Preseason: sens @ Leafs - Sept. 23rd, 7:00pm - SN1

[L K]

I didn't think the team looked terrible in the Montreal game (although the underlying metrics did). Obviously they looked much better last night. It's still preseason games. Its still meaningless hockey.

Usually October hockey is pretty terrible with high scoring/bad defensive efforts. I think the team has looked remarkably decent for having a new coach and trying to integrate half a roster of new players.

The biggest things are we have already seen how good Gavin can be. He's a rookie. He's going to be pushed around. He's also going to have moments where he dominates the game because his skill level is so high.

Matthews and Tanev easily have to be the biggest standouts of camp so far though. Tanev looks every bit as stabilizing as we need him to be. And Matthews...oh man. His skating looks better in a straight line...but he also has his hands/wrists back at least right now. He's doing those creative stick lifts again.

Knies has to be the most disappointing regular so far. He looks slow. I feel like he would play better down a few pounds where he can still truck through guys but be more up tempo. Now it's also preseason so I'm going to give it time but he's the guy who hasn't really shown much so far. All the high end regulars have all done at least something to show they are ready to have a better season.

 

[cw]

Matthews looked better this game and already looked improved over last season against MTL
Nylander looks like his usual self and ready to go
An important one for the team to me is Tavares due to his age and role. He's skating very well, winning draws, engaged and looks good.
McCabe, Tanev, Rielly & OEL also look fine
Goalies were fine.

Knies is probably the only one who is not up to par. Not sure why.
Rosolvic seemed fine and was not a defensive liability (that I worry he might become)
I had no issues with Raddysh. He got burned on a bad change. I see him as a top 4 and PP specialist. My expectations for him are little lower than some.
Stecher seems to have the inside track for #6
I think Cowan looks improved and did well on his PK. He's another one that needed defensive improvement. Looks like it is starting to come
Paul got hurt. We'll know more tomorrow

With so much change, I have wondered if keeping Matthews-Knies, Tavares-Nylander and McCabe-Tanev together was to help provide some continuity while they try to get the group clicking. As a group, they seem to be generally doing the sorts of things that their coach is asking of them in terms of style and skating.

A largely NHL squad beat a largely AHL squad last night so my enthusiasm is tempered some.
But with all the changes to the roster and coaching, I'd say they got pretty close to the highest reasonable expectation for these preseason games.
It is positive. I'm encouraged.
But we have a long way to go ...

 

[cw]

I focused on the Toronto game because that is where most of the NHLers were playing
But I did follow the Ottawa game during pauses/breaks
In this game, it was mostly Leafs AHLers against more Ottawa's NHLers.

I was intrigued to follow the dmen because Andrae and Blankenburg are upcoming decisions (mostly Blankenburg's PTO)
Blankenburg got flattened with a hit by the Leafs goal in the 2nd. Apparently, some blood was coming from his ear. He returned for the 3rd. That probably hurt his audition.
But the two dman that got most ice time were Rifai and Danford. Not so much on the PP - on PK and ES. They were a good pair during the Calder Cup playoffs. But they didn't play that much together. They played with different partners. Andre got PP and PK time along with ES. Blankenburg got PP time along with ES. Rifai assist, +1 and Danford +2 were not on for a goal against.
So good outings for Danford & Rifai. I expect Andre will make the roster. Not sure about Blankenburg as an 8th dman

Four fights - that the Leafs did well in. Two by Sim.
Lettieri led the forwards in ice time again
Tverberg got the game winner. He's not waivers exempt. Good for him.
Pretty good result for a largely AHLers squad