GDT: Training Camp Discussion PART II

[Stringer Bell]

This is sports, man. If you are this negative before the season even starts, why even bother being a fan? Where is the fun in being miserable?

Time to get over last year. It was awful, but we should be thankful that JT is back and that Muzzin recovered without issue. Lots of excitement around this team. The regular season still matters, its fun to watch and it sets good teams up for the playoffs.

The ups and downs is part of sports.

 

[ACC1224]

This is what we'll likely see on opening night, although I don't entirely agree with it:

Ritchie-Matthews-Marner
Mikheyev-Tavares-Nylander
Bunting-Kerfoot-Kase
Simmonds-Kampf-Spezza
Engvall

Rielly-Brodie
Muzzin-Holl
Sandin-Dermott
Liljegren

I think Liljegren plays instead of Sandin.
I see Sandin heading to the Marlies for a bit.

 

[WinnieThePooh]

It’s not just last season though, we’ve been through this too many times. Last season was just the cherry on top of a turd cake that broke a lot of people’s morale.

I’ll still watch the regular season but I’m not going to take anything away from it because the stars on this team disappear in April. All that really matters now is seeing what they do then and we’re still many months away from that. It’s ok to watch and I’m sure I’m going to enjoy some games but it’s gonna be tough to not feel like it’s all meaningless.

I guess that's a choice you make. Personally, I think it's a new year, and it's time to shrug the baggage of past failures off. Time to enjoy hockey again after two awful pandemic years. Lots to look forward to, lots of talent on this young team. I am going to love the regular season, as I really enjoy sitting down after work with my pup, having a beer, and watching the boys in blue rather than seething about something from 6 months ago or many years ago.

Low key psyched for crowds back in the building and a longer season!

 

[Stringer Bell]

It’s not just last season though, we’ve been through this too many times. Last season was just the cherry on top of a turd cake that broke a lot of people’s morale.

I’ll still watch the regular season but I’m not going to take anything away from it because the stars on this team disappear in April. All that really matters now is seeing what they do then and we’re still many months away from that. It’s ok to watch and I’m sure I’m going to enjoy some games but it’s gonna be tough to not feel like it’s all meaningless.

This is essentially how I feel, and maybe I didn't convey it adequately. For the first time in this new "era' it felt like we played playoff type or effort filled hockey for most of the regular season. But it meant nothing. So anything that is super positive like that, that may occur...will be nice to see. But...Montreal had a garbage regular season and killed it in the playoffs. Who knows? Not much to take away from it. Enjoy it...but draw conclusions from it? Nah.

 

[WinnieThePooh]

This is essentially how I feel, and maybe I didn't convey it adequately. For the first time in this new "era' it felt like we played playoff type or effort filled hockey for most of the regular season. But it meant nothing. So anything that is super positive like that, that may occur...will be nice to see. But...Montreal had a garbage regular season and killed it in the playoffs. Who knows? Not much to take away from it. Enjoy it...but draw conclusions from it? Nah.

I mean...Montreal didn't lose their captain and best player to freak injury 10 minutes in, and then went on to lose another heart and soul top player to an unlucky injury a handful of games in. That's bad luck, and it's not being a homer to recognize it impacted the series.

Most teams don't survive the playoffs after losing a Tavares calibre player, I doubt any make it through losing Tavares + their best defensive defenceman who logs tons of icetime.

Nothing is certain, even making the playoffs this season could be a war for all the teams in our division. If we play like we did last season (tighter checking) and our PP is anything but historically bad, I think we're in good shape. Need some injury luck, as all teams do.

 

[Burnie97]

This is what we'll likely see on opening night, although I don't entirely agree with it:

Ritchie-Matthews-Marner
Mikheyev-Tavares-Nylander
Bunting-Kerfoot-Kase
Simmonds-Kampf-Spezza
Engvall

Rielly-Brodie
Muzzin-Holl
Sandin-Dermott
Liljegren

I think that's about right. Also I don't agree with it entirely but it's still a pretty damn good lineup. Hopefully a couple surprises. I'd like to see Lilly and Brooks in there.

I don't think Mik should be that high in the lineup but I think it's just to see if he can produce there before deciding where to put him for good. Hopefully he proves me wrong. I do like him but not sure he can handle that role.

Engvall should be gone. I know some people here really like him. For me he has plenty of skill but 95 percent of the time in the offensive zone he's a deer caught in headlights. As soon as he hits the blue line he has no clue. I'd prefer someone else to be given a chance now... especially for what he makes. Too much for that type of player in a tight cap.

