Comedy Platinum out of Toronto - "Canada's Team" quest for the Cup

[Bloody Brian Burke]

I paid particular attention to this last night against Philly. Once Marner scored, it looked like Kadri and Boyle centred the two lines out there the rest of the way. I would be interested to see how much ice time Matthews got in the 3rd, I sure didnt see him out there.

I know that in the third Matthews took the fewest faceoffs of the 4 centres (which is maybe to be expected because he's pretty brutal in that dept. but still), but I may have to monitor TOI stats on Saturday night if they enter the third with the lead.

I know Bozak had a good game last night but Matthews only had 40 seconds more ice than him. Matthews has been quiet lately but that shit is just crazy.

 

[DragonfromTO]

I paid particular attention to this last night against Philly. Once Marner scored, it looked like Kadri and Boyle centred the two lines out there the rest of the way. I would be interested to see how much ice time Matthews got in the 3rd, I sure didnt see him out there.

In Babcock's defense I don't think that Matthews looked all that good last night. That being said, I'm not at all sure that was the reason for it anyway.

 

[DragonfromTO]

I mean, I'm not gonna stop now.

But it would suck for a few bad weeks to undo what's been a damn fine season.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

I would like to see playoff hockey in Toronto this spring. Would you not?

 

[DragonfromTO]

I would like to see playoff hockey in Toronto this spring. Would you not?

Sure I would. I just don't think that narrowly missing the playoffs "undoes" anything that's already happened or the progress that's already been made, or even matters all that much in the big picture. But yeah, I'd certainly love to be able to watch a few postseason games this year.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Sure I would. I just don't think that narrowly missing the playoffs "undoes" anything that's already happened or the progress that's already been made, or even matters all that much in the big picture. But yeah, I'd certainly love to be able to watch a few postseason games this year.

Big picture, not really. But I'm invested at this point nonetheless. They aren't Cup contenders but could they steal a round and make things interesting? Why not.

 

[DragonfromTO]

Big picture, not really. But I'm invested at this point nonetheless. They aren't Cup contenders but could they steal a round and make things interesting? Why not.

I will add that I was also probably looking for a reason to use that clip. Hell, if I could manage it somehow I'd have Carl say everything that I want to communicate, at all times.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

I will add that I was also probably looking for a reason to use that clip. Hell, if I could manage it somehow I'd have Carl say everything that I want to communicate, at all times.

My license plate is 2Wycked.

 

[DragonfromTO]

My license plate is 2Wycked.

If that's true I'm pretty sure that we have to meet. Even if it's not, the fact that you made that joke is good enough for me.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Maple Leafs selling ticket price hike as good news for fans | Toronto Star

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Here are a few choice lines from the mouth of MLSE that totally contradict each other:

When the company’s analytics team tackled the secondary ticket market, it found that many single-game Leafs tickets sold via brokers and scalpers for nearly twice their face value.

Next season, season-ticket prices will rise by between $7 and $16 per ticket per game

Where upper-bowl seats average $80 per game as part of season packages, they average $108 as single-game seats and $141 on the secondary market. Lower-bowl seats, meanwhile, average $195 under a season-ticket package, $234 at the box office and $250 resale.

So, the max increase on a per-game ticket is $16. Currently, an $80 season ticket gets you a $108 seat that then re-sells for $141 on the black market.

141 - (80+16) = 45

45 x 41 = $1845

And that's without the added bonus of likely increased ticket demand given that the team should be pretty good moving forward.

You'd have to be insane to think this benefits the average fan lol.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

I for one am very ready for Fishgate 2017. Wayyyyy catchier than Salutegate was.

 

[BGDave]

Have to say, I am not surprised at the late fold by the Leafs.

Before this year, the most games played by Matthews was 40 (36 reg + 4 playoffs in Switzerland). My guess is fatigue is setting in. Particularly with all the off-ice distractions.

Is Rielly still suffering from the ankle sprain? A nice young D man, but like Phaneuf and others before him, not ready to be the #1 lockdown guy. Not sure he ever will be.

The rest of the D corps. Clearly meh. Goals against is a team stat. They continue to have problems getting the puck out of their own zone. What the team will need to analyze in the offseason is: is this problem a player thing, a coaching thing (which I have speculated before), or a little of both? Then take steps to fix it.

Andersen - just a case of regressing to his mean? Using old school stats, his save % is right where it was with the Ducks the past couple of seasons. He played just as many games two years ago, so fatigue should not be a factor. Will his numbers get better with better D in front of him? Undoubtedly, but right now he cannot be expected to steal games for the team. Not the rest of this year.

Forwards as a group - talented, but are they generally big enough to win the puck battles in the O zone consistently? Against quality teams with big D, the Leafs sure seem to have a lot of trouble. The remind me of the Redskins Smurfs from back in the day.

