Sheldon Keefe Discussion

[Dave92]

This team plays with no discernable system most of the game.

If you play Matty 25 min and stick him with Thornton most of that time you're being an idiot. If it was Babcock the Twitter nerds would be losing their minds about it.

 

[Stephen]

This team plays with no discernable system most of the game.

If you play Matty 25 min and stick him with Thornton most of that time you're being an idiot. If it was Babcock the Twitter nerds would be losing their minds about it.

There's not a strong tactical reason why Joe Thornton is out there other than to create interesting storylines for media consumption. We are fans and don't spend very much time on the ice with these athletes but I wonder what Keefe is looking at when he's working these combos out in practice? We've seen some of Matthews best work, and it's with Hyman and Nylander. Which leads one to believe he needs a winger who can dig and play the power-ish game while the other winger is a guy who can lug the puck and also be a secondary scoring threat. Thornton doesn't do the Hyman thing and his playmaking is redundant with Marner out there.

 

[Clark4Ever]

Keefe is not afraid to shake things up, so hopefully he'll do the right thing with our lines starting tomorrow night.

 

[Menzinger]

Its definitely a team that could use a training camp to get warmed up.

Think I'd like to see him drop Thornton down to the 3rd line for Hyman. Think both lines would benefit.

Won't give him too much grief about not pulling Andersen, because that would create a media circus so early on in the season

 

[Racer88]

Keefe is as lost as Dubas is

 

[Pookie]

For fun.

last year Babcock 2-0-0 GF 9 GA 4

this year Keefe 1-1-0 GF 8 GA 9

 

[The Beyonder]

There's not a strong tactical reason why Joe Thornton is out there other than to create interesting storylines for media consumption. We are fans and don't spend very much time on the ice with these athletes but I wonder what Keefe is looking at when he's working these combos out in practice? We've seen some of Matthews best work, and it's with Hyman and Nylander. Which leads one to believe he needs a winger who can dig and play the power-ish game while the other winger is a guy who can lug the puck and also be a secondary scoring threat. Thornton doesn't do the Hyman thing and his playmaking is redundant with Marner out there.

It makes no sense to me. Joe doesn't compliment them. Honestly, I'd revert back to Hyman-Matthews-Nylander and have Marner join JT again. Marner and Matthews look like they're trying to earn style points. If he's going to keep Marner and Matthews together then at least get them back with Hyman and tell them to shoot a little more

 

[Stephen]

It makes no sense to me. Joe doesn't compliment them. Honestly, I'd revert back to Hyman-Matthews-Nylander and have Marner join JT again. Marner and Matthews look like they're trying to earn style points. If he's going to keep Marner and Matthews together then at least get them back with Hyman and tell them to shoot a little more

When Matthews and Marner are together you get the sense they just want to Harlem Globetrotter the league, while the league wants to knock them down a peg or two in return. I just want to come up with a top six combo where our lines are more focused on taking the puck to the net as quickly as possible and in a straight a line as possible and leave all the perimeter play nonsense alone.

Also doesn't help when Morgan Rielly doesn't have his head on straight and is creating as much chaos as everyone else out there. He's really not the QB field general you need back there to organize the attack and distribute the puck.

 

[Dave92]

Keefe is not afraid to shake things up, so hopefully he'll do the right thing with our lines starting tomorrow night.

Like his big brain 34 million dollar line that was shut down in game 5. Besides Hyman the only other option is going back to Nylander Matthews.

 

[TheShape]

I get Marleau vibes with this Thornton stuff. Difference is Marleau could at least play the 1st season he was here. Joe is redundant with Spezza in the lineup, it's one or the other.

Season is too short to be throwing games away experimenting like this. Ice your best players.

 

[shaner8989]

Making some pathetic lineup decisions as well as in game management
Playing bogo agains after that putrid game 1 is disgraceful coahing.
Making Robertson sit again after half the forward we’re utter trash.
Spezza and Thornton on the ice in the last minute? f*** off man.

 

[Dreakmur]

Like his big brain 34 million dollar line that was shut down in game 5. Besides Hyman the only other option is going back to Nylander Matthews.

Marner just can't get over the Matthews inferiority complex. It started last year, with the big eye rolls and arm raises when Matthews shot instead of passing, and now he's decided that he's a scorer now.

Nylander deserves to play with Matthews. Hyman creates loos pucks for those two.

Marner goes back with Tavares.... and I'd give Simmonds a shot there.

