First 10 Games: HF Leafs' Impressions

[Jimmy Firecracker]

We're 10 games down in this shortened 56 game schedule, and since we've got another four days before the next Leafs puck drop, I figured we could give our overall impressions of the team so far here.

In net, I think when Campbell comes back our goaltending is solid and Andersen after struggling out of the gate, has been able to put us at ease with his play in the time since then. Hutchinson you don't really want to see him get a game, but we may be afforded no choice if we want Andersen to be as fresh as possible for the postseason. We'll just have to cross our fingers and hope he plays at least as well as he did in Winnipeg. It'd be a nice redemption story for him too. Obviously there's still the question of whether Andersen can be the better goaltender in a playoff series, but that's still a long way off.

On defense, this is the first time in a long time where I'm confident in the six men we're throwing out on the blueline. Unlike years past, there's no Ceci, Marincin, or Lebda level guy who you just dread hopping over the boards. Rielly is struggling to really get into a rythm, but I have faith he can find a better form given time. The right side of the defence, which has been plaguing us for years now seems to have finally been solidified with the additions Brodie and Bogosian, as well as the emergence of Holl (who arguably should've been on the roster sooner). It's a bit of a juggling act rotating guys in and out on defence, but it's a good problem to have honestly. We're no juggernaut defensively yet, but I think as the season goes along this defence corps will only get better.

Up front is surprisingly where we have issues. Thanks to untimely injuries to forwards Robertson and Thornton (say whatever you will about Thornton and his age, he and his line with Matthews and Marner were playing well before his injury) it's been a struggle finding the right chemistry on the left wing. Regardless, the Big Four are all still putting up points (even if half of that group could be giving more), and newcomers like Simmonds, Thornton (when healthy), and Boyd have contributed nicely. The fourth line has looked really good on some nights, and it feels like Keefe is closing in on a group/rotation he likes down there. Honestly it really is a shame Robertson got injured, I feel like he would thrive beside JT and Nylander, but alas.

As for the actual play, like many in and around the organization have stated, this team could be playing better. At least on paper they should be. There have been lots of times where this team has played below their capabilities 5 on 5, and haven't really dominated a game from beginning to end since the season started, the closest to that was the Winnipeg game. And while it's great that this team despite not playing up to their potential has managed to still get wins, we need to start seeing more games where this team is controlling and dominating the game, not just in spurts.

This time off to finally rest up and get some actual practice time in will hopefully go a long way to realizing that untapped potential.

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[BertCorbeau]

Hard to not give them an A given their record to start but there are definite areas that need improvement otherwise they won’t continue their success. I gave them an A-

- goaltending is rounding out well
- team defense started well but has gotten sloppy in the last week (possibly due to fatigue)
- 5 on 5 play and supporting offense needs to keep improving
- PP is excellent
- the PK has been good but again they have lapsed a bit in the last week and need to tighten up

 

[IPS]

It's exciting knowing they have another gear. They still let those inconsistency issues get the better of them.

A solid B.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Fortunately, their record is good. They have a lot of new players and didn't have a full training camp or any preseason games, and they played a lot of games in a short amount of time. It's great that they won a lot and banked some points. Their actual play has been extremely disappointing, and has to get a lot better. If their PP stops clicking at 40% and they don't fix the rest of their game, their record will drop like a stone

 

[Vaive50]

I just hope they can start winning in a more dominating style. All these tight one goal wins (not counting empty netters) reminds me of Buffalo last year and the 10-game winning streak they were on early in the season, all the wins were one goal (including OT). I'm still not too confident yet with this team.

I'm not convinced yet because until they start dominating games, I can't stop thinking about those 3 losses to the California basement dwellers just before Covid shut the season down. Those games just didn't make any sense, those teams didn't need a win but we did as we were fighting the Panthers for 3rd spot. We have much better players yet we lost all 3.

 

[LeafsNation75]

I said B+ because so far this season one thing I hate seeing the Leafs give up are goals in the final minute of a period. It happened against Montreal, their first game against Ottawa, and last night.

Plus last night if it wasn't for that huge save by Andersen in the final seconds of the 3rd period which got them 1 point in the standings, they would have allowed two goals in the final minute of a period in the same game.

 

[LeafGrief]

7-2-1. That's an A. Our defense has actually looked good.

This team is not perfect, our depth scoring is a struggle. But this team has exceeded expectations as laid out in the curriculum. A .750 pt% is an A from me.

 

[The Iceman]

Memo to Keefe...DO NOT PLAY YOUR 4th line the last 30 seconds of a period.

Burned a few times this season already.

