hobarth
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The Past Returns?
- Thread starter hobarth
- Start date
whew that'll be tough. Now explain how teams will handle Tavares/Nylander and Matthews/Marner on a consistent basis.
If we lose because we can't handle playing against Kassian and Lucic I think we have MUCH bigger problems than we think.
That's like saying teams won't be able to handle us because we have Bogosian and Simmonds...
If we lose because we can't handle playing against Kassian and Lucic I think we have MUCH bigger problems than we think.
That's like saying teams won't be able to handle us because we have Bogosian and Simmonds...
They'll be fine. You've named at most two players on each team that we have to look out for - you could do that for every team in the NHL.
I suppose its possible that the other canadian teams have some resentment towards us for always being the most popular, so they could play us more physical. However, if anything, this will be a benefit to us. It will make us learn how to play against that and better prepare us for the playoffs (and yes, despite what the debbie downers on this forum like to say, we are almost a lock to make the playoffs this year).
I suppose its possible that the other canadian teams have some resentment towards us for always being the most popular, so they could play us more physical. However, if anything, this will be a benefit to us. It will make us learn how to play against that and better prepare us for the playoffs (and yes, despite what the debbie downers on this forum like to say, we are almost a lock to make the playoffs this year).
I really don't see this being a problem. And if anything I think the potentially increased intensity and physicality of the regular season might actually play into our favour, leaving us more prepared for it when the playoffs hit.
Also, minor note, I think it's been said Ferland is considering retirement.
Also, minor note, I think it's been said Ferland is considering retirement.
dangomon
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I also think 4th liners will be the difference in our division. I don't know how we'll do anything when those guys are on the ice for a whole 8-12 minutes each game.
A1LeafNation
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With the exception of the Tkachuk brothers, they are all 4th liners and injured alot.
Stephen
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Those are definitely the type of players you’d expect an opposing team to try and disrupt high end skill with, but I don’t see teams bringing a playoff style intensity to a 56 game sprint like in a 7 game series.
But in any case, when you’re talking about two very different types of teams facing off against one another, success is always determined by the team that can dictate the terms on which the game is played.
But in any case, when you’re talking about two very different types of teams facing off against one another, success is always determined by the team that can dictate the terms on which the game is played.
Avilaj07
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I don't think this will be an issue at all, if anything, I think it just might make our team that much better. The added toughness in Simmonds and Bogosian with Muzzin already I think will give this team a little swagger and knowing if things get tough, they'll be ready. I have no doubt you see Matthews play with more of an edge this year as well as Tavares. I think with the vets we added, you're going to see a desperation out of our young core that we've yet to see.
Jimmy Firecracker
Backcheck, Forecheck, Paycheque.
The only players I’d be concerned about in the same vein of what OP is going for is both Tkachuks and Josh Anderson, and Anderson has question marks regarding his health and what his level of production will be given how he struggled last season. Everyone else on that list is a typical fourth line goon or enforcer, and we’ve got that in Simmonds and Bogosian.
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hobarth
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I name just 2 players as outright possible thugs, TO has played playoff series against Boston/Washington recently and TO was pretty well out played physically in all series, TO hasn't rose to meet the physicality and may be exposed even more from the frequency they will be playing the other Canadian teams. Boston was more physical against TO due to size and a team wide willingness to play physical, not something TO appears to be willing to engage in.
Bogo and Simmonds are a beginning but they are basically proactive, players that are prone to initiating are generally more intimidating, IMO. Lucic, for example, isn't the scary presence he once was but I think when facing a basically non everyday physical team like TO his inclination towards physicality might be rebirthed.
I don't see any true physicality in TO's system and outside of Hyman and Muzzin TO's top 9 forwards and top 4 d-men are very physically averse.
rumman
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I think we’ll see if the Leafs can play the “western” style game, they’ve added physicality be it the long in the tooth variety, could go either way IMO?
justashadowof
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Dealing with this stuff will be a problem during the season because those type of forwards are always a pain in the neck. I'm not really sure that the Northern division will be all that more physical than the balance of the league. If anything I'm wondering if there are teams out West that can run and gun with the Leafs more than teams that can intimidate. The Leafs have had a strong record against these teams in recent seasons. I'd be more concerned that the Western teams are on the cusp of becoming more rounded teams than they've been. I don't think there much between the 5 teams of Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Toronto. They all have a realistic hope of winning the division IMO and each could easily miss the playoffs under the right circumstances.
stickty111
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Another useless thread that is looking to find any kind of negativity
stickty111
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stickty111
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The Iceman
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stickty111
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Very off. Aside from Tkachuk, none of those guys are top 6 players and will make a big impact. This seems like nit picking
why post in it if you find it useless, move along than, nothing wrong with the thread, like to look at all aspects of the game....
Bomber0104
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LeafsNation75
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I thought when Toronto played Boston in the 2019 playoffs they had more total hits in the seven games played?
Trunz05
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Ferland might retire and Roussel is more of an agitator than a tough guy. They’ve already handled tkachuk for a couple years and Watson is a 4th liner. Kassian can take silly penalties all he wants it’ll just keep mcdavid and drai off the ice lol. Lucic and Rinaldo are fourth liners that won’t be able to keep pace with anyone but jumbo and spezza. And Anderson has quite simply become one of the most overrated players on this board he’s not some prime lucic menace or Tom Wilson he’s a guy that can throw the body around like bogosian or simmonds or jumbo if he wants to or muzzin or Hyman or mikheyev. This idea that the leafs are soft as butter compared to these “heavys” is laughable mainboard nonsense.
If you’re listing Ferland as toughness, you haven’t been following the Canucks. He’s had very serious concussion issues, barely played last year, might not play at all this coming year. He’s out indefinitely to start the season.
Also, our toughness is decent now. Simmonds, Bogosian and Muzzin is a nice trio. And they’re supported by plenty of moderately physical players like Hyman, Mikheyev, Holl, Dermott, Vesey and Barbanov. Then guys like Matthews, Tavares, Thornton, Spezza, Rielly, etc. may not be hitters, but they’re big, strong dudes who are good at winning puck battles. The only guys on the team who can be pushed around a bit are Marner, Nylander, Kerfoot and Brodie, and these guys aren’t THAT soft, there’s no Gardiner, Kessel, Lombardi, Connolly, Wellwood, etc. types.
I think we have a bit below league-average toughness. It’s not a strength, we aren’t going to bully teams, but for the first year in quite some time, it’s no longer a major weakness. I’ll guess we end up with more hits than Vancouver or Calgary, but fewer than Winnipeg, Edmonton, Ottawa or Montreal.
Also, our toughness is decent now. Simmonds, Bogosian and Muzzin is a nice trio. And they’re supported by plenty of moderately physical players like Hyman, Mikheyev, Holl, Dermott, Vesey and Barbanov. Then guys like Matthews, Tavares, Thornton, Spezza, Rielly, etc. may not be hitters, but they’re big, strong dudes who are good at winning puck battles. The only guys on the team who can be pushed around a bit are Marner, Nylander, Kerfoot and Brodie, and these guys aren’t THAT soft, there’s no Gardiner, Kessel, Lombardi, Connolly, Wellwood, etc. types.
I think we have a bit below league-average toughness. It’s not a strength, we aren’t going to bully teams, but for the first year in quite some time, it’s no longer a major weakness. I’ll guess we end up with more hits than Vancouver or Calgary, but fewer than Winnipeg, Edmonton, Ottawa or Montreal.
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hobarth
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I believe you're right but I think it was the year before, I think having Johnnson and the like doing a lot of the hitting over Kuraly and Boston's larger forwards is more impactful.
