2022-23 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion

[CarltonTheBear]

Hunt on waivers...move coming?
https://twitter.com/joshuakloke/status/1617237486811648000

Probably Brodie off the IR and Holmberg coming back up.

[Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate]

Hunt on waivers...move coming?
https://twitter.com/joshuakloke/status/1617237486811648000

Probably Brodie off the IR and Holmberg coming back up.

Good on both counts.

[Guilt Trip]

Hunt on waivers...move coming?
https://twitter.com/joshuakloke/status/1617237486811648000

Probably Brodie off the IR and Holmberg coming back up.

I think you're right. Brodie was skating and so far McMann has shown more. Holmberg too.

[bustaheims]

Hunt on waivers...move coming?
https://twitter.com/joshuakloke/status/1617237486811648000

Brodie off the IR and/or Holmberg back up.

[CarltonTheBear]

https://twitter.com/CF_Transactions/status/1617335105990664192

Well that's one.

[CarltonTheBear]

Been noticing a distinct lack of Engvall on the penalty kill recently, wonder what's up with that. Last season he was 6th among Leafs forwards in PK ice-time with 0:57 a game. Figured that number would have gone up with guys like Mikheyev and Kase leaving but he's down to averaging just 0:32 this season.

It also looks like there was a point a few months into the season where the team decided to go from using 6 forwards in their rotation to just 5:

Oct-Dec. 6	Dec. 8th-Jan
Kampf 2:54 Marner 2:27 Kerfoot 1:54 Jarnkrok 1:35 ZAR 1:05 Engvall 0:46	Kampf 2:46 Marner 2:32 Kerfoot 1:35 Jarnkrok 1:33 ZAR 0:55 Engvall 0:11

In 15 of the 20 games in that second chunk Engvall hasn't even stepped on the ice while shorthanded, including in 7 straight games now.

This only felt noteworthy to me because Engvall is a really, really good penalty killer. Like the guys playing ahead of him aren't bad but statistically Engvall is on a whole other level:

CA/60 is 60 while everyone else ranges from 95-102
SA/60 is 30 while everyone else ranges from 47-56
xGA/60 is 3.6 while everyone else ranges from 5.5-7.6

Granted, that's in more limited minutes and guys like Kampf and Marner especially are the ones taking the brunt of the opposing PP1 minutes and obviously have their spots solidified. But it's still very surprising to me that somebody as good as him shorthanded is not only not getting PK2 minutes, but often not playing on the PK at all.

[Significantly Insignificant]

Been noticing a distinct lack of Engvall on the penalty kill recently, wonder what's up with that. Last season he was 6th among Leafs forwards in PK ice-time with 0:57 a game. Figured that number would have gone up with guys like Mikheyev and Kase leaving but he's down to averaging just 0:32 this season.

It also looks like there was a point a few months into the season where the team decided to go from using 6 forwards in their rotation to just 5:

Oct-Dec. 6	Dec. 8th-Jan
Kampf 2:54 Marner 2:27 Kerfoot 1:54 Jarnkrok 1:35 ZAR 1:05 Engvall 0:46	Kampf 2:46 Marner 2:32 Kerfoot 1:35 Jarnkrok 1:33 ZAR 0:55 Engvall 0:11

In 15 of the 20 games in that second chunk Engvall hasn't even stepped on the ice while shorthanded, including in 7 straight games now.

This only felt noteworthy to me because Engvall is a really, really good penalty killer. Like the guys playing ahead of him aren't bad but statistically Engvall is on a whole other level:

CA/60 is 60 while everyone else ranges from 95-102
SA/60 is 30 while everyone else ranges from 47-56
xGA/60 is 3.6 while everyone else ranges from 5.5-7.6

Granted, that's in more limited minutes and guys like Kampf and Marner especially are the ones taking the brunt of the opposing PP1 minutes and obviously have their spots solidified. But it's still very surprising to me that somebody as good as him shorthanded is not only not getting PK2 minutes, but often not playing on the PK at all.

Could it be tied to trying to keep the value of Kerfoot up for a trade?

[Guilt Trip]

Been noticing a distinct lack of Engvall on the penalty kill recently, wonder what's up with that. Last season he was 6th among Leafs forwards in PK ice-time with 0:57 a game. Figured that number would have gone up with guys like Mikheyev and Kase leaving but he's down to averaging just 0:32 this season.

