Leafs @ Jets - Oct. 19th, 8:00pm - SN, TSN 1050

[bustaheims]

They may end up with way less points then say the 06-07 Leafs (basically pick any of those post lockout/9th place teams) but I'd take this team any day of the week. I'm thoroughly enjoying it.

This. All day every day, this. This team is still almost certainly a bottom 10 team in the league this season, and quite likely a bottom 5 team. That's to be expected from a roster that's this young. They are, however, a highly skilled group that is incredibly fun to watch, puts in an honest effort every night (so far, at least), and plays very entertaining hockey. That's all I can ask for.

 

[Kaberle15]

6-5 OT loss to the Blues (after beeing 5-0) all over again...

But the kids will learn. And what a shot from Laine on his 1st and 2nd goals...

The hat Trick goal, both teams were trading chances, Matthews almost win it and Laine did.

Thank God that they play tonight and can put this behind...

Go Kids Go!

 

[mrg16]

Just my opinion.  I have read a few posts today saying yet again goaltending, Andersen, was the issue for the Leafs.  Did you watch the game people.  Andersen held the Jets as they outshot us 7-0 early until the Leafs could get rolling.  The D, some great plays and lucky shots cost us.  Laine scores on a turnaround and just fires at the net and finds a hole.  Marner sacrifices and blocks a shot that falls right to Scheiffle and he burys a beauty.  Great play on the tying goal to freeze everybody before passing to Laine who basically had an open net.  Same as the Myers goal on the 2 on 1.  Remember Marincin is playing in a top pair with Reilly that is playing as a shut down pair and Gardiner made some bad pinch choices that led to the Myers goal.  Our D is still not at the top and we are playing a lot of kids who are learning on the fly.  Babcock is constantly coaching and teaching on the bench.  This is a work in progress.  Remember we have points in every game played so far.  4 points from 3 games is still over 500 hockey.  The Kadri line impressed me tonight, not just the goals but the forechecking from all 3 forwards.  Kadri is becoming a better than average 2 way forward and Uncle Leo just continues to be that pest and hitter we need.  Hyman and Brown look good.  Marner, Matthews and Nylander will get their points.  Nylander had a beauty from Matthews on the PP which scored twice last night after being 0-8 in the first 2.  Time people time.  Be patient our time is coming sooner than you think

 

[L K]

I only blame the OT goal on Andersen.

I think there are better things he could have done on the 1st and 4th goals but the issue right now on Andersen is that he's got to be able to do something to prove he is above and beyond what the Leafs could have done in Free Agency(or cheaper options on the trade market).

Through 3 I haven't seen a lot of it. If we wanted a goalie who would have let in the tough ones and stopped most of the others there were free agents who would have done that.

That's where I'm struggling.  Andersen is a fine goalie.  He's a perfectly reasonable and adequate goaltender. 
But:

He hasn't proven he can play 60 games and be that true #1 goaltender - Has a career high of 53 games and posted his worst SV% in that year.
He's a goaltender who hasn't really established himself as better than his other goaltender -
.923 vs. .911 (Hiller); .914 vs. .914 (Gibson); .919 vs. .920 (Gibson)

I really worry that the Leafs did what they have done with goaltending over the last 10+ years.  They traded for someone, gave them an extension and it wasn't based off a proven track record and the contract bites them in the tail when the goaltender underperforms to expectations. 

What I saw of Andersen in Anaheim and what I am seeing here in Toronto is a guy who makes most of the routine saves but isn't a guy who stands on his head to steal you games.  That's perfectly fine if the Leafs want to go that route, but he also came at the cost of a 30th overall pick and what is likely to be a very high second round pick for an organization that still needs to add a decent number of defense prospects.

 

[LuncheonMeat]

They may end up with way less points then say the 06-07 Leafs (basically pick any of those post lockout/9th place teams) but I'd take this team any day of the week. I'm thoroughly enjoying it.

This. All day every day, this. This team is still almost certainly a bottom 10 team in the league this season, and quite likely a bottom 5 team. That's to be expected from a roster that's this young. They are, however, a highly skilled group that is incredibly fun to watch, puts in an honest effort every night (so far, at least), and plays very entertaining hockey. That's all I can ask for.

I'm with you guys. The last few seasons I've spent my viewing time slumped back in my seat. This is the first time in a while where I'm actually leaning forward and getting excited about games again. It's a nice change.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I only blame the OT goal on Andersen.

I think there are better things he could have done on the 1st and 4th goals but the issue right now on Andersen is that he's got to be able to do something to prove he is above and beyond what the Leafs could have done in Free Agency(or cheaper options on the trade market).

Through 3 I haven't seen a lot of it. If we wanted a goalie who would have let in the tough ones and stopped most of the others there were free agents who would have done that.

That's where I'm struggling.  Andersen is a fine goalie.  He's a perfectly reasonable and adequate goaltender. 
But:

He hasn't proven he can play 60 games and be that true #1 goaltender - Has a career high of 53 games and posted his worst SV% in that year.
He's a goaltender who hasn't really established himself as better than his other goaltender -
.923 vs. .911 (Hiller); .914 vs. .914 (Gibson); .919 vs. .920 (Gibson)

I really worry that the Leafs did what they have done with goaltending over the last 10+ years.  They traded for someone, gave them an extension and it wasn't based off a proven track record and the contract bites them in the tail when the goaltender underperforms to expectations. 

What I saw of Andersen in Anaheim and what I am seeing here in Toronto is a guy who makes most of the routine saves but isn't a guy who stands on his head to steal you games.  That's perfectly fine if the Leafs want to go that route, but he also came at the cost of a 30th overall pick and what is likely to be a very high second round pick for an organization that still needs to add a decent number of defense prospects.

Regardless though the expectation should be that this is not what we'll see over the course of the season.  He's running at an .895 SV% at 5v5 so far this season when for his career he's been just above .920 at 5v5.  So if he plays more like his career norm I think it'll all settle down.  Whether that was worth acquiring him, well if they win I guess that papers over a lot of concerns.