sens @ Leafs - Feb. 15th, 7:00pm - TSN4, TSN 1050

[Kin]

So the Leafs are still 1st place in the NHL.  So this stuff still happens when they are 1st place. really.....

Nope. They had a bad period which means they're all bad and the season is hopeless and we should tear out our hair and cry about it incessantly.

 

[Chris]

Yeah not passing here was a choice.

Eh, goalie out of position like that I get the instinct to want to get it on net. Matthews would have been shooting into traffic too. Sure on balance I'd rather rely on Matthews' accuracy there but that's eye in the sky stuff.

Yeah, I figure the odds of Matthews getting it past only Chabot into the empty net were higher than Rielly getting it past 3 Ottawa skaters and a goalie trying to get up. 

Oh well.  Getting 1 point out a possible 2 shouldn't feel this horrible I expect.

Sure it should. 5-1 lead essentially at the end of the second period against arguably the worst team in the league, and lose it in OT. That just should not happen. It's a warning about the makeup of this team and what will happen in the playoffs against really good teams.

Easy on your choice of words Chris you might offend some people on here.

Too late for that I'm sure.

Funny thing, the outcome of this game doesn't really bother me because I've come to accept that this is what the Leafs are. We've seen it for the past couple of years. It's not a surprise that they found a way to lose tonight just like it won't be a surprise when they manage to lose in round 1 of the playoffs again. Or maybe they'll squeeze into round 2 this year.

It is what it is. I try to enjoy the skill that Matthews and Marner and occasionally Nylander and Reilly bring. I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact they ain't winning anything in the near future.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

With Thornton back I wonder if the Leafs go back to the other lines they had to start the season. Namely Hyman on the checking line with Kerfoot and Nylander and Tavares playing in a more sheltered role. That was the best those 2 looked all season and the checking line seemed to be working. Maybe give Boyd a shot with Tavares to reward him for his good play.

Thornton-Matthews-Marner
Nylander-Tavares-Boyd
Mikheyev-Kerfoot-Hyman
Engvall-Spezza-Vesey/Petan/Galchenyuk/whoever

 

[Britishbulldog]

Yeah, after  47 years cheering for this team I actually had hope for them this year.

I don't have confidence in them anymore.  I will enjoy the season but I have zero expectations that they will make it to the Final 4 let alone win a series.

It sucks not being able to be excited for your favaourite team's chances after almost 5 decades.

Hard to grasp how good they are due to the season with Covid and all. I personally don't think the North is strong so hard to say how good we rank. I'll say it again and I'm sure I'll get roasted for it but team is too easy to play against. Strike no fear into the opposition physically and defensively. See how the next few months go but if it's status quo come end of season Dubas along with a few others need to go.

Yeah, seeing some of the trades on CapFriendly shows a lot of Leaf fans are concerned with it as you are.  We just can't be doing Russ Courtnall for John Kordic stuff like some seem to be desperately suggesting.

I don't know if the young players have fully matured to where they need to be.  Especially Nylander.  But they are being paid star and superstar money and need to figure it out this year for Dubas' and Shanahan's sake.

 

[Peter D.]

I thought heading in the Leafs we?re going to spank the Sens 7-1.

And sure as heck would not expect them to blow and lose a 5-1 lead after 40 to a crummy Sens team.

The decision by Rielly to shoot there was the right one. Just got robbed by Dadonov and then made foolish when he got blown by him going the other way for the breakaway.

 

[Britishbulldog]

Reilly's decision making at times at both ends of the ice leaves you scratching your head.

Yesterday I saw someone suggest that we should trade Reilly for Nurse and a draft pick and got roasted by Leaf fans.    I have been very unimpressed with Reilly since the beginning of last season but was told it was because of injury that he is a point a game possible dman that will demand $7.5 to $8.5 MIL a season for 8 years.

I figure he is a 6-10 goal and with this team 25-35 assist player worth $5.5 - $6 MIL.  He certainly doesn't bring the same skillsets as Nurse even if Rielly is much more skilled offensively.

 

[Britishbulldog]

I thought heading in the Leafs we?re going to spank the Sens 7-1.

And sure as heck would not expect them to blow and lose a 5-1 lead after 40 to a crummy Sens team.

The decision by Rielly to shoot there was the right one. Just got robbed by Dadonov and then made foolish when he got blown by him going the other way for the breakaway.

