Brad Treliving is doing a great job.

[Ports]

All you said was "trust me".

I just want numbers and facts to back it up, that's all.

Anyway, I know that is not likely to happen, but was just curious if there was anything to show that.

I’m not a stats guy. You can do your own research but if you can’t tell from watching them play the numbers won’t help you.

 

[Ports]

I've said all year that I've hated how often our goalies have had to be one of the 3 stars in order for us just to hang around in games.

That's why Berube hockey has never felt sustainable to me. The past 10-15 game stretch is really the first time it's felt somewhat better, but still not great.

Playing to the team’s strengths is a good thing. Playing a team first, patient game and blocking shots, clearing the net front with great goaltending and timely scoring is more sustainable than counting on four players to carry the team on a deep playoff run. Especially when their opponents are able to focus on shutting down those players and take advantage of a weak defense and shaky goaltending.

 

[Ports]

Our core is elite now? I can never keep up with if they are playoff studs or duds.



We've looked like a good playoff team for like a month...

A new coach with a new system is an adjustment especially for a top heavy team like the Leafs that are used to scoring their way into the playoffs. Add in three new defenseman and a new goalie and it’s understandable that there have been some kinks to work out. Better to peak when they’re playing for the division and leading into the playoffs than earlier in the season. I can be just as critical of the Leafs as the next guy when they’re not playing well but that’s not the case at the moment. It just looks different that they’re no longer a puck possession team. The real test starts now however.

 

[Evilhomer]

Playing to the team’s strengths is a good thing. Playing a team first, patient game and blocking shots, clearing the net front with great goaltending and timely scoring is more sustainable than counting on four players to carry the team on a deep playoff run. Especially when their opponents are able to focus on shutting down those players and take advantage of a weak defense and shaky goaltending.

The best thing about this season is that over the next 6-7 weeks all of the tired incorrect narratives about this team will disappear for good.

 

[Ports]

It’s going to be interesting. If they continue to get great goaltending they’ll be a tough out.

 

[Tak7]

Playing to the team’s strengths is a good thing. Playing a team first, patient game and blocking shots, clearing the net front with great goaltending and timely scoring is more sustainable than counting on four players to carry the team on a deep playoff run. Especially when their opponents are able to focus on shutting down those players and take advantage of a weak defense and shaky goaltending.

Don't get me wrong: stylistically I'm happy for change. But this isn't playing to the team's strengths though - it's a roster constructed to play run and gun, north-south hockey, playing a much more patient, dump-and-chase hockey.

I have no problems with it if it leads to playoff success, but for large parts of the season it's looked a lot like they're squeezing round holes into square pegs, and hoping their goaltending + elite offense get them out of trouble.

 

[Donnie740]

The best thing about this season is that over the next 6-7 weeks all of the tired incorrect narratives about this team will disappear for good.

Even if Toronto goes all the way to the Cup finals there’s still going to be Leaf “fans” fabricating excuses as to why Toronto doesn’t really deserve credit for getting there.

We’ll hear about poor Florida’s injury struggles, how Carolina would have smoked Toronto if only Rantannen hadn’t screwed them over, how Bozo The Keefe just needed Joke Hughes to be healthy and New Jersey would have run the table and how Tampa would have taken out Toronto if Vaselevsky wasn’t such an overrated sieve.

 

[Ports]

Don't get me wrong: stylistically I'm happy for change. But this isn't playing to the team's strengths though - it's a roster constructed to play run and gun, north-south hockey, playing a much more patient, dump-and-chase hockey.

I have no problems with it if it leads to playoff success, but for large parts of the season it's looked a lot like they're squeezing round holes into square pegs, and hoping their goaltending + elite offense get them out of trouble.

What’s more important is how they’re playing now not earlier in the season while they were adapting to the system. Run and gun hasn’t worked out for them in the playoffs before which is why Berube was brought in to teach them how to defend and give them a system that doesn’t just rely on four players outscoring the opposition. It looks different and not always pretty but if it’s effective I’m sure Leaf fans like us will grow to embrace it as a winning style.

 

[Tak7]

What’s more important is how they’re playing now not earlier in the season while they were adapting to the system. Run and gun hasn’t worked out for them in the playoffs before which is why Berube was brought in to teach them how to defend and give them a system that doesn’t just rely on four players outscoring the opposition. It looks different and not always pretty but if it’s effective I’m sure Leaf fans like us will grow to embrace it as a winning style.

I fully agree.

