Post-Game Talk: Devils @ Leafs

[justashadowof]

Maybe we should just get used to more of these only-get-serious-late-in-the-game contests. The team has 40 games to play in the season and a likely secure playoff spot. I think it's fair to expect some nights when they look completely disinterested the entire game. You've got to survive the grind of the season.

 

[ACC1224]

Hopefully Nylander plays tonight.

Not understanding the Kerfoot/ McCann posts.

 

[justloveleafs]

[TABLE="class: brtb_item_table"][TBODY][TR][TD][/TD]
[TD]gp[/TD][TD]g[/TD][TD]a[/TD][TD]pts[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]20-21[/TD][TD]55[/TD][TD]5[/TD][TD]30[/TD][TD]35[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]21-22[/TD][TD]40[/TD][TD]5[/TD][TD]31[/TD][TD]36[/TD][/TR][/TBODY][/TABLE]
Rielly has now surpassed his point total of last year, in 15 fewer games.

Resigning him was such a good moment for the team....

Can always dream, but if he had a big shot, he would have a Norris or three..

 

[justloveleafs]

It's part of the reason I pop by here.

Entertainment at its finest.

Please don't point that out too much, I think I was his biggest fan when he was in our organization. I saw what he had very clearly... Blew my mind that we traded him...

I saw a potential Cam Neely .5 or a Rick Vaive .7 there...You don't trade that for a smurf...

Trade all the Andreas Johnson's you want, but don't trade a large frame with good hockey possibly ahead of him, with a nice shot...

Heck, I still loved Mason even after girlfriend gushed about how beautiful his eyes were...Lol.

 

[glue]

Not great game for certain players but good games for others. Overall still good enough to win of course.

More just an amusing observation on the ebbs and flows of two-week stretches of seasons here and there. The Leafs are clearly one of the best teams in the league this season and there is a.....substantial portion of the fanbase here that posts overly negatively that tends to create/comment more in those type of threads (and we've seen both types pushed hard this year). I tend to a "glass half full" type of guy but it's hard not to be with a Leaf team this good (and there havnt been all that many good Leafs teams the last 40 years I can remember really)

We're getting spoiled with this group so far.

I see where you’re coming from, that’s fair. Cheers

 

[justloveleafs]

Being a leaf fan is character building

No love button at this time, but man, that is a possible t shirt that could go viral...

 

[Cor]

Given the injures we’ve had on the defensive side, and the fact Kerfoot is having a better year than McCann. Seems like Dubas may have made the correct call. At the very least, it’s a subjective toss up.

I still think I would’ve protected both forwards but given the way Kase, Kampf, Mikheyev, Kerfoot and Bunting has preformed as the support pieces in the top 6, perhaps keeping the D depth was correct

I don’t imagine Kerfoot will ever get his due here, but the dude can play anywhere in the top 9, Center or wing, and has a strong two-way game. He also has underrated chemistry with Nylander.

You’d think with the amount of complaining people do when a defensive player doesn’t provide offense (Mikheyev, Engvall in the past) or an offensive player doesn’t provide good enough defense, that someone like Kerfoot would be loved more

Instead people want to trade him lol

 

[ShaneFalco]

Best 20 minute team in the NHL - which period do they show up is the guess

 

[dubplatepressure]

Best 20 minute team in the NHL - which period do they show up is the guess

Certainly hasn't been the first minute of any of them over the last couple games.

 

[Zybalto]

The Leafs stats and league rank since play resumed from the Covid break one month ago.

Record: 8-2-1 (.773) 5th in the NHL

Shot differential: 5th best in the NHL
xGF%: 2nd in the NHL
Goal differential: 7th in the NHL

Offense:
Shots for: 8th in the NHL
Expected Goals for: 4th in the NHL
Goals for: 3rd in the NHL


Defense:
Shots Against: 7th in the NHL
Expected Goals Against: 4th in the NHL
Goals Against: 19th in the NHL


Team save%: 23rd in the NHL


A dominant team thats overcome uncharacteristically bad goalkeeping to put up a pretty darn good record last month.

Team D numbers may come as a surprise to many.

 

[VanW27]

So at what point does Simmonds take a seat in the press box or even end up on waivers?

I don't get what went on with him and Thornton last year and again with him this year. It doesn't matter how terrible he is, he's a fixture in the lineup. After a decent start he's back to being absolutely horrible. Can't skate, doesn't PK, not being used on the PP anymore, doesn't hit or fight. He doesn't provide any value at all playing like this. He should be a part time player at best, maybe that would help him actually be effective when he did play.

 

[VanW27]

The Leafs stats and league rank since play resumed from the Covid break one month ago.

