GDT: Sunday Jan 29: Caps at Leafs I 5PM

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Oh good, Simmonds again. The idea that he provides any kind of leadership or spark to the team should have gone out the window after their completely lifeless showing against Montreal, and the fact that they've lost more games than they've won with him in the lineup. He adds nothing, and they insist on letting him take a spot away from someone who may actually contribute.

It's also annoying to see Kerfoot as a top 6 center. That's an even bigger issue and shows a real flaw with how the team is built. You can't be one injury away from Kerfoot/Holmberg as a top 6 center and expect to go deep in the playoffs

 

[Burnie97]

Just get the W and get going again. They played really stupid the other night.

It's one thing when they get beat by a team playing well... its another when they shoot their own foot. Poor d coverage, effort level was okay but needs to be a way higher tempo.

They need to kill the crappy teams and they never seem to. After the Bruins they play 5 games that should be all Ws. That should show a lot about how serious they are. Have to have that killer instinct.

They have had a great season but stop it with this bullshit losing to crap teams.

 

[Apex Predator]

The Leafs are so strange this year. Lose to teams like Arizona, Montreal , Ottawa. Beat teams like Boston , Winnipeg, Washington??

The Caps have a few vets back in the lineup but this is a winnable game. Need JT , Rielly and some of the role players to step it up. Marner and Nylander can't do everything.

They’ve been doing that for a few years now. This isn’t just a this year thing

 

[Knies iT]

I like giving Anderson that 3rd line look. He needs a final extended look.

It’s been good to see Keefe filter through Marlie depth to see what we have: Malgin/Robertson, Holmberg/SDA, Anderson/Mcmann. Hopefully Steeves is next.

Haven’t loved McMann as much as others. His game has deviated a bit from pre-season. Like his strength on the puck and straight line speed, but he either needs to produce something or win the ZAR role and finish harder/more consistently on the forecheck like he did in camp. At 26 he needs to understand that role fast.

 

[Dekes For Days]

is this because mcmann has played 8 games already and they don’t want to go past 9?

Why would 9 games matter? He's 26.

 

[bax]

Why would 9 games matter? He's 26.

I don’t know that’s why I was asking. So he can play as many games as the leafs want at his age and it doesn’t affect contracts or anything? How the contracts work is something I don’t understand I just thought the 9 game elc rule might have applied to him.

 

[Dekes For Days]

I don’t know that’s why I was asking. So he can play as many games as the leafs want at his age and it doesn’t affect contracts or anything? How the contracts work is something I don’t understand I just thought the 9 game elc rule might have applied to him.

The 9 game thing is if a player is younger than 20, they lose an ELC year if they play more than 9 NHL games.
McMann is 26, signed for this year and next, and then is a UFA, so the only concern we'd have with him is waivers, but I believe he's waivers exempt this year and waivers eligible next year regardless of how much he plays.

 

[bax]

The 9 game thing is if a player is younger than 20, they lose an ELC year if they play more than 9 NHL games.
McMann is signed for this year and next, and then is a UFA, so the only concern we'd have with him is waivers, but I believe he's waivers exempt this year and waivers eligible next year regardless of how much he plays.

Ok thanks!

 

[123offtheglass]

Simmonds would make sense if Wilson was playing but he's not so...

 

[Darcy Tucker]

Simmonds would make sense if Wilson was playing but he's not so...

I can't lie I've always been a fan of Simmonds and like his game but he has fallen off a cliff this year. I will be watching him close this game and hoping he can lay some hits and cause some turnovers. He needs to play better , I think he can give more.

 

[hamzarocks]

Man we need to upgrade kerfoot, Engvall, ZAR in the bottom 6

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

A Sunday game at 5pm during the NFL playoffs should be illegal

At least it's 5pm and not completely overlapping either game. The only other game today has the same start time so that must have been the logic behind it. Sneak it up the middle.

 

[Canadian Finn]

Believe it or not but some believe the Leafs were the better team Friday

we have a special fanbase.

 

[Niagara Bill]

It’s probably more that he’s a popular teammate and his inclusion can hopefully give the team a bit of a spark. I doubt you’d find any players not happy he’s dressing.
I’d agree that there are better options so I’m betting it’s something along those lines.

Simmonds isn't necessarily popular in any room who wants to win. The good players want teammates who can help. Not ones who hinder.
If they want Simmons around that tells you why they don't win. They would rather lose with him than win without him??? That may be true since they all tap Reillys shin pads everytjme he gets caught up ice and we give up a goal. "Tough luck Mo".

 

[Teeder Keon]

we have a special fanbase.

 

[Larcos_Unal]

Tell me more about that forward depth when we have offensive black hole Kerfoot as our 2nd line center.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

Caps expected lines if you're intersted. Wilson is out as are Dowd and Carlson (the latter two are on IR). Kuemper should be in net.

