Pre-Game Talk: Toronto @ New Jersey

[Nhlpowerweek]

This is where that whole "playing with pride" thing comes in.

We've played teams that iced practically AHL teams show up and play us hard. We still have 3 of our top players, and one of the players missing was someone we didn't even have on our team 2 weeks ago.

To lose is fine, NJ is a damn good team and I think will win their 1st round series, but frigging show up and give them Hell. Don't just whimper and roll over.

Personally I hope Liljegren plays lights out and makes Keefe look a donkey because, well, you know, he is......

Twerk them thangs and thug hard, and pull they noses 'til they hold onto they're butts, amiright @Nhlpowerweek ?

Go Leafs Go!

You is exactly right milord and shall be seeing a majestic level game tonight sisire. Even the nose might show something spectacular in tonight's game cause our other centeros is missing in action like Chuck norris.

 

[DarkKnight]

Reading this thread you'd think Toronto lost 5 first rounds.

And a qualifying round to Columbus.

 

[Isaac Nootin]

Maybe Boudreau will coach for us? I can't believe Keefe said that publically

Boudreau is terrible. There's a reason Washington won the minute he was let go. Zero defensive structure, and essentially let's the inmates run the asylum.

 

[horner]

How long is JT out ?

 

[saltming]

Oh for sure we should ice the best. That's what i feel is the whole idea( aside from being necessitated by injury) behind the different looks. If Keefe stumbles upon a pairing or line that clicks even if on paper 1 or more of the players doesn't seem worthy of a spot or particular role, fine. We'd still be icing the most effective version of our team even if it doesn't match the depth chart.

I agree with that but I haven't seen a single thing that says Holl is better that liljegren, so why is he benching him?
Is it possible that Holl gels better with a new partner? Maybe, but he wasn't paired with maccabe or Schenn, so that logic goes out the window.
That said I do like Holl but I feel liljegren has passed him and I want the best team out there, so if anyone has some advanced stats that say Holl is better defensively that Timmy, please post it and I will shut up hahaha

 

[Leaf Fans]

This team deserves the benefit of the doubt. Their playoff history proves it.

True, but our recent playoff history hasn't suggested any benefits of doubt.

 

[saltming]

Boudreau is terrible. There's a reason Washington won the minute he was let go. Zero defensive structure, and essentially let's the inmates run the asylum.

It was mostly tongue and cheek but I do think this team has good defensive structure and Boudreau might just add some fresh thinking to the group.
Mostly the post was just outrage at Keefe comments

 

[Ianturnedbull]

"All we are saying, is give Steeves a chanceeee"

 

[saltming]

How long is JT out ?

Expected to play Saturday

 

[ToneDog]

Boudreau is terrible. There's a reason Washington won the minute he was let go. Zero defensive structure, and essentially let's the inmates run the asylum.

In 5 years, Bruce was 201-88-40 .672 in regular season and 17-20 .459 in the playoffs. Oates and Hunter could not get it done after him. Trotz got them over the hump 3 seasons after Bruce was fired.

Bruce's numbers remind me of Keefe's number 154-67-27 .675 in regular season and 8-11 .429 in playoffs.

Having said that, I don't mind Bruce as an assistant but pass on him as head coach.

 

[Sypher04]

Here’s what I don’t really understand. Both keefe and Dubas I believe have mentioned 34 hasnt been healthy. So why when we acquired ROR and Acciari did we not take the opportunity to sit him. The only conclusion I can draw is that whatever is bothering him needs surgery and they don’t want to end his season with so much on the line. Or he wants to play through it and they are letting him

 

[AvroArrow]

This is so patently wrong. Those 6 1st rd loses will hang like a 50lb packback on the players (and coaches) come Game 1. Thinking otherwise is ludicrous. They are not robots and the consequences are very real.

I think that's the biggest reason we added ROR/Schenn, cup winners

 

[hamzarocks]

Boudreau is terrible. There's a reason Washington won the minute he was let go. Zero defensive structure, and essentially let's the inmates run the asylum.

Uh the caps let BB go in 2011 and then won the cup in 2018

They had Hunter, Oats, and Trotz as the three coaches during that time frame

I do think hes too offensviely focused and does not have enough of a defensive structure but hes gotten good results in a lot of places

The caps, ducks all had some good teams and ducks madw the WCF i believe with BB

 

[Captain Crunch]

Agreed but should we not be experimenting with mixing in the new guys with our top players?
Shouldn't we ice the best of us and mix in the best of the new?

And shouldn’t we be mixing them in with linemates they play the whole game with? Still cannot figure out why Keefe was playing with 11 Fs and 7 D.

 

[TorMapleJays]

Why would you think it's ownership when Keefe has consistently over played Holl?

Mlse doesn't get in the way of stuff, this is just over thinking from a GM and coach that have been over thinking for 3 years

Larry says hi

 

[Racer88]

Reading this thread you'd think Toronto lost 5 first rounds.

5 first rounds and a play in round

7 if we go back to 2013

But seriously who gives a f*** lol, none of those have any impact on this year

When it is 6 in a row for the same core it absolutely matters and certainty impact this year

 

[saltming]

And shouldn’t we be mixing them in with linemates they play the whole game with? Still cannot figure out why Keefe was playing with 11 Fs and 7 D.

Yup. I have no idea what's going on in his mind.

 

[rojac]

It was mostly tongue and cheek but I do think this team has good defensive structure and Boudreau might just add some fresh thinking to the group.
Mostly the post was just outrage at Keefe comments

The phrase is "tongue in cheek" not "tongue and cheek".

 

[saltming]

The phrase is "tongue in cheek" not "tongue and cheek".

Sadly I know that hahaha

 

[horner]

Expected to play Saturday

Ok thanks

 

[LeafEgo]

Rielly - Liljegren
McCabe - Brodie
Giordano - Holl

Not sure what the confusion or rush was to get the new guys (Schenn and Gustafsson) into the lineup as this should be our regular defensive group.

Schenn and Gustafsson are akward acquisitions on the personal side of things in that they've both been plucked from their teams while having career years, playing full time, and in their contract years - Schenn leads the league in hits.

With our depth at least one will be sidelined, and could be both - example above. Potentially a momentum/development killer with financial impacts.