Your three-word posthumous game summary:

In.
Freaking.
Sane.

It's too bad the site was down, the GDT would have been 20 pp long.

What a game!

Thanks Rick for bringing us back online

[MotM/Win]

Yeah, a couple of months ago I said I might not watch as much this year.  That will probably be the case, but I am happy to honcho the MotM again.

   

	MotM/Win	MotM/Loss	HonMen	Accolades	Times Voted	Points
Forwards
12 Zach Aston-Reese	0	0	0	0	0	0
96 Nicolas Aubé-Kubel	0	0	0	0	0	0
58 Michael Bunting	0	0	0	0	0	0
43 Kyle Clifford	0	0	0	0	0	0
19 Calle Järnkrok	0	0	0	0	0	0
47 Pierre Engvall	0	0	0	0	0	0
29 Pontus Holmberg	0	0	0	0	0	0
64 David Kämpf	0	0	0	0	0	0
15 Alexander Kerfoot	0	0	0	0	0	0
62 Denis Malgin	0	0	0	0	0	0
16 Mitch Marner	0	0	0	0	0	0
34 Auston Matthews	0	0	0	0	0	0
88 William Nylander	0	0	0	0	0	0
89 Nicholas Robertson	0	0	0	0	0	0
24 Wayne Simmonds	0	0	0	0	0	0
91 John Tavares	0	0	0	0	0	0
Defensemen
78 T.J. Brodie	0	0	0	0	0	0
48 Carl Dahlström	0	0	0	0	0	0
55 Mark Giordano	0	0	0	0	0	0
3 Justin Holl	0	0	0	0	0	0
37 Timothy Liljegren	0	0	0	0	0	0
8 Jake Muzzin	0	0	0	0	0	0
44 Morgan Rielly	0	0	0	0	0	0
38 Rasmus Sandin	0	0	0	0	0	0
Goalkeepers
30 Matt Murray	0	0	0	0	0	0.0
35 Ilya Samsonov	0	0	0	0	0	0.0

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/14/nyregion/sean-avery-biking-misdemeanor.html

Hey all

I'm on the road with sporadic Internet.  I have to miss the opener but I will do the MotM again.  I may be able to get online for G2.  Anyway carry on with voting as usual and I will get the thread going as soon as I can

Sent from my moto g(7) power using Tapatalk

[MotM/Win]

Yippee ti-yi-yi-yo my friends.  It's that time again.

   
   
   

	MotM/Win	MotM/Loss	HonMen	Accolades	Times Voted	Points
Forwards
94 Alex Barabanov	0	0	0	0	0	0
72 Travis Boyd	0	0	0	0	0	0
77 Adam Brooks	0	0	0	0	0	0
11 Zach Hyman	0	0	0	0	0	0
15 Alexander Kerfoot	0	0	0	0	0	0
16 Mitch Marner	0	0	0	0	0	0
34 Auston Matthews	0	0	0	0	0	0
65 Ilya Mikheyev	0	0	0	0	0	0
88 William Nylander	0	0	0	0	0	0
89 Nicholas Robertson	0	0	0	0	0	0
24 Wayne Simmonds	0	0	0	0	0	0
19 Jason Spezza	0	0	0	0	0	0
91 John Tavares	0	0	0	0	0	0
97 Joe Thornton	0	0	0	0	0	0
26 Jimmy Vesey	0	0	0	0	0	0
Defensemen
22 Zach Begosian	0	0	0	0	0	0
78 T.J. Brodie	0	0	0	0	0	0
23 Travis Dermott	0	0	0	0	0	0
3 Justin Holl	0	0	0	0	0	0
46 Mikko Lehtonen	0	0	0	0	0	0
8 Jake Muzzin	0	0	0	0	0	0
44 Morgan Rielly	0	0	0	0	0	0
38 Rasmus Sandin	0	0	0	0	0	0
Goalkeepers
31 Frederik Andersen	0	0	0	0	0	0.0
36 Jack Campbell	0	0	0	0	0	0.0
29 Aaron Dell	0	0	0	0	0	0.0

High time they get rid of it.  I've read their latest nonsensical explanation about "honoring" Black Hawk.  Indigenous people aren't mascots and images of them do them no honor.

