GDT: Habs @ Leafs - 7pm - Sportsnet

[notDatsyuk]

I can't imagine they're happy with a 2-1 victory, not against that lineup. High danger scoring chances were 5-4 in favor of the Leafs, which probably isn't the result they were looking for.

Mostly the starting lineup, but missing their two best players, top two centres, and two best scorers.

 

[Gilmour1996]

I think we have an inury-prone lineup so let's just hope they're healthy for the playoffs. This should mean we give our best players rest toward the end of the season instead of letting them try to attain their personal goals like the idiot coach we got rid of. Especially against teams with rats.

 

[JIMVINNY]

Mostly the starting lineup, but missing their two best players, top two centres, and two best scorers.

It's fine if you want to point out that the Leafs were missing their top two scorers, but the Habs only iced a single players from their presumed top 6, the top D pairing in this game was at best their 3rd pairing last year, and the goalie has never played a single minute of real NHL hockey. Montreal had a total of 4 forwards and 2 (maybe 3) defenceman that will be in the lineup on opening night.

Of course, none of this matters. There's no reason to get so defensive about an utterly insignificant thursday night preseason game.

 

[Sypher04]

At this time of the year it’s usually the non-NHL guys putting in the most effort. The results don’t matter in any way.

 

[Maple Leaf]

At this time of the year it’s usually the non-NHL guys putting in the most effort. The results don’t matter in any way.

Reg season doesnt matter
Im waiting for the playoffs

 

[Sypher04]

Reg season doesnt matter
Im waiting for the playoffs

Not even remotely equivalent sentiments.

 

[notDatsyuk]

It's fine if you want to point out that the Leafs were missing their top two scorers, but the Habs only iced a single players from their presumed top 6, the top D pairing in this game was at best their 3rd pairing last year, and the goalie has never played a single minute of real NHL hockey. Montreal had a total of 4 forwards and 2 (maybe 3) defenceman that will be in the lineup on opening night.

Of course, none of this matters. There's no reason to get so defensive about an utterly insignificant thursday night preseason game.

I wasn't being defensive. Just responding to the "mostly starting lineup" comment.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Has it really hurt them though? It isn't like they missed out on Scott Niedermayer.

I haven't done a deep dive into this or anything but any time you trade futures (especially 1st round picks) it hurts you in the sense that you deplete your prospect pool.

Had we just kept all our picks, it stands to reason that we'd have at least a couple of players we drafted contributing to the team today, that's the theory anyway.

 

[crump]

View attachment 910228

Holmberg was a monster on the Dot. Centre Iceman Nylander only took 1 draw?

 

[DragoGrizzly]

Holmberg was a monster on the Dot. Centre Iceman Nylander only took 1 draw?

Willie was injured early. Guessing you didn’t watch.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Holmberg was a monster on the Dot. Centre Iceman Nylander only took 1 draw?

Well he did get knocked out of the game about midway through the first so not a lot of opportunity.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

I haven't done a deep dive into this or anything but any time you trade futures (especially 1st round picks) it hurts you in the sense that you deplete your prospect pool.

Had we just kept all our picks, it stands to reason that we'd have at least a couple of players we drafted contributing to the team today, that's the theory anyway.

The most damaging pick so far has been the one sent along with Marleau. That turned into Jarvis who is a blossoming star. Our other first rounders that have gone out the door haven't been as bad.

2019 1st for Muzzin turned into Tobias Bjornfort, who is a journeyman at this point and on his third organization.

2020 first turned into Jarvis, see above.

2021 first turned into Corson Ceulemans, who according to The Athletic's prospect report has hit a plateau in his development and doesn't project too well.

2022 first (to dump Mrazek) is Sam Rinzel, an offensive defenseman who is developing well but still years away.

2023 first turned into Otto Stenberg, an undersized centre with a scoring touch.

For the most part with our firsts we've turned out relatively ok, certainly no disasters like missing out on Niedermayer/Lindros in '91 or Luongo in '97. Right now Jarvis is at "Brad Boyes" level missed out on which while not ideal is an acceptable trade off for "win now" deals. Or at least it would be if the trade brought in a piece to help us win instead of being used to dump a stupid contract.

Those last two-three picks still have time but I don't look at them and wish we had held on, only Jarvis really hurts. Granted we may have picked different players but in our range (5 picks higher or lower than our slot) but not too many stick out. In 2021 we'd have needed to trade up to beat Dallas to Wyatt Johnson, and 2023 we got who we wanted thanks to trading Sandin away (Cowan). Speaking of, we should have another 1st round prospect in this system if not outright on the team, but Amirov's passing was a tragedy no one could've foreseen.

In my opinion our most missed futures have been prospects who were already in the system or on the roster that we sent away. Moore, Marchment, and Durzi all would've been in line to join the team and contribute at some point within the last three seasons had we not dealt them. Only now are we seeing a wave of prospect reinforcements on the team in Knies, Robertson, McMann, Holmberg and potentially Grebenkin. Defence is really barren in that department unless you want to count Liljegren still, maybe Benoit but most of his development happened in another organization, not unlike Jake Gardiner.

 

[Leaf Fans]

0 points. 0 shots. 0 fights or response. 16.6 xGF% (second worst on the team). Looked visibly bad and struggling with plays and positioning all night. While playing sheltered against AHLers. If that's a "very good" night for Reaves, well that just shows why he shouldn't be on the team.

