The Official LEAFS NATION Hockey thread

[SloCumHeat]

Thanks SCH,

Yea I missed him when i wrote that. He is a huge addition and beloved by the fans. I hope he gets some powerplay time this season. Very skilled guy and tough as nails, perfect to pester the opponents goalie on the PP.

IN: Leafs recently signed Daniel Winnik.

Bottom six forwards are now: Clarkson, Holland, (Brodie/Ashton), plus Komarov, Frattin, Booth, Santorelli, Winnik.

Seems much better to have some experience there than no/little NHL experience. Also, half the call-ups last year will never play a full (70+) NHL season.

PS. Hi iggy, why do you always reply above what you're quoting?

 

[lgna69xxx]

Yep and as i noted in a post here or the other thread it was a very good addition. How Winnik had not yet signed with anyone was crazy and we got him so cheap just like Raymond last season. Winnik is better defensively, is a big body, cycles well and has great puck possession stats which is exactly what we need in the bottom 6.

Why the way I quote and reply? I did not know there was a rule lol... personally I like it better and have done it that way since I joined, plus cairo hates it :lol:

Leafs recently signed Daniel Winnik.

PS. Hi iggy, why do you always reply above what you're quoting?

 

[november]

I read an article on tsn where kessel said the team will be better prepared to avoid late season tail spin. I hope he is right. I expect the Leafs to be better then last year. Montreal, Toronto is a great rivalry. Can't wait for the season to start. Hope both teams make the play offs.

 

[Doc Holliday]

I have no idea what to expect from this year's team. Should i get my hopes up like i,did for the first 60 games last season? Or should be passive about them in case they once again go into a late-season funk? Of course, had Bernier not been injured late in the season, the Leafs would have been in the playoffs ahead of the overachieving Red Wings from the worst place in North America. Call it Baghdad West for all i care.

I have a feeling Carlyle is being set up to fail. First it takes them forever to renegociate his contract, and when they do it's just for another guaranteed year added to it. Which makes me wonder if they don't already have someone in mind for next year, kind of expecting he'll fail. Then they fire all his assistants. And then, they give his favorite whipping boy Jake Gardiner a 5-year contract. And the last straw was forcing James Reimer on him by granting Reimer a 2-yr extension.

No wonder Carlyle has gine into seclusion and still hasn't spoken to the media all summer! :lol:

 

[SloCumHeat]

I have no idea what to expect from this year's team. Should i get my hopes up like i,did for the first 60 games last season? Or should be passive about them in case they once again go into a late-season funk?
. . .

Leafs tailspin was mainly due to 3rd/4th line (bottom six forward) performance (tailspin started before Bernier injury and Remier descent). Okay, Clarkson was suspended, and Bolland injured, but here is Leafs bottom six lineup:

2013/2014
Raymond, Kulemin, Clarkson, Bolland, McClement, Orr, McLaren, Ashton
Callups: Bodie, Smith, D'Amigo, Leivo, Broll, Devane, Granberg, Abbott
Trade: Holland, Smithson

Compare above to previous year 2012/2013:
Macarthur, Grabovski, Kulemin, Komarov, Frattin, McClement, Orr, McLaren, Brown

For next year, so far, we have (much better depth):
* Clarkson, Holland, Brodie, Ashton
* Komarov, Frattin, Booth, Santorelli, Winnik,, Kontiola

 

[lgna69xxx]

Leafs tailspin was mainly due to 3rd/4th line (bottom six forward) performance

Bingo :thumb:

For next year, so far, we have (much better depth):
* Clarkson, Holland, Brodie, Ashton
* Komarov, Frattin, Booth, Santorelli, Winnik,, Kontiola

Yep :nod:

the overachieving Red Wings from the worst place in North America. Call it Baghdad West for all i care.

Instant Classic! :lol:

 

[Doc Holliday]

Leafs tailspin was mainly due to 3rd/4th line (bottom six forward) performance (tailspin started before Bernier injury and Remier descent).

True. But let's face it: Reimer couldn't stop a beachball once Bernier got hurt. Similar to Petey Budaj when Price got injured.

 

[lgna69xxx]

Leafs Nation Fan Guide

Lots of Info here:

http://tipofthetower.com/2014/08/06/201415-leafs-nation-fan-guide/

 

[lgna69xxx]

It was like taking candy from a baby, that was a no brainer :lol:

p.s. I was also anxiously awaiting who would be the first one to point out what you just pointed out. (Iggy, you won! )

 

[lgna69xxx]

Excellent post Rev! Thanks for posting that. The hiring of Dubas should really help the Leafs in the next few seasons and beyond. If you look at most of the guys that Nonis/Shanny have brought in, almost all are very good puck possession guys and that was a major fair of last years team, especially on the 3rd/4th lines which is what has been retooled this offseason. Also what is great is a lot of the guys signed on thos lines are one year deals which means not only a great camp with guys battling hard for a spot, but also all season for new contracts. Great stuff :thumb:

There have good points raised regarding roster changes over the past few weeks, but looking at some of the more advanced stats, there may be a reassessment of the roles of the players who will be staying. For instance:



Introduction to Advanced Statistics

David Johnson

I have been invited to write some posts for Maple Leafs Hotstove on hockey analytics and how they relate to the Maple Leafs.

http://mapleleafshotstove.com/2014/08/05/introduction-to-advanced-statistics/

 

[lgna69xxx]

5 reasons why.......

