2022-23 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion

[Guilt Trip]

Any inside scoop why the Leafs gave Dylan Ferguson to the Sens? They only signed him this summer no? I believe he's the tender that was suspended as an amateur. I may have the last name wrong guys sorry. I just haven't seen anything in this group on this at all.

He was only signed by the Marlies, not the Leafs. They let him go for an NHL contract opportunity.

Also, he was with Vegas last year. The guy you're thinking of is Dryden McKay.

Thanks Busta. Grey matter is a bit spongy these days. Glad it's not the guy I was thinking of. I'm curious how McKay makes out. I mean...the Leafs COULD possibly develop a #1 SOMETIME...right? Right?

McKay is struggling with the Growlers. Cavallin is doing well.

[cw]

Saw the end of Kyle's PC. Missed much of it.
Radim Zohorna was brought in for center depth and to help the Marlies.
He'd done well for Calgary in the AHL according to Leafs scouts.
Hunt gets closer to home and a fresh chance.

I'll look out for the balance of it when they post it.

Here's the link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOfaJPgj_68&ab_channel=TorontoMapleLeafs

[Highlander]

Any inside scoop why the Leafs gave Dylan Ferguson to the Sens? They only signed him this summer no? I believe he's the tender that was suspended as an amateur. I may have the last name wrong guys sorry. I just haven't seen anything in this group on this at all.

He was only signed by the Marlies, not the Leafs. They let him go for an NHL contract opportunity.

Also, he was with Vegas last year. The guy you're thinking of is Dryden McKay.

Thanks Busta. Grey matter is a bit spongy these days. Glad it's not the guy I was thinking of. I'm curious how McKay makes out. I mean...the Leafs COULD possibly develop a #1 SOMETIME...right? Right?

What about HoLL?

[Highlander]

Sorry Woll

[cw]

Here's a question for those more up on the rules:

With the roster cap space to sign Knies, I presume Bettman can't claim they're hiding Mete on LTIR (I doubt we even had to concern ourselves with that ...)

Mete would arguably be the 11th NHL dman.
The Marlies are doing very well - tied with the best pts win% in the AHL.
They just shipped Hunt off to reduce an AHL veteran (they're limited by how many they can play).
Can Mete play for the Marlies without having to clear waivers? (He'd have to be on the Clear Day roster ..)
Just curious.

[Zee]

10 min... Dubas really keeping that 1st??

He can trade the first down to a 2nd and late third.  The trade the 2nd for 3rd and a 5th

Keep trading down until we end up with six 7ths

[yuzisee]

I'll look out for the balance of it when they post it.

FYI YouTube lets users just "scroll back" to the start of a livestream (drag the timebar at the bottom, same way as with a regular video) even if it's in the middle of streaming live!

(Dubas also confirmed that Matthews is playing hurt, and slightly implied that Engvall and Sandin were salary cap casualties... although he never once said "we'll miss those guys" so perhaps he also felt they would be exposed in the playoffs by opposing teams/coaches)

[herman]

Transcript:
https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2023/03/03/kyle-dubas-on-the-difference-in-this-years-maple-leafs-team/

[Guilt Trip]

Here's a question for those more up on the rules:

With the roster cap space to sign Knies, I presume Bettman can't claim they're hiding Mete on LTIR (I doubt we even had to concern ourselves with that ...)

Mete would arguably be the 11th NHL dman.
The Marlies are doing very well - tied with the best pts win% in the AHL.
They just shipped Hunt off to reduce an AHL veteran (they're limited by how many they can play).
Can Mete play for the Marlies without having to clear waivers? (He'd have to be on the Clear Day roster ..)
Just curious.

Mete last cleared waivers on Oct 10 and he played 11 games after that with the Leafs so he'll have to clear waivers to be sent down. He can go on a LTIR conditioning stint with the Marlies for up to 6 days or 3 games. Leafs could technically ask for a 2 game extension if the 3 aren't enough.

[Nik]

Well, I said I'd wait until post deadline to make a statement on the collective moves Dubas made so here is my verdict...

