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Post by seventeen on Oct 8, 2018 12:49:02 GMT -5
It's because they haven't given Nylander $10 million yet. I love the fact Nylander wants what he thinks he's worth... hopefully it means they cant sign Nylander or Marner.... suck it Dubas, Shammy, sportsnet, tsn, cbc, Ron & Don and leaf nation. One tweeter questioned why the wording is always, "Nylander is holding out...". Can't it be equally said that the Leafs are holding out? It takes two to Tango, but the wording always seems to place the degree of blame more on the player than the team. The RFA stage is where the team has all the leverage, so they want to take advantage of it. The player really has no power at all until UFA status. The danger, of course, is the relationship between the team and the player. Nice to see the Leafs finally having to deal with problems they haven't faced during Shanny's tenure. Can I also be among the leading edge of those people wondering if Babcock is the right fit for the team? He's having trouble getting the guys to buy into his defense philosophy (wth guys like Marner, Matthews and Nylander, no wonder), but I keep hearing their defensive zone coverage is awful and that's a matter of coaches getting guys to buy into the system. I can't see them making a change given how much money they're paying him and how much faith they put into him when he was hired, but it's an interesting aspect of the situation. More teams seem to be hiring younger coaches. Good, older coaches can adapt, naturally and the good ones do. Babcock's still a good coach, but there are times when 'a change is needed' as the saying goes. Trotz narrowly missed being axed last year and look what happened there. |
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Post by seventeen on Oct 8, 2018 12:49:56 GMT -5
Cam Ward is a shadow of his former self. Does not look good at all. One of the worst Stanley Cup winning goalies ever. One hot streak. One Justin Williams high stick away from being eliminated. Sigh. Luck, huh? Bowman rolls the dice on Ward (I wouldn't have) and then Curtis McElhanney comes up on waivers later in the year. I'd pick McElhanney over Ward any day. |
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Post by blny on Oct 8, 2018 13:48:31 GMT -5
Cam Ward is a shadow of his former self. Does not look good at all. One of the worst Stanley Cup winning goalies ever. One hot streak. One Justin Williams high stick away from being eliminated. Sigh. Luck, huh? Bowman rolls the dice on Ward (I wouldn't have) and then Curtis McElhanney comes up on waivers later in the year. I'd pick McElhanney over Ward any day. They're certainly in a tough spot until Crawford and Murphy come off IR. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2018 23:00:24 GMT -5
Cam Ward is a shadow of his former self. Does not look good at all. One of the worst Stanley Cup winning goalies ever. One hot streak. One Justin Williams high stick away from being eliminated. Sigh. Luck, huh? Bowman rolls the dice on Ward (I wouldn't have) and then Curtis McElhanney comes up on waivers later in the year. I'd pick McElhanney over Ward any day. Only one other playoff appearance after that cup win. That's two playoff runs since 2006. Wow. |
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Post by CentreHice on Oct 9, 2018 13:29:40 GMT -5
One of the worst Stanley Cup winning goalies ever. One hot streak. One Justin Williams high stick away from being eliminated. Sigh. Luck, huh? Bowman rolls the dice on Ward (I wouldn't have) and then Curtis McElhanney comes up on waivers later in the year. I'd pick McElhanney over Ward any day. Only one other playoff appearance after that cup win. That's two playoff runs since 2006. Wow. Ward was full marks in winning the Smythe in relief of Gerber...but that Williams' high stick was a definite key. Koivu's eye injury occurred at 4:54 of the second period of a scoreless Game 3. We went up 1-0, but lost 2-1 in OT. With a chance to go up 3-0 in the series, the loss of your #1 centre and offensive catalyst is huge. We managed to score only 4 goals in losing the next 3 games. Ward was great. Damn it. The 8th seed Edmonton Oilers also benefitted from a hot playoff goalie. Behind Roloson, they upset the Presidents' Trophy winners and Cup-favourite, Detroit, in 6 games. Much like we did to Boston in 2002 with Theo. I don't recall the Canes' Round 2 series vs. the Devils...but they won 4-1, with Ward getting a shutout, and allowing only 5 in the other 3 wins. In Round 3, they faced a determined-but-decimated-on-defence Sabres' team. Buffalo took them to 7 games...but ran out of gas. Another card fell for the Canes when Roloson was injured in Game 1 of the Finals. Conklin/Markkanen couldn't quite get it done, but they took it to 7. Weird year. |
