2021-22 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion

[princedpw]

Yup:

On November 23rd, Matthews was tied with a boatload of players for 35th in the league in goals and 11 back of the league lead.

2 weeks later, he's jumped into a tie for 3rd and is now just 4 back of Draisaitl.

I knew the goals would come eventually but I really thought the slow-ish start (which was still a 33-goal pace hilariously enough) would make Rocket contention very tough.

Matthews terrible start was still a 30-goal pace.

The a week later, he was at a 40-goal pace (which may end up top-5ish in the league), and it still felt like he was playing poorly.

If Matthews (and Marner) are fully healthy and he is given 20+ minutes/game, next year I think he would have a real shot at 50 goals in 50 games.  We have seen him capable of going on a 20-game stretch where he scores a goal/game.  I think he could stretch it to a 50-game span if he had a bunch of luck on his side.

For the first time in my lifetime, the leafs have the clear top player in the league in one important category --- goal scoring.

 

[L K]

It really shouldn't be up for debate at this point.

He's the only player with 100+ goals over the last 3 seasons.

Matthews - 105G in 146 GP
Draisaitl - 95G in 151 GP
Ovechkin - 92G in 139 GP
McDavid - 83G in 144 GP
Connor - 79G in 152 GP

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/mapleleafs/status/1469020661003784198

This might warrant its own thread. Krys has wheels

 

[Bill_Berg]

https://twitter.com/mapleleafs/status/1469020661003784198

This might warrant its own thread. Krys has wheels

And is 5 years younger.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Chicago reporters seem to be indicating he'll be reporting directly to the Blackhawks so good for him if this earns Gabriel some NHL time.

 

[Guilt Trip]

I think this is another solid by Dubas to give a player a chance to play.

 

[herman]

Having Clifford fall back into our laps meant Gabriel was never going to get a sniff of NHL time. Spinning a min. contract AHL 4th liner into a top-4 AHL defense project is an easy call to make when our defensive depth is injury-depleted.

 

[bustaheims]

Cool. Cool cool cool.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/capfriendly/status/1469780063034003458

If I were feeling bitter and cheeky I?d call this playoff practice.

 

[Guilt Trip]

https://twitter.com/capfriendly/status/1469780063034003458

If I were feeling bitter and cheeky I?d call this playoff practice.

They need the space because I bet Mikheyev is back next game so they'd be in cap trouble with both he and Mrazek coming off LTIR..

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

https://twitter.com/jfreshhockey/status/1469706919216570373

Both Andersen and Reimer in the top 10, behind Campbell.

 

[Kaberle15]

https://twitter.com/LeafsPR/status/1470107501613957125?t=QNlemBucWaKCqbEftL6C3A&s=19

 

[bustaheims]

Gonna cycle through a bunch of the fringe types over the next little bit, I imagine.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Gonna cycle through a bunch of the fringe types over the next little bit, I imagine.

Until Dermott gets back at least..Dahlstrom looks good on the Marlies. Stay at home guy. Glad to see Seney up

 

[louisstamos]

Sounds like the game Thursday vs the Flames is going to be postponed...

 

[Joe S.]

How can these guys still want to go to China for the olympics?

 

[rdowdall]

https://twitter.com/jfreshhockey/status/1469706919216570373

Both Andersen and Reimer in the top 10, behind Campbell.

So is this chart good or bad?  Does it not mean that Campbell is playing way above his head and that he might not be able to sustain it?

 

[WAYNEINIONA]

Sounds like the game Thursday vs the Flames is going to be postponed...

Six players have been placed on Covid protocol.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

https://twitter.com/jfreshhockey/status/1469706919216570373

Both Andersen and Reimer in the top 10, behind Campbell.

So is this chart good or bad?  Does it not mean that Campbell is playing way above his head and that he might not be able to sustain it?

No, it?s good. Or rather, it?s a reflection of how well he?s played so far this year. The better goalies are going to save way more goals than average or ?expected?, which is what this reflects about how he?s performed so far.

 

[rdowdall]

https://twitter.com/jfreshhockey/status/1469706919216570373

Both Andersen and Reimer in the top 10, behind Campbell.

So is this chart good or bad?  Does it not mean that Campbell is playing way above his head and that he might not be able to sustain it?

No, it?s good. Or rather, it?s a reflection of how well he?s played so far this year. The better goalies are going to save way more goals than average or ?expected?, which is what this reflects about how he?s performed so far.

I'm probably arguing semantics here, but if he is making more saves than expected, doesn't that mean one of two things:
1.  He is playing over his head and making saves that he shouldn't.  Wouldn't that point to luck at some point, like PDO?
2.  If expected doesn't point to what is expected of him as a goalie, then would it not point to the Leafs defense being bad, and that he has to make more saves than what is expected?