GDT: Pre-season gezame Toronto maple leafs (legendary) vs Montreal Canadiens

[ACC1224]

We will see I guess, but I highly doubt it. He can’t skate worth a damn. He was the worst skater on the ice in that game by a wide margin. That makes him a liability and I just don’t see what spot he takes with our logjam of so many better players

They would have known how he skates when signing him, at least I would hope so. He was brought in for a specific role. He was the best player in that role last night. Unless they change their minds and feel they no longer want a player in that role, I don’t see how he doesn’t stay with the club.

 

[al secord]

I see Gabriel and Bunting becoming fan favourites instantly. Gabriel will get a regular 4th line shift.

 

[LeafChief]

I see Gabriel and Bunting becoming fan favourites instantly. Gabriel will get a regular 4th line shift.

I highly doubt he will be getting a regular 4th line shift.

I would like to see him get into a game here and there, though.

 

[ottomaddox]

Didn't have a chance to watch the game.

Does anyone want to give me a little breakdown of how these players looked?

Liljegren
SDA
Bunting
Ho-Sang
Mikheyev (mostly his shot)

And any standouts?

Liljegren- a fairly quiet game, but in good way.

SDA - I hardly noticed him.

Bunting - adequate! Very comfortable out there. Didn't need to try too hard to prove that he's going to be a regular. Has the tools to be a top 6.

Ho-Sang - A good start to the game. He didn't try to do anything extra. Later he went in to Bonehead mode. I think there's a chance he could get a 2 way deal. He needs to learn to reign it in some before he can be a regular leaf.

Mikheyev- never bad and never very good.

 

[Legion34]

I can see Gabriel being a fan favourite. But man. I think I am actually a better skater than him. He looks like he was wearing bowling shoes and has a fridge on his back

 

[Wafflewhipper]

that’s good for him. I don’t really care where he plays as long as it’s not on the leafs, which it won’t be. If another nhl club wants to waste a roster spot on an ahl player that is their prerogative

Also I said nothing about Ryan Reaves, but if we want to go there, he’s a better player than Gabriel and I still think he sucks.

He should be kept around as long as he can play within the system good defensively. He’s going to get games

 

[SoftDumpNtheCorner88]

Gabriel should be the 13th forward. Should play the rivalry games and against the heavier teams like Montreal/Boston/Tampa/Washington/Islanders/Rangers.

He'll bring some much-needed emotion and intensity in those type of games.

He can sit out all other games if need be for a more finness forward

I didn't mind him... But he's got to work on that gas tank... He was absolutely exhausted 30-40sec into his shift the whole might. He will be a liability everytime at the end of his shifts.. but he is what he is.

 

[keonsbitterness]

I see Gabriel and Bunting becoming fan favourites instantly. Gabriel will get a regular 4th line shift.

I'll be surprised if Gabriel gets more than 15 games.

 

[meefer]

Funny but they have the same amount of goals in the NHL.

I’ll accept that as being true, no reason not to, but - and again, with no stats in front of me - but I would think Marner has played substantially more minutes than Nylander over their careers? Last year alone Mitch was on the ice for about 5 min more/game? I think PK accounts for about half of those minutes, but Marner’s PP and ES would both be above Willy’s numbers. Previous season’s would not see as stark a difference. I’m not anti-Mitch, but I’d suggest the reason they are tied has something to do with the amount of time they’re on the ice.

 

[francis246]

Nylander looked in mid season form offensively, but I'm not sure I like the idea he has asked for more TOI/g and perhaps getting it via the PK.

We have grunts that can kill penalties and Leafs stars should be kept fresh for ES and PP time.

It be pretty easy to pull back line #1 a few minutes and up line #2 with Nylander and JT. IMO

i disagree. He's a possession player and that's always good on the PK. he's also one of the best at taking the puck away.

There's this weird narrative about Nylander being just an offensive guy, but he is pretty solid defensively

 

[Community]

i disagree. He's a possession player and that's always good on the PK. he's also one of the best at taking the puck away.

There's this weird narrative about Nylander being just an offensive guy, but he is pretty solid defensively

When they started their careers, I thought that Marner was a try-hard on the defensive side of play while Nylander was usually well positioned defensively. Nylander definitely didn't use his body or try hard enough at times, but he is a smart player on offense and defense.

