Post-Game Talk: Leafs win and sweep California

[Its not your fault]

Meh, if he had signed him to a $10.5 contract in the off season people in this market would have shitted on him. Easy to say he’s a moron in hindsight but absolutely the right call not to give into a number like that based off one season.

Does he reach this level without the motivation? Then again you can say trade him like it's a successful comment as far as why. However you cannot answer the who what and were and how part.

 

[Gabriel426]

Benoit is making life really easy for Jones. Need to sign him quick before the price sky rockets (and an example of why you sign your stars and chase young breakout candidates instead, legit ones, not Nick Ritchie).

Make that Jones and Benoit. Need to sign them before values go up as what they are doing is nothing special, just playing solid hockey.

Great game and road trip. Jones with another solid effort. If Samsonov played this game I guarantee we lose. A lot of long shots through traffic were saved. Could easily have been 8-1 with all posts we hit.

I think Sammy will make the game interesting. Lol.

 

[Buds17]

They beat a historically terrible team. I don't think anyone should take anything from this game.

Then it's a good thing that Toronto didn't lose to them!

 

[IPS]

What are the biggest differences between Benoit and a guy like Justin Holl?

 

[CabanaBoy5]

What are the biggest differences between Benoit and a guy like Justin Holl?

Benoit hits, protects the goalie, and isn’t prone to boneheaded plays and giveaways to name a few.

 

[keonsbitterness]

They beat a historically terrible team. I don't think anyone should take anything from this game.

I'm taking two points.

 

[Menzinger]

Goaltending is really weird this season:

Top 5 goalies who have played at least 500+ minutes this year:

1. Hill: .933
2. Jones: .932
3. Lindgren: .928
4. Talbot: .925
5. Daccord: .922

Hill I can understand somewhat but some others are real castaways.

8 goalies to get Vezina votes last season:

1. Ullmark: .915
2. Sorokin: .912
3. Helle: .921
4. Saros: .901
5. Oettinger: .901
6. Vasy: .895
7. Georgiev: .894
8. Shesterkin: .908

Helle is still playing great but the entire rest of the crew really fell off.

It's all voodoo

 

[Evilhomer]

Then it's a good thing that Toronto didn't lose to them!

I guess, but the idea of people making anything more of this game, or the Anaheim game, than just another two points is silly. Games on the schedule that have to be played and won, and that's about it. The best thing for this team is to play quality teams, not San Jose, Anaheim and the Islanders. The Leafs can sleepwalk through these games, and that is the problem.

I'm taking two points.

Of course, the two points are important. That is the only thing anyone should take from these games.

 

[CabanaBoy5]

I thought Holmberg had a strong game. I know Robertson is a scorer but I feel more comfortable having Holmberg out there because he has a better overall game. He’s always in good position and makes the smart play. Robertson is a disaster in his own end, especially getting the puck out of our zone.

 

[Voodoo Child]

Disagree, listening to many of the insiders it sounds like they are going to get Marner done as well. This likely spells the end of Tavares after his contract is up. Either he takes a really cheap discount or he’s not playing in Toronto past his current contract.

The plan has always been to lean on the core 3 forwards. Toronto has a ton of money coming off the books. They are gonna make it all work and wait for that Tavares 11 mill to be gone.

I think it comes down to its hard to acquire star players and you gotta keep them when you have them.

I can see that, and I can also see this year’s playoffs being a huge metric. Mitch puts up 9 points in games 1-3 and 1 in 4-7 again and they lose I can see a sit down happening.

But I can also see that it’s hugely poor form to; sign a guy to a huge deal, turning all 17 fans of his former team who remember the dynasty against him, giving him the C and then telling him to pound sand. He’s the only current Leaf who has a series clinching goal, I think (maybe Gio or Brodie do?).

That and JT after his deal still has probably 2-3 years of being an at least 50 point player. Offer him either 2/7 or 3/4.5 (it’ll be an over 35 deal) and give the C to 34.

