It’s an interesting start, one that could go either way as the season progresses. We beefed up our d, didn’t do much with our forwards and it’s depth, let our starter leave and left our goal in the hands of a couple guys that again, could go either way, and Matt Murray. It will be interesting to see what happens this season and what, if any, moves are done mid season as things progress
GooseRider960
Two interesting things of note, though I’m unsure how trustworthy Kypreos is on these:
1) He mentions the Leafs medical team “had an extended look” at Hakanpaa prior to the signing and would have signed off on it. Not sure why there’s still been a delay but that bodes well.
2) He also mentions Ryan O’Reilly tried his best to convince Trotz to trade for Marner. So if true, does that not shut down the rumours of O’Reilly not wanting to stay because of a toxic environment in the locker room, or at least, Mitch being the cause?
RareCreamer
So far, the off-season has gone pretty much the same as every Dubas off-season..
– Bring in backup quality Goalie – Sign depth defensemen – Sign aged vets. – No drastic change to the core.
Still early obviously but its business as usual.
chefjmcg
Thanks for the input, Kyper!
Anyway…
shanster925
Thanks, tips.
abantigen
I’m cautiously optimistic that a better D core will free up our forwards especially in the playoffs. Irony of having stay at home defenseman like Edmonson and Lybushkin was that everyone else had spend more time at home too.
thewolfshead
The forward group is clearly worse than last season so far, so improved D is great but they have no C depth still and haven’t replaced Bertuzzi’s 20 goals.
Purplebuzz
Kipper with the hot takes here…
thelonelywolf96
Winning more than a playoff round will be a good start.
Sacred_soul
this team looks better on paper, however i do think they’re going to play worse with thinking what’s going to happen with Marner
Medium_Well
I like how the Defence looks on paper, even if the OEL contract is a head scratcher.
I’m concerned where the goals are coming from outside of Matty and an often-streaky Nylander. We need middle six scoring. Domi helps but another shooter is needed. Guys like Jarnkrok and Kampf aren’t moving the needle on any given night.
Halyndon
I think they addressed the G and D depth, at the very least.
I have heard concerns about the O depth, and there may be some validity to that.
In the 2023-24 season, when ranking TOI by position (top 2 vs. the rest; minimum 10 GP), the Leafs overall rankings by on-ice goals/60 and game score/60 relative to the rest of the division:
Top 2 in icetime by F position (LW, C and RW):
Leafs: 5th in G/60, 5th in GS/60
Panthers: 8th in G/60, 6th in GS/60
Bruins: 13th in G/60, 17th in GS/60
Lighting: 3rd in G/60, 9th in GS/60
Senators: 21st in G/60, 18th in GS/60
Habs: 24th in G/60, 29th in GS/60
Sabres: 22nd in G/60, 20th in GS/60
Red Wings: 14th in G/60, 23rd in GS/60
Remember, the top 6 last season included Tyler Bertuzzi, who the Leafs lost this offseason.
The rest in icetime by F position:
Leafs: 13th in G/60, 13th in GS/60
Panthers: 9th in G/60, 3rd in GS/60
Bruins: 16th in G/60, 21st in GS/60
Lighting: 12th in G/60, 15th in GS/60
Senators: 25th in G/60, 22nd in GS/60
Habs: 29th in G/60, 31st in GS/60
Sabres: 26th in G/60, 18th in GS/60
Red Wings: 6th in G/60, 25th in GS/60
A lot has happened to other teams in the Atlantic this offseason, too. However, while the Leafs O depth was technically above average last season, it wasn’t by much. Unless Easton Cowan and/or Fraser Minten help the bottom 6, and/or the team makes some trades to address this, I do understand where folks are coming from regarding the team’s O depth.
Data Source: MoneyPuck
Turbo_911
Shut up, Kypreos.
CancerFreeLeafs
O’Reilly is a hockey terrorist
dicky72
i hate kypreos…. but man he’s so much better to read than to listen to so you dont have to look at his punchable face.
TorturedFanClub
Kyper is playing Captain Obvious based on the headline, lol. Improved the D id say but overall doesn’t look any better. Stolarz could be the wild card, is he better than Sammy? as well as very large Dman with knee damage (not gonna attempt to spell his name lol). Lost Bertuzzi but got Domi back. Thin up front especially at C, given Jonny’s speed nowadays. I dont think this team is a hell of a lot better than last years tbh. Arguably, its not as good as it stands right now. The teams they are trying to beat out of the division haven’t got worse and Bos got better. Tampa being shrewd, still a threat and Cup champs will be strong despite losing some good pieces. As captain obvious says, long way to go, lol.