What always stuck out to me was how Nylander would nearly always get the puck when there was a board battle and he was the 3rd man in because of his positioning while other players battled for the puck. As long as he keeps up his effort defensively, he's definitely not a liability.

 

[Sypher04]

He should be kept around as long as he can play within the system good defensively. He’s going to get games

he can’t “play” at all if he can’t skate worth a damn. He has no business taking an nhl shift

 

[JayfromNB1219]

that’s good for him. I don’t really care where he plays as long as it’s not on the leafs, which it won’t be. If another nhl club wants to waste a roster spot on an ahl player that is their prerogative

Also I said nothing about Ryan Reaves, but if we want to go there, he’s a better player than Gabriel and I still think he sucks.

Gabriel is here for a very specific role and im sure he knows it...take a deep breath...he will have spot duty here and there and aside from that he's someone to think about before running our stars...its really simple and I don't really understand how you are missing this lol

 

[diehardleafsfan9878]

The reason Nylander hasn't been viewed as a good defensive player is because of the whole double flamingo fiasco in his first season.

 

[paulhiggins]

If he can be used like the Flyers' Bob Kelly I would be happy.

 

[justashadowof]

Seeing Gabriel skate in an actual game I can only conclude that he must be great at fighting.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Seeing Gabriel skate in an actual game I can only conclude that he must be great at fighting.

He actually sucks at fighting. He's just very willing to fight

 

[justashadowof]

If he can be used like the Flyers' Bob Kelly I would be happy.

Go watch one of those classic games from the 1970's. Every goon on that mid-1970's Flyers' team was a far better skater than Gabriel. He reminded me of Dan Maloney.

 

[TopChedder]

OH BOY

Reading the expectations of Caufield on the Habs board is PURE entertainment lol

Some even saying he is a better shooter goal scorer than Matthews LMFAO

Luckily many smart Hab fans shoot that down as it's ridiculous.

 

[justashadowof]

that’s good for him. I don’t really care where he plays as long as it’s not on the leafs, which it won’t be. If another nhl club wants to waste a roster spot on an ahl player that is their prerogative

Also I said nothing about Ryan Reaves, but if we want to go there, he’s a better player than Gabriel and I still think he sucks.

I like some toughness on the team but it would be a travesty if a serviceable forward were lost to waivers to keep a player who is obviously is a liability on the 4th line matched only against 4th liners.

P.S. How much better than Gabriel was (is) Kyle Clifford? Remember, we couldn't afford to pay Clifford a modest salary like $1M.

 

[justashadowof]

The truth probably is that Gabriel was given that guaranteed NHL money so that he could be waived down to the AHL and called up whenever needed even as a threat to be dressed.

 

[Martin Skoula]

When they started their careers, I thought that Marner was a try-hard on the defensive side of play while Nylander was usually well positioned defensively. Nylander definitely didn't use his body or try hard enough at times, but he is a smart player on offense and defense.

What always stuck out to me was how Nylander would nearly always get the puck when there was a board battle and he was the 3rd man in because of his positioning while other players battled for the puck. As long as he keeps up his effort defensively, he's definitely not a liability.

Not to mention that he keeps it simple in the offensive zone instead of trying to make the highlight reel play every time, goes a long way to not having to play defense nearly as often.

I'd say he's better defensively but I understand why people disagree. At the very least he's for sure much more efficient at managing the puck and making it move in the right direction.

 

[peconcan]

Nylander looked real good hope he keeps it going all year could see 80 points if he keeps playing like that

 

[Sypher04]

Gabriel is here for a very specific role and im sure he knows it...take a deep breath...he will have spot duty here and there and aside from that he's someone to think about before running our stars...its really simple and I don't really understand how you are missing this lol

not missing anything. I don’t have a problem with Gabriel, but our cap situation dictates we cannot carry much depth and I don’t see him as an effective use of that cap. It would be a huge mistake to waive far better players and lose them to keep him

 

[LeafsOHLRangers98]

Nylander looked real good hope he keeps it going all year could see 80 points if he keeps playing like that

The fancy stats suggest that he is a bit of puck luck (for he and his linemates) away from a Kucherov/Mackinnon type of breakout season.

While I certainly don't expect that level especially if his minutes do not increase, I agree approaching a PPG is not out of the question for him.