Oh NO, Jake!

As I watched the game, it was tense. When Muzzin went down, all of the blood rushed to my head. As a Maple Leafs fan, I know how important Muzzin is. Without him, how many minutes will Reilly have to play? 30-35 minutes? 

Other defensemen are going to have to step up. Cody Ceci is going to have to take more responsibility and play with intelligence. Tyson Barrie will have to take on more minutes and play more responsibly in the defensive end. Barrie will have to think defensively first. Barrie has done better in the defensive play in this series. He still has to take it up another notch.  

Whether it is Rosen or Sundin, Reilly will have to take them under his wing and mentor them. Both are very young and will make mistakes. This is where Reilly, Ceci, and Barrie have to become leaders and bail them out.  Sundin is the closest to being an NHL calibre player. He has had some NHL experience and played well at times. Sundin will need a veteran with him, more than likely, Cody Ceci. Sundin is probably a better defenseman, but Ceci is a vet who can settle him down. For the Leafs to succeed, this will have to be a team mission, which means the forwards will have to come back to help out. 

Andersen has been a wall and will continue being a wall. He might have to be a house. Andersen will be asked to bail out his teammates again and again. Can he do it? Well, yes, but the better question is, will he?

Last Word

 

The best forward on the ice has been Matthews. He has to continue to perform. It was nice to see JT lend some support. The stars have to step in as it comes down to a best of three.

Randy

The Tyson Barrie Complex

It has come out that the Maple Leafs have been taking calls on the availability of Tyson. The highly-skilled defenceman is highly desirable. There is no shortage of hockey teams who have shown interest—the Flames, Canucks, and Blues, to mention a few.

Tyson has plenty of skills in the offensive game. Tyson's ability to distribute the puck to the forwards often leads to a scoring chance. He is known for being a terrific powerplay quarterback who has vision around the ice. He is a highly-skilled defenceman who fits into the system very nicely.

So why are we thinking about trading him? The first reason is that the Leafs know Tyson is a UFA and may demand upwards of $8 million a year. The is no way in the universe that the Leafs can afford to keep the highly-regarded offensive defencemen. The other downside is that Barrie's defensive play often gets him in trouble. To be fair, though, the Maple Leafs knew that before they acquired him.

The other dilemma for the Leafs as we approach the deadline is what to with Kasperi Kapanen. I am not bringing up him because of the benching incident. It is common knowledge the Leafs want a serviceable defenceman if they choose to keep Barrie. Kasperi has struggled this season, but still is a massive chip if the Leafs decide to use him.  He is an excellent penalty-killer with offensive skill to burn.

There is something that I have wanted to bring up some time. Jason Spezza's play since the evacuation of Babcock has been outstanding. Jason has fit in nicely as a third/fourth-line center with second-line powerplay ability. He might be a tad slow, but he has the hockey IQ, which makes him a great asset. He has been a great pickup, and I hope the Leafs decide to sign him to another one or two year deal.

There have been some rumblings that the Leafs might also pick up additional forward for depth reasons. This one will be on a straight rental basis. The acquisition will only work if the Leafs have the room to make it fit.

The Maple Leafs: Are they done?

With the major deal, the Maple Leafs now have an outstanding backup goalie. Campbell has filled in very nicely and has shown the Leafs can win with him in between the pipes. Campbell's success is vital for the Leaf's success. The ability to rest Andersen from time to time is enormous. A rested Andersen is a good Andersen. 

Kyle Clifford brings the Leafs something they have lacked for some time. A big beefy Centre who can do some hitting back. The Maples Leafs have a rep for their lack of toughness. The acquisition of Kyle goes a long way to address this weakness. Kyle is mentally and physically tough. He is willing to go into the corners where no man has gone before. Okay, that is a little flippant. But you get the point. Before the trade, the question was, to quote Wendy's, "Where is the Beef?" 

As a whole, the Maple Leafs are improving their play. But they still need to clean up the defensive play in their end. There is still too much sloppy passing and panicking running around like a chicken with its head cut off.  The most prominent example was the Habs games. Campbell saved their buts again and again.

The Maple Leafs vets have come to play. Matthews has been a monster, probably playing the best hockey in his career. Tavares is doing what a leader does. Marner's skating has been picking up and he is making plays that the fans are taking for granted. Nylander is on a career year, skating like the wind. So there are a lot of positives right now. I am especially excited about Campbell's play. Having two goalies will be handy down the stretch.

