Skilled team vs leafs right now?

[stickty111]

We have been worse as a team since we tried to add grit/size to the team. Simmonds, Foligno last season, Thornton etc...
This team was a lot better when they were mainly skilled.

Click to read more...

 

[wingman75]

I don't know if we were truly a better team, more fun to watch maybe, but we for sure have zero consistency to our game... like none. Unless we are going with the consistently inconsistent thing?

 

[All Mod Cons]

Yep. Since the day T.J. Brodie signed, we've gotten worse.

 

[hotpaws]

adding cooked players regardless of the type doesn't improve a team

problem is outside of Knives Dubas has drafted nothing but smurfs so is forced to try to trade/sign his grittier players and when you can only afford league min guys this is what you get

 

[SeaOfBlue]

We have been worse as a team since we tried to add grit/size to the team. Simmonds, Foligno last season, Thornton etc...
This team was a lot better when they were mainly skilled.

Adding grit/size is not the issue.

It is adding guys who don't have enough skill to be in the lineup if they didn't have the size/grit, or sacrificing skill for the sake of grit.

For example, if Coleman and Goodrow were not "physical" players, they'd still be very good players. The physical element helps elevate their game, but they would find ways to impact the game even if the physical element wasn't used. They are skilled players too. They were better players than the physical players they replaced in Tampa's lineup (Adam Erne and Ryan Callahan namely). Even Pat Maroon, who is probably the least skilled grit they have, is still good enough to play on the 2PP. Simmonds has lost that role because we've found better players.

Thornton, Foligno, Simmonds are effectively useless when they don't use their size. That is the problem. No amount of grit/size will make up for a lack of skill and the inability to take a regular shift. The kind of grit guys you need to target are the ones who work hard and have enough skill to make their grit useful. Blackwell works in that way. Knies. Hyman. Bunting. Joey Anderson. Or heck even Curtis Douglas may be able to be that guy at some point.

Effectively, it is time for Simmonds to be relegated to the extra forward role permanently. Clifford should never take another shift for this team. And Spezza should get one more cheap contract so he can get to 1000 points, but it may be time for him for him to be on the outside as well. It is time we start relying on guys with energy AND skill... And can reliably play 12 minutes on any given night.

 

[Knies iT]

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

I'm having a hard time finding the grit adds. That Bunting guy must be sinking us.

 

[Dreakmur]

Adding grit/size is not the issue.

It is adding guys who don't have enough skill to be in the lineup if they didn't have the size/grit, or sacrificing skill for the sake of grit.

For example, if Coleman and Goodrow were not "physical" players, they'd still be very good players. The physical element helps elevate their game, but they would find ways to impact the game even if the physical element wasn't used. They are skilled players too. They were better players than the physical players they replaced in Tampa's lineup (Adam Erne and Ryan Callahan namely). Even Pat Maroon, who is probably the least skilled grit they have, is still good enough to play on the 2PP. Simmonds has lost that role because we've found better players.

Thornton, Foligno, Simmonds are effectively useless when they don't use their size. That is the problem. No amount of grit/size will make up for a lack of skill and the inability to take a regular shift. The kind of grit guys you need to target are the ones who work hard and have enough skill to make their grit useful. Blackwell works in that way. Knies. Hyman. Bunting. Joey Anderson. Or heck even Curtis Douglas may be able to be that guy at some point.

Effectively, it is time for Simmonds to be relegated to the extra forward role permanently. Clifford should never take another shift for this team. And Spezza should get one more cheap contract so he can get to 1000 points, but it may be time for him for him to be on the outside as well. It is time we start relying on guys with energy AND skill... And can reliably play 12 minutes on any given night.

We have lost skill because we committed too much cap space to a few players.

 

[Stephen]

Grit and physicality are a joy to watch when it’s in support of high skill. Foligno gave us like one healthy game where he hit everything in his debut and it was great. The rest of it, not so much. Simmonds seems cooked and unable to play the role. Clifford should be in retirement home. When Muzzin is still able to throw around his body it’s very effective. But he always breaks down with injuries and now has run into concussion issues.

What is the lesson of all of this? Grit and physical players probably need to be younger and healthier so they can handle the workload. Winter tires are great but not when the tread is worn down.

 

[Shooter2x]

Leafs v Canes begs to differ. Play like that in the playoffs and we can finally go on a run (yeah yeah goaltending)

What I mean is grit is being associated with goon adds when it shouldn't be. The entire team needs to have that edge. They showed what they're capable of if they don't play soft. So the additions have nothing to do with the team when it's flat and not playing well.

 

[57 Years No Cup]

We have been worse as a team since we tried to add grit/size to the team. Simmonds, Foligno last season, Thornton etc...
This team was a lot better when they were mainly skilled.

Why yes.... those playoff successes speak for themselves!

 

[stickty111]

Adding grit/size is not the issue.

