Lessons from the game against a super elite team

[Kegs]

Just a lot of holes to plug and not much cap room/assets to address all the needs.

Wow it’s amazing how much leaf fans sound just like bruins fans. Bruins fans actually think the leafs are one of the best teams in the world. At the start of the season it was pretty popular opinion that they(bos)might not even make the playoffs if u can believe it. I don’t think there is many holes on the leafs roster. Just need a top 4 d. That would bump down someone to the 3rd pairing from the top 4. And maybe a goalie. The top 6 is disgusting and doesn’t need attention at all. The bottom six could use some work but trade deadlines are flooded with these guys. Leafs will for sure plug some of the holes. These gms aren’t idiots by any means. I wouldn’t be so negative if I were you guys. Just enjoy watching one of the best teams in the league

 

[sittler rules!!!]

Could put this in the PGT but needed a fresh section.
Had time to think about this now so here are my thoughts
The obvious need is a top 6 forward
This team is easy to shut down when the big boys have an off night. They need another threat. Whether thats Meier or Buchnevich IDK but another impact forward is needed.

2nd
As much as I defended the D core and still think it's fine, Lilly with Sandin as his partner can't be your third pair. Sandin was awful today and while Lilly wasn't much better, Sandin got overwhelmed. If you can get another partner for Lilly, I think you're fine. I would leave the other pairs.

3rd
Goaltending obviously. It's on Sammy or Murray to prove it

Agree on all your points. But I think Ryan O'Reilly is the fix. Play him on the wing with either Mathews or JT, and I think the line would work. I would actually leave Jarnrok in the top 6. Has some skill and grit. Move Bunting down to the third line where he should be anyway. Have Engvall, Kampf Bunting. Move Kerfoot to 4 line C with ZAR and the rotating fleet of RW's - Anderson (who I like), or Simmons. Simmons really does not have much left in the tank though.
On the D, just reshuffle. Lily has fit with Reilly recently. Sandin with Brodie, and leave GIO and Holl. I like them as a 3rd pair.
Goaltending: Is what it is. Sammy made some 10 bell saves early. I am OK with him. He is a battler.
Just that Boston's top end players are overall better or equal to the Leafs
.
The real route of the problem I believe is behind the bench. Preparation, game planning and attention to detail are lacking.

 

[ANDI P IS CUTE]

for 20 years this front office and team has not learned. You cant make this stuff up. Its beyond comical.

small, soft, buttery skilled players on both defense and forward is not the way to build a playoff winner.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

I still think the 4th line is a constant work in progress for both Keefe and Dubas.

It's been a training camp style tryout and here we are in February. This needed to be ironed out in October.

Based on Keefe/Dubas I'm going to say 3 more players are going to be tried and tested on the 4th line until the playoffs. By then it might be too late...

 

[Racer88]

Rielly is cooked alright…

Yup and this is the first year of his big new contract

 

[Racer88]

I didn't learn anything new watching tonight. They just sort of lost to a better team in an inevitable way like when we beat the tires off the Red Wings. Bruins didn't do anything special and our cheap parts just broke down.

That’s why they are cheap parts…….that’s what cheap parts do

 

[ER89]

Also what lessons could be learned? Dubas’ has passed all tests apparently?

 

[Havoc]

Stickty111 demanding more is the change this board needed.

 

[ULF_55]

Where Rielly fits in the salary cap world.
He's probably paid appropriately for a UFA defender.
Is he top 23 in the league? I don't know, whatever, but I think his cap hit is reasonable for what he does. No, he isn't a great defender, and either he's not 100% or his skating is already showing wear and tear.
It would be amazing to see the Leafs get a better defenseman this year, rather than the wait for one of their prospects to become that better defenseman.

 

[geo25]

Two youngest defenders on the ice, Sandin and Liljegren.
188+117=305 games

Bruins youngest defender tonight MacAvoy has 422 games.


It really shouldn't have to be said about how many games a defender needs before he's cooked.

Rielly should point this out ... Rielly 730 games.

That says it all....what do they do? Reward him with a nice 7 year NMC deal....talk about talent evaluation and the thought process into trying to build a cup winning team.

 

[Anthrax442]

Lesson we learn (again) is that the fans are irrational lemmings.

 

[banks]

I learned that Boston is one of the most consistent teams I've ever seen. They play the same in the first 5 minutes as they do in the last 5, and that's scary.

I learned that the depth on this team gets tested more when Matthews is out. But people are ignoring it so they can complain about this game.

 

[Nineteen67]

It’s like Groundhog Day - They still have questions about D,F and G.


Tampa is beatable, but it would be a little easier if Brody and Gio, are not relied on for 22-25 mins per game. Holl , Rielly, and Liljegren can eat some but it would be nice to have another guy they can slot up there.

The goalies can get hot for a week or two if they’re well rested. Fingers crossed that they pick the Tampa series to be really good and the team can prevent high glove side shots.

 

[ACC1224]

Lessons??
It's the same things most have been saying for a few seasons now.

