Leaf Season Optimism Thread

[Tak7]

Tied for 3rd place overall

10-1-3 since the collapse in Anaheim, where everyone wanted them to fire Keefe & trade Marner.

A lot can change in 27 days in this league.

 

[Darcy Tucker]

should get a tucker corson type combo

Better smoke up and ask Elon Tusk about that one.

 

[Jojalu]

Good news...

Matthews has 8 goals and 18 points through 14 games in Nov.

December might be huge

 

[Leafsfan74]

Since I’m tired of the same threads over and over to yell at how bad the Leafs are, I wanted to start an optimistic discussion thread where we can talk about the team without attacking others for wanting to support this squad, coach and GM. If you want to continue attacking other people for having the audacity to want to cheer for this team’s turnaround, go to one of the other 15 threads created this past week for that.

Things that give me hope we can turn it around:

1) Samsonov looks pretty solid. Better than I thought he’d be. From Washington clips I thought he’d be swimming all over the place but he’s been pretty stable and is helping me recover a bit from the Mrazek splash fests.

2) Matthews has two goals in his past two games. He is too good to keep up the subpar effort we’ve seen so far. The last two goals were shots and not tips so hopefully he is regaining confidence in his shot and he’ll be filling the net again.

3) Giordano providing great value. For 800 000 Gio still not looking his age. I think he’s great to have this year to help turn around the headspace in the room.

Hopefully the team gives us more to cheer for soon and we have a November like last year.

Lastly, after years of failure to get out of the second round, Colorado starts the 2021-22 season with an abysmal 4-5-1 record.

Stating the obvious, but "let's talk once the playoffs begin". No conflict between being a fan, enjoying regular season success but remaining skeptical in their belief until playoff wins bloom.to fruition..

In the games I've watched they seem more willing to battle in corners, embrace the simple play when it's pertinent, their tranisition game looks such more dynamic than I remember, however, I can't help but envision a tight checking playoff where the Leafs top guys disappear too often and 2-1 games are not an anomoly.

A healthy Murray would contribute to the teams confidence. His presence seems to exude confidence. As for many Leaf fans confidence, it's always going to remain shaky. The players have refused to.embrace the challenge, they buckle under pressure. Murray and some new.additions could alter this fear.

I imagine Dubas and company have a plan and aren't going to just ride it out and hope for the best, nor worry about bruised egos. Almost 20 years eithout playoff success, noone has earned the right to be complacent.

 

[leafsfan5]

5 regulation losses in 24 games

That is on pace for a grand total of 17 in the entire season

 

[WillyC]

Nice little run… 4th place overall with 36 points

 

[DragoGrizzly]

Nice little run… 4th place overall with 36 points

Even the loss recently against Tampa I wasn’t that unhappy with. They matched Tampa stride for stride even though they are down their top 3 d-men. Definitely made me more confident in this group. And thank goodness no 3 on three in playoffs

 

[Leafsfan74]

Even the loss recently against Tampa I wasn’t that unhappy with. They matched Tampa stride for stride even though they are down their top 3 d-men. Definitely made me more confident in this group. And thank goodness no 3 on three in playoffs

It was a good showing against a team that tries to flop their way to PPs. Cowardly and disgusting but it seems to be in the T.B DNA as we saw last year.

That said, this game reinforced my opinion that they need some harder nosed players on the 3rd and 4th line. This team would be foolish to try and ride the same horses in another playoff series. Their depth lines need a strong identity beyond "defense-only", it simply isn't going to cut it in the playoffs since the Big Four have never been lights out in the post season. Don't tell me the stars don't like heavy muckers on their side.

The odd goal is fine with their depth, they don't need snipers, they need players willing to be more involved.

 

[conFABulator]

Reasons for optimism? How about...

We are one of the best teams in the NHL
We are one the best defensive teams in the NHL
We have the best goaltending tandem in the NHL, with a decent 3rd stringer
We have young players making an impact throughout the lineup (Sandin, Liljgren, Holmberg, Robertson)
We have Marlies depth we have yet to call on and are playing well down there.
We have Knies seemingly ready to join us this season
Our best players are leading by example at both ends of the ice
We are going to add Rielly, Brodie, Jarnkrok back to the lineup this month
We have significant cap space and assets to add at the TDL or sooner
We are winning with a style of play that seems to lend itself to playoff results

Honestly, what is there to be pessimistic about?

 

[Jojalu]

Reasons for optimism? How about...

We are one of the best teams in the NHL
We are one the best defensive teams in the NHL
We have the best goaltending tandem in the NHL, with a decent 3rd stringer
We have young players making an impact throughout the lineup (Sandin, Liljgren, Holmberg, Robertson)
We have Marlies depth we have yet to call on and are playing well down there.
We have Knies seemingly ready to join us this season
Our best players are leading by example at both ends of the ice
We are going to add Rielly, Brodie, Jarnkrok back to the lineup this month
We have significant cap space and assets to add at the TDL or sooner
We are winning with a style of play that seems to lend itself to playoff results

Honestly, what is there to be pessimistic about?

