Re: Where does Toronto go from here? Stand pat or make moves?
Toronto doesn't have the ability to create space they need if there isn't a regular season rulebook being used. I've beat this drum for 2 yrs now, and if the rulebook is actually called, this group can win the cup. If you get games like 6 and 7, they won't win. You can argue the PP efficiency isn't good enough, but the 5on5 play is what I'm arguing. If you call penalties, the 5on5 play opens up, and that is what the Leafs do so well.
As for what they do?
- Let most of the UFAs go if they aren't willing to take big discounts. Sorry Mikheyev, Spezza, Blackwell, Gio and Lybushkin. But there isn't space for you unless you are taking big discounts
- Figure out what to do with Mrazek. This is huge.
- Liljegren and Sandin are ready for full season time. Rielly/Lilj, Muzzin/Brodie, Sandin/Holl (I wish this gets upgraded tho).
- Sandin gets PP1 duty. Rielly I love you, but the PP grinds to a hault when the puck gets to you. Until you figure out onetimers, one touch passes and a slap shot, you are no threat other than passing to Matthews. There's a reason why Kucherov, Stamkos, Ovi, and other top shooting PP players have space and Matthews doesn't on a PP.
- IF you tested Robertson more this yr, I think you can open up the idea of moving Nylander more, but right now it's only move him if the deal is right. Unlike the Kadri trade where it was more of a "you're getting moved, we can't use you" idea. People who say to trade Nylander are also the same people who say "we shouldn't have traded Kadri".
- Explore Kerfoot, Engvall, Muzzin market. Sandin needs more minutes to me, and having a LHD of Rielly, Sandin, Muzzin isn't how I would want to spend 5.625m on the 3rd pair. Kerfoot is not great enough for the positions asked to play. It's hard because you use his versatility, but it's just so underwhelming at times.
- Essentially, don't over compensate. Don't shut doors on moves, but don't make a move to make a move.
12 Team, H2H, Keep 6 (in Bold)
G, A, Pts, PPP, FW, SOG, Hits, Blocks
W, Saves, S%, GAA, Game Started
2C, 2LW, 2RW, 4D, 1Util, 2G, 5BN, 2IR, 1IR+, 1NA
C: Horvat, Trocheck
LW: J. Robertson, Byfield (C), Guenther
RW: Pavelski (C), Giroux (C), Svechnikov (LW)
D: Fox, Makar, Bouchard, Morrissey, Gudas
Util: Meier (LW, RW)
G: Oettinger, Georgiev, Samsonov, Woll