GDT: Leafs @ Wild - Sunday 8am Sweden (soon to be known as WillieLand)

[All Mod Cons]

Kinda crazy that we lead the league in hits this season. It’s been nice to see that part of our game has really evolved and Matthews has kind of led the way

Presumably that means we're 32nd in points then. You can't be good and hit people at the same time. That's madness.

 

[Sypher04]

Presumably that means we're 32nd in points then. You can't be good and hit people at the same time. That's madness.

I mean Edmonton is basically doing that lol

 

[HockeyMad68]

It’s funny Kypper is back on Sportsnet. They must be very desperate

 

[Gallagbi]

Lagesson/Benoit is somehow amazing... not complaining, just funny how good they have been when Benoit looked so bad in pre-season.

They've both been fine in their minutes, but id be interested in whether that pair is benefitting from usage

 

[bax]

It's been really weird watching the Leafs while eating breakfast.

More exciting start than the afternoon game at least.

I’m a fan! Great way to start the day.

 

[Sypher04]

Spending nearly half the period on the pk doesn’t help.

It’s very disruptive to any flow the period could have had

 

[Drytoast]

Kyper says Klingberg may be LTIR potential.

 

[notbias]

Presumably that means we're 32nd in points then. You can't be good and hit people at the same time. That's madness.

It isn't a set rule... but the standings last year aren't too far off from the hitting... the teams that hit more also are usually lower in the standings.

The other team needs the puck to hit them... it is just common sense.

 

[horner]

He is not perfect but he does his jobs.

2 mil

 

[HockeyVirus]

He has no issues flourishing in his current role. If he's a #5, the Leafs have the best defense in the league probably. He's been very good. I don't understand what people see when they watch defensemen play.

They don't watch other teams and think other teams have these magical players. Some folks think other teams don't have breakdowns, never have moments where they are soft, their goaltending is already great, their D is perfect all the time.

Only when you watch a lot of games do you have a good reference for where the Leafs are at.

 

[Confucius]

Willy has been a great talent but an inconsistent floater for many years.

He does show up in the playoffs. But I am concerned any time a player goes nuts in a contract year.

If he wants 11 I don’t want to give him that.

I think he would revert back to 40-45 85-95 pts

Mathews numbers last year 40-45 85, on the low side for William? And Mathews got 13.25?

 

[notbias]

They've both been fine in their minutes, but id be interested in whether that pair is benefitting from usage

I am sure they are benefiting from the quality of competition more than anything else... but regardless their numbers are great.

 

[Leafs at Knight]

McCabe is a top 4D no matter how many times you tell yourself the wrong answer. It's crazy to always read how many people are wrong about him, reminds me of the fan base under rating Gardiner because he'd have a bad give away every few games.

 

[notbias]

Mathews numbers last year 40-45 85, on the low side for William? And Mathews got 13.25?

An injured player doesn't perform up to his normal standards... shocking.

 

[Confucius]

An injured player doesn't perform up to his normal standards... shocking.

Maybe so but still got 13.25 His 2nd best year… maybe the 106 season was the anomaly

 

[Sypher04]

He has no issues flourishing in his current role. If he's a #5, the Leafs have the best defense in the league probably. He's been very good. I don't understand what people see when they watch defensemen play.

Not sure if you’re implying me or just speaking generally, but I’ve been vocally supportive of him; he’s been very good as you say. I’m just saying if we can get upgrades that slot ahead of him that’s probably us in our best form

 

[Griffin76]

So Kyper says Zadorov is McCabe at his best but Zadorov is not a top 4. So does that make McCabe a low 5/6?

 

[notbias]

Maybe so but still got 13.25

He's back on pace for 67 goals... is it really a big issue that he was injured last year?

So Kyper says Zadorov is McCabe at his best Zadorov is not a top 4. So does that make McCabe a low 5/6?

It means Kyper has had too many concussions.

 

[Cleetus]

Big third here, lets get going leafs!

 

[LeafsFan89]

3 hits? Lol wut.

 

[Gary Nylund]

While I agree, guys like Marchand were late bloomers. Willy starting to look like that and salaries need to a fair valuation of near future production. I don't sweat it. Nylander has a show me season and he is doing amazing. We will see how it goes.

Yup. Thing is too, it's not like Nylander has all of sudden started playing in the contract year, if he sets career highs this season (which he more than likely will), it'll be the 3rd season in a row that he's done that. Nobody can say for sure what his next 5-7 years will look like - will he trend the way Marchand did or drop off substantially instead? It could obviously go either way but the fact that this upward trend is in it's 3rd year makes me think that Nylander has simply developed into an elite player and he'll be an elite player for years to come.

Willy has been a great talent but an inconsistent floater for many years.

He does show up in the playoffs. But I am concerned any time a player goes nuts in a contract year.

If he wants 11 I don’t want to give him that.

I think he would revert back to 40-45 85-95 pts

Calling him an inconsistent floater is a bit much. He's an effortless skater the same way Sundin was so he just appears to be coasting sometimes. He's also likely to set career highs for the 3rd year in a row so it's not just a matter of going nuts in a contract year. If you're an inconsistent floater, you don't put up career highs for 3 years in a row taking your place among the top scorers in the league in the process, simple as that.

I don't want to pay him 11, I didn't want to pay Matthews 13+ either, especially after the season he had where he didn't even crack the top 20 in points. But in both cases, I'd rather pay them a bit more than I'd be happy doing than lose them. JMHO.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Did this for years while living abroad. I absolutely love it. Never go to bed disappointed if it's a stinker, great way start to the day if it's a win.

My worry would be it putting a damper on the day if they lose, instead of being able to sleep it away. But hopefully we don't have to worry about that!

 

[Evilhomer]

Boring game, but this should be an easy close-out third period. The Wild are no threat at all.

 

[Gallagbi]

I don't understand what people see when they watch defensemen play.

Mistakes. People are overly focused on the team they watch and have trouble separating their biased hopes with realistic expectations.

Zeke used to be great at highlighting that bias until he dissappeared.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Maybe so but still got 13.25 His 2nd best year… maybe the 106 season was the anomaly

You think he was paid based off last season only? lol this board