Auston Matthews

[RayFinkel]

notable trade deadline moves for The Eastern Confernce :

Florida-- going all in . Chairot , Giroux
TB- Hagel (gave up two 1st ruonders!? wow, Brisbois might b in a league of his own ........., time will tell), Paul
Leafs- Giordano - a MASSIVE upgrade for whoever he replaces (Lilgren, or the little smurf Sandin.....got rid of Dermot- about fuckin time). Giordano is in the twilight of his career--it was TO or no where, he's coming home . A Toronto boy. He will re-unite with Brodie
Boston- Lindholm. Helps to shore the back, and a big body
Rangers- Braun, Motte ,Copp...have a strong core and getting pieces
Carolina- Domi
Pens- Rakell

worst goaltending entering the playoffs for the conference :

Anderson (Car), Campbell (Tor)
(with Anderson-gotta see it to beleive it :..)

Sandin a little smurf? Have you ever watched a leaf game?
Sandin is a sneaky hitter...he's fucking hammered people many times

Plus, he's an awesome playmaker

 

[Ricboff]

Lol, yeah I've got a few games . The Smurf ain't moving anyone in front of the net , the pics were with momemtum ,timed. Leafs need more size at the back , less tiny. Agreed ,good vision, can get to open space in the offensive zone .

Was painful watching the Smurf in last years playoffs- they benched him for game 6 I believe it was . In his defense was a rookie - Dubas had delusions of grandeur - got Foligno thinking we needed offensive depth and let a small dee rookie start at the back


Anyway , the Smurf is out for a while ,injured

 

[phdinsports]

Other than Benedict Arnold, Matthews in a few years will be the best American hockey player ever!! That being said, he and Marner are to blame for the Leafs playoff futility. 1 goal between the two of them in 8 series clinching games is pathetic. Even Roy would have trouble winning with that production!

 

[Ricboff]

pretty telling stat. And they were a no-show last yr, lol. Down 1-0 in the 2nd and killing a penalty Marner nonchalantly flicks a puck into the stands : now make it a 5-3 pp. Habs score. Leafs end up losing 2-1 , lol (i believe thats the way it played out). Whne you have one of your elite players doing that? lol

the league is so competitive, ya need your elite to show up when the rubber hits the road;

playoff stats for active players - points/per game ( the list is very telling)

N McKinnon - 1.38
M Rantanen- 1.20
N Kucherov-1.12
B Point - 1,09
D Pasternak- 1.07
E Malkin- 1.02
Ovie- 0.95
P Kane- 0.98
J Toews- 0.86
B Marchand - 0.81

GOALS/per game

N MacKinnon- 0.56
B Point - 0.53
J Guentzel - 0.42
D Pasternak- 0.42
S Crosby - 0.46
N Kucherov- 0.42
P Kane- 0.38
B Marchand- 0.34

 

[Ricboff]

missed Crosby for the points/per game

Sid- 1.09 (tied for 4th)

cant be screwing this Hall of Famer over ......... hoisted Lord Stanley 3 times, 2 Conn Smythes .........

 

[Ricboff]

great game!!!!!!!

MacKinnon with a snipe

 

[SheriffJoe]

Any team that commits to hard physical shut-em-down hockey in the playoffs can beat the Leafs. Under pressure Toronto's divas fold faster than a lawn chair. Even the woeful Sabres proved this during the recent outdoor classic.

Just a perspective...

Defensive Zone Giveaways:

TOR: 398

FL: 306
BOST: 214
TB: 207

= another early playoff exit

 

[Ricboff]

they got Florida or Tb in the first round- they r the underdogs in either matchup Last yr they were the heavy favs Vs the Habs, didnt end well lol . Campbell has to be the most unreliable goalie in the east as a #1 (playoff teams )...with Anderson not too far behind given his playoff history BUT Car has a much better dee in front of their goalie. Campbell is hot and cold and little middle ground , he needs 'hot' mode or bye bye. Florida can score , can match the leafs speed game . Thats a deep damn team . Giordano was a very good pickup: giordano/brodie combo is the one i want to over play when protecting a lead in the 3rd , ha.

