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GDT: Game #3/56: Re-Set. | Toronto @ Ottawa | Jan 16th 2021

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hockeywiz542 said:
Quick Shifts: Already time for Maple Leafs to make lineup changes? - Sportsnet.ca

There is no doubt coach Sheldon Keefe, who has poured a tremendous amount of effort into readying his group, gave his players the verbal gears during the 5-3 loss to 2019-20’s 30th-place team. (Even with no fans to scream over, his vocal chords sounded worn post-game.) But we’re more interested in the actions that come next.

How much tolerance will Keefe have for starter Frederik Andersen’s unimpressive start (.839 save percentage)?

“Obviously, too many pucks have gone in the net, but as we've talked about a number of times, that's not all on him. We've got to do a better job in front of him,” Keefe said. “We need to improve in a lot of areas. I think Fred would probably agree that goaltending is one of them. But there's a lot of other things happening out there that we've got to get better at.”

And what if Jack Campbell shines in Saturday’s contest?

How long will Keefe stick with his new power-play formations when the familiar loaded-up PP1, although used sparingly, scored once Wednesday and again Friday?

Is it worth dressing rookie Alexander Barabanov when he’s only skated a total of 9:46 through two games?

And — dare we say it — how long until you start doubting Joe Thornton (0 points, minus-3, two shots) as a top-six forward at this stage in his career?

The current mix isn’t in sync. Nick Robertson, Rasmus Sandin and Travis Boyd are champing at the bit. Feels like lineup tweaks could come to Toronto sooner than later.

And at this point, Keefe’s actions will speak louder than his words.

Patience or pressure: The coach will decide which button to press.
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Keefe does not have many, very few actually, buttons to press. We owe that to the cap situation we’re in.
 
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Jimmy Firecracker said:
I want to see three things tonight:

1: More urgency and fewer lazy plays.

2: Win more puck battles than we lose.

3: For Christ’s sake protect the f***ing crease.
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All that yes... and if they do that it should be a W.

Jozay said:
Matthews is gonna have a big night tonight.
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Needs one. He hasn't been bad like some people may be thinking, but he needs to get on the score sheet most nights.
 
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Beleafer34 said:
Keefe does not have many, very few actually, buttons to press. We owe that to the cap situation we’re in.
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He has two players on the third line that were top 6'ers last year. He has an option for starters and options for d-pairings.

Their risk is some waiver moves could hurt the depth they'll surely need
 
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Gallagbi said:
He has two players on the third line that were top 6'ers last year. He has an option for starters and options for d-pairings.

Their risk is some waiver moves could hurt the depth they'll surely need
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I don’t believe there’s much wiggle room with Jumbo Joe, if it’s true he was guaranteed to be playing with Matthews and Marner.
 
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Duffman955 said:
2 games in

Yall need to relax

We are the class of the division no doubt
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Good teams do lose to bad teams, but it's usually due to luck and miraculous seeming goaltending. That was not it yesterday. Yesterday, it was the 'class of the division' being outplayed by the worst team in the NHL.
 
I think some of the vets need some time to come around -- if they are still capable of coming around.

It would be nice to see some production from Jumbo, but I don't think it is going to work out on the top line. If there is a place for him on this roster, it is much lower down the lineup.

I think Spezza still has some quickness and a lot of skill, and he is very useful if used sparingly.

I think Simmonds looks like an effective player. I was not at all supportive of this signing, and he's looking much better than I had expected.

Bogosian and Brodie have each at times looked badly out of place. Hopefully, that is just a mistaken impression on my part. I expect Brodie to be a capable partner for Rielly, and Bogosian to be at least a useful third-pairing RHD.

