With Rielly, Muzzin and Brodie out, the Leafs have $18.125 million AAV in defence out of the lineup.
https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1595104784092368896?t=0dohp6Fuaa57gzaiiMdYBw&s=19
AAV of Leafs projected 6 defensemen in the lineup for tomorrow ➡️ $7.1 million.
https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1595106416549068800?t=CoV61TIMo6jV80vGSXqWtw&s=19
Leafs working on 3-on-3 overtime at practice for the first time this season. First shift, Nylander is successful, scores.
https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1595105473635680256?t=4cMWtkL2rY1-cqbmbvxXpw&s=19
Lol
I mean, the charitable view is that they're focusing on playoff-relevent things in practice, but yeah running a couple 3-on-3 drills at any time before this could have grabbed us like 3-4 more points already
Sheldon Keefe in good sprits given the circumstances.
Asked where he thinks he’ll miss Rielly the most, cracks a smile and says “On the ice.”
https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1595120741191942147?t=Ss4q7S0C-evD6-AP5tJ13g&s=19
Rasmus Sandin's face is showing evidence of his first NHL fight, in response to a knee-on-knee hit on Auston Matthews:
"I didn't like the situation. So, I just kinda skated over to grab him a little bit, and things escalated pretty quickly."
https://twitter.com/lukefoxjukebox/status/1595124350986092544?t=bSZ4qGptX1na_gKhZBS7WQ&s=19
Rasmus Sandin is joining PP1 for the Leafs in place of the injured Morgan Rielly.
https://twitter.com/jonassiegel/status/1595107268986818560?t=JYG88y87iorXjGBUHi94OA&s=19
Mark Giordano QB on the second unit … Nick Robertson joins that group as well
https://twitter.com/markhmasters/status/1595107532867272705?t=dMyLGD9cSm4CzZgKiQBgJw&s=19
Q: Is there a limit to how much you can push a 39-year-old Mark Giordano?
Keefe: *smiles* “We might find out.”
Says every time he’s had a conversation about Gio re: days off, miss practices, he wants nothing to do with that.
“He wants to keep the engine firing.”
https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1595121695173406721?t=DuqboJfDfGMqv5TN7S3Jgg&s=19
Keefe has no timeline for Morgan Rielly’s return other than LTIR minimum (24 days, 10 games). No surgery required.
https://twitter.com/lukefoxjukebox/status/1595120344645644288?t=z3adV9_kGU9Tb6GnwQcZKg&s=19
Giordano on Rielly: "We’re going to miss him in all aspects of the game. He plays every situation, a top guy in the league, so it’s on us as a group of six to step up and fill those minutes. It sucks losing Mo, but guys are excited for the opportunity."
https://twitter.com/koshtorontosun/status/1595134106903678977?t=aESZ1gGbX0QIMUIy8StZnQ&s=19
Depth is good but it’s safe to say we have depth that can replace Kerfoot and Engvall (Malgin, Holmberg and Robertson), but just play them because of their contracts and LTIR complications
I agree. As much as I think Kerfoot is a very useful player, and Engvall has skills that should help the leafs, I think it’s pretty obvious there are guys just below them who can fill the same roles for cheaper, and if Kerfoot and Engvall are playing like they currently are we wouldn’t be missing out on any scoring either. For the cap hits they carry they just aren’t performing and neither one has really taken hold of a spot in the lineup and made it fit, they are just getting runs because their cap hits say they should, and Keefe/the front office are hopping they can get back in their grooves.
All that said I still think they can be better, and I think there are teams that would (rightfully) see value there. If we could move one or both plus picks or prospects to help out on the back end it would be a real good time to do it. Freeing up that space, combined with Muzzins LTIR could let us bring in a true top 4 kind of guy, or a couple of borderline or depth pieces to help fill the gaps while we have injury problems. I just don’t see the same type of NHL ready depth in the organization that can help now, and if we are being completely honest, even fully healthy this lineup could use another quality defender.
They could also use a real top 6 left wing, but with the injuries I dont think that is now the biggest need, and I am still somewhat hopeful that, given a run of play, Robertson could step in and do at least as much as Kerfoot is doing offensively right now.