 

[zeke]

It’s not just last season though, we’ve been through this too many times. Last season was just the cherry on top of a turd cake that broke a lot of people’s morale.

I’ll still watch the regular season but I’m not going to take anything away from it because the stars on this team disappear in April. All that really matters now is seeing what they do then and we’re still many months away from that. It’s ok to watch and I’m sure I’m going to enjoy some games but it’s gonna be tough to not feel like it’s all meaningless.

For me, after decades watching a team that was never more than a longshot to win a cup, I am excited to start the year again with a team legitimately as talented as any the league.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

lol ok. Good talk

I reject your “reality” because it’s simply untrue. I don’t care or frankly believe all these claims you have of who you know or how much money spend on the Leafs. and I care even less how much more about hockey you think you know than me. Not a single thing you’ve presented qualifies your opinions as accurate or better than mine

Opinions are like noses everyone has one .. I am from Mimico and guys from there know we are all Marauders .. it was my only reality until i turned pro .. it was a scary life honestly never knowing who was going try to knife you or who wanted to show on that day who was da toughest .. guys like Shanny and I were big boys physically so we went almost daily .. by time i hit junior i had more broken noses and even one of first nose bone reconstructions in GTA .. got it blasted open bad in a jr a lacrosse game at mimico arena against six nations .. but life back then was not normal .. most our parents were from wrong side - cops, firemen and factory workers - back then unless you couldn't you got up and fought back .. that was best lesson I learned from living there and i think shanny would tell you same thing .. da goonery and staged fights are a thing of past thank god all they led to was countless concussions for all of us that we suffered .. i don't think i know more than anyone else .. in fact i know I don't .. i got lucky on a couple investments and took some serious risk which paid off very well for me .. guys like us usually end up in jail or dead .. it is kinda funny any of us goons ended up making it out and a few of us have done quite well like Shanny, Rammer, Bolly and even Clarkson .. we made it out with courage and guts and not knowing we couldn't do something when everyone told us we were going nowhere

 

[Coachcorner]

This is what we'll likely see on opening night, although I don't entirely agree with it:

Ritchie-Matthews-Marner
Mikheyev-Tavares-Nylander
Bunting-Kerfoot-Kase
Simmonds-Kampf-Spezza
Engvall

Rielly-Brodie
Muzzin-Holl
Sandin-Dermott
Liljegren

This might happen sire. Although it would be key and mui importantte to get Bunting's confidence going and up beside tavares and nylander right from the start and bond them hard. And to keep mikheyev's confidence down with Kerfoot and Kase. Lets see what they choose to do.

 

[TheGroceryStick]

I really want to like Liljgren... but sometimes you can tell he doesn't have NHL feet. Not that he's slow or anything.... he just doesn't have that next level ability at times.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

In your opinion, who needs to go...Shanny or Dubas? And, what do you see as the 'core problem'?

Both .. Shanny has tied his cart to Dubie .. Shanny will go down with ship it is his way .. gotta respect that stance .. he won't budge .. but last 5 years of Matty we were 4th Atlantic, 3rd Atlantic, 3rd Atlantic and 3rd Atlantic before da Canadian division weak year .. and faltered down stretch in every case leading to 5 1st round defeats .. that is reality .. people trying to use analytics to confuse things and create a new narrative .. I live in reality .. I wish it was different but facts are facts

 

[zeke]

I really want to like Liljgren... but sometimes you can tell he doesn't have NHL feet. Not that he's slow or anything.... he just doesn't have that next level ability at times.

Weird - I see him skating out of trouble and past forecheckers effortlessly.

 

[WinnieThePooh]

I really want to like Liljgren... but sometimes you can tell he doesn't have NHL feet. Not that he's slow or anything.... he just doesn't have that next level ability at times.

I haven't had issues with his skating, but I am a little concerned that he doesn't have the offensive upside to stick in a top 4 role.

On a team with lower expectations, he's on their NHL roster to start the year. I think management like Dermott too much to move him, though.

 

[egd27]

I think Liljegren plays instead of Sandin.
I see Sandin heading to the Marlies for a bit.

Has anyone figured out if they can carry 1 or 2 healthy scratches under "normal" circumstances?

 

[zeke]

Has anyone figured out if they can carry 1 or 2 healthy scratches under "normal" circumstances?

Only 1.