I am about as optimistic as they come. But the fact of the matter is still the playoff failure of days gone by.

I like what I see so far and believe it can lead to playoff success but they still have to actually do it.

 

[Peasy]

One thing I'm optimistic about so far this year is their overall defence. That of course comes with the great goaltending theyve been getting. Dont think this core has ever been this good at overall team defence. Hopefully it continues the rest of the way.

 

[Nooodles]

Glad this thread name didnt start with "It would take a massive...."

 

[conFABulator]

I am about as optimistic as they come. But the fact of the matter is still the playoff failure of days gone by.

I like what I see so far and believe it can lead to playoff success but they still have to actually do it.

Of course, this is why is it a thread about optimism...as in hopefulness, maybe even confidence for the future.

I am hopeful, anyone who is confident hasn't been paying attention the past few years.

The thing about my list of reasons is that goaltending, team defensive play, and cap space + assets are all critically important to playoff success.

I feel if we have a healthy team at the TDL our priorities should be to add a couple of forwards, I like Toews for this team a lot as I think he will be more attainable and affordable than ROR.

 

[Jojalu]

Of course, this is why is it a thread about optimism...as in hopefulness, maybe even confidence for the future.

I am hopeful, anyone who is confident hasn't been paying attention the past few years.

The thing about my list of reasons is that goaltending, team defensive play, and cap space + assets are all critically important to playoff success.

I feel if we have a healthy team at the TDL our priorities should be to add a couple of forwards, I like Toews for this team a lot as I think he will be more attainable and affordable than ROR.

Any one of Toews/ROR/Horvat would be great as long as it doesn't cripple the future.

I would love Kane to play with Matthews and let Willy take over his own line.

With Lilly and Sandin taking the next step I am not as worried about the backend.

Benn adds some toughness and maybe Timmins could have value.

I would take Schenn off the Canucks for the right price for a little more leadership

 

[conFABulator]

Any one of Toews/ROR/Horvat would be great as long as it doesn't cripple the future.

I would love Kane to play with Matthews and let Willy take over his own line.

With Lilly and Sandin taking the next step I am not as worried about the backend.

Benn adds some toughness and maybe Timmins could have value.

I would take Schenn off the Canucks for the right price for a little more leadership

I agree with all of that. I really think Schenn is a great fit, but we do have a lot of d-depth so we can't overpay for that one.

Maybe ROR is worth hurting the future for, if this team gets healthy and keeps humming.

I guess to summarize, adding ROR, Schenn and Knies this season would be a few more reasons for optimism.

 

[danron1376]

only 5 regulation losses in 27 games so far is pretty good

 

[Jojalu]

If things go well from here on in on the blueline, I would have to give props to Dubas for bringing in Mete.

He wasn't a needle mover but he didn't hurt the team over his 11 games.

Nothing personal against him but I hope we never see him again

 

[Gary Nylund]

That said, this game reinforced my opinion that they need some harder nosed players on the 3rd and 4th line. This team would be foolish to try and ride the same horses in another playoff series. Their depth lines need a strong identity beyond "defense-only", it simply isn't going to cut it in the playoffs since the Big Four haven't never been lights out in the post season. Don't tell me the stars don't like heavy muckers on their side.

The odd goal is fine with their depth, they don't need snipers, they need players willing to be more involved.

Great post, I agree 100% that this is exactly what we need the most.

 

[Mess]

Only 55 more games until the playoffs begin, and currently Leafs sit securely in the playoff spot.

2022-23: 27 games 16 wins 5 losses 6 OT losses = 38 points.
vs
2021-22: 27 games 18 wins 7 losses 2 OT losses = 38 points.

In a direct comparison to last year at game #27 the Leafs have the same amount of points but last year had won 2 more games and lost 2 less.

 

[MAB1]

Only 55 more games until the playoffs begin, and currently Leafs sit securely in the playoff spot.

2022-23: 27 games 16 wins 5 losses 6 OT losses = 38 points.
vs
2021-22: 27 games 18 wins 7 losses 2 OT losses = 38 points.

In a direct comparison to last year at game #27 the Leafs have the same amount of points but last year had won 2 more games and lost 2 less.

Excellent analysis once again.

 

[Dekes For Days]

In a direct comparison to last year at game #27 the Leafs have the same amount of points but last year had won 2 more games and lost 2 less.

Or, put another way, last year had lost 2 more games in regulation, but had a better 3v3 gimmick record, resulting in the same number of points.

 

[Mess]

Excellent analysis once again.

Last year Leafs went 28-10-3 = 59 points after 41 games. [Mid Year]

To keep pace Leafs will need to go 10-3-1 in their next 14 games to match.

Leafs are playing some strong hockey right now so that mark seems achievable,

 

[Cecithepylon]

Imagine getting picks to take Murray and have him be better than the goalies on the team that paid you to take him.

 

[81Leafs50]

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

6 players from 2018 draft playing NHL minutes.