Zaitsev's start to the season

[Brobust]

I'd prefer Zaitsev over Gardiner on the PP. Gardiner needs to be taken off the PP so he can focus on defence, like Babcock did with Rielly.

 

[ECanuck]

He has looked great so far. His offense is starting to come around it seems.

 

[Grandrift145]

I'd prefer Zaitsev over Gardiner on the PP. Gardiner needs to be taken off the PP so he can focus on defence, like Babcock did with Rielly.

Zaitsev should replace Rielly, Gardiner is actually good on the POWER Rielly isn't

 

[Brobust]

Zaitsev should replace Rielly, Gardiner is actually good on the POWER Rielly isn't

What are you basing that on? 4 games he's played so far? Because he barely got PP time last season.

By the way, he's got 3 PP points so far this season.

 

[Apotheosis]

He, Rielly and Hainsey have been our best D so far. Loving it.

 

[CanadasTeam]

Locked up for several years -- suck it Don

 

[Kshahdoo]

Zaitsev should replace Rielly, Gardiner is actually good on the POWER Rielly isn't

His TOI 21:31 without any PP. If you add 2:00-2:30 PP to it, it will become a little bit too much.

 

[zeke]

PP points per 60 pp minutes, last year + this year:

Rielly: 5.51
Zaitsev: 4.07
Gardiner: 3.45

5v4 pp only

Rielly 4.53
Zaitsev 3.39
Gardiner 3.10

it's gardiner that zaitsev would/should replace on the pp, not rielly, who's our best pp dman by a fair margin.

 

[Grandrift145]

What are you basing that on? 4 games he's played so far? Because he barely got PP time last season.

By the way, he's got 3 PP points so far this season.

Im basing it off watching them their entire nhl careers to this point. Zaitsev has a dangerous shot and has good offensive awareness. Reilly's shot is horrible

 

[TMLeafs17]

Zaits was very solid again tonight! Impressive start to the season, keep it up bud

 

[Critical13]

Are people complaining about our 33% powerplay?

 

[shaner8989]

He has improved immensely.

 

[Polaris1010]

he's a +6 so **** all those people that criticized his -22 or whatever last year

The simple reason seems that Zaitsev don't play with Reilly anymore, so plus minus improves.

I don't know what is wrong with Rielly, off to another slow start this season.

Gardiner, he makes the spectacular mistake in front of everybody as everybody does one of these simultaneously. However, Gardiner makes a lot of good plays, and often he makes so many good small plays that go unnoticed because it is done so effortlessly.

Reilly seems to be the opposite, he does not make the big gaffe, but he makes way too many mistakes, poor reads, poor decisions that the puck winds up in the back of the net behind Anderson. That is not what you want in a top 4 guy. Look at his partner the 35 year old Hainsey, a far better player inside the blueline.

Look at that power play goal against in the NJ game Wed., on the penalty kill, with the puck behind the icing line, and the Leafs in their box, Rielly goes on a quick adventure there. Behind the icing line. For what reason? Borgman the rookie it was monkey see monkey do and the puck was in the net just like that.

Tonight against the Canadiens, Rielly has the puck in the corner, skating has some time, and throws it into a crowd near the blueline where the smallest Leafs Marner was out numbered. 2 seconds later the puck is behind Anderson in the net again. Sometimes, just do a Polak you know, ice it, or off the glass and out. What stuck me here about the play was that Rielly was in full control. He could have done anything he wanted. Yet 2 seconds later Anderson never had a chance with the deflection in the slot.

 

[Wendelstache]

consistently our most reliable D man ...
looks faster and stronger this year, needs to be on PP and playing 22+

 

[MJ65]

He is getting better with every game, he is proving to be the best "D"on this roster

He is always on target when shooting the puck - not sure why Babcock is not using him on PP but you bleive there is so much you can give to every single individual - he is logging the most time on ice

 

[crump]

Most impressive D so far this season. Just a very good all around game.

 

[thewave]

Most impressive D so far this season. Just a very good all around game.

Mr. Stability

 

[TheMadHatTrick]

PP points per 60 pp minutes, last year + this year:

Rielly: 5.51
Zaitsev: 4.07
Gardiner: 3.45

5v4 pp only

Rielly 4.53
Zaitsev 3.39
Gardiner 3.10

it's gardiner that zaitsev would/should replace on the pp, not rielly, who's our best pp dman by a fair margin.

Interesting stats but they can also be misleading. You can't just prorate numbers from fewer minutes over a long time period and use it as an apples to apples comparison. It's unlikely that this rate would continue over a larger sample.

For example, Rielly only played 0:58 seconds of PP time last year and scored 5pts. Byfuglien played 3:18 minutes per game and recorded 15pts. Over 60 minutes his numbers are well below Rielly's by this measure.

You can take many small sample sizes and make misleading extrapolations from them. For example, Jake Gardiner played 0:19 seconds per game on the PK and was not on the ice for any goals against. Extrapolated over 60 minutes his PK goals against rate is way better than Rielly's and Gardiner is not an elite PK'er as far as I know.

 

[LeafFever]

We got him for free. Amazing.

 

[LeafFever]

he's a +6 so **** all those people that criticized his -22 or whatever last year

Don Cherry

 

[Plub]

He's looked really good. I still remember people saying his contract was bad....

 

[cookie]

Hainsey & Zaitsev lead all NHL D-men in minutes on the PK, at >5:00/GP.

Zaitsev also leading all D-men in Even Strength Points & Plus/Minus

 

[CanadasTeam]

Every Leafs player must've been criticized by fans at least once this season, except Zaitsev (and rightfully so).

 

[cookie]

Both Rosen and Borgman look like they need some time getting used to the more cramped North American ice. It really speaks volumes how Zaitsev was able to become such a heavily used defenseman when the other two guys (who weren't exactly slouches in their respective leagues) are having issues acclimating.

 

[1specter]

Both Rosen and Borgman look like they need some time getting used to the more cramped North American ice. It really speaks volumes how Zaitsev was able to become such a heavily used defenseman when the other two guys (who weren't exactly slouches in their respective leagues) are having issues acclimating.

In fairness, Zaitsev was 25 when he started playing in the NHL, vs Rosen who is 23 and Borgman who is 22. Zaitsev was also the #1D on the best KHL team and played big minutes for team Russia in international competition , so he was far along in his career and just a lot more developed.

Still Zaitsev is amazing and we may have secured a legitimate #2D for free which is insane.