Hello friends, hope you're all having a great day! But, from reading a good number of threads the past few weeks I don't think such is the case. There seems to be a good deal of misery in the land of Leaf fans. I, however, don't share the degree of pessimism that seems to haunt many. Please allow me a moment to explain why...
*The Leafs are an extremely talented team, especially up front. Our D corp is noticeably weaker, but I think we can agree that at least our LD players are all NHL competent.
*Goaltending hasn't, for the most part, been a concern and in Fred A. we've got ourselves a talent.
*Love him or hate him, Babcock is a good, if stubborn, NHL coach. You don't win 600+ games and produce the 20th overall highest percentage of points won without having some good abilities/philosophies about the game.
*Dubas, while young and largely untested at the NHL level, has consistently produced winning products in his climb to the top. Yes, one can argue that he's not led this team to the levels of success it should be achieving, but one can counter that opinion with a 'Rome wasn't built in a day' defense.
*Shanny has a vision, which by all accounts most agreed with and which by my estimation is still being pursued with determination. If you bought into his vision at the beginning, I'd guess you're not against it today.
Overall, I'd argue that this team is in, for the most part, a very good place...certainly better than I've seen in many a year. But those pesky molehills seem to be building a degree of frustration that is toppling the commitment/confidence towards this team. In no particular order these are all 'IMO' takes...
*Collectively, we're seeing a large group of the team losing confidence in themselves - not each other - at the same time. I think the pressure on Nylander to perform has affected him in a big way, he's not a 3.5% shooter. Kadri's historical shooting % is better than where he's at today (and if half of his hit posts went in, he'd be at 15 goals). Matthews appears injured or protecting against injury...or is timid for whatever reason. Marleau's efforts, while worrisome, are hopefully a product of knowing his body and age and saving himself for the playoffs. These four affect two of our 4 lines and leave Tavares and Marner (this past month) and our depth line to threaten on a consistent basis. Not good, but I expect some return to the mean as we move forward which will balance and improve our scoring.
*Babcock's decisions warrant examination and criticism, but not to the degree that some here present. A case could be made that his line combinations have been as flexible as at any time during his tenure here - in part due to injuries - but he has not been static. His pairings on D, I would suggest, are one area that he needs to examine, perhaps moving Dermott up to the 2nd pairing and giving Jake and Mo a go, does he rotate more on the R side, giving Marincin and Holl more time on the ice, but essentially, given the players he has: Hainsey, Zaitsev, Oz, Marincin and Holl, his options are limited. Dubas needs to address this. Stretch passes and the PP are the two areas that concern me the most in has approach to the game. But given he's only got one effective puck mover on D with each pairing, I'm not sure what his options are. The PP structure has become stagnant. I'd still split up the loaded PP, but I'd look to change things up by playing on the #1 PP: Johnnson/Matthews/Nylander with Jake and Mitch on the backend. I'd follow that with Tavares flanked by Kapanen and Kadri, with Mo and Mitch/Nylander (depending). I'd add, Andersen should be alternating with Sparks more. It allows Freddy to be better rested for the playoffs and it gives GS more chances to acclimate to the pace of the NHL.
*Dubas needs to address the D. Eastern Conference teams I'd target: 'Canes, Flyers, Devils, Wings. WC: 'Nucks, Ducks, Blues, Kings (as things stand today). I wouldn't expect to hit a home run, but an upgrade is required. A more physical player than what we currently have would be nice, but puck handling skills better than what we have are essential. Further, a forward who has a bit of a 'dangerous' element to his game, would help balance the ledger in games where our players might feel intimidated. Sadly, Dubas is handcuffed by two contracts signed by Lou: Patrick M (who I think was a brilliant add, but for too much term) and Zaitsev, which I can't understand.
*Collectively, these issues have helped contribute to a general malaise which is affecting the team and which is making this team difficult to watch. However, they are not fatal concerns (missing or losing in playoffs).
My biggest HOT take
is that this team has yet to determine it's identity. We're in a state of flux and don't know who to look to for the 'team' push towards accountability on the ice. We've got plenty of leadership, but are experiencing the maturing phase of learning the pecking order. Marleau and Hainsey's time of leading by example, other than in words and dressing room value, have peaked. Tavares, Kadri, Andersen, Rielly are all experienced, but have yet to assert in a big way (with Tavares, especially, being somewhat of a surprise in not shaking things up a bit...newness?). Matthews and Marner still young and not yet being given the seal of approval? Essentially, our flat performances of late are on the players. Thankfully and hopefully, I see the quality of these people as being our best chance of escaping the doldrums. As we've the All Star break coming up soon, I think now will be the perfect time for Dubas and Babcock to step in and speak to those players mentioned above and say to them, fix it, it's your team, fix it. You've got our support, you folks get the rest of the team on board and we'll figure it out from there. I like our talent, I like our character, I'd like to see an addition or two and a less dominant presentation from our coach. It's time for the players to stand up and I think they can do it. Go Leafs!
