Kyle Dubas is JFJ 2.0 - Discuss

[ZBBM]

Muzzin's a UFA next year and I'm pretty lukewarm on re-signing him.

He's been up and down lately. I don't know if it's because he's having trouble with Keefe's system or if he's injured (took a maintenance day recently) but yeah if I had to make the call right now I don't think I'd be able to commit to him long-term.

This gives me another reason to beat the drum of bringing up Sandin and Liljegren for a stretch well before the deadline.  (I get there are contract considerations.)  Especially good would be to see how Liljegren handles things because I expect he his be asked to play roughly the same role as Muzzin.

I hope Barrie continues his decent offensive play so he rebuilds value.  Then we should trade him.  He's the last thing we need on our blueline, unless they're getting rid of Rielly instead.

 

[ZBBM]

Muzzin's a UFA next year and I'm pretty lukewarm on re-signing him.

If it came down to between Barrie and Muzzin, before the season I would have said Barrie no doubt.

Now I don't even know if I'd want to commit to either.

Right you are sir.  Muzzin I was hoping was going to be better than he is.  For a vet he seems to make a fair amount of unforced errors. 

As I just said in my previous post, Barrie was simply a mistake on Dubas's part. 

 

[Highlander]

I would say that Barrie is gone or traded (even better).  Muzzin is interesting, if he can bounce back and adapt to Keefe's system, I really don't think he will cost the farm. The thing I like about him, is he levels people at least once a game, I mean really hits people hard. Something we need until we get Marchment some 4th line minutes.  Sandpaper we do need.

 

[Phileas Fogg]

This gives me another reason to beat the drum of bringing up Sandin and Liljegren for a stretch well before the deadline.  (I get there are contract considerations.)  Especially good would be to see how Liljegren handles things because I expect he his be asked to play roughly the same role as Muzzin.

I hope Barrie continues his decent offensive play so he rebuilds value.  Then we should trade him.  He's the last thing we need on our blueline, unless they're getting rid of Rielly instead.

I wouldn't be wild about burning a year of entry level for Sandin, but I do think they should try to recoup some first rounders. Barrie or Muzzin or both should be moved regardless of where the leafs are at trade deadline. I'd also move Nylander at any point, but probably the off season makes more sense there.

Then sign Holl now for a hopefully a team friendly extension, try to sign Peiterangelo with the cap space, and build a legitimate defense from the ground up.

 

[ZBBM]

This gives me another reason to beat the drum of bringing up Sandin and Liljegren for a stretch well before the deadline.  (I get there are contract considerations.)  Especially good would be to see how Liljegren handles things because I expect he his be asked to play roughly the same role as Muzzin.

I hope Barrie continues his decent offensive play so he rebuilds value.  Then we should trade him.  He's the last thing we need on our blueline, unless they're getting rid of Rielly instead.

I wouldn't be wild about burning a year of entry level for Sandin, but I do think they should try to recoup some first rounders. Barrie or Muzzin or both should be moved regardless of where the leafs are at trade deadline. I'd also move Nylander at any point, but probably the off season makes more sense there.

Then sign Holl now for a hopefully a team friendly extension, try to sign Peiterangelo with the cap space, and build a legitimate defense from the ground up.

Yeah, the Sandin contract is the sticking point.  They may have to trade Nylander at some point ... but I would actually consider Marner first.  One of the big 4 probably has to go for them to get the kind of defenseman they need to build around, whether it's Pietrangelo or somebody else.

 

[Highlander]

I will never understand the Nylander hate at the point.  In two to three years this guy will be a real beast. You just don't trade our top 3 or Tavares at this point. The have to develop and grow with the team.

 

[hockeyfan1]

How does a team go from bring a 105 pt. squad to an on-pace 85 points? 

Losing two first-round picks, a good centre (Kadri), harbouring questionable defence...are the Leafs really no better than a wild card team?

Dubas may need to figure it out and somehow come up with a gem of a trade or worm his way out of this labyrinth, and find the escape route to bolster the Leafs in the face of salary cap issues.  (*sigh*)

I?m still optimistic that things will turn around for this club.  Hopefully Keefe will find the way to turn negatives into positives.

