Toronto Maple Leafs are surprisingly underperforming

[AddyTheWrath]

Lol, Edmonton signed Jack Campbell for $25 million. Glass houses….stones. Yeah.

Edmonton is also 6-3-0, and has faced & beaten Calgary, St. Louis, Carolina, and Pittsburgh (Campbell with 2 of those wins). Leafs are 4-4-2 and have lost to San Jose, Anaheim, Arizona and Montreal.

Lol

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

Edmonton is also 6-3-0, and has faced & beaten Calgary, St. Louis, Carolina, and Pittsburgh (Campbell with 3 of those wins). Leafs are 4-4-2 and have lost to San Jose, Anaheim, Arizona and Montreal.

Lol

And they should have been anaheims 1st regulation win.

The leaf team is fragile.

 

[Divine]

That explains why they started Samsonov on Opening Night...

And they traded for a $4.7M back-up?

They must have a ton of cap space !

You can afford to pay your backup 4.7M when your starter makes 1.8M.

It was a battle, Samsonov is winning.

Samsonov has started more games than Murray last season, why would he automatically be the backup?

You're arguing everyone knew Murray would be injured, while simultaneously arguing he was the starter even though everyone knows he's going to be injured. It makes no sense.

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

Neither has Campbell. So where is the downgrade?

I must have dreamed him going 31-9-6 in 49 games last season...

You’re right. The issue is that signing Tavares to that contract inflated salaries for the RFAs.

That I agree with.

 

[Divine]

I must have dreamed him going 31-9-6 in 49 games last season...

He said min .915 save percentage.

Sure, if you want to move the goalposts... but then we can lower the games and have Samsonov fit the narrative if we're lowering the standards too. You wouldn't want that though, would you?

 

[Divine]

Edmonton is also 6-3-0, and has faced & beaten Calgary, St. Louis, Carolina, and Pittsburgh (Campbell with 3 of those wins). Leafs are 4-4-2 and have lost to San Jose, Anaheim, Arizona and Montreal.

Lol

Samsonov hasn't played any of the games you mentioned.

Murray played 1.
Kallgren played 3.

 

[Kamus]

He said min .915 save percentage.

Sure, if you want to move the goalposts... but then we can lower the games and have Samsonov fit the narrative if we're lowering the standards too. You wouldn't want that though, would you?

To be fair, Campbell does has a 915 career save percentage

 

[AddyTheWrath]

Samsonov hasn't played any of the games you mentioned.

Murray played 1.
Kallgren played 3.

I'm not comparing him to Samsonov. I'm just laughing at the notion that an Oilers fan commenting on the Leafs situation is throwing stones from a glass house.

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

You can afford to pay your backup 4.7M when your starter makes 1.8M.

It was a battle, Samsonov is winning.

Samsonov has started more games than Murray last season, why would he automatically be the backup?

You're arguing everyone knew Murray would be injured, while simultaneously arguing he was the starter even though everyone knows he's going to be injured. It makes no sense.

So the Leafs wanted to start a new thread by starting their backup on opening night?

And do you really need me to explain to you why Samsonov started more games than Murray last season?

And you would have me believe that they really were counting on Murray being injured to get some cap space?

 

[Divine]

So the Leafs wanted to start a new thread by starting their backup on opening night?

And do you really need me to explain to you why Samsonov started more games than Murray last season?

And you would have me believe that they really were counting on Murray being injured to get some cap space?

You're not understanding.

The Leafs started the season on a back to back, Montreal was seen as the easier team than Washington. You could argue Murray starting means he's the backup as he got the team that finished 32nd last year instead of against a team that made the playoffs the year prior or that they wanted Samsonov against his former team? I don't know why you're anointing Murray the starter because he started the easier game of a back to back?

The Leafs signed 2 goalies who have started before, in the hopes that 1 of them would win that starter role. They agreed to split starts at the beginning of the season between the 2. After Game 1, Murray got injured and Samsonov has been playing well, and therefore has won the starter role (at least for now).

The Leafs didn't start the season naming a starter like you have. When you're alternating goalies, one has to start Game 1, but the Leafs clearly said they were alternating goalies before the season began.

