First 10 Games: HF Leafs' Impressions

[Voodoo Child]

I'm saying a nice solid A-, class of the division.

The record is what it is, but I also feel that we've looked good most nights; Ottawa I, Edmonton I and most of game one were the only times they didn't look good.

October Freddy lasted just three games, always a good sign.

All of our stars are scoring, aside from a few stretches where Nylander looked less than solid zero complaints there.

Not scoring as much but our depth forwards - Kerfoot, Simmonds, Vesey, Spezza and Mikheyev have looked good.

Muzzin didn't start well but has rounded into form as overall the D has gotten the job done, Brodie looks like a fantastic add.

The only thing keeping it from being a solid A is the 5-on-5 play and Injuries to Campbell and Robertson.

 

[Jojalu]

I voted B.

5v5 is starting to worry me.

Tavares is getting his points, but 0 goals and 3 points through 10 games are not enough. The second line has to do more.

I am hoping eventually we create a third line in the Zezel/Berg/Osborne mould which I think can happen once Keefe figures out who he wants in.

Taking a few periods out, they have done a much better job of limiting shots, but more importantly HDC.

I also don't care if Andersen ever has great numbers as long as he makes the big save at the right time a la Fuhr.

Matthews and Marner look elite and Nylander looks like Nylander. Going to score 30-40 and irritate half the fanbase

 

[Morgs]

B.

The teams underlying numbers have been garb and without the powerplay being exceptional (unsustainable though), I'm not sure we'd be close to where we are.

Maybe it's the lack of rest, but we're being outplayed by far inferior teams.

 

[Maplebeasts]

B+. You can't complain about the record or play of Matthews, Marner, or Nylander but there are some troubling signs. Rielly despite putting up a lot of points has been brutal. The team has been absolutely terrible 5 on 5 and has had to rely on a hot powerplay too much. Keefe's coaching has also been questionable. He's made some really perplexing roster decisions.

 

[TheGreatOne11]

B.

Things need to improve 5 on 5 for us to take the hearts of our enemies in the playoffs.

The big guns i feel have played very well, minus my boy Rielly who needs to step up his game to former glory, if he stayed at this defensive level but was rushing like he used to I could handle it, but lapses in defensive play and not rushing and creating chances like I know he can has left me disappointed this season so far.

Andersen hopefully has a fire lit under his butt from Campbell. We need him in the post season to go anywhere and I think he has played well, defensive lapses have hurt him.

I think we will improve as the season goes on, I think the team knows if we have another lackluster year, some of the core will be gone. Hopefully they are playing for eachother, which is the best scenario you could hope for.

As always.

Go Leafs Go.

 

[A1LeafNation]

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

Burned a few times this season already.

Better to be burned now than in the playoffs. Maybe they need to learn to play together and protect leads in the near future.

 

[hockeyes]

I agree with most complaints but its still early and every team has issues to sort out. It will be interesting to see what Keefe can do with the time off, hard to make many adjustments playing every 2nd day. If they haven't improved much in another 10 games I won't be nearly as optimistic.

 

[Albus Dumbledore]

Question is for thus far so I don't understand when some people are talking about the future... or how they got there good record.

A- for myself.

The underlying numbers are bit below average. But the team is successful. Havent been out of a single game this year I believe.

I also think people should note that we have taken a lot of penalties which affects our EV play. Our players aren't as fresh and some not playing as much will naturally lower how good we are at EV.

 

[zeke]

Nowhere near good enough imo.

C+ for me.

And the + is only there cuz the PP.

 

[LeafsNation75]

I also think people should note that we have taken a lot of penalties which affects our EV play. Our players aren't as fresh and some not playing as much will naturally lower how good we are at EV.

I would have included some of the penalties the Leafs players have taken have been either very questionable or out right wrong calls.

For example in the first game against Edmonton when the score was tied 1-1 in the 3rd period, Jake Muzzin got that tripping penalty and the replay clearly showed it was Kailer Yamamoto who tripped Dominik Kahun. So it never should have been a penalty at all to Toronto and that's when Driasaitl scored the game winning goal on that power play.

The very questionable penalty also happened against Edmonton and it was from their game last Thursday when Alex Kerfoot got called for slashing in the 2nd period with Toronto leading 2-0. If that penalty is not called than we never see Zach Hyman get a tripping penalty that gave the Oilers a 5v3 and they scored their first goal as a result making it a 2-1 game at that time.

 

[horner]

I would say a B-

Love our goaltending
Our defense is a lot better than last yr ( no Barrie or Cecil )
Mathews getting involve physically
Love Simmons would love one more physical player on the bottom six.

5 in 5 play. Has to be alot better Can always count on the pp.

I Love that they are playing a condensed schedule almost like playoff hockey .

We haven't played the top teams in the league
TBay , Dallas , Vegas , Boston , Colorado , Washington and Stlouis

 

[Nineteen67]

B
I’m not convinced this team would do as well against the top teams in the NHL as they are in the Scotia North.