And unlike the Redskins, they have an easy fix: you know, a black-colored hawk.  Heck, just PS the Thrashers' logo if they want to save money.  ::)

Just thought we might want a thread to talk about this possibility.  If things keep escalating, it may need to happen.  I just have 2 thoughts to throw out at this point:

1.  I don't think playing games in "ghost arenas" is an option.  The whole nature of the contest would be changed.
2.  Seems to me that one possibility if they have to shut down completely is to create a split season next fall: a week of camp, then a 7-week(ish) "finisher" season, maybe a couple of weeks where all teams play out an abbreviated remainder of the 19-20 season to determine the playoff contestants, and a much-shortened playoff that takes only 5 weeks to complete: best of 3s for the first 3 rounds, best of 5 Cup final (or whatever the math works out to be).  Then start the 20-21 season on Nov 1 and play only 70-ish games.

That's just one scenario off the top of my head but you can bet they are having this discussion right now in NHL HQ.

If you don't often read the General Info page, Rick posted that there was a database error and posts from the last couple of days have been lost:

https://www.tmlfans.ca/community/index.php?topic=5836.msg394680#new

Thanks, Rick, for restoring the board as well as could be done.  No Rick, no tmlfans.ca, no happiness for me.  :) 

I reposted the results of the TBL game in the MotM thread.

Good Lord.

They aren't going to be re-signing Barrie.  He's a train wreck defensively.  He's been underwhelming offensively.  They've got a replacement in Liljegren.  And yet here he is, still on the team.

Dubas should have dumped him for whatever he could get.  But no.  So, is the excuse that doing so would have "sent a message" that they are giving up on the season?  Well, the players themselves sent a 20-minute-long message Saturday night that they have given up — on being committed to playing the kind of hockey needed when matched up against a team that won't let them just play their Dubas style.

[MotM/Win]

Yo ho ho it's time to tee this up once more.

      
   
   

	MotM/Win	MotM/Loss	HonMen	Accolades	Times Voted	Points
Forwards
33 Frederik Gauthier	0	0	0	0	0	0
11 Zach Hyman	0	0	0	0	0	0
18 Andreas Johnsson	0	0	0	0	0	0
24 Kasperi Kapanen	0	0	0	0	0	0
15 Alexander Kerfoot	0	0	0	0	0	0
16 Mitch Marner	0	0	0	0	0	0
34 Auston Matthews	0	0	0	0	0	0
65 Ilya Mikheyev	0	0	0	0	0	0
42 Trevor Moore	0	0	0	0	0	0
88 William Nylander	0	0	0	0	0	0
26 Nick Shore	0	0	0	0	0	0
90 Jason Spezza	0	0	0	0	0	0
91 John Tavares	0	0	0	0	0	0
41 Dmytro Timashov	0	0	0	0	0	0
Defensemen
94 Tyson Barrie	0	0	0	0	0	0
83 Cody Ceci	0	0	0	0	0	0
23 Travis Dermott	0	0	0	0	0	0
3 Justin Holl	0	0	0	0	0	0
37 Timothy Liljegren	0	0	0	0	0	0
52 Martin Marincin	0	0	0	0	0	0
8 Jake Muzzin	0	0	0	0	0	0
44 Morgan Rielly	0	0	0	0	0	0
38 Rasmus Sandin	0	0	0	0	0	0
Goalkeepers
31 Frederik Andersen	0	0	0	0	0	0.0
30 Michael Hutchinson	0	0	0	0	0	0.0

Not sure I got all the sweater numbers right.

Remember the rules:
1.  Vote for one MoTM and one Honorable Mention each game
2.  You can list more than that but only the first two count
3.  If you disagree with me in the GDT I may not count your vote

Scoring:
Forwards: 3 pts for MotM in a Win, 2 for a MotM in a Loss, 1 for HM
Defensemen: Double that
Goalies: 1/2 that

I always take a moment at the start of the season to remember some good posters who are no longer here....

