How to beat the Leafs

stuart5035

Registered User
Apr 9, 2017
328
338
I am confounded at the difference between the Tampa game and the Florida/Minnesota/Colorado games, it’s like Jekyll and Hyde. So difficult to go from euphoria to utter frustration.

Could it be that the way to beat the Leafs is to clog the middle, everyone back in front of the net, have big fast forwards to jump on the frail Leaf defense, have their own defense muscle any Leafs who dare get to close. Play a classic trap, hit constantly. Don’t do what talented fast Tampa did, go end to end. We all know that talent on paper doesn’t mean anything.

Or is a major reason our defense, as so many comment? Analysts laud the offender and puck handling our defense brings (I think we are amongst the top teams for offenders from the defense, so I’ve heard). Is a better approach to have a few physically punishing types instead? Or is the smart approach a fast skating mobile corps as hitting increasingly decreases and speed is everything? Is our defense really that bad? Is all that’s needed is to have the forwards reduce the spread? Drop the stretch passes, numerous icings?

Or is a major Re-set needed? Like “give” the team to Matthews, make him captain, give him 22-23 minutes a game, stack the lines, bring back Moore, don’t mix the Marleau’s, Browns and Hymans with the pure offensive talents. Stop this “socialist” approach where minutes are spread out to everyone.

Is the “poor effort” we constantly complain about in the past month plus really that? I think all players want to play hard and win, but does our team “go home” a bit when the going gets tough (like the big muscular team that traps and sends big fast forwards at us, like Colorado?). Is it not work ethic but more too many players that don’t get pissed off? Is it needing a few nasty ones to stir a complacent placid crew?

More than anything, where has the offense gone ? Are we really a fast team? Or are so many teams just as fast, even faster? Is there a way to measure that? Why do we seem to have so little offensive zone time lately? Why are so many forwards ineffectual?

Is coaching the issue? What would a Joel Quenneville do differently? Is there a rift between Babcock and Matthews as so often rumoured? Is “giving” the team to Matthews mean saying good bye to Babcock? ( I believe Matthews is the key to unravel this, something is very wrong imo, for a player that should be about ready to take over the league, he is a mere shadow of that)

I’m at a loss, as you can probably tell, a long time suffering Leaf lover who thought, last fall, that the suffering was over.

Or is patience all that’s needed, like so many say? Is this just “every team goes through a rough spot”, they’ll be fine?

Please, thoughtful, caring replies, reasoned criticism where deserved. Simply venting our frustration publically will only hurt our Leafs and our own hopes.
 
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CantLoseWithMatthews

Registered User
Sep 28, 2015
49,550
59,135
The Leafs tend to beat themselves. if they go off to a good start in a game and get a lead, they're excellent. if they fall behind, they tend to give up. they also give extremely inconsistent efforts
 

Nalens Oga

Registered User
Jan 5, 2010
16,780
1,053
Canada
I'd say any team that does these has a pretty good chance barring bad luck or defensive breakdowns:

Play with more energy, this is a given for most matchups of course but you especially need to forecheck the Leafs dmen because they're terrible with and without the puck in the corners or behind the net

Clog the neutral zone, team has the skill to skate through it but tries to pass it

Block the slot especially on the PP because the team relies too much on bad shots from the point and the Leafs PP itself has two players clogging the slot

Have your best players really attack the net, the Leafs D pairings aren't co-ordinated and they don't handle it well when good skaters cut to the middle.

Take away Marner's seam-passes on the PP

Make sure that your wingers are high up the boards blocking the outlet passes from Leafs dmen to Leafs wingers because the Leafs wingers themselves are fairly high up the zone rather than dropping back.
 
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Northernguy10

Registered User
May 26, 2013
3,402
843
Timmins Ontario
Nice overview...You've covered all, or most, of the bases...I would hope the team brass is analyzing all of this...It takes time to make substantial changes but we can certainly get much better in the mean time.
 

