2022-23 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion

[cw]

I have mixed feelings about the deadline.

I think Dubas improved the team.
I think this group has a fairly short window due to the cap and expiring contracts so Dubas was justified generally.
The roster of talent probably has the best depth I can recall a Leafs team having.
The goaltending will probably be the biggest factor to determine their playoff fate.

With as many changes as they've made, it is going to take them a while to gel.
Dubas addressed it and added
https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2023/03/03/kyle-dubas-on-the-difference-in-this-years-maple-leafs-team/
I think that is just part of the profession and part of the job. I don?t know anybody who doesn?t come with a great deal of anxiety to it in terms of worrying each day about the group, how it is fitting together, and every single part of it.

It is a job that whether you want to or not, you live it. You don?t just come and do it, go home, and drop it. You live it. It is part of everything that you do.

9 dmen with Benn 10th and Mete 11th. That doesn't work for me as good use of resources.
The jury is out on how well it will get utilized. But you know that only 6-7 will be playing in a given game and the forward depth is dependent on Knies signing or the AHL. I would have liked to have seen at least one of them flipped for a left winger.

Dubas added 6 players and looks to be adding a 7th in Knies.
If the roster was that lacking, after his declared 40 game analysis, why wait until a week before the deadline before addressing all of it? Dubas spoke about how even a few more games together could help them. I do not understand why some of it couldn't have happened sooner.

I thought about that and what is the impetus for teams to sell that much earlier, especially if they can better dictate price earlier in the year? I think you had to play a game of chicken to get these prices to fall.

Did the prices fall?

In terms of draft picks paid, it felt sort of 'expensive' relative to years gone by. There seemed to be a lot of buyers (Ottawa surprised me a bit for example) and maybe fewer sellers.

 

[cw]

Some in the media were wondering about this for Giordano's shot blocking record:

The Human Shield: Mark Giordano!
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/knyoce9xwP8

 

[Redleaf]

Man. We?re concerned about the Leafs trying to regain their form and Tampa Bay has only won 2 in their last 10 games. They lost again today to Carolina 6-0!

 

[Guilt Trip]

Man. We?re concerned about the Leafs trying to regain their form and Tampa Bay has only won 2 in their last 10 games. They lost again today to Carolina 6-0!

And I posted in the NHL Thread. They had 4 shots after 2 periods...ZERO in the second period. Hedman got hurt and Vasi is not the same guy. They were flat out horrible. Funny how everyone says Keefe needs to bench like Cooper did. Well look how they responded...with a worse loss.

 

[cw]

Man. We?re concerned about the Leafs trying to regain their form and Tampa Bay has only won 2 in their last 10 games. They lost again today to Carolina 6-0!

and they lost Hedman today ..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3Dld-luilo&ab_channel=NHLTimestampGuy2.0

Beating that team may be like ending a vampire.

Even so, they're not going to do much in the playoffs playing like they are.

Meanwhile, the Bruins are not showing any signs of letting up ..

 

[Guilt Trip]

Man. We?re concerned about the Leafs trying to regain their form and Tampa Bay has only won 2 in their last 10 games. They lost again today to Carolina 6-0!

and they lost Hedman today ..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3Dld-luilo&ab_channel=NHLTimestampGuy2.0

Beating that team may be like ending a vampire.

Even so, they're not going to do much in the playoffs playing like they are.

Meanwhile, the Bruins are not showing any signs of letting up ..

Not worried about Boston. They had everything going their way all year. At some point the luck will hopefully change. Tampa is still Tampa and they'll be a tough out. Hedman's injury didn't look good but he did come back for a shift and left again. Their D isn't as good as last year with McDonough gone.

 

[Bill_Berg]

I come here to feel better about the Leafs and it usually works. Thanks guys!

 

[L K]

Until Tampa looks like this in the playoffs they are going to get the benefit of the doubt from me.  Three long playoff runs in a row.  That takes a toll but they keep finding a way to turn it up come the postseason. 

It does feel like the Leafs are going to be their own biggest obstacle to getting out of the first round.  Mind you if O'Reilly and Matthews are injury hampered going into round one that is going to be a real issue.

