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2017-18 Toronto Maple Leafs - General Discussion

https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2017/10/10/leafs-notebook-scintillating-start-october-10/

Great stuff from MLHS as usual.

What I really want to draw your attention to is the header image, and Bozak's facial expression to JvR's dedication to the safety of his teammates.
 
herman said:
https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2017/10/10/leafs-notebook-scintillating-start-october-10/

Great stuff from MLHS as usual.

What I really want to draw your attention to is the header image, and Bozak's facial expression to JvR's dedication to the safety of his teammates.

Loved this one:

?Trying to go for the lady byng this year. It?s not going to be easy?
? Leo Komarov after the Jets game and an ominous penalty for tilting his visor
 
I liked this point about Patrick Marleau:

You can see his skating is still there, but what is really underrated game is how physical he is along the walls. It?s not hit-and-hurt physical; it is body positioning and using his 6?2, ~220-pound frame to win battles and dig pucks out. You can tell that he has played his whole career in the Western Conference.

If a shake-up of the forward lines ever happens, I'd really like to see Marner play with Marleau and Kadri. That line could really mimic how the Matthews line plays I think. And putting Komarov (or Brown) with JVR and Bozak would add a defensive element to that duo for the first time ever.
 
Marleau's speed on the backcheck was another something something that sort of got lost in the fireworks of last night's game. He has also been working with some of the younger players (especially Marner) after practice on shot release and getting reps in tight on the crease.
 
CarltonTheBear said:
If a shake-up of the forward lines ever happens, I'd really like to see Marner play with Marleau and Kadri. That line could really mimic how the Matthews line plays I think. And putting Komarov (or Brown) with JVR and Bozak would add a defensive element to that duo for the first time ever.

I kind of like that also, because Bozak and JVR need the help I think..
 
At first I was a bit miffed by the refs calling the game like it should be: do I need a cardiac event tonight?

But in the clear light of day, I can now safely say, this is a good thing. Because after each PK:
Kadri - Matthews - Nylander or Marleau - Matthews - Nylander
 
herman said:
At first I was a bit miffed by the refs calling the game like it should be: do I need a cardiac event tonight?

But in the clear light of day, I can now safely say, this is a good thing. Because after each PK:
Kadri - Matthews - Nylander or Marleau - Matthews - Nylander

Yes, it's a great thing when the Leafs PK is working....the other team's best players get tired out playing the PP and then you hit them with your top offensive players immediately upon killing the penalty. 
 
Pierre Lebrun sat in on a discussion between Ray Shero and Mike Babcock this morning, I found it quite interesting.

https://theathletic.com/124787/2017/10/11/lebrun-mike-babcock-and-ray-shero-talk-sharing-information-what-makes-a-good-coach-and-managing-people/
 
On the way to work today I was like "Leafs game tonite? ... no, Saturday."
Tomorrow I'll be like "Leafs game tonite?? ... no, Saturday."

Saturday I'll be like yeahhhhhhh.
 
disco said:
On the way to work today I was like "Leafs game tonite? ... no, Saturday."
Tomorrow I'll be like "Leafs game tonite?? ... no, Saturday."

Saturday I'll be like yeahhhhhhh.

I'm getting my girls into watching hockey.  It's so much fun now that the Leafs aren't a horrible team anymore.  My kids sit and watch 1-2 periods with me before it's time for them to sleep, then they're excited the next morning asking me who won.  Was great the Chicago game cause they went to bed thinking the Leafs would lose but I got to tell them that superstar Auston Matthews won the game for us.

I wish the Leafs were this good when I was a kid.  :-/
 
https://twitter.com/PDwhoa/status/918518670703366146

Small sample size. Small sample size. Small sample... forget it.

I'm hyped.
 
Zee said:
disco said:
On the way to work today I was like "Leafs game tonite? ... no, Saturday."
Tomorrow I'll be like "Leafs game tonite?? ... no, Saturday."

Saturday I'll be like yeahhhhhhh.

I'm getting my girls into watching hockey.  It's so much fun now that the Leafs aren't a horrible team anymore.  My kids sit and watch 1-2 periods with me before it's time for them to sleep, then they're excited the next morning asking me who won.  Was great the Chicago game cause they went to bed thinking the Leafs would lose but I got to tell them that superstar Auston Matthews won the game for us.

