Confirmed with Link: Leafs have acquired Ryan O’Reilly, Noel Acciari & Josh Pillar in a three-team trade with STL and MIN

[Havoc]

Nice trade Scooblander. You live to see another year.

Hopefully this isn't like the Hyman trade where he does something genius then hibernates for 7 years.

If there's a big fish that requires Knies, just do it. We have matthews nylander marner in their prime. Bunch of spoiled brats if that can't keep you content and you're sprung on a prospect who can still bust. Enjoy what we already have that 95% of the league wishes they had.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Right player, wrong price.

Hope we see the results to justify it. I suspect we’ll extend ROR for cheap this summer as well.

What price were you expecting lol. This is basically what he gave up for Foligno, except this time for a far better player with a much better track record.

 

[Hellcat]

I thought Keefe didn’t worry about matchup’s?

He does not and one of many reasons why he has never won a playoff round?

 

[Zybalto]

He does not and one of many reasons why he has never won a playoff round?

You can't possibly believe this.

 

[Hellcat]

You can't possibly believe this.

Yep because it's true. There is a presser video on YouTube where he said he does not line match, he wants the other team to have to change and match lines against him. He clearly see's line matching as him being weak. You be weak, you line match against me! said every cement head knuckle dragging coach ever.

 

[Zybalto]

Yep because it's true. There is a presser video on YouTube where he said he does not line match, he wants the other team to have to change and match lines against him. He clearly see's line matching as him being weak. You be weak, you line match against me! said every cement head knuckle dragging coach ever.

He seems to line match as much as any other coach. I do recall him talking about not hard line matching (during the Habs series I think so Ill take it you are referencing that) but that seemed more specific and considering that series was carried on the back of Carey Prices last great gasp as an all world goalie despite Matthews absolutely wrecking the Habs matchup line (to the point it had to be broken up), so not exactly a correct point on your part.

Off topic a bit but that playoff run for the Habs is fascinating to look at in hindsight as anyone with any sense recognized that Price was the absolute driver of the Habs getting out of the first round (let alone all the way to the finals) but so many foolish people in hockey somehow bet on it being somehow the team in front of him being the main reason. Now, Bergevin, Ducharme, back to back awful trade + signings for Chiarot, and the whole Habs org in general sit in the wastebasket of history.

The average playoff elimination game for the Leafs the last 3 seasons:

Outshoot the other team 37-29
Leafs Goalies: .890 ish
Opponents Goalies: .940ish

I don't think coaching plays as big a role as you think.....and I think not having Campbell in net might be a bigger deal than many are realizing. The "show me a great coach and Ill show you a great goalie" axiom is always with us.

 

[Dubi Doo]

There's a lot of potential with this trade. I doubt RoR will be that incredible 2-way, 1C he was in the past, but it's a possibility. Regardless, even if he's a really good top-9, two-way center, then TO is in good shape. He's the type of player you need in the playoffs.

I also believe having an elite center + good centee depth is a good recipe for success in the playoffs, so this looks like a great move to me. I hate the leafs, but this was a good move for your squad.

 

[glue]

I think 2 more moves hopefully.

On D to me it’s a must. We need that Jake Muzzin type tough defender against teams like Tampa/Boston especially. We’ll see what they do.

The forward group I think now is definitely better defensively and a bit tougher. That said would still like to see Kerfoot replaced with another Achari type player. One with a bit of a better scoring touch if possible.

 

[Zybalto]

I think 2 more moves hopefully.

On D to me it’s a must. We need that Jake Muzzin type tough defender against teams like Tampa/Boston especially. We’ll see what they do.

The forward group I think now is definitely better defensively and a bit tougher. That said would still like to see Kerfoot replaced with another Achari type player. One with a bit of a better scoring touch if possible.

What are the chances Muzzin starts on ice training next month and is off LTIR to start the playoffs becoming the late season D addition?

 

[glue]

What are the chances Muzzin starts on ice training next month and is off LTIR to start the playoffs becoming the late season D addition?

No clue, but that would be good

 

[Gary Nylund]

I'm a big fan of O'Reilly already. There's just something about the way he carries himself that says this is a serious player, he's the kind you win with. Acciari too, one look at that face tells me al I need to know. Really hope we resign them both, and if we don't resign O'Reilly I just might cry.

 

[Zybalto]

No clue, but that would be good

Maybe its about time Tampa gets Kucherov'd by another team in this manner....

 

[ACC1224]

No clue, but that would be good

Not sure about that. I would think it would be much more difficult as a defense man to miss the season and play in the playoffs than a forward.

 

[Zybalto]

Not sure about that. I would think it would be much more difficult as a defense man to miss the season and play in the playoffs than a forward.

It would but as long as he gets into playing shape, I think he brings a ton of value. Not having the wear and tear of the regular season grind on him, would he be any worse than any of other depth physical D trade targets out there? Would he only get better as the playoffs get on as well?

 

[glue]

Not sure about that. I would think it would be much more difficult as a defense man to miss the season and play in the playoffs than a forward.

Fair point, they still need to add a bruiser, heavy d man, but if by some miracle Muzzin comes back, sheltering him a bit to ease him in might not be the worst thing. We could assess, I’m not certain having him over Holl isn’t a upgrade even if he is not in playoff shape

 

[acrobaticgoalie]

Yep because it's true. There is a presser video on YouTube where he said he does not line match, he wants the other team to have to change and match lines against him. He clearly see's line matching as him being weak. You be weak, you line match against me! said every cement head knuckle dragging coach ever.

Didn't he also say he believes in putting out fresh legs?

