• For users coming over from tmlfans.ca your username will remain the same but you will need to use the password reset feature (check your spam folder) on the login page in order to set your password. If you encounter issues, email Rick couchmanrick@gmail.com

2024-25 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion

Guilt Trip said:
What makes zero sense to me is why isn't Patches playing with the Marlies on a conditioning stint. I can't see him going in for game 1 over anyone. He hasn't played in 2 months.
Click to expand...
Schedule might have something to do with it. Marlies have only played 2 games since April 6 and only have 3 left in the season (2 before the start of the first round - including one the night before the Leafs likely start their series). Patches might also not be quite ready to play yet. Skating and practicing is one thing, getting into games - even at the AHL level - is another.
 
dappleganger said:
Speaking of the Leafs series, when do they playoffs start?

Leafs game 1 will be on Saturday?
Click to expand...
Friedman, Kypreos, and Johnston have all said now that they're hearing teams ending the season on Thursday won't be starting playoffs Saturday since it would only give them 1 day off. So expectation is Sunday but obviously not confirmed until it's confirmed.
 
Last edited:
I had the sense that Pacioretty was just biding his time on LTIR and would inevitably appear on the playoff roster.
With the way they have been playing lately, that doesn't seem so automatic.
He was mediocre or less so that shouldn't come as a shock.
Injuries happen so he'll probably find his way onto the roster at some point due to injury or a need for size.
He hasn't skated a stride in a game in some time. But seems to have fallen down the depth chart during his time off.
 
cw said:
I had the sense that Pacioretty was just biding his time on LTIR and would inevitably appear on the playoff roster.
With the way they have been playing lately, that doesn't seem so automatic.
He was mediocre or less so that shouldn't come as a shock.
Injuries happen so he'll probably find his way onto the roster at some point due to injury or a need for size.
He hasn't skated a stride in a game in some time. But seems to have fallen down the depth chart during his time off.
Click to expand...

I still think we see him in game 1 if he's healthy. He looked a lot less effective prior to getting shut down but maybe a break like this is just what he needed. He's still one of the most physical players on the team and has more playoff goals than anyone else on the roster. Right or wrong those will be things Berube values in a playoff line-up. Especially in what will surely be a spirited series against the sens.

I think we ultimately see the McMann-Domi-Robertson line reunited, Pacioretty with Tavares and Nylander, and then have Lorentz and Laughton with one of Jarnkrok, Holmberg, or Kampf.

With that said I also wouldn't really be totally opposed to starting the series with what we've seen the past 2 games.
 
Guilt Trip said:
He's come a long way this year.
Click to expand...
It would probably be between Knies and Robertson for the most improved.
I think Nick made a heck of a credible effort. He's earned every minute of ice time he got.
I think he had the tougher road because the things he improved on were not rooted in his naturally developed strengths and abilities. I wouldn't have bet on it at the start of the season. And he did it in a non top-6 role.
 
cw said:
It would probably be between Knies and Robertson for the most improved.
I think Nick made a heck of a credible effort. He's earned every minute of ice time he got.
I think he had the tougher road because the things he improved on were not rooted in his naturally developed strengths and abilities. I wouldn't have bet on it at the start of the season. And he did it in a non top-6 role.
Click to expand...

Lots of guys have improved this year. I would even add Willy, Marner, Tavares, McMann, McCabe and Woll to the list.

I mean, it looks like Willy will place second in goals this season. That's monumental.
 
We'll have a lot more discussion about who fills out the bottom 6 for game 1 once L3 and L4 play 38 minutes against Detroit tomorrow night.
 
Ozzie said:
Lots of guys have improved this year. I would even add Willy, Marner, Tavares, McMann, McCabe and Woll to the list.

I mean, it looks like Willy will place second in goals this season. That's monumental.
Click to expand...

I suspect Willy's improvement was the coaching staff throwing up their hands and saying "you're not going to coach this guy to play center or do much else. He's just going to do whatever he sees out there." They double-shifted him on the PP and just let him go.

Marner seemed pretty close to the Marner of the past to me.
Tavares played like he had in years gone by - a credit at his age but not really an improvement to me.
Woll's biggest improvement to me is staying healthy after starting the season injured.

If a pro scout couldn't see what McMann did in the AHL was very likely to translate in the NHL, I would wonder if he needs to be in another line of work. It was so obvious. I've truly enjoyed seeing McMann succeed in the NHL. But I do not see leaps and bounds of improvement over last season. He got more ice time. His hitting, shot blocking, takeaways, etc is all down. Maybe he's been playing banged up. I agree with his claim that his reads on forechecking has improved. He's still got a defensive conscience and is not a big liability on the ice. But other than forechecking reads, I struggle to see significant improvement - particularly in his reads and anticipation of the play when he doesn't have the puck in the neutral zone or d-zone.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top