Around the League - ...in 56 Games

[Zybalto]

Many Leaf fans would not trade Nylander for Kane (50% retained) but damn, Kaner has moved ahead of Marner and tied with Matty with 31 points.

Benefit of a weak division!

 

[ToneDog]

Benefit of a weak division!

Yeah that, and missing Toews, Dach and Crawford leaving.

Guessing Kane wanted no part of the rebuild.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Hawks are third in their division right now .. can't see them being sellers right now being in the mix for a playoff spot.

 

[Warden of the North]

Anyways, I say this every year, but the first month of the season is not when people should be making definitive statements about any team in any league.

We always hear "This team is the class of the division" or "This team has locked up a playoff spot already" or "This team has killed their playoff chances already" etc. Dont say these things! When will the media learn?

 

[zeke]

Oh certainly.

Montreal radio is the most homer radio Ive ever listened to. They list off all these "great moves" they have made while not realizing that these moves are in fact not grea. Like, making a huge plodding defense that cant move the puck isnt great in 2021. Edmundson, Chiarot, etc arent great defenseman. They arent great moves.

That YUGE dcorps was supposed to smash the soft leafs into oblivion.

 

[zeke]

I still think the coaching change was nuts.

Fells weird to say it but if Carey Price played as well as Jake Allen, the Habs are up near the top of the division. Their numbers have been that good and Price has been that bad.

I'll be tracking them post coaching change but its not promising so far.

At the same time, Allen shouldn't be that good either.

Overall I think the Habs are at ~20th in save % which is reasonable given their goalies' recent histories.

 

[htpwn]

On the flip side, Jets are a very good team. Dubois is a legit top line center along with Schiefele

I hadn't considered it when the trade was made, but the 1/2 punch of Dubois/Schiefele really sets up the Jets well long-term.

Even with a mediocre supporting cast, that type of strength up the middle plus a decent goalie is almost guaranteed to be a playoff team.

On another note, the Senators, who are essentially dressing an AHL team this year, are 3pts back of Vancouver with 2 games in hand. Jim Benning really is beyond incompetent.

 

[Zybalto]

At the same time, Allen shouldn't be that good either.

Overall I think the Habs are at ~20th in save % which is reasonable given their goalies' recent histories.

Yea, they had the same problem we did last year except our backup goalkeeping has been lightyears better than last year while our offensive game is even better.

Andersen has been his usual inconsistent self (especially on the PK) but Price has been close to tire fire level. That contract is looking so bad.

The Habs team play has been really good though and I think the coaching change may hurt the team. When the worst thing about the team is the powerplay and your starter while your 5v5 numbers are maybe the best in the league, why fire your head coach? Why not just get new special teams guys and work with Price? This looks purely political in nature as the GM was feeling the heat and used the headcoach as a scapegoat.

 

[Zybalto]

5v5 totals under Julien:

CF%: 55.86 (2nd in the NHL)
xGF%: 57.36 (1st in the NHL)
GF%: 63.59 (1st in the NHL)

Fire this guy!

 

[BertCorbeau]

Gives me vibes of the Maurice era, where the roster was incredibly mediocre but below average goaltending really sunk them and Maurice was canned despite getting the most of the roster.

That being said I wouldn't believe the underlying stats of the Leafs at that time were as good as the Habs under Julien, but the general point is more about how the coach is the scapegoat for roster issues.

I think Calgary could be a good landing spot for Julien ... They have a good goalie, some nice defensive pieces, and could use some better structure.

 

[Critical13]

Gives me vibes of the Maurice era, where the roster was incredibly mediocre but below average goaltending really sunk them and Maurice was canned despite getting the most of the roster.

That being said I wouldn't believe the underlying stats of the Leafs at that time were as good as the Habs under Julien, but the general point is more about how the coach is the scapegoat for roster issues.

I think Calgary could be a good landing spot for Julien ... They have a good goalie, some nice defensive pieces, and could use some better structure.

That's a great fit, Bert. Agreed!

 

[RealisticLeaf55]

I am not buying all the Jets hype.

Their goalie is world class and their offense is good, but their defense have more holes than the star wars movie franchise.

