Sportsnet: Steve Valiquette on the Leafs going into the trade deadline. (Kyper Podcast).

[Ianturnedbull]

There's a lot here. Some constructive, some damaging, some advice, and some good news about our goaltending. Many good analytical points with context. He even goes old school and talks plus/minus.

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Some good quotes:

"Toronto has 1 playoff win in 8 years - I like to start off with this tone: do you have a number 1 D? Do you have 2 centers? Do you have a starting goalie? Well they don't need a starting goalie. They have the top 2 goalies in adjusted save percentage. And the top 2 most consistent goalies in the league."

Re: primary scoring chances from centermen in the league, primary passes that lead to scoring chances, and secondary passes:

"Offensively John Tavares is 43rd in the NHL"

Plus/Minus

Colorado when they won the cup: top 2 centers are a +32

Florida last year: Barkov, Bennett, and Lundell +35 (Barkov/Bennett +21)

Vegas when they won the cup: +26 among their top 2 centers.

Toronto right now: Matthews +9, and Tavares +2. (+11)

"They are not in the same neighborhood to where nhl Stanley Cup centermen have been."

"I think Toronto needs help there. They need primary assists and playmaking ability from the center position. I know he's injured now, but Sean Monahan fits analytically. Dillon Cozens is not at the level of Tavares, but Kadri is over him and so is Brayden Schenn. Schenn, Kadri, Monahan is a yes from me. John could be a 2A with a 2B. Somebody to share the load with a little bit."

Re: Primary assists 5vs5:

"Right now Tavares is 6th on the team."

"TOR needs more girth down the middle"

"Last year's playoffs was the same as the others: untimely goals against, and not enough scoring."

Click to read more...

 

[1specter]

Pretty much what the sentiment on this board is. Team is another middle six center, top 4 mobile D and another good top 9 winger away from being a real contender. Low expectations for these playoffs, likely a first or second round exit again and then hopefully can retool with some cap space in the summer, though they will probably blow it all on Marner anyways

 

[ACC1224]

Who is Steve Valiquette?

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Who is Steve Valiquette?

A question like that is from a person that doesn't care to know the answer.

 

[ACC1224]

A question like that is from a person that doesn't care to know the answer.

Sounds like something you’d read in a fortune cookie.
If you don’t know who he is you weren’t obligated to answer

 

[bax]

Who is Steve Valiquette?

He's a former goalie who played some games with the Rangers. He's a regular on the radio here. Works as an analyst and might do some goalie work too if I remember correctly.

 

[Stephen]

If Matthews isn’t giving you a foundational franchise level center performance and forcing the Leafs to go out and get a Tavares equivalent or slightly better or worse center to backfill 3C that just gives you a measure of how far off this team is this year. If the big gun isn’t at the level he’s supposed to be you’re going to throw a lot of assets to chase a long shot.

 

[ACC1224]

He's a former goalie who played some games with the Rangers. He's a regular on the radio here. Works as an analyst and might do some goalie work too if I remember correctly.

Thanks, thought I recognized the name but couldn’t place from where.
I don’t listen to the radio.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Thanks, thought I recognized the name but couldn’t place from where.
I don’t listen to the radio.

You lost your Google too.

If Matthews isn’t giving you a foundational franchise level center performance and forcing the Leafs to go out and get a Tavares equivalent or slightly better or worse center to backfill 3C that just gives you a measure of how far off this team is this year. If the big gun isn’t at the level he’s supposed to be you’re going to throw a lot of assets to chase a long shot.

I see your point, but with OEL/Tanev and solid goaltending they must be thinking: go for it. How many cracks at this does Shanny get?

 

[kevsh]

They've never been good enough and this year is no different. The team that wins is almost always one of the top 2-3 teams in the league and the Leafs have never been that. Too many holes in the lineup to be a top team and this year, though much closer, still not there yet (the bottom 6 needs at least 2 significant upgrades).