 

[ThaiTanicDK]

I still dont think we can go far because our own zone play is still horrible and when you combine with shaky goalies its a disaster.

I still think Andersen is the best goalie we had in decades and I dont understand Leafs fans who blames him when he saved our arses so many times.

I voted C because of that.

 

[Critical13]

Grade: C

As soon as our PP starts to regress, and it will, we had better hope we're playing better 5v5 hockey because right now we're pretty bad. We've only been the better team 5v5 in maybe 2 or 3 games so far.

My +/- of the 1st 10 games.

++Emergence of Justin Holl.
++We may finally have a decent RD overall.

+Matthews looks incredible.
+Marner is having a strong start.
+Simmonds has been better than advertised.
+Joe Thornton still has a lot of game left.
+Goaltending looks better.

-Mikheyev cannnot score.
-Spezza seems to have declined a bit.
-Nylander and Tavares are struggling.
-Not much production from 3rd and 4th lines.

--Morgan Rielly has been our 5th or 6th best defenceman most nights.
--No Sandin.
--Lehtonen may not be the top 4 dman we were hoping for.
--PK very inconsistent.

---Very bad 5v5 play; incredibly inconsistent and in most games have been buried.

 

[Wafflewhipper]

A+

 

[Wafflewhipper]

The KEEFE is top notch

 

[Kiwi]

I'd say a B

Good results
Good special teams
Defensive improvement

But we have been a bit inconsistent and the 5v5 play hasn't looked great some nights

Overall a passing grade but with some improvements and tweeks still required

 

[Zybalto]

B+

Pros
.750 record against a condensed, tough schedule
Good special teams
Nice rebound from early goaltending woes
Muzzin/Holl and Dermott/Bogo look good
Top 2 lines are powerhouses.
Overcame the worst penalty differential in the league.

Need to work on:
PK faltered a bit and can get better (Might be due to Edmonton finally finding their PP game a bit)
Bottom two lines need much better production. The forward reason for the "5v5" issues.
Rielly/Brodie pairing need more time to gel. The defensive reason for the "5v5" problem.
Need to get healthy.

 

[stickty111]

I have it as B. They are winning which is good, but they are underachieving on their 5 on 5 play. Lots to improve on.

 

[Judas Tavares]

A+ record, B- way of getting there.

 

[The Podium]

B+/A-

Can’t argue with the results but it has been a bit of a ugly road.

ES scoring is gone, defensive play comes and goes and while we’re closer than seasons past this team can still not play a full 60 minutes.

Happy about their ability to hold the lead in close games though, that’s new.

 

[Jozay]

They're finding a way to win and get points so thats good. But they have not played all that good so far.

 

[Leaf Fans]

Good team, but has to get better, and I think , in Dubas parlance, they can and they will.

 

[Terrible GM]

Overall the team defense and board scrum battles have looked as good as it ever has in the Mathews era. Most mistakes have been individual in nature by the blue & white, or the black & white.

B for now. Get the bottom 6 playing harder, and get more out of Mikheyev and Kerfoot and the team will be an A

 

[Mickey Marner]

A solid B. Their record is a bit better than they've been on the ice, but can't complain about being 1st in the division.

 

[Atomos2]

It's exciting knowing they have another gear. They still let those inconsistency issues get the better of them.

A solid B.

Knowing they have another gear and them showing their other gear are completely separate things that couldn't be farther apart.

The only thing that has been certain up til now is their inconsistency which has been a common occurence for years.

I give them a B-

 

[nuck]

Not getting their asses shot off for a change. Top 10 in shots against? If this is Keefe hockey sign me up. Freddy hasn't been great and Matthews isn't in the top 10 and they are still 1st overall. Marner is showing that last year was an anomaly and when he slows down some other guys will bust out. I can't give them less than an A so far. Pond hockey is cool to watch but it doesn't win Cups in 2021. If your goalie doesn't see 40 shots he doesn't have to stand on his head to get you wins.

 

[Fogelhund]

I voted B+. At the end of the day, it's the record, and the wins that matter, not the style points. So, their record has been good so far.

The good... PP has been solid, playing more physical, and standing up more for each other. They've won. Marner's scoring. Nylander's overall play.

The not so good. Rielly/Brodie haven't been good, especially 5v5, and especially Rielly. SV% of Andy hasn't been great, but then our defense has been a tire fire at times. Too many games won by PP goals, as we aren't clicking 5v5. Sustainability of this record is seriously in question...

Let's see how this team can grow over the next ten games, as despite not great play, they've got a good record. Just keep winning, and find a way to get some style points along the way too.

 

[cupcrazyman]

I voted A.

Do we still need to tweak the lineup a bit ?