Nylander - In round 2 doing his thing.

[DraftSchmaft]

I am not fine.

Matthews is the best shooter in the league and Marner is doing a terrible job getting him the puck. This is facts. If this statement butt hurts people you simply care more about Marner than you do the teams success. I get it. He has 8 points. It's a fact. But it's also a fact he's wasting Matthews right now.

Nylanders impact is impressive period, but overall impact not even close to if we can get Matthews going and then run the puck through him. That's our key to the Stanley Cup. People are too interested in day to day fluctuations. My eyes are on the bigger prize and for that we need to unlock Matthews. I am not a fan of Marners current style for that and if people want to see me as a villain because of that so be it. It's time for Marner to figure out how to overcome tight 5v5 play otherwise get Matthews on a different line. It's (edit: not) a knock on Marner, it's just prioritizing Matthews and the impact he has on the game when at his best. His game impact is tops in the league from a 200ft perspective.

I do think Matthews is more of a passenger in the playoffs when he's with Marner because Marner is the de-facto QB. I am curious to see Matthews as the QB, or if not the QB, the QB getting him some plays to utilize that shot. Most of the plays require a perfect snipe to score so far. Waiting for a flash of agility and shaking off defenders while Matthews uses his offensive awareness to get in position for the quick release into the net. No way Vasi gets it first the way he's getting lit up.

 

[ryno23]

I would flip Nylander and Marner. Marner will get JT going. Matthews and Nylander will be ok with a guy like Jarnkrok being able to get in on the forecheck.

Nylander hasn't had a good series yet but he has been the Leafs best forward the last few playoffs.

 

[thewave]

I have posted about this numerous times. Nylander never gets credit for a hit.

Game 1 Nylander threw the first hit of the series and it didn't appear on the sheet.

If you rewatch all the games I will promise you thay in camera view he has at least 6 or 7 hits. He also blocked 3 shots last night.

For whatever reason, fans just want someone to vent their frustrations on and Willy gets the brunt of it a lot

Absolutely. People are in here calling the guy out for not covering 3 opponents at once. It's ridiculous and until he was with ROR all his mates were flat footed. I thought he had a decent playoff game, not great but when we really needed him, he and ROR carried the team.

 

[ULF_55]

As someone has said above he thinks the game moreso than others who are in continuous react mode.

If Nylander attacked the player the defense lost on the 3rd. goal he'd leave the point completely uncovered. Then it would have been he left his coverage to handle someone else' zone. Any goal from that side of the ice would have been Nylander's fault. Actually, for some every goal scored when he's on the ice is traced back to Nylander somewhere, even when he's just getting on the ice after a turnover by the 1st. line.

 

[DarkKnight]

He was floating around and hemmed in routinely. I’ve praised the guy all year, not sure why you’re not allowed to notice things. That defensive effort won’t get it done, and that’s why he was sheltered, highest o zone starts. He did make some plays for sure, but his lack of desire defensively at times is indefensible for me and no man crush attack dogs can change that. Total commitment is all I ask.

 

[Havoc]

I do think Matthews is more of a passenger in the playoffs when he's with Marner because Marner is the de-facto QB. I am curious to see Matthews as the QB, or if not the QB, the QB getting him some plays to utilize that shot. Most of the plays require a perfect snipe to score so far. Waiting for a flash of agility and shaking off defenders while Matthews uses his offensive awareness to get in position for the quick release into the net. No way Vasi gets it first the way he's getting lit up.

You need less than one hand to count the amount of times Matthews got to use his quick release to his advantage the past few playoffs (I'm missing 1 from last year I think but I said less than one hand so I'm still good)

Muzzin sent him one in the Bruins series and he had the snipe in OT against the Jackets off Tavares pass. That one was a PP goal though, we need it 5v5.

Otherwise it's just perimeter play with Matthews having to shoot through a bunch of guys or forced to beat the goalie clean. Doesn't matter how elite you are, the goalie wins most of the time in this case.

 

[Scion]

As someone has said above he thinks the game moreso than others who are in continuous react mode.

If Nylander attacked the player the defense lost on the 3rd. goal he'd leave the point completely uncovered. Then it would have been he left his coverage to handle someone else' zone. Any goal from that side of the ice would have been Nylander's fault. Actually, for some every goal scored when he's on the ice is traced back to Nylander somewhere, even when he's just getting on the ice after a turnover by the 1st. line.

The 3rd goal was obviously on Knies for not staying with the right defender when he skated behind the net. However, Nylander was clearly at fault on the 1st goal. It is F3's job to cover the middle of the ice/weakside pass on an entry (1-1-3) NZ forecheck) because the defenceman have to stay connected to defend the strong side. Nylander made the same mistake the other net and it also lead to a GA.

