Less than 1 month until TDL

[WTFMAN99]

I think we all suspect a move is coming sooner...maybe even today. We're closing in though and I think as the season has gone on we've found ourselves with a few needs.

1. Goaltending

Andersen going back to last season hasn't been providing anything more than league after goaltending at best. I don't think he is someone that could take us all the way or steal a game. I don't know how they'll address this in-season though.

2. A quality 3rd line centre

Engvall has had a run with it and although he looks better then he did at the start of the season, I remain unconvinced. I would have loved Staal but apparently he doesn't like Canada anymore.

3. A top 6 to 9 forward

Thornton isn't up for the big minutes consistently. Maybe Simmonds goes back with JT and 88 and it works out but we could use someone else just in case, ideally someone that is a clear upgrade. Ideally a mix of grit, higher end offensive capabilities than some like Kerfoot or Mikhayev and not bad defensively. A tall order.

4. 3rd pairing defenseman

When Dermott has a bad night, it's real bad. The problem is we can't shelter him much more than we do. It might make sense to get someone reliable. Hutton? Pysyk? Hanley? Merrill?

Click to read more...

 

[LeafsOHLRangers98]

I think we all suspect a move is coming sooner...maybe even today. We're closing in though and I think as the season has gone on we've found ourselves with a few needs.

1. Goaltending

Andersen going back to last season hasn't been providing anything more than league after goaltending at best. I don't think he is someone that could take us all the way or steal a game. I don't know how they'll address this in-season though.

2. A quality 3rd line centre

Engvall has had a run with it and although he looks better then he did at the start of the season, I remain unconvinced. I would have loved Staal but apparently he doesn't like Canada anymore.

3. A top 6 to 9 forward

Thornton isn't up for the big minutes consistently. Maybe Simmonds goes back with JT and 88 and it works out but we could use someone else just in case, ideally someone that is a clear upgrade. Ideally a mix of grit, higher end offensive capabilities than some like Kerfoot or Mikhayev and not bad defensively. A tall order.

4. 3rd pairing defenseman

When Dermott has a bad night, it's real bad. The problem is we can't shelter him much more than we do. It might make sense to get someone reliable. Hutton? Pysyk? Hanley? Merrill?

3 and 4 aren't really issues IMO. The depth up front is fine, and Dermott/Bogosian can be replaced by Liljegren and Sandin if they play bad enough to actually cost themselves jobs eventually. They've been as least frustrating of a 3rd pair as I can remember though.

Goaltending is a MUST and 3C would be nice if the cap space is there.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Kerfoot at 3.5 has to go
I'm hoping Jack is the answer for the goalie issues. You're right, Freddy is average at best
A vet d-man and some more jam - Wayne will help with the latter

 

[WTFMAN99]

3 and 4 aren't really issues IMO. The depth up front is fine, and Dermott/Bogosian can be replaced by Liljegren and Sandin if they play bad enough to actually cost themselves jobs eventually. They've been as least frustrating of a 3rd pair as I can remember though.

Goaltending is a MUST and 3C would be nice if the cap space is there.

Up until this last week I have been singing praises for the 3rd pairing and then it's like the bottom fell out. The problem is we don't have viable replacements that I would feel comfortable about in a playoff run. Sandin and Liljegren are potentially the future but Sandin hasn't played much and Liljegren's last stint was poor. Rosen and Marincin...oh man. I think we should try to find a sub 1M 7th defenseman., just my 2 cents.

 

[ToneDog]

Dubas is not fixing all those holes by the TDL. Simmonds will help.

#1 Top 6 forward (LW)
#2 depth dman -Dubas/Shanny/Keefe should all be fired if Marincin plays another playoff game for the Leafs
#3 #3C if Kerfoot is moved
#4 Like it or not I doubt Dubas can find a better option than Andy at this point. He blew it by not making the change this offseason. It might cost him his job.

 

[Spirit of 67]

I think people should be prepared to be disappointed.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Dubas is not fixing all those holes by the TDL. Simmonds will help.

#1 Top 6 forward (LW)
#2 depth dman -Dubas/Shanny/Keefe should all be fired if Marincin plays another playoff game for the Leafs
#3 #3C if Kerfoot is moved
#4 Like it or not I doubt Dubas can find a better option than Andy at this point. He blew it by not making the change this offseason. It might cost him his job.

100% - I identified the needs but I have zero expectations of them getting all fixed.

 

[Marshy]

I think people should be prepared to be disappointed.

We're Leafs fans we teach the masterclass in that.

 

[The Iceman]

Holl has played like he is being viewed in Babcock's eyes recently.
The only time he should step more than 3 steps inside the oppositions blue line is on a pinch.

