Leafs 2013-14 Regular Season Thread

Waylon Mercy · Post #81 » by **Waylon Mercy** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 2:19 am

Leafs continue to play average to utter dog crap at the ACC something that never changes

ATLTimekeeper · Post #82 » by **ATLTimekeeper** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 7:14 pm

It also took a once-every-five-years kind of goal for them to lose. I don't really care about how they play as long as they win. With the injuries, suspensions and call-ups they're the youngest team in the league, so it might be a bit much to expect mature play.

I think by the end of the year we'll be in the mid-playoff team range. I don't think they improved enough in the off-season to make a monumental leap, but it also doesn't look like we've regressed. They play for each other, have a lot of speed, great special teams, good goaltending and lay a lot of hits.

Mohanad · Post #83 » by **Mohanad** » Wed Oct 23, 2013 3:22 am

10 games into the season and we got re-introduced to some West coast teams right away (first 6 of 10 games)

We played through some key losses (Clarkson, Kulie, Fraser, and JVR for 2 games) but finished off 7-3 and currently first in the Atlantic.

Top performers through 10:
Kessel GP: 10 G: 5 Assist: 6 P: 11 +/- +3
(had an off week. combine that with the lack of forward depth, and opposing teams are putting more focus on him. seemed to play best when he is opposite a big guy who can win battles on the boards and hold on to the puck without getting smushed. He has missed JVR for 2 games)

Lupul GP: 10 G: 6 Assists: 4 P: 10 +/- -1

JVR: GP: 8 G: 5 Assists: 3 P: 8 +/- +4

Still have yet to see the best of Kadri and Gardiner.

Clarkson makes his long awaited debut on Friday (his deal may butcher any excitement but really looking forward to adding a power forward to the line up)

Overall not a bad start to the season at all

whysoserious · Post #84 » by **whysoserious** » Wed Oct 23, 2013 12:20 pm

JVR is playing some of the best hockey I've seen from him.

Interesting point during last nights game that Lupul is up there in NHL scoring yet hasn't really found a real rhythm with Kadri not finding his groove yet and often times playing with guys like Bolland. Kinda sucks he got bumped from the first line but at the same time, JVR and Kessel have also found some nice chemistry. Injuries set him back and he's still producing.

Chevy Chase · Post #85 » by **Chevy Chase** » Wed Oct 23, 2013 4:51 pm

I was at the game and boy were the leafs luck to come out of the first 30 min only down two. They just had no energy.

i gotta say the penalty kill is excellent right now. That, and Phil can shoot. His second goal, he was really looking for the pass and at the last second found himself in close with little to shoot at. He threaded the needle and put the puck up over the blocker side shoulder. There couldn't have been more than one of those net targets in space to shoot at and he did it. That's true sniper talent.

Also, I like the hustle and work ethic of Bolland. Solid addition.

Post #86 » by **YogiStewart** » Sat Oct 26, 2013 2:17 am

yes, i post after losses. hah.
but seriously, this was a funny quote from tsn.ca

David Clarkson's return was supposed to help the Toronto Maple Leafs find an identity.

In his first game in a Leafs uniform following his suspension, Clarkson set the tone for a penalty-filled effort in a 5-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night at Nationwide Arena.

Clarkson was the first Toronto player to take a penalty, less than five minutes into his debut, and Ryan Murray scored his first NHL goal shortly after. It was the only power-play goal the Blue Jackets scored, but the Leafs' parade to the penalty box hurt the flow of their game.

enjoy this guy, Leaf fans. unless he learns to settle down, he's exactly what i thought he would be: an overpaid thug who can score, but spends way too much time in the box.

ATLTimekeeper · Post #87 » by **ATLTimekeeper** » Sat Oct 26, 2013 10:52 am

I thought the penalty call was ticky-tack. Clarkson was really good last night. Really liked that line. Overall the team put up another clunker. We'll have to see if they bring more intensity against a much better team.

hsb · Post #88 » by **hsb** » Sun Oct 27, 2013 2:29 am

Impressive win against a solid team in the Penguins.

Mohanad · Post #89 » by **Mohanad** » Sun Oct 27, 2013 3:27 am

Can't believe someone called Clarky a thug

Clarkson brings everything we are lacking right now (puck possession, forechecking, board work, aggressiveness, etc.)

By his final season with the Devils, Clarkson had earned his way to being:
-1st in goals and 1st in PPG and T1st in GWG
-3rd in points
-2nd in hits among forwards (3 hits off of 1st)

The point is, Clarkson has come a long way since being the physical bottom 6 forward he was in his first few seasons. The last two seasons (ie. 128GP) have seen him being utilized as a top 6 forward (also played top line minutes on a cup contending Devils team) Creates havoc in front of the net, blocks shots, and is one of the toughest forwards to play against.

