Leafs acquire Jack Campbell and Kyle Clifford from LA

[Kin]

It's a trade I like but I think it's a trade that should put to rest the idea that an easy and cheap solution to the goaltending issue was available all along and Dubas just didn't take it. Campbell's probably as good as we could have hoped for and it's still a wait and see thing if he'll be a big improvement

 

[Guilt Trip]

He also had the 3rd best save percentage in the league last season at .928 (albeit in only 31 games). So there's something there. At least enough to take a chance on.

Yeah. There's potential there for him to be better than he has been this season. I'm just concerned about him coming from a strong defensive team to a not so strong one when he's having a down year.

LA is a strong defensive team? I hope they send Hutch to the Marlies.

 

[pmrules]

Let's not forget that the Leafs are expending valuable assets to fix the backup goalie problem, and have lost valuable points in the standings this year and last year, when the Leafs already had a passable/acceptable solution.

 

[Redleaf]

I like this move . The Leafs need more Stanley cup winners on this young club with grit to show the youngsters that it takes more than fancy passing and pretty goals to win big games. They?re not going to make the playoffs they way they played last night .

 

[Frank E]

Dubas has been GM for a year and a half now and this is his trade history:

-Cleared our bad contracts from the previous regime (Martin, Zaitsev, Marleau)
-Acquired a gritty top-4 LHD defenceman (after years of not having anyone on that side who could provide grit)
-Acquired a puck-moving top-4 RHD defenceman (after years of not having anyone on that side who could break the puck out)
-Acquired a back-up goalie and a gritty 4th liner (albeit maybe a little late, hopefully not too late)

I definitely don't get people who think he isn't constantly trying to improve this team.

And he has converted a few freebies into legit NHL assets:
Moore was a dev camp invite and now he is Kyle Clifford
Justin Holl was an ECHL pick up and now he is Justin Holl, arguably the only reason our RD hasn?t imploded entirely.

OK, now you're really going out of your way to be complimentary of Dubas here.

 

[Highlander]

Aside from Hutchinson not stopping 2 or the 4 goals he could have stopped, the Rangers depth at Goaltender is amazing. You gotta admit the kid last night was great for them.  It was the difference maker in the last two games for sure.
Hope Liljegren gets his chance now, Ceci has been brutal.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Let's not forget that the Leafs are expending valuable assets to fix the backup goalie problem, and have lost valuable points in the standings this year and last year, when the Leafs already had a passable/acceptable solution.

What was their acceptable solution? McBackup?

Campbell hasn't been that much better than Hutchinson this season, which is concerning.

Really? Campbell GAA 2.85, SV% .900. Hutch GAA 3.66, SV% .886. That's not close.

 

[bustaheims]

LA is a strong defensive team?

Yeah. Excellent 5-on-5 possession numbers and expected goals for percentage, among the top in the league in terms of percentage of 5-on-5 scoring chances and high danger chances for, and in the upper third of the league raw totals for those metrics. They allow the least shots against per game. They just have the 6th worst 5-on-5 save percentage and the worst 5-on-5 shooting percentage. They've been let down by goaltending (Quick especially - Campbell has be a nearly average backup, which isn't saying much, as backups this season have generally not been wonderful across the league) and lack of talent up front.

 

[Frank E]

It's a trade I like but I think it's a trade that should put to rest the idea that an easy and cheap solution to the goaltending issue was available all along and Dubas just didn't take it. Campbell's probably as good as we could have hoped for and it's still a wait and see thing if he'll be a big improvement

Welcome to the team, Jack.  No pressure or anything, but....

 

[Bullfrog]

Hopefully this is simply Hutchinson's replacement and not an indication Andersen's injury is worse than they're letting on. Good insurance either way. Moore was completely expendable.

 

[Bender]

Let's not forget that the Leafs are expending valuable assets to fix the backup goalie problem, and have lost valuable points in the standings this year and last year, when the Leafs already had a passable/acceptable solution.