 

[ToneDog]

Leafs and Habs appear to be the class of the North. Leafs can make a statement soon.

Feb 10th - Leafs @Habs

Feb 13th - Habs @ Leafs

 

[Critical13]

People giving this team an A or a B are part of the problem.

Reward mediocrity then complain when regression to the PP% happens and the 5v5 play stands out more glaringly.

We are lucky to not be sitting around 20th overall in the league right now and people are giving the team an A or a B. If we were in the East division, we would be be hanging out with the NY teams in the basement.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

A- for me ... lots of good things - Holl's progression, Matty's consistency, Brodie improving, Zach still Zach, tending been solid, defense much improved with Bogo and Brodie adds, offense doing their thing, 3rd line been solid, speciality teams solid and team is winning

To get to A+ we need to get Willy and Mitch more consistent in 2-way games, get Rielly a better fit partner or change his game, and some more energy from 4th line

But overall give keefer lots of credit and Dubie too ... would like to see another vet D added for defense (big strong solid) for our run as we are missing 1 more guy for injuries ... we are fine on wingers bring guys up and try different combos

 

[Clark4Ever]

A-

We still have another gear. Some of that will depend on Keefe's lineup decisions.

 

[Critical13]

The underlying numbers are bit below average. But the team is successful. Havent been out of a single game this year I believe.

What part of this looks "a bit below average"?

 

[7even]

5 on 5 offense isn't up to what we can expect but their PP is running hot in the meantime. Some games the defense is better than the goaltending. Other games our goaltending was better than our defense. And the record is winning. I see these as positives. Rarely are you going to have every facet of your game playing perfectly, perfectly in sync. Finding a way to win anyways has been what this team absolutely has NOT been able to do.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Keefe is still trying to figure out the 3rd and 4th lines, but I don't think Bara is part of the solution. Engvall seems to play well for a few games and then slips. Anderson and Boyd I think will stick
And Rielly, as much as I like him, is really making a case to not re-sign him

 

[Kelly]

People giving this team an A or a B are part of the problem.

Reward mediocrity then complain when regression to the PP% happens and the 5v5 play stands out more glaringly.

We are lucky to not be sitting around 20th overall in the league right now and people are giving the team an A or a B. If we were in the East division, we would be be hanging out with the NY teams in the basement.

Couple things;

I don't think how people vote on a hockey forum has anything to do with the 'problem', nor is it rewarding mediocrity since nobody on the teams likely reads, nor cares what we have to say.

We are 7-2-1 and have gotten 15 out of a possible 20 points -- lots of teams are working out kinks and issues because of the long break -- we are not the only team going through this. Could things be better? Yes. Could things be a lot worse? Absolutely.

Voted A-, definitely some things to work on.. but all in all, we should be extremely happy where we are sitting right now.

 

[Machinae]

You can't give a 7-2-1 record less than a B. I'm saying B+, lots to worry about but a lot of positives too; Hopefully it is only a matter of time before the 5v5 play sorts out and if that clicks along with what has already been going well it vaults this team another tier. Hell, I'm just happy to see this team close games out. That's a big collective mentality win.

 

[Critical13]

Couple things;

I don't think how people vote on a hockey forum has anything to do with the 'problem', nor is it rewarding mediocrity since nobody on the teams likely reads, nor cares what we have to say.

We are 7-2-1 and have gotten 15 out of a possible 20 points -- lots of teams are working out kinks and issues because of the long break -- we are not the only team going through this. Could things be better? Yes. Could things be a lot worse? Absolutely.

Voted A-, definitely some things to work on.. but all in all, we should be extremely happy where we are sitting right now.

I am saying it's part of the problem for a fan base to reward mediocrity. I think in the big picture, that's a problem. Giving an A- to a team that was outworked and outplayed almost every game so far this season is setting the bar incredibly low. If the power play regresses to a reasonable number and our 5v5 play doesn't improve, watch out.

 

[Critical13]

You can't give a 7-2-1 record less than a B. I'm saying B+, lots to worry about but a lot of positives too; Hopefully it is only a matter of time before the 5v5 play sorts out and if that clicks along with what has already been going well it vaults this team another tier. Hell, I'm just happy to see this team close games out. That's a big collective mentality win.

If this is a B+, what is an A?

xGF%: 24th
xGA/60: 25th
Scoring Chances Against/60: 19th
High Danger Chances Against/60: 27th

We are being buoyed by the power play. Like I said, if our PP goes cold, we will start losing games hand over fist unless something major changes in our 5v5 play.

We mock Edmonton for being bad defensively, they are 10+ spots ahead of us in some of these categories...

 

[tom leafers]

very cautiously optimistic

 

[Varcus]

B- well the record maybe good. It seems that they are only trying hard enough to just win the game. They are still losing way to many one on one battles.

I will say this though and this was my reason for a b- I’m more comfortable in close games. On Saturday game against the oilers after mcdavid goal. The team would have folded and we would have been blown out.instead we tied it up.