16 Comments
It’s an interesting start, one that could go either way as the season progresses. We beefed up our d, didn’t do much with our forwards and it’s depth, let our starter leave and left our goal in the hands of a couple guys that again, could go either way, and Matt Murray. It will be interesting to see what happens this season and what, if any, moves are done mid season as things progress
Two interesting things of note, though I’m unsure how trustworthy Kypreos is on these:
1) He mentions the Leafs medical team “had an extended look” at Hakanpaa prior to the signing and would have signed off on it. Not sure why there’s still been a delay but that bodes well.
2) He also mentions Ryan O’Reilly tried his best to convince Trotz to trade for Marner. So if true, does that not shut down the rumours of O’Reilly not wanting to stay because of a toxic environment in the locker room, or at least, Mitch being the cause?
So far, the off-season has gone pretty much the same as every Dubas off-season..
– Bring in backup quality Goalie
– Sign depth defensemen
– Sign aged vets.
– No drastic change to the core.
Still early obviously but its business as usual.
Thanks for the input, Kyper!
Anyway…
Thanks, tips.
I’m cautiously optimistic that a better D core will free up our forwards especially in the playoffs. Irony of having stay at home defenseman like Edmonson and Lybushkin was that everyone else had spend more time at home too.
The forward group is clearly worse than last season so far, so improved D is great but they have no C depth still and haven’t replaced Bertuzzi’s 20 goals.
Kipper with the hot takes here…
Winning more than a playoff round will be a good start.
this team looks better on paper, however i do think they’re going to play worse with thinking what’s going to happen with Marner
I like how the Defence looks on paper, even if the OEL contract is a head scratcher.
I’m concerned where the goals are coming from outside of Matty and an often-streaky Nylander. We need middle six scoring. Domi helps but another shooter is needed. Guys like Jarnkrok and Kampf aren’t moving the needle on any given night.
I think they addressed the G and D depth, at the very least.
I have heard concerns about the O depth, and there may be some validity to that.
In the 2023-24 season, when ranking TOI by position (top 2 vs. the rest; minimum 10 GP), the Leafs overall rankings by on-ice goals/60 and game score/60 relative to the rest of the division:
Top 2 in icetime by F position (LW, C and RW):
Leafs: 5th in G/60, 5th in GS/60
Panthers: 8th in G/60, 6th in GS/60
Bruins: 13th in G/60, 17th in GS/60
Lighting: 3rd in G/60, 9th in GS/60
Senators: 21st in G/60, 18th in GS/60
Habs: 24th in G/60, 29th in GS/60
Sabres: 22nd in G/60, 20th in GS/60
Red Wings: 14th in G/60, 23rd in GS/60
Remember, the top 6 last season included Tyler Bertuzzi, who the Leafs lost this offseason.
The rest in icetime by F position:
Leafs: 13th in G/60, 13th in GS/60
Panthers: 9th in G/60, 3rd in GS/60
Bruins: 16th in G/60, 21st in GS/60
Lighting: 12th in G/60, 15th in GS/60
Senators: 25th in G/60, 22nd in GS/60
Habs: 29th in G/60, 31st in GS/60
Sabres: 26th in G/60, 18th in GS/60
Red Wings: 6th in G/60, 25th in GS/60
A lot has happened to other teams in the Atlantic this offseason, too. However, while the Leafs O depth was technically above average last season, it wasn’t by much. Unless Easton Cowan and/or Fraser Minten help the bottom 6, and/or the team makes some trades to address this, I do understand where folks are coming from regarding the team’s O depth.
Data Source: MoneyPuck
Shut up, Kypreos.
O’Reilly is a hockey terrorist
i hate kypreos…. but man he’s so much better to read than to listen to so you dont have to look at his punchable face.
Kyper is playing Captain Obvious based on the headline, lol. Improved the D id say but overall doesn’t look any better. Stolarz could be the wild card, is he better than Sammy? as well as very large Dman with knee damage (not gonna attempt to spell his name lol). Lost Bertuzzi but got Domi back. Thin up front especially at C, given Jonny’s speed nowadays. I dont think this team is a hell of a lot better than last years tbh. Arguably, its not as good as it stands right now. The teams they are trying to beat out of the division haven’t got worse and Bos got better. Tampa being shrewd, still a threat and Cup champs will be strong despite losing some good pieces. As captain obvious says, long way to go, lol.