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Post by blny on Oct 9, 2018 14:09:27 GMT -5
Only one other playoff appearance after that cup win. That's two playoff runs since 2006. Wow. Ward was full marks in winning the Smythe in relief of Gerber...but that Williams' high stick was a definite key. Koivu's eye injury occurred at 4:54 of the second period of a scoreless Game 3. We went up 1-0, but lost 2-1 in OT. With a chance to go up 3-0 in the series, the loss of your #1 centre and offensive catalyst is huge. We managed to score only 4 goals in losing the next 3 games. Ward was great. Damn it. The 8th seed Edmonton Oilers also benefitted from a hot playoff goalie. Behind Roloson, they upset the Presidents' Trophy winners and Cup-favourite, Detroit, in 6 games. Much like we did to Boston in 2002 with Theo. I don't recall the Canes' Round 2 series vs. the Devils...but they won 4-1, with Ward getting a shutout, and allowing only 5 in the other 3 wins. In Round 3, they faced a determined-but-decimated-on-defence Sabres' team. Buffalo took them to 7 games...but ran out of gas. Another card fell for the Canes when Roloson was injured in Game 1 of the Finals. Conklin/Markkanen couldn't quite get it done, but they took it to 7. Weird year. Conklin came in and played the best hockey of his career in that final. Definitely had all sorts of stars align that spring. |
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Post by CentreHice on Oct 9, 2018 14:29:38 GMT -5
Conklin came in and played the best hockey of his career in that final. Definitely had all sorts of stars align that spring. Actually, Conklin played only the rest of Game 1. His flub in the final minute resulted in a 5-4 Carolina win. I recalled that play, but thought it occurred later in the series. Had to look it up. Markkanen played Games 2-7. |
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Post by blny on Oct 9, 2018 15:17:45 GMT -5
Conklin came in and played the best hockey of his career in that final. Definitely had all sorts of stars align that spring. Actually, Conklin played only the rest of Game 1. His flub in the final minute resulted in a 5-4 Carolina win. I recalled that play, but thought it occurred later in the series. Had to look it up. Markkanen played Games 2-7.You're right. 12 years, in some ways seems longer ago than that. I'd forgotten. Maybe I'm thinking of the stretch of good hockey he played for the Pens in 08-09 as he paired up with MAF. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2018 22:39:47 GMT -5
TSN comparing this Leafs team with the 80's Oilers.
BRB, throwing up.
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Post by blny on Oct 10, 2018 6:11:10 GMT -5
TSN comparing this Leafs team with the 80's Oilers. BRB, throwing up. Not entirely wrong. All offense, lethal pp group, and a defense that no one thinks is good enough to win. That was Edmonton from 1980 through 1983. It took that core group 4 years plus to figure it out. |
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Oct 10, 2018 7:25:22 GMT -5
TSN comparing this Leafs team with the 80's Oilers. BRB, throwing up. Unlike the 80's Oilers, this edition of the Leafs is being carried by two players ... did I hear that right last night; John Tavares and Austin Matthews have been on the ice for 80% of the Leaf goals this season ... I won't go through the Oilers heydays lineups, but this is only the beginning, Matt ... TSN is really showing their "Toronto Sports Network" colours a lot more than in previous years ... tip of the iceberg ... Cheers. |
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Post by CentreHice on Oct 10, 2018 8:07:20 GMT -5
The only thing missing from Toronto's coverage is champagne.
