HamiltonNHL
Resigning Marner == Running it back
- Jan 4, 2012
- 22,159
- 13,352
Official Tank Thread of the Toronto Maple Leafs
- Thread starter Pi
- Start date
- Status
FlareKnight
Registered User
I'm going to say skill.Sens fans coming with giftslol. I've actually grown more fond of the Leafs 1) since I moved to TO, and 2) because I despise everything about the Habs. Now I haven't seen many Leafs games, but what exactly do you guys think your achilles heel is for being a playoff contender this year? I would have thought that with the addition of Babcock and the departure of Kessel the team might have found a little spark.
We traded away our best player, that's kind of a reason not to think the odds are good of making it. Despite the heat Kessel took he produced and set guys up. Adding a really good coach doesn't help the fact that this team is lacking in skill and is made up of a lot of guys that are basically considered trade bait for the deadline.
Not a high end group, learning new systems and trying to eject the giving up mentality that they've had for years now. It's a long term road ahead. The only way the Leafs could make the playoffs is if guys play way above their ability and they get lucky.
KGL
Auston 3:16
- Sep 5, 2014
- 7,499
- 9
Sens fans coming with gifts
Goal scoring. The team has been surprisingly solid so far, just can't score. Like at all. Regardless, even with more goal scoring they are almost certainly not a playoff team.
QuattroFTW
Registered User
Who has been your best player(s) so far? Bernier seemed a little off from the get go but he had a pretty good game tonight from what I saw.
Also as a side note i'm very jealous you guys have Marner. He's going to be amazing in a few years.
Also as a side note i'm very jealous you guys have Marner. He's going to be amazing in a few years.
The Thin White Duke
Registered User
- Aug 11, 2009
- 3,909
- 1
I liked Kessel while he was here, but I'm sure we can all agree that a contending offense would need to have Kessel as the 2nd or 3rd best member. He did well with the chances he had, but he didn't consistently produce more offensive pressure than his competition. A majority of his points came off counter-attack rushes or the powerplay, and while he was great at both, this style of offense isn't consistent enough to be the driving force on a team. Stamkos plays a similar style, just better and from the center position. He doesn't have much of a defensive/possession game to speak of.
I like what we have with our prospects, but we don't know if they're going to be enough to warrant adding a 'finishing piece' to so to speak. Until we have a better idea of what kind of players they'll be, we should hold off on committing huge sums of money long term.
KGL
Auston 3:16
- Sep 5, 2014
- 7,499
- 9
Kadri, Rielly, Gardiner, and Winnik have probably been our best players. Phaneuf, Hunwick, Bozak, and JVR have also been good.
A1LeafNation
Good, is simply not good enough!
- Oct 17, 2010
- 27,712
- 17,787
With the compete level and our top 9 looking like this next year, I think we can make the playoffs:
JVR Stamkos Nylander
Mathews Kadri Kapanen
Leipsic Marner Brown
JVR Stamkos Nylander
Mathews Kadri Kapanen
Leipsic Marner Brown
QuattroFTW
Registered User
I really like JVR, he's got good hockey sense IMO. I really just want to see Ottawa vs. Toronto in the playoffs again. Those battles in the early 2000's were always fun to watch, even if the Sens always lost haha.
We also need defense and a goalie. No way we sign Stamkos AND draft Matthew. Doing one will make us look at other options than the other.
A1LeafNation
Good, is simply not good enough!
- Oct 17, 2010
- 27,712
- 17,787
We've given up 10 goals in our last 4 games.6 in our last 3. The system is coming along nicely.
KGL
Auston 3:16
- Sep 5, 2014
- 7,499
- 9
They certainly were! We'll likely have to wait a few more years for that excitement though. A prime Rielly vs. prime Karlsson should be very exciting!
Canada4Gold
Registered User
- Dec 22, 2010
- 43,033
- 9,219
1. There aren't any #1D available in free agency like there might be a #1C available in Stamkos.
2. If you get the 1st overall pick you shouldn't pass on Matthews
If you're lucky enough to get the 1st overall pick, and your plan was to sign Stamkos initially, then draft Matthews, sign Stamkos, and then look to trade away some of the other offensive assets for some defence. Basically what Edmonton should have done for the past couple years.
A1LeafNation
Good, is simply not good enough!
- Oct 17, 2010
- 27,712
- 17,787
Id go for the jugular when it comes to offensive weapons. We have dmen and a good system.
Gardiner Rielly
Percy Corrado
Harrington Granberg
Marincin Nielson
Loov Hunwick
Phaneuf
Need another top 2 D for Rielly. So far Gardiner is looking like a solid 3/4 D.
A1LeafNation
Good, is simply not good enough!
- Oct 17, 2010
- 27,712
- 17,787
When guys like Korostelev and Tmshov and Bracco start pushing into the top 9, thats when you trade your offence in a package for top d-men.
Thats what I would do.
My list is Matthews, Chychrun, Tkachuk, the Finns
Chychrun will be a #1 Dman imo but you can't miss in the top 5
Yes. Clearly we can extrapolate the last four games to predict the next 8 years of our franchise.
Montreal will surely win the cup this year. Their .75GAA is unbeatable.
A1LeafNation
Good, is simply not good enough!
- Oct 17, 2010
- 27,712
- 17,787
We should be able to draft another top D unless the plan gets accelerated or BPA dictates a forward.
You've never seen our skaters before? A coach can help, but defense is still mostly on the players on the ice.
TheLeastOfTheBunch
Franchise Centre
Too early to analyze standings, but we should be 2nd last soon when the Ducks and Flames pick it up eventually
Hopefully Torts turns around that mess in Columbus
Hopefully Torts turns around that mess in Columbus
You're right.
Toronto has some prospect depth on the backend, but outside of Rielly, they lack a player with top pairing promise. Instead of drafting another defenseman top 5, the Leafs just need to stick to their guns and continue taking mid-to-late round shots in the dark at defenseman. Nielsen, Lindgren, Valiev, and the likes are decent examples. Eventually, one of these shots will score. You have a better chance with defenseman outside of the first round than you do with forwards; it's better to target high-end offensive skill with high-end picks.
If the Leafs feel the need to address the D pool, there will be talent available at Pittsburgh's pick. Think Fabbro (long shot), Green, Bean, McAvoy, Mete, Clague, etc.
Toronto's pick would be best served if it is used on a big skillful winger like Pulju or Tkachuk (assuming Matthews is out of the picture).
- Status