I still don't like it. 

 

[Britishbulldog]

I feel what this shows is that any team can beat the better team in the NHL if the better team loses focus and the worse team works hard.

Hopefully the Leafs don't let off again this season, especially in the playoffs.

 

[Guilt Trip]

With Thornton back I wonder if the Leafs go back to the other lines they had to start the season. Namely Hyman on the checking line with Kerfoot and Nylander and Tavares playing in a more sheltered role. That was the best those 2 looked all season and the checking line seemed to be working. Maybe give Boyd a shot with Tavares to reward him for his good play.

Thornton-Matthews-Marner
Nylander-Tavares-Boyd
Mikheyev-Kerfoot-Hyman
Engvall-Spezza-Vesey/Petan/Galchenyuk/whoever

I think we may see that soon. I almost think JT is trying to do too much and he's forcing things instead of just playing.

 

[Kin]

I figure he is a 6-10 goal and with this team 25-35 assist player worth $5.5 - $6 MIL. 

Right now he's at a 10 goal and 63 point per 82 games played pace. That's more or less what his production has been over the last three years.

I don't know where he fits in with the Leafs plans but that sort of production from a defenseman tends to fetch a fair amount on the market.

 

[azzurri63]

Yeah, after  47 years cheering for this team I actually had hope for them this year.

I don't have confidence in them anymore.  I will enjoy the season but I have zero expectations that they will make it to the Final 4 let alone win a series.

It sucks not being able to be excited for your favaourite team's chances after almost 5 decades.

Hard to grasp how good they are due to the season with Covid and all. I personally don't think the North is strong so hard to say how good we rank. I'll say it again and I'm sure I'll get roasted for it but team is too easy to play against. Strike no fear into the opposition physically and defensively. See how the next few months go but if it's status quo come end of season Dubas along with a few others need to go.

Yeah, seeing some of the trades on CapFriendly shows a lot of Leaf fans are concerned with it as you are.  We just can't be doing Russ Courtnall for John Kordic stuff like some seem to be desperately suggesting.

I don't know if the young players have fully matured to where they need to be.  Especially Nylander.  But they are being paid star and superstar money and need to figure it out this year for Dubas' and Shanahan's sake.

Those days are gone. There are no more goons and so be it. What they need to find are players that are skilled and hard to play against. It's not easy. When I watched the game Saturday against the Habs I shook my head at the times Weber was on the ice and Leaf players avoided him. That's not the way to play in my eyes but Webers reputation is to play physical. Now I'm not saying you go out and get him especially at his salary but try and find players like that. Bogosian and Muzzin were an upgrade on our D for that but the rest in my eyes are too timid. I don't want to use the word soft as I'll get shit on here for doing so. And it's not only the defence. I get it that's the team Dubas wants but it hasn't been working in the past. When you load up your team with skilled, non physical players that's what you get. We added Simmonds who fits that mold but unfortunately he's getting to the end of his career. Sure Dubas' theory looks good as far as scoring and padding stats but in my opinion it just makes you easy to play against.You have to find that balance. Easier said than done especially with being cap strapped.

 

[Guilt Trip]

I thought heading in the Leafs we?re going to spank the Sens 7-1.

And sure as heck would not expect them to blow and lose a 5-1 lead after 40 to a crummy Sens team.

The decision by Rielly to shoot there was the right one. Just got robbed by Dadonov and then made foolish when he got blown by him going the other way for the breakaway.

I still don't like it. 

Me neither. Matthews was primed and ready to blast it...he's the league's best goal scorer.

 

[Chris]

With Thornton back I wonder if the Leafs go back to the other lines they had to start the season. Namely Hyman on the checking line with Kerfoot and Nylander and Tavares playing in a more sheltered role. That was the best those 2 looked all season and the checking line seemed to be working. Maybe give Boyd a shot with Tavares to reward him for his good play.

Thornton-Matthews-Marner
Nylander-Tavares-Boyd
Mikheyev-Kerfoot-Hyman
Engvall-Spezza-Vesey/Petan/Galchenyuk/whoever

I think we may see that soon. I almost think JT is trying to do too much and he's forcing things instead of just playing.

I was thinking that maybe it is time to split up Tavares and Nylander, maybe even give Nylander "his own" line. I've generally argued against playing him as a 3rd line center and would still prefer him at wing, but maybe that second line just needs a big shake up, as opposed to just another LW. Something just ain't right with that line and I don't think even Hyman is the answer.