This is a horse that needs to die already. The logic behind keeping Sparks was sound, and it made no sense to let the AHL Goaltender of the year leave for nothing vs an aging career backup potentially in decline. It didn't work out. That's it.

 

[Bender]

LA is a strong defensive team?

Yeah. Excellent 5-on-5 possession numbers and expected goals for percentage, among the top in the league in terms of percentage of 5-on-5 scoring chances and high danger chances for, and in the upper third of the league raw totals for those metrics. They allow the least shots against per game. They just have the 6th worst 5-on-5 save percentage and the worst 5-on-5 shooting percentage. They've been let down by goaltending (Quick especially - Campbell has be a nearly average backup, which isn't saying much, as backups this season have generally not been wonderful across the league) and lack of talent up front.

It's kind of interesting but I've seen LA fans saying the team in front of the goalies haven't done them many favours, that it's been hard to play in front of that team.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

It's kind of interesting but I've seen LA fans saying the team in front of the goalies haven't done them many favours, that it's been hard to play in front of that team.

LA's definitely a weird team this season. For what it's worth this is their shots against chart this season vs. ours:

 

[bustaheims]

That shot chart is quite impressive. That's a defence that looks like it's absolutely smothering the other team's offence.

 

[Frank E]

Let's not forget that the Leafs are expending valuable assets to fix the backup goalie problem, and have lost valuable points in the standings this year and last year, when the Leafs already had a passable/acceptable solution.

This is a horse that needs to die already. The logic behind keeping Sparks was sound, and it made no sense to let the AHL Goaltender of the year leave for nothing vs an aging career backup potentially in decline. It didn't work out. That's it.

I think it's a valid criticism, Dubas went with Hutch this year, and I think many people questioned that decision that was made before July 1st.

There's a report card on Dubas, and I think it's perfectly OK to give him a failing mark on his handling of the back-up goalie situation lately.

Let's hope this guy works out better than the last couple.

 

[Kin]

Let's not forget that the Leafs are expending valuable assets to fix the backup goalie problem, and have lost valuable points in the standings this year and last year, when the Leafs already had a passable/acceptable solution.

This is a horse that needs to die already. The logic behind keeping Sparks was sound, and it made no sense to let the AHL Goaltender of the year leave for nothing vs an aging career backup potentially in decline. It didn't work out. That's it.

I think it's a valid criticism, Dubas went with Hutch this year, and I think many people questioned that decision that was made before July 1st.

There's a report card on Dubas, and I think it's perfectly OK to give him a failing mark on his handling of the back-up goalie situation lately.

I think Bender is referring to the specific Sparks vs. McBackup question, not the "Did Dubas do a good job this off-season re: the backup goalie position" which, I agree, is a fair criticism.

However it's only really a valid criticism if you're prepared to endorse a specific alternative. Just wanting him to have done better isn't a criticism at all. Saying, as I have, that he should have traded(or let walk) one of Kerfoot/Kapanen/Johnsson(and I'd have been fine with it being any of the three) and using the resulting money/assets to improve the position is something that was in Dubas' power but that he chose not to do. Wanting him to keep all three but just have found a really good minimum salary goalie isn't a fair criticism.

 

[Frank E]

It's kind of interesting but I've seen LA fans saying the team in front of the goalies haven't done them many favours, that it's been hard to play in front of that team.

LA's definitely a weird team this season. For what it's worth this is their shots against chart this season vs. ours:

What am I looking at here? 

Like, the LA defence seems to be very effective in front of their own net?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

What am I looking at here? 

Like, the LA defence seems to be very effective in front of their own net?

Correct. Blue=good red=bad

 

[Frank E]

What am I looking at here? 

Like, the LA defence seems to be very effective in front of their own net?

Correct. Blue=good red=bad

Leafs = bad

 

[CarltonTheBear]

What am I looking at here? 

Like, the LA defence seems to be very effective in front of their own net?

Correct. Blue=good red=bad

Leafs = bad

Hey they're owning that bottom right corner.