The Signings

[hobarth]

Bertuzzi-$5.5 mil. per for 1 year- This is possibly a great signing, he has the right qualities to help TO considerably in the playoffs however his ability to remain healthy has been an issue his entire NHL career. 30 points, last year, in 50 games were his lowest PPG total in 4 years, his type of game takes a toll on his body so this is a definite we'll see signing. LW/RW, TO needs quality LWs so I expect he'd be best with JT and Marner.

Reaves-WTF?

Domi-$3 mil. for 1 season- I, like most Leaf fans, wanted TO to draft him, at the pay level TO will pay him I think TO should be alrite. Keep hearing how crappy he is at defending but I see he's had seasons of +20 and +8 so it looks like his results are like most players, dependent on who he plays with. He's more set up man than goal scorer and he's listed as a LW so I wonder if he'd be a good fit with AM and Willie?

Klingberg-$4.15 mil. for 1 year- Is this an overpay, it's less than he's made in 7 years. He has trouble playing 70 games and the word is he's declining rapidly and defending has never been his forte but his offense has made up for this. I do see that when he was younger his d stats were far better and that was basically with the same team. It's going to be interesting with him, will he become the new Gardiner.

Except for Reaves, I don't mind these signings, the Gambrell and Jones signings are depth signings so hopefully will have little affect on TO. 

The forwards left over from the ones I've mentioned are Kampf, Jarnkrok, Lafferty, Knies, Holmberg with Gambrell and Reaves also available in the bottom 6 forward lines, not the types of names/games that will scare opponents in any way, it's a weak group, we need Knies to develop rapidly. 

 

[hobarth]

[Let?s start with looking at David Kampf, who most recently is coming off an absolutely brutal 11-game playoff stretch. The Leafs? defensive specialist had a 41% Corsi For, 45% Goals For, and 39% Expected Goals For in the playoffs. All numbers were significantly down from what he had in the regular season. Some of the change has to do with linemates and utilization. The regular season largely had Kampf in that third-line role with Pierre Engvall and Zach Aston-Reese as his most frequent linemates, Alex Kerfoot being the next most significant player. The Engvall trade meant Kampf was playing with someone new and he didn?t find an immediate groove with Sam Lafferty as Pierre Engvall?s replacement. Other than that, the linemates were fairly similar, but at times Kampf would be deployed as the fourth line rather than the third depending on how O?Reilly was being utilized. Interestingly enough the defensive unit of Brodie and McCabe that Kampf worked with most frequently in the playoffs was an upgrade over Giordano and Holl, but given that Brodie also struggled in the playoffs, maybe it?s more of a team effort when it came to the decline than hanging it on just one or two players.

Still, Kampf looked a bit exposed as a potential shutdown centre and the case has to be made that he likely needs to be right-sized away from at least top lines as well as stronger second lines going forward, and this is what has me questioning if Kampf is still the right 3C option.

https://theleafsnation.com/news/do-maple-leafs-try-something-different-with-3c-spot/quote]

Kampf was only credible as TO's #3 center with Engvall, his results without him screamed I'm not a #3. Resigning Kampf was a brutal decision, resigning him to even more $s was insane, $2.4 mil. for an at best #4 center, is a prime example of why TO's bottom 6 can't support a true Cup contender.

If TO continues to use Kampf as the #3 center, I will be surprised if he can get half of the points he had last year and I'll truly be surprised if he can again post positive +/- numbers. Engvall was the reason for the success of that 3rd line last year with Jarnkrok and Kampf.

It going to another sweet year because of the top 4 forwards and another brief playoff appearance. 

 

[dappleganger]

Bertuzzi-$5.5 mil. per for 1 year- This is possibly a great signing, he has the right qualities to help TO considerably in the playoffs however his ability to remain healthy has been an issue his entire NHL career. 30 points, last year, in 50 games were his lowest PPG total in 4 years, his type of game takes a toll on his body so this is a definite we'll see signing. LW/RW, TO needs quality LWs so I expect he'd be best with JT and Marner.

I think he'd be a great fit with JT and Marner. I could see them meshing well.

Reaves-WTF?

Completely agree. Reminds me of when the Leafs had Colton. Ok guy and player but he had nowhere to play. Maybe Reaves can play on the 4th line with two of the young guys and create some havoc? I dunno. I'll be upset if the Reaves money means the Leafs will have to give up Timmins who might be more valuable to the team.
 

Domi-$3 mil. for 1 season- I, like most Leaf fans, wanted TO to draft him, at the pay level TO will pay him I think TO should be alrite. Keep hearing how crappy he is at defending but I see he's had seasons of +20 and +8 so it looks like his results are like most players, dependent on who he plays with. He's more set up man than goal scorer and he's listed as a LW so I wonder if he'd be a good fit with AM and Willie?

How about Domi on a line with K?mpf and Willy?

