Toronto Maple Leafs

[2014olympicgold]

Matthews being out yesterday shows he's been dealing something for a while. Guy hasn't taken one-timers, handled the puck the same way, even shooting he's been "disappointing". I can't remember 3 goals this yr where Matthews scored the patent curl and shoot in the top of the net this yr.

If he was out yesterday, I doubt he plays today. But I wonder if he's healthy enough for Saturday. It's very hush hush, but EF said the Leafs don't "believe it's long term" which made my eyes open up wider when I heard that. "don't believe it's long term" is either Hush-Hush talk where they don't give any info, or it means Matthews is going to be out week-to-week instead of day-to-day.

Uhoh

[Axeman33]

Matthews being out yesterday shows he's been dealing something for a while. Guy hasn't taken one-timers, handled the puck the same way, even shooting he's been "disappointing". I can't remember 3 goals this yr where Matthews scored the patent curl and shoot in the top of the net this yr.

If he was out yesterday, I doubt he plays today. But I wonder if he's healthy enough for Saturday. It's very hush hush, but EF said the Leafs don't "believe it's long term" which made my eyes open up wider when I heard that. "don't believe it's long term" is either Hush-Hush talk where they don't give any info, or it means Matthews is going to be out week-to-week instead of day-to-day.

Uhoh

It probably also means he's going to try and play through what ever is bothering him.

[2014olympicgold]

It probably also means he's going to try and play through what ever is bothering him.

Ya, I wonder if they see 2 win-able games in the b2b with Monday/Tuesday off and thought "he can miss 2 games, but get 5 days off while avoiding a B2B before playing Boston".

I wonder if it's from that crosscheck by Jamie Benn in like October/November.

[tweetdrivr]

They also already know who their 1st round playoff opponent is and are going to start load managing to get players some rest.

[2014olympicgold]

Matthews is a DTD tonight, Keefe refused to say the injury

Timmins and Hunt were getting extra ice at practice today, signaling they are healthy scratched making McCann have his 2nd game.

[2014olympicgold]

Go Leafs.

They looked tired yesterday. I think we're at the part of the season where these B2Bs will be really tough on teams. I didn't see a burst of energy from the Leafs until maybe 8min left in the game and it wasn't even a burst of energy, it was digging deep and working hard if that makes sense. The only time I saw a Leaf break away from a Ranger was the Marner goal.

[Invictus]

The season is somewhat long. They need to shorten training camp or make it more so about team cohesion.
It's not like the olden days - these guys are coming in in shape.

[Feenom]

The Rangers played the way you have to to beat the Leafs, until the last half of the last period. They neutralized AM Marner by playing the body and taking them out of the play. The didn’t give too much room for Nylander to shoot and they negated any long passes. But it was the Rangers who looked tired in the last segments of the game. So much so that they were left watching Marner simply walk in and score the OT winner.

There are a few teams that will give the Leafs fits in the post season, the Bruins and Rangers are 2 of them. I think they know how to beat the Leafs. It’s no big secret, don’t t give them any room to set up and keep laying the body and finish the checks. Physicality is a big key to beating them.

One thing I like about the Leafs this year so far, is their resiliency. They are different from that playoff team last year and hopefully they can prove it in less than 3 months time.

[2014olympicgold]

Liljegren hasn't been on for a 5on5 goal against in 8 straight games. He's been on for only 13 5on5 goals against in 38gp. Marino is the only defenceman who has been on for less goals against per minute in the NHL

[Dennis]

Matthews out estimated 3 weeks with a knee sprain. Will also miss the All Star game

https://twitter.com/LeafsPR/status/1618994657614270465

[2014olympicgold]

Good thing is if it's 3 weeks, he only misses 6 games.

Ottawa, Washington, Boston, CBJ, CBJ, and Chicago.

If it's 4 weeks, add Montreal, Chicago and Buffalo to that.

If it's 5 weeks, add Minnesota, Seattle, and Edmonton.

Already announced Barkov is replacing Matthews at the ASG. Sorry Nylander.

[lucafen4]

My deadline Wishlist:

D - #1 option: Gavrikov if can avoid giving a 1st. #2 option: Schenn.
Depth F - Clutterbuck. keep your head up
Top 6 - Off the board - Adam Henrique - salary retained (40% = 3.35m for Leafs).
- Salary wise - cheaper than ROR (Stl. does not retain salary in deals)/Toews (only cheap if no salary retained. Anyone that acquires him it will be 50% & possibly 3rd team retaining 50% more - doubling the pricetag).
- Under contract for 23/24.
- Acquisition cost - cheaper than Horvat, ROR, Kane.
- Durable & can play C or LW, drop down to 3rd line, PK duties.

[2014olympicgold]

What I've learned with Dubas is he'll check the box the team needs, in no way we predicted.

Leafs needed a D. He got Muzzin
Leafs needed goalie help. He got Campbell
Leafs needed grinding winger. He got Foligno
Leafs needed D. He got Gio

Whenever he's made a deal it's always the thing people thought should be addressed, but never getting the piece right. This yr, I think PP will be addressed. Minor D to replaced Mete depth. Maybe a 5th C. Leafs have tried the rough and tumble 4th line and I've watched it only works when the whole line is working at the same speed. Having Simmonds or Clifford in was ineffective because they were so far behind the play. If they go rough 4th liner, he better be a PK, Faceoff specialist.

So I've kinda just stopped guessing the last couple of yrs lol.

[2014olympicgold]

25 days till the deadline, 10 games between now and the deadline, with 20 regular season games left post deadline day.

Last yr Duabs made 2 (Maybe 3) NHL roster changing trades during the deadline last yr (Mar, 21 2022):
Dzingel+Lyubushkin for Ritchie and 2025 2nd round pick - Feb 19th 2022
2022 3rd round pick for Travis Dermott - March 20 2022
Giordano+Blackwell for 2022 2nd, 2023 2nd, 2024 3rd - March 20 2022


So the first deal was 30 days before the deadline. So he's not afraid to pull the trigger early.

[Feenom]

My wish list would be Lafferty and someone similar to Lyubushkin. Oh and a bag o pucks in return for anyone willing to take on Engvall.