Dubas' philosophy for years was to compensate his inability to bring in the help needed (primarily due to lack of cap space thanks to the Big 4's contracts) by trying to plug those holes at the TDL and no surprise that it didn't work.

Thankfully, Treliving didn't follow that trend last year - perhaps recognizing this team wasn't close enough to give up their dwindling asset pool - so we'll see if continues.

My only hope is that Shanny doesn't pressure him to do something foolish in the misguided belief that a few pick-ups will get this team over the hump; It won't.

 

[ACC1224]

You lost your Google too.

Your struggle is real. We’re all here for you during this difficult time.

 

[Stephen]

I see your point, but with OEL/Tanev and solid goaltending they must be thinking: go for it. How many cracks at this does Shanny get?

I just don't want to over-invest in this group knowing assets have to be paid to compensate for Auston Matthews massive under-delivery this year. If he has a big 4 Nations, comes back and is just consistently destroying the opposition with dominant play and health, okay I can be persuaded to get him some back up. But if he's dragging, inconsistent, up and down, low motivation, hints of health issues, I'm not blowing out all remaining futures to chase a long shot.

 

[Anthrax442]

I though this was Jeffler

 

[ULF_55]

If Matthews isn’t giving you a foundational franchise level center performance and forcing the Leafs to go out and get a Tavares equivalent or slightly better or worse center to backfill 3C that just gives you a measure of how far off this team is this year. If the big gun isn’t at the level he’s supposed to be you’re going to throw a lot of assets to chase a long shot.

Yep, they need another 2nd. line center.
Been my target all along, part of it is succession planning.

Even if Matthews isn't one of the Top Playoffs centers, their number 2 guy Tavares is 33rd.
Okay, while Matthews is one of the Top Playoff centers, he is keeping company with non-elite centers.
One would think he'd be pushing the top players in the game for chest thumping rights.
To me it indicates he doesn't have the support other centers do.

Leafs need more out of Tavares, or another center.

NHL Stats

The official source for NHL Stats including skaters, goalies, teams stats and more.

www.nhl.com

 

[Evilhomer]

"TOR needs more girth down the middle"

I could use some more girth.

 

[Phion Keneuf]

I though this was Jeffler

You and me both lol

 

[Commander Clueless]

Right so all we need for a chance at the cup is a #1D, and a top notch center.



....great yeah no problem.....

 

[Bomber0104]

A good third line centre is what the team needs more than anything else.

Kadri, Cozens, Schenn…

All great candidates at the deadline.

 

[Leafs87]

I think we’re so far off from a Stanley Cup team that id rather sit this one out and retool in the summer. We don’t need rentals, we need long term solutions. We arguably went all in the ROR/Schenn/McCabe year and that barely got us to round 2 after trading 2 first rounders (one still hasn’t even been used yet).

 

[I am Canadian]

This team needs massive performances out of Nylander, Matthews, Marner, and Stolarz/Woll to win a cup. A middle 6 center isn't going to change sh** in my opinion.

 

[JL17]

He's a former goalie who played some games with the Rangers. He's a regular on the radio here. Works as an analyst and might do some goalie work too if I remember correctly.

He owns an analytics based company as well.

 

[Smif]

Yep, they need another 2nd. line center.
Been my target all along, part of it is succession planning.

Even if Matthews isn't one of the Top Playoffs centers, their number 2 guy Tavares is 33rd.
Okay, while Matthews is one of the Top Playoff centers, he is keeping company with non-elite centers.
One would think he'd be pushing the top players in the game for chest thumping rights.
To me it indicates he doesn't have the support other centers do.

Leafs need more out of Tavares, or another center.

NHL Stats

The official source for NHL Stats including skaters, goalies, teams stats and more.

www.nhl.com

View attachment 976353

You're passing the buck on the 13M man. He had the same support last year and put up a franchise level performance. This year he's bringing everyone he plays with down. He's the problem imo, he needs to be fixed.

 

[al secord]

I know a Jack Valiquette.