 

[stickty111]

Keefe overall makes the right choices, but right now lines are odd.
Thornton should be in the bottom 6 plus 2nd PP. Get Vesey out of the top 6. Stack the PP. Get Robertson in as well.

 

[darrylsittler27]

What's our record in all games under Keefe? I thought we were lucky to win against Montreal. We seem to think we can spot any team a lead and then comeback.

 

[Erndog]

For fun.

last year Babcock 2-0-0 GF 9 GA 4

this year Keefe 1-1-0 GF 8 GA 9

I like how nobody took the bait on this nonsensical, utterly stupid, useless post.

 

[James19]

Marner just can't get over the Matthews inferiority complex. It started last year, with the big eye rolls and arm raises when Matthews shot instead of passing, and now he's decided that he's a scorer now.

What? Eye rolls and arm raises? Is this a joke? You found clips of Marner rolling his eyes on the ice? Give me a break.

I don't like them together, especially with Thornton on the wing, but this is Game 2 and these storylines are a little ridiculous given the fact that we're 1-1. We don't look good so far, no argument there, but give them some time, jesus.

 

[Stephen]

Keefe's real claim to fame is he's a coach who is willing to press all the buttons and pull on all the levers the internet wants (and Babcock refused to) as well as generating line combos that generate media friendly storylines.

But other than that, I don't see a discernible structure he's put in or improved the energy levels. Last year he came in as a player friendly breath of fresh air, this year he's trying to be a harder coach, so he's got no identity either. So if it's not tactics, and not motivation, I don't know what he's cooking up.

 

[Faltorvo]

Marner just can't get over the Matthews inferiority complex. It started last year, with the big eye rolls and arm raises when Matthews shot instead of passing, and now he's decided that he's a scorer now.

Nylander deserves to play with Matthews. Hyman creates loos pucks for those two.

Marner goes back with Tavares.... and I'd give Simmonds a shot there.

Tavares leads the league with 5 points

but you want to break up his line

 

[Dreakmur]

Keefe overall makes the right choices, but right now lines are odd.
Thornton should be in the bottom 6 plus 2nd PP. Get Vesey out of the top 6. Stack the PP. Get Robertson in as well.

Yep, Thornton should be 4rd line.

Yep, Vesey should be on the 3rd line.

Hyman and Simmonds have been really effective in the slot on the PP. Not sure I want to go back to the all skill perimeter unit.

Who does Robertson replace? Barabanov, Vesey, Spezza, and Thornton have probably been the weakest forwards.

 

[Critical13]

Yep, Thornton should be 4rd line.

Yep, Vesey should be on the 3rd line.

Hyman and Simmonds have been really effective in the slot on the PP. Not sure I want to go back to the all skill perimeter unit.

Who does Robertson replace? Barabanov, Vesey, Spezza, and Thornton have probably been the weakest forwards.

Statistically, Spezza and Barbanov have been by far the weakest forwards.

Robertson is a big upgrade on either and adds some scoring potential to the bottom 6.

I’m not 100% sold that Spezza will be a regular 2 months from now.

I think Joe has looked pretty good, though.

Tavares leads the league with 5 points

but you want to break up his line

Agreed - easily our best line despite playing far less than our top line so far.

 

[Leafs at Knight]

Someone tell me what Robertson replacing Barbarnov for 4 minutes a game does please. Robertson should be in the top 9. Spezza, Simmonds, and Thornton shouldn't be playing every game, especially giving Thornton 19 minutes a game.

 

[TMLAM34]

Dubas and Keefe are starting to realize this is the NHL, not the OHL or AHL.

It’s only two games in so I’m not ready to panic just yet but man do I ever feel bad for Matthews...

 

[Leaf Fans]

Dubas and Keefe are starting to realize this is the NHL, not the OHL or AHL.

It’s only two games in so I’m not ready to panic just yet but man do I ever feel bad for Matthews...

They have known that for a long time.

 

[Dreakmur]

Tavares leads the league with 5 points

but you want to break up his line

Is our goal to have leading scorers or to win hockey games?

 

[FraumBallard]

Making some pathetic lineup decisions as well as in game management
Playing bogo agains after that putrid game 1 is disgraceful coahing.
Making Robertson sit again after half the forward we’re utter trash.
Spezza and Thornton on the ice in the last minute? f*** off man.

Okay.
How bout Brodie.
Far worse game x 2 than Bogo.
Can we sit him too?