Record: 8-2-1 (.773) 5th in the NHL

Shot differential: 5th best in the NHL
xGF%: 2nd in the NHL
Goal differential: 7th in the NHL

Offense:
Shots for: 8th in the NHL
Expected Goals for: 4th in the NHL
Goals for: 3rd in the NHL


Defense:
Shots Against: 7th in the NHL
Expected Goals Against: 4th in the NHL
Goals Against: 19th in the NHL


Team save%: 23rd in the NHL


A dominant team thats overcome uncharacteristically bad goalkeeping to put up a pretty darn good record last month.

Team D numbers may come as a surprise to many.

Not really, there's no doubt poor goaltending has hurt our GA numbers but the advanced stats can't effectively deal with the quality of chances against and that is the area we are really struggling with, and an area we have frequently struggled with in the past. A quick shot from the slot, with defenders on you and sticks in the way is a HDCA just the same as a clean 2 0n 1 or breakaway. We give up far too many High-HDCA, there's a reason certain teams and certain players consistently outperform or underperform their xGA/xGF numbers.

We've given up a lot of those chances like Zacha scored on last night, a guy absolutely all alone coming right down the slot.

 

[aingefan]

Given the injures we’ve had on the defensive side, and the fact Kerfoot is having a better year than McCann. Seems like Dubas may have made the correct call. At the very least, it’s a subjective toss up.

I still think I would’ve protected both forwards but given the way Kase, Kampf, Mikheyev, Kerfoot and Bunting has preformed as the support pieces in the top 6, perhaps keeping the D depth was correct

I don’t imagine Kerfoot will ever get his due here, but the dude can play anywhere in the top 9, Center or wing, and has a strong two-way game. He also has underrated chemistry with Nylander.

You’d think with the amount of complaining people do when a defensive player doesn’t provide offense (Mikheyev, Engvall in the past) or an offensive player doesn’t provide good enough defense, that someone like Kerfoot would be loved more

Instead people want to trade him lol

Well said.
Can’t forget that the. FA market for defenseman was a little nutso last year too, so finding a cost effective replacement there was harder than up front.
I think it was the right call based on supply and demand.

 

[ACC1224]

Given the injures we’ve had on the defensive side, and the fact Kerfoot is having a better year than McCann. Seems like Dubas may have made the correct call. At the very least, it’s a subjective toss up.

I still think I would’ve protected both forwards but given the way Kase, Kampf, Mikheyev, Kerfoot and Bunting has preformed as the support pieces in the top 6, perhaps keeping the D depth was correct

I don’t imagine Kerfoot will ever get his due here, but the dude can play anywhere in the top 9, Center or wing, and has a strong two-way game. He also has underrated chemistry with Nylander.

You’d think with the amount of complaining people do when a defensive player doesn’t provide offense (Mikheyev, Engvall in the past) or an offensive player doesn’t provide good enough defense, that someone like Kerfoot would be loved more

Instead people want to trade him lol

If Seattle had selected Kerfoot instead of McCann would it still have been the right call?

 

[Zybalto]

They would like McCann more…..

Not sure he fits as well on the team though. The Leaf already have the best PP in the league and Kerfoot is a decent PKer with more points 5v5 and a stupidly good goal differential in harder minutes. I do like both players though.

 

[Zybalto]

Not really, there's no doubt poor goaltending has hurt our GA numbers but the advanced stats can't effectively deal with the quality of chances against and that is the area we are really struggling with, and an area we have frequently struggled with in the past. A quick shot from the slot, with defenders on you and sticks in the way is a HDCA just the same as a clean 2 0n 1 or breakaway. We give up far too many High-HDCA, there's a reason certain teams and certain players consistently outperform or underperform their xGA/xGF numbers.

We've given up a lot of those chances like Zacha scored on last night, a guy absolutely all alone coming right down the slot.

I agree that advanced stats don't tell the whole picture and the team has given up a few more big chances than usual, I just don't think that mattered as much as other factors. In a month of line juggling, games missing key guys including Marner and Muzzin and a pretty tough road schedule, all while coming off half the team having covid, It's been a pretty great month outside of goaltending. I think a real effort by the Leafs to get Lilljegren and Sandin into some tougher minutes may have played a factor too.

When a team goes 8-2-1 wth the 23rd best goaltending in the league, they cant be playing that bad in front of the keepers right?

 

[kb]

Doesn't Kerfoot earn significantly more?

About $600k more, but McCann needs a new deal after this season.

Not enough difference to really matter....

 

[Gary Nylund]

The Leafs stats and league rank since play resumed from the Covid break one month ago.