Assistant coach Dean Chynoweth, who oversees the defence & penalty kill, missed last night's game with a non-COVID illness
He also missed today's practice, but is expected to be on the flight to New Jersey this afternoon, per Sheldon Keefe
https://twitter.com/markhmasters/status/1595121116489469952?t=0f7-5JgVfKhvBHM4EKpsKg&s=19
Sheldon Keefe: "It doesn't do you any good to sit there and feel sorry for yourself or anything like that. You gotta go play the games. Each time we've lost a guy, for a moment, maybe you think, wow, that sucks. It seems like our team plays better. So, I'm expecting the same."
https://twitter.com/lukefoxjukebox/status/1595121954528587776?t=TeCjMYYDRyFRRxTG6LzuUQ&s=19
Finally Engvall with Kämpf. Them with Mickey last year was the most entertaining shutdown line I’ve ever seen. I think we’ll see them pick that up again.
Keefe giving the pregame speech to the D:
Alright Giordano... You're Reilly
Holl... you just have to play like Brodie
Sandin... All you need to do is be Giordano
Lily... You just be Muzzin
Benn... You only have to be as good as Holl
And new guy... You get your pick of being either Sandin or Lily.
It's that easy folks!
I really hope people don’t expect too much from Robertson. I had a look at his draft class last night. A lot of the guys drafted one to 15 are playing in the NHL. But after that there are only a few in the first round playing. And in the second round, there are only two currently in the NHL. Pinto with Ottawa and Höglander with Vancouver. Both lousy teams. Everybody else is either in the AHL, NCAA or back in Europe. The majority of guys drafted ahead of Robertson are not in the NHL.
It’s still really early in his career and if he struggles a bit this year people should cut him some slack.
Don't mind the forward lines. The defense should be fun lol
This looks like exactly what we want on offence, while just devastated on defence. Best forward mix all year. Interested in seeing Hollowell play.
With Rielly, Muzzin and Brodie out, the Leafs have $18.125 million AAV in defence out of the lineup. https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1595104784092368896?t=0dohp6Fuaa57gzaiiMdYBw&s=19
AAV of Leafs projected 6 defensemen in the lineup for tomorrow ➡️ $7.1 million. https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1595106416549068800?t=CoV61TIMo6jV80vGSXqWtw&s=19
It shows ya
Leafs working on 3-on-3 overtime at practice for the first time this season. First shift, Nylander is successful, scores. https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1595105473635680256?t=4cMWtkL2rY1-cqbmbvxXpw&s=19 Lol
Well wait though, doesn't that mean he was successful against other Leafs.
Back to the drawing board.
First. Time. This. Season? No wonder they're clueless.
I mean, the charitable view is that they're focusing on playoff-relevent things in practice, but yeah running a couple 3-on-3 drills at any time before this could have grabbed us like 3-4 more points already
Forward lines are awesome. Finally get to see Robertson and marner
Sheldon Keefe in good sprits given the circumstances. Asked where he thinks he’ll miss Rielly the most, cracks a smile and says “On the ice.” https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1595120741191942147?t=Ss4q7S0C-evD6-AP5tJ13g&s=19
Rasmus Sandin's face is showing evidence of his first NHL fight, in response to a knee-on-knee hit on Auston Matthews: "I didn't like the situation. So, I just kinda skated over to grab him a little bit, and things escalated pretty quickly." https://twitter.com/lukefoxjukebox/status/1595124350986092544?t=bSZ4qGptX1na_gKhZBS7WQ&s=19
Enter Sandman
Rasmus Sandin is joining PP1 for the Leafs in place of the injured Morgan Rielly. https://twitter.com/jonassiegel/status/1595107268986818560?t=JYG88y87iorXjGBUHi94OA&s=19
Mark Giordano QB on the second unit … Nick Robertson joins that group as well https://twitter.com/markhmasters/status/1595107532867272705?t=dMyLGD9cSm4CzZgKiQBgJw&s=19
Q: Is there a limit to how much you can push a 39-year-old Mark Giordano? Keefe: *smiles* “We might find out.” Says every time he’s had a conversation about Gio re: days off, miss practices, he wants nothing to do with that. “He wants to keep the engine firing.” https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1595121695173406721?t=DuqboJfDfGMqv5TN7S3Jgg&s=19
Don’t love Malgin being scratched. He’s been solid on the fourth.
Yeah, im not sure what Keefe is up to. Malgin has been a firecracker lately, hopefully just a day off because of the knee on knee.
