- Thread starter BEER
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oldguyzer
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Well, truth be told, if it was a great team like, say, THE HABS who were in a slump, Trawna fans would be the first to make fun! That's part of the great rivalry. Of course, it's VERY one-sided for the last, oh, hundred years or so :biggrin2:
raise-BowingPraise-Bowing[h=1]2016 NHL Draft Lottery results: Toronto Maple Leafs win top pick[/h]
:shout::shout:
https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/2016-nhl-draft-lottery-results-toronto-maple-leafs-win-top-pick/
:shout::shout:
https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/2016-nhl-draft-lottery-results-toronto-maple-leafs-win-top-pick/
Auston Matthews looks like the real deal to hopeful Leafs fans
https://www.torontosun.com/2016/09/18/auston-matthews-looks-like-the-real-deal-to-hopeful-leafs-fans
https://www.torontosun.com/2016/09/18/auston-matthews-looks-like-the-real-deal-to-hopeful-leafs-fans
[h=1]Team North America puts on a show in win against Finland[/h][h=1][/h]
https://www.torontosun.com/2016/09/18/team-north-america-puts-on-a-show-in-win-against-finland
https://www.torontosun.com/2016/09/18/team-north-america-puts-on-a-show-in-win-against-finland
Austin Matthews is one really good player.
The scouting reports are bang on.
After watching for a while, a big guy, with real quick hands. Competes hard for the puck. Can read the play and set up plays.
The most surprising thing about him, he is a natural goal scorer. You tend not to think about him that way, but that is what he probably is, a sniper, who plays center and can set up plays, and can forecheck.
Most of the goals he scored the past few games, like a goal a game, was off the forecheck with his linemates Zack Hyman and Connor Brown, who both look like a couple of under-sized grinders, who can score once in a while.
That line goes in on the forecheck, and for some reason, the puck winds up on Matthews stick in the slot, he shots he scores.
That's the thing. Half of Matthews goals probably came off broken plays, where he just happens to be in the right spot at the right time, and he shoots he scores. He can score off the rush. But how do you defend a forecheck? Especially when the line good at it.
Most defensemen in the league are big, but maybe not too fast. That Matthews line is on top of you quickly, and Matthews is strong and competes hard for the puck. He's a grinder, who is a sniper, who is a player maker, who is fast and score off the rush.
The Leafs, have not seen a player like this, since I don't know when.
He is like a cross between Mario Lemieux and Sydney Crosby. Maybe that is expecting too much, but at this stage, anything is possible, a lot of upside.
The thing about Mario Lemieux, was that the goalies said that it was too hard to stop him if he was in alone. If you line up to his body, he flips the puck by you into the goal. If you line up to the puck, he pulls it around you. Matthews shoots he scores, but yesterday, the puck hit him, it laid there, but with his long reach he already was around the goalie and knocked it into the open net. But Matthews sometimes shows he plays with the tenacity of Sydney Crosby. Not every shift, but he probably will eventually.
He competes in his own end too, just like Crosby. Next time the Leafs play Pittsburgh, they should play Crosby and Matthews head to head, give Kadri a break.
Funky & Music
:SayWhat?:
:-Cool/"
The scouting reports are bang on.
After watching for a while, a big guy, with real quick hands. Competes hard for the puck. Can read the play and set up plays.
The most surprising thing about him, he is a natural goal scorer. You tend not to think about him that way, but that is what he probably is, a sniper, who plays center and can set up plays, and can forecheck.
Most of the goals he scored the past few games, like a goal a game, was off the forecheck with his linemates Zack Hyman and Connor Brown, who both look like a couple of under-sized grinders, who can score once in a while.
That line goes in on the forecheck, and for some reason, the puck winds up on Matthews stick in the slot, he shots he scores.
That's the thing. Half of Matthews goals probably came off broken plays, where he just happens to be in the right spot at the right time, and he shoots he scores. He can score off the rush. But how do you defend a forecheck? Especially when the line good at it.
Most defensemen in the league are big, but maybe not too fast. That Matthews line is on top of you quickly, and Matthews is strong and competes hard for the puck. He's a grinder, who is a sniper, who is a player maker, who is fast and score off the rush.
