Something not really talked about is that we got both JT and Marner in a contract year and we all know how players tend to up their game in a contract year. Could bode well for the Leafs. Really hoping JT rewinds the clock a bit.
Do you think this team is better or worse going into next season?
- Thread starter LEAFANFORLIFE23
- Start date
Menzinger
Kessel4LadyByng
The defense is absolutely improved.
Goaltending has the potential to be better - but is a big question mark (I still like the gamble/moves regardless)
Forwards worse, but depends on part in if any prospects make a strong early impact. Has the potential to get even worse if they have to trade Robertson for a pick
Goaltending has the potential to be better - but is a big question mark (I still like the gamble/moves regardless)
Forwards worse, but depends on part in if any prospects make a strong early impact. Has the potential to get even worse if they have to trade Robertson for a pick
They’re better defensively and in goal.
Basically the same team at the forward position which may or may not lack depth depending on McMann, Robertson, Knies and possibly Cowan taking bigger steps next year. If the kids step up then they could be a better all around team.
One has to wonder how the Marner drama will affect the team. Things didn’t look good on the bench in the playoffs.
If the Marner situation begins to fester then it could become a distraction.
Basically the same team at the forward position which may or may not lack depth depending on McMann, Robertson, Knies and possibly Cowan taking bigger steps next year. If the kids step up then they could be a better all around team.
One has to wonder how the Marner drama will affect the team. Things didn’t look good on the bench in the playoffs.
If the Marner situation begins to fester then it could become a distraction.
Donnie740
Registered User
- May 28, 2021
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Even if they hadn’t acquired a single player, the Leafs are MUCH better now that Bozo the Keefe is gone.
It’s a bonus that he stayed in the east - - now he can “coach” New Jersey to a bunch of first round flops. Assuming NJ can even manage to qualify for the playoffs.
It’s a bonus that he stayed in the east - - now he can “coach” New Jersey to a bunch of first round flops. Assuming NJ can even manage to qualify for the playoffs.
Keefe wasn’t the problem. He wasn’t the solution either but he wasn’t the problem.
Absolutely better. Can't even begin to grasp how the opposite could be true. We have a defence and goaltending which helps the forwards. We have a coach who has actually won something before. Happy days
Dude quit it with your projection. What about this post is complaining?
Stating an opinion is not complaining no matter how much you wanna try and tone police people. I'm not even saying anything about the core 4 changing or anything Tre can do about it, you're literally just putting these words in my mouth cause you're triggered my opinion is different than yours.
How the hell do people get through everyday life being this sensitive about everything?
Commander Clueless
Apathy of the Leaf
- Sep 10, 2008
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Better defense and goaltending. I think some of our in house scoring depth will surprise.
Similar playoff results.
Similar playoff results.
Should be a bit better due to the defense.
Not too worry about goalies as long as Woll stays healthy.
Offence will once again be rely on AM and Willie to score goals, don't see them not scoring 100-115 goals combine.
PP should be better with OEL on PP1 instead of Reilly.
Depth scoring and having a balance top 9 will once again be a huge questions mark.
As I really don't think
Knies-AM-Domi
Robbie-JT-MM
McMann-Holmberg-Willie
Dewar-Kampf-Reaves
Thats not really a lineup that you can say, Cup or Bust.
Going to be a playoffs team but don't expect them to advance at this moment in time.
Not too worry about goalies as long as Woll stays healthy.
Offence will once again be rely on AM and Willie to score goals, don't see them not scoring 100-115 goals combine.
PP should be better with OEL on PP1 instead of Reilly.
Depth scoring and having a balance top 9 will once again be a huge questions mark.
As I really don't think
Knies-AM-Domi
Robbie-JT-MM
McMann-Holmberg-Willie
Dewar-Kampf-Reaves
Thats not really a lineup that you can say, Cup or Bust.
Going to be a playoffs team but don't expect them to advance at this moment in time.
While it's much easier to be optimistic than pessimistic, especially with the benefit of hindsight. I get the feeling that they're not better.
Take last year's team for example, many of us were excited about John Klingberg... he played 14 games. Going into last year... TJ Brodie was a VERY solid minute munching defenceman. His game tailed off pretty dramatically. Ilya Samsonov was coming off a year where he was 2.33 and .919 in 42 games... his numbers dropped off dramatically, although he was still able to get wins.
Our realistic opening night lineup is basically the following:
Knies-Matthews-Marner
McMann-Tavares-Nylander
Jarnkrok-Domi-Robertson
Holmberg-Kampf-Dewar
Rielly-Tanev
McCabe-OEL
Benoit-Liljegren
Woll-Stolarz
You look at the changes made..... and objectively, where can we say we have materially improved?
John Tavares, likely continues to take a step back.
Matthew Knies, we'd hope will take a step up.
Bobby McMann, likely not the player Tyler Bertuzzi was projected to be.
Tanev questionably an upgrade on what Brodie should have been.
OEL probably a downgrade on what Klingberg was expected to be.
Benoit roughly comparable to what Giordano was expected to be.
Woll we'd hope to continue developing, and Stolarz / Samsonov, both likely face similar "projections".
Beyond that, it's a lot of the same interchangable pieces up front with Reaves, Robertson, Holmberg, Gregor, Dewar.
