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2025-26 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion

OldTimeHockey said:
Robertson hasn't really established himself as a "playoff master". 1 goal doesn't do that. The fact that Berube didn't trust him and he only skated in 3 games says a lot more.

We had this same conversation last year around this time. I like Robertson. I hope he figures it out. He saw progress last season on his game away from the puck, but it still needs work. That, and he needs consistency. If he can figure those two out, he'll be an 82 games a season guy. And probably given more offensive opportunities....as that's his value. But, his deficiencies can't outweigh his positives. He hasn't crossed over that hump yet IMO.
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In terms of xG, the Leafs basically broke even in Robertson's minutes last season - which is fine for a 3rd liner (not great, but fine) - but, does not scream play him higher in the lineup, give him more responsibilities (PK, PP1, etc.), or even guarantee him a spot in the lineup if he's healthy.
 
Only way I see Robertson being an everyday top-9er here is if the Leafs split up JT and Willy. Because again I can't see him on a Knies-Matthews top line, I can't see him on a JT-Willy line, and I can't see him on a Roy checking line. But throw Nylander up with Matthews and a slightly more sheltered line of Tavares with Robertson (who has shown the ability to play RW) and a random LWer (Domi, Maccelli, McMann, Joshua) is something I can see being more of an everyday thing.

Problem is though that would also bump one of those other left wingers out of the top-9, and I think they'll all be "penciled" into there ahead of Robertson. So it will also take a subpar performance (or injury) from one of them to open up a spot.
 
Acquiring a rangy forechecky 2-way RW will help maximize the glut of zippy LWs (Domi, Maccelli, Robertson, Cowan). Or they have to play RW themselves to make use of the plethora of forechecky LWs (Knies, Joshua, McMann, Lorentz). I don't really like having all the playmaking from one side of the ice, but you work with what you got.
 
Who cares, he'll play sporadically.

Crazy how the opening day roster is projected to have zero players on entry-level contracts. It's a fairly deep team with two of the following having to sit: McMann, Jarnkrok, Lorentz, Laughton, Kampf, and Robertson. I don't see a fit for Cowan yet.

So reallocating Marner's salary allowed:

Maccelli, Roy, Joshua (Knies raise) over Holmberg, Marner, Pacioretty

I still think they have some work to do. Upgrade 2 or 3 of these collective bottom 6 guys into 1 top 4-6 guy.
 
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Wasn't Williams the guy who sported a 100% shooting percentage in his first few games, or something like that?
 
ZBBM said:
Wasn't Williams the guy who sported a 100% shooting percentage in his first few games, or something like that?
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I remember this vaguely being very funny, so I looked it up.

Called up for last game in 06, scored.
Called up for one game in 07, scored.
Called up again in 08 for a longer stretch, scored in that first game.
Called up in December 08 and scored in each of his first three games (5 in 6 games, and then 0-ferred the rest of the way)
 
Arn said:
Not a leafs thing as such, but it’s the off season and vaguely interesting.

The European champions hockey league is trialing a new 3 on 3 OT rule where if the team in possession retreats back into the neutral zone after crossing the blue line, play is whistled dead and restarted with a face off in the offending teams zone.

I think I quite like it.

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I like it in theory, though I think it might work better with it being teams can't cross back over center ice rather than the neutral zone as a whole. Quite frankly, I'm all for the red line being the only line that's in play for 3-on-3. Get rid of offsides in 3-on-3 OT entirely - jsut have the no return/over and back rule in place - though, I get why that probably wouldn't fly.
 
Arn said:
Not a leafs thing as such, but it’s the off season and vaguely interesting.

The European champions hockey league is trialing a new 3 on 3 OT rule where if the team in possession retreats back into the neutral zone after crossing the blue line, play is whistled dead and restarted with a face off in the offending teams zone.

I think I quite like it.

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Sometimes it's a legit hockey play to tag up, but I get it. The possession for the sake of possession can be a tough watch.
 
bustaheims said:
I like it in theory, though I think it might work better with it being teams can't cross back over center ice rather than the neutral zone as a whole. Quite frankly, I'm all for the red line being the only line that's in play for 3-on-3. Get rid of offsides in 3-on-3 OT entirely - jsut have the no return/over and back rule in place - though, I get why that probably wouldn't fly.
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I originally thought/ presumed it would be the red line, and I do think that would be a bit better, but overall I think it’s a decent idea to try and shake it up a bit.
 
I know the goal is try and encourage more offense and avoid 3+ minutes of backward skating but I just find the idea of stoppages and linesman delaying puck drops to be something that would just make things worse.
 
Basketball style: any penalty taken in OT is a live penalty shot. Everyone else lines up at the opposite blueline while the offended player takes an attack run from the centre dot. Other players can move as soon as the shooter hits the blueline. Play is live.
 
herman said:
Basketball style: any penalty taken in OT is a live penalty shot. Everyone else lines up at the opposite blueline while the offended player takes an attack run from the centre dot. Other players can move as soon as the shooter hits the blueline. Play is live.
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My daughter went to a university showcase this summer that used the same method. Except players lined up at top of opposing circles and could leave as soon as player touched puck at centre ice.
 
OldTimeHockey said:
My daughter went to a university showcase this summer that used the same method. Except players lined up at top of opposing circles and could leave as soon as player touched puck at centre ice.
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Oh hey it's a real thing?! circles + puck touch makes more sense than blueline/blueline crossing (refs would die)

How did it fare?
 
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