Line Combos: Leafs roster [Before] & [After] and work in progress

[Mess]

Has this not already been tested the last two years?

How could it be tested with this roster?

Last year Leafs only played 6 teams to qualify for the playoffs, so that pandemic year would be an outlier and not used when deciding Leafs future in the Atlantic Div.

Each year is new and with the roster moves made in the offseason a whole new and unique situation. Injuries happen every year as its apart of the sport, but how well is a team positioned to absorb or overcome them is the key to success.

 

[Dekes For Days]

How would this roster hold up for contention for a playoff spot it what is expected a highly contested and competitive Atlantic Div?

You mean if we arbitrarily removed two of the best and most important pieces of the team, we might look a bit worse compared to all of the other 100% completely healthy teams you didn't touch? Wow, what amazing insight.

 

[francis246]

It was 1 finger , not his hand or arm , nor was he in an upper body cast and it didn’t affect him for the last 2 seasons .

and it has to be great being Johnny since nothing is ever his fault , it’s always the rest of the team and the coach/mgmt that let him down , lol

have you had a broken finger before? or do you know how human anatomy works? if you break a finger you simply cannot get the same grip on it. Even with a strain your grip is off. LOL you continue to prove you have some of the worst takes on this board. PPG player isn't playing good enough with reduced minutes, get outta here with that shit man.

 

[mydnyte]

Some Leaf fans believe the Leafs lost their playoff series because they lost Tavares and didn't have the depth to overcome that injury. So what if the Leafs lost one of the big 4 for 20+ game stretch of the regular season like say JT what would the team look like on paper.

Ritchie - Matthews - Marner
Bunting - Kerfoot - Nylander
Robertson -Kämpf - Mikheyev
Simmonds - Engvall - Spezza

Muzzin has a tendency to miss games due to his style of play so what if Jake or Brodie missed time what would the defense look like.

Rielly - Brodie
Dermott - Holl
Sandin - Liljegren
or
Rielly - Holl
Muzzin - Dermott
Sandin - Liljegren

How would this roster hold up for contention for a playoff spot it what is expected a highly contested and competitive Atlantic Div?

this is why teams that play like VGK, CAR, NYI, MTL are successful, but, also why they usually cant go all the way. If the rules reverted back to the way it was when the Devil's were winning Cups, then those teams would be the favorites.
They play a great overall team game that leads to success and removes dependence from any single player.
However, they lack the game changer(s) that is needed to beat the teams that have the 'star' and can match the effort.

 

[egd27]

100% Keefe has f***ed with JT's production, JT is one of the best power play scorers in the NHL and he was moved to the second unit that gets 20 seconds each power play. That would affect his production. He also deliberately told JT to stop focusing on offensive and worry more about the defensive side of the puck. So yes coaching has played a role in his minutes and numbers and yet still he is still a top 30 scorer in the league.

I hadn't read this. So the coach told his $11M C to stop focusing on offense and worry more about the defensive side of the puck?

Do you have a link for this? Because if it's true. it's just another example of how clueless he is.

 

[francis246]

I hadn't read this. So the coach told his $11M C to stop focusing on offense and worry more about the defensive side of the puck?

Do you have a link for this? Because if it's true. it's just another example of how clueless he is.

Sheldon said it himself in a press conference...

Why Tavares excelling defensively outweighs his lack of offensive production - Sportsnet.ca

Keefe pleased with Tavares' defensive growth, offence will come - Sportsnet.ca

Mark Masters: Sheldon Keefe staying patient as John Tavares struggles offensively - TSN.ca

Leafs captain John Tavares’s approach has been defence first, but the offence is sneaking through again

Toronto Maple Leafs: John Tavares Problems Are on Sheldon Keefe

 

[notbias]

How could it be tested with this roster?

Last year Leafs only played 6 teams to qualify for the playoffs, so that pandemic year would be an outlier and not used when deciding Leafs future in the Atlantic Div.

Each year is new and with the roster moves made in the offseason a whole new and unique situation. Injuries happen every year as its apart of the sport, but how well is a team positioned to absorb or overcome them is the key to success.

The first year that Keefe coached, there were a lot of injuries, and they were on a 105pt pace under Keefe, sure the team is not the same, but the main pieces are.

I'd argue this team is more equipped to handle injury now than two years ago.

Also, the Atlantic division is getting blown up into this monster division, every playoff team except Florida got worse.

I can't think of a single team who would look good on paper if a 1C + 2D went down.

 

[Fogelhund]

 

[Captain Crunch]

Losing an Anders Lee is not remotely close to the same thing as losing a Tavares. Even Muzzin was a bigger loss than that. That also happened not just before the playoffs, but before the trade deadline, and the Islanders used that cap space to replace him.

But that's not why we lost, and we have addressed our bottom six. If there's anywhere on the team that is actually having money taken out of it because of the contracts within the flat cap, it's not the bottom six, it's the two top-six LW positions, but that's made up for by the players with the big contracts carrying those lines.

We all know there’s more to hockey than stats. Even so, there is not a monumental difference between their last few seasons. As well, Tavares did have the big season playing with Marner when he scored 47 goals. And like I said, the Leafs won 3 games without Tavares in the lineup, then they choked. And losing Muzzin as well just goes to show how the “core 4” and their salaries makes it very difficult to properly address the depth of the team.
And once again we’re hoping to find the magic in a bottle with our scarce cap room. Better keep those fingers crossed!

 

[Captain Crunch]

Hard not to be impressed by NYI. One game away from the final and if they get there, I think they probably win the cup. Very similar to what happened to us in 93. People criticize Lou saying their future ain't that bright cause of the moves he made but damn, they were just one win away from nobody saying a bad word about Lou like ever, and their future isn't necessarily as bad as some are predicting. Dubas traded away a bunch of futures as well and we have nothing to show for it. IMHO coming that close justifies every move Lou ever made, yeah signing Marleau for that 3rd year was dumb but still, had he stayed here who knows what might have happened. I do have to believe that our stars are signed for less freeing up badly needed cap space to plug holes elsewhere but I digress ...

