No. Where do you pick up these buzz phrases like "objectively wrong"? You have a very subjective view of Muzzin, Spezza, and Mikheyev. I think you're guilty of seeing these players as seasonal statistics. They are real people. They are not judged on how well they did in your Fantasy league. They are judged on their careers. If Nylander, Matthews, and Marner were gone it would be significant. They had significant contributions. They are not gone though. I'm speaking about the players who had a significant impact in their time as Leafs. I'm not talking about Vancouver and I'm not talking about Fantasy Hockey.
It's objectively wrong and misguided, you've been told by quite a few people that's the case.
"Significant impact" is pretty funny... no bottom six player has a "significant impact", which is why they are bottom six players.
Our record is 4-3, mostly because of Matthews, Muzzin and Rielly. If Matthews was shooting at his normal 16.2%, instead of 3%, and Rielly hadn't completely forgotten how to play defense, or perhaps had healthy peak Muzzin taking those difficult minutes, we'd be 6-1, and the sky is falling folks would be back hiding under their bridges, until we lost a game. But Muzzin, Rielly and Matthews issues for the team has been discussed in every thread. Mik and Spezza, is just funny.
After seven games last year, we were 2-4-1. This year we are 4-3. I mean, we've played like trash, but our record is BETTER than last years at the same time. Funny enough, Spezza had three goals in those first seven games, and our record was terrible during those games... and then he scored nine more over the rest of the 68 games, and one assist in the playoffs, as his play basically cratered.
Robertson has had more positive impact in his three games so far, than Spezza and Mik had combined in the first seven games last year...
Yes, the team has some problems, that are worthy of discussion... Mik and Spezza aren't it.
If you need some discussion points, here is a primer.
1. What the hell is wrong with Matthews? He doesn't look great, his shot is poor, and his faceoff prowess has dropped. Shooting 3%, when his career is 16.2%
2. What the hell is wrong with Rielly? His defensive play has been horrible. He's been on the ice for more 5v5 goals, than 10 teams have let in this season. It's atrocious.
3. Is Muzzin coming back,, will he be useful, and if not, how do we replace him?
4. Which of our dozen potential bottom six actually wants to be on our team in the NHL? Kerfoot, Kampf, Jarnkrok have been ok, but Engvall, Malgin, NAK, ZAR, Clifford, Simmonds haven't shown enough... plus the Marlies guys. Let's face it, most of these bottom six guys who have played for us at the NHL level have sucked this year too.... I mean Simmonds had that beauty pass... which would be great if he could do that more than once every twenty games... but...
But imagine, we are two wins up on our pace last year, and we have such easily identifiable problematic talking points, where a few tweaks and our team could be pretty good. Yet you've gotta reach for imaginary issues?