 

[Niagara Bill]

Wow it’s amazing how much leaf fans sound just like bruins fans. Bruins fans actually think the leafs are one of the best teams in the world. At the start of the season it was pretty popular opinion that they(bos)might not even make the playoffs if u can believe it. I don’t think there is many holes on the leafs roster. Just need a top 4 d. That would bump down someone to the 3rd pairing from the top 4. And maybe a goalie. The top 6 is disgusting and doesn’t need attention at all. The bottom six could use some work but trade deadlines are flooded with these guys. Leafs will for sure plug some of the holes. These gms aren’t idiots by any means. I wouldn’t be so negative if I were you guys. Just enjoy watching one of the best teams in the league

So, all this being true, does that mean Bruins gave reached their lofty heights with great coaching and GM decisions and Leafs have faltered a little because of inferior coaching and GM decisions. Hmmmmm

 

[ULF_55]

So, all this being true, does that mean Bruins gave reached their lofty heights with great coaching and GM decisions and Leafs have faltered a little because of inferior coaching and GM decisions. Hmmmmm

Last night they did it with their depth players.

With a lot of help from Samsonov.

But you have to give it to their greybeards, their leaders are 34, 36, 37 years old.

Charlie Coyle is already 30 years old ... time flies.

 

[Niagara Bill]

Why can we not find 1 so called depth player this year who can over perform expectations. With the Marlies playing so well, with a number of young forwards on the Marlies scoring, with young vets like Anderson, is our only chance to catch a little lightning in a bottle this years being Knies?
Not 1 bottom 6 has over performed.
With their performance Simmons gets to play, not because of what he does, but because no one else has performed. He looks like poop, they are no better.
Not 1 bottom 6 guy has even shown strength in the PK. Can you imagine having to have MM pk in the playoffs....now that will really help him be fresh enough to score some goals.
Is this the players or the coach.

 

[Apex Predator]

I don’t think there is nothing they can do about goaltending. You just got to hope for the best come playoff time.

 

[Fogelhund]

simple- dubas and shanahan gotta go before anything changes. period. enough.

and here we go folks... a single loss to the Bruins, and this is what comes out again.... where you been hiding during the wins?

 

[Nineteen67]

Last night they did it with their depth players.

With a lot of help from Samsonov.

But you have to give it to their greybeards, their leaders are 34, 36, 37 years old.

Charlie Coyle is already 30 years old ... time flies.

The fact those guys are on par or slightly better than the Leafs core leadership says what? Would you rather have 23-25 yr old versions of Boston’s core or the Leafs’ core?

I don’t think there is nothing they can do about goaltending. You just got to hope for the best come playoff time.

Fingers crossed they are healthy and get hot against Tampa - nothing has really changed since they were signed.

 

[ULF_55]

The fact those guys are on par or slightly better than the Leafs core leadership says what? Would you rather have 23-25 yr old versions of Boston’s core or the Leafs’ core?

Does any team have 23-25 year old versions of Bruins core?

Isn't the only option to supplement the Leafs existing core, or move one of Matthews or marner?

 

[ACC1224]

I don’t think there is nothing they can do about goaltending. You just got to hope for the best come playoff time.

Sad but true.

 

[ULF_55]

The fact those guys are on par or slightly better than the Leafs core leadership says what? Would you rather have 23-25 yr old versions of Boston’s core or the Leafs’ core?


Fingers crossed they are healthy and get hot against Tampa - nothing has really changed since they were signed.

Flames thought they had the goaltender going into the playoffs.

Maybe Woll can be Leafs Dryden ... hope springs eternal.

 

[TMLAM34]

I think goaltending is fine. You’re not going to find much better tandems than Samsonov, Murray and Woll unless you have a Vasilevsky or Shesterkin on your roster.

Our defensive group is solid but it could definitely use help regardless what the advanced stats say.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Could put this in the PGT but needed a fresh section.
Had time to think about this now so here are my thoughts
The obvious need is a top 6 forward
This team is easy to shut down when the big boys have an off night. They need another threat. Whether thats Meier or Buchnevich IDK but another impact forward is needed.

2nd
As much as I defended the D core and still think it's fine, Lilly with Sandin as his partner can't be your third pair. Sandin was awful today and while Lilly wasn't much better, Sandin got overwhelmed. If you can get another partner for Lilly, I think you're fine. I would leave the other pairs.

3rd
Goaltending obviously. It's on Sammy or Murray to prove it

Your points are all good but there are more holes then you point out against Bruins:
1. We can't have ice tilted at C ice entire game (we need more speed) - JT can't do it and we have no 3 C with speed to do what Coyle does
2. Rielly can't handle Bruins forecheck .. especially with slow Cs .. 7 defensive errors which lead to a minus 4 on game and no offense either .. completely unacceptable .. and a pattern which has occurred with him in all past 6 playoff failures
3. With only 4 guys on roster last night with any pushback it is quite frankly not enough when game speed picks up in playoffs (Wayner, Gio, Jancrock and Bunts can't be our only 4)