F O R W A R D   T O   T H E   C U P

[MotM/Win]

Everything is re-set for Boston.  Let us hope we are still filling this out in June.

   
   
   

	MotM/Win	MotM/Loss	HonMen	Accolades	Times Voted	Points
Forwards
12 Connor Brown	0	0	0	0	0	0
63 Tyler Ennis	0	0	0	0	0	0
33 Frederick Gauthier	0	0	0	0	0	0
11 Zach Hyman	0	0	0	0	0	0
18 Andreas Johnsson	0	0	0	0	0	8
43 Nazem Kadri	0	0	0	0	0	0
24 Kasperi Kapanen	0	0	0	0	0	0
12 Patrick Marleau	0	0	0	0	0	0
16 Mitch Marner	0	0	0	0	0	0
34 Auston Matthews	0	0	0	0	0	0
42 Trevor Moore	0	0	0	0	0	0
29 William Nylander	0	0	0	0	0	0
19 Nic Petan	0	0	0	0	0	0
91 John Tavares	0	0	0	0	0	0
Defensemen
23 Travis Dermott	0	0	0	0	0	0
51 Jake Gardiner	0	0	0	0	0	0
2 Ron Hainsey	0	0	0	0	0	0
3 Justin Holl	0	0	0	0	0	0
52 Martin Marincin	0	0	0	0	0	0
8 Jake Muzzin	0	0	0	0	0	0
92 Igor Ozhiganov	0	0	0	0	0	0
44 Morgan Rielly	0	0	0	0	0	0
48 Calle Rosen	0	0	0	0	0	0
22 Nikita Zaitsev	0	0	0	0	0	0
Goalkeepers
31 Frederik Andersen	0	0	0	0	0	0.0
30 Michael Hutchinson	0	0	0	0	0	0.0
40 Garret Sparks	0	0	0	0	0	0.0

Before we launch into the playoffs, a thread for looking back on the regular season, player by player.  Grade 'em if you like or else just freelance like I will do now.

FAR EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS — EXCLAMATION POINT!
Rielly: He won't win the Norris but he's the first Leaf in decades to deserve mention.
Tavares: Did anyone seriously think he would get close to 50?  Career numbers.
Marner: With all the talent around him, the assist numbers are not really a surprise.  But the PK was a revelation.

THEY'RE REALLY DAMN GOOD AND WE KNOW IT
Matthews: He brings it against Boston and I'll shut my somewhat doubting mouth forever.
Gardiner: Never a fan, I was schooled on how much he brings while he sat out.
Hyman: He is elite at what he does.  Yeah, elite.

PRETTY HAPPY SURPRISES
Johnsson: Like next guy, proves he belongs and makes decent contributions (and not many mistakes).
Kapanen: Plateaued at the end but def an NHL top 6+. Will still fetch a good return on D.  I'll be sorry to see him go.
Ennis: Showed a bit of mojo and slicky-ness.
Hainsey: He does not suck, people.

YEAH, THEY PLAYED ABOUT LIKE I THOUGHT
Marleau: It's unfortunate he's in this category.
Gauthier: If he played physical, he might have a role.  As is, nyet.
Moore: Good on him.
Muzzin: Jury's kind of out, but I expect he'll be good in the playoffs.
Rosen: So far, not too awful bad.
Dermott: He's effective and we missed him while he was out, but not as much as Gardiner.  Wish he were RH.
Andersen: His last 2 months dunked him in the ratings a bit.  But a lot of it can be attributed to poor play in front of him. 

MEH-VILLE
Ozighanov, Holl, Zaitsev, Marincin.  (See a pattern?)

MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENTS
Brown: He's teens-goal skilled.   Awful season.
Kadri: His 30-goal performance probably a fluke, but still.  Total waste on PP.
Nylander: herman will refute, but let's face it, his season was a flop.
Sparks: Guy's tranny is busted: no reverse. (Turns out he can't back up.)

