Winnipeg and Nashville are tough teams now? Those must be some metrics that make Shiefele, Ehlers, Laine, Ellis, Arvidsson, and Turris tough players lol.
Lack of pushback ability? Did we not watch the Leafs go down 3-1 in a series and then battle back to game 7? Did our "figure skater" in Marner not score nine points in seven games? Did Kadri not get suspended for three games for a hit he threw in direct response to one on Marner? The Leafs are never going to be a tough team, but I honestly have no idea what you're basing your definitions of tough and "hard to play against" on. The only thing you're really correct and consistent about is that the Caps were a tough team this year.
And because it needed to be posted again:
Good post.
And yeah, it’s funny how super skilled teams like Tampa/Winnipeg/Preds are getting projected by some as being a “tough” team. I’m not exactly following that logic myself
I made a similar prediction in an earlier post regarding Brown. lolConnor Brown gets traded at the Trade Deadline for a defensive upgrade of some sort.
How many goals take the rocket though? My guess is he'll pot 49.My hot take:
Matthews wins the Rocket Richard trophy this year. boo-yah.
Leafs lead the NHL in goals scored but finish no better than 15th in goals against.
Why expect them to be worse defensively than last year?
Please don't say Polak.
The worst thing about that, was the Boston Bruins.1 more if Nylander dissappears in game 1 next year against Boston in playoffs he will not dress for game 2. i think he already knows this but maybe for the fans it may be a shocker when if happens. that said i hope he plays amazing we need him to show up next year.
I agree generally in what your saying here. I have to admit,I was a bit surprised at how well most of the Leafs fought through the rough go in the Boston series. So,they seem to be able to take it ,which is a big part of playoff hockey.Retaliation usually has a reverse effect.Dressing a bunch of figure skaters is only going to get you so far. IMO
Eventually, particularly in playoff hockey where the games get tighter and more physical and intense the Leafs will be bringing a knife to a gun fight and outmatched.
I think lack of push back ability and backbone will make the soft, small, skilled & fast Leafs easy to play against, if you can enforce your will on the team physically and they have no response.
Nobody questions the Leafs talent and offensive ability being among the best in the league, but their alkalies kneel of vulnerability is their lack of team toughness and their defense core and opposition will exploit that weakness to their gain.
"When the going gets tough, the tough get going" and its teams like Winnipeg and Smashville and Washington who were built for playoff hockey, had success in the final 4 because in a skating league they held the advantage of team toughness to neutralize teams built for just speed or skill alone.
Winnipeg and Nashville are tough teams now? Those must be some metrics that make Shiefele, Ehlers, Laine, Ellis, Arvidsson, and Turris tough players lol.
Lack of pushback ability? Did we not watch the Leafs go down 3-1 in a series and then battle back to game 7? Did our "figure skater" in Marner not score nine points in seven games? Did Kadri not get suspended for three games for a hit he threw in direct response to one on Marner? The Leafs are never going to be a tough team, but I honestly have no idea what you're basing your definitions of tough and "hard to play against" on. The only thing you're really correct and consistent about is that the Caps were a tough team this year.
And because it needed to be posted again:
Neither Matthews nor Marner agree to their long-term extensions this year and do so next summer instead after both record >= 80 points.
Nylander ends up with only a bridge deal. Results in being dealt for Colton Parayko before the 2019 season begins.
Leafs lead the NHL in goals scored but finish no better than 15th in goals against.
Why expect them to be worse defensively than last year?
Please don't say Polak.
Leafs gave up 28 goals against in 7 games in the 2017-18 playoffs = 4.0 GA/g.
The expansion Vegas Knights gave up only 27 GA total after 3 rounds & wins on their way to the SCF.
I didn't see anything done this offseason to address that so I suspect it will remain an issue this season.
Moving out a good #3 NHL defenseman for an AHLer is a downgradeTrade gardiner for anything.
Insert borgman or rosen. Profit.
Are we moving on of those? We're talking about Gardiner here.Moving out a good #3 NHL defenseman for an AHLer is a downgrade
How many defensemen can get 52 points without being good at hockey?Are we moving on of those? We're talking about Gardiner here.
How many goals take the rocket though? My guess is he'll pot 49.
How many defensemen can get 52 points without being good at hockey?
that sounds tough to track.POINTS POINTS POINTS POINTS! I'm tired of this crap. Since you stats geeks are so convinced about your stats, I'm going to make a new one up so we can track Gardiner's play. it's called AHNMP/60. Avoidance of Hits Needed to Make Plays/60. Should be easy to track. And it'll be a big number.