bustaheims
Active member
Guilt Trip said:
Sure, but COVID cases also get announced. They don't slip under the radar like this.
2021-22 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion
- Thread starter herman
- Start date
Sure, but COVID cases also get announced. They don't slip under the radar like this.
princedpw said:
I think it'd roughly be like adding another Brodie.
herman
Well-known member
CarltonTheBear said:
I like our Baby Buds a lot and it's very nice to see how they've grown this year into expanded roles, but for the playoffs, I kind of want the steadier hand, especially with Muzzin being a question mark (even if he comes back and gets sufficient warm up games). The built-in chemistry with Brodie means getting a strong top-4 LD gives us back a solid RD (Brodie is better on the right side). Lyubushkin working well as Rielly's safety blanket for non-shutdown matchups opens the door for something like this.
L K
Active member
bustaheims said:
Nothing confirmed but there was a thread on reddit/twitter suggesting its just parental leave. Hopefully not a health of their child thing and more of a "hey Wayne, you have really struggled, take some time and get yourelf right and enjoy your family" kind of thing.
L K said:
As Deebo said, he skated today. But I wonder if it'll be a type of situation where he practices with the team during the day but doesn't go to games or travel for a little bit.
Deebo said:
Place holder for Kampf*, so yeah that certainly indicates he won't be playing Saturday either.
herman said:
I've said again and again the teams defence group, if healthy, is nowhere near as bad as some of the talking heads or fans make it out to be. But with no real clear and reasonably priced targets to go after at forward or goaltending if the Leafs make a move going after Giordano makes the most sense. He a) wouldn't cost a 1st or top prospect, b) has built-in chemistry with Brodie already, and c) has reportedly expressed an interest in coming here.
Rielly-Lyubushkin
Giordano-Brodie
Muzzin-Holl
Assuming Muzzin is healthy and ready to go, that's six 20-minute NHL defencemen there. Any one of those pairings could reasonably go up against any teams top line in the league. None of those pairs would need sheltering or comfy zone starts to succeed. It'd especially be a massive luxury to have since our path to the Finals goes through Florida and Tampa, both of whom would absolutely need at least two shutdown pairings. The two bottom pairings would be the primary match-up guys there, which would take a lot of pressure off Rielly. With those 6 and Sandin and Liljegren next up in line (Dermott gone for cap space) the team also isn't at risk of crumbling if anyone struggles or goes down with an injury like they did with Muzzin last playoffs.
If Muzzin still looks off when he returns, you could switch to Muzzin-Sandin and have them play in more of a sheltered role, which while obviously a non-100% Muzzin is far from ideal but that still wouldn't be a bad 3rd line.
herman
Well-known member
CarltonTheBear said:
That's where I'm at too. It's solid insulation in case Muzzin's body implodes. Sandin-Holl on 3rd pair in sheltered deployment is still quite a luxurious group.
Even if it shakes out as
Rielly - Lyubushkin
Brodie - Holl
Sandin - Liljegren
We're ok, but it's a pretty big step down from what Carlton outlined, for the price of a pick and change.
Maybe Kerfoot and Dermott get moved in other transactions and we net out a top-6 grinder that can complement Tavares.
herman said:
A winger to compliment Tavares would definitely be a bigger "need" than someone like Giordano, who is more of a luxury. But I just can't really identify a realistic target there. Guys like Forsberg/Miller/Garland would obviously be incredible but considering availability and cost and cap hit I don't see them working out. Going for a lower-end guy doesn't make a lot of sense to me either because I don't really think they'd be much of an upgrade over just experimenting more with the guys we have in house (Mikheyev, Kerfoot, Kase, Engvall). As long as Kampf has at least one of those guys on his line I think our checking unit is in good hands so even throwing Mikheyev back up in the top-6 would be something I'd be ok with and likely a better option than giving up assets for a Copp or Motte or Kubalik.
https://twitter.com/frank_seravalli/status/1504877859399249930
This probably isn't the Leafs but there's a reason I didn't mention him in the list of "lower-end" guys I wasn't interested in. *waits*
This probably isn't the Leafs but there's a reason I didn't mention him in the list of "lower-end" guys I wasn't interested in. *waits*
L K said:
Yeah, that's why I didn't mention him at all. He'd be a great add but really not sure why the Blackhawks would deal him. An astronomical return could be an alright reason I guess. Will be curious to see what that ends up being.
herman
Well-known member
CarltonTheBear said:
What about Maxime Comtois?
Barring that, seeing how Tavares has looked a bit revitalized not having to be the grinder and defensive conscience, what's the real harm in swapping centres in the top 6 for a stretch to get a second line that isn't netting out negative?
Nylander - Matthews - Kase
Bunting - Tavares - Marner
Engvall - Kampf - Mikheyev
Clifford/Robertson - Kerfoot - Spezza
Or if we are feeling particularly frisky: re-acquire Johnsson with some salary retained
Johnsson - Matthews - Nylander
Bunting - Tavares - Marner
Engvall - Kampf - Kase
Robertson - Spezza - Mikheyev
dappleganger
Active member
Regarding D-pairings, Leafs need someone to take Holl's place.
Since January 1st Holl has a 56% CF, 61% GF, and 60% xGF. Among the 126 NHL defencemen to play 400+ minutes in the time span he has the 7th best xGA/60. He's well past his early season struggles.
Think it's worth pointing out his early season stats (before January 1st) to show that they too reflected his poor play: 49% CF, 45% GF, 50% xGF. Among the 131 NHL defencemen to play 400+ minutes in that time span he was 109th in xGA/60.
Think it's worth pointing out his early season stats (before January 1st) to show that they too reflected his poor play: 49% CF, 45% GF, 50% xGF. Among the 131 NHL defencemen to play 400+ minutes in that time span he was 109th in xGA/60.
herman
Well-known member
32 Thoughts quick hits
https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1504907635862216704
- Leafs looking to give Travis Dermott a change of scenery
- EF is guessing 1-2 D additions + a depth forward to bolster the 4th line options
- Extremely reluctant to move the 1st rder or any of the tippy top prospects
- They've been asked about Engvall and Mikheyev and Leafs will not part with them
I consider these to be reasonable stances. I know they were trying to get Simmonds to 1000 games (success), but I do wish we had more track record with Joey Anderson to work with.
https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1504907635862216704
- Leafs looking to give Travis Dermott a change of scenery
- EF is guessing 1-2 D additions + a depth forward to bolster the 4th line options
- Extremely reluctant to move the 1st rder or any of the tippy top prospects
- They've been asked about Engvall and Mikheyev and Leafs will not part with them
I consider these to be reasonable stances. I know they were trying to get Simmonds to 1000 games (success), but I do wish we had more track record with Joey Anderson to work with.