It is adding guys who don't have enough skill to be in the lineup if they didn't have the size/grit, or sacrificing skill for the sake of grit.

For example, if Coleman and Goodrow were not "physical" players, they'd still be very good players. The physical element helps elevate their game, but they would find ways to impact the game even if the physical element wasn't used. They are skilled players too. They were better players than the physical players they replaced in Tampa's lineup (Adam Erne and Ryan Callahan namely). Even Pat Maroon, who is probably the least skilled grit they have, is still good enough to play on the 2PP. Simmonds has lost that role because we've found better players.

Thornton, Foligno, Simmonds are effectively useless when they don't use their size. That is the problem. No amount of grit/size will make up for a lack of skill and the inability to take a regular shift. The kind of grit guys you need to target are the ones who work hard and have enough skill to make their grit useful. Blackwell works in that way. Knies. Hyman. Bunting. Joey Anderson. Or heck even Curtis Douglas may be able to be that guy at some point.

Effectively, it is time for Simmonds to be relegated to the extra forward role permanently. Clifford should never take another shift for this team. And Spezza should get one more cheap contract so he can get to 1000 points, but it may be time for him for him to be on the outside as well. It is time we start relying on guys with energy AND skill... And can reliably play 12 minutes on any given night.

Obviously grit isn't the issue. It's adding guys who are gritty and offer nothing else. If you don't have talent, grit doesn't matter. Skill comes before grit everytime.

 

[Jozay]

Dubas has a thing for keeping washed players around.

 

[Buds17]

Can't say I'm ready to outright agree at this point in time. The possibility of sinking to the level of wild card team obviously wouldn't sit well with me though.

 

[stickty111]

Dubas has a thing for keeping washed players around.

Is it even his decision to get these guys? There were rumors Shanny was more hands on last year and we saw the result.

 

[Jozay]

Is it even his decision to get these guys? There were rumors Shanny was more hands on last year and we saw the result.

He's the GM, so ill assume its him until proven otherwise

 

[stickty111]

He's the GM, so ill assume its him until proven otherwise

Maybe but Shanny has a hand.

 

[JSn0w93]

Adding grit/size is not the issue.

It is adding guys who don't have enough skill to be in the lineup if they didn't have the size/grit, or sacrificing skill for the sake of grit.

For example, if Coleman and Goodrow were not "physical" players, they'd still be very good players. The physical element helps elevate their game, but they would find ways to impact the game even if the physical element wasn't used. They are skilled players too. They were better players than the physical players they replaced in Tampa's lineup (Adam Erne and Ryan Callahan namely). Even Pat Maroon, who is probably the least skilled grit they have, is still good enough to play on the 2PP. Simmonds has lost that role because we've found better players.

Thornton, Foligno, Simmonds are effectively useless when they don't use their size. That is the problem. No amount of grit/size will make up for a lack of skill and the inability to take a regular shift. The kind of grit guys you need to target are the ones who work hard and have enough skill to make their grit useful. Blackwell works in that way. Knies. Hyman. Bunting. Joey Anderson. Or heck even Curtis Douglas may be able to be that guy at some point.

Effectively, it is time for Simmonds to be relegated to the extra forward role permanently. Clifford should never take another shift for this team. And Spezza should get one more cheap contract so he can get to 1000 points, but it may be time for him for him to be on the outside as well. It is time we start relying on guys with energy AND skill... And can reliably play 12 minutes on any given night.

Agreed, and hopefully we already have some of those guys in the system in Douglas, Anderson, Steeves etc.

 

[All Mod Cons]

He's the GM, so ill assume its him until proven otherwise

Absolutely. Kyle has free reign. It's his decisions. This is not another thing that cannot be put on him.

 

[Nineteen67]

Mainly skilled? When was that?

 

[PromisedLand]

lets get all the Petans and Malgins that will lead us to the cup

and when opposition plays physical we can cry to the refs like small babies because then it will workout

 

[Nineteen67]

Why don’t the “skilled guys” just add a little grit?
The other night I watched a skilled guy stop and pick up his mouth guard that fell to the ice.

 

[All Mod Cons]

Seems like we're getting better and better with this new found grit and toughness. A big congrats to Dubas for making this happen.

 

[ACC1224]

Seems like we're getting better and better with this new found grit and toughness. A big congrats to Dubas for making this happen.

 

[Advanced stats]

What the heck is this thread.

We're on pace to absolutely demolish the single season points record for the franchise, a franchise that has lasted over 100 years.

We're 7-3 in our last 10, often starting a 3rd string goalie, and missing half our defense.

This team is better than ever before, and more importantly, as well built as its ever been for a playoff run.

 

[justloveleafs]

What the heck is this thread.

We're on pace to absolutely demolish the single season points record for the franchise, a franchise that has lasted over 100 years.

We're 7-3 in our last 10, often starting a 3rd string goalie, and missing half our defense.

This team is better than ever before, and more importantly, as well built as its ever been for a playoff run.