I DON'T REALLY CARE
Hutchinson, them other 2 goalies who suited up, Petan, Leivo, Lindholm, the equipment guys, etc.

[Assuming we get to actually use it once every few games....]

My question in the thread title is rhetorical: I think it's past time.  The dazzling Marner-to-Matthews-to-Twine hasn't worked in weeks.  Kadri is literally a 5th wheel.  When a puck does get to Tavares for a tip and it doesn't work, there's no other presence there to pick up any garbage.

Two suggestions:
1.  Swap Matthews and Kadri.  It would give Marner a much easier route to get the puck on Matthews' stick, where it spends far too little time IMO.  Matthews then could maneuver for a shot, or feed either to Kadri or back to Marner, one of whom should be more open as the D will draw to Matthews.  If Matthews shoots and there is a rebound, Kadri will be in a better position to swoop in and pounce on it.
2.  Replace Kadri with Kapanen, and proceed as above.

As for the 2U, God bless Trevor Moore but why isn't Kapanen playing there?  I would design the 2U around Nylander and Kapanen with an idea to create chaos in front of the net as much as possible.

I'm no hockey tactician so I'm sure others will have better ideas but a little creative change is in order.

This is a thread to discuss bedazzled oddsmakers, Achilles' heels, glaring blueline holes resolutely left unaddressed, Norse piggies, the invisibility of certain superstars in the playoffs, bipolar goalie performances, 18-wheelers on cliff edges, and anything else that might keep our favorite team from realizing the hype that has been heaped upon it.

And yes, the opening 2 games are a bit of a warning.

My take on all this inevitability chatter is that they shouldn't be talked of as contenders until they manage to, you know, win a playoff round.  There is not a whole lot of NHL playoff success in the Leafs lineup, Tavares definitely included.  In fact, Hainsey & Marleau are pretty much it, are they not?  And Marleau of course hasn't made it to the top of the mountain.

It'll be interesting to see how Babcock manages things this year -- the first to really come with serious expectations.

[MotM/Win]

OK, here we go again.  Here are the rules:

1.  Anyone can vote.  The more the merrier.
2.  You get two votes each game: 1 for MotM, 1 Honorable Mention.  If you mention more than 2 names I pick the first 2 only.  "Head rubs," "nods," etc. welcome but are not tallied.  I try to tally the votes mid-day the day after the game.  Mostly.
3. Scoring is as follows:

* Forwards: 3 points for MotM in a win, 2 for MotM in a loss, 1 for HM in either win or loss.
* Defensemen: 4 points for MotM in a win, 3 for MotM in a loss, 2 for HM in either win or loss.
* Goaltenders: 2.5 points for MotM in a win, 1.5 for MotM in a loss, 0.5 for HM in either win or loss.

   
   
   

	MotM/Win	MotM/Loss	HonMen	Accolades	Times Voted	Points
Forwards
12 Connor Brown	0	0	0	0	0	0
63 Tyler Ennis	0	0	0	0	0	0
33 Frederick Gauthier	0	0	0	0	0	0
11 Zach Hyman	0	0	0	0	0	0
18 Andreas Johnsson	0	0	0	0	0	0
43 Nazem Kadri	0	0	0	0	0	0
24 Kasperi Kapanen	0	0	0	0	0	0
32 Josh Leivo	0	0	0	0	0	0
26 Par Lindholm	0	0	0	0	0	0
12 Patrick Marleau	0	0	0	0	0	0
16 Mitch Marner	0	0	0	0	0	0
34 Auston Matthews	0	0	0	0	0	0
29 William Nylander	0	0	0	0	0	0
91 John Tavares	0	0	0	0	0	0
Defensemen
55 Andreas Borgman	0	0	0	0	0	0
23 Travis Dermott	0	0	0	0	0	0
51 Jake Gardiner	0	0	0	0	0	0
2 Ron Hainsey	0	0	0	0	0	0
54 Justin Holl	0	0	0	0	0	0
52 Martin Marincin	0	0	0	0	0	0
92 Igor Ozhiganov	0	0	0	0	0	0
44 Morgan Rielly	0	0	0	0	0	0
48 Calle Rosen	0	0	0	0	0	0
22 Nikita Zaitsev	0	0	0	0	0	0
Goalkeepers
31 Frederik Andersen	0	0	0	0	0	0.0
40 Fishbulb *NOPRESSURE*	0	0	0	0	0	0.0

This is also a time where I like to remind folks of a couple of people who helped build this community but are no longer with us: Mr. T and Sakura.  Count yourself lucky to be here, and enjoy every minute of the season.

