The Leafs have a decent chance of losing Nylander due to cap constraints.  That's just stupid.

Sure is. The system rewards teams that have 1 or 2 "superstars", 1 or 2 pretty good players, a bunch of middle of the road players and an excellent goalie.

While I don't get down on the Leafs too much anymore (don't have the time), one thing I'll agree with is that this team is not constructed to succeed in the NHL today. I don't think that's the fault of anyone really. Other than Tavares. Though we've talked about that numerous times so I don't think there's a reason to revisit our thoughts on the signing.

That and there are about 12 teams too many, so the product is diluted.

Yeah, I also don't agree with this so much. I think the growth of the US and European talent base probably means that there's roughly the same % of good and great players available as there always was. Sure if you eliminated teams there'd be stronger teams but so long as the cap is in place the teams still won't have separation from each other.

I agree with this. We just have to go back to days when there were only 24 teams. Watch some of the players on that roster. You'll be scratching your head as to how they were NHL players. Yes it's all relevant to the times, but there's always been players in the NHL that aren't "up to par".

Nylander
Samsonov

(Note: I only watched the first period and a half)

Do we have any word on Murray's injury?

I don't know this player(at all), but is he the type of player you want to burn a 1st round draft pick on?

also from MLHS

9.    Three-on-three OT started according to plan with David Kampf winning the opening faceoff, the Leafs possessing the puck, and Kampf getting off the ice for Auston Matthews. Matthews had one semi-dangerous curl-and-drag in the left circle that Montembeault stopped, but the majority of the chances afterward went to the Habs before the Rem Pitlick game-winner. It was a longer shift for John Tavares, who was playing defense against the fresher legs of Pitlick and didn't do much to disrupt the winning shot, which was well-placed into the top corner.

Not trying to rub it in, GT.  Now that I have had a chance to calm down I agree that Samsonov could've/should've stopped it.

My main point remains, though.  Tavares makes his copious money in-tight, where he is all world (as in the faceoff dot).  Elsewhere, not so much.  3-on-3 OT is exactly the worst time to deploy him.  I hold my breath every time they put him out there.

Here's a case IMO where the coach has to take charge and make a decision that could tweak a star's ego.  Keefe gets paid to do what's best for the team.  He should sit JT down and tell him he won't be part of the 3/3 rotation.  Shootouts, yes.  It's not real hockey anyway and the point becomes moot in the playoffs.

In Tavares' defence, the turnover that led to the goal actually occurred at 3:35, an ill advised drop pass by Marner into a very tight triangle where Tavares had no chance to do anything with the puck. He handcuffed him. The Leafs never regained control of the puck. Marner managed to get off. Tavares got stuck on in a defensive position. While you'd like Tavares to be able to control the gap better, he forced Pitlick to wide and gave up the shot from outside the house. Exactly what you'd want a forward to do in that instance. It was a really good shot, but Samsonov should have stopped it. You'd then have a change of possession and Tavares would finally get the change he badly needed.
The two errors I see on the play are:
-Marner's cute drop pass in the middle of the house
-Tavares and Sandin giving up too much gap to allow speed into the zone.

I started watching Peripheral on Prime. I'm really enjoying it.

Samsonov
Timmins

Fun game. Marner was terrific as well. Considering he's playing with a player they got for the third line, and Tavares who has lost a step 5 on 5, it's incredible how he's doing.

I think Tavares' main problem is he's not processing the game fast enough. Skating has always been a sore spot for him. But now I don't think his brain is keeping up.

Samsonov
matthews

Well, I'd go as far to say I don't think these appreciation/recognition nights should exist in the first place.  That's just me.

But they're not appreciation or recognition nights. They're awareness building nights. These large organizations, with a large viewing audience, bear a responsibility to help build awareness for groups that have long been oppressed in society. Especially when you're an organization, such as hockey, that has a long history of being non-tolerant of these very groups.

I know you mean Nick Paul lol.

Bite me

It's not a problem if it's a one off but it isn't, it's an ongoing problem being made worse by signing even older players who will not be able to help in the playoffs.   

I'm extremely confused by this statement. What "older" players are the Leafs signing? The only 22/23 forward signing I can see that's over the age of 30 is Jarnkrok. He's 31. And despite a slow start, he's up to 21 points in 38 games.

Are we hoping that there's a 25 year old forward sitting unsigned at home that has the potential of scoring double digit goals, the ability to play the powerplay, the ability to kill penalties and on top of that, the ability to be Nick Paul in the playoffs? If so, can we get two of those guys. Certainly they're around.

What sort of needle moving are you hoping for out of your bottom 6? As far as I'm concerned, as long as the needle stays level and doesn't drop, they've done their job.

Nylander
Samsonov