I'll take a boring, dull, dry as dishwater style of play if it means going on a cup run.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Even if Toronto goes all the way to the Cup finals there’s still going to be Leaf “fans” fabricating excuses as to why Toronto doesn’t really deserve credit for getting there.

We’ll hear about poor Florida’s injury struggles, how Carolina would have smoked Toronto if only Rantannen hadn’t screwed them over, how Bozo The Keefe just needed Joke Hughes to be healthy and New Jersey would have run the table and how Tampa would have taken out Toronto if Vaselevsky wasn’t such an overrated sieve.

Why don't you give your imagination a rest and wait for things to actually happen before letting them irritate you. It's a beautiful time of year, the team is playing great and looks like they're ready to do some damage in the playoffs, plenty of positive things to think about instead.

What’s more important is how they’re playing now not earlier in the season while they were adapting to the system. Run and gun hasn’t worked out for them in the playoffs before which is why Berube was brought in to teach them how to defend and give them a system that doesn’t just rely on four players outscoring the opposition. It looks different and not always pretty but if it’s effective I’m sure Leaf fans like us will grow to embrace it as a winning style.

All your posts on this page are golden, agree with every word. GLG!!

 

[Mess]

Don't get me wrong: stylistically I'm happy for change. But this isn't playing to the team's strengths though - it's a roster constructed to play run and gun, north-south hockey, playing a much more patient, dump-and-chase hockey.

I have no problems with it if it leads to playoff success, but for large parts of the season it's looked a lot like they're squeezing round holes into square pegs, and hoping their goaltending + elite offense get them out of trouble.

I think you meant "helping their goaltending".

Did you see the Tampa Bay game last week?

I think you mean instead of Run and Gun, the Leafs now new style is Stay and Play. Case in point.

Stolarz faced 28 TB shots in the win HOWEVER the key stat that nobody often considers is Blocked Shots and very underrated stat,

The Leafs blocked an amazing 33 shots attempts at net that Stolarz never needed to face. That is not losing style run and gun (as in the past) and leaving the goalie hanging out to dry as Leafs forwards tried to outscore their mistakes.

Leafs new style under Berube is putting a wall up defensively around their goalie assisting the team defensively making his job easier. This is playoff winning style hockey.

 

[Tak7]

I think you meant "helping their goaltending".

Leafs new style under Berube is putting a wall up defensively around their goalie assisting the team defensively making his job easier. This is playoff winning style hockey.

Lately, sure, they've been helping.

But there was huge stretches of hockey in the first half of the season where they needed their goalie to be a 10-beller first star in order to even stay in games, let alone win them.

I generally like the style of play they've shown the last 10-15 games, and it finally seems like they've gotten comfortable and used to it - I agree that it's more consistent with what wins in the playoffs.

 

[Ports]

I’m 69 and I remember the ‘67 Leafs who were an older team that wasn’t expected to get out of the first round against Chicago who had Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita the two top scorers in the league that year. But great goaltending by Johnny Bower and Terry Sawchuk saw them upset the Blackhawks in six games. Then they had to take on a mighty Habs team who had won the cup the two previous years and were a heavy favourite to repeat having swept the Rangers in the first round. That Leafs team had 11 players over the age of 30 and I believe averaged about 35 years of age. There was no way they were going to beat a younger, faster Habs team playing wide open end to end hockey but Punch Imlach had different ideas. He had them play a smothering style of defense first hockey with their defense standing up at the blue line to disrupt the Habs superior speed and heavy checking all over the ice especially anywhere near the net. And that system was able to neutralize the Habs younger, faster skaters and the Leafs in a huge upset won the Cup in six games. The game has changed a lot since 1967 but if the Leafs stick to Berube’s patient, defense first team game, I think they can do some damage. They have a lot of the same ingredients of that ‘67 team. Great goaltending. A strong defensive system, timely scoring and veteran leadership throughout the lineup. This years Leafs seem like a real team not just four star players with a B team attached to them. The 2019 Blues team scratched and clawed their way to a Stanley Cup. Why not the Leafs.

