Line Combos: GM/Coaching criticism

[Dreakmur]

That "rookie coach" has the 2nd highest points % in history for coaches with more than 100 games.

At some point the players just have to win games and break through.

That coach walked into what is likely the most talented roster the Leafs have ever assembled. Context matters.

 

[Stonehands1990]

That coach walked into what is likely the most talented roster the Leafs have ever assembled. Context matters.

Exactly. Not many coaches inherit 2 top 5 scorers

 

[Stonehands1990]

Overplaying his top players is on Dubas, not Keefe. This team is not built properly. $40 million on 4 players does not leave enough to have 4 quality lines. And I’m wondering how much having Thornton and Simmonds in the lineup, rather than Engvall and possibly Brooks, is due to Dubas and Shanahan wanting the veterans in there, even if their play doesn’t warrant it.
As far as being unprepared for a key player going down, refer to the 1st paragraph.
And I hope that if we do end up losing, we don’t blame it again on “losing to a hot goalie”.
Let’s hope that the team uses JT’s injury as a rallying point, and they can finally get over this hump. GLG

Not sure how underplaying Nylander and burning out Marner is Dubas fault.
16 minutes for Nylander last night

 

[Dreakmur]

Exactly. Not many coaches inherit 2 top 5 scorers

That's not to say that he's been bad either. It's just hard to tell exactly what his impact has been.

The players like him a lot more than Babcock, which was key in their early performance after the coaching change. System wise, there's good and bad. Discipline and accountability, there's good and bad. Development, we haven't seen much, since he hasn't really had to work with any developing players.

 

[Stonehands1990]

That's not to say that he's been bad either. It's just hard to tell exactly what his impact has been.

The players like him a lot more than Babcock, which was key in their early performance after the coaching change. System wise, there's good and bad. Discipline and accountability, there's good and bad. Development, we haven't seen much, since he hasn't really had to work with any developing players.

Overall I think he’s been great in the regular season but in the playoffs I disagree with a lot of his calls

Ice time usage: He puts players out that are visibly tired, and it’s really not that hard to manage a bench with 11 players yet somehow it was chaos in game 1

Moving Nylander to C despite no games that season there

Putting Johnsson in over Robertson

He’s over coaching

 

[Pookie]

I think they're safe. Plus they'd have an excuse with Tavares.

wouldn't the excuse be part of the reason?

build a top heavy team that sinks when playing more balanced clubs?

An Achilles Heal of no depth?

look I’m the first to highlight that talent and health of a roster matter more than coaching. And we are a less talented roster without an injured Tavares.

Just seems that if we don’t have depth to overcome, that’s a Dubas problem.

And Keefe would go as he is Dubas’ guy. Maybe not though. Maybe the new GM would keep him around.

either way, we should and probably will still beat Montreal so this is hopefully moot.

 

[Captain Crunch]

Not sure how underplaying Nylander and burning out Marner is Dubas fault.
16 minutes for Nylander last night

Probably because Nylander has moments where he’s not as engaged as he needs to be.

 

[meefer]

For all the 'takes' on Keefe, I still maintain what I said at the beginning of the season: this is a good team with good players. Losing Tavares sucks, but this team can still win against Montreal and either Winnipeg or Edmonton, we have the talent for that. It's up to the players, not the coach.

 

[rumman]

That "rookie coach" has the 2nd highest points % in history for coaches with more than 100 games.

At some point the players just have to win games and break through.

Did you use a coaches points % to defend him, and in the same breathe say the players just have to win games? Players are responsible for coaching successes and failures, just as the coaches decisions are responsible for the player’s success/failures. Their fates are connected.

 

[egd27]

I would try a
65 / 15 / 20 shut down line

Who is it on the Habs we're focused on trying to shut down exactly?

 

[LeafGrief]

No real criticisms from me after one game. They didn't really start hard last game and I would have liked to see them do better, but I think they weren't really able to rally around JT in the moment either. I think with two days to think about it they'll be able to pull themselves together and win it for their captain. They weren't awful in game 1, but they weren't looking like a team who's headed to the third round either. I'm expecting a much better game from them tonight.

Okay I lied, whooooooooole lotta criticism for the Powerplay. The first one looked good, Matthews hit the post, the rest were an absolute disaster and Jumbo's giveaway cost us the game. Get Thornton off the PP immediately and get someone else to coach it FFS.

Taking Nash out of the lineup makes sense, we need to score goals against the Habs. He'll be useful if we make it to the later rounds where there are actual players who need shutting down.

 

[egd27]

Taking Nash out of the lineup makes sense, we need to score goals against the Habs. He'll be useful if we make it to the later rounds where there are actual players who need shutting down.

Agreed.

It sort of made sense to get him some game time when it seemed like we had enough offence against the Habs. That's changed, and we don't really need a "pure shutdown" weapon in this series.

 

[sxvnert]

Both the President’s and GM’s jobs should be on the line if they fail to at the very least get out of the Canadian division.......

I fear we're stuck with the current management group regardless of how this team performs over the next 2-3 seasons.

 

[nuck]

Who is it on the Habs we're focused on trying to shut down exactly?

Price

 

[Stonehands1990]

Probably because Nylander has moments where he’s not as engaged as he needs to be.

