I'm just gunna leave this here.
NHL Thread Because There Isn't An NHL Thread
- Thread starter Absolut Kaz
- Start date
BjorgenFjorgen
Well-Known Member
They're 19-8-3 since Keefe took over. Yes, they probably should have tried to find a better backup earlier, and they overpaid Marner, but goalies are voodoo and no one could have predicted Freddy's inconsistency and injuries so far this year. If 90% of NHL teams' starting goalies go down for a prolonged period, they're boned. That's not unique to Toronto. I'm definitely not sounding the alarm yet. They've been incredible to watch, they've dominated on several nights, and if any team has the guns to outscore sub-par goaltending for a while, it's them.
These last 30 games are when the real teams emerge. Our defense is atrocious, even WITH Rielly it's awful. We have zero toughness or ability play with any sort physical presence, and we find ways to lose games. I'd also add to that we are completely irresponsible with the puck, don't show up for important games on a regular basis and play like a dumb team. Like this team has very few players who show on ice intelligence. They're skilled for sure, but they don't make the smart plays. Like I said back in September, I think we miss the playoffs. Hope not, but I suspect we do, or squeak in and get pumped in round one again.
BjorgenFjorgen
Well-Known Member
Eh, I don't totally agree. They've missed some key players throughout the season and have been one of the best teams in the league since November. If they keep winning at the rate they have been they'll make the playoffs. I'm optimistic. They have a better team with better depth this year than last, with a coach who's not going to insist on playing Matthews under 20 minutes in a game seven.
Corycm
Well-Known Member
can we leave Milbury out on the side of the road somewhere or trade him to Canada and bring in Bob McKenzie full time?
BjorgenFjorgen
Well-Known Member
Bob McKenzie is like one of two decent guys we have, so denied. You're gonna have to pony up.
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
Who's the other guy?
Corycm
Well-Known Member
I’m not taking “leave Milbury on the side of the road” off the table.
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
As long as they make the playoffs and don't face Boston in the first round they should be fine .
BjorgenFjorgen
Well-Known Member
Ray Ferraro. He's the best colour guy by far.
Corycm
Well-Known Member
I’ll throw in this guy singing the anthem at the Blackhawks/Bruins tilt. I am genuinely alarmed and unsettled by this guy.
BjorgenFjorgen
Well-Known Member
Like I was saying
BjorgenFjorgen
Well-Known Member
You're needed in net. It doesn't matter how long it's been since you've played. Hutch is abysmal.
He is, but they've been absolutely abysmal with giveaways and odd man rushes as usual and with 6 minutes left in the 3rd they had 4 shots on net. They're a mess in far more ways than just Hutch.
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BjorgenFjorgen
Well-Known Member
Well that was fast!
Yeah, I don't think it's going to change anything. You could have Patty Roy in his prime in net for us, with the amount of giveaways, defensive zone breakdowns and odd man rushes we give up per game we'd still be losing most of these games.
BjorgenFjorgen
Well-Known Member
I mean...they aren't losing most of these games. Before last night, from this piece, "Sitting with a 9-10-4 record when Keefe took the reins, the Maple Leafs have rolled to a 19-8-3 record in the 30 games under the former AHL bench boss, good for 41 points. In terms of point percentage, that puts Toronto as the fourth-best team in the league over that span." There are for sure schematic defensive improvements they need to make as a team, but over the last 10, if both goalies hadn't been terrible, they'd be picking up some more points. It's certainly worth a shot. Campbell is an NHL-quality goalie when Hutch most definitely is not, and Clifford is a physical bottom-6 forward with good defensive and possession impacts. Doesn't hurt.
BattleFlag
Well-Known Member
So by no means am I ready to celebrate just yet, since the Pacific Division is pretty weak in comparison to every other division and things can change real quick......
But man, it's really great to see my Canucks playing as well as they are. We're getting ready to have back-to-back Calder trophy winners, their depth is suddenly a strength, and Markstrom has turned into an elite-level tender. It was really painful watching their last true rebuild in the early 00's, as they botched a lot of steps along the way. I was expecting something to go awry, and it looked like it was going to when they overpaid Beagle (which I didn't mind too much) and Roussell (which I minded a lot more). Then the Luongo retirement cap hit happened and threatened to take the cart right off the rails.
And then it didn't.
The playoffs aren't a guarantee or anything, but winning the division is looking more like an actual possibility.
But man, it's really great to see my Canucks playing as well as they are. We're getting ready to have back-to-back Calder trophy winners, their depth is suddenly a strength, and Markstrom has turned into an elite-level tender. It was really painful watching their last true rebuild in the early 00's, as they botched a lot of steps along the way. I was expecting something to go awry, and it looked like it was going to when they overpaid Beagle (which I didn't mind too much) and Roussell (which I minded a lot more). Then the Luongo retirement cap hit happened and threatened to take the cart right off the rails.
And then it didn't.
The playoffs aren't a guarantee or anything, but winning the division is looking more like an actual possibility.
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
GMJR does it again! He pulls the trigger on a trade well before the deadline by acquiring forward Jason Zucker for Galchenyuk and a 1st-round pick. Well done sir! 
#LetsGoPens 
#LetsGoPens