Leaf Season Optimism Thread

[The Podium]

12 out of the possible 16 points over the last 8 games

 

[saltming]

Was Murray nervous? I don’t remember him fumbling and fighting the puck like he was tonight in the past.

 

[Hellcat]

I think the coach and GM will be gone before the end of the season... is that optimistic enough

 

[meefer]

12 out of the possible 16 points over the last 8 games

13 out of a possible 18

We currently have 4 skaters in the top 40 in scoring this year, the usual suspects, and non are dominating. Marner sits 22nd, with Willy sitting 40th. Morgan comes in at position 75, 9th for Dmen. Overall, we're sitting 8th in the league in GA/GP, which given the injuries we've had in net says to me that, 1) our defensive structure (minus two of our better defensemen) is pretty solid, and 2) Samsonov and Murray are playing better than was expected.

I agree with Keefe's assessment after tonight's game. "We've got to stop beating ourselves."

Willy makes me laugh. His 'alright, what you got for me' attitude is perfect for this market.

 

[Gary Nylund]

With every save Murray makes, my optimism gets another boost.

It's still early but I like our goaltending so far, I like it a lot. What I liked the most before the season stared is that we had not one, but two guys who had the potential to carry a team in the playoffs so the chances of one of them panning out seemed decent. First it was Sammy looking good, now Murray - he's done it before, and he looks like he can do it again.

The key to the season is these two guys. If they can only stay healthy, the chances that one (or both) of them can excel for us in the playoffs seem decent. I am optimistic.

 

[Judas Tavares]

6-1-2 in November is nice. The one regulation loss wasn't all that bad. The OTL to Vegas wasn't either. The Devils game wasn't good. Hopefully this month will continue to be positive.

 

[WillyC]

This thread is so nice without the usual pessimistic posters that every other thread is littered with.

Captain Tavares with 3 points while wearing that thing on his helmet… Willy Styles with a pair of sweet goals and Matt Murray playing large in the net.

 

[namttebih]

Our Captain on pace for 43 and 90

 

[Racer88]

This thread is so nice without the usual pessimistic posters that every other thread is littered with.

Captain Tavares with 3 points while wearing that thing on his helmet… Willy Styles with a pair of sweet goals and Matt Murray playing large in the net.

By the very nature of this thread it’s obvious it is designed for the overly optimistic posters

 

[Gary Nylund]

By the very nature of this thread it’s obvious it is designed for the overly optimistic posters

Not at all (the word overly is out of place here). This is meant for posters who want a break from the people who believe this team has no chance and Dubas is a moron and pollute every thread with the same doomsday garbage.

 

[Racer88]

Not at all (the word overly is out of place here). This is meant for posters who want a break from the people who believe this team has no chance and Dubas is a moron and pollute every thread with the same doomsday garbage.

Fair enough. I withdraw my use of the term “overly”.

 

[WillyC]

Not at all (the word overly is out of place here). This is meant for posters who want a break from the people who believe this team has no chance and Dubas is a moron and pollute every thread with the same doomsday garbage.

Exactly this ^^^ there’s so many toxic doomsday posts in the other threads… it’s like a challenge over who can dump on our Leafs the worst.

This thread really shows true love for the blue and white.

 

[leafsfan5]

Leafs have just 5 regulation losses in 19 games, which is on pace for about 22 all year

if they can just figure out how to play 3v3......

 

[Sypher04]

Leafs have just 5 regulation losses in 19 games, which is on pace for about 22 all year

if they can just figure out how to play 3v3......

Winning 3 out of 4 games when one of our NHL quality goaltenders is in between the pipes, even despite the issues

 

[DragoGrizzly]

Since Nov 1 the Leafs are 8-1-4. That’s pretty awesome considering the injuries on defence we have and Matthews not playing to his level. Team showing some good heart lately and Murray giving the team confidence. Marner on a phenomenal point streak and Tavares and Willie continuing their point a game paces. Such a difference from October eh?

 

[GoonieFace]

If they keep playing like this and working hard, there’s reason for optimism. Until the playoffs, than all bets are off

 

[Tak7]

Biggest cause for optimism? Through 21 games, they have:

1 - Played a stretch without their top 2 goalies
2 - Played a stretch without 3 of their top 4 Dmen
3 - Used ELEVEN different Dmen this season
4 - Got virtually nothing from Kerfoot or Engvall
5 - Got precious little from their entire bottom 6 combined
6 - Seen last season's #1C and #1LW look very out of sync and below par

...and yet, they are still 4th overall in the NHL.

They're going to get healthier and better here.

 

[GoonieFace]

Biggest cause for optimism? Through 21 games, they have:

1 - Played a stretch without their top 2 goalies
2 - Played a stretch without 3 of their top 4 Dmen
3 - Used ELEVEN different Dmen this season
4 - Got virtually nothing from Kerfoot or Engvall
5 - Got precious little from their entire bottom 6 combined
6 - Seen last season's #1C and #1LW look very out of sync and below par

...and yet, they are still 4th overall in the NHL.

They're going to get healthier and better here.

Healthier doesn’t always mean better. Sometimes guys try extra hard when they are short handed and tend to cruise when the full lineup is there. Hopefully that doesn’t happen and they continue to plug away

 

[Teeder Keon]

I’m proud of our team overall for sure

 

[WillyC]

Hope this thread goes all season… the Leafs are playing outstanding hockey right now.

Murray has been everything we could have asked… Marner is playing beast mode.

 

[Tak7]

Healthier doesn’t always mean better. Sometimes guys try extra hard when they are short handed and tend to cruise when the full lineup is there. Hopefully that doesn’t happen and they continue to plug away

They are a better team with Brodie & Rielly in, and Holloway in the minors.

 

[meefer]

Early days, but we are one of two teams to have 3 goalies in the top 40 GA/G in the show, the other being Boston.

We rank: 7, 19, 33 (Samsonov, Murray, Kallgren)
Boston: 1, 3, 38 (Kinkaid, Ullmark, Swayman)

GP Toronto: S/8, M/6, K/9
GP Boston: K/1, U/16, S/7

Ullmark is having a huge season and has played more than our top two combined. Kinkaid, with but one game, is pretty much a known quantity, having played but 17 games since the 19/20 season. Interestingly, our 3rd stringer has been in more games than Boston's second, Swayman, and has the better GA/G: 2.87 v 2.92, and trails by Sv%: 0.890 v 0.891. Boston is feasting with Ullmark, and their 4.00G/G is keeping Swayman from losing with his numbers. Will they continue scoring at that rate, 1st overall? Will we continue to score at ours, 2.95G/G, 19th overall?

*We're playing the most structured defense I can recall in a long time.
*We're getting good goaltending.
*Early whispers of Keefe having lost the room were premature.
*22 games in and we've lost 38 games from our top 4 defensemen, 1.727 Dmen/G. This does not include the 16 games Benn has been absent.

Quite frankly, when you look at the number of games our top two goalies have missed, how many games have been lost to injuries on D, Matthews shooting at a career low %, and that we only have 8 players who have scored 3 goals or more this season, I'm amazed we're so high up in the standings.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

If we win tonight, back on pace to beat last season’s all time points record (despite missing 4 d-men and a goalie carousel)?

 

[Maple Leaf]

should get a tucker corson type combo

 

[WillyC]

Tied for 3rd place overall