Overall, still a good year for the team with lots of progress. I hope management takes the rest of the year to (continue) to assess what they have and what they need. Make moves in the offseason to address. Hardly brilliant insight, but it is rather straightforward. This late season fold doesn't bother me at all.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Have to say, I am not surprised at the late fold by the Leafs.

Before this year, the most games played by Matthews was 40 (36 reg + 4 playoffs in Switzerland). My guess is fatigue is setting in. Particularly with all the off-ice distractions.

Is Rielly still suffering from the ankle sprain? A nice young D man, but like Phaneuf and others before him, not ready to be the #1 lockdown guy. Not sure he ever will be.

The rest of the D corps. Clearly meh. Goals against is a team stat. They continue to have problems getting the puck out of their own zone. What the team will need to analyze in the offseason is: is this problem a player thing, a coaching thing (which I have speculated before), or a little of both? Then take steps to fix it.

Andersen - just a case of regressing to his mean? Using old school stats, his save % is right where it was with the Ducks the past couple of seasons. He played just as many games two years ago, so fatigue should not be a factor. Will his numbers get better with better D in front of him? Undoubtedly, but right now he cannot be expected to steal games for the team. Not the rest of this year.

Forwards as a group - talented, but are they generally big enough to win the puck battles in the O zone consistently? Against quality teams with big D, the Leafs sure seem to have a lot of trouble. The remind me of the Redskins Smurfs from back in the day.

Overall, still a good year for the team with lots of progress. I hope management takes the rest of the year to (continue) to assess what they have and what they need. Make moves in the offseason to address. Hardly brilliant insight, but it is rather straightforward. This late season fold doesn't bother me at all.

I think the fact Morgan Rielly is a -25 while Jake Gardiner is a +25 as well as a GA60 1.19 goals higher than Jake is pretty inexcusable at this point in his career. Those are very ugly numbers.

I'm not worried about Andersen or the forwards. They need better depth down the left hand side and they need to erase the idea of Hyman as a long-term linemate for Matthews from Babcock's mind forever (I wonder if they can maybe take advantage of some teams' cap situations and trade for an RFA like Sheary or Palat). They should also be able to finally trade Bozak and move Nylander into the centre position which should give an offensive boost to the second line however it winds up constructed.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Beyond the fact that Matthews is struggling and shaking up his line wouldn't hurt, can someone even explain at this point how Zach Hyman, he of the 2 points in his past 18 games, gets game time let alone ice time with Matthews while Josh Leivo, who plays the same position, scores 9 pts in 8 games and then is a healthy scratch for the next 7 games?

 

[BGDave]

Beyond the fact that Matthews is struggling and shaking up his line wouldn't hurt, can someone even explain at this point how Zach Hyman, he of the 2 points in his past 18 games, gets game time let alone ice time with Matthews while Josh Leivo, who plays the same position, scores 9 pts in 8 games and then is a healthy scratch for the next 7 games?

No. No, I can't.

Hyman is, at best, a 4th liner and PK on occasion.

If you put Matthews with someone who can be effective on the cycle and wins the one on one battles, the Calder would be a no-brainer.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

No. No, I can't.

Hyman is, at best, a 4th liner and PK on occasion.

If you put Matthews with someone who can be effective on the cycle and wins the one on one battles, the Calder would be a no-brainer.

I couldn't care less about the Calder (I don't care much for awards in general), and I don't know if anything could break him out of this slump - as you said the other day, looks like he just ran out of gas.

I just don't see how this benefits anybody - Matthews or Nylander because they're playing with a linemate far below their skill level, or Hyman because he isn't playing the role that he'll be playing for the remainder of his career. It's just Babonomics.

 

[BGDave]

I couldn't care less about the Calder (I don't care much for awards in general), and I don't know if anything could break him out of this slump - as you said the other day, looks like he just ran out of gas.

I just don't see how this benefits anybody - Matthews or Nylander because they're playing with a linemate far below their skill level, or Hyman because he isn't playing the role that he'll be playing for the remainder of his career. It's just Babonomics.

Good topic for the offseason: who (if anyone) might be available to fill that role?

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Good topic for the offseason: who (if anyone) might be available to fill that role?

I threw out there Sheary or Palat the other day but those teams usually do a good job of keeping their guys or moving them for things they need (in both cases, defence right now and the Leafs don't have any to give away).

More than likely they'll hope Kapanen has a good playoffs with the Marlies and shows enough improvement in camp that he can step in next season. Can't see any major capital being used for non-defensive roster moves when that will take so many assets to achieve in itself.

 

[DragonfromTO]

Good topic for the offseason: who (if anyone) might be available to fill that role?

Maybe Dan Cleary is available?