 

[Tak7]

I’m 69 and I remember the ‘67 Leafs who were an older team that wasn’t expected to get out of the first round against Chicago who had Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita the two top scorers in the league that year. But great goaltending by Johnny Bower and Terry Sawchuk saw them upset the Blackhawks in six games. Then they had to take on a mighty Habs team who had won the cup the two previous years and were a heavy favourite to repeat having swept the Rangers in the first round. That Leafs team had 11 players over the age of 30 and I believe averaged about 35 years of age. There was no way they were going to beat a younger, faster Habs team playing wide open end to end hockey but Punch Imlach had different ideas. He had them play a smothering style of defense first hockey with their defense standing up at the blue line to disrupt the Habs superior speed and heavy checking all over the ice especially anywhere near the net. And that system was able to neutralize the Habs younger, faster skaters and the Leafs in a huge upset won the Cup in six games. The game has changed a lot since 1967 but if the Leafs stick to Berube’s patient, defense first team game, I think they can do some damage. They have a lot of the same ingredients of that ‘67 team. Great goaltending. A strong defensive system, timely scoring and veteran leadership throughout the lineup. This years Leafs seem like a real team not just four star players with a B team attached to them. The 2019 Blues team scratched and clawed their way to a Stanley Cup. Why not the Leafs.

I love posts like this. It's rare that you get insight from anyone who got to watch them in 67, but it always gives me goosebumps reading it.

Thank you for sharing.

GLG

 

[LeafSteel]

I’m 69 and I remember the ‘67 Leafs who were an older team that wasn’t expected to get out of the first round against Chicago who had Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita the two top scorers in the league that year. But great goaltending by Johnny Bower and Terry Sawchuk saw them upset the Blackhawks in six games. Then they had to take on a mighty Habs team who had won the cup the two previous years and were a heavy favourite to repeat having swept the Rangers in the first round. That Leafs team had 11 players over the age of 30 and I believe averaged about 35 years of age. There was no way they were going to beat a younger, faster Habs team playing wide open end to end hockey but Punch Imlach had different ideas. He had them play a smothering style of defense first hockey with their defense standing up at the blue line to disrupt the Habs superior speed and heavy checking all over the ice especially anywhere near the net. And that system was able to neutralize the Habs younger, faster skaters and the Leafs in a huge upset won the Cup in six games. The game has changed a lot since 1967 but if the Leafs stick to Berube’s patient, defense first team game, I think they can do some damage. They have a lot of the same ingredients of that ‘67 team. Great goaltending. A strong defensive system, timely scoring and veteran leadership throughout the lineup. This years Leafs seem like a real team not just four star players with a B team attached to them. The 2019 Blues team scratched and clawed their way to a Stanley Cup. Why not the Leafs.

Such an outstanding post.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[freshwind]

I’m 69 and I remember the ‘67 Leafs who were an older team that wasn’t expected to get out of the first round against Chicago who had Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita the two top scorers in the league that year. But great goaltending by Johnny Bower and Terry Sawchuk saw them upset the Blackhawks in six games. Then they had to take on a mighty Habs team who had won the cup the two previous years and were a heavy favourite to repeat having swept the Rangers in the first round. That Leafs team had 11 players over the age of 30 and I believe averaged about 35 years of age. There was no way they were going to beat a younger, faster Habs team playing wide open end to end hockey but Punch Imlach had different ideas. He had them play a smothering style of defense first hockey with their defense standing up at the blue line to disrupt the Habs superior speed and heavy checking all over the ice especially anywhere near the net. And that system was able to neutralize the Habs younger, faster skaters and the Leafs in a huge upset won the Cup in six games. The game has changed a lot since 1967 but if the Leafs stick to Berube’s patient, defense first team game, I think they can do some damage. They have a lot of the same ingredients of that ‘67 team. Great goaltending. A strong defensive system, timely scoring and veteran leadership throughout the lineup. This years Leafs seem like a real team not just four star players with a B team attached to them. The 2019 Blues team scratched and clawed their way to a Stanley Cup. Why not the Leafs.

I'm 67 and I fully understand
was a great time to be 9 years old and a leaf fan
I have the 1967 yearbook, Johnny B on the cover with the Cup!

 

[usernamezrhardtodo]

Don't get me wrong: stylistically I'm happy for change. But this isn't playing to the team's strengths though - it's a roster constructed to play run and gun, north-south hockey, playing a much more patient, dump-and-chase hockey.

I have no problems with it if it leads to playoff success, but for large parts of the season it's looked a lot like they're squeezing round holes into square pegs, and hoping their goaltending + elite offense get them out of trouble.

We know the run and gun doesn't translate very well for us in particular. So why not try playing playoff hockey all season and hope they aren't shocked by having to be in tight games come playoff time?

The thing that gives me the most hope about the team this time is how good their record is in tight games. I don't know the stat off hand but they are at the top of the league in that regard. That makes a big difference in my eyes. They won't be gripping their sticks too tight in a 0-0 game going into the third. They almost seem to revel in it this year...which is a very good sign.