I believe you are absolutely correct! Dubas was so not ready to deal with those contracts, and our lack of draft picks will certainly catch up to us.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Even so, there is not a monumental difference between their last few seasons.

There is a massive difference between Lee and Tavares, and once again, the Islanders got to replace Lee.

And losing Muzzin as well just goes to show how the “core 4” and their salaries makes it very difficult to properly address the depth of the team.

Our depth is quite good. What exactly do the core 4 salaries have to do with Muzzin getting injured?

 

[Racer88]

What about it? Which specific games we won or lost doesn't really make a difference.

Sure it does. If Tavares was such a big loss the leafs should have gone down 4 straight but for the next three games they didn’t even miss him as evidenced by 3 wins. Nothing changes the fact that they had the Habs on the ropes and let them off.

 

[Racer88]

the last two seasons, they did a stat that showed JT would still be the leading scorer on more than half of the NHL teams. A lot of leaf fans like you have unrealistic expectations of leafs players year in and year out. Anyone who's played hockey knows that if you hurt your hand it does effect your shooting. Why is that excuse valid for Auston but not for JT?

100% Keefe has f***ed with JT's production, JT is one of the best power play scorers in the NHL and he was moved to the second unit that gets 20 seconds each power play. That would affect his production. He also deliberately told JT to stop focusing on offensive and worry more about the defensive side of the puck. So yes coaching has played a role in his minutes and numbers and yet still he is still a top 30 scorer in the league.

More proof that Keefe is an awful coach considering the PP was abysmal and Marner has zero PP gals in almost a year

 

[Racer88]

Leafs lost that series because Tavares was injured and Marne/Matthews failed to show up especially in the last three games

 

[Racer88]

To bad he can’t stay healthy for the playoffs

 

[Dekes For Days]

If Tavares was such a big loss the leafs should have gone down 4 straight but for the next three games they didn’t even miss him

Of course they missed him. Just because you win some games while being heavily disadvantaged, it doesn't change the fact that you're heavily disadvantaged.

 

[Anthrax442]

Leafs lost that series because Tavares was injured and Marne/Matthews failed to show up especially in the last three games

And they had no PP to speak of

 

[Captain Crunch]

There is a massive difference between Lee and Tavares, and once again, the Islanders got to replace Lee.

Our depth is quite good. What exactly do the core 4 salaries have to do with Muzzin getting injured?

The difference in goals, assists, and points between Tavares and Lee pales in comparison when you look at how much of the salary cap space is being taken up by each player. Lee’s salary is less than half of JT’s. As well, the Islanders are a much more defensive-minded team than the Leafs, so that would also affect Lee’s point totals. And I will say it again, the Leafs won 3 in a row without him, but choked once again when it came to crunch time.
As for Muzzin and his injury being affected by the core 4’s salaries, I was way off. I’m more concerned with him being able to stay healthy, especially when playoffs start.

 

[Fogelhund]

To bad he can’t stay healthy for the playoffs

"Too bad"... and he missed one game... I mean seriously, of all the things to complain about, a couple of fluke injuries... we are at the point of looking for things to complain about, for the enjoyment of complaining.

 

[Dekes For Days]

The difference in goals, assists, and points between Tavares and Lee pales in comparison when you look at how much of the salary cap space is being taken up by each player. Lee’s salary is less than half of JT’s.

That's not even true. Lee is on a 7m contract. Losing Tavares is a much bigger loss than losing Lee, and as has already been pointed out multiple times, the Leafs didn't get to replace Tavares like the Islanders did with Lee.

As well, the Islanders are a much more defensive-minded team than the Leafs, so that would also affect Lee’s point totals.

Not really, and the Leafs were actually a slightly better defensive team than the Islanders last year anyway.

 

[Lightsol]

Andersen went out before the trade deadline which led to Dubie paying through his ass for Foligno .

also i have no idea how you can remember what happens on the Islanders but can't remember what the Leafs did , strange

 

[zeke]

NHL power rankings: Our brand new, offseason-friendly 1-32 list

Sean 12:19 PM
that is pure, unfiltered Toronto Man. “they’re shit and possibly broken. makes me sick. fourth-best team in the league though.”

 

[zeke]

The difference in goals, assists, and points between Tavares and Lee pales in comparison when you look at how much of the salary cap space is being taken up by each player. Lee’s salary is less than half of JT’s. As well, the Islanders are a much more defensive-minded team than the Leafs, so that would also affect Lee’s point totals. And I will say it again, the Leafs won 3 in a row without him, but choked once again when it came to crunch time.
As for Muzzin and his injury being affected by the core 4’s salaries, I was way off. I’m more concerned with him being able to stay healthy, especially when playoffs start.

Tavares is so good he actually turned Lee into a 40gl player.

Anyways, over the last 3yrs, 31yr old Lee has averaged a 52pt pace.

 

[zeke]

He basically has to be sheltered and carried by Nylander at this point. He’s a 1B/2A centreman. We’re getting hosed on that 11.0 AAV
Kadri was ripping 30 goals and playing McDavid for 4.5

1B? 2A??

Amongst all fulltime Centers, last 2yrs:

Goals: Tavares #11
Points: Tavares #11

last 3yrs, since becoming a Leaf:

Goals: Tavares #5
Points: Points #10

 

[Gary Nylund]

NHL power rankings: Our brand new, offseason-friendly 1-32 list

Never finished top 5 in the regular season and never won a playoff round begs the question - 4th best at what?