Al14

Registered User
Jul 13, 2007
24,093
5,452
In some games, just show up ready to play, and, our Leafs fold like a cheap tent!

On far too many occasions, our Leafs are out played, and, out coached.
 
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stuart5035

Registered User
Apr 9, 2017
328
338
I'd say any team that does these has a pretty good chance barring bad luck or defensive breakdowns:

Play with more energy, this is a given for most matchups of course but you especially need to forecheck the Leafs dmen because they're terrible with and without the puck in the corners or behind the net

Clog the neutral zone, team has the skill to skate through it but tries to pass it

Block the slot especially on the PP because the team relies too much on bad shots from the point and the Leafs PP itself has two players clogging the slot

Have your best players really attack the net, the Leafs D pairings aren't co-ordinated and they don't handle it well when good skaters cut to the middle.

Take away Marner's seam-passes on the PP

Make sure that your wingers are high up the boards blocking the outlet passes from Leafs dmen to Leafs wingers because the Leafs wingers themselves are fairly high up the zone rather than dropping back.
Well said
 

Mattavarner

Registered User
Apr 17, 2014
1,595
1,198
How to beat the leafs?
Work hard, start on time, be heavy on your sticks, be like Hyman and Marleau, cause just walking by them makes you better.
 
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Jackson14

Registered User
Feb 23, 2013
727
396
Disrupt the stretch pass and watch the Leafs ice the puck 1000 times a night.

I'm getting really sick of the stretch pass. It's almost like a comedy watching the Leafs fire pucks up the middle of the ice all night. Of course it works about once every 10 tries so Babcock and Co. can say SEE, it works!

Also I'm finding Leafs games boring as hell recently because of it...
 
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Joedoggy

Registered User
Feb 7, 2017
929
287
The Leafs never win unless Mikey gets last line change...."you haven't been listening to Mikey"
 

Joedoggy

Registered User
Feb 7, 2017
929
287
Disrupt the stretch pass and watch the Leafs ice the puck 1000 times a night.

I'm getting really sick of the stretch pass. It's almost like a comedy watching the Leafs fire pucks up the middle of the ice all night. Of course it works about once every 10 tries so Babcock and Co. can say SEE, it works!

Also I'm finding Leafs games boring as hell recently because of it...

You hit the nail on the head...Speed skaters and the stretch pass ..you were generous on the "works once in 10 tries"
 

Wafflewhipper

Registered User
Jan 18, 2014
14,114
5,694
I am confounded at the difference between the Tampa game and the Florida/Minnesota/Colorado games, it’s like Jekyll and Hyde. So difficult to go from euphoria to utter frustration.

Could it be that the way to beat the Leafs is to clog the middle, everyone back in front of the net, have big fast forwards to jump on the frail Leaf defense, have their own defense muscle any Leafs who dare get to close. Play a classic trap, hit constantly. Don’t do what talented fast Tampa did, go end to end. We all know that talent on paper doesn’t mean anything.

Or is a major reason our defense, as so many comment? Analysts laud the offender and puck handling our defense brings (I think we are amongst the top teams for offenders from the defense, so I’ve heard). Is a better approach to have a few physically punishing types instead? Or is the smart approach a fast skating mobile corps as hitting increasingly decreases and speed is everything? Is our defense really that bad? Is all that’s needed is to have the forwards reduce the spread? Drop the stretch passes, numerous icings?

Or is a major Re-set needed? Like “give” the team to Matthews, make him captain, give him 22-23 minutes a game, stack the lines, bring back Moore, don’t mix the Marleau’s, Browns and Hymans with the pure offensive talents. Stop this “socialist” approach where minutes are spread out to everyone.

Is the “poor effort” we constantly complain about in the past month plus really that? I think all players want to play hard and win, but does our team “go home” a bit when the going gets tough (like the big muscular team that traps and sends big fast forwards at us, like Colorado?). Is it not work ethic but more too many players that don’t get pissed off? Is it needing a few nasty ones to stir a complacent placid crew?