I like Nylander, but he has been mediocre this series and there is nothing wrong with calling it what it is.

 

[pcruz]

As someone has said above he thinks the game moreso than others who are in continuous react mode.

If Nylander attacked the player the defense lost on the 3rd. goal he'd leave the point completely uncovered. Then it would have been he left his coverage to handle someone else' zone. Any goal from that side of the ice would have been Nylander's fault. Actually, for some every goal scored when he's on the ice is traced back to Nylander somewhere, even when he's just getting on the ice after a turnover by the 1st. line.

What do you consider more dangerous:

A shot from the point
A shot from the slot

Just because someone else didn't do their job (a rookie who will make a lot of mistakes....because he's a rookie) doesn't mean the others on the ice don't have to try and make up for it.

It's one of the many reasons I was apprehensive about a rookie playing his 4th NHL game in the playoffs.

I think Knies has been impressive, but you see that he has tons to learn about playing in the NHL, and moreso than that, playing in the playoffs where you make sure the plays are safe before trying the pretty.

 

[DraftSchmaft]

You need less than one hand to count the amount of times Matthews got to use his quick release to his advantage the past few playoffs (I'm missing 1 from last year I think but I said less than one hand so I'm still good)

Muzzin sent him one in the Bruins series and he had the snipe in OT against the Jackets off Tavares pass. That one was a PP goal though, we need it 5v5.

Otherwise it's just perimeter play with Matthews having to shoot through a bunch of guys or forced to beat the goalie clean. Doesn't matter how elite you are, the goalie wins most of the time in this case.

I would prefer Matthews burst into the zone himself and then use his skill and shoot off the rush instead of shooting after everyone collapses hence why I'm curious to see how he'd look as the QB for his line.

Nylander has full freedom if you think about it. He gets to rush how he wants, pass how he wants, basically do whatever he wants offensively. It's weird our best player is a passenger and has to wait for what Marner wants to do.

I'd like to see O'Reilly with Matthews to open up space.

 

[Havoc]

I would prefer Matthews burst into the zone himself and then use his skill and shoot off the rush instead of shooting after everyone collapses hence why I'm curious to see how he'd look as the QB for his line.

Nylander has full freedom if you think about it. He gets to rush how he wants, pass how he wants, basically do whatever he wants offensively. It's weird our best player is a passenger and has to wait for what Marner wants to do.

I'd like to see O'Reilly with Matthews to open up space.

Like I said before it pains me to say this with Marner @ 8 points and Marner being one of the players I consider ride or die, but need to look ahead as well.

I'm watching the big boys on other teams and something isn't right. Matthews isn't given the same routes as Mackinnon and McDavid and his comparables.

Matthews needs the keys to the team. That's final. Marner and Nylander are both a tier lower if choosing who to run the puck through.

 

[weems]

Like I said before it pains me to say this with Marner @ 8 points and Marner being one of the players I consider ride or die, but need to look ahead as well.

I'm watching the big boys on other teams and something isn't right. Matthews isn't given the same routes as Mackinnon and McDavid and his comparables.

Matthews needs the keys to the team. That's final. Marner and Nylander are both a tier lower if choosing who to run the puck through.

I'm not necessarily saying this is the case right now but Nylanders biggest strength is skating/agility and it puts defenders on their heels and pushes them further back into their own end thus opening the middle of the ice for the center to enter the zone and possibly recieve a pass. Marner is miles better as a playmaker, has better hockeysense and can work magic is small spaces but Nylander's main strength is something that stylistically could open up room in the middle of the ice for Matthews to skate into, catch a pass and then fire away.

With the increased speed and intensity of playoff hockey, time and space is reduced and guys like Nylander who can skate themselves into scoring areas are extremely valuable.

 

[ULF_55]

What do you consider more dangerous:

A shot from the point
A shot from the slot

Just because someone else didn't do their job (a rookie who will make a lot of mistakes....because he's a rookie) doesn't mean the others on the ice don't have to try and make up for it.

It's one of the many reasons I was apprehensive about a rookie playing his 4th NHL game in the playoffs.

I think Knies has been impressive, but you see that he has tons to learn about playing in the NHL, and moreso than that, playing in the playoffs where you make sure the plays are safe before trying the pretty.

Wouldn't matter. If Nylander attacks the puck carrier who just skated through the defender and it gets passed back to the point, it would have been Nylander's man who was uncovered. There is no win here, for those looking to blame Nylander. Doesn't matter. Nylander made the play to tie the game on O'Reilly's goal. Evens out.