 

[usernamezrhardtodo]

I’m 69 and I remember the ‘67 Leafs who were an older team that wasn’t expected to get out of the first round against Chicago who had Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita the two top scorers in the league that year. But great goaltending by Johnny Bower and Terry Sawchuk saw them upset the Blackhawks in six games. Then they had to take on a mighty Habs team who had won the cup the two previous years and were a heavy favourite to repeat having swept the Rangers in the first round. That Leafs team had 11 players over the age of 30 and I believe averaged about 35 years of age. There was no way they were going to beat a younger, faster Habs team playing wide open end to end hockey but Punch Imlach had different ideas. He had them play a smothering style of defense first hockey with their defense standing up at the blue line to disrupt the Habs superior speed and heavy checking all over the ice especially anywhere near the net. And that system was able to neutralize the Habs younger, faster skaters and the Leafs in a huge upset won the Cup in six games. The game has changed a lot since 1967 but if the Leafs stick to Berube’s patient, defense first team game, I think they can do some damage. They have a lot of the same ingredients of that ‘67 team. Great goaltending. A strong defensive system, timely scoring and veteran leadership throughout the lineup. This years Leafs seem like a real team not just four star players with a B team attached to them. The 2019 Blues team scratched and clawed their way to a Stanley Cup. Why not the Leafs.

They seem like a real team this year in part because of the roster not having 50%+ turnover like the Dubas years. There is only so much fight a 3rd or 4th liner will have for the team when he knows he is leaving for greener money pastures in the offseason. Teams that have some consistent linemates will do better than the mercenary teams that Dubas tried to build.

Do you notice this year that Tre didn't have to trade for a leader type to help the dressing room? No talk of it at all this year compared to the past. It makes a difference if the team is unified and not revolving. There is no magic help coming from outside to show them how to win...they need to figure it out on their own. Which it does seem like they are doing...operative word is seem....

 

[Donnie740]

Leafs new style under Berube is putting a wall up defensively around their goalie assisting the team defensively making his job easier. This is playoff winning style hockey.

Who knew!

 

[Donnie740]

Brandon Carlo at $3.485 AAV or Neal Pionk at $7 AAV

Brad Treliving isn’t doing a great job - - he’s doing an incredible job.

 

[leafs in five]

Brandon Carlo at $3.485 AAV or Neal Pionk at $7 AAV

?

 

[leafs in five]

What’s more important is how they’re playing now not earlier in the season while they were adapting to the system. Run and gun hasn’t worked out for them in the playoffs before which is why Berube was brought in to teach them how to defend and give them a system that doesn’t just rely on four players outscoring the opposition. It looks different and not always pretty but if it’s effective I’m sure Leaf fans like us will grow to embrace it as a winning style.

I think this system is pretty reliant on 4 (5, actually) players outscoring the opposition. also our forwards cheat all the time. anyway, go Leafs go

 

[leafs in five]

We looked like a good playoff team only once, and that cost Dubas multiple first round picks to completely change the roster at the deadline.

imagine, trading multiple first round picks at the deadline

 

[Martin Skoula]

We know the run and gun doesn't translate very well for us in particular. So why not try playing playoff hockey all season and hope they aren't shocked by having to be in tight games come playoff time?

The thing that gives me the most hope about the team this time is how good their record is in tight games. I don't know the stat off hand but they are at the top of the league in that regard. That makes a big difference in my eyes. They won't be gripping their sticks too tight in a 0-0 game going into the third. They almost seem to revel in it this year...which is a very good sign.

Have we really tried run and gun at any point? I guess early Babcock with the turtle and stretch pass game. For the most part have we not watched them try to cycle it and have Mitch feed Matthews from the corner so he can stuff it into the goalies pads and eat a few crosschecks? It’s not like we were playing Boudreau hockey out there, Keefe played a really conservative play not to lose game for the most part.

 

[Jojalu]

They seem like a real team this year in part because of the roster not having 50%+ turnover like the Dubas years. There is only so much fight a 3rd or 4th liner will have for the team when he knows he is leaving for greener money pastures in the offseason. Teams that have some consistent linemates will do better than the mercenary teams that Dubas tried to build.

Do you notice this year that Tre didn't have to trade for a leader type to help the dressing room? No talk of it at all this year compared to the past. It makes a difference if the team is unified and not revolving. There is no magic help coming from outside to show them how to win...they need to figure it out on their own. Which it does seem like they are doing...operative word is seem....

I agree with everything except for that was a big reason they brought Laughton in.

It never hurts to have too much leadership as long as everyone is on the same page.