Post-Game Talk: Leafs lose 5-3

[Hockey 4 Life]

Leafs need a heavy two way lw for the top 6 and a shutdown d to pair with mo so brodie can slot in with muzzing and holl can drop down to the third pair. We also need to trade freddy or get him an exorcism.

 

[Flamingo]

Is Babcock still the coach?

Spezza in an Ottawa home opener...

 

[Sniper99]

Why do good players come to Toronto and become garbage??

Money gets to their heads and then they stop giving the flying ****. Hope their hotel has a damn good wifi tonight, Keefe Marner and the boys probably got a good fortnite tournament planned.

 

[Man Bear Pig]

I'm looking for panic city, am I in the right place?

Welcome to the Thunderdome. Time to flail around and panic!

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

I believe JT was shaken up in the second and missed a few shifts.

That’s right he was. Still though I do not care for Thornton getting that much ice time and doing nothing with it.

 

[Marshy]

I think I'd like Kerfoot in the top 6 on the wing. I think he has some solid tools that would contribute to the Tavares / Willy line. I just don't like his lack of presence at center... Totally agreed regarding Hyman. He needs to be glued to Matthews and Marner. He did all the dirty work last year so that those guys could be in a position to score. He did nothing wrong and got demoted for political reasons.

Kerfoot / Tavares / Nylander
Hyman / Matthews / Marner
Mikheyev / Thornton / Robertson or Vesey

I'd love to see that given the disparity in minutes Keefe appears to want to play his top 6.

I think we see some changes tomorrow. Campbell starts and Robertson in for Barabanov. Vesey to line 3 Hyman moves up and Jumbo moves to 4th line LW with Spezza and Simmonds. I know that's a molasses line but for 6 mins a game hopefully they can play it evens.

 

[Stanley Sumdae]

Agreed entirely. Play the top two lines near even minutes. The discrepancy so far has been abysmal in terms of minutes played vs production.

First line

Kerfoot / Tavares / Nylander

Second line

Hyman / Matthews / Marner

Third line

Mikheyev / Thornton / Vesey

Fourth Line

Simmonds / Spezza / Barabanov

Matthews and Marner need someone to do some dirty work for them, as they did last season. JT and Willy simply need another player with some skill and vision on their wing and that line will have an incredible season.

Id still like to see Mikheyev get a shot up in the line up. Kerfootis doing fine at the 3c role. Thornton in all reality should be centering the 4th line on this team...with Simmonds and Spezza. Spezza still has more foot speed then Joe and could adjust to the wing easier. I haven't liked Thornton on the wing so far. But its early, they could win 7-0 tomorrow and we'll all be off the ledge till the next loss

 

[IrishInOntario]

Leafs need a heavy two way lw for the top 6 and a shutdown d to pair with mo so brodie can slot in with muzzing and holl can drop down to the third pair. We also need to trade freddy or get him an exorcism.

They have a fairly decent solution to the first problem in Hyman, who should have never been removed from that line.

Absolutely agree that Brodie would be perfect partnered with Muzzin, but the type of defenseman that Reilly needs to be partnered with is both highly coveted and hard to find.

 

[Dave92]

Money gets to their heads and then they stop giving the flying ****. Hope their hotel has a damn good wifi tonight, Keefe Marner and the boys probably got a good fortnite tournament planned.

Maybe they're just not as good as Dubas thought.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

You think Marner would have actually left for Europe instead of taking 9 million?

Yes, or you would damage the relationship so badly you might as well trade him now.

 

[Stephen]

I’m not sure there is a place for him on the ice. I’m really nervous about him against those western teams.

Maybe he could join the coaching staff.

I have a hard time envisioning Thornton out there against Draisaitl Yamamoto or McDavid, or even Quinn Hughes when he gets on his horse.

