Leafs @ Canucks - Mar. 6th, 9:00pm - SNO, TSN 1050

[Guilt Trip]

Did the Hobbits line work last night? I thought they were fine, but couldn't get much going.
But pretty much none of them worked and all our goals were muffins.

What was the problem?
The Leafs couldn't generate any speed through the neutral zone because the backend was having all sorts of trouble moving the puck cleanly. This is what life without Gardiner (and Dermott) looks like. By the time OT rolled around, our top 4 D were gassed (because Marincin and Holl saw very limited ice), and this is basically what happens when your 'efforts' to keep your bench fresh only come up after losing 33% of the group to injury.

What's up with Matthews?
He's centering a line that has no playmakers to break down defenses with. It's only rush options. Kapanen's great in straight-line transition and generating breakaways for himself, but his brain is not nearly as fast as his legs. Johnsson's great at capitalizing on opportunities but isn't a consistent generator of one. Matthews can turn many lesser opportunities into scary good ones, but not if he never has the puck. He buzzed Markstrom with a couple tough shots that couldn't be cleanly handled, but on rush plays, there is next to no follow up for those chances.

What's up with Nylander?
He's lined up with two opportunistic shooters, but neither of them have the gamespeed to make passes. Nylander can carry it himself (better than anyone else on the team, yes better than Marner, fight me), but his slot passes are clunking off sticks that aren't ready, or going back up to defensive dump shots. When he goes to the front of the net, no one else on the ice can pass well enough to get him anything to work with. It'll be really good to have Kadri back.

Excellent post Herman. Agree with everything you stated and no argument about Nylander being the best at carrying the puck. It's not that close really, he's that good.

And ZBBM. Agree with all your points also. I actually think Muzz is trying to do too much and that leads to him being out of position. He needs to keep it simple. He has the tools and hasn't forgot how to play, I just think he's gotten into his own head.

 

[herman]

no argument about Nylander being the best at carrying the puck. It's not that close really, he's that good.

But wait, there's more! Not only is he the best at carrying the puck, he is 1B to Marner's 1A+* in distributing the puck to dangerous ice for scoring opportunities. You can really see the difference in Matthews when he's centering Kapanen or Brown, vs Nylander.

* Marner is some kind of passing savant, but we should recognize that the fanbase Brad Marchand overrates him just a little bit; he's had cushier linemate/deployment situations than most on this team (because that's where he works best)

 

[disco]

Tough O/T loss.

 

[Guilt Trip]

no argument about Nylander being the best at carrying the puck. It's not that close really, he's that good.

But wait, there's more! Not only is he the best at carrying the puck, he is 1B to Marner's 1A+* in distributing the puck to dangerous ice for scoring opportunities. You can really see the difference in Matthews when he's centering Kapanen or Brown, vs Nylander.

* Marner is some kind of passing savant, but we should recognize that the fanbase Brad Marchand overrates him just a little bit; he's had cushier linemate/deployment situations than most on this team (because that's where he works best)

Won't argue with any of that. I think everyone is seeing the effects for both Nylander and Matthews being separated. Babs are you listening??

 

[herman]

I don't mind Matthews and Nylander being apart for this stretch of games.

I probably mentioned it before, but it's okay for players to be put in challenging situations to develop their games rather than just be spoonfed what works for them. Matthews now has to carry a bit more frequently and develop a stronger off-puck effort (he has plenty of help for the latter). Nylander gets to develop his individual attack and how to play off of (and elevate) lesser players; he already started doing something different against the Canucks: early in the game he'd do his usual skate in entry and buttonhook look for a slot pass; after enough flubs by his linemates, he adjusted to dumping it in for his forechecking wingers (which suits their style more) to try to win it back and present himself as an option.

 

[azzurri63]

I agree with everyone all have valid points but here's my 2 cents.

