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Post by jkr on Jan 28, 2019 19:59:13 GMT -5
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Post by folatre on Jan 28, 2019 20:48:17 GMT -5
The logic behind the move for Toronto is easy to follow. They needed to solidify their d-corps and while a right hander would have made more sense, Muzzin is a solid guy who should fit in.
I am not sure why Rob Blake wanted to get it done nearly four weeks before the deadline unless he talked to everyone with an interest and just felt like nothing better is going to appear at the last minute. I kind of understand that, maybe GMs selling guys like Panarin and Duchene have more confidence of holding to generate more of a bidding war, but a guy like Muzzin while he is a good top four d-man, for me he is not really a high end impact player (sorry Colby).
Expectations went sky high for Toronto with the Tavares signing and Dubas senses losing in the first round would be viewed as an abject failure. I really think Dubas is making this deal with Boston on his mind. The Leafs need a defensive answer to the Bruins top line in the playoffs.
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Post by jkr on Jan 28, 2019 22:32:00 GMT -5
It was kind of embarrassing. The way Armstrong was going on, you would think they had landed Doughty.
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Post by seventeen on Jan 29, 2019 1:48:06 GMT -5
The logic behind the move for Toronto is easy to follow. They needed to solidify their d-corps and while a right hander would have made more sense, Muzzin is a solid guy who should fit in. I am not sure why Rob Blake wanted to get it done nearly four weeks before the deadline unless he talked to everyone with an interest and just felt like nothing better is going to appear at the last minute. I kind of understand that, maybe GMs selling guys like Panarin and Duchene have more confidence of holding to generate more of a bidding war, but a guy like Muzzin while he is a good top four d-man, for me he is not really a high end impact player (sorry Colby). Expectations went sky high for Toronto with the Tavares signing and Dubas senses losing in the first round would be viewed as an abject failure. I really think Dubas is making this deal with Boston on his mind. The Leafs need a defensive answer to the Bruins top line in the playoffs. I think the pressure to do the deal early would have come from Dubas. Blake was probably able to get a little more to do the deal right now. Also, losing Muzzin helps the Kings get to that higher draft position. Good thinking IMO. Leaf pundits are saying Dubas didn't have to give up Sandin or Liljegren. Sounds like faint praise to me. I'm not sure Liljegren is progressing all that well, though he's 19 and in the AHL (is he any further ahead than Romanov who's 18 and in the KHL?). Sandin may be fine, but Durzi is a good prospect as well. HMe's playing on the Storm with Nick Suzuki and has 11 points in 8 games since the trade to Guelph. He was doing fine with Owen Sound before that with 17 points in 18 games. A bit older (at 20) than the Swedish kids. LA has a good scouting group, though and may have preferred him to the other two. Hard to say. In any case, while Muzzin is an improvement to the Leaf defense, he's hardly the difference maker I've heard him described by the fawning adulants on the Toronto Sports Networks. And there remains the problem in that he's a LHD, where TO already has Reilly and Gardiner. Someone's going to have to move over and it's not always a smooth transition. I'm sure hoping not. A loss in the first round to Boston would be lovely. |
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Post by BadCompany on Jan 29, 2019 9:47:24 GMT -5
A loss in the first round to Boston would be lovely. How about a loss in the first round to us? That's what the current matchup would be, should the playoffs end today... Getting WAAAY ahead of myself here of course, but right now the playoffs would look like this: Tampa vs Pittsburgh Toronto vs Montreal NYI vs Boston Washington vs Columbus Now call me a big homer, but in a first round matchup I think we can beat four of those teams; Pittsburgh, Toronto, NYI, and Boston. I wouldn't give us much chance against Tampa, Washington, or Columbus. I'm not saying we have the better team, and we're certainly not winning the Cup, but I think we play a similar style of game to those four, only we have a goalie who could steal the series all on his own. An upset wouldn't be that big a shocker, to me.  |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2019 9:58:09 GMT -5
It was kind of embarrassing. The way Armstrong was going on, you would think they had landed Doughty. No kidding. There are so many videos about this trade. They need to settle down. |
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Post by Skilly on Jan 29, 2019 12:19:00 GMT -5
A loss in the first round to Boston would be lovely. How about a loss in the first round to us? That's what the current matchup would be, should the playoffs end today... Getting WAAAY ahead of myself here of course, but right now the playoffs would look like this: Tampa vs Pittsburgh Toronto vs Montreal NYI vs Boston Washington vs Columbus Now call me a big homer, but in a first round matchup I think we can beat four of those teams; Pittsburgh, Toronto, NYI, and Boston. I wouldn't give us much chance against Tampa, Washington, or Columbus. I'm not saying we have the better team, and we're certainly not winning the Cup, but I think we play a similar style of game to those four, only we have a goalie who could steal the series all on his own. An upset wouldn't be that big a shocker, to me. If we adjust the standings to account for games in hand then the current playoff match-ups look like Tampa vs Pittsburgh Toronto vs Boston NYI vs Montreal Washington vs Columbus I feel the only team we can't complete against is Tampa ... which is why I think this year would be a good year to add and follow the "anything can happen" mantra. |
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Post by blny on Jan 29, 2019 12:20:13 GMT -5
Muzzin's been on the block for at least a month. The rumoured asking price was a first and a prospect. Have to figure that Blake knew where he stood with all the teams that showed interest. Barring a rash of injuries, he likely wasn't going to get more and he saves having to worry about Muzzin going down with injury himself.