If Hellebuyck gets injured the wheels on that locomotive will fall and that team eventually crashes hard. Maybe not as bad as Montreal, but bad enough.

 

[Nineteen67]

According to the Bruins intermission panel the Bruins got pushed around a little by Rangers. Trent Frederic stepped up again. From what I’ve seen he’s a likeable player.

 

[willmma]

The best team in hockey - perfection line and all - are getting hammered for the second night in a row.

4 goals against in the last 4 minutes.

Can't blame Halak for this one.

 

[Big Muddy]

Rags beat the Bruins tonight 6 - 2.

 

[willmma]

Kadri with a big night 2 assists and GWG Ina 3-2 win.

 

[Dragao6]

Anyways, I say this every year, but the first month of the season is not when people should be making definitive statements about any team in any league.

We always hear "This team is the class of the division" or "This team has locked up a playoff spot already" or "This team has killed their playoff chances already" etc. Dont say these things! When will the media learn?

Ie: Montreal Canadians this year lol

I hadn't considered it when the trade was made, but the 1/2 punch of Dubois/Schiefele really sets up the Jets well long-term.

Even with a mediocre supporting cast, that type of strength up the middle plus a decent goalie is almost guaranteed to be a playoff team.

isn’t that the leafs the last few years?

 

[Warden of the North]

How much better would Montreal look if they had moved KK or Suzuki in a deal for Dubois?

Surprised they didn't push the chips in. A bonafide francophone 1C in his early 20s

 

[RealisticLeaf55]

How much better would Montreal look if they had moved KK or Suzuki in a deal for Dubois?

Surprised they didn't push the chips in. A bonafide francophone 1C in his early 20s

Not that much better outside of their francophone posterity points.

No good wingers and bulky, burdensome contracts like Price and Gallagher, possibly even Weber now.

 

[Critical13]

Not that much better outside of their francophone posterity points.

No good wingers and bulky, burdensome contracts like Price and Gallagher, possibly even Weber now.

Personally I feel like Kotkaniemi lacks high end potential outside his shot, and flipping him and other assets for PLD would have been fantastic.

 

[RealisticLeaf55]

Personally I feel like Kotkaniemi lacks high end potential outside his shit and flipping him an other assets for PLD would have been fantastic.

I can agree to some extend, but the problem areas stay the same.

Montreal is an offensive blackhole.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Not that much better outside of their francophone posterity points.

No good wingers and bulky, burdensome contracts like Price and Gallagher, possibly even Weber now.

They have good wingers, just nobody particularly elite. Despite his looming contract, Gallagher's been very good in the last few years.. And Toffoli's solid. Anderson's been playing like a top 6 winger so far as well, though I don't think he's a 30-goal guy.

Toffoli-PLD-Gallagher would be a strong first line.

 

[RealisticLeaf55]

They have good wingers, just nobody particularly elite. Despite his looming contract, Gallagher's been very good in the last few years.. And Toffoli's solid. Anderson's been playing like a top 6 winger so far as well, though I don't think he's a 30-goal guy.

Toffoli-PLD-Gallagher would be a strong first line.

That's a good second line. Strong first line? No. Picture that line going against top defenses and hard hitting forwards.

As a Leafs fan, I would salivate at the opportunity to play against that line in a playoff matchup.

They might back check but Gallagher will get a dumb penalty and our powerplay would slaughter that team.

 

[Menzinger]

They have good wingers, just nobody particularly elite. Despite his looming contract, Gallagher's been very good in the last few years.. And Toffoli's solid. Anderson's been playing like a top 6 winger so far as well, though I don't think he's a 30-goal guy.

Toffoli-PLD-Gallagher would be a strong first line.

Its a team of solid B to B+ pieces. That offensive group lacks any top tier talent.

Price will soon be in contention for one of the worst contracts in the league the ways he's playing

 

[Warden of the North]

Not that much better outside of their francophone posterity points.

No good wingers and bulky, burdensome contracts like Price and Gallagher, possibly even Weber now.

Toffoli and Anderson are both "good" wingers and Caufield is an A grade prospect.