Confirmed with Link: Official 2023 Training Camp discussion - CAMPS OVER!!!

[Fogelhund]

You need a better defense if you want to compete

7th best GA/G in the regular season.

Vegas was 11th, Florida was 21st.

The teams ahead of us... Boston, Carolina, Dallas, Rangers, Islanders, Minnesota.

Boston, Rangers, Islanders, Minnesota didn't make it past the first round. None of these teams made the cup.


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6th best GA/G in the playoffs.

Vegas was 4th, Florida was 9th.

3 of the top six teams in GA/G in the playoffs were Rangers, Avalanche and Islanders.. they all went out in the first round.

---------------------------------

Meanwhile... the real issue was not scoring in the playoffs. Two goals per game isn't going to cut it. Top four scored ONE goal 5v5 in that series... that's your issue.

How long do people hold onto tired narratives, despite evidence?

 

[Guided by Veseys]

Looks like Tavares starting the year as 3C is the plan if it clicks in camp. Lafferty expected to carry the load defensively there I guess.

 

[PromisedLand]

don't like it

would prefer

Bertuzzi-Matthews-Jankrok
Domi-Nylander-Marner (yes Willy should be 2C and get more mins)
Knies-Tavares-Lafferty (where is Robertson?)
XXX-Kampf-Reaves

Force opposition to choose who they want to defend against. Matthews or Willy-Marner duo. Meanwhile JT line should absolutely take over opposition scoring in a sheltered role as Knies develops on LW

D pairing is ok I suppose for now

Clearly there will be experimentation with the PP. Klingberg will get his shot, Rielly will get his shot. At some point, they'll figure out what works best, and even then, there will be a rotation at times, based on who was on the ice last. Having different options could also make us harder to game plan against. It isn't important before even pre-season, to appoint one, or the other.

Rielly is my fav Leaf. But... we need a point shot; Klingberg should play on PP ahead of Mo IMO; unless Leafs decide not to stack #1PP unit and spread out the wealth with 2 balanced PP unites then it up to debate

 

[Niagara Bill]

7th best GA/G in the regular season.

Vegas was 11th, Florida was 21st.

The teams ahead of us... Boston, Carolina, Dallas, Rangers, Islanders, Minnesota.

Boston, Rangers, Islanders, Minnesota didn't make it past the first round. None of these teams made the cup.


--------------------------------------------
6th best GA/G in the playoffs.

Vegas was 4th, Florida was 9th.

3 of the top six teams in GA/G in the playoffs were Rangers, Avalanche and Islanders.. they all went out in the first round.

---------------------------------

Meanwhile... the real issue was not scoring in the playoffs. Two goals per game isn't going to cut it. Top four scored ONE goal 5v5 in that series... that's your issue.

How long do people hold onto tired narratives, despite evidence?

Not scoring because certain stars refuse to step up to the physical game. Reilly was great. WN was very good. MM, AM...not so much.

 

[Fogelhund]

Not scoring because certain stars refuse to step up to the physical game. Reilly was great. WN was very good. MM, AM...not so much.

Completely agree... However you want to portray it... whether it's the physicality, or just lacking that next gear. I'm not making excuses, but Matthews also appeared to be having wrist issues again, which is another discussion and worry altogether. AM wasn't right all year, and even worse in the playoffs. We aren't going anywhere, unless he's healthy, and they both learn to step up in the playoffs.

 

[Sypher04]

Not scoring because certain stars refuse to step up to the physical game. Reilly was great. WN was very good. MM, AM...not so much.

If you don’t think Matthews stepped up physical game in the playoffs you clearly weren’t paying attention

Matthews couldn’t shoot the puck like he usually does, that seemed like the biggest thing that hurt his effectiveness. He was all around it but lacked his usual finish

 

[Fogelhund]

don't like it

would prefer

Bertuzzi-Matthews-Jankrok
Domi-Nylander-Marner (yes Willy should be 2C and get more mins)
Knies-Tavares-Lafferty (where is Robertson?)
XXX-Kampf-Reaves

Force opposition to choose who they want to defend against. Matthews or Willy-Marner duo. Meanwhile JT line should absolutely take over opposition scoring in a sheltered role as Knies develops on LW

D pairing is ok I suppose for now



Rielly is my fav Leaf. But... we need a point shot; Klingberg should play on PP ahead of Mo IMO; unless Leafs decide not to stack #1PP unit and spread out the wealth with 2 balanced PP unites then it up to debate

Experiment and see what actually works on the ice. You never know what actually works, until they get out there together. Yes, we could use Klingberg's shot... but then again Timmins has a point shot too.

If you don’t think Matthews stepped up physical game in the playoffs you clearly weren’t paying attention

Matthews couldn’t shoot the puck like he usually does, that seemed like the biggest thing that hurt his effectiveness. He was all around it but lacked his usual finish

I think the point was... when the game got more physical... Matthews didn't produce. He was physical... but he didn't score. I agree, his shooting was off, pointing to yet another injury concern.

 

[Sypher04]

You need a better defense if you want to compete

For a cup, sure, that is most likely. They have like 6 months to sort out upgrading the backend

 

[Fogelhund]

""

 

[Sypher04]

I think the point was... when the game got more physical... Matthews didn't produce. He was physical... but he didn't score. I agree, his shooting was off, pointing to yet another injury concern

Perhaps, but I mean we’ve been told ad nauseum around here, including this past offseason, that Matthews isn’t physically engaged enough and that’s just not supported by the facts anymore.

I agree the injury is the concern

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Looks like Tavares starting the year as 3C is the plan if it clicks in camp. Lafferty expected to carry the load defensively there I guess.

