Lessons from the game against a super elite team

[Nineteen67]

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?

Boston and Tampa did at one time.

Most observer don’t expect the Leafs’ to win a Cup anytime soon, but they should be able to win some playoff rounds on a regular basis.
The core hindered the rebuild and made it difficult to supplement.

 

[Leafblooded]

Soft in the d-zone, scared of the opposing forecheck, rushed stretch passes as a result and lots of running around on defence. The geriatrics on Boston have played the same game for the last 15 years and the Leafs have not figured out a way to counter.

 

[Fogelhund]

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)

1. C with speed... unfortunately, I don't think there is an available solution for that. When we discuss potentially available C's, we are talking about RoR, Monahan, Henrique, Toews... all names that have come up as potentially available C's.... none of them are "great" skaters at this point. I don't think there is a speed solution, as much as there is an upgrade solution.

2. Rielly... playing him in a quasi shutdown role is always going to be a mistake.
3. No question, we need more pushback.... I think we need a LW that plays that style, but a D isn't a terrible thing either..

 

[X66]

That game to me just came down to Boston finishing their chances and us not.

Which is why an impact forward could do wonders, and a healthy Matthews of course lol.

Murray and Samsonov haven't had their strongest starts against them(minus sammy's first game) but you bury some of those chances and maybe it changes the game.

 

[Fogelhund]

@JT AM da real deal noting NHL Networks suggested last night that Booner Jenner might be available too. Again, not a great skater, but I think he provides pretty much anything else you'd want in a very good 3C.

 

[Pebble live]

Boston and Tampa did at one time.

Most observer don’t expect the Leafs’ to win a Cup anytime soon, but they should be able to win some playoff rounds on a regular basis.
The core hindered the rebuild and made it difficult to supplement.

The only reason the core is holding the team back is because of contracts. Their play is sufficient. Minus Rielly. Its the rest of the team that's garbage. The bottom 6 has to be one of the worst in the league. But I guess you could argue that's because of the money spent on the core.

 

[notDatsyuk]

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?

Or tough it out until Tavares leaves, and then build right.

 

[Lauro]

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

Would have been perfect in PGT, another overreaction.
Matthews-less Leafs were as good as Boston except for the goalie.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

Samsonov stunk the building out last night worse than the last time I used the restroom at Taco Bell.

 

[Larcos_Unal]

Only now I'm beginning to appreciate Jake Muzzin and his overall impact to the team. He was the true shutdown Dman we needed and slotted Rielly into more offensive opportunities. With Muzz gone, Rielly has to eat up more of the tough minutes and he's just not built for it.

 

[Lemontree]

The only reason the core is holding the team back is because of contracts. Their play is sufficient. Minus Rielly. Its the rest of the team that's garbage. The bottom 6 has to be one of the worst in the league. But I guess you could argue that's because of the money spent on the core.

Don't forget the fact that the GM and Management Team have no idea how to build a winning hockey team and identify the type of players (both playing style and personality) that would compliment the skilled players that were already in place before this group were given the reins.

 

[Larcos_Unal]

The only reason the core is holding the team back is because of contracts. Their play is sufficient. Minus Rielly. Its the rest of the team that's garbage. The bottom 6 has to be one of the worst in the league. But I guess you could argue that's because of the money spent on the core.

Agree 100%, and last night was a perfect example. We didn't get burned by Pasta, Marchand, Bergeron we got burned by their bottom 6.
The fact that their stars took hometown discounts and left money on the table for Boston to round out their team has allowed them to add quality players throughout their lineup and they're getting contributions even when top 2 lines are quiet.

Leafs are top heavy and as a result, more is expected of the big 4. Based on their cap hits, they cannot afford to have off nights cause there's nobody of quality to bail them out in the bottom of the roster.

 

[1specter]

Only now I'm beginning to appreciate Jake Muzzin and his overall impact to the team. He was the true shutdown Dman we needed and slotted Rielly into more offensive opportunities. With Muzz gone, Rielly has to eat up more of the tough minutes and he's just not built for it.

Muzzin was a true #2 when healthy. Definitely miss his presence

 

[fahad203]

Very unpopular opinion but Leafs need someone like Josh Anderson
Overpaid, yes. But he can be effective

Someone who can play top 6 and be a presence

You just can't go into playoffs with Holl.

Goalie situation is what it is. We are going to have to hope that one of them can hold the fort

Leafs are a good team. But good is not good enought it seems

 

[ACC1224]

Very unpopular opinion but Leafs need someone like Josh Anderson
Overpaid, yes. But he can be effective

Someone who can play top 6 and be a presence

You just can't go into playoffs with Holl.

Goalie situation is what it is. We are going to have to hope that one of them can hold the fort

Leafs are a good team. But good is not good enought it seems

I'd take Josh Anderson in a heartbeat.

