Post-Game Talk: Leafs beat the Leafs 6-3!

[Jussi]

Noticed that as well. Maybe because of the tucked in jersey, I dont know.

No, he's dropped 5,4 kilos.



The current trend among the taller players is to drop weight to become faster. Patrik Laine has also dropped weight.

 

[TopChedder]

They were salivating at the thought of signing Lehtonen and when he signed with the leafs instead they all said he’s not even a top 6 guarantee dman

Agreed.

If he signed with the Habs we would be reading about how he is better than anything on the Leafs blueline lol

 

[Cobra777]

Would you rather hear one of his legendary stories or hear f***ing Hughson mistake Matthews for Kapanen on an important goal that will be played for years and years to come. The moment the mistake was made all networks used Bowen's call on that play and mixed it into the video.

Simpson corrected Hughson saying "It's Matthews". It was such an embarrassing moment.

I agree with you, not concerned with Joe's stories I love everything he offers to the game and when he calls games he sends shivers to the spine as he gives every moment so much life to it play by play

 

[Cobra777]

Besides his goal, I didn't like Engvalls game either. Turned the puck over too often, including at his own blue line, which led to the Matthews goal.

yep, what I really dislike about Engvall though is big body but another one with so limited show of pysical fortitude, never hits.

 

[The Iceman]

I don't think their defense is any better than ours this year, depending on how wild cards like Dermott, Lehtonen, Romanov, and Mete perform. Price is going to have to carry them as much as Andersen is going to have to carry us, but obviously Price is better.

Their offense is nowhere near as good though. They have better depth, but it's not elite depth or anything. It's mostly just a lot more expensive. Their high end is nowhere near the same level.

Hardly a tell tale sign but I found it interesting none the less. Eric Du(hachek) too lazy to look up the spelling-sorry, had his fantasy hockey rankings and there were ZERO Habs in the top 100.

 

[horner]

Simmonds over Engvall. Keefe just said he expected more from Engvall. At least Simmonds can protect our stars. Montreal will be out for blood.

Engvall and Mik I need alot more out of them .
They can skate and are but that is it.
If iam going to play Hyman on the 3rd line, would rather

Simmons Thornton Hyman

 

[Subway Schenn]

Haha, 2.25 for a Leafs win in regulation over the Habs on Wednesday. Are you kidding me!

 

[Menzinger]

Simmonds over Engvall. Keefe just said he expected more from Engvall. At least Simmonds can protect our stars. Montreal will be out for blood.

Engvall seems like he could be the of man out among the forward group. Ideally just motivates him to regain his spot

 

[Notsince67]

Questions.
Marner’s shot ... how much can you expect it to improve from age 22 to 23?
Matthews’ weight..... does the fact that he is 10 lbs lighter than last year mean that he was out of shape?

1. Jagr scored 62 goals at 23 after a career high of 34.
2. Weight has positives and negatives. Power vs stamina. Pretty sure that Matthews easily passed the conditioning testing every year.

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

No, he's dropped 5,4 kilos.



The current trend among the taller players is to drop weight to become faster. Patrik Laine has also dropped weight.

Curious what Robertson weighs right now. Hes been training clearly. Also wasn't Sandin staying in Toronto to get stronger rather then play overseas?

 

[Morgs]

yeah, it's wild. Not only is he one of the best defensemen by quality, he brings things that the Leafs badly need. If he's not the best defensive defenseman on the team, he's at worst 2nd best. Engvall losing his spot in the lineup to Simmonds is another bizarre decision

Yeah I don't get that one either. Elite PK play, strong defense, decent production in limited minutes AND ability to play C.

Not as ridiculous as Dermott, but sign me up as "dont f***ing understand"

 

[LeafParade]

Engvall seems like he could be the of man out among the forward group. Ideally just motivates him to regain his spot

It was quite clear to me that there were 12 forwards ahead of him in the pecking order. Not that I necessarily agree with the pecking order, just that based on who they signed... Engvall was starting out as the 13th forward.
You don't sign Thornton, Vecey, Barabanov, Simmonds without giving them a shot at the starting lineup.

I still think he will find a way to get himself into the lineup by midseason. The Leafs have too many bottom 6 players that can't PK, and I think someone will end up underperforming.

 

[HellasLEAF]

Questions.
Marner’s shot ... how much can you expect it to improve from age 22 to 23?

It hasn't improved much since entering the league I would say. But year to year, not huge leaps. Potential for 'noticeable' improvement though and + in goals scored yes.

Matthews’ weight..... does the fact that he is 10 lbs lighter than last year mean that he was out of shape?

I wouldn't say so, especially based on his performance. But it does mean perhaps he could have been in better shape, or, he has simply trained differently and taken it to the next level which is always encouraging from a developing player and a leader on the team.

 

[Maplebeasts]

Yeah I don't get that one either. Elite PK play, strong defense, decent production in limited minutes AND ability to play C.

Not as ridiculous as Dermott, but sign me up as "dont f***ing understand"

This team has developed a bad habit of signing washed up depth pieces that clutter the bottom parts of the roster both on D and at forward. There was no reason to sign Bogosian at all and Simmonds can't be trusted with a top nine role anymore.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Yeah I don't get that one either. Elite PK play, strong defense, decent production in limited minutes AND ability to play C.

