hockeyrealist

no knock on CC, he’s gonna be a gooder. But think Perry is better suited for the playoffs at this point in CC’s development. Ducharme has not instilled much confidence in me, think the players themselves will have to come together rather than expect him to outthink/adapt throughout games/series. Juliens style was very effective early this season, is a good playoff style. The uptempo forecheck was impressive and very disruptive to other teams.

ugh, this could get ugly. Wonder if Leafs rest some players as well and this turns into prè-season quality garbage. That d lineup is scary bad.

Good point about Staal, not sure I like it but does point to him being on game 1 lineup... at the expense of whom is the question?

True, they surprised me in that regard. Good for a fourth line expectations to chew up some time in the o zone but as mentioned, that creates 2 4th lines essentially. So to solve that: Ive always thought Lehks-KK-Armia made for a great two way, cycling line that fits playoff style as well. so, if we rolled the Frolik-Staal-Perry and Lehks-KK-Armia There would be some interesting options for remaining 6... Evans, Byro would be victims with 90-24-11 staying put. Then roll Toff-Suzuki-Anderson assuming the aforementioned happens. 90-24-11 73-14-17 62-15-40 67-21-94 interesting, but think I prefer Byro and Evans to Frolik and Staal.

No need to fire, just no need to re-up. 9 years with no success worth mentioning is long enough, can’t believe it is even being considered by ownership.

me no likey the sounds of Perry-Staal-Armia no sireee I do not like one bit. Staal has not stolen a spot from anyone so can’t believe he draws in, but think you’re right and it does seem to be trending that way. KK was a beast in the bubble, need to let him reclaim his mojo. 62-71-41 earned their spot so I think Staal is odd man out. I’d roll with: 90-24-11 73-14-40 94-15-17 62-71-41 8-6 44-26 27-77 Pretty close to the lineup that crushed it out of the gates, dance with the one you brought type of thing. Last chance for 31, 6, 24, 90, 40 to prove they deserve to be part of the solution, not the problem. If they suck out, time to move on in some form or another of expansion draft, trades, buyout, retiring, letting them walk.

Good points. im going to be generous and give them a 35% shot since the players who are hopefully back are all gamers with track records that suggest continued performance rather than spotty play. These are our most consistent players (until this year) for the most part. Agreed that our d should look better in the tighter checking, loser calling style if they can slow it down.

The Leafs are a very good team, but as much as they say they’ve learned and grown I believe they will still break under pressure and adversity. The Habs need to make this a war of attrition where there on. Zero uncontested space and sacrifice is required for every touch of the puck. Matthews can be easily frustrated and aggravated, their core is still the same soft group who has withered in the past. Old guys in bottom 6 aren’t going to change that, these core players have a life long history of reward coming through speed, skill, size but not through suffering. If the Habs make this a competitive series, the winner will be severely hurting for round 2 and may therefore suffer because of it. I believe we are going to see the swarming hive, wet blanket forecheck that we saw to start the season. I loved watching that, felt so confident for the team. Toronto’s d will have to play above their levels to withstand that. If the Habs are rewarded with this early, and the seeds of doubt are planted while also fuelling Habs confidence... Only works if Habs forwards are flying and forechecking in waves as they did in first 10 games or so. Defending from offensive zone, disrupting the speed of Leafs. Throw in a rested Price, Weber, slacker officiating.... Call me crazy, but I think they have a better chance than I should probably. Somewhat related: I Think KK rises to the challenge and playoff hockey is in his wheel house, hate to see him sit if it happens. Haven’t heard anything of JoDro, as in whether he’s a possibility for return. Would love to have him as an option at least, but obv there are more important things in life. Is Price right? In the head? His time away, as well as Weber’s could be a blessing in disguise. Confident Allan, rested Price...Or rusty AF and this gets ugly fast, but I’d bet on rested and ready. He’s a pro. Has Weber still got enough gas in the rusty tank? Will Kulak finally get rewarded with his good play and stay in the lineup?

I’ve been hard on Jo, but you are correct. He is a valuable piece, just don’t expect him to be the play driver and sniper as mentioned. When playing with fast, disruptive line mates who also have some skill he thrives. As 3rd LW he’d get some ideal matchups and makes our top 9 essentially a 1A,1B,1C scenario that has shown to be a winner and is a matchup headache. He and Anderson had good chemistry early on (first half of season) along with Suzuki. hard to break up Suzuki and Toff so I’d like to see Jo and Andy with KK, solid 1C/3rd line. Evans, Lehks, Byro on 4th, woohee that’s a winner. (Assuming 24/11 return at high level). leave 14/73/40 together. I believe that is basically the lineup that tore it up early on with a couple line shuffles involved. That forward group can play with any team if the d and Price hold up to expected performance.

interesting, I’ve noticed that vs Habs. I suppose in some ways it justifies the massive contracts the organization has given them, I wonder how Tavares likes playing second/third fiddle. He seems to be a lot less noticeable in terms of toi and opportunistic usage, if they don’t win a cup that could start breeding discontent as well. Tricky balance, and now that I think of it, am surprised some of these top guns are playing career highs on toi (McD and Matthews both) given the compressed schedule, health concerns of this season. Padding the stats must be a factor given what is now known about “load management” with star athletes and the compressed schedule. I find that surprising in such a “team game”.