 

[hamzarocks]

Caps expected lines if you're intersted. Wilson is out as are Dowd and Carlson (the latter two are on IR). Kuemper should be in net.

has backstrom been poor since returning? Why is he on line 3 and not playing with OV or on line 2?

Strome has chemistry with OV?

 

[LeafChief]

is this because mcmann has played 8 games already and they don’t want to go past 9? Assuming he plays against Boston to see how he does if that’s the case.

McMann is far too old for that rule to apply. McMann is actually the same age as Nylander.

Caps expected lines if you're intersted. Wilson is out as are Dowd and Carlson (the latter two are on IR). Kuemper should be in net.

Didn't Wilson recently come back from a long injury? Is it the same issue or something new? I absolutely love the way Wilson plays (I know some will disagree).

 

[Teeder Keon]

Tell me more about that forward depth when we have offensive black hole Kerfoot as our 2nd line center.

Awesome

 

[Martin Skoula]

Oh good, Simmonds again. The idea that he provides any kind of leadership or spark to the team should have gone out the window after their completely lifeless showing against Montreal, and the fact that they've lost more games than they've won with him in the lineup. He adds nothing, and they insist on letting him take a spot away from someone who may actually contribute.

It's also annoying to see Kerfoot as a top 6 center. That's an even bigger issue and shows a real flaw with how the team is built. You can't be one injury away from Kerfoot/Holmberg as a top 6 center and expect to go deep in the playoffs

Every other contender is in the same situation or worse lol. The Avs have Compher at 2C when healthy, Newhook if they get 1 injury. Bruins have Coyle at 2C if one of their 35+ Cs need a game off, Dallas has to pick between Johnston Glendening or risking putting a broken Seguin back at C. Tampa is probably in the best situation where they can move Stamkos back to C or move Paul up.

 

[Suntouchable13]

They need at least two points in the two games before the break. Tampa is on break now and will have to play four more games than the Leafs, afterwards.

If they get four points, does a seven point cushion alter Tampa‘s outlook on the two seed?

You do want to get to the playoffs hot, I get that, but I don't think home ice matters that much. I am not looking at that at all.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

has backstrom been poor since returning? Why is he on line 3 and not playing with OV or on line 2?

Strome has chemistry with OV?

Backstrom hasn't been poor but Ovi and Strome have really good together. Ovi-Strome-Sheary has been a very effective line for some odd reason. Strome has been terrific and it's not hyperbole to say he's been one of their three or four most valuable players for them. They got Strome, Milano, and Gustafsson for peanuts and the three of them have been among the Caps best players all season.

Backstrom and Ovechkin are too slow to play together any more. And having Backstrom on the third line, in theory, gives the Caps more depth and better matchups. The Caps are a team built on depth as their big-name guys aren't the talents they used to be, expect for Ovi who is a mutant.

Didn't Wilson recently come back from a long injury? Is it the same issue or something new? I absolutely love the way Wilson plays (I know some will disagree).

He tore his ACL during his first shift in the Florida series. He came back on January 8th and played in eight games before leaving due to injury after blocking a shot against Colorado. The shot seemed to hit him high on his ankle so it's a different injury than the knee injury. He was seen at practice yesterday walking with a limp and of course with hockey you never get good injury reports so we're hoping it's a bone bruise or something similar and not something worse. He's a huge part of the team and likely their future captain, and everyone in DC loves the way he plays too.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Every other contender is in the same situation or worse lol. The Avs have Compher at 2C when healthy, Newhook if they get 1 injury. Bruins have Coyle at 2C if one of their 35+ Cs need a game off, Dallas has to pick between Johnston Glendening or risking putting a broken Seguin back at C. Tampa is probably in the best situation where they can move Stamkos back to C or move Paul up.

Colorado aren't really playing like contenders this year. They're average at best unless they can get healthy and catch fire. Boston is freakishly good everywhere else to the point where their 2C doesn't really matter.

Since Tampa is our opponent in round 1, that's the matchup that really matters and they appear much deeper at forward which is a big reason they won last year. It's not a lost cause or anything, but the Leafs need to add a strong forward at the deadline

 

[leafsfan5]

You do want to get to the playoffs hot, I get that, but I don't think home ice matters that much. I am not looking at that at all.

Toronto is 19-4-4 at home and Tampa is 20-4-1

Last playoffs, this was Matthews home stat line: 4 games - 3 goals - 4 assists - 7 points
Matthews away stat line: 3 games - 1 goal - 1 assist - 2 points

I do think making sure the team is fully healthy is likely the 1st priority, but home ice matters. Especially when Cooper will be looking to line match Cirelli on Matthews