Better matchups for teh leafs would be Car, Pitt, NYR, Wash (altho reluctantly i put wash here as the Caps would physically pound the leafs lol)

Huberdeau has blossomed...MVP candidate. That team has six 20 -goal scorers.

will Florida get tight when the puck is dropped ? we shall see...great expectations. They are prone to periods of undisciplined hockey. Any leader in that dressing room? They are for sure a far deeper team than a yr ago.

Rangers r dangerous, that goalie is possible Hart nominee . Got a goalie that can steal a game or two? thats huge. Vasi stole game 2 at Car and game 2 vs the habs a yr ago


who u like coming out of the East?

 

[SheriffJoe]

Not to sound like Captain Obvious, but Tampa is still the class of the East and the league.

They have the best goalie, arguably hockey's best workhorse defenseman, 4 stacked lines that come at you in waves and a winning coach that knows how to utilize them. They are the complete team.

Now they've added Brandon Hagel and 6'4 230 lb Nick Paul to that formidable group. I think it's fair to say they're just been coasting during the regular season making sure everyone is hungry, fresh and healthy for the playoffs.

Yes, any team and goalie can get hot - we've seen it happen. But baring any major injuries or Vasilevskiy laying an egg, how could anyone bet against Tampa planning their third straight boat parade?

 

[Ricboff]

fair points, at the back (dee and between the pipes) they r super elite .




hedman/rutta
sergachev/cernak
mcdonaugh/bogosian

that dee has only one comparison and that's Colorado's. Adding Manson gives the Avalanche a big boy back there. Toews, Makar are great puck movers. Cale is obviosuly a talent that can take over a game . Col dee is more mobile, TB dee more physical

McDonough deosnt get enough credit. Bogosian was a tough loss for the Leafs, hated to see him go -- stay at home dee, pins his guy in the corner, plays the body, tough in front of the net. Kinda guy you 'dont see ' during the game-- exactly waht the leafs need. I'd give Liljegren for Zach in a heartbeat--not a fuckin chance Brisbois touches that


Florida and Tb are the two best teams in the Eastern conference. Florida is all in-adding Giroux, Chairot . A Florida /TB matchup would be something. Florida literally blew game 1 vs TB a yr ago with reckless, undisciplined hockey-tb was ripe for the taking-r they ready to take the next step? we shall see

..........its all fun and games until they drop the puck for playoff hockey

 

[SheriffJoe]

Florida is sitting first in the East but a huge question mark because of Ekblad's injury and Bobrovsky's erratic track record. Even then, they don't have the depth of elite talent Lighting have at every position.

Canes look solid and tough to score against with the best D record in the league by a comfortable margin, but I don't trust their goaltending. Also, no game breakers like Makar, Hedman or Mac.

Giordano doesn't move the needle vs the competition and though Matthews may win MVP, until his team proves they can fight through tough relentless playoff hockey they don't belong in the same conversation. If their goalies play to current form they'll be lucky to win a game. 8-6, 7-4 (beer league hockey) doesn't work in the playoffs.

Rangers have elite goaltending and a team on the rise. Of course Boston and Pittsburgh are always worth mentioning, though I would hardly call these contenders.

In the West, there's Colorado and...everyone else. Something is wrong with Vegas - ever since Eichel arrived that team is a dumpster fire.

Colorado vs Tampa Bay would be the ideal finals giving fans the best hockey in years.

 

[Ricboff]

disagree with Giordano not moving the needle --r u kidding? its the player he is replacing that provides the inisght. Big leap in experience, hockey acumen, composure, decision making between him vs Lljlegren / Holl/ Sandin/Dermott . Miles bro. Why do you think the leafs struggle in their own end so much? your post #47 .

anyway. Giordano, Reilly, Brodie all solid. Need a healthy Muzzin leafs bottom dee pairign is weak.. ......... again, no way can anyone feel confident with Campbell , lol. And no one wins Lord Stanley with weak goaltending. Strong goaltending can actually be the main catalyst for a team to gain speed and go all the way-most recently -Binnington, St.L. Not exactly a team littered with stars.