Yeah, after I posted I recalled seeing them pot empty betters and immediately questioned myself. and I do understand that often a teams best player offensively is also very good locking down the win as well so I shouldn’t have been so one sided. McD is an amazing player, no doubt. I feel for the teammates though, but if they win a cup with him carrying the team I imagine they will be all smiles. I’ve been hating on him since he started throwing elbows, and the commentators rave about how he’s being physical and defending himself. No, he’s being dirty. He gets special treatment from officials, league, coaches, commentators... it gets noticed internally too and losing breeds turmoil so hopefully a little adversity and they crumble.

Yes, and maybe their coach will actually spread the ice time around as a result. Have never seen a coach cater to one player so much, from double shifting, to putting him on with opponent goalie pulled and anything else to help him get to his “milestone”, meanwhile the rest of the team is watching. Through a connection the their organization (medical professional) I was told the teammates noticed it and were not impressed. I was told this is partly why there are very few interviews with teammates about how happy they are about McDavid’s 100 points. Apparently players open up during treatments and felt they were passengers on the bus rather than part of the team. Hockey is a team game and all of this will be forgotten if they win a cup, but when they don’t these feelings will fester, resentment will build and implosion ensues. None of his teammates want to ride the pines while he pursues individual goals, coaches should have been more aware of that as apparently there is dissension in the room. He played well over one third of the game (avg over 22 min per game this year), every game so even with only eleven forwards a few of them are taking a serious hit in toi and no matter how great of a role player you are, no NHL player wants to dress and the watch the game from bench. These are all elite players who dominated at younger ages and don’t always adjust well to playing 9 ministers a night. They know this makes their next contract tough and given they haven’t won a thing yet, the teammates aren’t sold on this approach implemented by head coach. He had McDavid out there this much even when they had game in the bag and during blow out wins. He’s not blocking shots but he’s out there preserving a one goal lead against empty net???Gretzky didn’t do any of that, Lemieux did not either. Hopefully benefits the Habs. Go Habs Go!

Sad for you, hockey is a men’s game in NHL. Her and Hrudey are just playing the millennial pleasing stance. The game is safer than ever and may become overly sanitary and politically acceptable to the point of unwatchable.

Good point, and no she is not. her and Cassie Campbell whatever are often handed key points to discuss on silver platters. I don’t get the justification for having non NHL players commenting on NHL plays. There is no shortage of ex players with personality and enough brains to entertain and educate the masses (Bieksa can so...) . Does NFL have commentary from people who never played in the league? Does NBA have WNBA players become commentators? Do softball players become MLB commentators? This is why I start the game delayed and skip the BS chatter that is more cancel culture and Ron McLean talkin on like a senile fool than anything useful. Even player interviews are crap these days.

Agreed, man he ruins the broadcasts.

Agreed, she was the one cutting into his time to speak, the others were cutting Bieksa off more than he was interrupting others. The female (Jen) was sitting there shaking her head the whole time Bieksa spoke as though she was on Fox News and was obviously (same as Hrudey) not prepared to listen to any opinion other than her own, and Bieksa has a whole lot more knowledge on the subject than her or Hrudey. Good on Kevin for saying something on that didn’t just tow the party line, Hrudey is a shot commentator who has no place shaping opinions and otherwise nobody else on the panel really deserves a spot. Media making way too much about that story, can’t believe they rehashed it almost a week after the fact and after we’d already heard enough talking heads go on about it. Bieksa has some good points, if Wilson had really wanted to hurt Bread man he would have taken his gloves off and pummelled him. did he deserve punishment for his infraction, yes. But this wasn’t some one sided blind side attack.

Agreed on these points, good call on the save percentages. Average/good numbers are not going to be enough with the pop gun offense.

Yeah, so ask a highly competitive professional athlete who is literally playing for his career and millions in earnings to lie and step away from action? He is not Ovie, he is trying to solidify himself, earn his next contract, starters job and all of these players are former champions with a ton of self respect. To ask a professional athlete to create an injury so he can hand the net to someone competing for one of the elusive NHL goalie jobs is not only unscrupulous and shady, but also contradicts everything a professional athlete has been raised on. Poor roster management is on mgmt not the backup goalie who has done nothing but deliver on expectations. That’s a slippery slope, why not have KK be injured as well seeing as he has contributed next to nothing, or Staal, or (insert name here). They’re pros, playing for their livelihoods.

Agreed, and he is overly aggressive in his movements which often leaves him out of position after the first save. Figured it was jitters in his first game this year but does seem to be a trend. You’d think Sean Burke would have also noticed this and either corrected or removed him from play as it is a huge weakness. He is often swimming way out of the crease after initial shot.

From what I’ve read and is well advertised the team cannot simply shuffle players on and off the roster Willy nilly as you describe. rules and all.

He was watching the big screen as all players frequently do.

And CC was the right winger who was nowhere near his position. Andy was LW so that was not his responsibility in the play. no shame on CC other than loading on the back check.

Decent 4th line is what they are.

Haha indeed, so sick of people acting like the team and teammates are holding him back. Gonna be a decent two way, third line center who gets 40 points per season, maybe peak at 50 range. Not a team saviour, not an offensive threat, never was.

That doesn’t hurt she league on the south, that’s the home of monster trucks, NFL, combat sports. Line brawls will probably actually excite southern US markets more than some Canadian kid scoring a bunch of goals in Canada against only other Canadian teams, Americans could care less about that but the line brawl is on every highlight reel this morning, McDavid going end to end does not make the highlights in Atlanta, the line brawl did. have worked in the US for years pre pandemic and there was never any questioning the skill that hockey players have. Americans are in awe of the violence on ice aspect. The violence adds the the appeal in the US more than the skill. See NASCAR, Monster trucks, UFC, NFL.... so you are 100% wrong that this incident will keep the game from growing in the southern US, they really just don’t care.