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Post by blny on Jan 29, 2019 12:22:01 GMT -5
How about a loss in the first round to us? That's what the current matchup would be, should the playoffs end today... Getting WAAAY ahead of myself here of course, but right now the playoffs would look like this: Tampa vs Pittsburgh Toronto vs Montreal NYI vs Boston Washington vs Columbus Now call me a big homer, but in a first round matchup I think we can beat four of those teams; Pittsburgh, Toronto, NYI, and Boston. I wouldn't give us much chance against Tampa, Washington, or Columbus. I'm not saying we have the better team, and we're certainly not winning the Cup, but I think we play a similar style of game to those four, only we have a goalie who could steal the series all on his own. An upset wouldn't be that big a shocker, to me. If we adjust the standings to account for games in hand then the current playoff match-ups look like Tampa vs Pittsburgh Toronto vs Boston NYI vs Montreal Washington vs Columbus I feel the only team we can't complete against is Tampa ... which is why I think this year would be a good year to add and follow the "anything can happen" mantra. I think we match up well against anyone in our division except Tampa, where we lose in 5 or 6. The Caps and Jackets are big heavy teams. We might survive, but only just and likely be worn out for the next round. That's if CBJ doesn't sell off Panarin and Bob. |
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Post by seventeen on Jan 29, 2019 21:20:19 GMT -5
I don't think we match up well against anyone. I say that because our success this year has been due to a tremendous amount of effort and outworking the opposition. That won't happen in the playoffs. The urgency on the other teams will be up and they will work just as hard as us. At that point, the finishing becomes an issue and I'm not sure Price will outgoalie everyone. Lehner on the Isles, for example is having a great year after overcoming the some mental illness issues. Boston is probably our best bet because Rask is inconsistent and we give them fits. Washington's goaltending is also a concern this year, but who knows what can switch on and off in the playoffs? Eventually the cream rises to the top, but the way the system is rigged, good teams meet early and eliminate themselves (Nashville/Winnipeg last year).
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Post by folatre on Jan 29, 2019 21:31:02 GMT -5
I basically see being the crossover wild card as the potential sweet spot for the Habs. Tampa is talented, balanced, and hungry; the second wild card is going to have real trouble getting any traction in that series. Finishing seeded in the Atlantic almost assuredly means dealing with the Leafs in round one and while nothing is impossible for me this matchup is problematic for Montreal because Toronto possesses considerably more high end firepower and since they have not enjoyed playoff success there is no way they take round one for granted.
The Metropolitan Division is down this season and the teams with the most pedigree (Washington and Pittsburgh) looking tired and disinterested on too many nights. The Islanders are playing Trotz’s system but they are not scary. Columbus is dealing with distractions.
The Rangers benefited from the crossover scenario two springs ago when they eliminated a punchless Montreal team who had won a down Atlantic Division, though New York blew their easy path to the ECF by losing to the Senators.
