2022-23 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion

[Leafs Down Under]

Brownscombe/MLHS:

8.    It's pretty hard to believe that Auston Matthews is 33 games into his season and only has one multi-goal game. He had six by this time last season. He certainly deserved one tonight (six shots on goal).

Of late, most of it is down to luck. I do wonder if a small fraction of it is mindset as well. Watching him play, I never get the impression that the slower goal-scoring pace — still excellent at 42 goals, but well behind last season's otherworldly pace — is affecting his approach in the slightest. He looks like a player who is taking a lot of pride and joy in playing impeccable 200-foot hockey and piling up wins with his teammates than he is showing any concern about taking advantage of "point night" opportunities for the sake of individual trophies, scoring races, or other personal accolades. There is rarely any sign of him forcing anything or cheating.

He's arguably never looked more committed to tracking back deep into the defensive zone to break up plays and support his defensemen. You can see him highly engaged and motivated by the challenge of smothering other elite players in his matchups. He looks like a player whose sole focus is on winning games and executing the habits that are going to make the difference if and when this team finally breaks through at playoff time. Silly goal totals would obviously be fun — and may well still be in store the rest of the way — but I am getting plenty of enjoyment out of watching the total commitment to detail all over the rink in the vast majority of Matthews' games this season.

Their commentary is usually solid, as this one is.

100% agree with this. The team needs to be more diverse in skill set and I see it working so far.

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Brownscombe/MLHS:

8.    It's pretty hard to believe that Auston Matthews is 33 games into his season and only has one multi-goal game. He had six by this time last season. He certainly deserved one tonight (six shots on goal).

Of late, most of it is down to luck. I do wonder if a small fraction of it is mindset as well. Watching him play, I never get the impression that the slower goal-scoring pace — still excellent at 42 goals, but well behind last season's otherworldly pace — is affecting his approach in the slightest. He looks like a player who is taking a lot of pride and joy in playing impeccable 200-foot hockey and piling up wins with his teammates than he is showing any concern about taking advantage of "point night" opportunities for the sake of individual trophies, scoring races, or other personal accolades. There is rarely any sign of him forcing anything or cheating.

He's arguably never looked more committed to tracking back deep into the defensive zone to break up plays and support his defensemen. You can see him highly engaged and motivated by the challenge of smothering other elite players in his matchups. He looks like a player whose sole focus is on winning games and executing the habits that are going to make the difference if and when this team finally breaks through at playoff time. Silly goal totals would obviously be fun — and may well still be in store the rest of the way — but I am getting plenty of enjoyment out of watching the total commitment to detail all over the rink in the vast majority of Matthews' games this season.

Their commentary is usually solid, as this one is.

It's crazy how some of these Matthews pieces come off, "narrative" setting pieces read like some of the crazy reporting out of Edmonton where every journalist sounds like a hype-man, for every SmartHockeyMan to have/had a management role there.

The article isn't wrong about Matthews 2 way game continuing to go relatively untalked about relative to how good it is.

If his shooting percentage comes up, he will hit 50 fairly comfortably. I do wonder if he is shooting from distance a little more to preserve the body for the playoffs.

[herman]

I've been waiting for the Leafs to demonstrate this approach at the NHL level for like 6 years now

https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2022/12/21/sheldon-keefe-on-pontus-holmberg/

What is the value of exposing the fourth line to some different situations last night? What did you see from them?

Keefe: We were playing against a really good team, and there were some very good players on the other side.

First of all, Holmberg has earned the opportunity to take a step in the level of competition and the situations I am putting him in. You are also trying to almost test them and see what they can do there. Some of it went well. Others, not so well — and there are some things that they can clean up — but that is all part of that.

Joey Anderson is similar to Holmberg. He is trying to find himself at the NHL level. Part of it is playing well enough consistently enough to stay in the lineup. The other part of it is how much your minutes and role can grow.

We need to expose our guys to it a little bit. We have seen what has happened on the backend as some of our guys have been forced into increased roles and responsibilities. I am trying to fight that balance of trying to win every single shift and put everybody in the best possible situation while also trying to ensure our team can grow inside of what is happening day to day.

And I know Keefe can pull it off, even at the NHL level. He (and the dev team) have demonstrated it through the rebuilding and graduation of several Marlies, many of whom now hold key roles on the Leafs or were traded for greater than purchase value.

[CarltonTheBear]

Anderson presumably comes out of the line-up for Hunt, but he's showing significantly more in this short stint than he did during preseason, which is really nice to see. At least showing some signs that he could be someone seriously considered for a more full-time 4RW spot next season.

[Rob]

[herman]

https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs/status/1606030376861700096

[herman]

https://twitter.com/rinkratreport/status/1606050829605212161
Peep the scorebug on most of these goals #clutch

[Arn]

Merry Christmas to all my trans Atlantic Leafs brethren.

I hope all who celebrate it have a pleasant break with family.

And I look forward to Santa bringing a Presidents trophy and Stanley Cup run in to the Leafs.

[Bender]

Merry Christmas to all my trans Atlantic Leafs brethren.

I hope all who celebrate it have a pleasant break with family.

And I look forward to Santa bringing a Presidents trophy and Stanley Cup run in to the Leafs.

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

[Frank E]

Merry Christmas to all my trans Atlantic Leafs brethren.

I hope all who celebrate it have a pleasant break with family.

And I look forward to Santa bringing a Presidents trophy and Stanley Cup run in to the Leafs.

I missed this yesterday...well, I guess it's Happy Boxing Day Arn!

[CarltonTheBear]

https://twitter.com/koshtorontosun/status/1607792295385907201
https://twitter.com/koshtorontosun/status/1607806239546777601

[Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate]

Good news.  Whenever I hear neck injury, I shudder.

[herman]

https://twitter.com/capfriendly/status/1607834445947731970

[lamajama]

https://twitter.com/capfriendly/status/1607834445947731970

Near R O'R no...? ;)

[Significantly Insignificant]

https://twitter.com/capfriendly/status/1607834445947731970

Near R O'R no...? ;)

His cap hit is 7.5, so should be doable.