Pre-Game Talk: Leafs @ Habs

[supermann_98]

Nothing I enjoy more than beating the Habs. Caulfield looks like a player. He always puts himself in a position to score. It’s his defensive game that may get him in the dog house. We will see. Feeling good about this one. 5-2 buds with empty net.

Not worried in the least about Cole Caufield and him being the next great Habs prospect. I expect him to progress along the same path trajectory as Domi, Drouin, Galchenyuk, Kotkaniemi, Mete, etc.... Impactful at the beginning, turns into nothing, rinse and repeat.
The guy is 5’7 and even in this new skill-focused NHL that’s too small to be a real difference maker, especially after teams key in on him and take away his shot. After the new shiny toy begins to fade and the Montreal media starts ripping him for a lazy backcheck or missed assignment in the defensive zone, he will fail

 

[al secord]

The leash should be short for Freddie. Hopefully that motivates him and he plays well.

 

[BertCorbeau]

If by Dermott you mean Sandin then I agree

I think Dermott is what he is at this point.

Well it's both really. Dermott is one of the expansion draft casualty candidates. In order for him to prove that he should stay with the team, he'll need to step up and show he can play an important role outside of third paring minutes. He's not going to get PP time, so he has to show that he can be good on the PK.

He's only 24 with a couple hundred games on his belt, probably a solid #5 right. I don't believe his development is done. He has good tools that could make him a solid two way #4 d-man but he needs to keep getting better and making the most of his opportunities. Bogo's injury is one of these opportunities. Not to mention it's a chance for him to show that he can play the right side.

 

[egd27]

Hey, is dat da “language “ police

To quote Ilya Mikheyev, "da"

 

[Jozay]

 

[Fogelhund]

Not worried in the least about Cole Caufield and him being the next great Habs prospect. I expect him to progress along the same path trajectory as Domi, Drouin, Galchenyuk, Kotkaniemi, Mete, etc.... Impactful at the beginning, turns into nothing, rinse and repeat.
The guy is 5’7 and even in this new skill-focused NHL that’s too small to be a real difference maker, especially after teams key in on him and take away his shot. After the new shiny toy begins to fade and the Montreal media starts ripping him for a lazy backcheck or missed assignment in the defensive zone, he will fail

and yet, DeBrincat is also 5'7" and PPG this year, his fourth year in the NHL. Size isn't likely going to be a factor in Caufield's success, or lack thereof.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Size isn't likely going to be a factor

That's what she said

 

[al secord]

I remember the days when reading something like this would make me so anxious.

 

[ACC1224]

What’s with the 8pm start?

 

[egd27]

The leash should be short for Freddie. Hopefully that motivates him and he plays well.

Are we still using fear as a motivator? Thought we tossed that out with those bad men that used to run the team.

 

[ToneDog]

Are we still using fear as a motivator? Thought we tossed that out with those bad men that used to run the team.

With Lou gone, I doubt Andy is going to find a horse's head in his locker.

 

[al secord]

Are we still using fear as a motivator? Thought we tossed that out with those bad men that used to run the team.

Fear, alcohol and women are my 3 main motivators.

 

[Hockey Crazy]

What’s with the 8pm start?

It's perfect for me... kids bed time, make dinner, then Leafs

 

[VanW27]

and yet, DeBrincat is also 5'7" and PPG this year, his fourth year in the NHL. Size isn't likely going to be a factor in Caufield's success, or lack thereof.

Its always gonna be harder for a guy that size, DeBrincat proves it can be done but it doesn't prove it isn't a factor.

Of 658 players to play 20 or more games this year only 3 are 5'7" or shorter (<0.5%). Besides Debrincat the other 2 are 4th liners (Grimaldi and Lizotte).

Honestly, the same thing applies to Robertson, he has a bit more size at 5'9" and 26 players 5'9" or shorter have played at least 20 games (~4%) including a number of good ones (Marchand, Gallagher, Zuccarello, etc.) so that's a pretty good increase at that height so the numbers work out in his favor a bit more.

Still, for guys that size, until they do it at the NHL level its always going to be a big question mark. Just look at Debrincat, back to back 50 goal years headed into his draft and he still went in the second round.

 

[egd27]

What’s with the 8pm start?

It the "old gen" game. Going back to the 60's and 70's when the HNIC games followed Don Messer's Jubilee.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Unpopular take - I was kinda hoping Freddy was done here

 

[Bomber0104]

Unpopular take - I was kinda hoping Freddy was done here

Actually, scapegoating isn't uncommon/unpopular in Leaf land, at all.

It's always one or two that get blamed for everything that goes wrong.

 

[zeke]

Criticizing a goalie with an .897sv% ain't scapegoating, of course.

 

[ACC1224]

It the "old gen" game. Going back to the 60's and 70's when the HNIC games followed Don Messer's Jubilee.

I wonder who thought that was a good idea?

 

[ACC1224]

Andersen is starting?

 

[Gary Nylund]

Criticizing a goalie with an .897sv% ain't scapegoating, of course.

Criticizing - understandable.
Hoping he's done - not rational as we're not exactly set in goal.

 

[LeafsOHLRangers98]

With 67' points... Year of destiny.

 

[ACC1224]

Criticizing - understandable.
Hoping he's done - not rational as we're not exactly set in goal.

The issue with Andersen isn’t his save % but his knack for letting in the back breaking goal.

 

[al secord]

Unpopular take - I was kinda hoping Freddy was done here

I'm hoping he goes on a heater and wins the Cup/Conn Smythe. Then the habs sign him to Carey Price money and term in the offseason. Win/win.

 

[Fogelhund]