 

[Buds17]

I guess, but the idea of people making anything more of this game, or the Anaheim game, than just another two points is silly. Games on the schedule that have to be played and won, and that's about it. The best thing for this team is to play quality teams, not San Jose, Anaheim and the Islanders. The Leafs can sleepwalk through these games, and that is the problem.


Of course, the two points are important. That is the only thing anyone should take from these games.

They can only play according to the schedule. They've also won some games they maybe should have lost while in turn losing games they probably should've won. I don't derive all that much from the regular season when it comes to the playoffs anyway.

 

[Lightsol]

What are the biggest differences between Benoit and a guy like Justin Holl?

Benoit knows what he is and doesn't try to do more than he's capable of. Justin Holl would randomly switch between himself, wannabe-Bobby Orr (which frequently failed badly) and a skating pylon.

 

[Lightsol]

Goaltending is really weird this season:

Top 5 goalies who have played at least 500+ minutes this year:

1. Hill: .933
2. Jones: .932
3. Lindgren: .928
4. Talbot: .925
5. Daccord: .922

Hill I can understand somewhat but some others are real castaways.

8 goalies to get Vezina votes last season:

1. Ullmark: .915
2. Sorokin: .912
3. Helle: .921
4. Saros: .901
5. Oettinger: .901
6. Vasy: .895
7. Georgiev: .894
8. Shesterkin: .908

Helle is still playing great but the entire rest of the crew really fell off.

A lot of the goalies in the second list are playing on REALLY shitty teams this year, and even if you're the best goalie in the world, it does eventually get to you (unless you're Curtis Joseph and you LIKE seeing more rubber than a dead skunk on the TransCanada Highway). I think most people figured Ullmark and Georgiev would drop down; both were playing WAY over their heads last year. Vasy just got back from an injury and this is probably the worst Tampa has been in years. And Shesterkin is in the bad situation of being on a team where they figure he'll make up for no defense...

 

[saffronleaf]

love willy

 

[All Mod Cons]

Benoit is making life really easy for Jones. Need to sign him quick before the price sky rockets (and an example of why you sign your stars and chase young breakout candidates instead, legit ones, not Nick Ritchie).

Benoit type of players are what we've been needing all along. And they're so easy to deal with and you don't have to pay them much. They're easy to play with and coach because they're just steady players playing a simple game. Coach knows what he's going to get 90% of the time. And teammates know what he's gonna do, because he does it 90% of the time.

It was so infuriating having to watch Dermott, Sandin, Gustafsson, Timmins play the 3rd pair. All in a bid to squeeze every single ounce of offense from this team.

 

[Shooter2x]

Benoit type of players are what we've been needing all along. And they're so easy to deal with and you don't have to pay them much. They're easy to play with and coach because they're just steady players playing a simple game. Coach knows what he's going to get 90% of the time. And teammates know what he's gonna do, because he does it 90% of the time.

It was so infuriating having to watch Dermott, Sandin, Gustafsson, Timmins play the 3rd pair. All in a bid to squeeze every single ounce of offense from this team.

I still get flashes of the Jackets series.

Justin Holl thinks he's Erik Karlsson, forcing one of Nylander or Matthews to fall back and have to play D instead of qb'ing the O-zone.

 

[Zybalto]

A lot of the goalies in the second list are playing on REALLY shitty teams this year, and even if you're the best goalie in the world, it does eventually get to you (unless you're Curtis Joseph and you LIKE seeing more rubber than a dead skunk on the TransCanada Highway). I think most people figured Ullmark and Georgiev would drop down; both were playing WAY over their heads last year. Vasy just got back from an injury and this is probably the worst Tampa has been in years. And Shesterkin is in the bad situation of being on a team where they figure he'll make up for no defense...

Vasy I can understand I guess but he might be getting finally worn out as well and Shesterkin has been outplaying crap D for years now and might be feeling the same.