Since we are in a gap before the playoffs, maybe we could spend a bit of time looking back at the regular season.  How about folks take a shot at the following questions:

1. Who was the Leafs MVP?
2. Tell us why in exactly 6 words.
3. Who was the biggest disappointment?
4. Who was the most underappreciated?
5. Give us your "Nobody Saw That Coming!" off-season trade involving current non-UFA Leafs roster players.

OTTAWA — Former NHL enforcer Dave "Tiger" Williams is facing several charges, including sexual assault, after incidents on a Canadian Forces aircraft.

The Canadian Forces Provost Marshal's office says the alleged victim reported the incidents in December while Williams was taking part in a morale trip to Latvia.

https://www.tsn.ca/ex-leaf-williams-accused-of-sexual-assault-1.993981

Knowing that there is already a Babcock thread somewhere, I thought I might venture a new one on a more focused topic.

What I'm wondering about is the career trajectories of Matthews, Nylander, and Marner.  Here you have three very creative, very talented forwards; the calling card of all 3 is the ability to make high-level moves at high speed (just below McDavid-level speed).  To have 3 such players on one team at the beginning of their careers is a rare thing — very rare I would guess.  What I'm a bit worried about is Babcock's squandering the years when they will be at their fastest (which is not to say their best; supposedly forwards peak in their late 20s).

I understand what Babcock is trying to build.  My question is, could he still get to the "right way" by devising game plans that let these guys play a more open-throttle style at the beginning of their careers while still instilling defensive responsibility.  The fact is that by their mid-20s the Big 3 will very likely not be quite as fast/quick as they are now — it's only natural.  If all goes well they will make up for it with experience, positioning etc., and still peak a bit later.

To me, we are in what seems like a not-to-be-missed opportunity to build a team concept that maximizes their skills-at-speed.  Their window of success is (hopefully) a long one, but the window to take advantage of the full range of their gifts is not.

Again, I think I understand where Babcock is coming from.  It's probably no coincidence that Andersen's stats were the worst during the first few weeks when the team was allowed to play a more aggressive style.  But anyone can see that the team is playing against the grain now.

Does anyone have thoughts along these lines?  Maybe I'm wrong and there's no way to get to Babcock's ultimate preferred Wings-like style except by doing it his way.  Still, it seems to me that with the right team development strategy you could have the best of both worlds.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/11/21/sports/hockey/stephen-peat-concussions.html

Another concussion nightmare tale.  Hard to read.

[MotM/Win]

I take it you all are up for this again?

      
   
   

	MotM/Win	MotM/Loss	HonMen	Accolades	Times Voted	Points
Forwards
42 Tyler Bozak	0	0	0	0	0	0
12 Connor Brown	0	0	0	0	0	0
23 Eric Fehr	0	0	0	0	0	0
33 Frederick Gauthier	0	0	0	0	0	0
11 Zach Hyman	0	0	0	0	0	0
32 Josh Leivo	0	0	0	0	0	0
43 Nazem Kadri	0	0	0	0	0	0
24 Kasperi Kapanen	0	0	0	0	0	0
47 Leo Komarov	0	0	0	0	0	0
12 Patrick Marleau	0	0	0	0	0	0
16 Mitch Marner	0	0	0	0	0	0
15 Matt Martin	0	0	0	0	0	0
34 Auston Matthews	0	0	0	0	0	0
28 Dominic Moore	0	0	0	0	0	0
29 William Nylander	0	0	0	0	0	0
26 Nikita Soshnikov	0	0	0	0	0	0
25 James van Riemsdyk	0	0	0	0	0	0
Defensemen
54 Andreas Borgman	0	0	0	0	0	0
8 Connor Carrick	0	0	0	0	0	0
51 Jake Gardiner	0	0	0	0	0	0
2 Ron Hainsey	0	0	0	0	0	0
52 Martin Marincin	0	0	0	0	0	0
44 Morgan Rielly	0	0	0	0	0	0
22 Nikita Zaitsev	0	0	0	0	0	0
Goalkeepers
31 Frederik Andersen	0	0	0	0	0	0.0
35 Curtis McElhinney	0	0	0	0	0	0.0

