Training Camp continued

[zeke]

7 hits in his 2nd pre-season game last night. What i've liked from McMann is he clearly knows his role and the style he needs to adopt to make this team. That's something I think Anderson has struggled with in his showings. Lack of identity.



Malgin, Holmberg, Steeves, Robertson, and McMann all deserve extended looks. Hard calls.

For everyone that misses Marchment this guy sure seems to be the next potential version of him.

 

[fahad203]

I would agree up until the last season. I thought Spezza really took a step back in the 2nd half of last year.

Our 4th line was pretty unplayable.

Will be amazing to have ZAR-Kampf-NAK taking 4th line shifts this year.

I loved Spezza as the next person. But that 4th line wasn't down his ally. He simply doesn't have the legs to play 4th line. It doesn't help that he constantly has to play with Simmonds who has no hands or legs, or Clifford who at times didn't have brains

Spezza's time was against Montreal and that year. We wasted that year not only for Spezza but also for few others.

But it was time to move on. Same with Simmonds. It's time we move on from players who only has nothing but their names left

 

[GrizzGreen]

Has Douglas looked bad? Haven't been following very closely

 

[zeke]

lmao the pairing that f'ing Babcock wouldn't let us have, because he hated Dubas.

Has Douglas looked bad? Haven't been following very closely

only played in one game, and actually wasn't bad. had a nice scoring chance.

he's not going to win a spot on the team tho.

 

[LeafSteel]

Has Douglas looked bad? Haven't been following very closely

He's only gotten into 1 game that I can tell in pre-season.

I think he will be one of the 1st cuts and sent to the Marlies to work on his skating and overall game.

Still very enthusiastic about him, and the potential that he has for us, but I think at this point the staff are focusing on the multiple decisions that they are going to have to make regarding our opening day roster.

Douglas is one of the easier decisions to be made here for them and will have a big part to play on the Marlies this season.

 

[zeke]

A reminder:

Muzzin-Rielly in 18-19: 58.8xgf%, 65.2gf%

but Babs hated Dubas and wanted to play Zaitsev and Hainsey more than Gardiner and Dermott.

 

[Fogelhund]

If Muzzin - Rielly works, I'd like our D even more since I still think Gio is a top 4 D.

Muzzin - Rielly
Gio - Brodie
Sandin - Liljegren

I’d prefer to see

Gio - Lilj
Sandin - Brodie

For good stretches. More for the experienced guys to mentor and teach the young guys than anything. It certainly is feasible to mix it up as well, but I think it’s important for young D to have an experienced guy to guide them.

 

[zeke]

Muzzin-Rielly career as a Pairing: 60.3xgf%, 63.5gf%

 

[SprDaVE]

If Muzzin - Rielly works, I'd like our D even more since I still think Gio is a top 4 D.

Muzzin - Rielly
Gio - Brodie
Sandin - Liljegren

Those are the ultimate pairings. Muzzin and Rielly were great together last year. You can maybe switch Giordano and Sandin for whatever purpose but in terms of minutes and healthy, this is it.

 

[zeke]

I'm just as good with

Muzzin-Brodie
Gio-Rielly
Sandin-Lilly

to be honest.

But either set up is very good.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Has Douglas looked bad? Haven't been following very closely

He is not ready .. he can't skate at NHL pace .. for a really big man his stride is really short .. kinda surprising

 

[zeke]

 

[DarkKnight]

Keefe has been coach for two and a half years, lmao at the Babs stuff. I think he’s had a chance to play them together if he chose. Weird where this stuff goes.

I‘m intrigued by the idea.

 

[ACC1224]

Keefe has been coach for two and a half years, lmao at the Babs stuff. I think he’s had a chance to play them together if he chose. Weird where this stuff goes.

I‘m intrigued by the idea.

It always comes down to Lou or Babs. The bad men have left town but their destruction lives on.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Benn news is okay but Holy Christ six months for Dahlstrom is terrible.

 

[ACC1224]

Benn news is okay but Holy Christ six months for Dahlstrom is terrible.

Wow, what happened to him?

 

[uncleben]

Benn news is okay but Holy Christ six months for Dahlstrom is terrible.

Games played leader for nhlers without a goal
He'll likely lose the title, but unfortunately won't break the ostrich egg

 

[SprDaVE]

That's tough news for the Marlies. Dahlstrom was pretty good for them. A decent depth option gone for the season pretty much.

 

[zeke]

Keefe has been coach for two and a half years, lmao at the Babs stuff. I think he’s had a chance to play them together if he chose. Weird where this stuff goes.

I‘m intrigued by the idea.

Keefe had no need to play them together or move Rielly over to the right side.

Muzzin-Holl worked great together as the matchup pair and he had Barrie/Ceci and then Brodie to play beside Mo.

Now with Gio, Sandin, and Lilly here there's a good reason to get Gio up into the top-4 and move Rielly over.

 

[GrizzGreen]

only played in one game, and actually wasn't bad. had a nice scoring chance.

he's not going to win a spot on the team tho.

He's only gotten into 1 game that I can tell in pre-season.

I think he will be one of the 1st cuts and sent to the Marlies to work on his skating and overall game.

Still very enthusiastic about him, and the potential that he has for us, but I think at this point the staff are focusing on the multiple decisions that they are going to have to make regarding our opening day roster.

Douglas is one of the easier decisions to be made here for them and will have a big part to play on the Marlies this season.

He is not ready .. he can't skate at NHL pace .. for a really big man his stride is really short .. kinda surprising

Thank you for the replies. Let's hope his skating improves, he's still fairly young and 6' 8" forwards aren't common. Leafs need the grit for sure, but not at the cost of having a player in the lineup that's a detriment when they're on the ice.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Damn tough for Ben and Dahlstrom

Will give Kral and Kokkonen opportunities if there are further injuries

Mete’s next in line

Wonder if there are any tweener vets that would be a good pickup in free agency.

 

[paulhiggins]

If we keep losing players at that rate in the pre-season, we might have to double-shift our forwards and defence once the season starts! Sure hope Sandin has been working out on his own...would hate to see him go down after just signing. No wonder they're dressing mostly bubble players against Ottawa tonight.

 

[TMLeafer]

Brutal news for Dahlstrom.

 

[stickty111]

Benn isn't big but Dahlstrom hurts for the Marlies and potential depth. Good guy to have and now he's out for the season potentially.
More chances for younger guys though

 

[Mess]

A reminder:

Muzzin-Rielly in 18-19: 58.8xgf%, 65.2gf%

but Babs hated Dubas and wanted to play Zaitsev and Hainsey more than Gardiner and Dermott.

Most coaches understand a player that shots LEFT like Rielly and Muzzin do are better on their strong side LHD and prefer their natural positions.

That is why you see Reilly as the top pairing LHD and then Muzzin the 2nd pairing LHD putting your 2 best Dman on separate pairing in their strongest positions, spread across 2 D pairings.

How often has anyone seen Morgan Rielly play right defense?

In 2018-19 season saw Leafs Morgan Rielly (LHD) -- paired with Ron Hainsey as a pairing that saw Morgan put up career best numbers (82 games 20 goals 52 assists 72 points ( 3rd best) & +24 +/- ) while Hainsey's +30 +/- (tied for 6th best overall) .. Clearly this pairing needs to be broken up having that much success together.

Muzzin only arrived at the TD for the last 30 games of the season so the first 52 games of the season that wouldn't even have been an option as a coach can't play a player not on his own team.