It also looks like there was a point a few months into the season where the team decided to go from using 6 forwards in their rotation to just 5:

Oct-Dec. 6	Dec. 8th-Jan
Kampf 2:54 Marner 2:27 Kerfoot 1:54 Jarnkrok 1:35 ZAR 1:05 Engvall 0:46	Kampf 2:46 Marner 2:32 Kerfoot 1:35 Jarnkrok 1:33 ZAR 0:55 Engvall 0:11

In 15 of the 20 games in that second chunk Engvall hasn't even stepped on the ice while shorthanded, including in 7 straight games now.

This only felt noteworthy to me because Engvall is a really, really good penalty killer. Like the guys playing ahead of him aren't bad but statistically Engvall is on a whole other level:

CA/60 is 60 while everyone else ranges from 95-102
SA/60 is 30 while everyone else ranges from 47-56
xGA/60 is 3.6 while everyone else ranges from 5.5-7.6

Granted, that's in more limited minutes and guys like Kampf and Marner especially are the ones taking the brunt of the opposing PP1 minutes and obviously have their spots solidified. But it's still very surprising to me that somebody as good as him shorthanded is not only not getting PK2 minutes, but often not playing on the PK at all.

Could it be tied to trying to keep the value of Kerfoot up for a trade?

Highly doubt it. Keefe cares about winning, not what a player can bring in a trade. And I don't think Kerfoot is going anywhere. It's pretty rare for teams to trade, at the deadline, anyone off their roster when they're considered to be going for it. The last time I remember the Leafs trading someone off their roster at/near the deadline was the Petan deal for Par Lindholm.

[CarltonTheBear]

https://twitter.com/LeafsPR/status/1617923646684811264

Curious how he gets used, if he does at all before Brodie returns. I think he's arguably been the best performer at the 4RW spot this season. A McMann-Holmberg-Anderson trio would have the potential to be a pretty effective energy line.

[CarltonTheBear]

https://twitter.com/markhmasters/status/1617932124878962692

Close enough.

As the President of the ZAR fan club I will say I think his spot in the line-up hasn't been certain for a little bit now. He was originally signed to be a duo with Kampf on a 4th line checking unit but with Kampf moving up to the 3rd line it sorta feels like he's holding back the 4th line a little bit.

Maybe Engvall will start getting PK minutes again now.

[Guilt Trip]

https://twitter.com/markhmasters/status/1617932124878962692

Close enough.

As the President of the ZAR fan club I will say I think his spot in the line-up hasn't been certain for a little bit now. He was originally signed to be a duo with Kampf on a 4th line checking unit but with Kampf moving up to the 3rd line it sorta feels like he's holding back the 4th line a little bit.

Maybe Engvall will start getting PK minutes again now.

I haven't really liked ZAR's game. I think the 3rd line worked better with McMann there for generating offence and I think the 4th line now could actually generate some offence.
I do like your suggestion of an all Marlie 4th line though. Good speed and all can actually score.

[L K]

34 games left in the season.

Samsonov (15-4-2) - 2.21 GAA .920 SV%   13.8 GSAx
Murray (11-5-2) - 2.73 GAA .911 SV%     4.8 GSAx

Samsonov starts for us in the playoffs if they started today.  Not exactly what I expected when the season began

[Bender]

34 games left in the season.

Samsonov (15-4-2) - 2.21 GAA .920 SV%   13.8 GSAx
Murray (11-5-2) - 2.73 GAA .911 SV%     4.8 GSAx

Samsonov starts for us in the playoffs if they started today.  Not exactly what I expected when the season began

I expected Murray to be slightly better than Samsonov. Definitely didn't think Samsonov would be posting a .920.

[Highlander]

Why don't we bring up Gaudette, he is a scoring machine with the Marlies. We need more secondary goals.
Also Woll just stoned Manitoba  30 saves in 31 game. He is playing lights out.  Give him a start and let Murray get better........again.

[Guilt Trip]

Why don't we bring up Gaudette, he is a scoring machine with the Marlies. We need more secondary goals.
Also Woll just stoned Manitoba  30 saves in 31 game. He is playing lights out.  Give him a start and let Murray get better........again.

Both Joey Anderson and McMann are producing a little bit better and both a better defensively. I wouldn't mind seeing him get a shot but if he was called up, would he have to clear waivers to go back down?
With only 2 games before the AS break, I think Samsonov can handle it. If Murray is out for any length of time, Woll will def get a shot.