Mammoth @ Leafs - Nov. 5th, 7:00pm - SN
- Thread starter CarltonTheBear
- Start date
Shocked he didn't pass that.
JT and Maccelli were my picks even going into the 3rd. Nice to see them both rewarded with goals for their play.
barney_rebel
Well-known member
We rule man
mr grieves
Well-known member
Building patiently for the long term was, I'm pretty sure, what Shanahan said the Shanaplan was back when he got here. I feel like it changed pretty radically after Matthews. Reflecting on it, was weird that the management would be like "gotta be patient, stick to the plan" while frittering away first rounder after first rounder.
And even more than the asset mismanagement of it all, I wonder if importing perennial losers like Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton was really the best way for the young stars to learn how to win. Perhaps it was... the opposite?
Anyhow, this game was pretty good. Matthews is looking more Matthews-y. I think the new guys and departure of such a huge piece are massive disruptions, and it'll take a fair bit of time to see this team at its best.
Last edited:
herman
Well-known member
I do want to go back to this play, because it is emblematic of what makes Maccelli a little bit more than a small tweener zippy LW, and presents a potential path for Robertson too.
Maccelli is hard on the puck carrier at the boards using his speed and targeting the puck/stick connection (he is bigger here), not the body (he is smaller there), and he had already pre-scanned the zone entry to get a good gauge of where his potential pass targets are and what speeds they're drifting in with. He gets rid of it quickly before his size becomes a disadvantage again, and Matthews buries the beautifully teed up puck.
Where Robertson had trouble in previous seasons was his tunnel vision and attitude of thinking he can go through NHL defenses the way he bulled through junior players. He would try to hold onto the puck to make plays (per Keefe style) but his size disadvantage usually meant he was simply bodied off the puck (or injured). Robertson is starting to build confidence in moving the puck quicker. He's always been one of the few depth forwards that actually had a plan of attack before receiving a pass, and it would be good to translate that to his underrated playmaking.
I think Tavares is a really good fit for him personality and capability-wise; it would not work so well with Nylander on the opposite wing, but looks to be clicking with more straightforward hockey alongside frequent running-mate Bobby McMann.