 

[Havoc]

Both .. Shanny has tied his cart to Dubie .. Shanny will go down with ship it is his way .. gotta respect that stance .. he won't budge .. but last 5 years of Matty we were 4th Atlantic, 3rd Atlantic, 3rd Atlantic and 3rd Atlantic before da Canadian division weak year .. and faltered down stretch in every case leading to 5 1st round defeats .. that is reality .. people trying to use analytics to confuse things and create a new narrative .. I live in reality .. I wish it was different but facts are facts

Shanahan said 5 years when Matthews was drafted so technically he's still off the hook as of this very moment. If Leafs make a respectable run this season he turns out correct. If it's another embarrassing loss, the house will be cleaned.

In my opinion it's very hard judging series such as going 7 games with the Bruins. Does your team really suck if you lose a hard fought 7 game series to the 2022 Panthers? I don't consider the losses to the Bruins embarrassing especially when our best guys were kids and we were seen as the under dogs.

If something like that happens again it's hard to say if anyone will be fired. Need to assess it when it goes down and we have a full season of evidence to look at.

 

[TheGroceryStick]

I haven't had issues with his skating, but I am a little concerned that he doesn't have the offensive upside to stick in a top 4 role.

On a team with lower expectations, he's on their NHL roster to start the year. I think management like Dermott too much to move him, though.

Yeah for sure. They protected Dermott/Kerfoot via McCann at ED for a reason.

It's odd because I don't think his skating is bad (probably his strength tbh) but it seems he lack urgency with it or something. Think if he lines up with a vet; he'd be stellar

Probably too drastic of a change.. but I think this would be our best lineup

Muzzin - Brodie
Rielly - Liljgren
Dermott - Holl

 

[LeafChief]

Both .. Shanny has tied his cart to Dubie .. Shanny will go down with ship it is his way .. gotta respect that stance .. he won't budge .. but last 5 years of Matty we were 4th Atlantic, 3rd Atlantic, 3rd Atlantic and 3rd Atlantic before da Canadian division weak year .. and faltered down stretch in every case leading to 5 1st round defeats .. that is reality .. people trying to use analytics to confuse things and create a new narrative .. I live in reality .. I wish it was different but facts are facts

You live in reality. In this reality, do numbers not exist?

 

[WinnieThePooh]

Yeah for sure. They protected Dermott/Kerfoot via McCann at ED for a reason.

It's odd because I don't think his skating is bad (probably his strength tbh) but it seems he lack urgency with it or something. Think if he lines up with a vet; he'd be stellar

Probably too drastic of a change.. but I think this would be our best lineup

Muzzin - Brodie
Rielly - Liljgren
Dermott - Holl

This won't go over well, but I'd like to see:

Muzzin - Liljegren
Sandin - Brodie
Rielly - Holl

Liljegren looked at his best in the AHL when he was playing with talented defencemen and not plugs - I am not sure if that's a good thing, but he does seem like the type that may appreciate stability on the other side to simplify his decision making.

Maybe someone who watches more Marlies' games can confirm or deny this.

 

[Clark4Ever]

I think Liljegren plays instead of Sandin.
I see Sandin heading to the Marlies for a bit.

I hope you're right, but I don't think it will happen.

 

[Captain Crunch]

That would be something the combined geniuses of Burke, Nonis,and Lou failed to do. However, just winning a round isvonly a second step.

Although the Islanders seem to be enjoying having Lou.
And I agree, just winning one round won’t be enough.

 

[IPS]

You’re gonna be absolutely shocked when the teams defensive numbers dip playing against actual contenders

But what if they don't?

 

[Captain Crunch]

It's extremely hard to justify to your team and potential free agents etc when you are in a playoff spot selling off pieces of your roster for future assets. I would understand if Toronto was in the hunt for the playoffs every year and didn't sell, but being firmly in the playoffs and subtracting for your roster just doesn't look good on your team.

I can certainly see your point.
I guess a person just has to put his trust in Dubas to figure out how to build a perennial Cup contender with how he has firmly committed to this core as well as the salary cap.

 

[Captain Crunch]

Maybe with the new coaches, and new powerplay the three double digits can exceed one goal in the first round?

Maybe Dubas can use telekinesis to move the puck into the net?

One can only hope.

 

[ACC1224]

Has anyone figured out if they can carry 1 or 2 healthy scratches under "normal" circumstances?

Not sure but we'll find out by Sunday I would think.