 

[Peter D.]

Goalie swimming. Empty net. Right in the hash marks. Perfect feed. Matthews to the side. I don?t see any player ever passing that up.

 

[Britishbulldog]

I figure he is a 6-10 goal and with this team 25-35 assist player worth $5.5 - $6 MIL. 

Right now he's at a 10 goal and 63 point per 82 games played pace. That's more or less what his production has been over the last three years.

I don't know where he fits in with the Leafs plans but that sort of production from a defenseman tends to fetch a fair amount on the market.

Yeah, good observation on the point totals. 

I am cautious about Dubas opening the vault for him though and I think Dubas might.  He has had one breakout season in his career that is surely the anomaly not what can be expected as the norm.

I don't think Rielly is at the level of Cody Ceci of course but I also don't think Rielly is in the top 30 of the league either.  Not sure if I am correct though.

 

[Kin]

Goalie swimming. Empty net. Right in the hash marks. Perfect feed. Matthews to the side. I don?t see any player ever passing that up.

And if Matthews hits Chabot or rings it off the post or fumbles the pass the same armchair QB's here are ripping Rielly for not taking the shot.

Win some, lose some.

 

[Kin]

I am cautious about Dubas opening the vault for him though and I think Dubas might.  He has had one breakout season in his career that is surely the anomaly not what can be expected as the norm.

I think right now what can be fairly expected from Rielly is 50-60 points a year and being reasonably competent defensively. I think people hoping he'd become an all-rounder like Pietrangelo are probably going to be perpetually disappointed but I still think there's room for growth.

That said, let's be real, if he's looking for 7.5 or 8 million per that's not really #1 superstar D-man money and is probably more fitting for a very good #2, which you might argue he would ideally be. I don't know if I'd give him that either given the team's cap situation but I don't think there's much of a case for the idea that the team could get a significantly better defenseman as a UFA for less money.

 

[Chris]

I figure he is a 6-10 goal and with this team 25-35 assist player worth $5.5 - $6 MIL. 

Right now he's at a 10 goal and 63 point per 82 games played pace. That's more or less what his production has been over the last three years.

I don't know where he fits in with the Leafs plans but that sort of production from a defenseman tends to fetch a fair amount on the market.

Yeah, good observation on the point totals. 

I am cautious about Dubas opening the vault for him though and I think Dubas might.  He has had one breakout season in his career that is surely the anomaly not what can be expected as the norm.

I don't think Rielly is at the level of Cody Ceci of course but I also don't think Rielly is in the top 30 of the league either.  Not sure if I am correct though.

If it comes down to paying Reilly or Hyman, who do you choose? I don't think the Leafs can afford both. Maybe if they get rid of Kerfoot but someone has to play on the 3rd line. My gut tells me that Hyman is more important to the team especially if we think Sandin should be ready for a regular role next year.

 

[Britishbulldog]

I figure he is a 6-10 goal and with this team 25-35 assist player worth $5.5 - $6 MIL. 

Right now he's at a 10 goal and 63 point per 82 games played pace. That's more or less what his production has been over the last three years.

I don't know where he fits in with the Leafs plans but that sort of production from a defenseman tends to fetch a fair amount on the market.

Yeah, good observation on the point totals. 

I am cautious about Dubas opening the vault for him though and I think Dubas might.  He has had one breakout season in his career that is surely the anomaly not what can be expected as the norm.

I don't think Rielly is at the level of Cody Ceci of course but I also don't think Rielly is in the top 30 of the league either.  Not sure if I am correct though.

If it comes down to paying Reilly or Hyman, who do you choose? I don't think the Leafs can afford both. Maybe if they get rid of Kerfoot but someone has to play on the 3rd line. My gut tells me that Hyman is more important to the team especially if we think Sandin should be ready for a regular role next year.

Yes, and looking at the Seattle Expansion Draft gymnastics the Leafs will probably lose Dermott but maybe Kerfoot so next season might be interesting if we have $874,125 freed up or $3.5 MIL after July 21st, 2021.

 

[Andy007]

I really just don't know how Tavares makes a play like that with 10 seconds left in the period. Inexplicable and inexcusable. Some lucky bounces and clueless positioning from Andersen certainly didn't help either. Be nice to see Campbell back.