The Leafs, have not seen a player like this, since I don't know when.
He is like a cross between Mario Lemieux and Sydney Crosby. Maybe that is expecting too much, but at this stage, anything is possible, a lot of upside.
The thing about Mario Lemieux, was that the goalies said that it was too hard to stop him if he was in alone. If you line up to his body, he flips the puck by you into the goal. If you line up to the puck, he pulls it around you. Matthews shoots he scores, but yesterday, the puck hit him, it laid there, but with his long reach he already was around the goalie and knocked it into the open net. But Matthews sometimes shows he plays with the tenacity of Sydney Crosby. Not every shift, but he probably will eventually.
He competes in his own end too, just like Crosby. Next time the Leafs play Pittsburgh, they should play Crosby and Matthews head to head, give Kadri a break.
Funky & Music
:SayWhat?:
:-Cool/"
The Leafs having been playing well, and tonight wins another in New Jersey.
Against bad teams, the Leafs look good. Against good teams, the Leafs look like a work in progress. That will be the next step for this young team. How to grind out wins against good teams. How to do that on a consistent basis. If they can do that, then look out, they really do got something going on with this bunch.
The past 10 games, everything has come together. The goalie is playing like top 5 in the league. The defense is good enough. Not great, not even good you can say. Just good enough. The forwards have been scoring, as they have been scoring all season.
Looking at the stats of the roster, three rookies, Nylander, Brown, Marner, near the half way point of the season, all three has a real shot at a 20 goal season. That's hard to believe. Moreso when that other Leafs rookie already at 21 goals after tonight's game. The first three rookies mentioned, they don't even play on the same line.
The recent streak, we cannot just point to one thing, all phases of the game is clicking, including the power play and penalty kill. That is not something we can say about the Leafs for a decade at least.
The blown leads, that probably is very correctable, very soon. The forwards must play better in their own zone. The wingers must cover the point better, and the centers be stronger in the danger areas. The Bozak line is not that good at it. The Matthews line is not that good at it. Just maybe a case of who to put on.
Tonight, a 4-2 game late, faceoff in own zone, Babcock has the Matthews line out there. Okay fine, lets all watch what they can do in this situation. They lose the draw, and the next thing they do, is spend the whole time watching the puck being passed around. That was a bit comical. The coach like everyone else, wanted to see what you can do under the situation, and everyone watched them watching the puck. Jersey shot it wide, the puck bounces to a Leafs and they it out. On comes another line, and the game comes to an end.
Big game with Montreal in town.
Funky & Music
:SayWhat?:
:-Cool/"
Against bad teams, the Leafs look good. Against good teams, the Leafs look like a work in progress. That will be the next step for this young team. How to grind out wins against good teams. How to do that on a consistent basis. If they can do that, then look out, they really do got something going on with this bunch.
The past 10 games, everything has come together. The goalie is playing like top 5 in the league. The defense is good enough. Not great, not even good you can say. Just good enough. The forwards have been scoring, as they have been scoring all season.
Looking at the stats of the roster, three rookies, Nylander, Brown, Marner, near the half way point of the season, all three has a real shot at a 20 goal season. That's hard to believe. Moreso when that other Leafs rookie already at 21 goals after tonight's game. The first three rookies mentioned, they don't even play on the same line.
The recent streak, we cannot just point to one thing, all phases of the game is clicking, including the power play and penalty kill. That is not something we can say about the Leafs for a decade at least.
The blown leads, that probably is very correctable, very soon. The forwards must play better in their own zone. The wingers must cover the point better, and the centers be stronger in the danger areas. The Bozak line is not that good at it. The Matthews line is not that good at it. Just maybe a case of who to put on.
Tonight, a 4-2 game late, faceoff in own zone, Babcock has the Matthews line out there. Okay fine, lets all watch what they can do in this situation. They lose the draw, and the next thing they do, is spend the whole time watching the puck being passed around. That was a bit comical. The coach like everyone else, wanted to see what you can do under the situation, and everyone watched them watching the puck. Jersey shot it wide, the puck bounces to a Leafs and they it out. On comes another line, and the game comes to an end.