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Post by franko on Jan 30, 2019 11:17:12 GMT -5
Holy Makinaw! Some random quotes . . . In Matthews, Tavares and Nazem Kadri, the Leafs have a trio of centres that are the best in the NHL. In Frederik Andersen, they have a goalie capable of winning the Vezina Trophy. And with Muzzin joining Morgan Rielly, Ron Hainsey and Jake Gardiner on backend, the defence is no longer the team’s Achilles’ heel.
This is easily the best team Babcock has had since reaching back-to-back finals with Nicklas Lidstrom, Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg in Detroit. On paper, it actually might be better.
The Leafs are now a top-5 team in the NHL. They might even be amongst the top-3.
It’s not the Bruins or the Lightning that should make the Leafs scared anymore. It’s the other way around.
I know we (often) think better of our team than it is . . . but top 3 in the league? wow! I give them (grudgingly) that they can be better than the Habs on any given night offensively, but I'll take Price over Andersen as the equalizer . . . top 3 means that only 2 of these are better: TBay, Boston (who I'd take in 6 over the Leafs), Winnipeg, Nashville, even Calgary . . . SJ in there too . . . Washington won't disappear . . . dreams and hopes and reality . . . but it is time for the team to put up or shut up! but they won't. do either, I mean, in the Toronto media or fan base. the rest here: Toronto Sun |
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Post by Willie Dog on Jan 30, 2019 15:12:45 GMT -5
Holy Makinaw! Some random quotes . . . In Matthews, Tavares and Nazem Kadri, the Leafs have a trio of centres that are the best in the NHL. In Frederik Andersen, they have a goalie capable of winning the Vezina Trophy. And with Muzzin joining Morgan Rielly, Ron Hainsey and Jake Gardiner on backend, the defence is no longer the team’s Achilles’ heel.
This is easily the best team Babcock has had since reaching back-to-back finals with Nicklas Lidstrom, Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg in Detroit. On paper, it actually might be better.
The Leafs are now a top-5 team in the NHL. They might even be amongst the top-3.
It’s not the Bruins or the Lightning that should make the Leafs scared anymore. It’s the other way around.
I know we (often) think better of our team than it is . . . but top 3 in the league? wow! I give them (grudgingly) that they can be better than the Habs on any given night offensively, but I'll take Price over Andersen as the equalizer . . . top 3 means that only 2 of these are better: TBay, Boston (who I'd take in 6 over the Leafs), Winnipeg, Nashville, even Calgary . . . SJ in there too . . . Washington won't disappear . . . dreams and hopes and reality . . . but it is time for the team to put up or shut up! but they won't. do either, I mean, in the Toronto media or fan base. the rest here: Toronto SunSounds like The Monster McGuire saying the Leafs had "The Big 4" |
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Post by jkr on Jan 31, 2019 12:24:49 GMT -5
Holy Makinaw! Some random quotes . . . In Matthews, Tavares and Nazem Kadri, the Leafs have a trio of centres that are the best in the NHL. In Frederik Andersen, they have a goalie capable of winning the Vezina Trophy. And with Muzzin joining Morgan Rielly, Ron Hainsey and Jake Gardiner on backend, the defence is no longer the team’s Achilles’ heel.
This is easily the best team Babcock has had since reaching back-to-back finals with Nicklas Lidstrom, Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg in Detroit. On paper, it actually might be better.
The Leafs are now a top-5 team in the NHL. They might even be amongst the top-3.
It’s not the Bruins or the Lightning that should make the Leafs scared anymore. It’s the other way around.
I know we (often) think better of our team than it is . . . but top 3 in the league? wow! I give them (grudgingly) that they can be better than the Habs on any given night offensively, but I'll take Price over Andersen as the equalizer . . . top 3 means that only 2 of these are better: TBay, Boston (who I'd take in 6 over the Leafs), Winnipeg, Nashville, even Calgary . . . SJ in there too . . . Washington won't disappear . . . dreams and hopes and reality . . . but it is time for the team to put up or shut up! but they won't. do either, I mean, in the Toronto media or fan base. the rest here: Toronto SunThis article reads like something you will find on a Leafs website. They get Doughty's D partner & suddenly they are the East favorites? He makes Hainsey better? Hainsey has never been the guy & this trade doesn't change that. I find his discussion of Nylander & Kadri interesting as both, until their last game, have been disappointing offensively if not downright invisible; especially Nylander. As if one good game now changes everything. This was written in the Toronto media way. Look at the last game, not the season to date, and draw your conclusions.  |
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