Here are five reasons why Toronto fans shouldn't give up on the team just yet.

1. Dubas

Dave Nonis brought in the 28-year-old "analytics guru," Kyle Dubas, as the assistant GM. A bit of a contrast to the more conservative and antiquated style that Carlyle brings, but a positive addition nonetheless. With this hire the Leafs are joining the Stars and the Devils in building a more analytics-focused strategy. A strategy Billy Beane and Pete Brand would be proud of -- Moneypuck, if you will.

2. PhilZak

There are a ton of skeptics out there for both Phil Kessel and Tyler Bozak. After last season's depressing ending, many critics took aim at Phil Kessel. The fact is though that Kessel finished 6th overall in points -- ahead of Ovechkin, Malkin, Backstrom, Kane, etc. And while Bozak doesn't have sexy stats like this -- his skills are very much complimentary to Kessel's. Bozak has the rare ability to distribute the puck well and anticipate Kessel's whereabouts. The two have been playing together for a couple years now and have only gotten stronger as a unit. If Bozak can stay healthy this year, we can expect big numbers from this line. The addition of JVR is just a bonus.

3. Bernier

The young Jonathan Bernier turned more than a few heads last season. He went into the season as Reimer's back up and left the season as the obvious starter. In his short career, Bernier already has under his belt a Stanley Cup (LA Kings 2012), Spengler Cup (2012), an Aldege Bastien Memorial Award for outstanding AHL Goalkeeper, and a 2007 Guy Lefleur Trophy as MVP of the QMJHL Playoffs. With the right focus on back-checking and clearing out men in front of the net, Bernier can be the all-star goalie the Leafs need.

4. Gardiner

The re-signing of Jake Gardiner is a great move for the Leafs. Gardiner is a great offensive defenseman. He had a respectable 30+ point season last year and prior to the lockout he was named to the NHL All Rookie team. He was bounced around a bit last season, from being benched to receiving top minutes and becoming a penalty kill staple -- this five-year, $20.25 million contract shows that Carlyle and new Assistant Coach Spott are committed to Gardiner as a leading defenseman.

5. Shanahan

The Maple Leafs organization have long been criticized that since it sells out every game, there isn't any incentive for the organization to waste time on putting a good team on the ice. When Tim Leiweke hired Brendan Shanahan he stated that good hockey was the focus of the entire organization. Everyone on the hockey side and everyone on the business side now report to Shanahan: Nonis, Carlyle, Spott and everyone in between. The MLSE saw huge organizational changes in both the Raptors and TFC with success stories following.

Now, with saying all of this, Rome wasn't built in a day. I don't think we should start planning the Stanley Cup Parade route around Queens Park just yet, but the future is a bit brighter for the Leafs -- that is for sure.

 

[Mod20]

It seems as if some members have forgotten what this thread is for and what the Free For All thread is for. If you are not a Leafs fan, keep your ass out of this thread. You have both the official NHL thread to post in as well as the Free For All. This thread is for Leafs fans ONLY.

M8

posts have been deleted

 

[november]

The Leafs are set to honour greats, who will be the first? Ted Kennedy

 

[Doc Holliday]

The Leafs are set to honour greats, who will be the first?

Hopefully, Dave Keon.

 

[november]

I also hope Dave Keon gets honoured, but is he still angry with the organization ? This would be good way to make up.

 

[Doc Holliday]

I just read about it. Ted Kennedy will be the first legend honored at 'Legends Row".

Regarding Keon, he seems to have made up with the organization over the years. He's been among the honorees on the ice's red carpet a couple of times over the past couple of years. But he's yet to give them permission to honor his #14 sweater. The Leafs no longer retire numbers since there'd be no end to it and you'll wind up with 3-digit numbers on the back of sweaters one of these days.

Since his son Dave Jr. works for the Leafs as a off-ice official, i suppose he must have been greatly responsible for both parties to kiss and make-up, so to speak. I believe he'll be the key to coax his dad into letting the organization honor him & his number.

 

[november]

What about Mats Sundin #13, how do people in Toronto feel about him? Was a good player.

 

[Doc Holliday]

What about Mats Sundin #13, how do people in Toronto feel about him? Was a good player.

I totally agree. He was the last great player they had since Darryl Sittler & Borje Salming.

 

[lgna69xxx]

Me thinks Phil is in love

[video=youtube;6iZB2sOjnQ4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iZB2sOjnQ4[/video]

 

[lgna69xxx]

More Smokin' Hot Lauren Howe

[video=youtube;SyE5-kVg3Kc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyE5-kVg3Kc[/video]