James Mirtle, Senior Managing Editor with The Athletic, joins JD Bunkis to get into the biggest Maple Leafs’ stories going into the All-Star break.
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31 Comments
Leafs 2nd half of schedule looks tougher than 1st half. Their defense and goaltending will determine if they make the playoffs
It's so easy to assume the bad games started with the goalie BUT maybe JD's got it backwards here—and maybe we've ALL had it backwards. Maybe this season the ugly goals happened because the defense was so abysmal it caused a severe sense of insecurity in Samsonov's headspace which is what undermined his confidence. I recall McCabe and Brodie making bonehead mistakes all season which led to goals against. One time Liljegren was skating slowly with the puck behind the net and inconceivably fell without being hit or threatened in any way. The puck ends up with the opposition and before you know it, it's in our net. Naturally Craig Simpson offers the standard old trope, "He's gotta have that one," with no mention of the professional defenseman who can't skate over minor ruts in the ice. I saw these kind of AHL-ish defensive breakdowns routinely and would think to myself, "Oh my God don't leaf fans see this stuff? Are they completely blind? Leaf fans can't be as blind as the play by play commentators, can they? What I'm saying is I think you could make an argument that Sammy on a more well-rounded team might not have even had such a hard time this year, but what do I know—I'm by no means an expert—just a passionate fanboy. I seem to recall Jones having some hard nights too when the defense was asleep with his body language betraying a serious annoyance with his teammates.
Obviously #35 looked pretty bad at times. I just wonder that this team, as it's presently built, might mess with any goaltender's psychology. This defense is messing with my psychology!
The leafs win 3 games and now everyone thinks this team is great lmao WE ARE 4th in the division!!!
Sell the UFA's for picks and young assets. Look, this team isn't built for the playoffs. From the list of players that could be available they aren't difference makers on this team. More old UFA's rentals didn't do it over the past 7yrs and cost this team to many picks and prospects. It would be best to wait until the summer to make some deals..
Sammy’s father came over to have a chat . I think that could have been the most important thing
I think the break will be good for samsonov because your coming off 3 big wins all positives so all week you only have positive mind set
GREAT Podcast Guy's
Could you imagine if this Leaf team could win a playoff series this spring – say against Florida or the Bruins? How will Leaf fans who identify heavily with Leafs success (in that case) feel about themselves?
Also, say if 1) Mathews scores 70 goals and 2) the Leafs win another playoff series – will that be enough for Leaf fans to be content with their Leafs? Some Leaf fans, at least, are now becoming more realistic – as they no longer expect to see this Leaf core 4 – contend for a Stanley Cup. 😀
Bunkis I think you are the worst leaf fan ever!!
I like Mirtle, but added very little to this conversation imo.
I like the idea of a Adam Henrique as a 3rd line center and on the pk..problem is, the cap hit..you would have to get a 3rd team involved to eat some of his salary, but it would really bolster this teams bottom 6 in the short term. I'm still not convinced acquiring Henrique and Tanev would turn this team into a cup contender though. Imo they need to make a bigger splash, like with one of the "core four" so they can fill out the roster with more balance. Until that happens, they aren't cup contenders.
Is Mirtle high? We already have a defensive forward – it’s David Kampf and we are paying him 2+ million!!!!!!
I actually liked this conversation I know how I’d approach it if im Treliving.
The Leafs dont have lines! They have shifts with variou players. The Leafs needed a new ciach last year! Keefe is not a good enough coach! He never was or ever will be. And Dumbas destroyed Toronto trading away draft picks and giving away players like Rasmus Sandin! And Shanahan was going to keep Dumbass and Keefe and do nothing!!!
It would have been better if the Leafs lost twice to the Jets!
Matthews is a great goal scorer but not a great center! Hed be better at 30 goals and 30 assists! But the he doesnt have a line! The Leafs dont have lines they have shifts!
Stop blamijg the players and start looking at how they are being coached
And if not the coach (who is way overrated) then look at what dumbass Dubas did to destroy the Leafs by ruining their lineup and then blame Shanahan because this idiot was keeping both Dumbass and no line Keefe
But you could trade Marner!!!
New coach and Nylander at center!
Tavares the 3rd line center
Stop blsming Brodie!!! Screw that bs
Lets not talk about Bertuzzi's lack of goals! Nobody knoes what line he(s on plus Keefe doesnt plsy him right!
The Leafs would be better gettijg two young defensemen and one young forward while moving Nylander to center and getting a NEW COACH!
Hey Mirtle…stop talking ahoutctradijg Robertson! Hes the very depth sniper we need
Toronto should trade for Luke Schenn!!!
The record still belongs to Gordie Howe when you include WHA
Taveras is 3rd line! Nylander is 2nd line center
The Leafs dont need 33 year old players!
Trade Marner and Liligren to the Predoters for Reilly, Schenn, Barrie and their 2nd round draft pick…oh and get rid of Keefe
Add a couple dman luke schenn completly changed the team last year so if they pick up 2 tough stay at home dman they will have a much better chance