2023-24 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion
- Thread starter herman
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herman
Well-known member
Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate said:
He?s the Simon Benoit of the Marlies.
https://twitter.com/nickbarden/status/1744127176209768709
https://twitter.com/nickbarden/status/1759284031441547406
I had him earmarked as the next Justin Holl project when the Marlies picked him up
Guru Tugginmypuddah
Active member
Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate said:
A guy.
CarltonTheBear said:
Well an 8-2 stretch and Tampa and Detroit both cooling off a little has the Leafs sitting comfortably 3rd in the Atlantic division again. The Leafs are on pace for 103 points while Detroit and Tampa are at 95 and 93 respectively. That's a pretty massive gap in points over half way through the season, although of course nothing is set in stone yet.
Yes, George Parros, the owner of the clothing brand Violent Gentlemen Hockey Club selling merchandise with the slogan "Make Hockey Violent Again" in the Trump red and white hat style is the right guy for the Head of Department of Player Safety. Position also formerly held by Chris Pronger one of the most suspended players of all time. Are they trying to look stupid?
Anyway, it's wildly unpredictable what they do from one scenario to the next. It REALLY doesn't have to be that way.
Anyway, it's wildly unpredictable what they do from one scenario to the next. It REALLY doesn't have to be that way.
Frank E
Active member
I think there are politics at play here with all the "Toronto gets preferrential treatment in the league", so I think the fact that the Leafs went 4-0 and with only 1 more game to go, it was an easy call for Bettman to keep the course and show the rest of the league that Toronto receives totally ridiculous supplemental discipline just like the rest of them.
bustaheims
Active member
The most Bettman was ever going to do was knock one game off the suspension, so, him upholding the whole thing really shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. He very rarely makes any changes to supplemental discipline decisions.
bustaheims said:
I agree. Chiseling a game off was a long shot.
The leak of the decision might have been a little more compelling grievance than anything to do with the incident itself (and that was not that big of an issue).
The team going 4-0 took a bunch of whatever sting there was away for me.
Hopefully, they keep playing well so they don't mortgage too much of the future at the deadline.
Frank E
Active member
cw said:
He needed a break anyways...it all worked out for the best. NHL teams can't complain about the Leafs, Rielly gets a break, the Leafs prop up values of some players, Bettman looks like less of a MLSE patsy...the refs don't have to take any heat about it and probably like that they got DOPS screwed, and Ottawa still super sucks. All is good.
bustaheims
Active member
cw said:
It forced the team to tighten up defensively as to not overwork an undermanned defence corps. If they can keep that up, with some minor tweaks to the bottom end of the roster, we could have something here.
bustaheims
Active member
https://x.com/joshuakloke/status/1760317429165797824
bustaheims said:
Wouldn't be shocked if this was just about giving him a chance to continue practicing with players since he's not on the current Leafs road trip. Obviously it'd be great if he was able to get into a game too though.
bustaheims said:
I feel similarly. I kind of didn't want to say it because it hasn't been long enough and they might go back to their old ways. That game they held their opponent to 15 shots was a really, really good defensive performance. Can't help but ask yourself "why can't they play that way every night?"
Dman Callups
Benoit
Lagesson
Lajoie
Rifai
It used to be when the Leafs called someone up, I'd often be on the edge of my seat - anxious for a screw up. Naturally, Benoit (& only Rifai for a game) but that group has done a pretty good job when called upon.
Marlies seemed to have 2-3 AHL vet dmen. Now, they're carrying a bunch of guys who have an outside shot or better of making it. When you listen to the interviews or read the development stories, they're working on all kinds of things with these players year round.
In short, I think the franchise has improved in their development of young players. I think they're doing a better job of identifying undrafted talent. And they seem to have a broader view of how they can help, diagnosing it and more patience nurturing good character guys willing to put in the work. I can't point to any particular thing.
With the prospect cupboard kind of bare, it is very timely. If they can add a decent quality undrafted player or two to the roster, that can really help in a number of ways.
I have no stats or facts to solidly back that up. It is just a feeling that has been developing as I track these young players trying to make it.
bustaheims
Active member
CarltonTheBear said:
Maybe. He's basically there for up to 5 games (3 as the standard, plus the team's option of requesting 2 more), since it's an LTIR loan. Typically, this type of assignment would be partly to assess if a player is ready to return to action, so, I guess we'll see.