Post-Game Talk: Leafs Lose 3-1

[ToneDog]

Thus far, I've not been very impressed with any of the bargain bin finds our management have unearthed.

Fixed it for you. Are you surprised? I have no idea why Dubas and Shanny thought they could surround 4 (so-called) elite forwards with bargain bin finds. The teams with cap space were the real winners this off season as they were able to sign quality players for less than market value. We signed middle of the road players for less than market value.

 

[sxvnert]

Not really sure what Kerfoot brings at $3.5 million, that Adam Brooks can't do at $725,000. There's the cap savings we could have used in the offseason.

#3/#4 C spots should be split between Spezza and Thornton with Kerfoot traded for scraps.

Hyman Matthews Marner
Mik Tavares Nylander
Robertson Thornton Simmonds
Barabanov Spezza Engvall

 

[GoonieFace]

You wanted Dubas to give Kerfoot away as he did AJ even though Kefoot's AAV fit within the cap with another Brook's type player ? Filling out a lineup around the big 4 on paper can but done. It is another matter of filling it on the ice and is is pretty clear to me that we do not have enough quality pieces to do so as it stands.

On a side note if Dubas could see the future he could have dumped Kerfoot for virtually nothing and waited to sign a desperate player for less than market value. Not saying Hoffman is that player but he signed for $500k more than Kerfoot.

When you have so much money tied up in 4 players, you cannot afford to pay a marginal 3rd liner $3.5mil. That money is better spent on upgrading the defence.

 

[LeafGrief]

Fixed it for you. Are you surprised? I have no idea why Dubas and Shanny thought they could surround 4 (so-called) elite forwards with bargain bin finds. The teams with cap space were the real winners this off season as they were able to sign quality players for less than market value. We signed middle of the road players for less than market value.

?

Mikheyev was a bargain bin find. Spezza is a bargain bin find. Tyler Ennis was from the bargain bin. Bogosian is from the bargain bin. Holl is from the bargain bin.

Lots of the bargain bin is trash (I'm looking right at Vesey, here). Some of them are jewels. Such is the nature of the bargain bin.

 

[ToneDog]

?

Mikheyev was a bargain bin find. Spezza is a bargain bin find. Tyler Ennis was from the bargain bin. Bogosian is from the bargain bin. Holl is from the bargain bin.

Lots of the bargain bin is trash (I'm looking right at Vesey, here). Some of them are jewels. Such is the nature of the bargain bin.

Soup had some very good energy last night. For this team to succeed he needs to be on the 4th line because he can't hit the scoresheet. Unfortunately we do not have enough depth to play him there.

 

[Bluelines]

#3/#4 C spots should be split between Spezza and Thornton with Kerfoot traded for scraps.

Hyman Matthews Marner
Mik Tavares Nylander
Robertson Thornton Simmonds
Barabanov Spezza Engvall

Barabanov looks nothing like his highlight reels on YouTube

Joking aside I'd like to see him in a role that pushes offence a little more.

 

[Critical13]

Barabanov looks nothing like his highlight reels on YouTube

Joking aside I'd like to see him in a role that pushes offence a little more.

Me too!

With injuries, I wouldn't mind giving him some PP2 time, and maybe the odd shift in the top 6. Between him and Lehtonen, I hope their limited use was an "easing in" process and not what we plan to do all season.

 

[LeafGrief]

Soup had some very good energy last night. For this team to succeed he needs to be on the 4th line because he can't hit the scoresheet. Unfortunately we do not have enough depth to play him there.

I think he's fine on the third line. He can't finish for shit, but he seems to drive play really well against pretty good players. I sure as hell don't want him on the Tavares line like some people say, but he's enough of a net positive that he's fine on the third IMO. To my eyes, he's pretty much a direct Kapanen replacement, but just hasn't figured out the scoring part yet.

I'd say that getting better wingers than Jumbo and Vesey (grrr) for the top6 is orders of magnitude more important than Mikheyev on the third or fourth.

 

[killer1980]

Dubas' vision was to have a young fast-paced team that would outskate and, more importantly, outscore their opposition. While exciting during the regular season, they didn't have the fortitude to compete in the playoffs. So, someone within the organization, probably Shanahan, decided that had to change. Now we are left with a team that doesn't know what they want to be and a coach that can't figure out how to deal with the hand he has now been dealt. Looking at another first round loss assuming we make the playoffs.

 

[hoglund]

The Leafs played well enough to win, but Muzzin's penalty and the 1st goal that deflected off of him cost the game. Both teams played well defensively, which made it boring. Overall the difference was the penalty in the 3rd and the kicked in goal. This game was boring, all goals were cheap.

 

[hockeyes]

Leafs really need to get more east/west movement through the center of the ice, setting picks and running light interference to open things up in the offensive zone. This cycling around the perimeter has never worked and is easily defended.

 

[Critical13]

Dubas' vision was to have a young fast-paced team that would outskate and, more importantly, outscore their opposition. While exciting during the regular season, they didn't have the fortitude to compete in the playoffs. So, someone within the organization, probably Shanahan, decided that had to change. Now we are left with a team that doesn't know what they want to be and a coach that can't figure out how to deal with the hand he has now been dealt. Looking at another first round loss assuming we make the playoffs.

I am sure many eye-rolls will be had at this statement, but I think our current predicament is in part Lou Lam's fault.

He left our cupboard so devoid of talent that we're having to sign any warm body willing to come here. In a healthy organization, ala Tampa or Colorado, you have guys you drafted 3-4 years ago coming in to fill those holes.

