The Official 2016-17 NHL thread

I only watched the first period of last night's game since i didn't want to miss the presidential debate which started at 9pm eastern. The Leafs played great in the first period. I did watch a bit of the second period and then went back to the debate. From the highlights, Winnipeg picked up the tempo late in the second period and had a very strong third period. I watched the overtime period following the debate and both teams had good chances. Auston Matthews could have ended it on a breakaway just a few seconds before Laine's overtime-winning goal.

I'm actually happy that Winnipeg came back to win the game, as strange as it sounds. The Leafs are an extremely young team with the average age being 25. I believe they're the youngest team in the entire league. These young Leafs need all the experience they can get and they'll have to learn how to win and another lesson will be to learn how to bounce back after a crushing lost when victory was yours. I don't expect the Leafs to make the playoffs this season, but they'll be competitive. Let me correct myself: I hope the Leafs miss the playoffs. They are not ready yet and there's lots of learning left to do for this young team. They must try to position themselves for a top 10 pick at next year's draft. I'll also be happy with a top 15, but top 10 would be better for the future of the greatest and most prestigious franchise in hockey.

I found that Freddy Andersen was good last night for the most part. Most of the goals scored against him were quality goals and most of the other goaltenders in the league wouldn't have been able to stop them. It's still very early into the season and time will tell if the Leafs' five-year investment in Andersen will be a good one. My feeling is that Lou Lamoriello never would have signed him for 5 years had he had any doubts about him. Andersen had a poor first game against Ottawa, but he's played better since and this is a goaltender which didn't have much of a preseason due to a serious injury he suffered during the World Cup qualifications back in Europe.

On another note, i just saw Donald Trump Jr. being interviewed on Fox News following last night's debate. Is he on drugs or something? He doesn't look right. He reminds me of my crazy ex-brother-in-law whose problem was quickly resolved by putting him on a regular dose of Ritalin.

lgna69xxx said:

Learning experience for the young guns and glad it happened. To get better as a young team you need to go through things like that. In the end they have played 3 games and have got points in all 3 games.

Leafs fans are a patient bunch and we all are behind this rebuild. We fully understand there will be nights like these as the young guys learn how to win in the NHL and with a coach like Babcock, they will learn.

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I totally agree. Leafs losing tough games seems to bother non-Leafs fans more than Leafs fans. This was a five-year rebuilding plan all along and we all knew there'd be a whole lot of 'hurting' in the first couple of years. Last season i was actually surprised they played as well as they did, although on paper they finished last. Had they had a better start to the season, they may have been a playoffs team, which in my book was a no-no and possibly why they got rid of some good veteran players in the middle of the season.

I do expect the Leafs to make the playoffs next season and then be contenders by year 5 or as early as year 4. The Leafs haven't been contenders since the Pat Burns and Pat Quinn years when they were among the top teams in the league. But since last season, i've had a very strong feeling that things are about to change within the next few years, all for the good.

If the Leafs can play .500 hockey, i'll be a bit surprised but i'll be very happy since it'll prove to me that they're undergoing a very successful rebuild and that plans are well ahead of time.

By the way, i think it may be time for Roman Polak to be inserted into the lineup, possibly ahead of Marincin.

lgna69xxx said:

Polak should be playing tonight but that does not mean he will be.

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He did and was possibly their best defenceman. Heck, he even scored a goal! lol

The Leafs played very well last night and lost by a goal. They had led for two periods. Losing close games in the third period isn't new for such a young team. They'll take these tough close losses and learn from them. That's the only way someone improves on his mistakes, by learning from them.

Next up is Chicago and that'll be a very tough game to win. But who knows.

Sol Tee Nutz said:

The GEO are looking pretty good so far.

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I agree. So do the habs. But can they keep it up?

EagerBeaver said:

The Oilers are leading the NHL in scoring and this should continue. Their defense is another matter but I expect Darnell Nurse to be as good as his sister is in basketball.

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Adam Larson's acquisition should boost the defence. Chiarelli got roasted on the coals for that trade. But he may end up having the last laugh. Oscar Klefbom may end up opening a lot of eyes also.