2018-19 Toronto Maple Leafs - General Discussion

[ZBBM]

https://twitter.com/jonassiegel/status/1079772008173449218

If I had my druthers, I'd swap Brown and Moore too.

I like that line myself.  Brown may never be a 20-goal guy but he should be in the teens.  He's actually looked dangerous recently.

 

[bustaheims]

https://twitter.com/jonassiegel/status/1079772008173449218

If I had my druthers, I'd swap Brown and Moore too.

I'd like to see how Kapanen might do on his off-wing with those two - sort of an audition to play with Matthews and Nylander in the future.

 

[Guilt Trip]

https://twitter.com/jonassiegel/status/1079772008173449218

If I had my druthers, I'd swap Brown and Moore too.

I'd like to see how Kapanen might do on his off-wing with those two - sort of an audition to play with Matthews and Nylander in the future.

I think we'd all like to see that happen. That could be a very fun line.

 

[herman]

Brown is like Hyman so I see the reasoning but I'd def be tempted to put Moore with Marner and JT.

Yeah, Brown is Hyman-lite and should be fine in the GETDAPUCK role. He's not as truck-like, but his forechecking is still effective because he takes smart routes and doesn't give up on plays.

I think Babcock foresees Moore being a decent option with Tavares (Moore is a better skater) as he talked about it in the pre-season when Hyman had that hip-pointer, but isn't the type of coach to throw an emergency callup into that sort of expectation.

 

[Highlander]

https://twitter.com/jonassiegel/status/1079772008173449218

If I had my druthers, I'd swap Brown and Moore too.

I'd like to see how Kapanen might do on his off-wing with those two - sort of an audition to play with Matthews and Nylander in the future.

I think we'd all like to see that happen. That could be a very fun line.

Ya, Johnsson-Matthews-Nylander......me likey

 

[dappleganger]

I really like Marleau - Kadri - Kapanen.

I'd keep those 3 together as the third line and augment the others.

 

[princedpw]

I really like Marleau - Kadri - Kapanen.

I'd keep those 3 together as the third line and augment the others.

I agree and also just that all the lines look awesome.

 

[princedpw]

I guess there's some competition with the Gilmour 93-94 era leafs but this team looks to be the best team of my lifetime.  I'm trying savour this season even if they do end up 2nd to the Lightning.

 

[herman]

See what happens when you pair up a mature and diligent shooter who can extend plays with his strong stick handling and quietly make goals happen out of nothing plays because he drifts into soft ice at the right time with a shifty playmaker who has eyes on the back of his head and always seems to find the right seam for tap ins?

https://twitter.com/billius27/status/1080154663708774406

 

[hockeyfan1]

In reference to Herman?s quote,  Tavares, Marleau, and Hainsey all have one thing in common ? experience, and in Babcock?s words, they ?know where to stand?.  None more so in this case than John Tavares, who not only knows where to stand, but how to score.  With Marner at the helm, it?s magic.

?He?s got a stick it?s like a crowbar, he?s heavy, heavy on it. I mean, who knows? He?s got elite hockey sense. He finds his way to the net and he knows where goals are scored,? Babcock said, simply, after the 4-2 win over the Blue Jackets.

[tweet]1079112827103793152[/tweet]

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/ChartingHockey/status/1081196278384599040

Even from the preview graphic, you can see Tavares standing out, but not quite the way Ovechkin and Skinner do. The line is where goal result and expected goals match up: i.e. the farther from the line, the more lucky/unlucky the shooter has been. Tavares lines up very nicely with his expected goals which is very promising for future success because he hasn't been riding a hot streak to get these results, rather he and his team are getting into the right positions with great frequency.

 

[herman]

If you're trying to work out how the Leafs cap situation is going to shake out next season, I think you're going to have to keep working around the Marleau deal. https://twitter.com/DylanFremlin/status/1081624013363994624

 

[Guilt Trip]

Said it many times before, Marleau isn't going anywhere until his contract runs its course.

 

[herman]

https://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/opinion/2019/01/05/the-half-glass-is-full-but-the-maple-leafs-feel-theres-more-to-prove-in-the-stretch-run.html

?I think ? that feeling going into games that you can just kill another team?s will to win,? says Tavares, when asked what he wants to see between now and season?s end. ?And just knowing that you just feel that when (the Leafs) come into your building, you just know what a tough night it?s going to be. Even if you play your best, you know the odds are still probably against you, where we just have the ability to kind of take games over that way, and generate that momentum. It?s hard to do that on a consistent basis.?

Is that possible?

?I think so,? says Tavares. ?There?s certainly probably times when we?ve had it already, where we?ve had two, three games, but it?s the ability to carry that over for long stretches.?

If you think this is particularly ruthless coming from John Tavares, I'll refer you to that time he threw a skate at best friend Sam Gagner for besting him in a one-on-one scrimmage (he missed).

 

[Zee]

Why can't the Leafs ever get on a monster long win streak like Tampa just did? Win 8, lose 1 then win another 7? It's like too many times they come out unprepared, look lazy, soft as butter.  I know we have a ton of points midway through the season, but don't look now Boston is close to overtaking the Leafs for home ice. Wouldn't that be just the icing on the cake?

 

[Kin]

The Leafs have had 3 different 5 game winning streaks this year.

 

[herman]

The Leafs have not lost more than two games in a row this season.

 

[ZBBM]

The Leafs have a shot at upsetting the very best teams in the league, but they would indeed be upsets.  Superior defense, like we saw tonight ? assuming it can be applied for at least four games in a given playoff series ? will probably be enough to best the Leafs.  In other words, our elite offensive capacity is good enough to overcome many teams, but not those with elite defensive play.  I would put TBL and NSH in that category.

 

[Zee]

The Leafs have a shot at upsetting the very best teams in the league, but they would indeed be upsets.  Superior defense, like we saw tonight ? assuming it can be applied for at least four games in a given playoff series ? will probably be enough to best the Leafs.  In other words, our elite offensive capacity is good enough to overcome many teams, but not those with elite defensive play.  I would put TBL and NSH in that category.

I wouldn't put Tampa in the same defensive category as Nashville. Tampa is elite offensively but they don't defend as well as Nashville. The Leafs actually have a better goals against than Tampa.

 

[dappleganger]

The Leafs have a shot at upsetting the very best teams in the league, but they would indeed be upsets.  Superior defense, like we saw tonight ? assuming it can be applied for at least four games in a given playoff series ? will probably be enough to best the Leafs.  In other words, our elite offensive capacity is good enough to overcome many teams, but not those with elite defensive play.  I would put TBL and NSH in that category.

I wouldn't put Tampa in the same defensive category as Nashville. Tampa is elite offensively but they don't defend as well as Nashville. The Leafs actually have a better goals against than Tampa.

I agree. While Tampa has some really good pieces on defense (much better than the Leafs) they're not as good defensively as the Preds.

Tampa vs Toronto in the playoffs is a coin flip for me. I think Toronto has the better goalie.