If you made it this far, you're a heck of a patient person.
*The Leafs are an extremely talented team, especially up front. Our D corp is noticeably weaker, but I think we can agree that at least our LD players are all NHL competent.
*Goaltending hasn't, for the most part, been a concern and in Fred A. we've got ourselves a talent.
*Love him or hate him, Babcock is a good, if stubborn, NHL coach. You don't win 600+ games and produce the 20th overall highest percentage of points won without having some good abilities/philosophies about the game.
*Dubas, while young and largely untested at the NHL level, has consistently produced winning products in his climb to the top. Yes, one can argue that he's not led this team to the levels of success it should be achieving, but one can counter that opinion with a 'Rome wasn't built in a day' defense.
*Shanny has a vision, which by all accounts most agreed with and which by my estimation is still being pursued with determination. If you bought into his vision at the beginning, I'd guess you're not against it today.
Overall, I'd argue that this team is in, for the most part, a very good place...certainly better than I've seen in many a year. But those pesky molehills seem to be building a degree of frustration that is toppling the commitment/confidence towards this team. In no particular order these are all 'IMO' takes...
*Collectively, we're seeing a large group of the team losing confidence in themselves - not each other - at the same time. I think the pressure on Nylander to perform has affected him in a big way, he's not a 3.5% shooter. Kadri's historical shooting % is better than where he's at today (and if half of his hit posts went in, he'd be at 15 goals). Matthews appears injured or protecting against injury...or is timid for whatever reason. Marleau's efforts, while worrisome, are hopefully a product of knowing his body and age and saving himself for the playoffs. These four affect two of our 4 lines and leave Tavares and Marner (this past month) and our depth line to threaten on a consistent basis. Not good, but I expect some return to the mean as we move forward which will balance and improve our scoring.
*Babcock's decisions warrant examination and criticism, but not to the degree that some here present. A case could be made that his line combinations have been as flexible as at any time during his tenure here - in part due to injuries - but he has not been static. His pairings on D, I would suggest, are one area that he needs to examine, perhaps moving Dermott up to the 2nd pairing and giving Jake and Mo a go, does he rotate more on the R side, giving Marincin and Holl more time on the ice, but essentially, given the players he has: Hainsey, Zaitsev, Oz, Marincin and Holl, his options are limited. Dubas needs to address this. Stretch passes and the PP are the two areas that concern me the most in has approach to the game. But given he's only got one effective puck mover on D with each pairing, I'm not sure what his options are. The PP structure has become stagnant. I'd still split up the loaded PP, but I'd look to change things up by playing on the #1 PP: Johnnson/Matthews/Nylander with Jake and Mitch on the backend. I'd follow that with Tavares flanked by Kapanen and Kadri, with Mo and Mitch/Nylander (depending). I'd add, Andersen should be alternating with Sparks more. It allows Freddy to be better rested for the playoffs and it gives GS more chances to acclimate to the pace of the NHL.
*Dubas needs to address the D. Eastern Conference teams I'd target: 'Canes, Flyers, Devils, Wings. WC: 'Nucks, Ducks, Blues, Kings (as things stand today). I wouldn't expect to hit a home run, but an upgrade is required. A more physical player than what we currently have would be nice, but puck handling skills better than what we have are essential. Further, a forward who has a bit of a 'dangerous' element to his game, would help balance the ledger in games where our players might feel intimidated. Sadly, Dubas is handcuffed by two contracts signed by Lou: Patrick M (who I think was a brilliant add, but for too much term) and Zaitsev, which I can't understand.
*Collectively, these issues have helped contribute to a general malaise which is affecting the team and which is making this team difficult to watch. However, they are not fatal concerns (missing or losing in playoffs).
My biggest HOT take
is that this team has yet to determine it's identity. We're in a state of flux and don't know who to look to for the 'team' push towards accountability on the ice. We've got plenty of leadership, but are experiencing the maturing phase of learning the pecking order. Marleau and Hainsey's time of leading by example, other than in words and dressing room value, have peaked. Tavares, Kadri, Andersen, Rielly are all experienced, but have yet to assert in a big way (with Tavares, especially, being somewhat of a surprise in not shaking things up a bit...newness?). Matthews and Marner still young and not yet being given the seal of approval? Essentially, our flat performances of late are on the players. Thankfully and hopefully, I see the quality of these people as being our best chance of escaping the doldrums. As we've the All Star break coming up soon, I think now will be the perfect time for Dubas and Babcock to step in and speak to those players mentioned above and say to them, fix it, it's your team, fix it. You've got our support, you folks get the rest of the team on board and we'll figure it out from there. I like our talent, I like our character, I'd like to see an addition or two and a less dominant presentation from our coach. It's time for the players to stand up and I think they can do it. Go Leafs!If you made it this far, you're a heck of a patient person.
