2024-25 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion

[dappleganger]

I was watching some Matthew Knies highlights and was reminded that Keefe made a Knies-Kampf-Domi line for like 50 min; it got completely snowed under routinely in terms of possession and chances against (high danger ones at that), but ended up with 3 goals for and 0 against lol

https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs/status/1715905368054734941
https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1715905491275014303

I have him earmarked for 23g and 57pts. He just needs to take more shots. Bobby McMann had 3 more shots than Knies last season (118 vs 115) in 24 fewer games played (and a bunch of them on the 4th line). They both popped in 15 goals each and should be able to clear 20 with top-6 usage.

If memory serves they had one good game, maybe a good two periods?

 

[Frank E]

I have him earmarked for 23g and 57pts. He just needs to take more shots. Bobby McMann had 3 more shots than Knies last season (118 vs 115) in 24 fewer games played (and a bunch of them on the 4th line). They both popped in 15 goals each and should be able to clear 20 with top-6 usage.

I think maybe he had 1 job...make room for, and get the puck to, Matthews.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

I think Knies needs to understand what he is and what he isn't as a hockey player. He has a pretty good shot. He's a big body. He has "okay" hands. He's a player that needs to keep his game simple. Bang bodies, crash nets, win battles in the corners and pop goals in when the opportunity presents itself. Don't get pretty. Don't go for the highlight reel goal. If he buys into that,(Berube should push him this way), he will produce at a good rate.

 

[herman]

I think Knies needs to understand what he is and what he isn't as a hockey player. He has a pretty good shot. He's a big body. He has "okay" hands. He's a player that needs to keep his game simple. Bang bodies, crash nets, win battles in the corners and pop goals in when the opportunity presents itself. Don't get pretty. Don't go for the highlight reel goal. If he buys into that,(Berube should push him this way), he will produce at a good rate.

Yeah, that's the correct approach for him (and most players, really); it took him a few more games to get the energy levels dialed in and to figure out his role, but he looked more effective on lines with more direct attack mentalities (L2/L3). His one silly thing is the between-the-legs self-pass/pass off the boards that can be turnover-y, which led to some stick infractions when he was caught on his heels.

Like McMann, a fast-paced heavy forecheck game with rush offense will suit Knies' assets.

 

[Highlander]

Strange there has been no announcement on Hakkenpaa

 

[Bender]

https://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/kyle-dubas-calls-the-john-tavares-contract-his-biggest-mistake-with-the-maple-leafs-but/article_6e16fae4-45c9-11ef-8c93-4b4f126a4f23.html?li_source=LI&li_medium=Recommended

Can't say I disagree with most of this article.

 

[lamajama]

Strange there has been no announcement on Hakkenpaa

I almost think the lack of an announcement means it's not going to work, or else will be made
just before training camp if he can go.

 

[herman]

They can just confirm him mid-season when he is back to health, sort of like they did with Roman Polak one season when he got injured to end the previous season and they started him on a PTO.

 

[herman]

https://x.com/sunhornby/status/1816103456048140429
How do I get this retirement package

 

[Guilt Trip]

https://twitter.com/sunhornby/status/1816103456048140429
How do I get this retirement package

When you win a cup lol.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/sunhornby/status/1816103456048140429
How do I get this retirement package

When you win a cup lol.

He was the GM of the Leafs when they made the trade with his former team that he won the Cup with (the former team of the Leafs? current GM) to acquire Doug Gilmour, for a package going back that included Leafs? current head coach Craig Berube.

 

[Zee]

https://twitter.com/sunhornby/status/1816103456048140429
How do I get this retirement package

When you win a cup lol.

He was the GM of the Leafs when they made the trade with his former team that he won the Cup with (the former team of the Leafs? current GM) to acquire Doug Gilmour, for a package going back that included Leafs? current head coach Craig Berube.

I get that he's a legend and all that, but is he really advising anything to anybody?  MLSE has the cash but this just seems unnecessary.

 

[bustaheims]

I get that he's a legend and all that, but is he really advising anything to anybody?  MLSE has the cash but this just seems unnecessary.

It's essentially a golden parachute rather than a real position. I doubt anyone is putting much weight into his input anymore, but you never know when someone might spot something others miss. Never hurts to have extra eyes on things, as long as you're weighing their input appropriately.

 

[cabber24]

I get that he's a legend and all that, but is he really advising anything to anybody?  MLSE has the cash but this just seems unnecessary.

It's essentially a golden parachute rather than a real position. I doubt anyone is putting much weight into his input anymore, but you never know when someone might spot something others miss. Never hurts to have extra eyes on things, as long as you're weighing their input appropriately.

Jeff FINGER.

 

[Joe S.]

https://twitter.com/sunhornby/status/1816103456048140429
How do I get this retirement package

When you win a cup lol.

He was the GM of the Leafs when they made the trade with his former team that he won the Cup with (the former team of the Leafs? current GM) to acquire Doug Gilmour, for a package going back that included Leafs? current head coach Craig Berube.

I get that he's a legend and all that, but is he really advising anything to anybody?  MLSE has the cash but this just seems unnecessary.

I think people forget that he was behind a couple of moves that are among the worst in franchise history - the Finger signing and the steen-stempniak trade.

 

[ZBBM]

I get that he's a legend and all that, but is he really advising anything to anybody?  MLSE has the cash but this just seems unnecessary.

It's essentially a golden parachute rather than a real position. I doubt anyone is putting much weight into his input anymore, but you never know when someone might spot something others miss. Never hurts to have extra eyes on things, as long as you're weighing their input appropriately.

Jeff FINGER.

Like Marincin, he was better than people give him credit for.  Don't blame him for getting overpaid.

 

[lamajama]

I get that he's a legend and all that, but is he really advising anything to anybody?  MLSE has the cash but this just seems unnecessary.

It's essentially a golden parachute rather than a real position. I doubt anyone is putting much weight into his input anymore, but you never know when someone might spot something others miss. Never hurts to have extra eyes on things, as long as you're weighing their input appropriately.

Jeff FINGER.

You win the internet today LMFAO

 

[Joe S.]

I get that he's a legend and all that, but is he really advising anything to anybody?  MLSE has the cash but this just seems unnecessary.

It's essentially a golden parachute rather than a real position. I doubt anyone is putting much weight into his input anymore, but you never know when someone might spot something others miss. Never hurts to have extra eyes on things, as long as you're weighing their input appropriately.

Jeff FINGER.

Like Marincin, he was better than people give him credit for.  Don't blame him for getting overpaid.

No one is blaming the player. The blame is 100% on fletcher because he thought he was signing someone else.

 

[Bender]

I get that he's a legend and all that, but is he really advising anything to anybody?  MLSE has the cash but this just seems unnecessary.

It's essentially a golden parachute rather than a real position. I doubt anyone is putting much weight into his input anymore, but you never know when someone might spot something others miss. Never hurts to have extra eyes on things, as long as you're weighing their input appropriately.

Jeff FINGER.

Like Marincin, he was better than people give him credit for.  Don't blame him for getting overpaid.

No one is blaming the player. The blame is 100% on fletcher because he thought he was signing someone else.

Do we really think nobody else in the room noticed either?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

As amazing of an urban legend as it is, I never really believed the "he thought he was signing Kurt Sauer!" thing. It was just a bad contract which led to a lot of bad explanations from people as to why it was signed (like Ron Wilson talking him up like the greatest thing).