GDT: Leafs Vs Avs 7pm Saturday

[Dekes For Days]

I want you to wear that Mitch sweater with pride. He's a heckuva player. Did he buy it for you?

Don't have any Marner jersey. But he is a "heckuva player", and it's pretty obvious why management sees a lot of PP value in him. You were wondering if certain results this game would change management's mind, and suggesting that if it didn't, it was a result of management not prioritizing winning, so I was just wondering if certain results this game would change your mind.

 

[Burnie97]

It’s definitely forgotten too often that others teams are as flawed or very often more so than ours. People just don’t see it as much with the other teams so they fall into this belief it’s not happening

Yup. 100 %. We're all conditioned as Leaf fans to shit on them but they're a good team. A really good team. They just need to break through in the 1st round. That'll change everything.

 

[Optimist]

I don't see why our depth can't put us in the win column tonight. Our lack of playing lately is more of a concern to me than Marner being out. We can do this.

 

[AvroArrow]

Yup. 100 %. We're all conditioned as Leaf fans to shit on them but they're a good team. A really good team. They just need to break through in the 1st round. That'll change everything.

For me they need to win at least 2 rounds. Obviously even 1 round would be great, but the expectations of this group is to be a legitimate cup contender. While winning a round is a good step forward, it's not enough. Need an ECF appearance at the very least. There's too much talent on this team to expect anything less. They are a really good team, and are playing in the hardest division in hockey. Florida and Tampa are both elite teams and cup contenders. We will have the most difficult path in the playoffs but they are capable of beating both teams.

 

[Stephen]

I don't see why our depth can't put us in the win column tonight. Our lack of playing lately is more of a concern to me than Marner being out. We can do this.

The 'positive' here is I don't think too many Leaf victories have been a result of Marner's game breaking play going back to early December, so we aren't exactly fighting with one hand tied behind our backs here, but ideally Marner needs to rediscover his game by the time we're playing important games and starting the playoffs.

Colorado will probably be out for revenge tonight after we beat up their backup goalie, so weather the storm on the road and just keep getting some production and grind out the win. Doesn't need to be a track meet.

 

[Stephen]

Also, I'd love to see Bunting/Kase/Kampf/Ritchie take some runs at our old friend Nazem Kadri. I just want to see what it's like to be on the other side of him flying off the handle and self destructing for once.

 

[Martin Skoula]

The 'positive' here is I don't think too many Leaf victories have been a result of Marner's game breaking play going back to early December, so we aren't exactly fighting with one hand tied behind our backs here, but ideally Marner needs to rediscover his game by the time we're playing important games and starting the playoffs.

Colorado will probably be out for revenge tonight after we beat up their backup goalie, so weather the storm on the road and just keep getting some production and grind out the win. Doesn't need to be a track meet.

I've really gotten comfortable with the idea of "life after Marner" this season, it's become abundantly clear he is a luxury and not a core building block. We're still elite without him, let alone having 11 million to replace him on top of that.

 

[Sypher04]

Since our 2-4-1 start, Oct 27 to now:

1st in P% - .820
2nd in W - 20 (1 behind Vegas, who played 6 more games)
1st in RW - 17
1st in ROW - 20
3rd in GF/GP - 3.80 (0.01 behind Vegas for 2nd)
1st in GA/GP - 2.16
1st in PP% - 35.2
12th in PK% - 81.3 (this could be a bit better)
4th in FOW% - 55.2

 

[Koolboss]

Also, I'd love to see Bunting/Kase/Kampf/Ritchie take some runs at our old friend Nazem Kadri. I just want to see what it's like to be on the other side of him flying off the handle and self destructing for once.

Not sure if that a great idea, he actually has back up now

 

[Stephen]

I've really gotten comfortable with the idea of "life after Marner" this season, it's become abundantly clear he is a luxury and not a core building block. We're still elite without him, let alone having 11 million to replace him on top of that.

I've cooled off on Marner in terms of needing to get rid of him right away but I am happy that the narrative of the team has been uncoupled from the 'Mitch Marner come up story' as one of our two big dogs. If he's in a role like Phil Kessel in Pittsburgh I have no problem with it, but agreed it makes life after Marner plausible if Leafs management envisions something radically different.

 

[Stephen]

Not sure if that a great idea, he actually has back up now

I don't think the Avs want to be running around settling scores for Kadri on the ice. I think that kind of game takes them out of the track meet mindset where they thrive the most.

