2020-2021 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion

[L K]

Kerfoot practiced in a grey sweater.  Skated around with Thornton and then went off the ice before actual skill work went in.  Hopefully its nothing major but not a great sign to be out of practice after getting an off days.  Can't blame it on maintenance.

Interesting to see Simmonds moving up.  He has shown a little more skill than I was expecting out of him.  I don't think his talk of being healthier than he has in a long time was just media play.  I'm not sure that he is top 6 worthy at this point but as the 3rd guy on the line I'm down with it especially when we are losing guys to injury.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Interesting to see Simmonds moving up.  He has shown a little more skill than I was expecting out of him.  I don't think his talk of being healthier than he has in a long time was just media play.  I'm not sure that he is top 6 worthy at this point but as the 3rd guy on the line I'm down with it especially when we are losing guys to injury.

I was pretty underwhelmed with his game in the early going, that one fight aside. Granted that was with a new team, quick camp, no pre-season games, and limited minutes. He's looked better on the 3rd line.

 

[Highlander]

Oh no...Nic Petan....runaway and fast.

 

[herman]

Kerfoot practiced in a grey sweater.  Skated around with Thornton and then went off the ice before actual skill work went in.  Hopefully its nothing major but not a great sign to be out of practice after getting an off days.  Can't blame it on maintenance.

https://twitter.com/kristen_shilton/status/1356668506188750850

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Oh no...Nic Petan....runaway and fast.

I'm not sure why we would runaway. He wouldn't be anyone's first choice, but in a pinch..

 

[Guilt Trip]

I think the Leafs are trying to find out who can play because this flexibility goes away when Joe comes back in a few weeks. Also to keep in mind, Engvall is waiver exempt for only 3 more games so barring injuries, decisions have to be made. I wonder if Vesey goes on waivers eventually. I don't think he's been brutal or anything but he hasn't done much to move the needle for me.

 

[bustaheims]

I think the Leafs are trying to find out who can play because this flexibility goes away when Joe comes back in a few weeks. Also to keep in mind, Engvall is waiver exempt for only 3 more games so barring injuries, decisions have to be made. I wonder if Vesey goes on waivers eventually. I don't think he's been brutal or anything but he hasn't done much to move the needle for me.

At this point, Engvall hasn't really done enough to separate himself from the group of players fighting for 4th line ice time, and, considering how tight the team's cap situation is, I suspect he'll be on his way to the taxi squad/Marlies. I don't think Vesey ends up on waivers any time soon.

 

[Guilt Trip]

I think the Leafs are trying to find out who can play because this flexibility goes away when Joe comes back in a few weeks. Also to keep in mind, Engvall is waiver exempt for only 3 more games so barring injuries, decisions have to be made. I wonder if Vesey goes on waivers eventually. I don't think he's been brutal or anything but he hasn't done much to move the needle for me.

At this point, Engvall hasn't really done enough to separate himself from the group of players fighting for 4th line ice time, and, considering how tight the team's cap situation is, I suspect he'll be on his way to the taxi squad/Marlies. I don't think Vesey ends up on waivers any time soon.

I think you're right about Engvall. Not sold on Vesey but we'll see. Only 46 games to go!

 

[ZBBM]

I think the Leafs are trying to find out who can play because this flexibility goes away when Joe comes back in a few weeks. Also to keep in mind, Engvall is waiver exempt for only 3 more games so barring injuries, decisions have to be made. I wonder if Vesey goes on waivers eventually. I don't think he's been brutal or anything but he hasn't done much to move the needle for me.

At this point, Engvall hasn't really done enough to separate himself from the group of players fighting for 4th line ice time, and, considering how tight the team's cap situation is, I suspect he'll be on his way to the taxi squad/Marlies. I don't think Vesey ends up on waivers any time soon.

I think you're right about Engvall. Not sold on Vesey but we'll see. Only 46 games to go!

I am rooting for Engvall but Vesey's got 2 more goals than him.

 

[Phileas Fogg]

I think the Leafs are trying to find out who can play because this flexibility goes away when Joe comes back in a few weeks. Also to keep in mind, Engvall is waiver exempt for only 3 more games so barring injuries, decisions have to be made. I wonder if Vesey goes on waivers eventually. I don't think he's been brutal or anything but he hasn't done much to move the needle for me.

At this point, Engvall hasn't really done enough to separate himself from the group of players fighting for 4th line ice time, and, considering how tight the team's cap situation is, I suspect he'll be on his way to the taxi squad/Marlies. I don't think Vesey ends up on waivers any time soon.

I think you're right about Engvall. Not sold on Vesey but we'll see. Only 46 games to go!

I am rooting for Engvall but Vesey's got 2 more goals than him.

On both goals, Nylander essentially fed Vesey for an empty net, or at least, a pretty easy scoring chance. I wasn't a fan of the signing, and remain unimpressed.