Are the Leafs done?  Not by a long shot. They are primarily looking for another defenceman. With Ceci's and Rielly's injuries, that is their biggest need. 

Randy

Kasperi Kapanen's price is the moon

The Maple Leafs have received multiple expressions of interest in Kapanen. But with the emergence of Rasmus Sandin, there is not such a hurry to get it done. The Leafs are so pleased with Rasmus that Kapenen's price is no longer a song. In fact, the Leafs would take a three or very good four defencemen. The Maple Leafs want a hockey trade instead of a cap trade for two reasons. One is the cap; the other is the new sensation, Rasmus Sandin.

The Leafs feel once Morgan Reilly is back, they can live with the defence if they can not land a trade for Kasperi Kapanen. Jake Muzzin is back and should get the rust off soon. With Rasmus playing like he belongs, the Leafs are quite comfortable with their top six. Don't get me wrong; if they can find a hockey trade for him, they will. But they are willing to wait for it.

The Maple Leafs have inquired about Alexander Georgiev. They were told Kapanen+. The Maple Leafs feel the price is too high for now. I am sure they will return to see if the price goes down. They know they need an upgrade in the backup goalie area. Again, they are not going to mortgage the farm to acquire one.

There is a major concern with Andersen being overworked. Michael Hutchinson is going to have to improve his play so Andersen can get his rest in between starts. Or the Leafs may have to bite the bullet and pay the asking price.

There is a concern the team is playing to lose. Sheldon Keefe realizes there is a need to shore up the play in the defensive zone. Come playoff time, there will be a lot more focus on the defensive play. The defensive leaders, Muzzin, Reilly, and Ceci will have to set the example. The leaders on the forwards, Marner, Matthews, and Tavares, must continue to come back to their end. The defence needs support from the forwards if things are to improve. If Keefe can't get results the Leafs, they will have to explore the need for new defencemen sooner rather than later.

Randy

A little worrisome

There is some concern about what is going on in Toronto. Don't get me wrong; I love the fact that the Leafs are winning. But they're giving up way too many offensive chances in their end. There are too many defensive breakdowns; they cannot continue to win games 6-5 or 5-4. This gun hole game, defence leaving goalies out to dry may be fun for the fans, but it gives coaches headaches.

I love the way Matthews plays; he is a leader and needs to be. But even Matthews and Tavaras and Marner have to help out the defence by coming back to the defensive zone. The defence has to be more selective in pinching. Too many times, they are getting caught on two-on-one. Defence is a team game, and this team does not seem like they want to play it. I understand the Leafs are playing to their strengths, but the way they play won't cut it in the playoffs. Better to adjust now before it is too late.

It is nice to see Hutchinson winning some starts. This is essential for the Maple Leafs to be successful. Andersen has to have some days off now and then, or else he will burn out by the playoffs. I will go as far as to say that if Michael Hutchinson does not win some of his starts, the Leafs might not be in the playoffs. Right now, Michael might be playing for his career. Hopefully, he will be motivated by the Leaf's playoff chances.

The Leafs are busy trying to find another defenceman. The problem is the cap. The Leafs will have to be inventive to fit a player in under the salary cap. They might force the team into doing a trade instead of an add. The Leafs might have to do cash in-cash out. The deadline is coming and might put the Leafs into a bind in bringing in a hired gun.

Randy

Mr. Keefe, please come on down

What does Sheldon Keefe bring to the Leafs? He is a great young coach who brings in new blood. He is a winner with a proven system. He brings in a more defensive system and will teach the Leafs to be more defence-minded.

The biggest benefit of his system is that it will cut down on the shots on Anderson. Maybe he won't be a worn-out puppy dog by the end of the season. 

The Leafs' game will be less helter-skelter.  There will be less running around in their zone. The defence will get more support from the forwards, who will learn to be more defensively responsible.

The biggest change is that the core will support him. They will buy into his system. He will loosen the reins on the players. Matthews and Marner will have some say in the game.

Keefe talks to the players. There will be more give-and-take with the players.  A load will be taken off of Matthews' shoulders.  He won't constantly be looking over his shoulder to avoid contact. The players will listen and learn from Keefe, who doesn't rule with an iron fist. 

Generally, they will be happier playing hockey again. Less pressured. More freedom equals better results—hopefully.

The Leafs are changing

So the Leafs have lost Marner for six weeks. That is hard enough for them. Now the loss of Kerfoot for an extended time puts the Leafs into a tailspin. Whether you panic or not does not change the reality. 