From watching Matthews and again no one but Leafs management and Auston know the answer to the question is he still battling any injuries.
If he's not then there should be concern the way he's playing.
Watching him on tv and seeing him live against Calgary it's like night and day between him and Marner.
I don't expect 3 points a night but I do expect on a regular basis some constant shift by shift compete.
Said it long ago with his skill and size he should easily be the best player on this team excluding Freddy who is our MVP.
I agree with McFate he's like 5th if you include Andersen.
I do agree with you Herman about his line mates hindering him. Why willy isn't back with him is beyond me again that's on Babcock.
Having said that with his talent he should be producing more.
Watching the game in Calgary Monday and sitting with other Leaf fans most agree with me that if he used his body more it would help his game.
Maybe that is an element that will come later but for now doesn't use it as much as he should.
I mentioned it long ago after McDavid he should be the 2nd best centre as far as producing.
The concern I have and I know it's early but from watching him and Marner and a lot of people I talk to say Marner is the better player.
All around I disagree with that but as of now Marner's making me eat my words.

 

[azzurri63]

Also McFate I wanted to post the pic I got with Auston the other day but not sure how to attach a pic. Can you, Herman or someone else help with that.
Try to find it in the help section but still can't figure it out.

 

[herman]

Also McFate I wanted to post the pic I got with Auston the other day but not sure how to attach a pic. Can you, Herman or someone else help with that.
Try to find it in the help section but still can't figure it out.

You can upload your image file to a hosting site like imgur.com and then paste the subsequent image link in between the
[ img ]https://i.imgur.com/yourphoto.jpg[/ img ] tags (remove the spaces around the 'img's)

Quote this post to see the code example of the image below:

 

[azzurri63]

Highlight of the trip to Calgary. Going out for dinner and running into these 3. Made our day.

Thanks Herman took a few tries but figured it out.

 

[herman]

Nice!

 

[azzurri63]

Nice!

Definitely didn't expect that walked in to meet a friend of mine and he said some players were behind us.
Figured they were probably Flames. I had my back to them and only one I could see behind the bar was Matthew Tkachuk .
My kid then says "hey Dad you wanna go say hi to Matthews" and I called bulls**t.
Something none of us will forget.

 

[Bullfrog]

Matthews: He's very very good.  He may be elite, among the very best of the best, someday.  He's not there yet IMO.  Put him with Nylander and let's see what happens.

I say again they should try him on the PK.  As a zone entry disrupter and open-ice playmaker, he could be almost as good as Marner.  He can steal pucks and use his stick to blow up rushes with the best of them, if given a chance.

I'd agree if you were talking about Nylander.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I say again they should try him on the PK.  As a zone entry disrupter and open-ice playmaker, he could be almost as good as Marner.  He can steal pucks and use his stick to blow up rushes with the best of them, if given a chance.

I'd agree if you were talking about Nylander.

I'm more surprised that Tavares and Kadri are never played on the PK, especially since it lacks guys who can win face-offs.

 

[Strangelove]

Muzzin: He's looked pretty awful after the first 5 or so games, during which he looked like just what the doctor ordered.  Babcock needs to take him off the 2PP and never ever ever ever EVER put him out in OT.  That's just unfair to him.  Strike me dead and whatnot, but he needs to play like a (gasp) stay at home defenseman.  He'll get back on the beam.

The common denominator with good Leafs' defencemen looking bad and out of rhythm seems to be playing with Zaitsev and his CF% of 43.8% and relative Corsi of -11.1%. He is a giveaway machine who can't carry or pass the puck and has poor defensive instincts.

Things were going really well with Muzzin until Babcock decided that he would never play with Rielly again (despite the fact that the Leafs had won something like 5 of 6 games).

 

[OldTimeHockey]

What's up with Nylander?
He's lined up with two opportunistic shooters, but neither of them have the gamespeed to make passes. Nylander can carry it himself (better than anyone else on the team, yes better than Marner, fight me), but his slot passes are clunking off sticks that aren't ready, or going back up to defensive dump shots. When he goes to the front of the net, no one else on the ice can pass well enough to get him anything to work with. It'll be really good to have Kadri back.

My only problem with Nylander is his bad decisions with the puck on occasion. Generally when forced towards the blueline in the offensive zone, he will make a bad choice, or try to be too cute with the puck. These plays are generally low percentage plays.

Low percentage plays are ok below the hashmarks. above the Circles and towards the blue line, those are low percentage, high risk plays with turnovers that can be very dangerous.

If you get pressured to the blueline, and there's no clear cut play with the puck, getting it deep again should be your number one priority.

