Kraken vs. Leafs - Oct. 28th, 10:00pm - SN

[CarltonTheBear]

Again, he's no Tanev defensively, but he is better defensively than I thought he was going to be.

In terms of the $8 mil/yr contract, they seemed doomed. They overpaid to get him in a barren UFA market. To me, that is not on Raddysh though it is inevitable that fans and media will get on his case.

Yeah Raddysh has been a weird one. Obviously hasn't met expectations offensively yet, but I think he's surpassed expectations defensively. Especially while logging big minutes in Tanev's (hopefully short) absence.

As far as his contract goes I really don't think there's much cause of concern there. We at least got lucky in getting him signed before these $20mil deals started and reset the market. Any defenceman capable of playing 20+ minutes a game will easily be getting $8mil at least now.

 

[Bender]

I think its fair to levy some criticism at Raddysh. The Leafs definitely aren't utilizing him to his full abilities on the PP (and in fairness it's firing at a high success rate so I'm not sure I really care) but 0 goals is still zero goals. There was a clip during the Calgary game of his shaking out his hand/wrist. I hope its that he's playing through something because of the other injuries on the roster because 20 goals wasn't likely repeatable but they definitely need 10+ from him in the long run. That being said he has 8 points in 15 games. I was hoping for 55-60 points out of him for at least the first 1-2 years of his deal. He's playing below that pace right now but hes' also shouldering a far bigger defensive burden.

I thought this was two games in a row that were pretty poor from Cowan. A lot of bad puck decisions. He's young. It's going to happen. He still had a primary assist and was trying. Its just a good reminder that he's not there yet as an every day star.

Nylander.....man, that was just a poor effort. He's not looking quite as explosive and some of those defensive efforts were just not good.

McKenna has 11 points in his last 12 games after going pointless in his first three professional games. He's probably like 3 years away from finding his NHL body (put on weight next year, find the right balance to maintain speed the year after, hit the sweet spot after his ELC is done) but holy hell is he going to put up points.

The 4th line looked like a 4th line last night. A lot of trying and not really a lot of production. It gets exposed sometimes that Hiller likes to play them a lot and when they are generating chances its great but they did a lot of nothing last night and he kept going to them.............which is a byproduct of the 3rd line just being a collection of guys. Being down Tavares and Marchenko really exposes the 3rd line as two guys who are AHLers centered by a decent defensive center.

It's funny because part of me watches him and is blown away by how tantalizing he is as a talent, but then you see a few times a game making poor decisions. And then you get the stat that he's the youngest Leaf ever to score 2 PPG, forgetting completely how young he is. I also think he's got the right mindset to compete and become a more defensively conscious player over time. He's going to be a treat to watch for a long time.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

L3 is pretty dire

Joshua, and maybe Raty, need to replace Lettieri and Groulx there sooner rather than later.

 

[herman]

Joshua, and maybe Raty, need to replace Lettieri and Groulx there sooner rather than later.

I think so too, even though both of those options come with footspeed downgrades. Brain speed matters more.

Speaking of footspeed, Nylander has looked like he's skating through mud since this road trip started, consistently to the point where it doesn't look like it's by choice/laziness and more like back pain or some similar mobility ailment.

 

[YYZ]

I think so too, even though both of those options come with footspeed downgrades. Brain speed matters more.

Speaking of footspeed, Nylander has looked like he's skating through mud since this road trip started, consistently to the point where it doesn't look like it's by choice/laziness and more like back pain or some similar mobility ailment.

Hasn't looked like his normal speedy self. He was ill there the other week, not sure if it's something that's lingering for him. He looked very labored on that first goal against last night.

 

[herman]

Hasn't looked like his normal speedy self. He was ill there the other week, not sure if it's something that's lingering for him. He looked very labored on that first goal against last night.

He still had bursts off the attack, but it was clear his baseline was diminished and those bursts cost him more than usual. Tough timing to lose Marchenko too.

 

[ZBBM]

I've got one word for you guys: Tanev.

When Tanev is out of the lineup it's like a chain reaction. The rest of the D tries to level up and can't, which leads to better looks for the oppo (like the GWG goal last nite which to clear Bob absolutely needs to stop), which leads to more burden on forwards to play D which they often can't/won't.

He is the linchpin.

 

[Chris]

I figure I'll post a few comments every 5 or 10 games rather than reacting to single games.

That Edmonton game - wow, what fun that was. So where has that been since...

Bob letting in at least 1 or 2 bad goals a game is a definite problem. He has played well for stretches but way too inconsistent. Couple that with a team that is already weak defensively and you're going to have problems.

On the losing goal last night...yes Bob should have had it but I question the decision to put Roslovic out there. I think Hiller already had Sissons and Paul, why not go with a 3rd defensive minded player. He lost his man and that was the one who scored.

Fourth line was fun for a few games but they seem to have come back to earth. I guess it's time to see if Joshua has anything to offer.