First goal Nylander was puck watching and let his guy get a couple steps on him. And well, the attempted stop by Samsonov looked like a keeper over playing the angle. Or as some analysts asked did he toe pick / hit a rut in the ice, as he looked bad on that goal.

In a overtime game, where the Leafs won, where the Leafs tied it in the last minute on a play by Nylander to marner, to Nylander to a purpose shot for a rebound goal by O'Rielly, I'm fine with how things turned out. And heck, Matthews actually scored. Matthews has yet to score on a shot, but I'll take any goal, even a deflection. Be nice to see Matthews shoot to score though. Like the Nylander one on one over Vasilevskiy's shoulder. No screen, no deflection, no problem.

Oh and a shot from the point or a shot from the slot? I'll take the muffin from the point

 

[pcruz]

Here's what I've said about Nylander over the years:

• Mar 27, 2019

Engaged nylander was rotm twice, world mvp, and has demonstrated it many times throughout 3 seasons.

But he’s garbage so far tonight.

Engaged Nylander is on the same offensive level as Marner. Creating and scoring goals. Carrying the puck, gaining the zone and keeping the puck from the defenders using his edges and skating ability.

We haven't yet seen that Nylander thus far this year.

• May 12, 2022

Nylander is such a great player, when he's skating.

Useless when he's floating, like on that play.

• Nov 28, 2017

Matthews' skating is definitely not his forte. Not that he's a bad or even average skater, but he's definitely not an upper echelon skater like Gardiner, Rielly, Kapanen are.
I also voted for Marleau and Nylander who is a phenomenal skater to watch.

• May 15, 2022

I agree. Really enjoyed watching the Leafs this year. They have grown since last year. They played a great series. It could have gone their way. Their core is great. They gave Tamp fits.


I thought Nylander was great in this series. Doesn’t deserve to be made a scapegoat.

Nylander was great in 2 games this series.
He was also invisible in 3 games including game 7.

The reason people jumped all over Marner last year was that it looked like he wasn't trying out there.

The reason this fanbase loves players like Hyman, Tucker, Domi, Roberts, Clark, and the like is not that they are/were world beaters, it's because they never cheated us on effort.

When he's going, when he is engaged and skating hard, Nylander is a phenomenal player. We don't expect good defense from him, we don't expect him to turn into Hatcher either, but we expect him to push the other team back on their heels with his speed and great movement on the puck.

Other than the shift he was held up on going into a breakaway (a blatant missed call to be honest), Nylander didn't look interested in the play for all of game 7.

Game 1, 2, and 7 he was terrible.
Games 5 and 6 he was great.

A core player that is either great or terrible and almost never anywhere in between is hard to swallow. If the ratio of bad to great is 1:1 then I can't rely on that guy to be a core player making 7 million.

Stanley Cup Playoffs - Round 1 - Gm 5. Bolts @ Leafs; 7:30 pm EST | ESPN2, Sportsnet, CBC, TVA Sports​

Nylander is a fantastic player and is easily one of the big 4...on nights where he skates. The nights when he coasts and stops skating for the puck, he becomes a massive liability. I don't know how much longer it will take for him to realize that he is a fantastic player, and can be a real...

• pcruz
• Post #1,291
• May 10, 2022
• Forum: National Hockey League Talk

 

[Notsince67]

I am not fine.

Matthews is the best shooter in the league and Marner is doing a terrible job getting him the puck. This is facts. If this statement butt hurts people you simply care more about Marner than you do the teams success. I get it. He has 8 points. It's a fact. But it's also a fact he's wasting Matthews right now.

Nylanders impact is impressive period, but overall impact not even close to if we can get Matthews going and then run the puck through him. That's our key to the Stanley Cup. People are too interested in day to day fluctuations. My eyes are on the bigger prize and for that we need to unlock Matthews. I am not a fan of Marners current style for that and if people want to see me as a villain because of that so be it. It's time for Marner to figure out how to overcome tight 5v5 play otherwise get Matthews on a different line. It's (edit: not) a knock on Marner, it's just prioritizing Matthews and the impact he has on the game when at his best. His game impact is tops in the league from a 200ft perspective.

Willy is just not engaged and experimenting with an idea that he could get Matthews the puck more is idiotic. Last night was a physical game and there was a lot of heat on that Top line. There were 2 players on the Leafs without a hit the whole game and Sammy was one of them. I know that hits aren't recorded very well but I didn't see Willy hit anyone and the stats reflected that. He does little to retrieve pucks and last night wasted shot after shot of low probability attempts trying to score. Not comfortable moving him up when he just isn't committed.