Engvall has come up and made some terrific plays - he set boyd for the big goal in calgary, and a few more seeing eye passes. He and Mikeyev were showing some great chemistry. Unfortunately he was godawful in the last game against Edmonton, but all in all, he's been worthy of the call up.

https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2021/2/2/22259332/grading-the-maple-leafs-someone-gets-a-failing-grade-someone-an-a-plus-plus

I thought this was a pretty fair look at player performance over the first 10 games; maybe a touch harsh on Nylander, but overall can't disagree with much.

 

[Guilt Trip]

I think the Leafs are trying to find out who can play because this flexibility goes away when Joe comes back in a few weeks. Also to keep in mind, Engvall is waiver exempt for only 3 more games so barring injuries, decisions have to be made. I wonder if Vesey goes on waivers eventually. I don't think he's been brutal or anything but he hasn't done much to move the needle for me.

At this point, Engvall hasn't really done enough to separate himself from the group of players fighting for 4th line ice time, and, considering how tight the team's cap situation is, I suspect he'll be on his way to the taxi squad/Marlies. I don't think Vesey ends up on waivers any time soon.

I think you're right about Engvall. Not sold on Vesey but we'll see. Only 46 games to go!

I am rooting for Engvall but Vesey's got 2 more goals than him.

On both goals, Nylander essentially fed Vesey for an empty net, or at least, a pretty easy scoring chance. I wasn't a fan of the signing, and remain unimpressed.

Engvall has come up and made some terrific plays - he set boyd for the big goal in calgary, and a few more seeing eye passes. He and Mikeyev were showing some great chemistry. Unfortunately he was godawful in the last game against Edmonton, but all in all, he's been worthy of the call up.

https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2021/2/2/22259332/grading-the-maple-leafs-someone-gets-a-failing-grade-someone-an-a-plus-plus

I thought this was a pretty fair look at player performance over the first 10 games; maybe a touch harsh on Nylander, but overall can't disagree with much.

I agree with Nylander and disagree with Hyman. Both have been disappointing for me this year. Hyman has 1 even strength assist this year and it came in the game Joe got hurt when Matthews took the puck away from Kassian in the corner. The lines' Corsi numbers, since Hyman joined them full time isn't very good. I expect a lot more from Hyman but he reminds me of the first few years guy and not the last 2.
As for Nylander, he seems to go all out in one direction only. He leaves me wanting more.
Bogosian is an A for me. He and Mikheyev are our best PKers. Both average 2:15 in SH time per game and both have only been on the ice for 1 PP goal against. As for the author saying Bogo takes too many penalties? He had 2 the first game and none since.
The rest, not too bad.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

https://twitter.com/kristen_shilton/status/1357009029575421956

Goddamnit Engvall, I told you to stop getting your shots blocked.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/rinkratreport/status/1357020598497660929

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/lukefoxjukebox/status/1357029470134292481
https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1357032871479894024

 

[Guilt Trip]

https://twitter.com/rinkratreport/status/1357020598497660929

I don't think too many Leafs fans are concerned about his offence. It's the other part that concerns most.

 

[herman]

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/power-play-dominance-just-one-aspect-malhotras-early-impact-leafs/

The Toronto Maple Leafs' search for a new assistant coach was unusually thorough last year, in part due to the extra time Keefe found himself with during the pandemic and also because he was required to conduct all of the interviews in a virtual setting.

That allowed him to consider a huge pool of candidates, including five or six former NHL head coaches and many more with experience running a bench at other levels of the sport. And yet it was the 40-year-old Malhotra that jumped to the front of the line. He'd spent three years as an eye-in-the-sky assistant for the Vancouver Canucks after his playing days ended and Keefe saw a perfect opportunity to offer him a promotion.

"I think Manny's a terrific person for us just with where we're at in terms of where we need to grow with our players individually, with our team, with our habits and our consistency and coming together as a group," Keefe said after the hiring.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

https://twitter.com/rinkratreport/status/1357020598497660929

I don't think too many Leafs fans are concerned about his offence. It's the other part that concerns most.

Which one? the fact that he's second best for scoring chances against?(or whatever the term was that Johnson used)

 

[OldTimeHockey]

I don't think too many Leafs fans are concerned about his offence. It's the other part that concerns most.

Which one? the fact that he's second best for scoring chances against?(or whatever the term was that Johnson used)

And on that, one thing I don't notice a lot is Nylander's line getting stuck in his own zone. I do understand that they typically aren't facing the other team's number one line, and they may be starting more often than not in the offensive zone, but when they do end up in their own zone, they don't seem to be trapped the same way Matthews and Marner do.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/IneffectiveMath/status/1357733443896020996

 

[CarltonTheBear]

https://twitter.com/renlavoietva/status/1358477761325789190

This would indicate that the Leafs have signed him to a NHL deal, as previously he was only signed by the Marlies. I'm assuming it's more of a reward for his work at the camps than a desire to play him at the NHL level.