BertCorbeau
F*ck cancer - RIP Fugu and Buffaloed
Muzzin has a heavy shot ... As does Gio now, and Lily too actually
Post-Game Talk: Leafs lose 4-2
- Thread starter BertCorbeau
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Muzzin has a heavy shot ... As does Gio now, and Lily too actually
Mopar
Registered User
- May 3, 2021
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The second line is trash. The eye test alone will tell you this. No need to look into the numbers.
Is Keefe afraid to split Matthews and Marner up?
Nylander has history with Matthews. (Matthews doesn't need too much help anyway) And Taveres had a career year offensively with Marner. We could potentially have two solid lines.....match up he'll for opponents. Frustrating that Keefe refuses to run those combos.
Is Keefe afraid to split Matthews and Marner up?
Nylander has history with Matthews. (Matthews doesn't need too much help anyway) And Taveres had a career year offensively with Marner. We could potentially have two solid lines.....match up he'll for opponents. Frustrating that Keefe refuses to run those combos.
Stephen
Moderator
- Feb 28, 2002
- 83,109
- 62,027
I feel like John Tavares has a lot of reputational bubble wrap around him.
leafsfan5
Registered User
- Jun 14, 2014
- 15,221
- 26,851
We're paying 18 million dollars for a liability of a second line
It's unacceptable and ridiculous that we've continued with it for so long. It's not working.
LastOne2100
Registered User
- Jan 2, 2017
- 8,687
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Honestly I am not sure this is true, and the expectations here might just be too high. I don't think Nylander can carry a line by himself, the same way I don't think Marner can carry a line by himself. The difference is, no one has ever asked Marner to carry a line by himself.
Nylander needs complementary players. When he's given them, he's awesome. When he isn't, he struggles.
AuraSphere
Registered User
- Jun 27, 2012
- 4,323
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PromisedLand
I need more FOOD
I forget who was the D that let it slip but under Dubas Ds are told to get the puck to the forwards. Look at the time the forwards cycle the puck back to the point only for the D-men to pass it to the forward or lay it in deep.
Compare that to the other teams on how they shoot from the point. Leafs are probably last in goals scored by their d-core in the entire league. WHy? because Leafs D-men hardly take a shot. It is Keefe's dumbass system.
BertCorbeau
F*ck cancer - RIP Fugu and Buffaloed
In the stretch that Nylander/JT have struggle, Matty/Marner have been on a tear too .. So it's not an easy switch. And the checking line has been clicking really well, so finding an adjustment has been tricky.
Some adjustments should be made, I'm just not sure there's an easy answer?
Putting Nylander at centre might be an option?
Stephen
Moderator
- Feb 28, 2002
- 83,109
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Dubas is a smart and creative GM with a progressive mindset, and has thrived in some areas of team building and not others, but sometime it feels like we're waiting for him to fully mature as a GM with an appreciation for some of the old school stuff which actually isn't old school, but just fundamentals.
Don't take this the wrong way but do you watch other teams?
The Habs had Weber, Caps have Carlsson, Tampa has Hedman
Muzzin can shoot but you dont' want him on your point. Lily has a love taps compare to waht the other guys are packing
Gio is ok but nothing to be scared off
We have nobody with hard slap shot that can actually play the point
They just went out on Saturday night, on national TV, facing a team that was just eliminated from the playoffs, a team that embarrassed them last game, a team that embarrassed them last playoffs, and lost.
What possible hope do people have that they will suddenly find some character when the playoffs roll around?
What possible hope do people have that they will suddenly find some character when the playoffs roll around?
LastOne2100
Registered User
- Jan 2, 2017
- 8,687
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But this is exactly the time to do this.
We've all but clinched a playoff spot, and the team overall is playing our worst hockey of the season, and our record recently hasn't been good.
You won't get another opportunity to try and get some sparks, try and build some confidence going into the playoffs.
Keefe had like half of a game where he tried some new line combos, it didn't work immediately and then he went right back to what we've seen all year immediately.
Stephen
Moderator
- Feb 28, 2002
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Tavares needs to be put into a sandbox on his own line and allowed to play a muck it up game. Let him win faceoffs, cycle it around with a couple of guys like Kampf and Mikheyev or something and just don't expect production for a while.
Nylander's effort level sucks lately, but let him loose to run and gun and see if you can harness some offense from him on another line.
Divine
Registered User
- Dec 18, 2010
- 20,215
- 14,752
Reminds me of a young hockey prospect. You are waiting for him to come around, learn the game and fully arrive
He's our version of Yakupov. Lots of skills, likeable guy but can't seem to put it together
LastOne2100
Registered User
- Jan 2, 2017
- 8,687
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100% this. Tavares should be on the third line as this point creating one of the best shut down lines in the league to shut down other team's first lines.
Stop pretending he is an offensive juggernaut anymore.
Rebuild the second line to focus on offensive skill.
PromisedLand
I need more FOOD
Crosby and Malkin play on separate lines win 3 cups.
Toews and Kane play on separate lines win 3 cups
Meanwhile in Leafs Nation........
Nylander Matthews Kase
Bunting Tavares Marner
Engvall Kampf Mikheyev
Knies Kerfoot Blackwell
Gets Tavares away from Nylander. These two have no chemistry. It's painful how long they've been kept together now. If they aren't broken up Keefe will soon be out of a job and then they'll be broken up.
Spezza and Simmonds are washed up. What the hell are they expecting from them the rest of the way? It's friggin' embarrassing for all concerned.
Bunting Tavares Marner
Engvall Kampf Mikheyev
Knies Kerfoot Blackwell
Gets Tavares away from Nylander. These two have no chemistry. It's painful how long they've been kept together now. If they aren't broken up Keefe will soon be out of a job and then they'll be broken up.
Spezza and Simmonds are washed up. What the hell are they expecting from them the rest of the way? It's friggin' embarrassing for all concerned.
Stephen
Moderator
- Feb 28, 2002
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I think we know what their character is by now. And they seem to have trouble dictating playstyle against certain teams that have a goalie, can efficiently park the bus and will get into the Leafs faces on an up tempo forecheck with a bit of sandpaper to finish. Nothing special but it can neutralize the Leafs skill advantages pretty effectively. Big Leaf fan Bruce Boudreau has the Canucks playing this way vs Toronto as well.
I think it just comes down to the fact that the Leafs aren't good at dictating playstyles that are too far out of their comfort level. So their best bet would be if they happened to match up vs Carolina, or Florida (let's see tomorrow) and somehow the game environment suited their strengths better.
MSZ
Car guy
PromisedLand
I need more FOOD
LastOne2100
Registered User
- Jan 2, 2017
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Sad that we let individuals own it instead of owning this loss as a team.
Pathetic culture.
Stephen
Moderator
- Feb 28, 2002
- 83,109
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Trying to get offensive juice out of Tavares and Nylander seems to get them into trouble. Tavares can't get back and Nylander plays demotivated and lazy. Unless you want to burn Marner and prop up JT, I think you just sacrifice him in a defensive role like you said and let him burn up clock time.
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