 

[AvroArrow]

Since our 2-4-1 start, Oct 27 to now:

1st in P% - .820
2nd in W - 20 (1 behind Vegas, who played 6 more games)
1st in RW - 17
1st in ROW - 20
3rd in GF/GP - 3.80 (0.01 behind Vegas for 2nd)
1st in GA/GP - 2.16
1st in PP% - 35.2
12th in PK% - 81.3 (this could be a bit better)
4th in FOW% - 55.2

All cause of that weak Canadian division

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

I've really gotten comfortable with the idea of "life after Marner" this season, it's become abundantly clear he is a luxury and not a core building block. We're still elite without him, let alone having 11 million to replace him on top of that.

especially if this is going to be the new normal for him, as he settles into being a defensively responsible ~65 point winger. He's still a very valuable piece, but not worth $11 million and not close to irreplaceable

 

[Martin Skoula]

especially if this is going to be the new normal for him, as he settles into being a defensively responsible ~65 point winger. He's still a very valuable piece, but not worth $11 million and not close to irreplaceable

Even if he stays at 90+ paces, downgrading to a guy who can put up ~PPG with Matthews/Tavares and 1st unit PP time will be hardly noticeable and likely save us 4 mil.

 

[Coachcorner]

I don't see why our depth can't put us in the win column tonight. Our lack of playing lately is more of a concern to me than Marner being out. We can do this.

Its' a long road like rambo sire. We ain'ts winning 82 dirty games for life sire. During the season. We might win 50, but no team is able to win 82 in life. Its impossible, especially with this covid dirt.

We have a chance in this star wars gezame tonight y'all. Lets see if our suckas can stop their stezars.

 

[Alkalinesky]

I just feel really lucky and honored to be able to go to the game tonight with my partner and some of our friends, even if they're Avs fans.

Whatever the outcome, I have certainly learned to appreciate moments like these.

Go Leafs!

 

[saffronleaf]

Hoping that Matthews and Nylander score a couple goals.

 

[Oscar Peterson]

Hoping that Matthews and Nylander score a couple goals.

Hopefully on the powerplay

 

[ULF_55]

Not sure if that a great idea, he actually has back up now

Disagree.

He's more likely to fly off the handle and do more harm than good.

 

[RoadWarrior]

The 'positive' here is I don't think too many Leaf victories have been a result of Marner's game breaking play going back to early December, so we aren't exactly fighting with one hand tied behind our backs here, but ideally Marner needs to rediscover his game by the time we're playing important games and starting the playoffs.

Colorado will probably be out for revenge tonight after we beat up their backup goalie, so weather the storm on the road and just keep getting some production and grind out the win. Doesn't need to be a track meet.

Marner seemed to have lost his game the day after he signed his monstrous contract. Turns out that when not playing with Austin Matthews he's Craig Janney. Keep the wife at home Mitch.

 

[ThrowDemTongs]

Hoping that Matthews and Nylander score a couple goals.

On gang

 

[zeke]

 

[crump]

How much ice time does that 4th line get? 6-7 min? Maybe Simmonds gets some PP time on top?

 

[TheBeastCoast]

especially if this is going to be the new normal for him, as he settles into being a defensively responsible ~65 point winger. He's still a very valuable piece, but not worth $11 million and not close to irreplaceable

Why would we assume this season is the new normal and not the outlier? Seems odd. Like as long as we are eyes wide open that if we ever were to trade him he would go somewhere else and put up 90+ point seasons lol

 

[S E P H]

Hopefully the PCR test comes back negative for Marner and Engvall like it did for Matthews.

Especially Marner because you can replace Engvall in the lineup with Nick Ritchie for a couple games and be fine, it's not like Engvall provides a lot of offense he doesn't.

But Marner is different you can get by the Oilers without Marner, they didn't have to but they could, you can get by the Senators without Marner, they didn't have to but they could.

But the Avs? they are a different level than Edmonton or Ottawa it's going to be tough against the Avs without Marner.

The PP is going to have to have a big night and considering the Avs have a 73% PK that's possible.

The PP and Jack Campbell are going to be key tonight.

That's always true but it's especially true for tonight.

Avs PK is weird, I mean it sucks, but they have scored the most short-handed goals in the league so yeah...