Still, look at the team rankings (by pts. %):

1. Ullmark: Team tied for 1st in the NHL
2. Sorokin: 12th in the NHL
3. Helle: Team tied for 1st in the NHL
4. Saros: 16th in the NHL
5. Oettinger: 8th in the NHL
6. Vasy: 23rd in the NHL
7. Georgiev: 6th in the NHL
8. Shesterkin: Team tied for 1st in the NHL

Most of these guys are disappointing on really good teams no? The only one not in the playoffs ATM is Tampa (3 points out)

 

[Voodoo Child]

And what’s the deal with Anthony DuClair?

He puts up decent middle six numbers and his effort is never in question, put up a nice line for Florida during their run, but he’s now on his seventh team.

I’m aware there’s still some racism in the league - see Akim Aliu - but he also comes across as a someone who is always the victim of something.

Evander Kane is like a newspaper- every day there’s a new issue. The thrower of his tracksuit into the shower is universally respected.


Subban didn’t start getting kicked around until he decided to focus more on his ‘brand’ than the game (not a choice I disagree with, you have to have something to do after you retire).

The Sharks current GM did four teams (two tours with one) but played 13 years - not unusual for a utility bottom six winger.

JT Brown is retired, didn’t know that, but played eight years, five with Tampa and two more as walk-ons.

Okposo has only ever played for two teams.

The Rags seem perfectly happy with K’Andre Miller who I’d take in a second.

I’m not saying there isn’t some of that at play - but why has nothing come up there?

 

[IPS]

Benoit knows what he is and doesn't try to do more than he's capable of. Justin Holl would randomly switch between himself, wannabe-Bobby Orr (which frequently failed badly) and a skating pylon.

Great description of Holl

 

[Squiffy]

BwO

Less complete game then the Ducks game I thought all in all, thought they let the foot off the pedal for a period and a half after the first.

Goal in dying seconds of 2nd was huge, kinda a cheap one that on the whole was deserved for the aggregate.

Full credit to Jones on the trip right? Hasn't been lights out, hasn't needed to be, just getting the stops we should get. Right on buddy.

 

[1specter]

They're calling Tre a moron, but Tre is the one who signed that Nazem Kadri contract, and you all saw how THAT turned out. I would think anyone who did that would be cautious of throwing money at a guy who had one season like this...

Kadri is actually playing well for Calgary and isn't their issue. Huberdeau has been a much bigger problem...

 

[Squiffy]

With no disrespect to SJ meant, we gotta like here that we come off the west coast swing, that's a let-down game usually, with a good shot at a W?

 

[Blanche Blanche]

Benoit type of players are what we've been needing all along. And they're so easy to deal with and you don't have to pay them much. They're easy to play with and coach because they're just steady players playing a simple game. Coach knows what he's going to get 90% of the time. And teammates know what he's gonna do, because he does it 90% of the time.

It was so infuriating having to watch Dermott, Sandin, Gustafsson, Timmins play the 3rd pair. All in a bid to squeeze every single ounce of offense from this team.

That’s Dubas’ system.

5’9 ballerinas can keep passing and passing and passing and passing and we can win!!!

Derp…

Years wasted with that scam fraud charlatan thinking he is hockey’s Billy Beane…

Booooooooooo

Gtfo

 

[Drytoast]

Make that Jones and Benoit. Need to sign them before values go up as what they are doing is nothing special, just playing solid hockey.


I think Sammy will make the game interesting. Lol.

Benoit will very quickly price himself out of Toronto.

It's okay though we signed Willy

 

[Gabriel426]

Benoit will very quickly price himself out of Toronto.

It's okay though we signed Willy

Benoit at most will be sign at 1.5mil-2mil. Both Ian Cole and Soucy signed for 3mil this past summer, one of them is very experienced and the other is just better than Benoit. Don't think he will sign more than that.