I doubt that's the plan based on the 1st day of cap.

Even if it is that Knies Tavares Lafferty line won't last long.

Lafferty won't last there.

 

[TMLAM34]

Knies - Tavares - Lafferty isn’t terrible but I don’t see it sticking only due to no one really excelling in carrying the puck through the neutral zone into the ozone.

But then again if you load up Bertuzzi, Matthews and Marner on one line and then have Nylander centering the second line there really isn’t many other options left.

Domi can’t be paired with Tavares either otherwise that would create a disaster defensively.

 

[supermann_98]

7th best GA/G in the regular season.

Vegas was 11th, Florida was 21st.

The teams ahead of us... Boston, Carolina, Dallas, Rangers, Islanders, Minnesota.

Boston, Rangers, Islanders, Minnesota didn't make it past the first round. None of these teams made the cup.


--------------------------------------------
6th best GA/G in the playoffs.

Vegas was 4th, Florida was 9th.

3 of the top six teams in GA/G in the playoffs were Rangers, Avalanche and Islanders.. they all went out in the first round.

---------------------------------

Meanwhile... the real issue was not scoring in the playoffs. Two goals per game isn't going to cut it. Top four scored ONE goal 5v5 in that series... that's your issue.

How long do people hold onto tired narratives, despite evidence?

In terms of keeping the puck out of the net they are good.

In terms of feeding the forwards stretch passes (or any passes) that don’t end up in the forwards skates or end up in an icing …they suck. Not sure if there’s any stats or metrics to define that aspect of the game, but from the eye test they are terrible at making plays in the transition game

 

[Sypher04]

In terms of keeping the puck out of the net they are good.

In terms of feeding the forwards stretch passes (or any passes) that don’t end up in the forwards skates or end up in an icing …they suck. Not sure if there’s any stats or metrics to define that aspect of the game, but from the eye test they are terrible at making plays in the transition game

That’s definitely part of why Klingberg was signed.

 

[fahad203]

Matt Murray to have significant surgery. I was counting on his playoff experience and to play 60+ games this year as a starter
Came out of left field really

 

[Niagara Bill]

If you don’t think Matthews stepped up physical game in the playoffs you clearly weren’t paying attention

Matthews couldn’t shoot the puck like he usually does, that seemed like the biggest thing that hurt his effectiveness. He was all around it but lacked his usual finish

He or the team never said he was injured, never said he required off season medical help, he never mentioned it at camp opening. I do not believe he was hurt. As fir MM, stats show his average shot was 10 ft farther out than the season.

 

[BrannigansLaw]

11 million dollar 3C. That contract can’t end soon enough.

 

[Malachi Crunch]

IMO, it's pretty naive to think that some people in the GTA couldn't have some connection, whether directly or indirectly, to players who are also from the GTA.

For sure. JT AM is actually "da real deal". He's not exaggerating wtih his statements.

 

[Notsince67]

https://media.d3.nhle.com/image/private/t_document/prd/grtpwq3o9a4dcpkf31t9.png

Notable...difference from nhl.com
Bertuzzi up 14lbs to 200 *
Domi up 14 lbs to 208 *
Kampf down 7 lbs to 190
Jarnkrok down 2 lbs to 190
Knies up 7 lbs to 217 *
Lafferty up 10 lbs to 205 *
Matthews up 7 lbs to 215 *
Robertson up 5lbs to 178
Marner down 1 lbs to 180
Rielly up 3 lbs to 225
Timmins up 4 lbs to 206

Looks like leafs picked up an east german coach or they've been busy this summer drinking a lot of beer

 

[HockeyVirus]

 

[Guided by Veseys]

2024 Selke finalist Ryan Reaves defends against 2024 Lady Byng winner Max Domi

 

[Hellcat]

Camp opens Friday the 22nd with the first exhibition game Sunday afternoon the 24th.(strange going opposite the NFL)

Exhibition schedule.

View attachment 743980

Most preseason games will be aired, some will be regional broadcasts.

Sept 24 - SN1
Sept 25 - SN
Sept 27 - SN1, TVAS2
Sept 29 - RDS, TSN2, TSN4
Sept 30 - RDS, TSN2, TSN4
Oct 2 - RDS, SN
Oct 5 - No Canadian feed (Maybe Center Ice?)
Oct 7 - No feed Canadian (Maybe Center Ice?)

Tavares just had his availability. You're not going to believe this but he didn't have anything interesting to say.

 

[X66]

11 million dollar 3C. That contract can’t end soon enough.

Plenty of older players put up great numbers, and he's coming off a point per game season...

 

[Mess]

Meanwhile... the real issue was not scoring in the playoffs. Two goals per game isn't going to cut it. Top four scored ONE goal 5v5 in that series... that's your issue.

How long do people hold onto tired narratives, despite evidence?

Is one of those tired narratives that the Leafs spend too much cap on too few players all forwards and as a result can't generate enough offense from the supporting cast to win in the playoffs thus making them less Cup competitive?

Lets hope players like Bertuzzi, Domi, Knies and Klingberg can overcome that self inflicted poor salary cap management issue and do it this year because when Matthews, Nylander and Marner new raises all kick in the situation will get worse rather then better.

Top four scored ONE goal 5v5 in that series... that's your issue. We know via common sense alone the solution is not to pay those top 4 even more $$ and use up even more cap space in hopes they score more by making more. Going to be a tough sledding for another couple years,

 

[BrannigansLaw]

Plenty of older players put up great numbers, and he's coming off a point per game season...

Not saying he's not a decent player but he's nowhere near an 11 million dollar player anymore and it's debatable he ever was. We need the majority of that money to allocate to improving our defense.