As always, starting out the new season I stop to remember the late poster known as Mr. T., and Sakura as well, both of whom contributed to much to this site.

And I take this opportunity to thank Rick Couchman and the moderator team for making this site possible.  For the first time in years, we have a reasonable hope of actually having something to really celebrate next year.

Aside from the thrilling way they clinched a berth (adios memories of that last playoff game against BOS) I think all of us sensed long ago that this team is special.  I think the overall performance of the rookies on this team is something you will not see matched anytime soon.  Add to that a breakout season from Kadri, really solid goaltending from Andersen (the regular-season MVP IMO), and some vastly improved play from the defense over the last month or so, and you have a season to remember no matter what happens to them in the playoffs.

In all honesty, I had more fun watching this team than I did even in the years that Sundin was carrying them.

There were several similar hits in the game last night that weren't called at all. Obviously none resulted in an injury, but had the referees called one of the earlier ones....

The suspension is excessive.

Not only has Polak never been suspended in a 11 year career, but the player he hit turned toward the boards after Polak had moved to check him. Polak's hit was ardly a full force body check as he seemed to slide off the opposing player probably due to the fact that the player turned at the last possible moment.

As for you comment about other incidents, Siney Crosby deliberately chopped a an opposing player in the nuts (from behind I believe) and there was no call and in another game either last night or the night before I saw a reply of one player kicking another in the same spot. Once again no call.

Even if these incidents were somehow missed by the eagle eyed two referees and both linesmen, where is the player safety department? Should that brain trust not be reviewing such incidents?

Inconsistent and poor enforcement of the rules undermines one's confidence in the integrity of the game and the league.

FWIW Crosby literally slashed off the end of Methot's finger tonight.  Anybody think there'll be a suspension for that?

It's absurdly early to declare anything like this, but man, based on the games so far I could totally go for a long-term forward core of

Matthews
Nylander
Marner
Brown

and build the offense around them.  I look at these guys and can legitimately dream of them being our Toews/Kane/Hossa/+ someday.  And not so far away.

On defense, Zaitsev has intrigued so far.  Who knows what his topline is?  Rielly, I think, hasn't been very good these first few games but he is probably a first-pairing guy and at worst a #3.  But we need more.

I guess my not very originally secondary point is, no matter where we may be in the standings as the trade deadline approaches, I would listen to offers for JVR/Kadri/Bozak/Komarov, any of the veteran skaters, for a good defenseman or a good pick that can be used to draft defensemen.

The primary point, though, is that I really don't want to see them have to part with one of my suggested core guys to get that needed defenseman.  I'd try almost anything else first.

So, are people up for this again?

Everyone --

Apologies for starting this thread here -- it has nothing to do with the Leafs -- but since many of you may not ever read The New York Times I want to make sure you don't miss the feature on the front page of their website.  It is a truly beautiful story about how your country has stepped up to embrace Syrian refugees in the wake of the tragic drownings this spring.

To me, it really captures everything that I, as an American, like about Canada and Canadians.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/01/world/americas/canada-syrian-refugees.html

Wonderful photos too.

You know, you guys should be proud to be Canadian.  You are leading the way in a compassionate response to a humanitarian crisis, instead of sowing fear and division, as a certain someone who would lead my country is doing. 

Well done.  I hope you all enjoy your national holiday tomorrow.

Mods -- do what you will with this, I understand if it needs to be moved.