Nylander was one of our best forwards in game 1 but only saw 16 minutes of ice. 12 before a 4 minute shift to end the game. I guess when you aren’t one of Keefe’s favourites there’s nothing you can do to get minutes

 

[Captain Crunch]

Nylander was one of our best forwards in game 1 but only saw 16 minutes of ice. 12 before a 4 minute shift to end the game. I guess when you aren’t one of Keefe’s favourites there’s nothing you can do to get minutes

I can’t argue with that. You are correct, Nylander should have played more. That was indeed Keefe’s fault.

 

[AllDay28]

Coming to HFBoards to read posters call GMs “rookies” and “rookie mistakes” when they have 0 days of experience in the industry is laugh out loud comedy.

can’t wait to bump this thread (and block a lot of people) when the Leafs move on.

another gold one. Leafs play elite players “too much”. Oh boy that’s a new complaint. The game passed some of you by and it’s apparent.

 

[Nylander88]

The minutes definitely got away from Keefe last night. I like our new look line of Galchenyuk-Foligno-Nylander. I think Chucky and Foligno together can provide an annoying forecheck. Nylander was great last game and needs more minutes. Our star I was most disappointed in was Marner. He totally shrivelled up. I think that'll change. Matthews led our team in hits and was a force all night. He'll find a way. Our third line can skate like the wind, and the fourth line needs to get a bit nasty to be effective. Minutes ideally should be...
Line 1: 20 minutes
Line 2: 18 minutes
Line 3: 12 minutes
Line 4: 10 minutes
Keep out of the box tonight boys and play like we know you can. I wanna see a statement game

 

[Captain Crunch]

Coming to HFBoards to read posters call GMs “rookies” and “rookie mistakes” when they have 0 days of experience in the industry is laugh out loud comedy.

can’t wait to bump this thread (and block a lot of people) when the Leafs move on.

another gold one. Leafs play elite players “too much”. Oh boy that’s a new complaint. The game passed some of you by and it’s apparent.

Your best players do need to play, I agree, but how much more than anyone else? I guess that would vary from game to game.
I heard a quote from Ken Hitchcock. He said teams that are serious Cup contenders have a 1-4-9. Meaning a #1 goalie, 4 top 4 dmen, and a top 9 in forwards. Even with Tavares, I’m not sure we have a top 9

 

[acrobaticgoalie]

Nylander was one of our best forwards in game 1 but only saw 16 minutes of ice. 12 before a 4 minute shift to end the game. I guess when you aren’t one of Keefe’s favourites there’s nothing you can do to get minutes

I can't belive there was actually posters still ragging on Nylander during the game. He was probably the best forward all night. Aside from Hyman ( he always brings it)

 

[Egghead1999]

For all the 'takes' on Keefe, I still maintain what I said at the beginning of the season: this is a good team with good players. Losing Tavares sucks, but this team can still win against Montreal and either Winnipeg or Edmonton, we have the talent for that. It's up to the players, not the coach.

Keefe, is that you?
If the players are so good, why does the PP suck? Also, after the JT was down, why moved Thornton up? Even the commenter said it was wrong after saw his first shift. Then, Thornton wrongly passing the puck led to the 1st goal. We all know what happened to the 2nd goal. No doubt he is a good coach. My point is that Keefe is still thinking he is in the AHL. He likes to test his belief until he lefts no stone unturned.
Anyway, if Leafs cannot pass the 1st round, the coaching staff will be gone (maybe only Keefe left).

 

[Nylander88]

I can't belive there was actually posters still ragging on Nylander during the game. He was probably the best forward all night. Aside from Hyman ( he always brings it)

Agreed. Willy was great the other night. Didn't look nervous, and moved his feet constantly. Even threw a couple of hits. Hyman is Hyman, but I expect him to be even better tonight. Month long injury layoff, jumping into a playoff game, can't be easy. I'm sure he'll have more feel for it tonight and be more of a force.

 

[Mess]

I'm a little surprised and disappointed at Keefe's inability to motivate and get his team ready for the playoffs ..

As the favourites they came out flat and lost 2-0 to CBJ last year, and this year a pretty mediocre effort in a 2-1 loss to Montreal (perhaps a little excusable by the JT incident).

When you come in as the favourites and have home ice and last change advantage and loss game #1 in the series, then you have surrendered a big advantage in the series and are already on your heels and playing catch-up, which also turns up the pressure on the team.

If the Leafs lose game #2 and fall behind 0-2 in the series and then need to win 4 of the next 5 to advance, and lot of fingers and eyes will be focused on the Leafs coach.

 

[rumman]

Agreed. Willy was great the other night. Didn't look nervous, and moved his feet constantly. Even threw a couple of hits. Hyman is Hyman, but I expect him to be even better tonight. Month long injury layoff, jumping into a playoff game, can't be easy. I'm sure he'll have more feel for it tonight and be more of a force.

88 had a good game, but come on, he looked pretty nervous when he shot the puck over the glass for a penalty. Still afraid of physical contact, I don’t get it, he’s a well built player?

 

[sxvnert]

This is Shannys 6th season in Toronto. If the Leafs lose this series that means 6 seasons without winning a playoff series. If the Leafs lose this series it should be a full house cleaning.

What it means is the core of this team needs to be tweaked. So far, they've shuffled the deck chairs around it for years and nothing has changed.

The 17m cap space spent on the second needs to be spread throughout lines 2 & 3.