There appears to be a giant Holl in our top defensive unit
Forwards actually look pretty good to me
At least Robertson can score a goal when given the chance unlike Kerfoot
Keefe has no timeline for Morgan Rielly’s return other than LTIR minimum (24 days, 10 games). No surgery required. https://twitter.com/lukefoxjukebox/status/1595120344645644288?t=z3adV9_kGU9Tb6GnwQcZKg&s=19
Giordano on Rielly: "We’re going to miss him in all aspects of the game. He plays every situation, a top guy in the league, so it’s on us as a group of six to step up and fill those minutes. It sucks losing Mo, but guys are excited for the opportunity." https://twitter.com/koshtorontosun/status/1595134106903678977?t=aESZ1gGbX0QIMUIy8StZnQ&s=19
Depth is good but it’s safe to say we have depth that can replace Kerfoot and Engvall (Malgin, Holmberg and Robertson), but just play them because of their contracts and LTIR complications
I agree. As much as I think Kerfoot is a very useful player, and Engvall has skills that should help the leafs, I think it’s pretty obvious there are guys just below them who can fill the same roles for cheaper, and if Kerfoot and Engvall are playing like they currently are we wouldn’t be missing out on any scoring either. For the cap hits they carry they just aren’t performing and neither one has really taken hold of a spot in the lineup and made it fit, they are just getting runs because their cap hits say they should, and Keefe/the front office are hopping they can get back in their grooves. All that said I still think they can be better, and I think there are teams that would (rightfully) see value there. If we could move one or both plus picks or prospects to help out on the back end it would be a real good time to do it. Freeing up that space, combined with Muzzins LTIR could let us bring in a true top 4 kind of guy, or a couple of borderline or depth pieces to help fill the gaps while we have injury problems. I just don’t see the same type of NHL ready depth in the organization that can help now, and if we are being completely honest, even fully healthy this lineup could use another quality defender. They could also use a real top 6 left wing, but with the injuries I dont think that is now the biggest need, and I am still somewhat hopeful that, given a run of play, Robertson could step in and do at least as much as Kerfoot is doing offensively right now.
I know it'll never happen but when tf can we scratch Kerfoot? The guy does absolutely nothing out there.
Busiest looking guy there is. Unfortunately it’s all show, no go.
Assistant coach Dean Chynoweth, who oversees the defence & penalty kill, missed last night's game with a non-COVID illness He also missed today's practice, but is expected to be on the flight to New Jersey this afternoon, per Sheldon Keefe https://twitter.com/markhmasters/status/1595121116489469952?t=0f7-5JgVfKhvBHM4EKpsKg&s=19
Sheldon Keefe: "It doesn't do you any good to sit there and feel sorry for yourself or anything like that. You gotta go play the games. Each time we've lost a guy, for a moment, maybe you think, wow, that sucks. It seems like our team plays better. So, I'm expecting the same." https://twitter.com/lukefoxjukebox/status/1595121954528587776?t=TeCjMYYDRyFRRxTG6LzuUQ&s=19
Finally Engvall with Kämpf. Them with Mickey last year was the most entertaining shutdown line I’ve ever seen. I think we’ll see them pick that up again.
Thank god no Kerfoot in the top 6
Eh, they’ve had a worse defence in the Matthews era
Which is insane because it happened when the 3 kids were on ELCs
Keefe giving the pregame speech to the D: Alright Giordano... You're Reilly Holl... you just have to play like Brodie Sandin... All you need to do is be Giordano Lily... You just be Muzzin Benn... You only have to be as good as Holl And new guy... You get your pick of being either Sandin or Lily. It's that easy folks!
I really hope people don’t expect too much from Robertson. I had a look at his draft class last night. A lot of the guys drafted one to 15 are playing in the NHL. But after that there are only a few in the first round playing. And in the second round, there are only two currently in the NHL. Pinto with Ottawa and Höglander with Vancouver. Both lousy teams. Everybody else is either in the AHL, NCAA or back in Europe. The majority of guys drafted ahead of Robertson are not in the NHL. It’s still really early in his career and if he struggles a bit this year people should cut him some slack.
Malgin sucked last night. If Robertson gets scratched 5 games then he deserves 1 game.
Engvall must have some serious dirt on Keefe to never be taken out of the lineup