Take last year's team for example, many of us were excited about John Klingberg... he played 14 games. Going into last year... TJ Brodie was a VERY solid minute munching defenceman. His game tailed off pretty dramatically. Ilya Samsonov was coming off a year where he was 2.33 and .919 in 42 games... his numbers dropped off dramatically, although he was still able to get wins.
Our realistic opening night lineup is basically the following:
Knies-Matthews-Marner
McMann-Tavares-Nylander
Jarnkrok-Domi-Robertson
Holmberg-Kampf-Dewar
Rielly-Tanev
McCabe-OEL
Benoit-Liljegren
Woll-Stolarz
You look at the changes made..... and objectively, where can we say we have materially improved?
John Tavares, likely continues to take a step back.
Matthew Knies, we'd hope will take a step up.
Bobby McMann, likely not the player Tyler Bertuzzi was projected to be.
Tanev questionably an upgrade on what Brodie should have been.
OEL probably a downgrade on what Klingberg was expected to be.
Benoit roughly comparable to what Giordano was expected to be.
Woll we'd hope to continue developing, and Stolarz / Samsonov, both likely face similar "projections".
Beyond that, it's a lot of the same interchangable pieces up front with Reaves, Robertson, Holmberg, Gregor, Dewar.
Duffman955
Registered User
- Mar 4, 2010
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Defense is definitely stronger.
Goaltending is a question but I think we improved...last years display between injuries and whatever the heck is wrong with Sammy's head is not a high bar to improve on.
Forwards are about the same. Yes we lost Bertuzzi but it is not like he was lighting the world on fire offensively. Matthews, Nylander and Marner will continue to dominate during the regular season. Keeping Domi was a good move and several of our young players in Knies, McMann and Robertson (if he stays) have potential to continue to improve.
Coaching should be interesting. I liked Keefe but Berube looks like the kind of guy who might be able to get the team to actually put in a consistent effort for a change of pace. Only time will tell on that one.
I would have to say that the team looks a little better on paper than they did last year.
Goaltending is a question but I think we improved...last years display between injuries and whatever the heck is wrong with Sammy's head is not a high bar to improve on.
Forwards are about the same. Yes we lost Bertuzzi but it is not like he was lighting the world on fire offensively. Matthews, Nylander and Marner will continue to dominate during the regular season. Keeping Domi was a good move and several of our young players in Knies, McMann and Robertson (if he stays) have potential to continue to improve.
Coaching should be interesting. I liked Keefe but Berube looks like the kind of guy who might be able to get the team to actually put in a consistent effort for a change of pace. Only time will tell on that one.
I would have to say that the team looks a little better on paper than they did last year.
Evilhomer
Registered User
- Oct 10, 2019
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Matt Murray could play 50 games for this team next season and they would still comfortably make the playoffs.
LeafalCrusader
Registered User
Better but it doesn’t matter because the core 4 are a joke when it matters….. playoffs
Life, death and first round exits
Life, death and first round exits
OEL is a 100% an upgrade on Klingberg because OEL can actually step on the ice, that automatically makes him an upgrade
it doesn't matter what Klingberg was expected to be because he didn't exist for 80% of the year, he literally got on a plane and never played again, a plane ended his seas, and probably his career.
I'm not even making fun of it, even though I know it reads that way but that's what happened.
RunItBackAgain
“We were right there”
- Oct 14, 2021
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Going INTO last season we are worse at forward and goaltending and better on D.
Were the same forward group minus Bertuzzi. Not sure how that can even be argued.
Our G going into last year was Woll and a 919 Sammy who won a playoff round. That is definitively better than what we have now. The goalies this year could shake out much worse than they did last year but GOING IN last year was better.
Our D is better but we likely handicapped our future for it.
f***ing team has no chance unless by some divine miracle the fraud 4 decide to play like they’re getting paid 46.5 f***ing million dollars.
Were the same forward group minus Bertuzzi. Not sure how that can even be argued.
Our G going into last year was Woll and a 919 Sammy who won a playoff round. That is definitively better than what we have now. The goalies this year could shake out much worse than they did last year but GOING IN last year was better.
Our D is better but we likely handicapped our future for it.
f***ing team has no chance unless by some divine miracle the fraud 4 decide to play like they’re getting paid 46.5 f***ing million dollars.
trellaine201
Registered User
Samsonov is a terrible goalie, just as Campbell before him was too. These guys are barely backups.
One year older, more experienced Woll and Stolarz is better than what we had last year. It can't get much worse than Samsonov as your starter. Glad him and his fish out of water positioning and no rebound control style is gone. He had among the worst high danger shot save percentages among all NHL goalies.
RunItBackAgain
“We were right there”
- Oct 14, 2021
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No, going into last year we looked better than going into this year. Samsonov was fresh off a .919 season and stole us game 6 vs Tampa, something no goalie has done for us in 20 years. If you think 20 game Stolarz is better than that then I’d say you are using hindsight and not being objective about what we in fact had going into last season.
And I’m pretty sure Sammy had one of the highest high danger sv% in the year proceeding, which is what I’m talking about. Going in vs going in. And barely a backup is a perfect description of Stolarz by the way.
We are better but haven't made the moves needed to win a cup. If we could move Tavares for Crosby and get Scott Stevens then Woll stays healthy we could make the semis at least
I agree. I picked worse only because they was no “basically the same” option.
- Dec 12, 2017
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NJ actually has a lot of talent, probably a little more and distributed a little better than Leafs, but I can’t wait until the I hear about the PP sucking with “all that talent”!
