Post-Game Talk: Rangers 6 Leafs 3

[Michael HOMERUNing]

The main difference is that Shesterkin is a legitimate Vezina candidate and will battle for it all season. I love Campbell quite a bit, but he's no Shesterkin... not even close.

It's been a combination of god awful defensive coverage, horrible giveaways like the one Liljegren had that caused the Rangers to tie the game. Another example is Biega allowing Reaves to be alone in front of the net to score the Rangers first one.

It's also been a combination of poor goaltending from Campbell. He's never played more than 31 games in a season his entire career. He's 30 years old and barely has over 100 games played in his entire career. His numbers have always been pretty good though, but he's not Shesterkin level.

I'm a huge fan of his, but fans shouldn't expect too much from Campbell. He's never been a starting goaltender his entire career, he's not used to playing this many games in a short span.

As much as I can't stand Mrazek, hated the signing from day one and think he's been absolute garbage, they need to play him some. Else he's just a huge waste of cap space.

Toronto has an elite group of forwards, decent top two D, decent goaltender in Campbell, but they have pretty average to sub-par defense the rest of the way.

I'm a fan of Sandin and Liljegren, but they are not ready for the top 4, not even close.

When the Leafs had to utilize a 33 year old in Biega as defensive depth due to injury and protocol, that shows me how deep their defensive core really is. It's not pretty to say the least.

Agree with pretty much everything except for your take on Mrazek. I think that if he had been healthy the entire narrative around that signing would be different

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

Young isn't the excuse. Fowler and Lindholm were young when they entered NHL, please don't take it for granted.
Simply put, they're not good enough.

Actually, Sandin has been very good this year.

 

[IrishInOntario]

So how to we move Ritchie and Holl's contracts at the deadline so we can add a top 4 defenseman, and a two way forward that actually contributes...

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Addition-Tavares-Nylander
Mikheyev-Kerfoot-Kase
Engvall-Kampf-Spezza
Simmonds

Reilly / Brodie
Muzzin / Addition
Sandin / Liljegren
Dermott

How can we please get to something that resembles that?

 

[BigGulpsEh]

I'm not blaming the defense for this one, this is 100% on Jack, I don't know What's happened to him but lately he's allowing AT LEAST 1 bad goal every night

Tonight that was the 2nd goal

Jack wasn't good but defensive coverage was beyond atrocious.

 

[stickty111]

Young isn't the excuse. Fowler and Lindholm were young when they entered NHL, please don't take it for granted.
Simply put, they're not good enough.

I agree. I think if they play well on Saturday, they are guaranteed stars in the league. Am I doing this right?

 

[keonsbitterness]

Matthews absolutely robbed of an NHL record.

Pathetic by the league.

If that was Crosby or Ovechkin, the league would have confirmed that goal so fast it would make your head spin.

Your evaluation fails to recognize context something something something.

 

[stickty111]

Bound for a bad game. Lets respond now

 

[2 Slick]

Agree with pretty much everything except for your take on Mrazek. I think that if he had been healthy the entire narrative around that signing would be different

I've not been fair about him this season because of my bias towards him, that part I can admit. There's absolutely no way I can really know how he'd fair if he hadn't been injured. I hope he does get a chance to play some games and turn it around. He clearly knows how to play, but Keefe continues to overplay Campbell because of how good he was prior to his last four games at least.

Campbell gets a pass from me though. He's never played more than 31 games in a season and has been asked to carry the load with defensive coverage from the likes of Justin Holl, Jake Muzzin, Dermott at times and lately, Biega and even Liljegren hasn't been good lately.

I think Campbell is much better than his previous 4 games, but he does get a pass from me because I don't think it's fair to give him the blame. I did some in the game day thread because emotions sometimes get the better of me and I yap about insert, "Name here" sucks or, "Name here" is trash. The Leafs can make you talk garbage sometimes by how much they can frustrate you. lol

 

[IrishInOntario]

Good lesson about Muzzin is difficult to replace

If only they'd give him the proper upgrade for a partner so he doesn't have to carry the paring.

There are about 8 guys out there that you could pair with Muzzin and solidify that pairing significantly.

 

[DcW]

That’s a good look to what the Leafs will see in the playoffs. I just don’t see this team holding up in these kind of games

 

[Kiwi]

Young isn't the excuse. Fowler and Lindholm were young when they entered NHL, please don't take it for granted.
Simply put, they're not good enough.

They are still young and developing

Most young defensive players don't just arrive on the scene top 4 finished products, in fact that's the exception not the norm

We haven't been prepared to understand that fact so we don't develop our guys properly or trade them to early

 

[Atomos2]

This team and leads…might as well be down by 3 goals to start with. When other teams start looking for goals, this team folds like a f***ing lawn chair.