More than anything, where has the offense gone ? Are we really a fast team? Or are so many teams just as fast, even faster? Is there a way to measure that? Why do we seem to have so little offensive zone time lately? Why are so many forwards ineffectual?

Is coaching the issue? What would a Joel Quenneville do differently? Is there a rift between Babcock and Matthews as so often rumoured? Is “giving” the team to Matthews mean saying good bye to Babcock? ( I believe Matthews is the key to unravel this, something is very wrong imo, for a player that should be about ready to take over the league, he is a mere shadow of that)

I’m at a loss, as you can probably tell, a long time suffering Leaf lover who thought, last fall, that the suffering was over.

Or is patience all that’s needed, like so many say? Is this just “every team goes through a rough spot”, they’ll be fine?

Please, thoughtful, caring replies, reasoned criticism where deserved. Simply venting our frustration publically will only hurt our Leafs and our own hopes.

You are blind. Losses make you blind. ;)

Good team, rough stretch and the god damed media vultures are all starting shit again and fans are buying it.

Quite the suckers us leaf fans that are dooned to listening to these B.S analysts on every sport channel.

Great team in the making. In the making not finished product. Patience
 
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lifelonghockeyfan

Registered User
Dec 18, 2015
6,283
1,356
Lake Huron
The author made the comment "make Matthews captain". if that would mean anything.

Nylander has easily been the worse Leaf. Don't play him. Period. It seem like a lost year for him. Leafs are just 8 points from missing the playoffs. I would go with 7th Dmen, maybe having Holl as Gardiner's sometime partner, and have Zaitsev playing less maybe just on the PK. He has lost the ability to handle the puck.

Don't know why Zaitsev does back in Russian during the summer, but if possible make him stay in Toronto and get really training and practice during the off season. Would like the same for Nylander.
 

usernamezrhardtodo

Registered User
Mar 26, 2014
2,246
2,662
How to beat the leafs?
Work hard, start on time, be heavy on your sticks, be like Hyman and Marleau, cause just walking by them makes you better.

When Babs said that about Marleau...I think I threw up in my mouth. If your a younger player on the team who kinda looks up to him...you would just roll your eyes and say WTF?

It's those cliche terms that he uses OVER and OVER that must be just grating on the younger guys on the team. I personally cannot stand babcock and I am closer to his age than any of the kids are. He just seems like such a douche in the way he will always just say that the other team wanted it more...thats it...work before skill..etc.

He is like a broken record that is stuck in a rut playing the same stuff over and over. I would think Mathews cannot stand him for the lack of ice time and the whole other system crap they play.
 

LeafFever

Registered User
Feb 12, 2016
18,890
6,178
Yeah, I think Babcock's praising of grinders and old players that are shells of their former selves is about enough. If I am Matthews I am very frustrated with my wingers for 3 years and my TOI.
If you love grinders, go get more. They're easy to acquire. LOL. Teams don't value them like Babcock does.

Marleau looks finished this season. Everyone is aware except Mike.
 
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usernamezrhardtodo

Registered User
Mar 26, 2014
2,246
2,662
Disrupt the stretch pass and watch the Leafs ice the puck 1000 times a night.

I'm getting really sick of the stretch pass. It's almost like a comedy watching the Leafs fire pucks up the middle of the ice all night. Of course it works about once every 10 tries so Babcock and Co. can say SEE, it works!

Also I'm finding Leafs games boring as hell recently because of it...

I just pay attention to the way other teams play when they get the puck compared to us. They seem to know what to do..can counter a for-check by making nice crisp passes...and they move up the ice as a unit. WHY CAN'T we do that? All we do is chip into a 50/50 win area of the ice...where the other team is covering our player standing STILL...and they get possession again ...rinse and repeat. I really don't enjoy watching them as much as I used to because of this style of play. It's boring and counter productive to witness.
 

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