Leafs 2013-14 Regular Season Thread

[Homer Jay]

Yeah, Edmonton has played like **** this year. Seems like they have a bunch a young guns, who just play offense and no defense--a bunch of one dimensional players. They need some more vets to teach those kids a thing or two, and they somewhat addressed that by signing Boyd Gordon, but hes not enough. They also need some goaltending.

Yeah I've been following the Oilers as my second team, since I lived out here. They built one of the most messed up teams ever. It's all based around young good scorers, with TERRIBLE off the puck play, and a resounding lack of toughness. The top D-man is Smid for chrissakes! Goaltending is abysmal. Here is where I think the Leafs should pounce and secure a star player. I haven't checked it to see if it works under the cap yet, but here we go:

Lupul, Reimer, Gardiner, McLaren and Phaneuf for RNH, Devin Dubnyk, Justin Shultz, and Ryan Jones.

Why the Oilers do it.

1) Oilers love locals, and they are kicking themselves at giving up on Lupul so early (he couldn't handle the pressure of replacing Chris Pronger, but just said yesterday he wouldn't mind returning to the Oilers again. The guy they traded him for, Visnosky was a massive bust). Phanuef is also semi-local.

2) They desperately need size and talent on the defensive line. They also need size up front, Lupul and McLaren help there.

3) They need a starting goalie in the worst way. Dubnyk is a great BACKUP goalie, in the mold of a Glen Healey. He just can't handle the rigors of being the #1.

4) Having to pay all of Eberle, Hall, RNh, Yakupov in their prime is going to cap them out bad, and need to move per-emptively before they are making bad deals just because of the cap. Lupul and a resigned Phaneuf give them cost certainty for star players for a nice duration.

5) RNH is a phenomenal talent, but easily the most bullied and arguably the wimpiest player in the league. The Oilers have nobody to play with him, as they insist on keeping Eberle and Hall on a separate line. Yakupov gets to move back to C as well, or the Oilers can keep rolling Arcobello.

6) Phaneuf and Gardiner instantly become their #1 pairing, and will help their PP.

Why the Leafs do it

1) RNH centering Kessel and JVR for the next decade. Yes please.

2) #1 Goalie issue is settled. Bernier is clear starter. Dubnyk capable backup

3) Shultz should turn into a top 4 defenseman with time.

4) Jones is a prototypical 3rd liner that should play well with Bolland.

[GoRapstheoriginal]

WHEEE!! Another great game/win! GO LEAFS GO!!! WOOHOO!!! ! ! ! Keep this up for 4 more months! !

[Waylon Mercy]

Is there an NHL website like Hoopshype that shows you all the teams and players salaries?

http://capgeek.com/mapleleafs

Thanks

That Liles contract

[Crowned]

I'm concerned about the amount of shots we're giving up at the moment. It's becoming frequent, and it needs to be addressed.

Although we're limiting quality chances, if we're giving up 40 shots a game, all it takes is a mediocre performance from one of our goaltenders to get behind in a game.

[LLJ]

I'm concerned about the amount of shots we're giving up at the moment. It's becoming frequent, and it needs to be addressed.

Although we're limiting quality chances, if we're giving up 40 shots a game, all it takes is a mediocre performance from one of our goaltenders to get behind in a game.

Did we get outshot most of last season?

[Waylon Mercy]

Vancouver fans must get pissed that CBC always makes the Leafs and Canucks play at 4pm Pacific
every time we're out there.

Retiring Pavel Bures number tonight heh they should raise Felix Potvins Jock upside
there with it.

[whysoserious]

The Bolland injury is going to hurt this team.

We aren't deep down the middle and now Bozak is out and Bolland for some lengthy time.

They don't play again till Friday and Carlyle needs to do something about the number of shots we're giving up. Our goaltenders are playing unbelievable but they can't keep facing this workload night in and night out.

[ATLTimekeeper]

Losing two centres is going to expose any teams' depth. After Kassian took out Bolland and scored, we just were pre-occupied on taking runs at guys and the refs were calling everything to try and quell a brawl. Orr should have just beaten the crap out of Kassian and then we could have moved on. Instead we just had McLaren dispensing cheap shots and then the Canuck diving team came out in the 3rd. I'm not sure what Orr is good for if he can't lay a beating on another team's goon that took out one of our guys with a questionable hit.

[Mohanad]

Good game, gentlemen.

[Mohanad]

Bolland is going to be on crutches for at least a month. still no timetable for return

tough, tough loss. he was giving us effective second line minutes, great two way play, and already a pair of game winners.

going to really need nazem and bozie to step up now

[whysoserious]

Is Clarkson the most overpaid role player in the NHL?

[kaulkhara15]

Where's everybody been?

Terrific performance by Reimer.

[GoRapstheoriginal]

Yup! Crazy! GO LEAFS GO! ! ! ! "50 shats!" Hehe! Lolz!

[ATLTimekeeper]

4 of top 8 goalies in save percentage are either Leafs or former Leafs. It's time to cash in on one of them via trade.

[Mohanad]

Just moved out to Alberta - pleasantly surprised with the amount of Leaf fans (there are a lot). Trying to get use to the 5pm start times

Didn't think we could pull off the shootout but got that key extra point. Glad Dion kept Ovie at bay for most of the game and Riemer... what's not to like?

Next set of games:
Columbus, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Montreal.

[whysoserious]

4 of top 8 goalies in save percentage are either Leafs or former Leafs. It's time to cash in on one of them via trade.

Pretty much gotta cash in. I'd look at moving Reimer and Bozak for a front line C if possible. But they don't grow on trees and don't become available so easily.

[Ado05]

I think Reimer has been the better goalie so far, but it is early, so I wouldnt look to move Reims or Bernier just yet. But if some insane player/package get offered up, I'd do it (If Reimer or Bernier is involved).

[whysoserious]

I think Reimer has been the better goalie so far, but it is early, so I wouldnt look to move Reims or Bernier just yet. But if some insane player/package get offered up, I'd do it (If Reimer or Bernier is involved).

He's definitely playing better, I don't think it's as definitive to say one is better than the other. The only game i can think of that Bernier was bad in was the Preds game. Otherwise he's been as good as Reimer or better.

The reason I'd trade Reimer is just in my belief that Bernier is the long-term solution in net. Reimer still has issues with his glove and his rebound control (though he's better this year at that). Fundamentially I think Bernier is more solid than Reimer. The fact that Reimer is playing this well though suggests to me its time to maximize his value and get something for the Leafs that they need. Whether that pieces is out there or acquirable, that's another thing.

[LLJ]

I think giving up so many shots per game is somewhat nullified by the fact that we sort of run Bernier and Reimer out as platoon goalies. These guys get pretty long breaks after a series of tough workloads, whereas other teams play their main guys 80 or 90 percent of the season.

[whysoserious]

I think giving up so many shots per game is somewhat nullified by the fact that we sort of run Bernier and Reimer out as platoon goalies. These guys get pretty long breaks after a series of tough workloads, whereas other teams play their main guys 80 or 90 percent of the season.

That's an excellent point and we could suffer after trading one of them and still giving up that many shots since one will be playing a lot more now.

The answer is to start getting our shots against down but this team for some reason or another just can't seem to grasp that, at least we're not seeing a change.