Matthews and Tavares now have even more prominent roles. They will carry the load for the offence. Tavares has had this kind of role previously; we all know he was the man for years in Long Island. At least this time, he has some help from Matthews. Austin has to continue to be on a mission, and I have never seen him this good. He is showing why the Leafs drafted him. 

His skill with the puck is one of the best in the League. Being one of the fastest pure skaters is a great asset. But his hockey sense might be even more prominent in his repertoire. He is so slick with the puck; he has the defense still looking for their shorts while he is breaking in. 

As for JT, his skill was well manifested last year, scoring in bunches. He must (and will) lead by example, continuing to get the big goal when they need it most. His playmaking skills will be needed more than before. He will have to make sure of his passes, giving his teammates a better to succeed. John has been known to make his linemates around him better and will have to do this more efficiently. He does everything. He has a terrific, accurate shot. Tavares's best skill in Long Island was getting the puck to the sniper. He has not had to do that much in Toronto with Marner taking that role. Now that Marner is injured, JT will have to be the one ditching the puck. 

The secondary scoring will have to exceed expectations. Players like Zach Hayman, Kasperi Kapanen, and Andreas Johnsson have to be ready when called upon them. John Tavares and Austin Matthews's job is to get them scoring chances, and they will. Will the secondary execute on their opportunities? Only time will tell.

What to do?

The loss of Tavaras is enormous, but the Maple Leafs can still win without him. They have several options, the first one being simply putting  Keerfoot up as the second centre. I know this is probably the best option, but bear with me for a minute. I would like to see if they could move Spezza up in the slot. Spezza has been the go-to man in the past.

The Leafs have been playing pretty solidly without the services of Tavaras. The main reason is the emergence of Matthews. He has taken the load of this team and carried them. He is proving he is one of the best players in the game.

The defence has been weak at best. They are still allowing too many scoring chances. The Maple Leafs are making it way too easy for opposing teams to enter into their zone. They are making blind passes in the defensive end, panicking because of pressure. They must be more organized and better prepared in their end of the rink.

The forwards have to come back and help the defence. The must give the defencemen a target to pass the puck to and come back in the defensive zone. No more cherry-picking. We can't afford to be outnumbered in our end of the rink.

But generally, when you think of the disaster of what has happened with the injury to John Tavares, they have not done so bad. The Leafs have to keep their heads above water until John comes back. If they can still stay in the playoff hunt while John is injured, they will be a better team at the end of the season.

Randy

The Scoop on Mitchell Marner

I wish I had an update on Mitchell Marner, but unfortunately, I don't. So, here are my thoughts on why we need to get this done.  The Maple Leafs had two very good lines. I am sure that John Tavares would get his share of points one way or another; there is no doubt he would. But I am here to say that John would not have had a career year without Mitchell Marner.

Marner and Tavaras connect. If Tavaras is the coffee, Marner was the sugar and cream to go with it. Tavaras's success is vital to making the Leafs successful. John needs Marner giving him the biscuit to succeed.

Mitch was the leading scorer, with 94 points, and the leader in assists with 68. He was especially deadly on the powerplay, setting up Tavaras and Matthews on a one-timer. He is the best play-making forward on the team. No one can pass like him. Mitch is known for his hockey IQ; he is always thinking ahead. His job is to help Tavaras succeed as much as possible.

Marner is a gifted forward, but that is not his only asset. He is a leader who does what it takes to get the job done. He is tenacious in his play. He never quits; he expires his teammates to be better. Mitch is involved in every aspect of the game. If they are behind by one goal, he is on the ice making the pass to the player who has the best chance to score. But what makes Marner so valuable is he is also the one who is diving to block a shot — taking the hit to get the puck out and distributing the puck to the other forwards to the offensive zone.

The last point of getting him signed is what are the Leafs showing their fans if they don't get it done? When it comes down to it, who are the fans in a business? They are the customer, and it is the business goal to always to keep the fans happy. There is pressure on both sides to get this done. Management knows the Leafs' window is now. Marner knows they are the best chance for him to get his ring. The ultimate goal is the cup. The Leafs don't get that if they don't sign Marner.

What do the Leafs get with Muzzin?

What do you get with Jake Muzzin?  Another puck-moving dman who can play in his own end. It is a terrific move. He has dreamed of playing for the Leafs since he was a kid. Jake brings a stability to the defence that the Maple Leafs have not had in years. There were significant concerns that necessitated bringing Muzzin in. There was too much pressure on the offence to score four goals a game in order to win. Reilly has been begging for another defenceman to help him out. He can relax now that he does not have to be Superman.