K?mpf can be there for defensive abilities and grind in the corners. Domi is a great set up and can feed Willy. I think it could be a well-rounded line. 

Klingberg-$4.15 mil. for 1 year- Is this an overpay, it's less than he's made in 7 years. He has trouble playing 70 games and the word is he's declining rapidly and defending has never been his forte but his offense has made up for this. I do see that when he was younger his d stats were far better and that was basically with the same team. It's going to be interesting with him, will he become the new Gardiner.

I know why Toronto makes this signing, they think Klingberg can exit the zone, something that was on sad display last playoffs. We'll see how it goes but my biggest criticism of the move is I would have desperately wanted Matt Dumba at $3.9m than Klingberg at $4.1m but alas, that might not have been available.

Except for Reaves, I don't mind these signings, the Gambrell and Jones signings are depth signings so hopefully will have little affect on TO. 

Yep, depth. Hopefully it won't matter.

The forwards left over from the ones I've mentioned are Kampf, Jarnkrok, Lafferty, Knies, Holmberg with Gambrell and Reaves also available in the bottom 6 forward lines, not the types of names/games that will scare opponents in any way, it's a weak group, we need Knies to develop rapidly.

I saw enough from Knies last playoffs, I'm a true believer. Put the two Arizona kids together. Worked the last time the Leafs put a left wing with Matthews with almost no NHL experience.

 

[hobarth]

Sheldon Keefe has been resigned, this was a toughie to understand, TO does well/great in the regular season, come playoff time not so great.

Resigning Keefe suggests to me that the powers that be are satisfied, this surprises me because of the potential gate revenue that could be realized if TO did better in the playoffs, this would be an issue with most clubs?

I've read that supported coaches elicit greater responsibility from players, I'm talking about a coach that has security which extending Keefe provides, sort of.

Wouldn't extending a coach mean also that everyone is content so the players themselves can also be content, wouldn't not extending Keefe conversely also mean that things aren't perfect and that he and the players are being held to a greater future or else?

I believe Keefe still had this year left on his contract so what was the hurry to extend him, what message does that truly send. 

 

[hobarth]

Matt Dumba signed with Arizona for $3.9 mil. for 1 year, I wonder if he'd have signed for even less to possibly be on a Cup contender?

I think he would be viewed as better than Klingberg overall, he's had decent stats and plays physically, he has been compared to Phanny but he's smaller.

Let's just say that TO might have been able to sign him for $3mil., and also let's say Kampf was resigned for $1.5 mil. which matched his previous contract, that would be the same money TO will be paying out for Kampf and Jarnkrok this year.

I'm pretty sure Dumba would be an upgrade on either of those two while also being more physical, this is the types of possibilities TO will miss in the future because of bad contracts. Dumba by the way is a RD, I could easily see him replacing Brodie or Lily.

Rielly/Dumba

Brodie/Klingberg

Gio or Tim/McCabe

This looks more like a Cup contending d, not perfect but promising, I say.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

How is Dumba, a defensemen, an upgrade over two forwards?

 

[hobarth]

How is Dumba, a defensemen, an upgrade over two forwards?

How isn't it?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I know why Toronto makes this signing, they think Klingberg can exit the zone, something that was on sad display last playoffs. We'll see how it goes but my biggest criticism of the move is I would have desperately wanted Matt Dumba at $3.9m than Klingberg at $4.1m but alas, that might not have been available.

For whatever its worth there were reports that the Leafs went after Dumba but couldn't make a deal early in free agency. I think him vs. Klingberg is probably a bit of a coin flip. At their potential current peaks I think I take Klingberg, but Dumba's floor is higher.

 

[yuzisee]

It's only been one regular season game, but Klingberg was on the ice every time the Leafs scored a goal last night.

 

[herman]

It's only been one regular season game, but Klingberg was on the ice every time the Leafs scored a goal last night.

He looks awkward defensively (contested retrievals, blueline gap plays), but his puck touches are impeccable. When he scoops a puck, he already has a plan for where and who to send it to, and it gets there with pace. Gregor's goal was a quick up to give him lots of time and space, and Matthews' tying goal doesn't happen without Klingberg's blueline stop on the clearing attempt. And he's got some experience from tournaments playing with Nylander.

https://x.com/RinkRatReport/status/1712263441296027956
That quick little glance up ice once he read the bounce off the boards...
https://x.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1712284283996389803
https://x.com/RinkRatReport/status/1712268968004579477
Look at Marner conducting the play from everyone's blind spot

 

[herman]

The RHD on PP1 can give us a redux of the 2016/17 Tim Hunter PP unit that lit the lamp up almost automatically:
Zaitsev
Marner-Kadri-Bozak
JvR

to

Klingberg
Marner-Matthews-Nylander
Tavares

Matthews is always going to be shaded a bit more heavily, so that opens up room for Nylander's shot (RD to RH one-timer from left wall)

 

[cw]