 

[Strangelove]

What's up with Nylander?
He's lined up with two opportunistic shooters, but neither of them have the gamespeed to make passes. Nylander can carry it himself (better than anyone else on the team, yes better than Marner, fight me), but his slot passes are clunking off sticks that aren't ready, or going back up to defensive dump shots. When he goes to the front of the net, no one else on the ice can pass well enough to get him anything to work with. It'll be really good to have Kadri back.

My only problem with Nylander is his bad decisions with the puck on occasion. Generally when forced towards the blueline in the offensive zone, he will make a bad choice, or try to be too cute with the puck. These plays are generally low percentage plays.

Low percentage plays are ok below the hashmarks. above the Circles and towards the blue line, those are low percentage, high risk plays with turnovers that can be very dangerous.

If you get pressured to the blueline, and there's no clear cut play with the puck, getting it deep again should be your number one priority.

Nylander's bread and butter is playing with the puck. He happens to playing with borderline NHLers with poor puck control, which is obviously a bad fit.

I don't see Nylander making a lot of bad plays. I see him trying to make good plays with linemates who are unable to execute.

 

[Guilt Trip]

I say again they should try him on the PK.  As a zone entry disrupter and open-ice playmaker, he could be almost as good as Marner.  He can steal pucks and use his stick to blow up rushes with the best of them, if given a chance.

I'd agree if you were talking about Nylander.

I'm more surprised that Tavares and Kadri are never played on the PK, especially since it lacks guys who can win face-offs.

This is a head scratcher for me to.

 

[Guilt Trip]

I agree with everyone all have valid points but here's my 2 cents.

From watching Matthews and again no one but Leafs management and Auston know the answer to the question is he still battling any injuries.
If he's not then there should be concern the way he's playing.
Watching him on tv and seeing him live against Calgary it's like night and day between him and Marner.
I don't expect 3 points a night but I do expect on a regular basis some constant shift by shift compete.
Said it long ago with his skill and size he should easily be the best player on this team excluding Freddy who is our MVP.
I agree with McFate he's like 5th if you include Andersen.
I do agree with you Herman about his line mates hindering him. Why willy isn't back with him is beyond me again that's on Babcock.
Having said that with his talent he should be producing more.
Watching the game in Calgary Monday and sitting with other Leaf fans most agree with me that if he used his body more it would help his game.
Maybe that is an element that will come later but for now doesn't use it as much as he should.
I mentioned it long ago after McDavid he should be the 2nd best centre as far as producing.
The concern I have and I know it's early but from watching him and Marner and a lot of people I talk to say Marner is the better player.
All around I disagree with that but as of now Marner's making me eat my words.

IMO, you can't compare the 2. Different positions, different linemates. Matthews doesn't have a Tavares as a linemate. He's got a rookie and a guy playing his first full season. Before that he had Marleau. A few weeks ago Marner was struggling and Matthews was doing fine. We were thinking what's up with Marner then. It's Matthews' turn now. I'm not  too worried about it. He's still getting chances pretty much every game and so is his line. Kappy does have a tendency to shoot over the net lol. The guy that has fallen off the cliff the last few games is Johnsson.
Anyway, ups and downs for me, all part of the season. In a perfect world the whole team would be firing on all cylinders all year but as long as they are come playoff time, it should be fun. He'll be better, no doubt.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Nylander's bread and butter is playing with the puck. He happens to playing with borderline NHLers with poor puck control, which is obviously a bad fit.

I don't see Nylander making a lot of bad plays. I see him trying to make good plays with linemates who are unable to execute.

It may be his game, but it's not a smart play. I realize that high skilled players take risks. I'd never take that away from someone. But, despite him trying to make good plays, trying to weave a pass through 3 pairs of skates and a couple sticks has very little chance of success.

I'm not knocking him, I was basically saying that if there's something negative I could take away from his game, it is that. Sometimes the safe play is the right one.

 

[ZBBM]

Nice!

Definitely didn't expect that walked in to meet a friend of mine and he said some players were behind us.
Figured they were probably Flames. I had my back to them and only one I could see behind the bar was Matthew Tkachuk .
My kid then says "hey Dad you wanna go say hi to Matthews" and I called bulls**t.
Something none of us will forget.

Ha, what fun azzurri!  Thanks for posting and thanks herman for the helping hand.