Remember when we had Babcock and he would be stubborn with linematching and he would put tired guys out there against the Bruins top guys in the playoffs? We got burnt a few times on it. Babcock was questioned on it after and he went on one of his ego rants. When Cassidy was asked about linematching, he said he didn't belive in linematching for the sake of it and more so putting out guys who were fresh. That's how you keep the pace going.

 

[WillyC]

IMO, these 2 guys are the greatest trade deadline pickups, that any team has picked in recent memory… this ain’t Taylor Hall or Nick Paul stuff… this is grizzled playoff warrior Ryan Fning O’Reilly… Mr. Conn Smythe Playoff MVP stuff.

 

[ACC1224]

It would but as long as he gets into playing shape, I think he brings a ton of value. Not having the wear and tear of the regular season grind on him, would he be any worse than any of other depth physical D trade targets out there? Would he only get better as the playoffs get on as well?

Stepping into that ramped up pace would be very difficult IMO.

 

[Da Cool Rula]

I'm a big fan of O'Reilly already. There's just something about the way he carries himself that says this is a serious player, he's the kind you win with. Acciari too, one look at that face tells me al I need to know. Really hope we resign them both, and if we don't resign O'Reilly I just might cry.

One game and I feel the same. Imagine by season end and playoffs.

While It wont happen I actually see him as our captain. JT is a quiet leader, but looking at the 2 of them on the bench you just get a different vibe from O'REILLY.

 

[Gabriel426]

I'm a big fan of O'Reilly already. There's just something about the way he carries himself that says this is a serious player, he's the kind you win with. Acciari too, one look at that face tells me al I need to know. Really hope we resign them both, and if we don't resign O'Reilly I just might cry.

They remind me of Roberts and Corson. Just business and serious.
I think they will rub it off to the boys.
Engvall arguably had his best game of the season and not bc he scored or assisted but the way he played.
ZAR was jumpy and alive.
You can also see the frustration from our top guys when they don’t score on a great chance.
Even Matty was mixing it up with the Habs D.

 

[Da Cool Rula]

They remind me of Roberts and Corson. Just business and serious.
I think they will rub it off to the boys.
Engvall arguably had his best game of the season and not bc he scored or assisted but the way he played.
ZAR was jumpy and alive.
You can also see the frustration from our top guys when they don’t score on a great chance.
Even Matty was mixing it up with the Habs D.


They remind me of Roberts and Corson. Just business and serious.
I think they will rub it off to the boys.
Engvall arguably had his best game of the season and not bc he scored or assisted but the way he played.
ZAR was jumpy and alive.
You can also see the frustration from our top guys when they don’t score on a great chance.
Even Matty was mixing it up with the Habs D

I love this post. You described the impact so well. You just get instant great vibes from these 2.

 

[rojac]

This may be an imperfect analogy.

I have never been much of an athlete; however I have done a fair amount of community theatre. When you're on stage with the same people night after night and things go smoothly, it can become very rote. You go out, do your part and exit -- there's no real spark because you're just doing the same thing over and over again. But if something goes wrong (like an acttor misses does not show up for a scene or you there is a last minute replacement for someopne because of illness), you're more on your toes, and this is a sharpness and freshness to your performance that may have been missing.

So, basically, I think the Leafs were a bit more on their on their toes and ready to react last night because when the new players were on the ice, the situation was fresher and less routine.

But as always, I could be wrong.

 

[Gabriel426]

This may be an imperfect analogy.

I have never been much of an athlete; however I have done a fair amount of community theatre. When you're on stage with the same people night after night and things go smoothly, it can become very rote. You go out, do your part and exit -- there's no real spark because you're just doing the same thing over and over again. But if something goes wrong (like an acttor misses does not show up for a scene or you there is a last minute replacement for someopne because of illness), you're more on your toes, and this is a sharpness and freshness to your performance that may have been missing.

So, basically, I think the Leafs were a bit more on their on their toes and ready to react last night because when the new players were on the ice, the situation was fresher and less routine.

But as always, I could be wrong.

Yes and No.
I think doing something over and over again, it does lead to boredom. Enter the term trap game. And it is on the coaches and leaders to motivate them when it happens. It could be a challenge like, let’s win and control the other team with less than 30 shots. Or let’s do it for those sick kids as this could be the last time they watch you guys live. Or let’s help player X gets the record. Or let’s win the Cup instead of losing in the first round.

That’s why the theory that playing the kids will inject energy to the team bc guys see the passion and excitement for those kids and it rubs off.

 

[rojac]

Yes and No.
I think doing something over and over again, it does lead to boredom. Enter the term trap game. And it is on the coaches and leaders to motivate them when it happens. It could be a challenge like, let’s win and control the other team with less than 30 shots. Or let’s do it for those sick kids as this could be the last time they watch you guys live. Or let’s help player X gets the record. Or let’s win the Cup instead of losing in the first round.

That’s why the theory that playing the kids will inject energy to the team bc guys see the passion and excitement for those kids and it rubs off.

I'm not sure how much impact that kind of motivation adds because it doesn't really change what yoiu're doing. Personally, I would probably tune out that kind of thing -- in a lot of ways, it's just noise. But again, I don't know and am just guessing.

 

[Gabriel426]

I'm not sure how much impact that kind of motivation adds because it doesn't really change what yoiu're doing. Personally, I would probably tune out that kind of thing -- in a lot of ways, it's just noise. But again, I don't know and am just guessing.

Everyone will tune out bc it doesn’t work esp in North American sports where regular season ranking doesn’t matter as long as you win in the playoffs.
Euro football is different bc league standings means Euro Championship qualification, prize money from league standing and relegation if you finish in the bottom.