ACC1224
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100% the coach would seek out and receive input from the GM and core group.
They all want the same thing here.
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New Line combos and roster thread
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They all want the same thing here.
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so we are aligned on the fact that Matthews offered an opinion on Keefe’s strategy.
we also should align on the simple fact that the strategy Matthews wanted to play was different.
for some reason, you think commenting on this is not the same as commenting on this.
yep. I purposely wrote it like that.
let’s also have a statement of fact.
the next day,Matthews left the ice quickly.
Keefe went off the ice after him. The two met behind closed doors.
He offered an opinion on the tentativeness in the team's play in that one particular game, while directly responding to a reporter's question discussing the tentativeness in the team's play. This is not that unusual and does not suggest any of the things you are claiming. Same for the other nothing occurrences you've attempted to twist. There is zero evidence that Matthews dictates lineup or deployment decisions.
Just not interested in getting into this squabble with you. We can all see what you were doing.
back on topic ..
if they dont put up at least a 4 or 5 spot against reimer or hill i would put the LW in a blender and mix it up, and call back semyonov because we need more talent on the 4th line to play with spezza. He is on an island by himself.
kerfoot - matthews - nylander (not ideal for kerfoot there, but maybe his speed can distrupt plays and defenses)
richie - tavares - marner
bunting - kampf - kase (this line would seem more effective if they had a net front presence)
engvall - semyonov - spezza
simmonds
if they dont put up at least a 4 or 5 spot against reimer or hill i would put the LW in a blender and mix it up, and call back semyonov because we need more talent on the 4th line to play with spezza. He is on an island by himself.
kerfoot - matthews - nylander (not ideal for kerfoot there, but maybe his speed can distrupt plays and defenses)
richie - tavares - marner
bunting - kampf - kase (this line would seem more effective if they had a net front presence)
engvall - semyonov - spezza
simmonds
How about an apology then for accusing me of something you are unable to back up?
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Factually speaking, he suggested there was too much emphasis on the pre-scout and playing too safe. As a strategy, that meant two players trying to contain one.
I’m going to blow your mind here and highlight that these are actual strategies and responsibilities of Keefe and the coaching staff.
At least you are acknowledging that he has made a public comment. Or at least I think you are.
Honestly, it’s like pulling teeth
Martin Skoula
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Are McDavid and MacKinnon running the show in Edmonton and Colorado by getting regular first line + first PP minutes? If neither gets put on the fourth line, it's proof that they're entitled coach killers and running the show. They're even playing with linemates that they wanted in Rantanen and Drai, I can't believe it!
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Hard to say.
Did any of their coaches ever have to fly to meet them in the offseason because they were sulking about ice time?
Please quote the post where anyone said that any Leaf players were "running the show".
Martin Skoula
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Here you go. To quote a wise man, "it's not that hard."
Why would they need to sulk about their ice time? McDavid has never had a single season with less ATOI than Matthews had under Babcock. MacKinnon only had less ATOI in his rookie and sophomore season. Neither has ever played a season where they didn't get automatic 1st unit PP time. Neither had a decrepit 40 year old grinder getting more TOI than them in the playoffs, neither had Komarov and Marleau get 1st unit PP time over them in the playoffs.
You know, the way all normal coaches use their offensive stars.
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You are right. Stronger character players don’t really sulk.
Ummm... a private word?
Better double check something. Did Matthews ever play on the PK prior to 2021?
Because... a little birdie told me McDavid did. Which you know, would influence stats.
Not going to apologize for stating the truth.
Matthews was not "sulking". Any concerns Matthews may have had with Babcock's misuse of him were legitimate, and he dealt with it in an appropriate way. Communication between teams and players in the offseason is not unusual.
ottomaddox
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Line combos will be incomplete until Dubas makes a trade or two. The LW position is still shallow even if Ritchie plays better and Mikheyev is healthy. I'm as happy as the next guy to see Bunting's good start, but TOR is aiming higher than winning 1 round of playoffs.
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Oh. Ok.
I guess offseason communication with Matthews is par for the course. If not about trying to make him happy it’s about why he tried to break into a screaming woman’s car and didn’t tell Dubas about it.
Honestly, if anyone think Coaches and MGT don't cater to their top stars, you are really naive or in denial.
Raptors flew Vince to his graduation the morning of their biggest game of their Franchise at that time, would you think they would do that for a bench player?
Teams always build their team around their best players/core. You won't hear any teams say, we are building around our bench.
The question is how much do the coaches and MGT cater to their top stars?
Raptors flew Vince to his graduation the morning of their biggest game of their Franchise at that time, would you think they would do that for a bench player?
Teams always build their team around their best players/core. You won't hear any teams say, we are building around our bench.
The question is how much do the coaches and MGT cater to their top stars?
Martin Skoula
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Who's talking about stats? We're talking about raw TOI.
McDavid:
D+1: 15 minutes ES, 3 minutes PP, 1 minute PK
D+2: 17 minutes ES, 3 minutes PP, 50 seconds PK
D+3: 17:30 minutes ES, 3 minutes PP, 1:15 minutes PK
Matthews:
D+1: 15 minutes ES, 2:30 minutes PP
D+2: 15:45 minutes ES, 2:15 minutes PP
D+3: 15:55 minutes ES, 2:30 minutes PP
How exactly does McDavid killing penalties for 1 whole minute a game make up for him having 2.5 more minutes TOI at ES and PP?
By Babcock's last full season, Matthews was 33rd among forwards in ES time, 64th in total TOI at 18:33, and a whopping 96th in PP TOI. MacKinnon was a full 2 ES minutes ahead, McDavid almost 3. MacK had a full 1:30 more PP time, McDavid almost a full minute.
Reasonable coaches play their star players in top minutes. Matthews going from unreasonable to reasonable usage does not require a conspiracy to explain. If anything you'd need a Babcock conspiracy to explain why the #1 ES goal scorer in the league was getting blatantly underplayed.
If you unwilling to acknowledge or apologize for a mistake you have made, then so be it.
LeafChief
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I guess Matthews still had much to learn and earn.
But Matthews found a short cut. Get him fired and play more. Even with Keefe saying they needed better work habits.
Hey, here’s a thought. If Matthews struggles... do you think he gets demoted ever... under Keefe... leading up to his UFA year?
Even for a game?
Oscar Peterson
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Great post, unfortunately the poster you're replying is still traumatized by an inebriated Matthews mooning a security guard (has even posted recently in the main boards that they think Matthews should be traded because of it two years removed), can't really have a proper hockey conversation with them regarding Matthews.
Matthews asking for more ice-time doesn't mean that he's a "sulker" or a "non-competitor". I mean, I don't hate Babcock as much as many around here do but his under-deployment of Matthews was incredibly frustrating and he fully should have been playing more minutes. Patrick Kane has even said that Matthews was the hardest working player he had practiced with and said he was shocked to see a player so young and so talented still so focused on improving.
Martin Skoula
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Would McDavid or MacKinnon get demoted?
It's almost like their coaches want to win more than they want to show everyone that they're the top dog.
This might be a controversial statement but I have a hunch that not playing your Richard winner/Hart finalist in 4th line minutes is conducive to winning games.
I'd almost understand it if we were talking about a 21 year old Kessel who refused to backcheck. Matthews has been at the very least average defensively from game 1 and improved his game every season.
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The focus on improving seems to have paid off... no?
As for trading Matthews, you missed the point entirely.
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Does Edmonton have a John Tavares option playing in behind McDavid?
You could move Matthews off the #1PP... give him different line mates.
If JT is playing hotter, do you think Matthews’ ice time gets eaten?