Looking to me more like the answer on the 3rd pairing and not the 2nd. Which isn't bad. He can PK and move up in the event of injury.
And next 2 on 1 Holl TAKE THE PASS just like the tyke coach told you!!!

*I feel better now, thank you.

 

[LeafGrief]

Only one I really care about is goalie. If Dubas wants to add a depth piece to the D, a 3c, or a middle six LW then I'm down. But I feel good enough about our current batch of players that I'm not sweating those upgrades.

I'm just not willing to gamble that Campbell and his 9 games in a Leafs net is the answer to anything. We can roll those dice next season.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Yeah I don't think Dermott is really an "issue". If he was, we would not have traded Lehtonen and likely would have given him more ice time.

 

[LeafsOHLRangers98]

Up until this last week I have been singing praises for the 3rd pairing and then it's like the bottom fell out. The problem is we don't have viable replacements that I would feel comfortable about in a playoff run. Sandin and Liljegren are potentially the future but Sandin hasn't played much and Liljegren's last stint was poor. Rosen and Marincin...oh man. I think we should try to find a sub 1M 7th defenseman., just my 2 cents.

We can actually insulate Liljegren with good players this time instead of running a top 4 of Ceci/Holl/Marincin/Dermott.

If your 3rd pair is your biggest issue you're definitely a cup contender and you can offset that by playing the top 4 more.

We don't need to baby Liljegren anymore. We need to get him minutes. Shea Theodore and Jake Bean have been fine after dominating the A. Liljegren will be too, you just need to set him up for success. While the 3rd pair is struggling I would almpst drop down Holl and run Muzzin-Liljegren, Dermott-Holl for a few weeks and see how it works out.

 

[ToneDog]

Only one I really care about is goalie. If Dubas wants to add a depth piece to the D, a 3c, or a middle six LW then I'm down. But I feel good enough about our current batch of players that I'm not sweating those upgrades.

I'm just not willing to gamble that Campbell and his 9 games in a Leafs net is the answer to anything. We can roll those dice next season.

I think we have been giving up too many quality chances and Andy has not been able to bail us out. I'd like to see how we come out after the break in order to determine if fatigue contributed to most of the team playing poorly after the 3 wins in Edmonton.

I am all for trading Andy and finding a new #1 but it won't be easy to pull off. Give us a top 6 LWer, a depth dman and a prayer that Andy can find his game and I will be content.

 

[WTFMAN99]

We can actually insulate Liljegren with good players this time instead of running a top 4 of Ceci/Holl/Marincin/Dermott.

If your 3rd pair is your biggest issue you're definitely a cup contender and you can offset that by playing the top 4 more.

We don't need to baby Liljegren anymore. We need to get him minutes. Shea Theodore and Jake Bean have been fine after dominating the A. Liljegren will be too, you just need to set him up for success. While the 3rd pair is struggling I would almpst drop down Holl and run Muzzin-Liljegren, Dermott-Holl for a few weeks and see how it works out.

Only issue would be the PK, Bogosian has been good for our PK this year.

The numbers as a whole don't look good but someone had posted our PK % with goalies other than Andersen and it was actually a respectable number.

 

[Spirit of 67]

We're Leafs fans we teach the masterclass in that.

LOL.

I mean in a different way.
The media, I think, is playing the fan base. I've seen nothing from them that isn't anything I couldn't speculate.

This big trade fans are hoping for is not going to materialize I don't think.

 

[BlueForever75]

Just replace players like Vesey and Kerfoot in lineup with bigger, bangers that can skate and this team will be complete.

 

[Ciao]

I think people should be prepared to be disappointed.

We're Leafs fans we teach the masterclass in that.

I fixed all these problems myself this weekend by keeping half an eye -- or less -- on the Leafs on my tablet while I watched The Secret Garden one night and Tolkein the next on the big TV with my wife and kids.

I wouldn't recommend The Secret Garden except as a group activity with others who like that genre, but Tolkein was pretty good.

Even at that, both movies were better than what little I watched of the Leafs.

That solved their performance issues this past weekend from my spot on the couch.

Fortunately, unlike today's Zoom meetings, I can choose to not watch any game(s) I like.

I also ignore the main boards and don't troll other teams boards in times like this. It is pure bliss.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Only issue would be the PK, Bogosian has been good for our PK this year.

The numbers as a whole don't look good but someone had posted our PK % with goalies other than Andersen and it was actually a respectable number.

Our PK has actually been top 5-10 for most of the season outside of Andersen's save percentage.

 

[Spirit of 67]

I fixed all these problems myself this weekend by keeping half an eye -- or less -- on the Leafs on my tablet while I watched The Secret Garden one night and Tolkein the next on the big TV with my wife and kids.

I wouldn't recommend The Secret Garden except as a group activity with others who like that genre, but Tolkein was pretty good.

