Line Combos: GM/Coaching criticism

[Dreakmur]

Riley Nash seems to be a guy who might be more noticeably useful if you need to match up against another star center but doesn’t necessarily show up when thrown out against a team with 4x Riley Nash type centres... but he needs reps.

Nash will be useful when protecting a lead.

 

[Jeypic]

I think Dermott should play instead of Sandin.

 

[stickty111]

I agree but the usage of Thornton is nauseating to say the least

Oh no question. The veteran bias needs to stop. I'm going to judge him based on if he adapts though. All coaches make mistakes, the best ones adapt. That will tell us how good he actually is.

 

[DavePoulin4PM]

Keefe didn’t shoot the puck over the glass all game and take another penalty 200 ft from the net.

It’s one game. He’ll retool and get us ready for the next one.

Constant mental blunders like that is a hallmark of a poorly coached team. Keefe is a bad coach and the only reason he is coaching this team is because he is Dubas’ boy. No other team would’ve hired him. It’s a disgrace that an organization with the resources of the Leafs has Keefe as their HC.

The gap between Babcock and Keefes abilities is about as wide as the Grand Canyon.

 

[ECanuck]

I think Dermott should play instead of Sandin.

I think he was a bit overwhelmed by the speed and intensity this game.
People say he is slow but there are a LOT slower D that are experienced and playing in these playoffs.

Anyway the kid is a dandy.

 

[Bomber0104]

Okay, so what are the options? I listed 4 centers and you claim they are all bad options (except, maybe, Spezza). You keep saying Keefe should have a plan but what current Leafs player do you put in Tavares' spot when he's injured? Tonight, with this roster, in this game?

When you invest $11 million each on 3 players, would you not have a plan in place if/when you lose them?

That's a huge investment to not have a what-if plan.

You think you should just wait until playoff time to make it up as you go?

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

there are definitely fair criticisms, but complaining about him having to juggle the lines after a key player got injured truly defies all logic

 

[United35]

Constant mental blunders like that is a hallmark of a poorly coached team. Keefe is a bad coach and the only reason he is coaching this team is because he is Dubas’ boy. No other team would’ve hired him. It’s a disgrace that an organization with the resources of the Leafs has Keefe as their HC.

The gap between Babcock and Keefes abilities is about as wide as the Grand Canyon.

Looking forward to the rest of the series.

 

[Dave92]

Nash will be useful when protecting a lead.

Leafs have only had a lead twice in 6 games under Keefe.

 

[Dave92]

there are definitely fair criticisms, but complaining about him having to juggle the lines after a key player got injured truly defies all logic

He put arguably the worst player on the team on the 2nd line and PP1. That's fair criticism.

 

[Stonehands1990]

Didn’t like pulling the goalie with 2 minutes to play on the PP. I get go for it but seemed early to concede a possible 3-1 loss.

Loved it. Gotta go 6 on 4. If you give up a goal 6 on 4 you didn’t deserve to win

 

[Bomber0104]

He put arguably the worst player on the team on the 2nd line and PP1. That's fair criticism.

Adding Sandin into the equation was also a failed-"GOTCHA" move that completely backfired.

Terrible defence and it cost a SHG.

 

[tmlms13]

All of those are terrible options save for maybe Spezza and even that is bordering on desperate.

Blending lines basically suggests (as a coach) you don't know your own players, who has chemistry with who, and don't have a backup plan in place.

This is something that should be worked out in practice.

No it means you have to spread around who gets the extra shift in JTs spot. You can't just put the same person there for the entire game and have them double shift. It's a chain reaction the whole Bottom 9.

You add 1-2 minutes of time on ice to the 11 forwards to replace the 20 you lost with Tavares out.

 

[Stonehands1990]

I can’t stand the Thornton love affair. He’s taking minutes away from more deserving players and this point other players probably see the obvious nepotism

 

[Phion Keneuf]

Better keep Sandin in.

Sandin is much better than what he showed today, and honestly he wasn’t even bad. Just the one mistake, which wouldn’t have happened if Thornton wasn’t on the PP.

Keep Sandin in, let Thornton sit. Brooks is the better option.

 

[Bomber0104]

No it means you have to spread around who gets the extra shift in JTs spot. You can't just put the same person there for the entire game and have them double shift. It's a chain reaction the whole Bottom 9.

You add 1-2 minutes of time on ice to the 11 forwards to replace the 20 you lost with Tavares out.

So you're saying we don't have a #2 centre ready to play?

Malkin went down for the Pens for most of this season and McCann instantly stepped up to the role and succeeded.

What you're saying is the Leafs do not have a legit centre to fill that gap and Keefe/Dubas are completely caught off-guard...

 

[Stonehands1990]

When you invest $11 million each on 3 players, would you not have a plan in place if/when you lose them?

That's a huge investment to not have a what-if plan.

You think you should just wait until playoff time to make it up as you go?

What are you rambling on about? We had 11 forwards and any line rotations were essentially interrupted by PP and SH situations. Essentially Kerfoot took JTs spot and we had a mash up 3rd & 4th line

Next man up

 

[Bomber0104]

What are you rambling on about? We had 11 forwards and any line rotations were essentially interrupted by PP and SH situations. Essentially Kerfoot took JTs spot and we had a mash up 3rd & 4th line

Next man up

How'd that work out?

L

How's that gonna work out against way better teams in the playoffs than say, Montreal?

L

 

[Stephen]

Better keep Sandin in.

Sandin is much better than what he showed today, and honestly he wasn’t even bad. Just the one mistake, which wouldn’t have happened if Thornton wasn’t on the PP.

Keep Sandin in, let Thornton sit. Brooks is the better option.

I think you have to go back to Sandin. Can't treat a guy like the golden child one moment and then banish him the next.

 

[Antropovsky]

Reilly Nash... Why? This guy is f***ing useless.

He wasn't brought in to put up points... he was brought in for his defensive abilities and reliability on defense. He played nearly 3 mins of penalty kill and Montreal didn't score and he wasn't on the ice for about goal against. He wasn't part of the problem. Problem was our PP didn't score and allowed a short handed goal. Need more from our 22 million top two players.

 

[CanadasTeam]

Jus fix that PP please...

 

[Scott r]

Playoffs are tight games

 

[Scott r]

Jus fix that PP please...

Matthews should know how to fix it...led team in goals

 

[Stonehands1990]

How'd that work out?

L

How's that gonna work out against way better teams in the playoffs than say, Montreal?

L

So what did you want them to do? They can’t dress another player mid game

 

[tmlms13]

So you're saying we don't have a #2 centre ready to play?

Malkin went down for the Pens for most of this season and McCann instantly stepped up to the role and succeeded.

What you're saying is the Leafs do not have a legit centre to fill that gap and Keefe/Dubas are completely caught off-guard...

And who took McCann's spot on his regular line? Then who took the spot of the person who took McCann's spot? Maybe Sid took some shifts as #3 center, maybe a winger did, maybe the #4 center did.

McCann didn't spend the whole game being the #2 and #3 center. This isn't a video game.