Keefe needs to wake them up, this storyline is slowly becoming predictable every damn game.

 

[IrishInOntario]

Bound for a bad game. Lets respond now

It's been a badly played road trip in general, but were due for that as well. I'm actually glad we're seeing it right now because it should Dubas the motivation he needs to upgrade this team heading into the playoffs, because another first round exit will likely (and should) cost him his job.

 

[TakeTheBody]

Matthews absolutely robbed of an NHL record.

Pathetic by the league.

If that was Crosby or Ovechkin, the league would have confirmed that goal so fast it would make your head spin.

Please, it was the right call. Personally I think the rule should be changed but written the way it is he kicked it in.
It wasn't why the Leafs lost. Haven't played in awhile, probably a little tired. Injuries, plenty of reasons/excuses. Suck it up, bring on Saturday.

 

[meefer]

You aren't going to win them all

We've played some good teams on the road, it's always going to be tough sledding but we are keeping our head above water and our schedule will get easier

I also chuckle when I read people complaining about young defenseman making mistakes as they are pushed up the lineup because of injuries

They are young, you have to live with some growing pains and mistakes so they can become experienced defenders who become top 4 staples

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

 

[Michael HOMERUNing]

So how to we move Ritchie and Holl's contracts at the deadline so we can add a top 4 defenseman, and a two way forward that actually contributes...

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Addition-Tavares-Nylander
Mikheyev-Kerfoot-Kase
Engvall-Kampf-Spezza
Simmonds

Reilly / Brodie
Muzzin / Addition
Sandin / Liljegren
Dermott

How can we please get to something that resembles that?

Playing Kerfoot at 3C would be going backwards but I agree that they could use someone else at LW. Kampf has held it down with Mikheyev, Kase, Engvall, and whoever else they’ve put there. No need to change that up.

If Kase or Nylander could play LW, I would do those two with Tavares and run the same 3rd line that was out there tonight

 

[Dekes For Days]

Your evaluation fails to recognize context something something something.

There's no context that justifies that horrible call. In fact, the context of how it's previously been called in similar situations makes it look infinitely worse.

 

[IrishInOntario]

This team and leads…might as well be down by 3 goals to start with. When other teams start looking for goals, this team folds like a f***ing lawn chair.

Keefe needs to wake them up, this storyline is slowly becoming predictable every damn game.

When you play a run and gun style and don't have the adjustment capability to play any differently, sometimes you blow the opponent out, but you're also going to give up some high danger stuff the other way. As soon as Campbell is less than Vezina caliber, the blown leads and losses are bound to pile up.

 

[keonsbitterness]

There's no context that justifies that horrible call. In fact, the context of how it's previously been called in similar situations makes it look infinitely worse.

~ whoosh! ~

 

[Havoc]

They are still young and developing

Most young defensive players don't just arrive on the scene top 4 finished products, in fact that's the exception not the norm

We haven't been prepared to understand that fact so we don't develop our guys properly or trade them to early

Yeah they need more games. Even if they looked like norris candidates tonight and we won 5-1, you still can't trust it. Gotta keep playing them and see if they can continue to get better / adapt and learn from mistakes.

I'd give them another chance after letting them think about this loss and what they could have done differently.

My initial conclusion though, which I doubt will change, is they're not ready for second pairing this year no matter how many games you give them. However, the experience will help make their bottom pairing game even better for the playoffs when they're sent back down the depth chart.

 

[binop7]

That’s a good look to what the Leafs will see in the playoffs. I just don’t see this team holding up in these kind of games

This is my growing concern as well. The team looks good, but they have a tendency to completely fold in games like this. I still gotta think we win 1 round at least.

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

We need to clone Brodie.

 

[IrishInOntario]

Playing Kerfoot at 3C would be going backwards but I agree that they could use someone else at LW. Kampf has held it down with Mikheyev, Kase, Engvall, and whoever else they’ve put there. No need to change that up.

If Kase or Nylander could play LW, I would do those two with Tavares and run the same 3rd line that was out there tonight

Kerfoot is the only forward in the top 6 that I want to upgrade, but I also have a hard time slotting hin into the bottom 6 without moving Kampf down. I think Kerfoot is a player you want on your playoff roster, I just want a big, physical power forward in the top 6.

 

[Dekes For Days]

~ whoosh! ~

Oh, I understand perfectly the inaccurate point you were attempting to make.

 

[keonsbitterness]

Oh, I understand perfectly the inaccurate point you were attempting to make.

I don't think you do.