The RHD on PP1 can give us a redux of the 2016/17 Tim Hunter PP unit that lit the lamp up almost automatically:
Zaitsev
Marner-Kadri-Bozak
JvR

to

Klingberg
Marner-Matthews-Nylander
Tavares

Matthews is always going to be shaded a bit more heavily, so that opens up room for Nylander's shot (RD to RH one-timer from left wall)

Beyond that, a big improvement over last season is the 2nd PP:

Rielly
Domi/Jarnkrok-Bertuzzi
Liljegren (I like Knies better to hang out in front of the net)

Maybe:
Rielly
Domi/Jarnkrok-Bertuzzi
Knies

I think that group is likely to contribute more than last year's group

Naturally, they might mix/swap some with the 1st group

PK may have some challenges ...

 

[Bullfrog]

Matthews is always going to be shaded a bit more heavily, so that opens up room for Nylander's shot (RD to RH one-timer from left wall)

If Nylander ever comes off the top power-play unit, I'm quitting for real.

I mean it.


For real.
(probably not, but still)

 

[rdowdall]

The RHD on PP1 can give us a redux of the 2016/17 Tim Hunter PP unit that lit the lamp up almost automatically:
Zaitsev
Marner-Kadri-Bozak
JvR

to

Klingberg
Marner-Matthews-Nylander
Tavares

Matthews is always going to be shaded a bit more heavily, so that opens up room for Nylander's shot (RD to RH one-timer from left wall)

Beyond that, a big improvement over last season is the 2nd PP:

Rielly
Domi/Jarnkrok-Bertuzzi
Liljegren (I like Knies better to hang out in front of the net)

Maybe:
Rielly
Domi/Jarnkrok-Bertuzzi
Knies

I think that group is likely to contribute more than last year's group

Naturally, they might mix/swap some with the 1st group

PK may have some challenges ...

I would replace Jarnkrok with Liljegren in that second alignment, and that looks good.  I like the two d-man approach on the second unit.

 

[herman]

Additional single game evaluations that are not entirely meaningful:
Reaves: he's ok.
Domi: kind of bad, like worse Kerfoot, what does he even do other than give away the puck and take penalties?
Bertuzzi: a passenger, and a bit of a weird style of play which might be better suited for a grindy line;
Gregor: easy plug and play winger, but limited offensively

Knies: ok-ish but struggled with the pace at times; falls down a lot; works better with Tavares
Minten: ok-ish but struggled with the pace at times as expected; adjusting with experience

 

[herman]

Matthews is always going to be shaded a bit more heavily, so that opens up room for Nylander's shot (RD to RH one-timer from left wall)

If Nylander ever comes off the top power-play unit, I'm quitting for real.

I mean it.


For real.
(probably not, but still)

I have to contend with the reality that he will one day retire.

During his last contract situation, he got hella tanked up just working out and waiting to play; it slowed him down significantly on top of being behind gamespeed starting up in Dec. But since then, that strength has helped him gain more ice when there was no space before. And his speed is picking back up these last couple of seasons, so Willy has just been casually carving up NZ/OZs when he wants to.

 

[ZBBM]

Matthews is always going to be shaded a bit more heavily, so that opens up room for Nylander's shot (RD to RH one-timer from left wall)

If Nylander ever comes off the top power-play unit, I'm quitting for real.

I mean it.


For real.
(probably not, but still)

I have to contend with the reality that he will one day retire.

During his last contract situation, he got hella tanked up just working out and waiting to play; it slowed him down significantly on top of being behind gamespeed starting up in Dec. But since then, that strength has helped him gain more ice when there was no space before. And his speed is picking back up these last couple of seasons, so Willy has just been casually carving up NZ/OZs when he wants to.

You know, just some friendly advice here, but you ought to find a player in the Leafs lineup who you really like and then follow him closely.  It would add to your enjoyment.

 

[herman]

https://x.com/mapleleafs/status/1713345088317796392
Should probably re-sign the guy that can do this against one of the best defensive forwards left in the league

 

[yuzisee]

Domi: kind of bad, like worse Kerfoot, what does he even do other than give away the puck and take penalties?

The best part about Domi is that Keefe isn't afraid to demote/bench him. With Kerfoot it seemed like he was always being promoted for no reason. He even played one playoffs on the first line with M&M.

 

[herman]

Domi: kind of bad, like worse Kerfoot, what does he even do other than give away the puck and take penalties?

The best part about Domi is that Keefe isn't afraid to demote/bench him. With Kerfoot it seemed like he was always being promoted for no reason. He even played one playoffs on the first line with M&M.

Kerfoot was defensively reliable. Domi is not, so much easier to demote/bench, I think.

Some of the worry about the roster this season was the loss of defensive forwards (Kerfoot, Engvall, Acciari, O?Reilly), with the hope that the new additions would boost the offense enough to offset it.

So far, Matthews being healthy has done the job almost on its own.