Big game with Montreal in town.
Funky & Music
:SayWhat?:
:-Cool/"
The Leafs centerman, Nazem Kadri, I always liked. Not sure why he is a controversial figure on the Leafs, as he has turned into a decent player.
He already has one 20 goal season to his credit. The strike year he had 18 goals. The year previous to the last season's tank season, he was almost going to get 20 again but finished with 18 goals, as he got suspended first by the league, then by his own team. Shanahan dishing out tough love, holding a big meeting with himself, Kadri, and his parents. That seem to straighten him out.
His worst season, was last season with 17 goals, the tank season. It is kind of surprising still to see Kadri score consistently over the years. That's Toronto I guess. Here's player who actually scores, yet he not exactly embraced by the media or fan base. The media and fan base like the 4th liners and players like Tyler Bozak, who never scored 20 goals in the league.
Who were Kadri's wingers these past few seasons? There was Lupul, but he was hurt often. Uncle Leo is not exactly a scoring sensation. So here is Kadri still playing still scoring. That is how weak the supporting cast has been for the Leafs.
Kadri is having his best season. Hard to say why exactly, definitely playing a solid two way game is a big factor. He's the team shut down center. He is also the team's highest scoring center after the rookie Matthews. The Leafs are much stronger down the middle.
Tonight's game, an assist for Kadri on Nylander's goal. Otherwise, a couple chances, but not much for the New York team who looked a little sluggish. Then again, good play from Kadri's line can make the other team look sluggish. Another solid game for the Kadri line.
In fact, all three lines scored tonight for the Leafs. Two power play goals, and one goal off the rush. The first goal, started with a good rush, but then a good forecheck and Kadri comes out with the puck after a good stick from Hunwick, sets up Nylander for the shot.
I like to see Marner play with Kadri, because there probably will be instant chemistry there, a couple guys from the Ontario Junior Hockey League. Kadri likes to hang onto the puck and make a play. Marner, he is excellent at finding that open spot. Then if Marner has the puck, Kadri can get open Marner will find him with the puck. Uncle Leo could be the other winger to forecheck. We'll see if that happens.
Funky & Music:SayWhat?::-Cool/"
He already has one 20 goal season to his credit. The strike year he had 18 goals. The year previous to the last season's tank season, he was almost going to get 20 again but finished with 18 goals, as he got suspended first by the league, then by his own team. Shanahan dishing out tough love, holding a big meeting with himself, Kadri, and his parents. That seem to straighten him out.
His worst season, was last season with 17 goals, the tank season. It is kind of surprising still to see Kadri score consistently over the years. That's Toronto I guess. Here's player who actually scores, yet he not exactly embraced by the media or fan base. The media and fan base like the 4th liners and players like Tyler Bozak, who never scored 20 goals in the league.
Who were Kadri's wingers these past few seasons? There was Lupul, but he was hurt often. Uncle Leo is not exactly a scoring sensation. So here is Kadri still playing still scoring. That is how weak the supporting cast has been for the Leafs.
Kadri is having his best season. Hard to say why exactly, definitely playing a solid two way game is a big factor. He's the team shut down center. He is also the team's highest scoring center after the rookie Matthews. The Leafs are much stronger down the middle.
Tonight's game, an assist for Kadri on Nylander's goal. Otherwise, a couple chances, but not much for the New York team who looked a little sluggish. Then again, good play from Kadri's line can make the other team look sluggish. Another solid game for the Kadri line.
In fact, all three lines scored tonight for the Leafs. Two power play goals, and one goal off the rush. The first goal, started with a good rush, but then a good forecheck and Kadri comes out with the puck after a good stick from Hunwick, sets up Nylander for the shot.
I like to see Marner play with Kadri, because there probably will be instant chemistry there, a couple guys from the Ontario Junior Hockey League. Kadri likes to hang onto the puck and make a play. Marner, he is excellent at finding that open spot. Then if Marner has the puck, Kadri can get open Marner will find him with the puck. Uncle Leo could be the other winger to forecheck. We'll see if that happens.
Funky & Music:SayWhat?::-Cool/"