As for Boston let's just hope Ottawa makes the playoffs and had one of those fun spoiler rounds so we can get a chance at a battle of Ontario again

 

[Bender]

Until Tampa looks like this in the playoffs they are going to get the benefit of the doubt from me.  Three long playoff runs in a row.  That takes a toll but they keep finding a way to turn it up come the postseason. 

It does feel like the Leafs are going to be their own biggest obstacle to getting out of the first round.  Mind you if O'Reilly and Matthews are injury hampered going into round one that is going to be a real issue.

As for Boston let's just hope Ottawa makes the playoffs and had one of those fun spoiler rounds so we can get a chance at a battle of Ontario again

I mean, at the same time I don't really care how the Leafs look right now as long as they can dial it up come playoff time as well. Reg season trends really haven't mattered much with this team...

 

[bustaheims]

I mean, at the same time I don't really care how the Leafs look right now as long as they can dial it up come playoff time as well. Reg season trends really haven't mattered much with this team...

Especially with their spot in the standings basically locked up. The next few weeks will be much more about getting the new guys acclimated to the system and then ramping things up for the playoffs. If there's a few bumps along the way, oh well.

 

[Guilt Trip]

I mean, at the same time I don't really care how the Leafs look right now as long as they can dial it up come playoff time as well. Reg season trends really haven't mattered much with this team...

Especially with their spot in the standings basically locked up. The next few weeks will be much more about getting the new guys acclimated to the system and then ramping things up for the playoffs. If there's a few bumps along the way, oh well.

And some will still overreact because they like to bitch about any negative thing.

 

[Bill_Berg]

I mean, at the same time I don't really care how the Leafs look right now as long as they can dial it up come playoff time as well. Reg season trends really haven't mattered much with this team...

Especially with their spot in the standings basically locked up. The next few weeks will be much more about getting the new guys acclimated to the system and then ramping things up for the playoffs. If there's a few bumps along the way, oh well.

And some will still overreact because they like to witch about any negative thing.

As aggravating as that loss to Vancouver was, there's just so much damn luck in hockey that it's like you can't predict any game/series until the game/series is over.

 

[bustaheims]

And some will still overreact because they like to witch about any negative thing.

Some people need to complain, and as annoying as that can be, it's fine when it's not excessive. That's on them. Best thing you can do for yourself is just ignore them. They're not going to listen to reason any way.

 

[herman]

Pontus Holmberg and Alex Steeves have been called up; does not appear to be on emergency recall so this will use up 2 of the 4 recalls. I think Woll also used one.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Pontus Holmberg and Alex Steeves have been called up; does not appear to be on emergency recall so this will use up 2 of the 4 recalls. I think Woll also used one.

Capfriendly shows the Woll call-up (after he was reassigned to the Marlies to make him eligible for AHL playoffs) was an emergency call-up.

This move would appear to put the Leafs over the cap... which at first glance would indicate bad news for ROR but I guess we'll have that clarified soon.

 

[Frank E]

Pontus Holmberg and Alex Steeves have been called up; does not appear to be on emergency recall so this will use up 2 of the 4 recalls. I think Woll also used one.

Can you remind me what this 4 recall limit is?

 

[herman]

Can you remind me what this 4 recall limit is?

Here's a handy explainer, instead of me trying to guess
https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2023/3/4/23624904/post-deadline-recall-rules

 

[Frank E]

Can you remind me what this 4 recall limit is?

Here's a handy explainer, instead of me trying to guess
https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2023/3/4/23624904/post-deadline-recall-rules

Thank you, herman!

 

[herman]

Capfriendly shows the Woll call-up (after he was reassigned to the Marlies to make him eligible for AHL playoffs) was an emergency call-up.

This move would appear to put the Leafs over the cap... which at first glance would indicate bad news for ROR but I guess we'll have that clarified soon.

https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1632798591415734274
Certainly seems to be pointing in that direction.

Really wonderful to see our deepest centre depth immediately tested with all 3 Cs getting dinged at the same time playing a bottom feeder.

Schenn's absence I'm sure is a personal leave, as his wife was due to deliver on Friday and they happened to be back in Vancouver.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/sportsnetmurph/status/1632189174324531200