Even at that, both movies were better than what little I watched of the Leafs.

That solved their performance issues this past weekend from my spot on the couch.

Fortunately, unlike today's Zoom meetings, I can choose to not watch any game(s) I like.

I also ignore the main boards and don't troll other teams boards in times like this. It is pure bliss.

Was I just Rick Rolled?

 

[IrishInOntario]

Here are my top 2...

1. The difference between Kerfoot at 3.5 million and Rackell at 1.9 million would be substantial for this team.

2. If Toronto can save money and move on from Anderson in the process, that would be great. Might be possible to find an in season suitor for him given how little real money he has left on his contract.

Rackell-Matthews-Marner
Simmonds-Tavares-Nylander
Mikheyev-Engvall-Hyman
Thornton-Spezza-Robertson / Vesey
Boyd

Alternatively...

Hyman-Matthews-Marner
Rackell-Tavares-Nylander
Thornton-Engvall-Mikheyev
Simmonds-Spezza-Robertson / Vesey
Boyd

 

[Ciao]

Was I just Rick Rolled?

I don't know what that means, but no offence was intended except to the hapless Leafs.

They need to work a little harder to earn my attention and entertainment dollars the past few weeks.

If they aren't enjoyable to watch, then there are better things in life.

After 41 years of following the Leafs, I suppose I am still a fair-weather fan.

Same goes for the Blue Jay's in my household.

With the Raptors, it's not just "fair weather", I'm a "beautiful sunny day at the beach-only" -- they need to be doing something spectacular to get my attention -- kind of fan.

As far as I'm concerned, that's what entertainment is all about. If you like what they're offering, that's fine. If you don't, that's fine too. My choice is just to turn it off.

The only exception is the Argos. I love watching them win or lose. The CFL always has a special place in my heart.

 

[ottomaddox]

I think we all suspect a move is coming sooner...maybe even today. We're closing in though and I think as the season has gone on we've found ourselves with a few needs.

1. Goaltending

Andersen going back to last season hasn't been providing anything more than league after goaltending at best. I don't think he is someone that could take us all the way or steal a game. I don't know how they'll address this in-season though.

2. A quality 3rd line centre

Engvall has had a run with it and although he looks better then he did at the start of the season, I remain unconvinced. I would have loved Staal but apparently he doesn't like Canada anymore.

3. A top 6 to 9 forward

Thornton isn't up for the big minutes consistently. Maybe Simmonds goes back with JT and 88 and it works out but we could use someone else just in case, ideally someone that is a clear upgrade. Ideally a mix of grit, higher end offensive capabilities than some like Kerfoot or Mikhayev and not bad defensively. A tall order.

4. 3rd pairing defenseman

When Dermott has a bad night, it's real bad. The problem is we can't shelter him much more than we do. It might make sense to get someone reliable. Hutton? Pysyk? Hanley? Merrill?

In a world where there's no salary cap I choose option 1,2,3, and 4.

 

[Marmoset]

I think we have been giving up too many quality chances and Andy has not been able to bail us out. I'd like to see how we come out after the break in order to determine if fatigue contributed to most of the team playing poorly after the 3 wins in Edmonton.

I am all for trading Andy and finding a new #1 but it won't be easy to pull off. Give us a top 6 LWer, a depth dman and a prayer that Andy can find his game and I will be content.

The bolded part sums up the state of the team.

For most of this season the Leafs were not giving up many quality chances, which likely covered up the goaltending issues. Much of last season, and in this recent stretch, the defense was not as good and the goaltending was exposed at times. Andersen has been on a decline, Campbell can't stay healthy, and Hutchinson should never have been brought back to our organization.

Since the defense was so good for so much of the season, I hope we can get this back on track. I don't think it's realistic to bring in another goalie at the trade deadline, other than a depth guy as injury insurance. Those moves rarely happen in-season.

 

[Wafflewhipper]

Dubas has work to do bottom six like usual. Needs a goalie. Should move Andersen if anyone would want him. The Hutchinson smoke and mirrors has gone on long enough too.
Getting Campbell,Simmonds and Robertson healthy is a great kick in the pants for the lineup. Get some nasty in the lineup that isn’t undisciplined and we are good.
Maybe he does something unexpectedly big. Really can’t say there are any slack players screwing us even through this little slump. Just Andersen screwing us. I would like to see Andersen moved. We need a quality starter. For me personally that’s Kuemper. Andersen+ for him or a multiple player deal with Arizona. I would like Crouse and Kuemper actually. The team is pretty good so burning some assets in trade right now is the appropriate time for that. The boys would be down losing Andersen because he is a great person. We have to get better nonetheless.

 

[AvroArrow]

Priorities should be

1) A legitimate starting goalie
2) 3C
3) Upgrade on Dermott