I don't know what to make of Barabanov. Barabanov, Lehtonen and to an extent Mikheyev must all hear the clock ticking. They are all 26 years old, in the same age group as Morgan Rielly, Alex Kerfoot, and not far off 27 year-olds Travis Boyd and Jimmy Vesey. Between the three of them they have made almost nothing while their age-contemporaries have earned at least $2-million for fringe player like Boyd; $7-million for a journeyman like Kerfoot; and $28-millon for a star like Rielly. Their chances of developing a lucrative NHL career are dwindling, and I expect each of them to be a bit anxious and antsy over their career prospects. They should be on-edge and all-in for any chance they get. So far, Mikheyev is the only one of the three who really has a toe hold, and he hasn't done too much to impress since his injury. Barabanov looks completely unremarkable for a 26 year-old pro hockey player, and Lehtonen must be very frustrated and champing at the bit to show what he can do. I consider all three of them to be big wild cards, each of who could be a boom or a bust, but at this age are more likely to become mediocre NHL players if they can gain or hold on to their spots at all. Nothing would surprise me with any of them.

I think Bogo would clear waivers and could go down to the taxi squad if need be to make room for Lehtonen, but Lehtonen is still a shot in the dark and not at all a sure thing. If the Leafs lose Bogo to waivers and find out that Lehtonen is not as good as they expected, they are then looking at Plan "C", whatever Plan "C" might be.

I wouldn't miss Barabanov yet if they sent him down today -- I've heard that happened but haven't seen confirmation -- and I think Robertson would be a better fit on a scoring line, and either Boyd or Brooks w0uld be a better fit on a checking line. Boyd looks like a good bet unless they want Robertson to replace Jumbo on the top line. The other guys can't do that.

The best thing will be if they can accumulate enough cap space to have Joe occupy the press box if that that's the best place for him. I'm rooting for him to give us all something cheer about, and I just hope he still has it in him.

TMI, but I'm bored and I am enjoying having hockey games, even during the pandemic, and even when the Leafs lose. It would be too boring if they won them all. If this team replicated the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens we would still be bitching about the backup goalie, the fourth-line left winger and the sixth defenceman.
 
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Cor said:
I think Vesey has been good. Quiet night last night, but that line as a whole did after a great night against MTL.

Thornton needs to be on line 4, but he's fine. (We don't have space right now to keep Thornton on roster as a scratch and bring in someone from the taxi squad) As the season goes on, we will gain more cap space, and will be able to carry extra bodies as scratches, in which case, year, Thornton can sit every now and then.

Barabanov... he's barely played. I've noticed him a couple times despite that. But I am totally fine with assigning him to the taxi squad (he doesn't require waivers like Thornton/Dell) and bringing in Robertson/Anderson/Boyd for a game. Those four might as well be on a solid rotation. Brooks too even.
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If we are going to keep that European pipeline open we need to give these guys chances to stick...Barabanov is an example of that...I imagine Lehtonen gets in the lineup and takes a spot (a little older a little more experienced) so they can afford to wait on him... these guys come here with the guarantee of a real chance to show they belong...
Mind you it took Soup 10-15 games before he really began to feel comfortable in the NHL...give Barabanov the chance to get acclimated before we staple him to the taxi squad...seriously it’s game 3 guys take a deep breath
 
They were lucky to survive the Montreal game and got embarrassed last night.

This is going to be a very long season despite being only 56 games.
 
With that much talent on the team, no excuses tonight. No, "we stopped skating, we were standing around, we left him out to dry....". Let's get it done!!
 
Beleafer34 said:
As far as Dubas is concerned, I wouldn’t put anything past him.
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I don't think you or I know much about Kyle Dubas, and what he would or wouldn't do.

He's a very accomplished young man for his age. Most people don't land into high-profile, high-paying executive positions by accident. His success career-wise strongly suggests that he is pretty smart and has his head screwed on right.

The actual contracts he's negotiated are a matter of public record and anyone is entitled to their own opinion on them. However, other things attributed to him -- such as a promise not to trade Nylander -- are nothing but rumour and conjecture. Such promises, by the way, would violate the CBA as a team is not permitted to make any promises, incentives or commitments to a player that are not part of the player's written contract.
 
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