Record: 8-2-1 (.773) 5th in the NHL

Shot differential: 5th best in the NHL
xGF%: 2nd in the NHL
Goal differential: 7th in the NHL

Offense:
Shots for: 8th in the NHL
Expected Goals for: 4th in the NHL
Goals for: 3rd in the NHL

Defense:
Shots Against: 7th in the NHL
Expected Goals Against: 4th in the NHL
Goals Against: 19th in the NHL

Team save%: 23rd in the NHL

A dominant team thats overcome uncharacteristically bad goalkeeping to put up a pretty darn good record last month.

Team D numbers may come as a surprise to many.

This is more evidence that just like I've suspected, these numbers are useless. At least I think it's highly unlikely that almost every team in the NHL is playing defence as badly as we've been playing over the last month.

 

[VanW27]

I agree that advanced stats don't tell the whole picture and the team has given up a few more big chances than usual, I just don't think that mattered as much as other factors. In a month of line juggling, games missing key guys including Marner and Muzzin and a pretty tough road schedule, all while coming off half the team having covid, It's been a pretty great month outside of goaltending. I think a real effort by the Leafs to get Lilljegren and Sandin into some tougher minutes may have played a factor too.

When a team goes 8-2-1 wth the 23rd best goaltending in the league, they cant be playing that bad in front of the keepers right?

I'd agree with that, they certainly aren't playing "bad". Still controlling the play generally, still scoring, too many very high quality chances against and below average goaltending.

I don't think you can really point too much to the "other factors" though. Pretty much every team went through the same thing and most had it worse than us.

Just last night we played a 21 year old 4th string rookie goalie who has been lit up in his short NHL career. The Devils are missing their #1 star D man (Hamilton), a top 6 winger (Wood) and their 3C (McLeod)

 

[GrizzLeaf]

I gave up watching early. This group needs better habits. I hope they start on time, tonight.

On the flip side, Leafs are 8-2-1 in January. Man, are we spoiled

 

[Gary Nylund]

I gave up watching early. This group needs better habits. I hope they start on time, tonight.

On the flip side, Leafs are 8-2-1 in January. Man, are we spoiled

After 5 straight 1st round exits, I don't feel the least bit spoiled myself, especially when I remember how we go down in game 7 without offering any real resistance year after year. Call me jaded if you like but I find beating crappy teams in January highly unsatisfying, especially when our D seems to allow a dozen or so point blank scoring chances to the opposition night after night.

If winning regular season games makes people happy, then I'm happy for them, I truly am. I want more though, a lot more.

 

[The Podium]

If Seattle had selected Kerfoot instead of McCann would it still have been the right call?

I think the fact that it’s pretty much a toss up in a vacuum, proves that it was the right call.

However, Kerfoot provides more to this team than McCann would so we could say the Leafs were fortunate with the way Seattle selected.

Even in hindsight, exposing Holl would’ve been a bad idea considering injuries are already thinning out the blue line, and his recent play meets off-season expectations.

 

[ACC1224]

I think the fact that it’s pretty much a toss up in a vacuum, proves that it was the right call.

However, Kerfoot provides more to this team than McCann would so we could say the Leafs were fortunate with the way Seattle selected.

Even in hindsight, exposing Holl would’ve been a bad idea considering injuries are already thinning out the blue line, and his recent play meets off-season expectations.

I’m happy Kerfoot wasn’t selected, he’s turned into a very useful resource. McCann may have been very good here as well, no way of knowing.
Holl still is a weak link and needs to go regardless. Personally I would have exposed him and hope for the best.

 

[justashadowof]

So at what point does Simmonds take a seat in the press box or even end up on waivers?

I don't get what went on with him and Thornton last year and again with him this year. It doesn't matter how terrible he is, he's a fixture in the lineup. After a decent start he's back to being absolutely horrible. Can't skate, doesn't PK, not being used on the PP anymore, doesn't hit or fight. He doesn't provide any value at all playing like this. He should be a part time player at best, maybe that would help him actually be effective when he did play.

Is he terrible or just invisible? The season is clearly too long for him with the wear and tear he's accumulated during his career. Reminds me of Wendel Clark near the end of his career where there were only occasional flourishes of his former self amongst games of invisibility. I agree that some rest time for the player would be useful if we're hoping to get anything from him at playoff time. However with the number of back to backs coming in the upcoming concentrated schedule he may end up getting more opportunity.

 

[The Podium]

I’m happy Kerfoot wasn’t selected, he’s turned into a very useful resource. McCann may have been very good here as well, no way of knowing.
Holl still is a weak link and needs to go regardless. Personally I would have exposed him and hope for the best.

Holl may be a weak #4, but would be a very good #5. I don’t think he needs to go.

Also, lose Holl in the off-season and we have Biega/Dahlstrom dressing regularly. Not to mention having both McCann and Kerfoot adds to the cap limitations.