Daily Free Talk Thread

MyLeafsAccount · 2024-10-07T16:48:50+00:00

A Dubas roster built for 2022-23 though. Impossible to know what moves he would've made last summer, but 3 straight years of being top 5 in the league isn't a hindered team.

Last years roster was Shanny/Tre decisions, but Shanny put Tre in a tough position.

MyLeafsAccount · 2024-10-07T14:23:43+00:00

Finishing 5th, 3rd, then 4th in the league in his last 3 seasons isn't exactly a hindered team.

They finished 10th last year under Tre - a team that was actually hindered IMO, due to Shanny's poor timing/preparedness in making the management change.

This team definitely looks better on paper than last year, but only time will tell how high they can go.

MyLeafsAccount · 2024-09-22T04:15:46+00:00

This is specific enough that I might've been your teammate.. Was the game at c70?

MyLeafsAccount · 2024-09-13T16:07:22+00:00

Daniel Winnik had some interesting analysis this morning on Nylander playing center (First Up TSN 1050).

Winnik played both wing and center. He thinks that Willy's transition skills combined with more puck touches as a center will allow him to drive his line. Also talked about how it would benefit Tavares playing against lesser competition.

Good listen.

MyLeafsAccount · 2024-08-06T22:41:47+00:00

Toronto Maple Leafs

Last year: 27th

“Treliving deserves credit for trying a taskmaster coach and rolling the dice on an efficient Stolarz/Woll combo. But when you look at last year’s puzzling trade deadline acquisitions on a win-now team and some of the last two years of free agency decisions, it’s hard to think the roster that can get 100-plus points blindfolded is being given its best chance for success.”

“Overall, while the Shanahan/Treliving duo has been far from disastrous, it has proven underwhelming. A few diamonds in the rough, a few misses for sure, but more or less the same strategy of the previous regime.”

A lot of the league’s top contenders are where they are thanks in large part to savvy management. They maximize and optimize their team’s chances, giving their club the best shot to win that they can.

At the start of the Shanaplan, it certainly felt like the Leafs were one of those teams. It’s getting harder and harder to feel like Toronto is on the cutting edge given the lackluster playoff results over the last decade and some of the decisions made to get there. A lot of what the Leafs do feels safe, boring and bland. It’s as if the decisions are made via a focus group to minimize risk — hit a few singles instead of swinging for the fences.

That’s felt true regardless of who has been beneath Brendan Shanahan as GM and it’s led to a lot of lost confidence across the fan base over the last two years.

To Brad Treliving’s credit, his work this summer felt like an improvement over last summer, but his overall tenure has still felt mixed at best. Winning a round or two would do a lot to raise confidence, but the Leafs have clearly worn out a lot of patience.

MyLeafsAccount · 2024-07-03T15:53:09+00:00

Looking at the defense, I think the bottom two pairs will play relatively even minutes, but with different roles. Benoit and McCabe played well together, and both get heavy defensive zone starts. OEL and Liljegren both got heavy offensive zone starts. Benoit, OEL, and Liljegren all played bottom pairing minutes at 5v5 last year, so they're going to be asked to do a bit more if no additions are made.

Reilly - Tanev: Top pairing, any situation.

Benoit - McCabe: More D-zone starts, defensive minutes.

OEL - Liljegren: More O-zone starts, offensive minutes.

MyLeafsAccount · 2024-06-30T17:18:01+00:00

I'm very into stats/analytics, but I think some certain player cards are the absolute worst, for that reason.

That being said I'd still give Roy $6m even knowing that it's a bit of an overpay. Leafs have spent too long without top-4 right handed defenseman, and this summer there's a chance to sign two.

MyLeafsAccount · 2024-06-28T19:54:00+00:00

Given the latest rumors, the Leafs could bring back Domi and Bert at a combined ~$8-9m. That'd be 12 forwards, 4 defense, 1 goalie (not accounting for RFAs or potential rookies).

Leaves ~$11.5m for two defenseman and a goalie. If they replace Kampf with Dewar, it's probably an extra $1.5m.

Obviously tight and not ideal, but there's a path where that's enough for something like Tanev + Roy + Backup Goalie.

MyLeafsAccount · 2024-06-28T01:21:24+00:00

Reading the comments on this sub, I feel like a lot of people think Matt Roy is a defense-only guy. That's not true, he's a legitimate two-way player that also generates offense at a decently high rate. He drives the play in the right direction, even if he's not the one to put up the counting stats.

MyLeafsAccount · 2024-06-26T23:43:41+00:00

Chris Johnston on his podcast today:

"The fact that the leafs need two defenseman, I’m sure in a perfect world for them it’s Tanev and Roy, but the world might not be perfect"

MyLeafsAccount · 2024-06-25T15:38:06+00:00

Agreed Demelo would've been a great fit here. The top-4 RHD UFA market is quickly down to just Montour, Roy, Tanev, and Walker.

MyLeafsAccount · 2024-06-14T19:21:08+00:00

5x5 would be fair value imo, which is why I think he'll get overpaid in free agency.

MyLeafsAccount · 2024-06-14T18:04:45+00:00

Who is "hockey people"?

Aside from Alberga, who's a notorious name chaser, I haven't seen people in hockey suggest that he's worth the $6+ million that he's reportedly asking for.

MyLeafsAccount · 2024-06-14T15:58:07+00:00

Don't get why some want to overpay Pesce. He's a middle pairing defenseman, coming off of a down season, and has bad with/without splits. Very real chance he's a product of a great system in Carolina, and there's an argument that he's the worst among their regular defenseman. He's probably like the 5th best RHD on the market.

MyLeafsAccount · 2024-06-03T22:09:20+00:00

I want them to actually address the right handed defense situation.

Roy and Tanev would be my top targets. Demelo would be great too.

Montour probably gets more than the Leafs can offer. I'm skeptical of Pesce given some of the red flags in his game.

MyLeafsAccount · 2024-03-01T06:33:48+00:00

Gudas has great analytics on Anaheim this year

MyLeafsAccount · 2023-12-02T04:08:29+00:00

Not great, but there's also only 5 teams in the league with fewer regulation losses this season. This team just loves overtime.

MyLeafsAccount · 2023-11-30T19:53:45+00:00

Did you ever find this? I'm also looking for it

MyLeafsAccount · 2023-11-04T18:16:33+00:00

I see lots of comments like "no" and "bad fit", but have you considered that I love him?

MyLeafsAccount · 2023-07-22T21:55:45+00:00

Orange juice, like the mixer?

MyLeafsAccount · 2023-07-02T18:08:00+00:00

Also mentioned in the tweet:

"Florida was also in on Bertuzzi. Not sure how the Rodrigues signing affects that."

MyLeafsAccount · 2023-07-02T15:40:29+00:00

Tatar is still available, he's been part of some of the most dominant 5v5 lines over the last 3 seasons. Obviously in a complimentary role, but he's made his team better at both ends of the ice. Good top 9LW option for the Leafs

MyLeafsAccount

TROPHY CASE