No, I'm not saying the Leafs expected Murray to be injured, or Justin Woll for that matter. The Leafs expected Murray to either outplay Samsonov, or backup. Murray is not going to be gifted the starter role even if he's outplayed by Samsonov like you seem to be suggesting for some reason. Murray wasn't even the starter in Ottawa the last few seasons, why would the Leafs gift him that role? He could earn that role, but he hasn't yet.

 

[Andrewcoursol]

They'll turn it around and make the playoffs. But the underlying issues will remain and they won't win a thing

This team is coddled and soft. A terrible combination

Maybe the leafs end up doing what vegas did last season?

 

[waffledave]

Samsonov hasn't played any of the games you mentioned.

Murray played 1.
Kallgren played 3.

The whole team is playing like shit.

 

[Devils090]

Maybe shouldn’t have fired the big meanie coach and these players wouldn’t be charmin soft

 

[North Cole]

You can afford to pay your backup 4.7M when your starter makes 1.8M.

It was a battle, Samsonov is winning.

Samsonov has started more games than Murray last season, why would he automatically be the backup?

You're arguing everyone knew Murray would be injured, while simultaneously arguing he was the starter even though everyone knows he's going to be injured. It makes no sense.

What do you mean why would he be the backup? Aren't you the poster trying to tell us we play Campbell to justify the contract? Same logic applies here, Murray gets the opening night start because he was the 1A to Samsonov's 1B in order to "justify" the fact that he makes 4.7M and was the horse than Dubas bet on.

Having trouble following your logic; in the Campbell thread you are making fun of the Oilers for the 5x5 contract despite your argument above claiming a backup can make lots of money if the starter is cheap.... but Skinner is making 750K, much less than Samsonov... Right? Your justification was the fact that we need to resign Skinner next year and if he's better than Jack then we will need to pay him more and thus have two goalies at 10M...but Samsonov's contract is up this year too, so are you going to pay him more than 4.7?

It's a merry-go-round...

 

[dirtydanglez]

the leafs built their team like they were making a hockey pool.

 

[Divine]

What do you mean why would he be the backup? Aren't you the poster trying to tell us we play Campbell to justify the contract? Same logic applies here, Murray gets the opening night start because he was the 1A to Samsonov's 1B in order to "justify" the fact that he makes 4.7M.

I can't follow your logic, in the Campbell thread you are making fun of the Oilers for the 5x5 contract despite your argument above claiming a backup can make lots of money if the starter is cheap.... but Skinner is making 750K, much less than Samsonov... Right? Your defense was the fact that we need to resign Skinner next year and if he's better than Jack then we will need to pay him more and have two goalies at 10M...but Samsonov's contract is up this year too, so are you going to pay him more than 4.7?

It's a merry-go-round...

The Leafs started the season on a back to back against the team that finished 32nd last year and a playoff team. Why would they play the starter against the weaker team? Maybe Samsonov was their desired starter and they wanted him against the stronger perceived team, or maybe he requested the game against his former team that was happening the next night?

Secondly, the Leafs didn't sign Murray to that contract so why would they have to justify the contract? They got paid to take him. If they signed him to a 5 year, 25M contract, then yes, he'd be gifted the starting role to make the GM not look like a fool. Who signs a backup to a 5 year, 25M dollar contract?

Yes, the Leafs can afford to pay Samsonov over 4.7M, they got 1 year left on Murray's deal or they can LTIR him like Edmonton did to Smith. You're acting like the Leafs just signed Murray to a 5M x 5 year deal or something.

 

[StoveTopStauffer]

They are playing only slightly below average tbh...

 

[North Cole]

The Leafs started the season on a back to back against the team that finished 32nd last year and a playoff team. Why would they play the starter against the weaker team? Maybe Samsonov was their desired starter and they wanted him against the stronger perceived team, or maybe he requested the game against his former team that was happening the next night?

Secondly, the Leafs didn't sign Murray to that contract so why would they have to justify the contract? They got paid to take him. If they signed him to a 5 year, 25M contract, then yes, he'd be gifted the starting role to make the GM not look like a fool. Who signs a backup to a 5 year, 25M dollar contract?

Yes, the Leafs can afford to pay Samsonov over 4.7M, they got 1 year left on Murray's deal and they can LTIR him like Edmonton did to Smith. You're acting like the Leafs just signed Murray to a 5M x 5 year deal or something.

