Pre-Game Talk: Leafs @ Habs - 10/12/2022 SN Opening Night of the Regular season

[zeke]

So if Tavares is out tmrw we're rolling out 11 forwards? Game one of the season and we're shorthanded because of cap mismanagement? Am I reading this correct?

You are reading correctly.

You are interpreting incorrectly.

 

[Sypher04]

Habs might have to play 4 rookie dman with Matheson listed as day-to-day. That would leave them with a defence of:

Harris - Savard
Guhle - Wideman
Xhekaj - Kovacevic

As bad as that seems, Toronto seems to struggle when playing down to an opponent. In theory, this is a game where the big 4 should feast.

I guess Matthews can start the season with a 5 goal game in his bid for 70g this year lol

 

[notbias]

So if Tavares is out tmrw we're rolling out 11 forwards? Game one of the season and we're shorthanded because of cap mismanagement? Am I reading this correct?

It's cap mismanagement the same way it was for Colorado and Tampa. Unless it doesn't apply to them.

 

[leafsfan5]

It's cap mismanagement the same way it was for Colorado and Tampa. Unless it doesn't apply to them.

Yup, all contenders are up against the cap and doing things like this, it's not something to worry about.

You can have a problem with cap allocation, but as a contender this is something we were going to do regardless

 

[supermann_98]

Yes we will play one game down a player. Sky is falling.

"Playing one game down" sounds tame when considering the fact it's game one of a brand new season that we're playing shorthanded. How many other teams have similar issues? I'd be surprised if we're not the only team in this situation

 

[TheBeastCoast]

"Playing one game down" sounds tame when considering the fact it's game one of a brand new season that we're playing shorthanded. How many other teams have similar issues? I'd be surprised if we're not the only team in this situation

Colorado played a number of games shorthanded last season as did Vegas. I am not sure what the difference is playing short in game 1 or game 40 though? As it is it sounds more and more likely that Tavares will be good to go and we won't be short tomorrow.

 

[X66]

"Playing one game down" sounds tame when considering the fact it's game one of a brand new season that we're playing shorthanded. How many other teams have similar issues? I'd be surprised if we're not the only team in this situation

Doesn't matter if it's game 1, 35, 82 etc.

The point is to take a calculated risk(playing 1 game short handed) but on the flip side able to play the remaining games at a full roster while still keeping players you would have likely had to traded before(Holl/Kerfoot).

 

[BlueBaron]

That explanation for Malgin over Robertson was awful.

Malgin was picked because Robertson was waiver eligible and our GM can’t manage the cap. Nice lol.

If I was Robertson I’d have my agent request a trade asap

I guess we all have to be thankful that you aren't Robertson.

The real Robinson probably doesn't want to ruin his reputation by coming off as entitled.
Word is he'll be back up by the home opener once the math settles down.

I know it's not the dramatic "the sky is falling and Dubas is a failure" rehtoric you want but basically you are ranting over a lack of patience and projecting it on to someone else.

He's probably more mature than having a temper tantrum...

 

[ACC1224]

I guess we all have to be thankful that you aren't Robertson.

The real Robinson probably doesn't want to ruin his reputation by coming off as entitled.
Word is he'll be back up by the home opener once the math settles down.

I know it's not the dramatic "the sky is falling and Dubas is a failure" rehtoric you want but basically you are ranting over a lack of patience and projecting it on to someone else.

He's probably more mature than having a temper tantrum...

The odds that he even leaves the team and steps on the ice with the Marlies is very slim.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Yup, all contenders are up against the cap and doing things like this, it's not something to worry about.

You can have a problem with cap allocation, but as a contender this is something we were going to do regardless

Not just contenders. 13 teams have 0 cap space, and 5 others don't have enough to add a league minimum player. The Leafs could be more like Chicago that has 4 million in cap, but I don't think trying to emulate a team that won't remotely be competitive this year is what they should be doing.

