Tank Nation: Matthews Edition

[herman]

Well it can now be pretty much assured 30th is out and thus we can move even lower than 4th.

Can it really? I mean, the Leafs have won 5 out of their last 7 and, well, they're still in 30th. They're also about to start a run of games against teams to whom the results actually matter - and they haven't exactly excelled when those teams when they actually bring their "A" games.

Exactly. We've been playing beating mostly Canadian garbage teams lately. Upcoming 5 games: Ducks, Bruins, Lightning again, Sabres again, and the Red Wings. They'll be prepared.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Well it can now be pretty much assured 30th is out and thus we can move even lower than 4th.

Can it really? I mean, the Leafs have won 5 out of their last 7 and, well, they're still in 30th. They're also about to start a run of games against teams to whom the results actually matter - and they haven't exactly excelled when those teams when they actually bring their "A" games.

The Oilers have a teeny-tiny edge on them in points percentage, but even they're starting to win a few more games now. Winnipeg's probably a bigger threat. The finish for the bottom will likely be pretty close. Thankfully if there's a tie the Leafs will likely win the tie-breaker (in terms of winning last) because of their ROW's.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Well it can now be pretty much assured 30th is out and thus we can move even lower than 4th.

Can it really? I mean, the Leafs have won 5 out of their last 7 and, well, they're still in 30th. They're also about to start a run of games against teams to whom the results actually matter - and they haven't exactly excelled when those teams when they actually bring their "A" games.

The Oilers have a teeny-tiny edge on them in points percentage, but even they're starting to win a few more games now. Winnipeg's probably a bigger threat. The finish for the bottom will likely be pretty close. Thankfully if there's a tie the Leafs will likely win the tie-breaker (in terms of winning last) because of their ROW's.

Yeah, Winnipeg really snuck up.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Yeah, Winnipeg really snuck up.

I totally called that though:

Winnipeg especially scares me. They've lost Ladd and Little, and they're starting Pavelec regularly over 2 superior goalies now that he's healthy again.

Their best goalie this season has been Connor Hellebuyck. He started 26 games and has a .918 Sv%. Hutchinson started 22 games and has a .905 Sv%. Pavelec started 24 games and has a .901 Sv%.

Pavelec missed almost 3 months with an injury, and returned in mid February. He has 11 starts since then, Hutchinson has 7. Hellebuyck's been in the AHL ever since. I'd call it a stealth-tank move but I think they just genuinely feel Pavelec is a good goalie.

 

[L K]

Flames - 5-3-2 (12 points)
Leafs - 5-4-1 (11 points)
Sabres - 4-3-3 (11 points)
Oilers - 5-5-0 (10 points)
Blue Jackets - 4-4-0 (8 points)
Jets - 3-5-2 (8 points)
Canucks 3-7-0 (6 points)

I think we need to cool the "blowing it" talk when the Leafs are really only gaining 3 points on the Jets despite getting hot.  They were due for this.  They aren't going to keep getting super-star Bernier in net.  They play the Ducks, Bruins, Lightning, Panthers (x2), Red Wings and Flyers in their last 10 games.  They also play Buffalo, New Jersey and Columbus.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Jets beat the Canucks 2-0.

 

[lamajama]

I think the Canucks will also be a hard charging late tanker. Their schedule is pretty soft and they tend to play down to the level of the crappy team they play.....although saying that the Canucks are so low they can't actually play "down" anymore.  :-X

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

But at least the Oilers lost again and Leafs gained a game back on them.

 

[Redleaf]

But at least the Oilers lost again and Leafs gained a game back on them.

Cheer up. We will be guaranteed the 5th or 6th pick. No lower than 7th or 8th :

 

[Highlander]

:'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(  Nooooo!

 

[herman]

[tweet]712654446526865409[/tweet]

 

[Highlander]

Maybe Lou was swinging his bat again?

 

[herman]

UPDATE:
[tweet]712674658521378817[/tweet]

 

[Bullfrog]

that may be the post of the century.

 

[Kaberle15]

LMAO

 

[lamajama]

Hayes on TSN radio 1050 was mentioned something regarding Matthews going to "pull a Lindros" and maybe refuse
to play "X" location? He said Vancouver or Toronto in jest but is this just goofing around or?

 

[Kin]

Hayes on TSN radio 1050 was mentioned something regarding Matthews going to "pull a Lindros" and maybe refuse
to play "X" location? He said Vancouver or Toronto in jest but is this just goofing around or?

It seems unlikely but he is in a unique situation to do it. He could easily say that rather than sign with whoever drafts him he's just going to keep playing in Europe and earning decent coin until he's a free agent.

 

[Frank E]

Hayes on TSN radio 1050 was mentioned something regarding Matthews going to "pull a Lindros" and maybe refuse
to play "X" location? He said Vancouver or Toronto in jest but is this just goofing around or?

It seems unlikely but he is in a unique situation to do it. He could easily say that rather than sign with whoever drafts him he's just going to keep playing in Europe and earning decent coin until he's a free agent.

Theoretically,  how long would that be?

 

[Kin]

Hayes on TSN radio 1050 was mentioned something regarding Matthews going to "pull a Lindros" and maybe refuse
to play "X" location? He said Vancouver or Toronto in jest but is this just goofing around or?

It seems unlikely but he is in a unique situation to do it. He could easily say that rather than sign with whoever drafts him he's just going to keep playing in Europe and earning decent coin until he's a free agent.

Theoretically,  how long would that be?

Pretty sure, based on what happened with Blake Wheeler/Jimmy Vesey, it'd be the summer of 2020.

 

[bustaheims]

Pretty sure, based on what happened with Blake Wheeler/Jimmy Vesey, it'd be the summer of 2020.

There's different rules for NCAA guys like Wheeler and Vesey. Matthews would actually re-enter the draft in 2019 - though, there's some confusion about this in regards to the status of the various transfer agreements and such.