Muzzin adds another element that a tremendous asset. The powerplay has been running stale. Adding another element might be just what the doctor ordered for the Maple Leafs. Gardenier may become available if the price is right. The Leafs have an all-in mentality; they can compete with anyone.

The danger now is that the Maple Leafs are connected to all sorts of players from Wayne Simmons to Colton Parayko. The Leafs feel they are one or two players away from the Cup. There are options for trade bait from the Marlies. Timothy Liljegren, Rasmus Sandin, and forward Jeremy Bracco are the top three best options.  Could Haymen become available for a bigger fish? The time is now. Tavas and Matthews have to take leadership. They need to take the bull by the horns. Hang on; it is going to be a wild ride.

Leafs: What now?

The Maple  Leafs had a very good game in Tampa.  True, they did not come away with the two points, but they did everything they could. Sometimes you have to give a goalie his due.

So how much do the Maple Leafs make a push for that dman? Are there hard feelings with the signing of Nylander? It took him right up to December 1st to sign, the date where if it was not signed, he could not play. So that being said, do the  Maple Leafs trade him for that defenceman? Or was there a gentlemen's agreement that he is there for the season?

It is common knowledge that the Leafs need improvement in their defensive zone coverage. Andersen is left to the wolves back there in his net too many times.  My question is, do we need to pick up another defenceman or can the Leafs just play better defence?  Outside Reilly, who on the Blueline can be responsible in their end?

Jake Gardiner is a concern, but in all fairness, he is getting better. Ron Hainsey and Travis Dermott are both okay, but still need to get better in their own zone. Igor Ozhiganov is young and learning on the fly. He has a ton of potential, but the payoff is still a long way off. Then there is the Russian, Nikita Zaitsev, who is a stay-home dman. Again, he is okay for a number four or five defenceman.

So I do feel the Leafs are looking for a number three responsible defenceman. What are some of the options? I would look no further than LA, but no not that one (Doughty). Jake Muzzin might be had for a price. It is only a matter of time before the Kings become a garage sale.

The other concern is Sparks. Is he a good enough backup goalie? His last start left something to be desired. There are some options between the pipes, including Isles' Lehner.  Another is that the Panthers has a serviceable goalie in Hutchinson. Unless you want one of the Flyers' three goalies.

FINAL WORD

Mr. Haymen exactly what were you thinking?   You are too good of a player to do nonsense like that. Hopefully, common sense comes to the forefront from now on.

Buckle up. It is going get bumpy from here.

Leafs keep moving on

Apparently, the Leafs have to pick some up after their BAD game in Boston.  But there are some positives, so let's concentrate on those.

1. Nazem Kadri

Kadri has picked up his game and is beginning to put the puck in the net. Kadri is stepping it up because he has to. Like it or not, he is second line centre.  He must continue to be the pest; other than him, there is no muscle in the Leafs line-up.

2. John Tavares

John is the leader at this time and is beginning to show his worth as he has upped his game with Marner.  It couldn't have come at a better time. The Leafs need John to be the guy who delivers the mail. So far, John has been the mailman. Scoring his tenth just recently, he is averaging more than a point a game. John is also improving in the defensive zone. He might very well be the most complete player in his career.

3. Morgan Rielly

Morgan is the best defencemen on the Leafs. He has refined his offensive game. With his seven goals and fourteen assists, he is working on a career year.  He has figured out one key ingredient: knowing when to pinch in. He is a great asset to the Leafs. He and Gardener have really improved on getting the puck up to the forwards.

4. Nylander Update

Unfortunately, there is no update on Nylander and they are running out of time to get the team together. There is no shortage of teams interested: Stars, Canes, Flyers, and especially keep an eye on the Kings. The Leafs want a young number two dman, and that limits the number of teams they can deal with. That leads me to think the Canes lead the way.  I have been told that the Leafs really want Jaccob Slavin. He is an excellent young dman who can be there for a long time. The only other team who might have a dman who interests the Leafs is the Flyers, who have quite a list of young dmen to entice the Leafs.

5. Auston Matthews

Matthews was apparently on the ice in LA. He might be back in six weeks. The Leafs have hung in there. It is vital that they get the second seed so they host the first round. I have pretty much conceded the division to the Bolts. The Leafs have to make sure they get the number two spot so they have a chance to win the first round and earn the right to go to Tampa Bay.

