Leafs desperately need secondary scoring

[Michael HOMERUNing]

They need to add 1 more top 6 forward to play with Matthews and Marner. I know a lot of people want to see Kase on one of the top lines, but that 3rd line has been so good I wouldn't touch it. Easily the best shutdown line the Leafs have had in years and years. The only change they should consider for that line is Bunting instead of Engvall

 

[LeafChief]

 

[Le Cobra]

Interesting is that the underlying numbers suggest that the offense is still elite (#2 xgf/60) while it's the defense that's been more of a worry so far (a mediocre #16xga/60, though with a very good #6 PK).

/thread

defense is our problem and has been the numero uno problem since the last 20+ years

 

[zeke]

/thread

defense is our problem and has been the numero uno problem since the last 20+ years

Since Keefe took over the Leafs are 9th in the league in expected goals against at 5v5 and 5th in the league in expected goals against overall.

 

[Niagara Bill]

Since Keefe took over the Leafs are 9th in the league in expected goals against at 5v5 and 5th in the league in expected goals against overall.

Explain. What is an expected goal?

 

[zeke]

Explain. What is an expected goal?

Think of it as a Defensive Rating - using shot attempts, shot type, shot location, shot quality and comparing it to league average rates of goal production from those categories.

But if you don't trust the various indicators of shot quality we can just look at plain shots - leafs rank 10th at 5v5 and overall in shots against per game since Keefe took over.

The various shot quality indicators we have say that the Leafs' shots allowed are less dangerous than on average than other teams', too.

 

[diehardleafsfan9878]

/thread

defense is our problem and has been the numero uno problem since the last 20+ years

Since Keefe took over the Leafs are 9th in the league in expected goals against at 5v5 and 5th in the league in expected goals against overall.

The leafs goals against has been this good under Keefe, despite getting below average goaltending from their starter as well (Andersen).

 

[WendelGartner]

I know this will sound crazy to some, but I wonder what Arizona would want for Phil Kessel. He just passed Unger for 3rd in the iron man race, Phil never gets hurt, and still has some scoring touch. Not to mention the Leafs are already paying him. Wonder if there's a bigger deal to try and pry Crouse away as well. I'm sure dangling Dermott could be a good start.

 

[Niagara Bill]

I know this will sound crazy to some, but I wonder what Arizona would want for Phil Kessel. He just passed Unger for 3rd in the iron man race, Phil never gets hurt, and still has some scoring touch. Not to mention the Leafs are already paying him. Wonder if there's a bigger deal to try and pry Crouse away as well. I'm sure dangling Dermott could be a good start.

I would rather have Salming, he at age 60 would gave a more positive affect. Kessel has terrible training habits and has wasted his elite talent. Not a good example.

 

[Run705]

I know this will sound crazy to some, but I wonder what Arizona would want for Phil Kessel. He just passed Unger for 3rd in the iron man race, Phil never gets hurt, and still has some scoring touch. Not to mention the Leafs are already paying him. Wonder if there's a bigger deal to try and pry Crouse away as well. I'm sure dangling Dermott could be a good start.

I'd love to see Kessel play with Tavares or Matthews even just for half a year. I wonder if the Yotes would be interested in Ritchie at all, probably not, but who knows.

 

[pspot]

Id be interested in seeing something like

Ritchie/Matthews/Marner
Engvall/Kerfoot/Nylander
Bunting/JT/Kase

Trade Mik or Kerfoot + Holl or Dermott for a top 6 C

 

[namttebih]

I know this will sound crazy to some, but I wonder what Arizona would want for Phil Kessel. He just passed Unger for 3rd in the iron man race, Phil never gets hurt, and still has some scoring touch. Not to mention the Leafs are already paying him. Wonder if there's a bigger deal to try and pry Crouse away as well. I'm sure dangling Dermott could be a good start.

I'm sure that Shanahan would be all over this.