 

[Chris]

How does a team go from bring a 105 pt. squad to an on-pace 85 points? 

Losing two first-round picks, a good centre (Kadri), harbouring questionable defence...are the Leafs really no better than a wild card team?

Dubas may need to figure it out and somehow come up with a gem of a trade or worm his way out of this labyrinth, and find the escape route to bolster the Leafs in the face of salary cap issues.  (*sigh*)

I?m still optimistic that things will turn around for this club.  Hopefully Keefe will find the way to turn negatives into positives.

This is what they are - a collection of mainly young offensive talent that is rather one-dimensional (all flash, no bash) and a very weak group of defenders. I wouldn't be rushing to trade any of the big 3 (ignoring Tavares since he has a NMC). I think the team just is going to have to develop and mature together before they are a serious Cup threat, and missing the playoffs this year (a real possibility) might actually be good for them in the long run. In any case, the next few  months will be interesting, will any of the current UFA defenders be re-signed (thinking Muzzin in particular), will any be traded at the deadline? What will the defense look like next year. Sandin and Lily will probably be with the team but it's going to take them at least a couple of years to really become established. So to me, I don't see this team as a true Cup contender for at least another 3 years or so.

Now, perhaps Dubas decides to make a big splash and trade one of the big 3 to get that true #1 defender and even out the team a bit. If that happens (which I doubt) perhaps the timeline moves up a year.

I think tonight is a really big game. Playing a team with 2 top flight players but otherwise rather weak. I have the fear that McDavid and Draisatl will run circles around the Leafs defense and score a bunch. Need Matthews to be assertive, no more passenger games for him. We'll see.

 

[Hobbes]

...I think the team just is going to have to develop and mature together before they are a serious Cup threat, and missing the playoffs this year (a real possibility) might actually be good for them in the long run...

I tend to agree with you. I almost hope they're far enough out of the playoff picture by the trade deadline that a few expiring contracts (Muz, Barrie in particular) can be moved for future help. Until the kids on the team learn that they need to play a consistent 60 minute 200' game, they're not going to be serious contenders. A year of losing might make them realize that and work harder during the summer and during next season.

 

[sickbeast]

Dubas is pissing me off at this point.  Why we have Hutchinson starting another game on Saturday is beyond me.  It is crystal clear at this point that the guy sucks and is not an NHL goalie.  We're just giving up more and more wins putting him in the net.  I'm ok with Dubas making mistakes.  It's just stuff like this where he's not making things right when he was clearly wrong, it really bothers me.  There has got to be some type of solution out there and Dubas has had a lot of time to deal with this problem at this point.

If we don't make the playoffs I'll bet our backup goalie losses could easily be the difference.

 

[Kin]

WRT to the back up goalie position one of the guys that people lamented the Leafs couldn't sign due to cap issues was Louis Domingue and he's been worse than Hutchinson this year.

Goaltending is such a crapshoot in this league, I'm not sure there are easy answers even with money to throw around.

 

[Bender]

WRT to the back up goalie position one of the guys that people lamented the Leafs couldn't sign due to cap issues was Louis Domingue and he's been worse than Hutchinson this year.

Goaltending is such a crapshoot in this league, I'm not sure there are easy answers even with money to throw around.

There aren't. I mean Jesus look at Carey Price's numbers this year and Keith Kincaid. It does suck that Jarry was floated around last summer but maybe he wasn't actually available. It's easy to see a guy work out in one spot and automatically think it would carry over here. By that logic Barrie should be hitting 70pts this year.

 

[Arn]

Yes, we should be pissed off. I?m absolutely certain Dubai?s hasn?t realised that a better backup would be a benefit and is just sat twiddling his thumbs and playing Angry Birds rather than trying to do anything about it.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Yes, we should be pissed off. I?m absolutely certain Dubai?s hasn?t realised that a better backup would be a benefit and is just sat twiddling his thumbs and playing Angry Birds rather than trying to do anything about it.

Ha ha.  I thought he might like Bejewelled better.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

WRT to the back up goalie position one of the guys that people lamented the Leafs couldn't sign due to cap issues was Louis Domingue and he's been worse than Hutchinson this year.