Because it's their historical division rival. No, whether they signed him or not is window dressing. He's one of the two that the team has staked their season on and he carries an unsightly cap hit. If you trade for the contract then it's on your books now, it's yours and your problem. The excuse actually going to be - Dorion signed this contract, not our fault! While ignoring the conscious effort it took to get the contract onto your team?

"They got paid to take him" as if the Leafs are Arizona and did it to collect 2nd and 3rd round picks, rather than a goalie to play games since all the other goalies passed them by lmfao. Imagine being a contending team and your big offseason trade to improve the team was, 'we got paid to take this player, but we don't actually want him to start despite making 2.5x the other guy and having an extra year on his contract'....

No, I'm acting like Dubas went out and made an effort to get this goalie and this contract on his team and now needs to actually use the asset that he has acquired, especially given the alternative is Woll or Kallgren who are even worse.

 

[Rama Llama Ding Dong]

Oilers fans here like they’ve never seen more excitement in their lives. hahahaha

You mean like second round excitement?

 

[Bizz]

Can't choke in the first round if you don't make the playoffs. *taps forehead*

 

[HofT]

I didn’t need your permission

Of course. And 50% of your posts being dedicated to a team you don't like will continue to be pathetic.

 

[Divine]

Because it's their historical division rival. No, whether they signed him or not is window dressing. He's one of the two that the team has staked their season on and he carries an unsightly cap hit. If you trade for the contract then it's on your books now, it's yours and your problem. The excuse actually going to be - Dorion signed this contract, not our fault! While ignoring the conscious effort it took to get the contract onto your team?

"They got paid to take him" as if the Leafs are Arizona and did it to collect 2nd and 3rd round picks, rather than a goalie to play games since all the other goalies passed them by lmfao. Imagine being a contending team and your big offseason trade to improve the team was, 'we got paid to take this player, but we don't actually want him to start despite making 2.5x the other guy and having an extra year on his contract'....

No, I'm acting like Dubas went out and made an effort to get this goalie and this contract on his team and now needs to actually use the asset that he has acquired, especially given the alternative is Woll or Kallgren who are even worse.

Wait, so you think the Leafs should have played Samsonov the first game against the team that finished 32nd in the league instead of the team that released him regardless of Samsonov's wishes to justify that Samsonov is the starter. THEN, and only then, would you accept that Murray is not given the starter role?

The Leafs made it clear all training camp that they're running a tandem and that the starting position is open. I'm not saying Murray was traded for as the backup or the starter. He was going to get the same opportunities as Samsonov. If Murray was putting up a .920 save percentage, and Samsonov was struggling, Murray would be starting. The position is open for any goalie who plays better. The Leafs bet one goalie would outperform the other, they didn't have to bet which one it would be.

Yeah, Dubas took a gamble on this goalie. He was fully expecting him to either outplay Samsonov or be the backup. Where did I dispute that?

I'm saying Murray was not given the starter position, and the Leafs don't have to justify a contract they didn't sign. They got paid to take Murray. They were optimistic, I'm sure, that he could regain his form or that Samsonov could fulfill his potential. If the season continues to trend the same way, Samsonov would be the starter and Murray would be the backup. If Murray comes back and puts up .950, then he'd be the starter? Both goalies will be UFA's in 2 years, so the Leafs have no dog in the race - make the best goalie win.

 

[KingAlfie11]

Every hockey fans knows that the Leafs are a flawed hockey team, they are badly construct, they have build their teams around 4 players Matthews, Marner, Tavares and Nylander all forwards bad mistake, you need to have a skilled back end to win. The Leafs have enough talent to make the playoffs but who knows what happens, Vegas missed the playoffs last year and they have a lot of talent on that team. But as a Sens fans the more chaos in Leafs nation the better

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

Of course. And 50% of your posts being dedicated to a team you don't like will continue to be pathetic.

Who said I didn’t like the leafs? They are my 2nd favorite team to follow

 

[JTToilinginToronto]

They have real bad goaltending.

How could anyone who knows hockey think a team with Murray, Samsonov and whatever the name of the third goalie is is a Cup contender? Leafs will be lucky to make the playoffs with a trio like that.