Eh, seems ok. I'd probably have been more excited if he'd just added Kane or some other top 6 scorer but there you go.

[Bender]

Well, I said I'd wait until post deadline to make a statement on the collective moves Dubas made so here is my verdict...

Eh, seems ok. I'd probably have been more excited if he'd just added Kane or some other top 6 scorer but there you go.

Like exclusively Kane? What if it was like NYR and it was Kane & Tarasenko?

[Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate]

(Dubas also confirmed that Matthews is playing hurt, and slightly implied that Engvall and Sandin were salary cap casualties... although he never once said "we'll miss those guys" so perhaps he also felt they would be exposed in the playoffs by opposing teams/coaches)

I noticed both those things too when I read the transcript on MLHS. Actually, in regard to Matthews, he put it in the past perfect tense:

As everyone knows, he has played through some injuries and some things that have hampered him.

You could read this as, it's over now — but I agree with you, I think he's saying he's not 100%.

I also agree re 38 and 47.  I thought his comments about Sandin were surprisingly vanilla for a guy who usually has a good word for all his players.  And he barely mentioned Engvall. 

[cw]

Here's a question for those more up on the rules:

With the roster cap space to sign Knies, I presume Bettman can't claim they're hiding Mete on LTIR (I doubt we even had to concern ourselves with that ...)

Mete would arguably be the 11th NHL dman.
The Marlies are doing very well - tied with the best pts win% in the AHL.
They just shipped Hunt off to reduce an AHL veteran (they're limited by how many they can play).
Can Mete play for the Marlies without having to clear waivers? (He'd have to be on the Clear Day roster ..)
Just curious.

Mete last cleared waivers on Oct 10 and he played 11 games after that with the Leafs so he'll have to clear waivers to be sent down. He can go on a LTIR conditioning stint with the Marlies for up to 6 days or 3 games. Leafs could technically ask for a 2 game extension if the 3 aren't enough.

That's what I thought. I knew the conditioning option.

I guess he's 11th in the dman depth chart.
Since Benn cleared, maybe he clears if they try to waive him soon - before more dmen in the league get banged up.

If the Leafs get to the 11th dman due to injuries, their Cup chances wouldn't be very bright though it might be a sign they got past the 1st round.

The Marlies have a good team. He could help.

[Nik]

Like exclusively Kane? What if it was like NYR and it was Kane & Tarasenko?

I guess? Adding both Tarasenko and Kane to the Leafs would either force you to switch Nylander to RW or use one of their RW's on the 3rd line and I don't think Tarasenko adds much in that context. You'd be better off adding a defenseman there I think.

The Leafs made a lot of changes and I think they're probably a bit better at the edges but I'd still probably have rather gambled on Kane's upside.

[herman]

The Leafs pushed their floor way up, but their ceiling continues to rest on the shoulders of their core captains + Willy.

Keefe had some remarks if you want to hear oblique feedback about the departed.

https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2023/03/03/sheldon-keefe-post-game-leafs-2-vs-flames-1-2/

I thought we defended really hard. All of a sudden, the game started to really open us for us because of how we defended. We started to get plays in transition. We started to get more time on the rush. We started to get in behind them.

Guys defended really hard. Once we had the lead, I thought we just protected our net well. Looking at some of the plays where we advanced pucks, we took some real hard hits tonight in that third period to advance the play.
That is what it takes. Acciari and Lafferty were two players who stood out to me for really contesting pucks on the wall to get those out. That is what it takes to win. That is why you acquire those guys. The puck is in question on the wall, you know you are going to take a big hit, and the puck advances. It gets out.

Which you know is just echoing what Dubas said in the presser more specifically

That was the goal of the entire exercise over the last couple of weeks: take the first part of the year and see where our team is at.  In concert with Sheldon and our player personnel department, find out what is available, how it addresses the needs that we have, and try to go and address them.

[...]

I think the team's third period last night sort of exemplifies the difference in the team — just a little bit more competitive, a little bit more sacrifice, willing to put themselves on the line to win pucks and do the right things defensively that aren't necessarily the fanciest or the sexiest things in the game but contribute to winning.