Ekblad suppose to be back come 1st round? he better. Kinda like TB getting Kucherov to start last yrs playoffs

TB can be had . Their stars will need to produce, not a deep offensive team . their pp was lethal in the early rounds which helped them survive Florida, Car a yr ago. Lets keep in mind they needed a Game 7 Vs the Isles. SH goal to boot, hell of a play by McDanough !!


Colorado has become a team of expectations. Pressure mounting . They need a deep run, anything else is a failure .

Mackinnon after last yr's exist .

“There's always next year — it's all we talk about, I feel like. I’m going into my ninth year next year and haven’t won (expletive),” MacKinnon said after a 6-3 loss in Game 6 at Vegas. “This year, I thought we were the best team in the league. For whatever reason, couldn’t get it together.

 

[SheriffJoe]

Giordano's playoff record:

23 GP 1G 6A PTS 7 +/- -7

I think he's won one playoff series.

Why do you guys keep acquiring players who have a record of not getting it done when games get real?

Marleau, Tavares, Spezza, Thorton, Foligno, now Giordano.

None have been able to get a flawed core, which takes up over 50% of cap space, to win even one series.

 

[Ricboff]

Seriously?

he definitely is a huge upgrade . If you don't see that , then it's clear you don't watch leaf games .

Would u rather start Dermot or Giordano ? Get it ?


His playoff record ? Huh ? It's a team game . Muzzin has won a cup , not exactly carried the leafs .lol

 

[SheriffJoe]

You're comparing Leafs vs Leafs. I'm comparing Leafs vs a stacked East.

TB acquired Hagel and a beast named Nick Paul
FL acquired Giroux and Chiarot
Bruins got Lindholm

Is Giordano better than those 5 players acquired by the competition?

So how did the Leafs leapfrog the main contenders trading for a 38 year old defenseman?

Which team(s) are you going to beat?

 

[Avocado33]

Leafs will 100% fold in playoffs lol come on now

 

[Ricboff]

You're comparing Leafs vs Leafs. I'm comparing Leafs vs a stacked East.

TB acquired Hagel and a beast named Nick Paul
FL acquired Giroux and Chiarot
Bruins got Lindholm

Is Giordano better than those 5 players acquired by the competition?

So how did the Leafs leapfrog the main contenders trading for a 38 year old defenseman?

Which team(s) are you going to beat?

To be clear (not sure how it wasnt?)

I'm already on record saying the leafs don't have the pieces at the back

What I'm saying is Giordano acquisition was definitely a strong one. It has improved the back .At least( assuming Muzzin doesnt return ) they have 3 legit guys back there lol. None of the teams u mentioned had two pieces as weak as Dermott and lijlgren . Its relative .

Did I say that the acquisition of Giordano would win them the Cup ? Did I say it made them leapfrog other contenders?

Geez ,C'mon stop projecting .

 

[SheriffJoe]

Oh Ricboff...what am I going to do with you??? Why sacrifice more of your future if you still can't beat your competition? Does that make any sense??

Do they still have any picks left this year and next?? How do the GM and coach even keep their jobs???

 

[Ricboff]

'Oh Ricboff...what am I going to do with you? Why sacrifice more of your future if you still can't beat your competition?'


huh?

im NOT the GM. With that said, i agree with the trade . no first rounder given , good core of players at the marlies . HAD to make some kinda move

The GM feels they are ready to go. He is, apparently, happy with the back, and the goaltending.

(he, with all his wisdom, gave up a first- rounder for an aging forward a yr ago before the trade deadline and left the back as is, lol. They ddint need a forward, more lol . )

If they exit in the 1st round? Dubas should be shown the exit.

two things clear to me -- marner, mathews need to awaken come playoffs time-- its time to grow. LEAD. That 3rd pairing dee pales in comparison to these two being elite when it REALLY matters. And two, Campbell needs to get hot , or at minimum be competent . Dont need him to steal a game, just dotn lose a game


(-and btw-- in my first post to start this thread i used another big American name-- Patrick Kane. 3-time Stanley Cup Champion. Conn Smythe winner, nuff said. Gotta produce in the playoffs)

 

[SheriffJoe]

Leafs have virtually no draft picks, Ricboff. How is this possible?

Toronto Maple Leafs Future Draft Pick Status

Rookie GM in a high pressure market = disaster