2022-23 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion
- Thread starter herman
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herman
Well-known member
https://theathletic.com/4049525/2023/01/02/william-nylander-maple-leafs-report
There are some video clips here that I didn't pull into the quote
Re: control and pop --> contrary to coaching in North America, Nylander plays with his dominant hand lower on his stick. The backhand doesn't really leverage the composite stick's whip the way a forehand shot does, so it helps to have that extra oomph. It also doesn't hurt that Willy is probably the best tennis player on the team and has plenty of muscle memory of that particular pattern of movement.
Interesting to see that he is getting to use it more this year. I think it's fueled a bit by the number of breakaways he was starting to get starting in the back half of last season and continuing this year; the backhand has always been part of his 1v1 repertoire. It took him a season or so to adjust to his new playing size/weight (2018 delayed start + getting hella jacked) so his speed has picked back up; the team structure also targets him as the early winger to blow the zone since he's not super useful in the DZ anyway.
There are some video clips here that I didn't pull into the quote
Re: control and pop --> contrary to coaching in North America, Nylander plays with his dominant hand lower on his stick. The backhand doesn't really leverage the composite stick's whip the way a forehand shot does, so it helps to have that extra oomph. It also doesn't hurt that Willy is probably the best tennis player on the team and has plenty of muscle memory of that particular pattern of movement.
Interesting to see that he is getting to use it more this year. I think it's fueled a bit by the number of breakaways he was starting to get starting in the back half of last season and continuing this year; the backhand has always been part of his 1v1 repertoire. It took him a season or so to adjust to his new playing size/weight (2018 delayed start + getting hella jacked) so his speed has picked back up; the team structure also targets him as the early winger to blow the zone since he's not super useful in the DZ anyway.
Guilt Trip
Active member
He's playing with McDavid..enough said.hobarth said:
Guilt Trip said:
He was also playing with Willie, Austin and Mitch in TO so he went from a 15 goal scorer with an added 6 empty netters to what he is now, quite a feat.
I didn't see anything of what he is today in his first 2/3 years in TO, his last year here I wanted him to be TO's 3rd line center because he could drive a line because of his progress. He wasn't going to beat out JT and AM now he might give JT a fair fight to center the 2nd line.
Guilt Trip
Active member
But Hyman is not a centre so he wouldn't give Tavares any fight. Hyman's a nice player, hard worker and all that stuff but so is Bunting. Neither guy is getting the points without McD or Matthews. The fact Hyman is doing well with McD is not surprising at all.hobarth said:
And it's Auston
https://twitter.com/jtbourne/status/1611022580110036992
Shots fired.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/upon-further-review-how-justin-holl-is-contributing-to-maple-leafs-success/ said:
Shots fired.
CarltonTheBear said:
100% agree. He's played way above his cap hit for most of the season. I'm not the president of his fan club or anything, but it bugs me to see his mistakes constantly highlighted without context.
I sometimes think that if he was able to increase his beard per 60 to Muzzin or Ekholm levels, he'd be perceived by his critics differently.
The Leafs can only have the best or worst goaltending. This team is truly cursed.
Highlander
Active member
Woll is 7-0 since his return with a .921 save percentage. Give the kid a few games if Murray and Samsonov continue to fall apart. Can't hurt
herman
Well-known member
https://twitter.com/leafspr/status/1612841511611404290
AHL player of the week and scorer of the 4000th franchise goal for the Marlies gets a pay bump!
26 year old 6'2" 207lbs LW/C worker bee with some power forward capabilities; not the most creative, but kind of the perfect template for bottom-6 two-way scoring.
https://twitter.com/Kyle_Cush/status/1612561860842213390
AHL player of the week and scorer of the 4000th franchise goal for the Marlies gets a pay bump!
26 year old 6'2" 207lbs LW/C worker bee with some power forward capabilities; not the most creative, but kind of the perfect template for bottom-6 two-way scoring.
https://twitter.com/Kyle_Cush/status/1612561860842213390
https://twitter.com/koshtorontosun/status/1612878401638961170
https://twitter.com/koshtorontosun/status/1612877374600925184
Matthews wasn't at practice today. Originally posted a tweet from a beat reporter saying it was him with a rib injury, but that was mixed up with Brodie.
https://twitter.com/koshtorontosun/status/1612877374600925184
Matthews wasn't at practice today. Originally posted a tweet from a beat reporter saying it was him with a rib injury, but that was mixed up with Brodie.