Goaltending is such a crapshoot in this league, I'm not sure there are easy answers even with money to throw around.

I think this is a complete list of goalies with a AAV of $2mil or less that changed teams since the offseason (either through signing or trade or waivers):

Calvin Pickard, 1 GP, .893 Sv%
Keith Kinkaid, 6 GP, .875 Sv%
Curtis McElhinney, 8 GP, .898 Sv%
Mike Smith, 18 GP, .896 Sv%
Eric Comrie, 3 GP, .864 Sv%
Louis Domingue, 6 GP, .862 Sv%
Garret Sparks, 1 GP, .857 Sv%

 

[Bates]

WRT to the back up goalie position one of the guys that people lamented the Leafs couldn't sign due to cap issues was Louis Domingue and he's been worse than Hutchinson this year.

Goaltending is such a crapshoot in this league, I'm not sure there are easy answers even with money to throw around.

I think this is a complete list of goalies with a AAV of $2mil or less that changed teams since the offseason (either through signing or trade or waivers):

Calvin Pickard, 1 GP, .893 Sv%
Keith Kinkaid, 6 GP, .875 Sv%
Curtis McElhinney, 8 GP, .898 Sv%
Mike Smith, 18 GP, .896 Sv%
Eric Comrie, 3 GP, .864 Sv%
Louis Domingue, 6 GP, .862 Sv%
Garret Sparks, 1 GP, .857 Sv%

Did either of them have any games with a save percentage above. 900? That might have gotten the Leaf's one more win. As an easy example Smith has been great in half his games abd terrible in half. I suspect he would have given the Leaf's 3 wins out of 7 games if he played the same.

 

[Zee]

WRT to the back up goalie position one of the guys that people lamented the Leafs couldn't sign due to cap issues was Louis Domingue and he's been worse than Hutchinson this year.

Goaltending is such a crapshoot in this league, I'm not sure there are easy answers even with money to throw around.

I think this is a complete list of goalies with a AAV of $2mil or less that changed teams since the offseason (either through signing or trade or waivers):

Calvin Pickard, 1 GP, .893 Sv%
Keith Kinkaid, 6 GP, .875 Sv%
Curtis McElhinney, 8 GP, .898 Sv%
Mike Smith, 18 GP, .896 Sv%
Eric Comrie, 3 GP, .864 Sv%
Louis Domingue, 6 GP, .862 Sv%
Garret Sparks, 1 GP, .857 Sv%

That's quite the stellar list.

 

[Kin]

WRT to the back up goalie position one of the guys that people lamented the Leafs couldn't sign due to cap issues was Louis Domingue and he's been worse than Hutchinson this year.

Goaltending is such a crapshoot in this league, I'm not sure there are easy answers even with money to throw around.

I think this is a complete list of goalies with a AAV of $2mil or less that changed teams since the offseason (either through signing or trade or waivers):

Calvin Pickard, 1 GP, .893 Sv%
Keith Kinkaid, 6 GP, .875 Sv%
Curtis McElhinney, 8 GP, .898 Sv%
Mike Smith, 18 GP, .896 Sv%
Eric Comrie, 3 GP, .864 Sv%
Louis Domingue, 6 GP, .862 Sv%
Garret Sparks, 1 GP, .857 Sv%

That's quite the stellar list.

Well, but beyond that we shouldn't lose track of the bigger point. It's really not about whether or not the Leafs might have had a backup goalie who could have scraped out another win or two. Another win or two doesn't materially change the outlook of the team.

If the current thinking right now is that in order for the Leafs to advance in the playoffs to a point we'd be happy with not only does Andersen have to be well-rested but he has to be rested without sacrificing regular season success too much so as not to have bad seeding, then the reality is that the Leafs will  need a back-up goalie who they're confident in. One who could maybe even fill in for an injured Andersen if need be. 

That doesn't just mean choosing the best of a bad bunch of options, it means taking a position of weakness and turning it into a strength. That can't be done overnight in the best of circumstances and it certainly can't be done on a shoestring.

There's plenty to criticize Dubas about with regards to this situation. "He didn't choose the best of the scrap-heap goalies" isn't it.