I don't really know why anyone would have a problem with the Leafs spending to the cap to maybe avoid a situation where they have to ice a suboptimal lineup. The alternative is to spend less money and ice a suboptimal lineup every night for the whole season

 

[zeke]

The Leafs aren't "forced to play a man down".

They are choosing to play a man down in order to have a free player indefinitely on the roster that doesn't count under the cap.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

The Leafs aren't "forced to play a man down".

They are choosing to play a man down in order to have a free player indefinitely on the roster that doesn't count under the cap.

And that's only if Tavares isn't ready to play tomorrow, but it's looking like he will be available. So most likely there won't even be that issue

It's kind of like when people were crying about the Leafs needing to dress an emergency back up for 1 game last year, that they went on to win easily and he didn't end up playing

 

[leafsfan5]

The Leafs aren't "forced to play a man down".

They are choosing to play a man down in order to have a free player indefinitely on the roster that doesn't count under the cap.

And we're doing it against the Habs, not like it's against an elite team in some very important game

We should win regardless, that 12th forward is not the difference between these 2 teams. It's a smart decision

 

[29Potvin]

And we're doing it against the Habs, not like it's against an elite team in some very important game

We should win regardless, that 12th forward is not the difference between these 2 teams. It's a smart decision

You silly guys and your silly logic...This team is doomed if we only play with 11 forwards! It has never been done and its all because our GM has no clue what he is doing! Imagine playing tomorrow night with 4 rookies on our Dcore and being up against the cap. What about playing an NHL game with two forwards playing D for almost 40min and only having 10 forwards.. How could a NHL gm ever allow it?

 

[robertmac43]

Blows my mind Xhekaj will be in the opening night lineup for Montreal tomorrow. Watching him in Kitchener, I always thought he would end up in CIS, not on a pro-team, let alone an NHL team. Kudos to him, he worked hard on his skating and puck abilities.

 

[Mess]

Doesn't matter if it's game 1, 35, 82 etc.

The point is to take a calculated risk(playing 1 game short handed) but on the flip side able to play the remaining games at a full roster while still keeping players you would have likely had to traded before(Holl/Kerfoot).

What happens when another player gets hurt short term?

Rinse and repeat 1 man down each time it happens. When you start the new season not able to dress 20 healthy players its going to be a season long slippery slope.

What happens when Liljegren comes off of LTIR and Leafs can no longer tap into it?

Then you trade Kerfoot/Holl anyways.

 

[Jojalu]

What happens when another player gets hurt short term?

Rinse and repeat 1 man down each time it happens. When you start the new season not able to dress 20 healthy players its going to be a season long slippery slope.

What happens when Liljegren comes off of LTIR and Leafs can no longer tap into it?

Then you trade Kerfoot/Holl anyways.

Unless aomeone else is injured by then. Which is likely. Beyond rare a team makea it through 10 games without an injury.

I love opening night. Followed by the home opener! Then the 82 game grind that is full of up and downs. Followed by the streas of puckdrop in the playoffs. Followed by heartache in Game 7.

It's a good day to be a Leafs fan!

 

[SprDaVE]

 

[SprDaVE]

For the record, Colorado played a man short multiple times last season.

 

[rocketman588]

The emergency replacement is a stupid rule but if it's a rule it would be even dumber to not take advantage of it

 

[3headeddragon]

What happens when another player gets hurt short term?

Rinse and repeat 1 man down each time it happens. When you start the new season not able to dress 20 healthy players its going to be a season long slippery slope.

What happens when Liljegren comes off of LTIR and Leafs can no longer tap into it?

Then you trade Kerfoot/Holl anyways.

So they should rush a trade when they don't need to or have to because some fans are butt hurt. Those same fans who will complain about the return on the trades because they rushed the process Seems some people are going to complain and moan about everything

 

[saffronleaf]

Would be great to see Matthews & Nylander score a few.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

 

[kb]

I really hope a certain poster can get it through their head that this is a GOOD thing.

Any money in the pressbox is money not on the ice.

 

[robertmac43]

Let's hope we see this Murray tomorrow night.