I wish the Leafs were this good when I was a kid.  :-/

Great story Zee! Everyone should chip in with their viewing habits :)
 
If you have any interesting in the microstats of the defense corps, you can find them consolidated here!

http://dissecttheblueline.weebly.com/leafs.html

Not including Game 1 vs the Jets:
iCF contributions on the PP
    I put this together to directly measure Gardiner vs Rielly on the PP and couldn't believe the distance between the two. For this portion I just added shot attempt assists + shot attempts on the PP and put it into /60 format. Mind you, this is with just over 32 minutes of combined data but here's the result.

Rielly 59.99/60
Gardiner 23.24/60

Rielly is basically a 5th forward on the PP, who can also skate backwards. Not much of a shot though.
 
It's so, so, so early to judge these signings, but why not?

Aaltonen (March 17, 2017): On the Marlies as expected, but quite a bit feistier and more skilled than his stat-lines suggested. Trails only Soshnikov and Rychel with shots on goal having only played 4 of the 5 games.

Bracco (March 21, 2017): Has only just started his season (2 GP) with the Marlies due to a bout of mono over the summer and losing what little weight he had to begin with. He has a tough climb ahead of him

Ben Smith (May 2, 2017): Don't look now, but Smith is leading the Marlies in scoring at a point per game. I like him on the Marlies. Please stay there.

Zaitsev (May 2, 2017): Looks solid and more confident. It was largely the back half when he tired that things started looking bleak. He mentioned last season that he trained slightly wrong, and dumped too many EVs into his Physical Attack stat instead of Speed and HP. Playing with Gardiner sure helps, but he's still getting the hard match every night and no PP time.

Ros?n (May 16, 2017): Looking a bit lost in the NHL game speed, but there's an adjustment period. His wheels are beautiful, but his game think is suspect. No PP time means we'll probably only very rarely see his shot this season. Confidence does wonders though and that hopefully comes as his cushy zone starts builds up his performance.

Borgman (May 16, 2017): Younger, but better than Ros?n in terms of toolkit and development runway. I didn't think he'd get big league time so soon, but he's been relatively steady for a rookie. I don't mind Babcock carouseling them.

McElhinney ( June 30, 2017): Looked both extremes during pre-season. Let's see what happens tonight. Probably won't get hooked regardless due to Andersen's rest requirements.

Hainsey (July 1, 2017): As advertised, he has been boring so far, and can still move. Doesn't quite have the instinct on break outs when we're hemmed in (so very few do), but he's so smart at the blue line and positions himself very efficiently along the boards.

Marleau (July 2, 2017): Also as advertised, he has been a solid depth contributor both on offense and defensively. If he wins the Cup with us, what jersey does he wear for the HHoF induction?

Hyman (July 5, 2017): People are hating him on the top line less. Probably because he's showing more confidence with the puck and potting goals. His play without the puck is as superb as it was last season and might be even better now that he's starting to pick his spots to box out plays for Matthews and Nylander to fly by.

Liljegren (July 12, 2017): So glad he decided to stay in Toronto, and so glad it's with the Marlies instead of being forced onto the Leafs (deeeeeppppppptttthhhhh). He is adjusting to the new country and NA game, which means he is leading the defense in shots and points so far (4 GP, 1G, 2A, 8SOG), and also in this extremely small sample size, out producing Kapanen (4GP, 2G, 0 A, 7SOG).

Brown (August 26, 2017): Brown is playing like it's his contract year; he's just flying into the forecheck and backcheck. Playing every phase of the game helps him get the minutes he should be getting higher up in the lineup. He doesn't drive play on his own, but playing alongside skill, he is a very good complement.
 
https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2017/10/18/leafs-notebook-early-look-ice-time-distribution-october-18/

Great stuff looking into our personnel usage at the moment. Lots of role-based usage (Carlton mentioned the PK times in the Capital's GDT). Glaring hole on 4LW in that it is being filled by someone who has a very specific utility.

5) I think the rotation where Babcock sneaks Marleau or Kadri with Matthews and Nylander after a penalty kill is really effective. I?d look to continue doing that. I?d also consider sneaking Marner in with those two a little more often. Coming out of a penalty kill, the Leafs might be the most dangerous team in the league. It?s a huge swing in momentum.

This is so fun. It also breaks Corsica data pulls unless you specify the right TOI boundaries, because they crazy.
 
Anyone feeling the same way? Leafs No. 1 in the TSN power rankings:

http://www.tsn.ca/turning-over-a-new-leaf-in-7-eleven-power-rankings-1.885880
 

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