Toronto Maple Leafs

[2014olympicgold]

Moore and Mikyehev were really the only 2 guys still pushing it at 6-3 last night for the Leafs. If Babcock had 1more yr with Moore and then Hyman didn't start the year, I could see him getting a chance in the top6. The issue is, Babcock will have him sitting on the bottom 6.

[Axeman33]

I am curious how Leafs fans are feeling about their D now that they've seen a few games. Prior to the season starting, many seemed to think it was improved by the moves Dubas made. Do Leafs fans still feel that way or are you feeling a little less comfortable about the whole situation now?

[2014olympicgold]

I am curious how Leafs fans are feeling about their D now that they've seen a few games. Prior to the season starting, many seemed to think it was improved by the moves Dubas made. Do Leafs fans still feel that way or are you feeling a little less comfortable about the whole situation now?

A realist knew it was a lateral move. But we have to remember, there's only Rielly out of the 6 D that was a Leaf in October 2018. Muzzin, Ceci, Barrie, Sandin, Holl weren't Leafs. Then there's Marincin. So chemistry is still needing to develop.

I've been pleasantly surprised at Ceci, but really Rielly looks like he's skating with cement in his skates when he skates towards his own net, it's weird to me.

[Mr. Guru]

Dubas needs to fix one more thing before they are cup contenders......

Needs to hire Keefe as head coach.

[ericdaoust]

Teams that undergo a lot of change need time for everything to settle in. It's not surprising they're up and down out of the gate. Still entertaining though.

[blayze]

I am curious how Leafs fans are feeling about their D now that they've seen a few games. Prior to the season starting, many seemed to think it was improved by the moves Dubas made. Do Leafs fans still feel that way or are you feeling a little less comfortable about the whole situation now?

Still way too early to pass judgment for a practically all new cast. On paper at least, I think it is an upgrade from last year. We'll see how it shakes out.

[Auston'sWilly]

I still think it's too early to evaluate the D properly.
Two big things:
1) They miss Dermott more than most realize. He didn't play a tonne of minutes but being a competent 4/5 guy allowed them to use him more than someone like a useless Marincin. It trickles up and forces them to tire out their horses.
2) It's not just a player overhaul back there. Different coach too. Pretty sure DJ ran the D last year, so there's going to be early season chaos getting everybody, including the incumbents, on the same page as the coach.

[Fighting_Emu]

Two questions for the pros!!

(Im a Leafs fan but have no cable this year- lol! So I just get the highlights with no sound )

- I just traded Barkov for Tavares and I know I traded the bigger fantasy draw in Barky. Its a shooters league though (g4, a3, sog/pim0.5, ppp/gwg+1). My question- is there enough offense to go around? Matthews has been unreal to start the year but I figured JT was a safe bet cause a) he always is but b)moreso because hes more joined at the hip to Marner who is a generational playmaker (ok its hyperbolic- lets stay on topic!! I use colorful language gawd!!!).

- Im a big big Mikheyev fan. I got him in my ultra deep dynasty but missed him in NAB (one of the coolest leagues going but probably "medium" in terms of depth. Can he find a way into the top six and exceed my one year expectations? I have him pegged for 40 this year and then 55ish by next year when he gets a bigger money deal deal that warrants consistent deployment. After that the skys the limit imho.

- If the above happens- is Johnsson the guy who loses out?? Im making a blockbuster pitch and a decent chunk of the deal is predicated on buying low(ish) on Johnsson (basically for Qvisty).

[DusterDave]

Rasmus Sandin sent down - Kevin Gravel called up. Likely a cap move. No use in burning a year of Sandin’s ELC just yet. Leafs are going to need all the cap savings they can possibly get in the next few seasons.

[2014olympicgold]

Dubas, in his latest Russia trip, met with upcoming KHL free agents Grigorenko, and Nesterov.

Grigorenko has 67pts in his last 71games in the KHL
Nesterov has 44pts in 99games in the KHL (he's a lefty d-man)

[DusterDave]

Third year in a row the Leafs go shopping in Russia. They almost have to find hidden gems on a discount since the stars are making too much.

[2014olympicgold]

Third year in a row the Leafs go shopping in Russia. They almost have to find hidden gems on a discount since the stars are making too much.

You either find a Tyler Ennis or a Mikheyev now to offset your stars.

[2014olympicgold]

Last night Kapanen got shifted off the JT/Marner line with Moore replacing him. Worked out amazingly compared to the Kap/JT/Marner line.

The next thing is the Ceci/Rielly combo hasn't really been as good as one would hope, but more as expected. Ceci has been better than I thought, but Rielly hasn't. So it kinda evens out as the line as a whole has been expected.

Barrie/Muzzin has been solid. The only thing is I don't know how to really fix the Rielly/Ceci experiment when your other options are Marincin, Gravel, Holl, and Sandin (kinda).

[lucafen4]

Last night Kapanen got shifted off the JT/Marner line with Moore replacing him. Worked out amazingly compared to the Kap/JT/Marner line.

The next thing is the Ceci/Rielly combo hasn't really been as good as one would hope, but more as expected. Ceci has been better than I thought, but Rielly hasn't. So it kinda evens out as the line as a whole has been expected.

Barrie/Muzzin has been solid. The only thing is I don't know how to really fix the Rielly/Ceci experiment when your other options are Marincin, Gravel, Holl, and Sandin (kinda).

Travis Dermott can answer that for you in about 4 weeks.

Until then it's 'buckle up' -- Ceci has been better than expected

[2014olympicgold]

Travis Dermott can answer that for you in about 4 weeks.

Until then it's 'buckle up' -- Ceci has been better than expected

Travis Dermott is a LD. Rielly is a LD, Muzzin is a LD.

Dermott isn't the thing that'll fix this. It's not like Rielly and Ceci have been terrible, it's just not the same Rielly as last yr. Having Dermott really just lowers the top 2 pairs minutes by maybe 2min total.

I really don't see the pairings changing up much from:
Rielly-Ceci
Muzzin-Barrie
Dermott-XX