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Post by blny on Oct 10, 2018 9:16:28 GMT -5
The only thing missing from Toronto's coverage is champagne. Certainly harder to get to the final now, never mind a dynasty. They won't win with that defense. But, they're likely as close as any team in the league can get - in the modern context. Matthews, Tavares and Nylander give them a compelling trio. Matthews, Tavares, and Kadri give them remarkable depth down the middle. Kadri is a #2 on almost any team in the league and would be #1 on a few - our own included. THe Oilers couldn't boast that sort of depth back in the day. They had two elite centers, but they didn't have a Carbonneau (let's say) behind them. Imagine if they did. Marner is perhaps their Kurri in that he can drive the play himself. With Nylander unsigned, they don't have that 4th top end forward. In a non-cap world, he's signed and it's no issue, and I think they match up well against Gretz, Mess, Kurri and Anderson. In a cap world, I think they're going to have to part with Nylander to get that real upgrade on defense. |
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Post by franko on Oct 10, 2018 9:20:43 GMT -5
The only thing missing from Toronto's coverage is champagne. Certainly harder to get to the final now, never mind a dynasty. They won't win with that defense. But, they're likely as close as any team in the league can get - in the modern context. Matthews, Tavares and Nylander give them a compelling trio. Matthews, Tavares, and Kadri give them remarkable depth down the middle. Kadri is a #2 on almost any team in the league and would be #1 on a few - our own included. THe Oilers couldn't boast that sort of depth back in the day. They had two elite centers, but they didn't have a Carbonneau (let's say) behind them. Imagine if they did. Marner is perhaps their Kurri in that he can drive the play himself. With Nylander unsigned, they don't have that 4th top end forward. In a non-cap world, he's signed and it's no issue, and I think they match up well against Gretz, Mess, Kurri and Anderson. In a cap world, I think they're going to have to part with Nylander to get that real upgrade on defense. they don't have a Coffey, and they don't have a Moog/Fuhr . . . so they won't have a Stanley Cup. |
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Oct 10, 2018 9:29:52 GMT -5
The only thing missing from Toronto's coverage is champagne. said it yesterday ... "some free advise for the people in Toronto; just don't become like Boston fans" ... check it out around the 3-minute mark ... Cheers. |
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Post by blny on Oct 10, 2018 10:09:11 GMT -5
Certainly harder to get to the final now, never mind a dynasty. They won't win with that defense. But, they're likely as close as any team in the league can get - in the modern context. Matthews, Tavares and Nylander give them a compelling trio. Matthews, Tavares, and Kadri give them remarkable depth down the middle. Kadri is a #2 on almost any team in the league and would be #1 on a few - our own included. THe Oilers couldn't boast that sort of depth back in the day. They had two elite centers, but they didn't have a Carbonneau (let's say) behind them. Imagine if they did. Marner is perhaps their Kurri in that he can drive the play himself. With Nylander unsigned, they don't have that 4th top end forward. In a non-cap world, he's signed and it's no issue, and I think they match up well against Gretz, Mess, Kurri and Anderson. In a cap world, I think they're going to have to part with Nylander to get that real upgrade on defense. they don't have a Coffey, and they don't have a Moog/Fuhr . . . so they won't have a Stanley Cup. That Oilers team could have won without Moog/Fuhr. But, that upgrade on defense is what I'm talking about. It's going to cost them Nylander. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2018 10:52:19 GMT -5
My point is more, the Leafs have played four (4) games this season, and TSN is acting like they've already won four (4) cups.
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Post by franko on Oct 10, 2018 11:49:01 GMT -5
My point is more, the Leafs have played four (4) games this season, and TSN is acting like they've already won four (4) cups. well, they are playing at a .750 clip, losing only to the powerhouse Senators. |
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Post by blny on Oct 10, 2018 12:10:18 GMT -5
My point is more, the Leafs have played four (4) games this season, and TSN is acting like they've already won four (4) cups. I interpreted it as the burgeoning of the Oilers. They had to learn. Everyone saw how good at scoring they were and it took them four seasons together to figure it out. There were 4 years of trials before they went back-to-back twice. The Leafs still have lessons to learn. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Oct 10, 2018 14:14:37 GMT -5
Seventeen's observations about Babcock are spot on. He is a coach who likes a structure to his system. Not run and gun. Sure, this style of play can rack up lots of regular season points, but the games get tighter and far more defensive in the playoffs. This is where the Leafs' current style of play and quality of their defense will come into question. They have lots of time to sort some of this out, but pure offensive guys don't like being told to play more responsibly or a better 200 foot game.
I really don't need to watch any Leafs games this season, all I have to do is read the 12 new articles on them on the TSN website every day!! Okay, I won't even bother reading those articles of course!!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2018 22:33:14 GMT -5
Vegas' defense was picked apart by backdoor plays all night long against Washington.
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Post by seventeen on Oct 11, 2018 10:02:39 GMT -5
They really miss Nate Schmidt. Everyone has to play a level up and they're not managing. Also I've seen some very lucky goals go in against them. Bounces that would have missed, or hit the post last year are going in this year. Their offense has also dried up. My, the hockey gods are fickle.
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Post by CentreHice on Oct 12, 2018 9:27:12 GMT -5
Matthews with 9 goals already. Tavares also piling up the points early. Along with Rielly and Marner.