 

[Aashir]

Post seems pretty logical, and I agree with most of it

Our primary need still is a top 6 forward, that was evident at the start of the season, and it still is now. When one of the core four go down, we can’t have the second line have kerfoot. Last year his play was enough for that roll, but his play has not been there this year so we need an upgrade. This would also force jarnkrok onto the third line, which would give us a good threat to score in the bottom six.

As for the defence, I also agree there, losing muzzin hurts a lot now because if he were healthy I actually think him and Liljegren make an awesome pairing on that 2nd pair. Whether we play Liljegren with gio, or Rielly, that always leaves us with one defencemen playing a roll they shouldn’t be. Sandin still struggles at times against repeatedly heavy forechecks, and most bottom six’s for playoffs teams deploy heavy forchecks. He’s still young, but either he has to figure it out so we can effectively use him in the playoffs or we have to shelter him with an effective partner on the third pairing

The goaltending is what it is, we are kinda stuck with it, for better or for worse. I’m hoping one o the two can pull together a nice run for us

I think a top 6 forward is a need
A good defencemen is almost a need, but could be classified under a want
A bottom 6 forward is probably a luxury want, it would solidly our third line, but we could get away with just pushing jarnkrok down a line

 

[stickty111]

Reflections at the All-Star break: Why the Maple Leafs' five-on-five scoring needs a boost

The Maple Leafs entered the All-Star break on a down note due to an inability to break through more than once at five-on-five, untimely goals against, and a lost goaltending battle. Given the juncture in the schedule and the fact that I don’t want to read too much into a loss to Boston in which […]

mapleleafshotstove.com

If a Vladislav Gavrikov type gives them the ability to roll with three pairings that can be fully trusted — say Giordano/Gavrikov – Holl, Giordano/Gavrikov-Liljegren, Rielly-Brodie) you would then have a #7 in Sandin who should be playing but isn’t. I think that’s the calibre of depth that can sustain a team over four grueling rounds (including two vs. Tampa and Boston to start), particularly for a club whose blue line is set up to be deployed the way the Leafs’ is.

This is to say nothing of the longer-term succession planning around the Muzzin situation (most expect him to retire), Brodie’s age and contract status (deal expires after next), and Giordano’s age and contract status (deal expires after next). If Dubas could pull it off with a player he can keep beyond the season (this also explains the reported McCabe interest), it’s definitely worth pursuing.


The more you think about it, you end up convincing yourself the Leafs could really use two forwards: one impact forward and one depth forward with a little more scoring ability than what’s present now (a Noel Acciari comes to mind — he’s scored 20 before and has 10 goals in 51 games this season).

Hot Stove mentioned what I said yesterday.
They probably need 2 forwards. One impact and a depth forward like an Acciari.
Upgrading the D is also worth considering

 

[Al14]

Agree 100%, and last night was a perfect example. We didn't get burned by Pasta, Marchand, Bergeron we got burned by their bottom 6.
The fact that their stars took hometown discounts and left money on the table for Boston to round out their team has allowed them to add quality players throughout their lineup and they're getting contributions even when top 2 lines are quiet.

Leafs are top heavy and as a result, more is expected of the big 4. Based on their cap hits, they cannot afford to have off nights cause there's nobody of quality to bail them out in the bottom of the roster.

Exactly right. The greediness of our core players might just be the reason none of them have their names engraved on the Stanley Cup as Leafs!!!

 

[Suntouchable13]

this is why I'm a huge supporter of going after demko if your're not making a splash on meier.

Send murray + assets the other way.

We can't have 4-5 games of great goaltending followed by 2 ass games like clockwork.

Honestly, don’t think Demko will be successful here. I read on the trade board that there is talk he doesn’t like the Vancouver market and the scrutiny. If it’s true, he won’t like it much here either.

 

[1specter]

Honestly, don’t think Demko will be successful here. I read on the trade board that there is talk he doesn’t like the Vancouver market and the scrutiny. If it’s true, he won’t like it much here either.

Demko also has a history of injuries - he had double hip surgery back in 2015. That's a huge red flag for a goalie, hip injuries destroyed Cory Schneider's career and even in the Leafs system Ian Scott was a good prospect with lots of potential and had to call it quits at the age of 23 with only 7 professional games under his belt. Also Demko ended last season with an undisclosed lower body injury.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

There is no lesson here.there was a team playing the last game before the all star break and did not care.

Burn the video

 

[ACC1224]

There is no lesson here.there was a team playing the last game before the all star break and did not care.

Burn the video

It was the Bruins last game as well.

'Did not care' could be the title of this years season end video.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

It was the Bruins last game as well.

'Did not care' could be the title of this years season end video.

I know it was, I still don't think Toronto cared

 

[PROUD PAPA]

Last nights game showed again how important attention to detail is.
Mistakes, even smaller ones were ending up in the back of our net. We can make as many changes as we want but none will matter if we can't knock off the mental lapses.

 

[Racer88]

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

Agreed. The time to fix the goalie issues we have was years ago yet here we are with these 2 guys

I know it was, I still don't think Toronto cared

That’s the problem, this team doesn’t care way to many nights