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

[BGDave]

Was out of the country and wasn’t able to watch much of the first few games. How’s the defence looking? I’ve been reading that Zaitsev is looking much better and Hainsey-Rielly’s been a good pairing.

My opinion, for what its worth:

The D is a mess.

They have improved on getting the puck out of their own zone. A lot.
There have only been a few situations where they have been chasing the other team in the TOR end

But

They are Soft. Very soft. As in "gonna lose in the first round again" soft. Andersen has been iffy at times, but mostly he looks like a jack-in-the-box, popping up and down and side to side, trying to see the puck. The D cant keep the sightlines clear for Freddy. When a big body plants himself in front, no Leaf even tries to move him.

Specifics with my eyeball grades:

Gardiner has had some good moments, far fewer brain cramps. (B+)
Rielly is, to my eyes, a slightly less skilled Gardiner. And that is all. (B-)
Zaitsev has been inconsistent. He is one of the few who will occasionally try to play a physical game, but he is not very good at it.(C)
Hainsey has been solid and steady. (B+)
Rosen has looked overmatched, and he is not a physical defender.(D)
Borgman is the most likely to get physical. But man is he young. He needs to be a 6/7 and broken in very slowly. In a few years, maybe OK (D)
Carrick. I just do not see this guy. I dont see him doing anything of value out there. He does not have Gardiner's skill set, and he is undersized. He just seems like a boy playing with men out there. (D)

AI have no idea what their fancy stats are. The Leafs have carried the play for good parts of most games. But when the puck is in their end, not great.

This is not a D corps built for playoff success.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

My opinion, for what its worth:

The D is a mess.

They have improved on getting the puck out of their own zone. A lot.
There have only been a few situations where they have been chasing the other team in the TOR end

But

They are Soft. Very soft. As in "gonna lose in the first round again" soft. Andersen has been iffy at times, but mostly he looks like a jack-in-the-box, popping up and down and side to side, trying to see the puck. The D cant keep the sightlines clear for Freddy. When a big body plants himself in front, no Leaf even tries to move him.

Specifics with my eyeball grades:

Gardiner has had some good moments, far fewer brain cramps. (B+)
Rielly is, to my eyes, a slightly less skilled Gardiner. And that is all. (B-)
Zaitsev has been inconsistent. He is one of the few who will occasionally try to play a physical game, but he is not very good at it.(C)
Hainsey has been solid and steady. (B+)
Rosen has looked overmatched, and he is not a physical defender.(D)
Borgman is the most likely to get physical. But man is he young. He needs to be a 6/7 and broken in very slowly. In a few years, maybe OK (D)
Carrick. I just do not see this guy. I dont see him doing anything of value out there. He does not have Gardiner's skill set, and he is undersized. He just seems like a boy playing with men out there. (D)

AI have no idea what their fancy stats are. The Leafs have carried the play for good parts of most games. But when the puck is in their end, not great.

This is not a D corps built for playoff success.

I don't know how Zaitsev's defensive play has been but if he keeps scoring at this rate I'm happy.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Every member of the Leafs is above 50% in scoring chances for/against.

Sidenote: Holy shit Naz!

 

[BGDave]

Every member of the Leafs is above 50% in scoring chances for/against.

Sidenote: Holy shit Naz!

I thought Marner was demoted because he, Bozak and JVR were so weak defensively?

BTW, missed the first period against the Caps, despite the score, not sure they were much better defensively. WAS was pretty soft most of the night. But will take the SO

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

I thought Marner was demoted because he, Bozak and JVR were so weak defensively?

BTW, missed the first period against the Caps, despite the score, not sure they were much better defensively. WAS was pretty soft most of the night. But will take the SO

My theory on Marner is that he wanted to isolate the other two and analyze how they are defensively without Marner's puck-carrying ability while giving Marner a little kick to get him producing a bit more goal-wise. He still had a decent-amount of minutes - he actually had more minutes than JVR and only played 45 seconds fewer than Bozak last night.

The defence were as good as they had to be, I guess. Leafs dominated play for long stretches and should've potted another goal or two at least. They weren't great in the 6-on-5 at the end.

 

[BGDave]

Interesting re Marner. Makes sense.

 

[DragonfromTO]

Every member of the Leafs is above 50% in scoring chances for/against.

Sidenote: Holy shit Naz!

Are these numbers just even strength or are they all situations?

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Are these numbers just even strength or are they all situations?

Not sure.

 

[DragonfromTO]

Not sure.

I doubt it changes much with JVR-Bozak-Marner either way, was just curious.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Standings look good this morning.

 

[dash]

Standings look good this morning.

Toronto is the current bookie's favo(u)rite to win the Cup.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Toronto is the current bookie's favo(u)rite to win the Cup.

I suppose it's warranted but I still think TB's got the edge considering they have two d-men who are both better than anything Toronto's got.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Also:

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Still won't be.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

I don't even know how to parse this. Help for Hainsey and Zaitsev on the PK? Babs fed up with Carrick?

I don't know how this is an answer to anything.

 

[BGDave]

Still won't be.

I bet he isnt afraid to play in Toronto.

 

[BGDave]

I don't even know how to parse this. Help for Hainsey and Zaitsev on the PK? Babs fed up with Carrick?

I don't know how this is an answer to anything.

Agreed, to all of the above.

Andersen had a not so good game Saturday.

I thought D was a "little" better clearing the front of the net.

This will be a recurring theme all year. Lots of 6-5 games, methinks.

 

[DragonfromTO]

I don't even know how to parse this. Help for Hainsey and Zaitsev on the PK? Babs fed up with Carrick?

I don't know how this is an answer to anything.

He's suiting up tonight too. Enjoy

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

He's suiting up tonight too. Enjoy

I was supposed to go tonight too but something came up.

Not like the Kings beat the ever-loving shit out of them in this fixture last season.

Maple Leafs blanked by Kings, 7-0

Oh no.

 

[dash]

Somebody has to give the Kings their first regulation loss of the season, it might as well be the Leafs.