Their PP looks unstoppable. 5 games in....50% clip. I thought they'd maintain 25% over the course of the year, but it might be closer to 35%.
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Post by Polarice on Oct 12, 2018 9:30:32 GMT -5
Matthews with 9 goals already. Tavares also piling up the points early. Along with Rielly and Marner. Their PP looks unstoppable. 5 games in....50% clip. I thought they'd maintain 25% over the course of the year, but it might be closer to 35%. It will take teams time to adjust, once they start watching the games and their PP they will figure out a way to slow them down. But right now, it's crazy effective!! |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Oct 12, 2018 14:33:12 GMT -5
Matthews with 9 goals already. Tavares also piling up the points early. Along with Rielly and Marner. Their PP looks unstoppable. 5 games in....50% clip. I thought they'd maintain 25% over the course of the year, but it might be closer to 35%. The numbers that Reilly, Matthews, Tavares and Marner have put up are quite incredible and impressive. Heck of a flying start, but just how sustainable is it? You cannot help but envy that level of elite talent though, and this still involves games without Nylander hitting the ice yet. The gap between their talent/skill level and ours is not measured in inches, but in miles. We can only hope some of our kids develop to have high end potential. The Leafs will eventually (if they are not already facing it with Nylander) hit the same fate as other teams with lots of elite young players...the salary cap. They won't all be able to stay together forever. It has enabled our favourite neighbourhood "national" sports networks to put their already over-hyped machine into overdrive. Headlines that mention Reilly beating Orr's record for most points from a defenseman in the modern era after five games.........how contrived is that? We keep game-by-game records now lmao? The joys of a network with resources to gain more hits and readers. A follow up video today states that Reilly has no interest in talking about his record setting start. Duh, he is a professional athlete and knows that nothing is won in the first five games...and more importantly, that records are set over a season or in the playoffs, not during a hot stretch of games. Weirdly enough, I really don't give a rat's a55 how big the national network hype train gets...it has been very much expected. |
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Post by CentreHice on Oct 12, 2018 16:40:59 GMT -5
Game volume on MUTE. All other media coverage ignored.
The Leafs are a quality team now, and I find their success more palatable when it isn't floating in Maple syrup.
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Post by CentreHice on Oct 13, 2018 20:36:21 GMT -5
Leafs win 4-2 in Washington with Matthews getting his 10th late for insurance.
All Leafs' cylinders firing at once to start the season.
Andersen made several solid saves just prior to the Matthews goal.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Oct 15, 2018 9:44:08 GMT -5
Certainly harder to get to the final now, never mind a dynasty. They won't win with that defense. But, they're likely as close as any team in the league can get - in the modern context. Matthews, Tavares and Nylander give them a compelling trio. Matthews, Tavares, and Kadri give them remarkable depth down the middle. Kadri is a #2 on almost any team in the league and would be #1 on a few - our own included. THe Oilers couldn't boast that sort of depth back in the day. They had two elite centers, but they didn't have a Carbonneau (let's say) behind them. Imagine if they did. Marner is perhaps their Kurri in that he can drive the play himself. With Nylander unsigned, they don't have that 4th top end forward. In a non-cap world, he's signed and it's no issue, and I think they match up well against Gretz, Mess, Kurri and Anderson. In a cap world, I think they're going to have to part with Nylander to get that real upgrade on defense. they don't have a Coffey, and they don't have a Moog/Fuhr . . . so they won't have a Stanley Cup. was on TSN 690 when he said that the present-day Leafs remind him of the 70's Habs ... but I also remember him once comparing TO's Big-4 (as he named them); Mike Komisarek, Dion Phaneuf, Francois Beauchemin, Tomas Kaberle to Montreal's Big 3 of the 70's; Serge Savard, Guy Lapointe et Larry Robinson ... Cheers. |
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Post by jkr on Oct 16, 2018 7:37:28 GMT -5
Yeah. McGuire does have a gift for exaggeration.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Oct 17, 2018 2:59:01 GMT -5
Great comeback by the Oil in Winnipeg, against a tough team. McDavid has his hands in everything they do right now. Record setting start for him (first player to score or assist on his team’s first nine goals of the season).
NJ is quietly very impressive. They have only played 4 games because they kicked off the season in Sweden, but they are the only unbeaten and unblemished team at 4-0-0. With their shutout over the Stars, they are now 17 gf and only a stingy 4 ga in those four games.
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