Dubas has drafted well, but most of his guys are 1-2 years away in the pipeline. There is literally nothing in front of them except maybe Liljegren. Korkshov? Rasanan? Scott? Kara? Greenway? Brooks?

To be fair, the one hit they had outside the top 10 (Grundstrom), we traded away. That one still hurts.

So many misses during those mid-late 2010 drafts.

Our best "help" coming down the pipeline are Sandin and Robertson who we just drafted under Dubas, and who we are lucky to have available so quickly.

 

[janesy12]

I mean, ones a proven NHL player and the other isnt.

Sure, but there were other available options for less money than what Kerfoot makes.

 

[TheShape]

Marner needs to get back to driving the play, he can't ask for the pay near guys like Matthews and McDavid and not be a game-breaker like them.

He asked and he got it. So now what? Fingers crossed he can live up to the cap hit, I personally don’t see it happening. Gross overpayment.

 

[Joedoggy]

Only one thing to say....OUCH

 

[Brobust]

Dogshit and lazy performance from Willy last night.

Good effort but also dogshit performance from the captain last night.

Can't win when $18 million takes the night off.

 

[janesy12]

I am sure many eye-rolls will be had at this statement, but I think our current predicament is in part Lou Lam's fault.

He left our cupboard so devoid of talent that we're having to sign any warm body willing to come here. In a healthy organization, ala Tampa or Colorado, you have guys you drafted 3-4 years ago coming in to fill those holes.

Dubas has drafted well, but most of his guys are 1-2 years away in the pipeline. There is literally nothing in front of them except maybe Liljegren. Korkshov? Rasanan? Scott? Kara? Greenway? Brooks?

To be fair, the one hit they had outside the top 10 (Grundstrom), we traded away. That one still hurts.

So many misses during those mid-late 2010 drafts.

Our best "help" coming down the pipeline are Sandin and Robertson who we just drafted under Dubas, and who we are lucky to have available so quickly.

Mark Hunter was supposed to be one of the best eyes for talent around. He had the helm with the drafts and the results were not good.

 

[killer1980]

Dubas has drafted well, but most of his guys are 1-2 years away in the pipeline. There is literally nothing in front of them except maybe Liljegren. Korkshov? Rasanan? Scott? Kara? Greenway? Brooks?

That is, of course, assuming that Dubas did indeed draft well. He was enamored with his minor league goalie situation and that did not work out well. The fact of the matter is that he had nothing to do with the top performers on the team, other than signing them to debilitating contracts. If the the jury isn't still out on the team he has assembled, it should be. So far, the moves he has made is taking the team in a downward direction. To me, that included his choice for coach.

 

[paulhiggins]

They need to get Mikhayev back to where he was pre-injury by playing him with the best players, and declare the Vesey experiment a failure.

 

[Brobust]

Mark Hunter was supposed to be one of the best eyes for talent around. He had the helm with the drafts and the results were not good.

'Not good' is putting it mildly.

 

[Twine Tickler]

Teams create their own luck. Whether its Yamamoto wanting the puck more than Holl, and Holl not eliminating stick OR body which allowed him to centre the puck, or whoever it was that worked to get a step on Muzzin and be in a spot to draw a penalty in the refs eyes, these are two small plays the Oilers made that turned out to be the difference.

Edmonton did a really good job protecting the middle of the ice and not offering anything easy. Leafs did a poor job probing to create breakdowns and that amounts to a pretty boring game.

Full credit to the Oilers. They stuck to their game plan and were able to grind out an ugly one. Leafs were overall the better team but need to find a way to win these types of games.

i agree with you on how teams create their own luck, this was a horrible example of this. Edmonton played an equally poor game as well. the generated next to no chances as well, and were extremely fortunate to have gotten 2 points. As would have the Leafs if they would have won. neither team came out to win the game, both sat back trying to defend, and both teams did that very well actually. yamamoto winning a one on one battle in behind the net and throwing it aimlessly in front of our net to vesey, who then fires it off his own teammate into the net is hardly how I classify making your own luck. Not to mention the leafs PK was excellent prior to draisatl's goal. I am not sure the completed more than 3 passes in the offensive zone that whole powerplay, yet the initial shot deflects to Leon in stride with an open net. I am not trying to say the Leafs deserved better, but i will not say the Oilers wanted it more, or made their own luck. The leafs had tape to tape passes explode off their blades all game. It was like they were playing on concrete. For as bad they played offensively, their D was really good in my mind. contained the 2 stars quite well. Really should have been a W

 

[Gary Nylund]

The Leafs played well enough to win, but Muzzin's penalty and the 1st goal that deflected off of him cost the game. Both teams played well defensively, which made it boring. Overall the difference was the penalty in the 3rd and the kicked in goal. This game was boring, all goals were cheap.

It was pretty sad to watch our highly touted offence almost completely shut down by one of the worst defences in the NHL. On the bright side, Andersen had a good game so focus on that I guess.

 

[TheGroceryStick]

Saw a bit more of
Hyman and Mikhayev playing where they should.

Barabanov will spot back in and hopefully on line 3

Barabanov - Kerfoot - Vesey

 

[Ziggdiezan]

The one on Muzzin was particularly brutal. Need to be able to review calls like that. Even the leaf hating commentators said he was tripped by his own player

 

[hoglund]

It was pretty sad to watch our highly touted offence almost completely shut down by one of the worst defences in the NHL. On the bright side, Andersen had a good game so focus on that I guess.

McDavid and Mathews didn't do much, it made it look like Edmonton's and Toronto's defense look great.