He created

0 points. 0 shots. 0 fights or response. 16.6 xGF% (second worst on the team). Looked visibly bad and struggling with plays and positioning all night. While playing sheltered against AHLers. If that's a "very good" night for Reaves, well that just shows why he shouldn't be on the team.

His coach disagrees with you. ""Reavo has been a good player in this league for quite some time. I couldn’t skate like Reavo. Reavo can get there and make contact on the forecheck. He is an effective guy. He is responsible defensively. We have him killing penalties a little bit in preseason."

This of course is in addition to his value off the ice as a teammate.

 

[SmoggyTwinkles]

Assets were bled for all those years to make a run, never made a serious run. Now no assets left, or very little. Someone is to blame. If you don’t want to blame Dubas for “going for it” then blame the players for not getting it done. People defend this core to no end, but aren’t they at fault then? I can't believe how so many fans worship these guys for accomplishing dick all.

We have a new coach, and some new goalies.............


Let's see what happens with Marner and the new coach. Something has to happen there. The team needs to play a bit different, can Marner play/be deployed a bit different?

We'll see.

 

[Budz]

The Habs farm team last night outhitting the Leafs opening night roster by 50% was what stood out for me, with a new coach that likes big heavy physical North South style hockey.

Hits is usually an indicator of possession. The Leafs got hit more because they dominated. Montreal had to run around and check.

Don’t get it twisted.

 

[notbias]

He created
His coach disagrees with you. ""Reavo has been a good player in this league for quite some time. I couldn’t skate like Reavo. Reavo can get there and make contact on the forecheck. He is an effective guy. He is responsible defensively. We have him killing penalties a little bit in preseason."

This of course is in addition to his value off the ice as a teammate.

He liked him so much that he played him less than everyone else.

Also, he added preseason to the killing penalties part for a reason...

The Habs farm team last night outhitting the Leafs opening night roster by 50% was what stood out for me, with a new coach that likes big heavy physical North South style hockey.

Maybe the Habs can win the award for most hits this year.

What a ridiculous post.

 

[Leaf Fans]

He liked him so much that he played him less than everyone else.

Also, he added preseason to the killing penalties part for a reason...



Maybe the Habs can win the award for most hits this year.

What a ridiculous post.

That is a ridiculous post.

 

[Dekes For Days]

His coach disagrees with you. ""Reavo has been a good player in this league for quite some time. I couldn’t skate like Reavo. Reavo can get there and make contact on the forecheck. He is an effective guy. He is responsible defensively. We have him killing penalties a little bit in preseason."
This of course is in addition to his value off the ice as a teammate.

None of that seems to be an evaluation of last night, when Reaves played poorly and Berube played him less than any other player who didn't get injured.
Hopefully Berube speaking nicely about Reaves' past career indicates that it's over. If we need a team DJ afterward, we can hire one off-cap and off-roster.

 

[Leaf Fans]

None of that seems to be an evaluation of last night, when Reaves played poorly and Berube played him less than any other player who didn't get injured.
Hopefully Berube speaking nicely about Reaves' past career indicates that it's over. If we need a team DJ afterward, we can hire one off-cap and off-roster.

Yeah, he will be on the Leafs 4th line and as you pointed out, he won't be among the team leaders in ice time. He is a solid player though and played well last night.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Yeah, he will be on the Leafs 4th line and as you pointed out, he won't be among the team leaders in ice time. He is a solid player though and played well last night.

He was on the Leafs 4th line despite missing players that will be in our lineup, and as I showed, he still played poorly while sheltered against AHLers, so hopefully that's an indication that he won't be making the team.

 

[Antropovsky]

None of that seems to be an evaluation of last night, when Berube played him less than any other player who didn't get injured.
Hopefully Berube speaking nicely about Reaves' past career indicates that it's over. If we need a team DJ afterward, we can hire one off-cap.

I hope we need him less and less as the year goes on, but I like having him as an intimidating presence. Its fun watching dirty players look to react when see him hanging after a whistle in their crease, then see the name on the jersey and immediately look away as to not make eye contact.

 

[Leaf Fans]

He was on the Leafs 4th line despite missing players that will be in our lineup, and as I showed, he still played poorly while sheltered against AHLers, so hopefully that's an indication that he won't be making the team.

He played well last night and will likely be on the team.

 

[Dekes For Days]

He played well last night and will likely be on the team.

If he's on the roster, it won't be by merit, and it will be the wrong decision. Especially if he continues to play as poorly as he did last night.
Hopefully Berube knows better than to do that.

 

[notDatsyuk]

He played well last night and will likely be on the team.

That's just dekes. He is always going on about 'facts', then offers an unsupported opinion, and follows it by saying "as I showed, he still played poorly".

Sometimes I wonder if he's actually serious, but he can't be.

 

[Dekes For Days]

He is always going on about 'facts', then offers an unsupported opinion, and follows it by saying "as I showed, he still played poorly".

Oh weird how you missed all of the supporting:

0 points. 0 shots. 0 fights or response. 16.6 xGF% (second worst on the team). Looked visibly bad and struggling with plays and positioning all night. While playing sheltered against AHLers.

Berube played him less than any other player who didn't get injured.

Still waiting for any evidence that he played well though.