fans, no one else actually really believes it.

 

[PromisedLand]

And the plot thickens

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sports-betting-gambling-ads-gretzky-mcdavid-matthews-nhl-1.6710407

 

[Dekes For Days]

If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best I guess.

That's not really how it works though in this format. Cup paths vary massively in difficulty.

It sucks there isn't an easy path compared to other teams but the Leafs had their shot at an easier route in the playoffs and still lost (Columbus, Montreal).

While it's true that they were worse opponents than the mix of elite teams we've faced otherwise, the path doesn't remain quite as easy when those teams that ranked lower in part due to their goalies pacing for -15.1 GSAx and -3.8 GSAx in the regular season, receive goaltending pacing for +79.5 GSAx and +45.8 GSAx in the playoffs, while we suffer through significant injuries.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best I guess.

It sucks there isn't an easy path compared to other teams but the Leafs had their shot at an easier route in the playoffs and still lost (Columbus, Montreal).

I don't really agree with this logic. Just because the Leafs lost to weaker teams in the past doesn't justify the shitty playoff format. The 2nd best team in the regular season should be rewarded with an easier first round opponent, not set up with an ECF caliber matchup right off the bat.

Edmonton got completely smashed against extremely competition (Chicago and Winnipeg) but because they kept getting easy opponents like LA, they were eventually able to break through. If people are going to judge the Leafs exclusively on not getting out of the first round, you can't just overlook how much they're being screwed over

 

[SprDaVE]

That's not really how it works though in this format. Cup paths vary massively in difficulty.

While it's true that they were worse opponents than the mix of elite teams we've faced otherwise, the path doesn't remain quite as easy when those teams that ranked lower in part due to their goalies pacing for -15.1 GSAx and -3.8 GSAx in the regular season, receive goaltending pacing for +79.5 GSAx and +45.8 GSAx in the playoffs, while we suffer through significant injuries.

They do vary but beating teams that are good will be part of the journey regardless. Can't always lament on it or make excuses, at some point, you just have to do it. The Leafs are 2nd in the league, they should act like it when the playoffs arrive.

 

[SprDaVE]

I don't really agree with this logic. Just because the Leafs lost to weaker teams in the past doesn't justify the shitty playoff format. The 2nd best team in the regular season should be rewarded with an easier first round opponent, not set up with an ECF caliber matchup right off the bat.

Edmonton got completely smashed against extremely competition (Chicago and Winnipeg) but because they kept getting easy opponents like LA, they were eventually able to break through. If people are going to judge the Leafs exclusively on not getting out of the first round, you can't just overlook how much they're being screwed over

The playoffs format is bad for sure. I'm just saying excusing playoff woes based on the playoff format is kind of not great either. They had their chances in the past with a favourable playoff format and they still lost. So regardless of the teams they face, they need to elevate beyond the frustrating aspect of it.

It does make it hard having to root for a team that's in the hardest division by far and has been for a very long time.

 

[Dekes For Days]

They do vary but beating teams that are good will be part of the journey regardless.

To some extent. For example, Colorado's path last year involved beating one top-8 team in the league - Tampa, in the Stanley Cup Finals, who didn't even have their #1 center for the majority of the series. Our path last year would have involved beating 4 top-8 teams.

 

[BertCorbeau]

The hard path to the cup thing went out the window when the Leafs blew that series against the Habs for me

 

[stickty111]

If the 1-8 format was still in effect removing top 3 seeds for division winners.
16-17
Leafs vs Caps(same)
17-18
Leafs vs Pens
This would have been a fun series. Up and coming team against the back to back cup champs.
18-19
Leafs vs Islanders
This was JT's first season since signing in Toronto, and he faces his former team in the first round. Of course Dubas vs Lou as well. Great entertainment.
19-20(cancelled)
20-21(shortened canadian division)
21-22
Leafs vs Bruins
We get Boston and Toronto. Leafs trying to fight off their demons against Boston.