 

[TheShape]

Thornton experiment needs to end, Keefe's a smart guy but he's out to lunch on this one.
Freddie being Freddie. Not entirely his fault but not coming up with saves either, can't expect the D to allow 3 shots a period.
Brodie and Rielly could work, but imo the pair are too similar.
Tavares has looked good, needs more minutes, same goes for Hyman.
Dermott and Bogosian can come out, would like to see Sandin and Lehtonen soon.
Matthews and Marner not clicking, if Marner wants to be a sharpshooter now he can find a different line. Get Matthews the puck.

 

[Hockey 4 Life]

Id still like to see Mikheyev get a shot up in the line up. Kerfootis doing fine at the 3c role. Thornton in all reality should be centering the 4th line on this team...with Simmonds and Spezza. Spezza still has more foot speed then Joe and could adjust to the wing easier. I haven't liked Thornton on the wing so far. But its early, they could win 7-0 tomorrow and we'll all be off the ledge till the next loss

We shouldn't though because the same problems from 4 or 5 years ago are still here.

 

[Faltorvo]

in just 2 games ,we have been

out hit 67 to 26

LOLZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!

 

[Community]

I like Keefe and agree with a lot of things he says, but I'm super confused about the lines.

He likes to play his stars big minutes (which is great and something we need to do for this team to succeed), but puts guys on their lines that shouldn't see big minutes (Thornton & Vesey). Just load up our top 2 lines and play them close to 40 minutes.

I don't like playing Thornton with the top line and then dropping him every few shifts since he can't handle those minutes... If he can't handle those minutes then he shouldn't be on that line to begin with IMO.

 

[TheDoldrums]

How nice would it be to have Boudreau on the bench in some capacity. He was basically asking for a job but we needed to keep Hakstoll?

 

[hobarth]

I have definitely liked his game to date, I wouldn't say it's been perfect but not detrimental

He's playing the same game as Johnsson and Kappy, there but having little impact on the game, very unnoticeable with less talent. I think he needs to reinvent himself or he's minimum wage for the rest of his career if he's even NHL caliber. I doubt that he isn't easily replaced by any of TO's taxi squad.

 

[Man Bear Pig]

Through 2 games - Thornton sits 3rd on the Leafs in F 5v5 TOI at 26:55. Nylander is 6th.

Thornton is on the first line. I don't really understand why people aren't understanding this. If people have an issue with him being on the first line, I get it. Him getting those minutes shouldn't be when he's on a line with two elite players. I think he should be the #3 center. Find somewhere for Kerfoot in the top 9.

 

[Nineteen67]

I have a hard time envisioning Thornton out there against Draisaitl Yamamoto or McDavid, or even Quinn Hughes when he gets on his horse.

Pettersson?
He’s actually worse than I thought.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

Fire Doobler?

 

[Menzinger]

For sure it has but our team defense is still sub par.

Don't disagree. Though ideally that will improve as the guys warm up to the season, especially the newer players

 

[Hockey 4 Life]

Fire Doobler?

I would but there not really anyone to replace him.

 

[Stephen]

How nice would it be to have Boudreau on the bench in some capacity. He was basically asking for a job but we needed to keep Hakstoll?

Boudreau would probably look and feel overqualified working under Keefe.

 

[ryno23]

He isn't saying anything different than most of the knowledgeable hockey people here haven't been saying for at least two to three years now. We gave Kadri away when he is exactly the type of heart we needed, We lack a Tucker, Roberts Yuskevich etc types. These ballerinas are annoying especially in their post game news conferences. Boring pond hockey ugh, get in there and muck it out. Even McDavid and Drais, get their noses dirty. You think Marner would drop the gloves like Ryan Nugent Hopkins did last year......not a chance

it's too bad Kadri lost his cool in 2 playoffs cause he was the player we need. He dragged the leafs into lots of games where they were floating around the ice. He would lay a hit sometimes borderline but it would force his teammates to ramp up their game as the other team starting running after Kadri. He would get into the dirty area's.

If Marner had Kadri's passion and fire he would be worth his money

 

[stealth1]

Ottawa isn't as bad as many of you make them out to be.

As far as the Leafs go they are still the same team they have always been. The top guys don't have the will to win and look disinterested in playing defense. It's amazing the amount of people who keep defending them.