Some specific player thoughts,
- Nylander does seem to be struggling a bit, looks slower/lethargic as someone else noted
- Groulx hasn't done much to suggest he belongs in the NHL
- Lettieri at least tries and seems to care, but not good enough.
- Stecher playing well above expectations, love what he brings
- Matthews looks really good
- McKenna - great skill but seems to be almost unplayable on a top line at 5 on 5. Rarely engages and mostly loses puck battles. Not surprising considering he's a 160 pound 18 year old. For him to succeed right now on a top line I think he needs to be the primary puck carrier kind of like Marner used to be.
- Raddysh better defensively than I expected but holy cow, hit the net

Overall tough to evaluate when they're missing their top defender, second line center, and best (or second best) play driving winger.

 

[rjd]

I figure I'll post a few comments every 5 or 10 games rather than reacting to single games.

That Edmonton game - wow, what fun that was. So where has that been since...

Bob letting in at least 1 or 2 bad goals a game is a definite problem. He has played well for stretches but way too inconsistent. Couple that with a team that is already weak defensively and you're going to have problems.

On the losing goal last night...yes Bob should have had it but I question the decision to put Roslovic out there. I think Hiller already had Sissons and Paul, why not go with a 3rd defensive minded player. He lost his man and that was the one who scored.

Fourth line was fun for a few games but they seem to have come back to earth. I guess it's time to see if Joshua has anything to offer.

Some specific player thoughts,
- Nylander does seem to be struggling a bit, looks slower/lethargic as someone else noted
- Groulx hasn't done much to suggest he belongs in the NHL
- Lettieri at least tries and seems to care, but not good enough.
- Stecher playing well above expectations, love what he brings
- Matthews looks really good
- McKenna - great skill but seems to be almost unplayable on a top line at 5 on 5. Rarely engages and mostly loses puck battles. Not surprising considering he's a 160 pound 18 year old. For him to succeed right now on a top line I think he needs to be the primary puck carrier kind of like Marner used to be.
- Raddysh better defensively than I expected but holy cow, hit the net

Overall tough to evaluate when they're missing their top defender, second line center, and best (or second best) play driving winger.

Is there a dman in the league you would move Gavin McKenna for that you think a team would move? If he has a 50 - 60 point rookie season, what would McKenna's ceiling be? I look at someone like Jack Hughes, who plays the center position so that's a little different, and I see someone who is a little injury prone. It's tough to tell if McKenna will be more like Marner in the injury sense, or more like Bedard, Hughes in that sense. So if you could get that stud dman for the backend, would you move McKenna?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I think with even just average goaltending this week we would have earned at least 10 out of a possible 12 points in our last 6 games, so I gotta be honest the dooming and glooming feels just a tad much right now. At least wait until we lose to Vancouver on Saturday!

 

[rjd]

I think with even just average goaltending this week we would have earned at least 10 out of a possible 12 points in our last 6 games, so I gotta be honest the dooming and glooming feels just a tad much right now. At least wait until we lose to Vancouver on Saturday!

Are you saying we shouldn't be dooming and glooming until Saturday, which you feel will be a loss because you have a sense of doom and gloom?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Are you saying we shouldn't be dooming and glooming until Saturday, which you feel will be a loss because you have a sense of doom and gloom?

I'm just glooming.

 

[rjd]

I'm just glooming.

I would have thought you were dooming, but that could be debated

On the Raddysh conversation. Through his first 15 games last year, he had 2 goals and 7 assists for 9 points. Through his first 15 games this year he has 8 assists. I wouldn't really get to worried about him just yet. I think he has been pretty much what the Leafs thought they were getting, and I think he adds to the defence and doesn't take away from it. The goals may start to come in bunches for him.

 

[YYZ]

Historically, unless you go back to 93-94 where the Leafs won 10 straight, they haven't been a great October team.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

On the Raddysh conversation. Through his first 15 games last year, he had 2 goals and 7 assists for 9 points. Through his first 15 games this year he has 8 assists. I wouldn't really get to worried about him just yet. I think he has been pretty much what the Leafs thought they were getting, and I think he adds to the defence and doesn't take away from it. The goals may start to come in bunches for him.

Also while he might not be racking up the points there himself it's probably not a coincidence that the Leafs powerplay is on pace to be the best of the Matthews era with him manning the point.

 

[YYZ]

Also while he might not be racking up the points there himself it's probably not a coincidence that the Leafs powerplay is on pace to be the best of the Matthews era with him manning the point.

Opposing PK is moving out closer to the points to keep Raddysh in check. It has opened up the middle slot where 92 has scored a couple times now. If opposing PK starts leaving the points open, maybe then we see the Raddysh cannon unleashed.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Opposing PK is moving out closer to the points to keep Raddysh in check. It has opened up the middle slot where 92 has scored a couple times now. If opposing PK starts leaving the points open, maybe then we see the Raddysh cannon unleashed.

Yeah it'd be interesting to see someone try to break this down in video/screenshot form (paging Justin Bourne). Especially comparing it to how PK's typically defended the Leafs in the past with Rielly.