didnt watch the game. was curlin again.

Nice to see washed up JT score a hatty

Jacob Stoller
@JLStoller
More hats were thrown for John Tavares' hat trick than Kyle Connor's. #Journalism
- gravyface

I saw afterward that Connor did not get the trick last night

26-17 for Leafs at even strength. That's great.

6-15 in other situations. That's ass.

Fix special teams and discipline and you've got a couple extra wins.

Chef Boyardee ravioli to my face

26-17 for Leafs at even strength. That's great.

6-15 in other situations. That's ass.

Fix special teams and discipline and you've got a couple extra wins.
- The Law

I have concerns with the discipline comment. People will call it bias, and perhaps it is, but early in any season I'm less involved and more objective. I know by the playoffs I'm not a particularly objective participant in any Leaf game, but at the start of the year my investment level is a lot more analytical, but still obviously has bias - if you know what I mean.

So first of all, your baseline statement is one we'd all agree with - the power play is 9.4%, and sits 29th in the league; the penalty kill is 80.5% and sits 13th. Winnipeg had managed their early success this year by having the #1 PP and #4 PK. The Leafs, as you note, if they were in the top-10 in these two areas would likely be sporting a much more impressive record.

That said, the Leafs are 30th out of 32 teams in penalty differential at -8 through 10 games. Only Utah and San Jose at -10 are worse. In 10 games the Leafs have received more penalties than the opposition 7 times and more power plays twice (vs. LA both teams had 4 opportunities - and the Leafs had the advantage 3-2 against the Rangers and 4-2 against the Blues).

So at first blush discipline makes sense, but I'm frustrated watching the calls going against OEL, for instance. These are hits that happen all the time elsewhere and are never called. There have been a few chincy calls against Benoit or McCabe - and this season is only 10 games old. I feel like the refs go into situations looking to call penalties, see what they want to see and then later in the game feel that it's been managed enough and that a "penalty" in the first is no longer a penalty in the third.

Now it's always sort of been that way, but it seems like the Leafs have made an effort to get just a little tougher and play hockey "the right way" and as such the league has decided to take note and look for more things to call against them.

Everyone feeling better?

I have concerns with the discipline comment. People will call it bias, and perhaps it is, but early in any season I'm less involved and more objective. I know by the playoffs I'm not a particularly objective participant in any Leaf game, but at the start of the year my investment level is a lot more analytical, but still obviously has bias - if you know what I mean.

So first of all, your baseline statement is one we'd all agree with - the power play is 9.4%, and sits 29th in the league; the penalty kill is 80.5% and sits 13th. Winnipeg had managed their early success this year by having the #1 PP and #4 PK. The Leafs, as you note, if they were in the top-10 in these two areas would likely be sporting a much more impressive record.

That said, the Leafs are 30th out of 32 teams in penalty differential at -8 through 10 games. Only Utah and San Jose at -10 are worse. In 10 games the Leafs have received more penalties than the opposition 7 times and more power plays twice (vs. LA both teams had 4 opportunities - and the Leafs had the advantage 3-2 against the Rangers and 4-2 against the Blues).

So at first blush discipline makes sense, but I'm frustrated watching the calls going against OEL, for instance. These are hits that happen all the time elsewhere and are never called. There have been a few chincy calls against Benoit or McCabe - and this season is only 10 games old. I feel like the refs go into situations looking to call penalties, see what they want to see and then later in the game feel that it's been managed enough and that a "penalty" in the first is no longer a penalty in the third.

Now it's always sort of been that way, but it seems like the Leafs have made an effort to get just a little tougher and play hockey "the right way" and as such the league has decided to take note and look for more things to call against them.
- Monkeypunk

The bolded rings true, and it's been that way for a looong time.

Chef Boyardee ravioli to my face
- Zezel

Really?

I loved it as a kid.

Tried to eat it with my kids about 10 years ago.

Good lord, it was disgusting.

Chef Boyardee ravioli to my face
- Zezel

That's a nice "breakfast"...?

😂🤷‍♂️

Everyone feeling better?
- Fakepartofme

Well, after the previous loss I killed myself; I'm now posting as a ghost. Boooooooooowooooo scaaaaryyy ghots Gooooo LEaaaaffsss gooooooooooohhhhhhhhh

Really?

I loved it as a kid.

Tried to eat it with my kids about 10 years ago.

Good lord, it was disgusting.
- Atomic Wedgie

I'm disgusting.

That's a nice "breakfast"...?

😂🤷‍♂️
- fifty__missions

I've been up for days.

Hot Leafs tickets tip:

They schedule Hallowe'en games every once in a while.

Season ticket holders dump these tix.

So if you are looking for cheap tickets, and don't have trick or treat duties, this is a prime game to go to.

Don't buy your tickets until 5 pm on October 31st.

Hot Leafs tickets tip:

They schedule Hallowe'en games every once in a while.

Season ticket holders dump these tix.

So if you are looking for cheap tickets, and don't have trick or treat duties, this is a prime game to go to.

Don't buy your tickets until 5 pm on October 31st.
- Atomic Wedgie

They're playing the stupid dumbass Kraken that night too, (frank)ing scumbags.

didnt watch the game. was curlin again.

Nice to see washed up JT score a hatty
- senstroll

JT has 30 points in his last 29 games.

And there are people who don't even want to give him 3M.

JT has 30 points in his last 29 games.
- Santo_44

pretty pretty good for a 3rd liner

I've been up for days.
- Zezel

Why? Go to bed.

didnt watch the game. was curlin again.

Nice to see washed up JT score a hatty
- senstroll

Ya thankfully hes only taking $3m per on his next contract
Lol

JT has 30 points in his last 29 games.

And there are people who don't even want to give him 3M.
- Santo_44

76% in the faceoff circle last night

Ya thankfully hes only taking $3m per on his next contract
Lol
- Fakepartofme

well obv he will have to talk to Mitch to see how much of a discount he needs to take so mitch can get the rest

pretty pretty good for a 3rd liner
- senstroll

yet the top C so far

Reaves had 9 shifts last night, for 5:27 of ice time.

Surely we can dress someone in his place who has more to contribute.

Reaves had 9 shifts last night, for 5:27 of ice time.

Surely we can dress someone in his place who has more to contribute.
- Atomic Wedgie

Kampf had 2 more mins played at a 2.5M cap hit.

Chef Boyardee ravioli to my face
- Zezel

Ever since i started making homemade ravioli with the gf, store bought ones just dont even come close.
Specially the boyardee slop, you dirty boy

JT has 30 points in his last 29 games.

And there are people who don't even want to give him 3M.
- Santo_44

This is sort of the pinnacle of recency bias. He had a great game yesterday - there's no denying it. He even has 9 points in 9 games now, so he is getting his points. Mitch Marner leads the team in points and everyone wants him traded because he makes the occasional mistake.

Tavares, for him getting points - and being realistic about it - is still very slow, poor on defense and requires linemates that are going to pick him up a fair bit in order to allow him to be successful (and this is basically true of anyone who isn't McDavid, but JT will suffer defensively and on the forecheck if there aren't wingers doing more of that lifting for him). Is he worth more than $3m? Yeah, probably. But how much more? How much does a declining scorer fetch when he doesn't bring other value to the table like PK, checking or forechecking?

Trying to be objective about JT I don't think I'd want to give him more than $4.5m, even if he's worth it in the short-term. Nashville gave Stamkos $7m and I doubt they're thrilled with that decision so far.