Hartnell called Clarkson “basically the epitome of a power forward"

I can understand disliking Clarkson for his heavy contract, but he's a player you would love to have on your team. Unfortunately for us, he just came with a big bill.

ATLTimekeeper · Post #90 » by **ATLTimekeeper** » Sun Oct 27, 2013 1:54 pm

Is Dave Bolland going to **** up our cap with a career year? Great pick-up.

Mohanad · Post #91 » by **Mohanad** » Sun Oct 27, 2013 6:13 pm

I wouldn't sweat it. Bolly is already making 3.4 - his pay increase would be around 500k-600k max. He wont be making more than Bozak (4.2)

Mcclement is going to be very key to retain as well. I'm expecting Ranger and Raymond or Kuli gone.

Ado05 · Post #92 » by **Ado05** » Sun Oct 27, 2013 8:26 pm

I think Kulemin is the most likely to be gone, out of the three.

Unless he can get his offensive game going again.

Waylon Mercy · Post #93 » by **Waylon Mercy** » Sun Oct 27, 2013 10:35 pm

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

Mohanad · Post #94 » by **Mohanad** » Mon Oct 28, 2013 5:19 am

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

http://capgeek.com/mapleleafs

whysoserious · Post #95 » by **whysoserious** » Mon Oct 28, 2013 12:20 pm

ATLTimekeeper wrote:Is Dave Bolland going to **** up our cap with a career year? Great pick-up.

Our cap is already pretty fukked up as it is. No matter what though, Bolland was a great pick up. Raymond too. We need more finds like that on the cheap than signing guys like Clarkson to big money and he's now playing on the third line.

GoRapstheoriginal · Post #96 » by **GoRapstheoriginal** » Wed Oct 30, 2013 3:55 am

WOW! Another nice win! GO LEAFS GO!

!

ATLTimekeeper · Post #97 » by **ATLTimekeeper** » Wed Oct 30, 2013 11:18 am

Edmonton is just full of wimps. When you have Mason Raymond shoving you around and don't do anything about it, you have a toughness issue. They seem really lazy, too. All the numbers seem to suggest Edmonton dominated that game, but watching the game they didn't seem dangerous at all and lethargic on one-on-one battles.

For the Leafs, I feel like we'll have a letdown in Calgary. Burkie's new team and we'll underestimate them.

Also, as a general thing, if we had to keep one UFA D-man, Franson or Phaneuf, knowing that Phaneuf's deal apparently starts at 50/7, who would you keep?

Ado05 · Post #98 » by **Ado05** » Wed Oct 30, 2013 3:27 pm

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.

Brew666 · Post #99 » by **Brew666** » Wed Oct 30, 2013 4:44 pm

ATLTimekeeper wrote:if we had to keep one UFA D-man, Franson or Phaneuf, knowing that Phaneuf's deal apparently starts at 50/7, who would you keep?

Franson is still an RFA so the Leafs still have control in that situation. He's looking really solid this year and hope Nonis can work out something long term w/ him.

Phaneuf is a tougher situation. Like Kessel, he's going to get the money [6.5-7.5 per year for 6+ years] whether it's the Leafs that sign the contract or not. Even though he's not a top 10 dman in the league, he gets the ice time like he is [25+ minutes, PK, PP] and when you look at comparable players around the league, that's market value. If we have an opportunity to upgrade [Weber] then I'll take that option 10/10 but I'm not sure if it's possible. If the Leafs can't/are unwilling to sign Phaneuf for market value then they better have a plan b b/c this team needs Phaneuf. Phaneuf gets sh*t on a lot [and some of it deserved] but he's the best dman on the team and has played really solid hockey this year [If he can be consistent and maintain what he's been doing so far this year, I'm happy with him on that contract]. There is no one internally who can match what he does for the team. He's far from perfect but this team definitely takes a huge step back if they don't resign/replace him.

Brew666 · Post #100 » by **Brew666** » Wed Oct 30, 2013 5:00 pm

Adrian_05 wrote: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.

I was 100% on the Eakins bandwagon and was pissed when the Leafs hired Carlyle. In hindsight, I'm definitely glad they went with the latter. Eakins is going to be a good coach but he's not there yet. The team [Oilers] was top 10 in special teams last year and this year they're in the bottom 10. Injuries have definitely been a factor but not that much.

I have a soft spot for the Oilers and hope they can turn it around this season but I think they need to address their d and goaltending.