Not as ridiculous as Dermott, but sign me up as "dont f***ing understand"

I think 1 unfair scratch is bad, but 2 is starting to look really questionable on Keefe. Also it's incredibly frustrating that the Leafs turned down a trade for Weegar only to use Dermott as the 7th defenseman

 

[Twine Tickler]

Marner’s wrister is a muffin tbh. He is relatively accurate. But it’s weak. He is a pass first guy, so I think the goalies have to always respect that. Even last nights goal was not that nice of a shot, dell was backed halfway into his net. Top corner was pretty wide open. Marner somehow managed to sell a pass where there really wasn’t even a lane. Nice finish nonetheless. Oddly enough though, he has a pretty accurate half clap one T. He’s Buried a couple in his career Like that.I really hope he throws more attempts on net that way. Even last night they called a play dead with an offside, he received a pass mid whistle, and then ripped it Top corner from the top of the circle. Obviously dell was not paying attention, but it’s an element to his game that if he uses more frequently, should give him more goals. And oddly enough will open up more passing lanes for him if people have to respect that shot.

 

[Morgs]

This team has developed a bad habit of signing washed up depth pieces that clutter the bottom parts of the roster both on D and at forward. There was no reason to sign Bogosian at all and Simmonds can't be trusted with a top nine role anymore.

I'm not ready to say Dubas has started to do that. Last season we didnt have this problem, but for the life of me I couldn't understand Bogosian. Simmonds I get, but it's not ideal either.

I think 1 unfair scratch is bad, but 2 is starting to look really questionable on Keefe. Also it's incredibly frustrating that the Leafs turned down a trade for Weegar only to use Dermott as the 7th defenseman

I'm still optimistic he's not the 7th defenseman... but yeah it's really making me question their lineup decisions similar to what I thought about Babcock. Engvall I can understand if I squint my eyes, but a Dermott benching is basically us giving him away in expansion and I cant get over that.

 

[Twine Tickler]

I'm not ready to say Dubas has started to do that. Last season we didnt have this problem, but for the life of me I couldn't understand Bogosian. Simmonds I get, but it's not ideal either.



I'm still optimistic he's not the 7th defenseman... but yeah it's really making me question their lineup decisions similar to what I thought about Babcock. Engvall I can understand if I squint my eyes, but a Dermott benching is basically us giving him away in expansion and I cant get over that.

Depth is going to be the biggest strength we have this year. 4 teams have already had to cancel practices due to covid. Just wait for when the season starts. There will be man games lost, Travis will get into the lineup. Everyone needs to calm down. People will not be freaking out when we have 2 defensemen out due to injury/illness and we still have Travis/Rasmus/timmy waiting to step in.

 

[Morgs]

Depth is going to be the biggest strength we have this year. 4 teams have already had to cancel practices due to covid. Just wait for when the season starts. There will be man games lost, Travis will get into the lineup. Everyone needs to calm down. People will not be freaking out when we have 2 defensemen out due to injury/illness and we still have Travis/Rasmus/timmy waiting to step in.

My issue is with talent evaluation, not playing time. Having Dermott as the 7th defenseman when he's probably closer to #1 than #6 on this team is my issue.

 

[stickty111]

I'm not ready to say Dubas has started to do that. Last season we didnt have this problem, but for the life of me I couldn't understand Bogosian. Simmonds I get, but it's not ideal either.



I'm still optimistic he's not the 7th defenseman... but yeah it's really making me question their lineup decisions similar to what I thought about Babcock. Engvall I can understand if I squint my eyes, but a Dermott benching is basically us giving him away in expansion and I cant get over that.

This is what happens when the team starts listening to outcries from certain fans about toughness and grit. If this team becomes worse from adding those grit players, it will look bad on those fans. It's why you shouldn't complain about non important elements.

 

[zeke]

My issue is with talent evaluation, not playing time. Having Dermott as the 7th defenseman when he's probably closer to #1 than #6 on this team is my issue.

Eh at best he's #4, with two LHD ahead of him. And even that's in doubt with the year Holl had last year and with the signing of Lehtonen.

 

[Morgs]

Eh at best he's #4, with two LHD ahead of him. And even that's in doubt with the year Holl had last year and with the signing of Lehtonen.

I think he's #4 too, but even when taking into comp I believe he's closer to Muzzin than he is to Lehtonen/Bogosian/etc.

Holl is a fine top-4 player, but Dermott has never not been great, regardless of the minutes he plays. Not putting him on a top-pair is the only reason he isnt a top-pairing defenseman yet.

 

[zeke]

I think he's #4 too, but even when taking into comp I believe he's closer to Muzzin than he is to Lehtonen/Bogosian/etc.

Holl is a fine top-4 player, but Dermott has never not been great, regardless of the minutes he plays. Not putting him on a top-pair is the only reason he isnt a top-pairing defenseman yet.

Eh until late last year when he paired with Holl impressively in tough usage when everyone was injured he had usually scuffled a bit when moved up off the bottom pair imo.

 

[TopChedder]

I'm not ready to say Dubas has started to do that. Last season we didnt have this problem, but for the life of me I couldn't understand Bogosian. Simmonds I get, but it's not ideal either.

Simmonds could surprise. I know he has not been great for a bit, but he is only 32 and not at all over the hill. He says he has not felt healthier in 4 years and because of that was able to train properly and not rehab.

If he is even 75% of what he was we will love having him in the lineup.



I'm still optimistic he's not the 7th defenseman... but yeah it's really making me question their lineup decisions similar to what I thought about Babcock. Engvall I can understand if I squint my eyes, but a Dermott benching is basically us giving him away in expansion and I cant get over that.

 

[TopChedder]

Simmonds could surprise. I know he has not been great for a bit, but he is only 32 and not at all over the hill. He says he has not felt healthier in 4 years and because of that was able to train properly and not rehab.

If he is even 75% of what he was we will love having him in the lineup.