 

[Morgs]

The 3rd goal was obviously on Knies for not staying with the right defender when he skated behind the net. However, Nylander was clearly at fault on the 1st goal. It is F3's job to cover the middle of the ice/weakside pass on an entry (1-1-3) NZ forecheck) because the defenceman have to stay connected to defend the strong side. Nylander made the same mistake the other net and it also lead to a GA.

I like Nylander, but he has been mediocre this series and there is nothing wrong with calling it what it is.

Eh, as I said in the PGT. He's as much at fault as Schenn is on the goal. His job isn't to overcommit to F2, it's to cover F3 or protect the middle of the ice if a defenseman pinches when he's covering for Tavares. When Rielly was beaten clean, Schenn rotated to F1, also hoping to maybe block the pass, which means Nylander needed to rotate F2, but was too far away. If Rielly wasn't beaten so cleanly and he hugged Cirelli all the way down he would have been way out of position.

He was asked to make a split second decision, and it just looks way worse because it ended up being his guy and he was closest to it. Not his best moment but the fault of the goal is pretty much on Rielly for getting beat so cleanly it threw both Nylander and Schenn out of position.

 

[Dekes For Days]

If Nylander attacked the player the defense lost on the 3rd. goal he'd leave the point completely uncovered.

The point was still largely uncovered. He kind of just stood around nobody for 10 seconds while the play happened around him, and got caught in between.
All Nylander had to do was stand a foot closer to the inside and at least make a play on the opposing player coming into his coverage area as he cut in.
Even if it gave a better outlet to the point, that's still massively preferred to a close up slot shot.

 

[notDatsyuk]

He was floating around and hemmed in routinely. I’ve praised the guy all year, not sure why you’re not allowed to notice things. That defensive effort won’t get it done, and that’s why he was sheltered, highest o zone starts. He did make some plays for sure, but his lack of desire defensively at times is indefensible for me and no man crush attack dogs can change that. Total commitment is all I ask.

I'm not sure that's being sheltered. When you get an O-zone start you want to put your best offensive players out there.

If he's leading the team in shots, and right up there in chances, despite playing with the wrong linemates, what's the gripe?

I swear there are people here who wouldn't have wanted Gretzky in his prime, because he didn't run opposing players enough.

 

[Jojalu]

Willy is just not engaged and experimenting with an idea that he could get Matthews the puck more is idiotic. Last night was a physical game and there was a lot of heat on that Top line. There were 2 players on the Leafs without a hit the whole game and Sammy was one of them. I know that hits aren't recorded very well but I didn't see Willy hit anyone and the stats reflected that. He does little to retrieve pucks and last night wasted shot after shot of low probability attempts trying to score. Not comfortable moving him up when he just isn't committed.

You have to go rewatch. I posted about it in the first period and said I will bet big money Nylander doesn't get credit for the hit.

He also had two hits in Game 1 that I posted that never got counted.

It happens in the regular season quite a bit too.

I don't get it.

 

[The Best Leafs Everr]

I would rather create cap space for McDavid. Chances of McDavid leaving EDM is almost set in stone. My choice would be to trade him but if that doesn't happen let him walk.

 

[ULF_55]

I would rather create cap space for McDavid. Chances of McDavid leaving EDM is almost set in stone. My choice would be to trade him but if that doesn't happen let him walk.

Then the better option is to let Matthews walk or trade him ... McDavid is going to make twice as much as Nylander.

 

[The Best Leafs Everr]

Then the better option is to let Matthews walk or trade him ... McDavid is going to make twice as much as Nylander.

The answer to that is Tavares, his contract expires 1 season ahead of McDavid's.

 

[Menzinger]

I would rather create cap space for McDavid. Chances of McDavid leaving EDM is almost set in stone. My choice would be to trade him but if that doesn't happen let him walk.

You clear cap for someone like him after you get a confirmation he's going to sign, don't want to risk building around that too far in advance in case he doesn't come.

 

[Goose]

He’s an enigma to me.

I’ve never liked him because I’ve always seen him as a soft, floating, silver spoon, but it doesn’t mean he’s not an elite player.

I don’t know what the right move is, but I’d like the team more without him. That said, it might be the right move to resign him, who knows.

 

[Aashir Mallik]

hes been fine, he’s scoring and helped set up timely goals. That’s the biggest things, the core are actually scoring some timely goals.

If being insanely critical, he and Matthews could look to improve over the next few games. JT has been ok, and marners been good.

 

[The Best Leafs Everr]

You clear cap for someone like him after you get a confirmation he's going to sign, don't want to risk building around that too far in advance in case he doesn't come.

It is happening one way or another, on top of that we get quality FA all the time nowadays with the quality improving all the time. I would never want this team to do the same when they declined to sign Gretzky when he wanted to play here.

Clearing cap space is not as easy as we might think.