I definitely wouldn't give up on Carlo that easily. He killed us repeatedly in the playoffs previously. I think he'll settle in nicely next season and he's also still very young.
2025 Offseason Thread: Spring Cleaning
- Thread starter herman
- Start date
bustaheims
Well-known member
I suspect both Carlo and Laughton will be better fits next season with a full camp, lots of practice time with the team, etc. Kind of like McCabe a couple years back. It can take time to adjust to a new team, especially when it's the first time you've moved (which is the case for both of them). I can only see Carlo getting dealt is if the Leafs add someone like Ekblad.
Frank E
Well-known member
I'm not sure we know what Hakanpaa is capable of right now.
herman
Well-known member
It's entirely a physical capability measure at this point; at least we know he knows how to play defense and PK very well.
herman
Well-known member
Back to Excited Episode 220: Leafs autopsy and what happens next
Your questions are answered here.
www.pensionplanpuppets.com
I wish they kept doing more episodes.Back to Excited Episode 220: Leafs autopsy and what happens next
Your questions are answered here.
My favourite dodge was the one about why Matthews wasn't given more time off during the season to fix his injury before playoffs.
Guilt Trip
Well-known member
Yup, nothing new at all.
dappleganger
Well-known member
Yeah. I'd want him around for low-minutes, great PK'er.
herman
Well-known member
You know what he didn't say? Which will make cw mad?
Zee
Well-known member
Pretty much as expected.
ZBBM
Well-known member
herman — and I'm not trying to be an a-hole to you on this — you are eager to get rid of Marner. I don't agree, but whatever. Treliving talked about changing the DNA. My question to you is: Is part of that getting William Nylander to actually (1) play defense and (2) go to the net and take some punishment to score goals in the playoffs?
It pisses me off that he's getting no flak whatsoever. He disappeared when it counted most just like the rest of them. If he's not willing to change HIS DNA, HIS game, to succeed in the playoffs, he can follow Marner out the damn door.
He got tons of flak before he signed. Marner isn't signed, so it's his turn. Call me crazy, but I don't think Nylander's D is that bad. I think it's a popular narrative though.
herman
Well-known member
cabber24 has the long and short of it.
Nylander's defense grades out as average-ish. It just looks really bad because he isn't skating uselessly after plays no one really has a chance on turning into a battle. Nylander actually does go to the net and takes plenty of punishment in doing so. He just doesn't go there too early to stand around getting whacked before the puck is there, which is the traditional method. He is also one of 3 shooters on the team (one of 2, this past season) that is an actual scoring threat at distance, so I don't know why anyone would use a knife to do a prybar's job.
He disappeared after round 2 game 2 (after hard-carrying the offense for Round 1) because his line had to eat the Barkov/Forsling matchup after he shredded the Panthers for Games 1 and 2. His linemates were a slowing John Tavares and Pontus Holmberg (no hands) or Max Pacioretty (no back/knees). Didn't see any other line taking similar advantage of their matchups after that change. The only game 7 goal we scored was because Nylander was moved to Domi's wing for a shift and threw a pick on the defender to give Domi a shooting lane on a rush chance.
The mandate from the coach and GM are to win the slot (in DZ and OZ) with direct hockey, and staying calm in the critical moments. I think people are free to interpret what that means in terms of predicting personnel changes.