MR. MATTHEWS, SHOW ME THE MONEY!

Say what you want, the Toronto Maple Leafs are not the greatest defensive team, but they are fun to watch.  With a 6-1 record and a blistering  33 goals, they lead the NHL. That is nearly five goals per game. They put the fear of diety into opposition goalies. The Maple Leafs arguably have the best top six in the league.

John Tavares and Auston Matthews have started the season as superstars. The arrival of John Tavares (a villain or a hero, depending on whether you are coming from New York,) seems to have lit a fire under Auston Matthews, who has erupted as a team leader.  Matthews has 16 points in 7 games; he leads this team by example.

At the beginning of the season, Morgan Rielly was given a great honour, as he was given an A. (For those who don't know that means, he was made one of the assistant captains.) He has responded with three goals and ten assists, for thirteen points. He has shone thus far. Some players fade and cannot handle the pressure, but Morgan has done the exact opposite, responding with all-star calibre play.

It is Garret Sparks' time to shine as Frederik Andersen (Freddy) is injured.  Mr. Sparks has answered his critics clearly. He was solid against the Kings Monday night. He might not have been busy, but when called on, he was there. It might be only his first start, but so far, so good.  Andersen's injury is thought to be serious; the Leafs have called up Eamon McAdam, who came in the trade of Matt Martin.

Do not take a penalty while playing against the Leafs! The Maple Leafs have one of the best powerplays in the league with a 47.4 percentage. Matthews and Tavares are deadly together, resulting with Matthews at 16 points with a pace too high to count. The key point is Morgan Rielly. He has been consistently getting his shots from the point to the net.  The Leafs have been magical with the puck and have fans wondering what is next.

There is still concern with the defensive play in their own zone.  In fairness, they knew this was how they were going to win. But with the Andersen's injury, the Leafs played their best defensive game of the year in front of Sparks. That tells me that they are capable of shoring up the defensive play in their own zone.  As long as they can be average defensively, their offence will be more than enough to cover up the mistakes.

Randy

And the MVP Is? Drum roll please...

So who is the Leaf's MVP this season?

Where would the team be without Matthews? Matthews' injury was devastating, but because the Leafs had such a lead, they still hung onto second place.

Could it be Reilly? The dman has 43 assists and has been the best dman all season. Reilly has carried the defensive core on his back. It is a rare quality for a young man. I would hate to see where this team would be on the defence without him.

The most obvious pick for the MVP vote has to be for the goalie. He has been fantastic all season. He is fundamentally as strong as any goalie in the NHL.  He has outstanding rebound control and always knows where the puck is. It does not matter how much offence we have had this season; there are no playoffs without our goalie.  Andersen has been our most consistent player day in and day out. 

Who do you want to play in the first in the round?  Bruins or Bolts? I may be one of the few who would rather play the Bolts. But unfortunately, it is not my choice. We play the Bruins.

The problem we have with playing the Bruins is their physical play. They will try to overrun the Leafs. Can the Maple Leafs stand up for themselves? They are going to have to play the Bruins tough. They cannot let themselves be intimidated. Reilly has to become the leader and set the example.

The Bruins have too much offence if the Leafs make all those turnovers. I am worried about our suspect defence against the Bruins forwards. They are too big and too talented for the Maple Leafs to be the Keystone Cops. Matthews, Marner, and JVR have to come back and help the defence. The forwards have to help in the offensive end.  They have to play defence first; if they don't, there is no series.

Kid Mitchell Marner Leading the Way

How about the Kid Mitchell Marner playing like a superstar? He is loving life right now, playing well in all aspects of the game. His playmaking skills are sure fitting in nicely with JVR. He has not been playing like a rookie. I am loving his offensive skills. He is fitting in with the Leafs' style.

Mr. Kadri is getting it right now, isn't he? When Nazem plays with a chip on his shoulder, he gets in the players' heads. The significant difference this year is that he is playing smarter. He is not making the stupid penalties and is being a less selfish player. He is a team player and not a 'me' player this season.

Frederik Andersen was struggling early in the season. But of late, he seems to be getting his game back. He is getting his confidence back. He is not giving up the easy rebounds. He is beginning to give the Leafs a chance to win each night

The Leafs are trying to find a stay home dman to help with defensive zone coverage. They are still guilty of giving up too many scoring chances in the offensive zone. Mr. Reilly needs some support. They are putting too much pressure on one man's shoulders.