did matthews carry the leafs to the 3rd round? didn't think so.
- daeth

Matthews had a very good year. He will see a lot tougher line match ups next year but I do not think he will experience significant deterioration in his offensive output. His performance defensively may be open to challenges but good defensive play can be learned and I think he will be okay playing against a top centre and D combination every night.

I think the East is a dogfight with almost every team making improvements. Carolina is very good with strong D and watch for Tampa and Boston to also be a lot better. All these teams will play a 1-3-1 off of a high speed counter attack. The Leafs are going to need to tighten up defensively but I think they will be okay.

I believe we will see the Rangers tank in the second half. I don't believe Montreal duplicates their fast start of the last few years and they miss badly.

Does Ottawa get another good year from Anderson? Not so sure.

Nope

Have Dermott, not far off of him.
- burn

So sad. Sometimes we just will ourselves into believing what we hope will happen.

If you listen to TSN Montreal 690 you know they go on forever about how weak the Canadiens are down the middle and how much they would like to have a centre like Kyle Turris (backed up by Pageau and Brassard). It was apparent in the series against Rangers just how feeble Montreal has become down the middle. Obviously the Sens depth at centre was one of the primary reasons the Sens took out the Rangers in 6 (Pageau, Pageau, Pageau).

For those of you who do not fully appreciate Kyle Turris you need to look at the kind of all round game played by Bergeron and Toews. Turris plays a full 200' game usually against the very best player on the opposing team. In the third period and overtime he has been a dominate player for the Sens all year. The Canadieans should be so lucky as to have a centre of Kyle Turris' calibre.
- spatso

Kadri > Turris.

Matthews had a very good year. He will see a lot tougher line match ups next year but I do not think he will experience significant deterioration in his offensive output. His performance defensively may be open to challenges but good defensive play can be learned and I think he will be okay playing against a top centre and D combination every night.

I think the East is a dogfight with almost every team making improvements. Carolina is very good with strong D and watch for Tampa and Boston to also be a lot better. All these teams will play a 1-3-1 off of a high speed counter attack. The Leafs are going to need to tighten up defensively but I think they will be okay.

I believe we will see the Rangers tank in the second half. I don't believe Montreal duplicates their fast start of the last few years and they miss badly.

Does Ottawa get another good year from Anderson? Not so sure.
- spatso

Matthews spent the entire 2nd half playing head to head against the oppositions top players, his offense didn't drop off then.

Kadri > Turris.
- BetterCallSaul

Easily, and he's not even our best center.

So sad. Sometimes we just will ourselves into believing what we hope will happen.
- spatso

Do explain.


You have spent the past year talking up chabot and how he's the saviour of the sens blue line, and how the leafs don't have anything coming to help their d.

Their numbers are pretty similar, but somehow the guy in the chl is better than the guy in the ahl and closer to the nhl.


If you think that ANYONE would trade nylander for chabot you're a bigger retard than anyone thinks.

If you listen to TSN Montreal 690 you know they go on forever about how weak the Canadiens are down the middle and how much they would like to have a centre like Kyle Turris (backed up by Pageau and Brassard). It was apparent in the series against Rangers just how feeble Montreal has become down the middle. Obviously the Sens depth at centre was one of the primary reasons the Sens took out the Rangers in 6 (Pageau, Pageau, Pageau).

For those of you who do not fully appreciate Kyle Turris you need to look at the kind of all round game played by Bergeron and Toews. Turris plays a full 200' game usually against the very best player on the opposing team. In the third period and overtime he has been a dominate player for the Sens all year. The Canadieans should be so lucky as to have a centre of Kyle Turris' calibre.
- spatso

I don't listen to 690 and I don't think you quite understand what I was suggesting but probably because you are legitimately retarded.

Seriously. I know that you have a good hockey mind and sometimes you can be highly insightful.

Ottawa has committed to building around Karlsson and playing a counter attacking game off of a 1-3-1. Nothing special in playing a 1-3-1, most teams follow that approach, Ottawa is better than most.

But, Ottawa has invested in building a strong D with the ability to drive the play from the back end. They have two players in Chabot and Harpur they believe will make the team out of training camp next year. They have two more in Englund and Jaros that they believe are not far off in playing in the NHL.

I think the Sens want Phaneuf for at least one more year. He was an extremely positive influence on the young guys throughout the playoffs and I have no doubt that the Sens would not make it past Boston or the Rangers without the outstanding play and leadership of Phaneuf.

With the young guys they will be adding next year I think it is imperative that they keep Phaneuf. I believe the Sens will move Methot + for more offence. Many believe Claesson was Ottawa's 2nd best playoff Dman and I believe he will be paired with Karlsson next season. Dorion believes White makes the team and Brown has a very good shot at making the team out of training camp as well.
- spatso

SUMMER TALK!
That's some strong Kool-aid you're drinking.

SUMMER TALK!
That's some strong Kool-aid you're drinking.
- daws44

Only leafs fan guilty of summer talk. What spatso is doing is being reasonable and not over estimating anything.

All leafs regress, all sens who are old and broken down get better next year. All leafs prospects who are on their way who outperformed Sens prospects suck and aren't going to amount to anything and sens prospects who performed mediocre are sure fire nhlers (next year) going to make big impact and save the sens.

Summer talk only exists for leafs

Do you think they'd trade Matthews for Karlsson?
- PhillySportsGuy

It would address needs for both teams, but I don't think either fanbase would like this trade.......Plus the age difference would be an issue, and something else would have to be included.

Matthews had a very good year. He will see a lot tougher line match ups next year but I do not think he will experience significant deterioration in his offensive output. His performance defensively may be open to challenges but good defensive play can be learned and I think he will be okay playing against a top centre and D combination every night.

I think the East is a dogfight with almost every team making improvements. Carolina is very good with strong D and watch for Tampa and Boston to also be a lot better. All these teams will play a 1-3-1 off of a high speed counter attack. The Leafs are going to need to tighten up defensively but I think they will be okay.

I believe we will see the Rangers tank in the second half. I don't believe Montreal duplicates their fast start of the last few years and they miss badly.

Does Ottawa get another good year from Anderson? Not so sure.
- spatso

Matthews far exceeded most peoples expectations this season, even though the style of play toronto uses allows offensive minded players to rack up points........ Matthews is the real deal, and will only get better the more he's challenged ............ at least that is what I think based on the amount of time I saw him play (vs Ottawa) and seeing him in the highlights almost every night.

It would address needs for both teams, but I don't think either fanbase would like this trade.......Plus the age difference would be an issue, and something else would have to be included.
- D0PPELGANGER

I don't think thebleafs would consider it, even with karlson and a first. that 28th pick is nothing special.

Do explain.


You have spent the past year talking up chabot and how he's the saviour of the sens blue line, and how the leafs don't have anything coming to help their d.

Their numbers are pretty similar, but somehow the guy in the chl is better than the guy in the ahl and closer to the nhl.


If you think that ANYONE would trade nylander for chabot you're a bigger retard than anyone thinks.
- burn

From what I've seen, and heard (pundits) Nylander could very well develop into a #1 center, but he is on the same team as Matthews who, if he's not now, will be very soon, the leafs #1 center.

The leafs have a huge gaping hole on defense, and desperately needs PP QB for the future, and Chabot looks to be heading in the direction.

Somewhere in the near future the leafs are going to have to address this need, and will have to make a trade to acquire a PP QB .......... and wee Willy Nylander would bring that desperately needed asset to the leafs.

Hey, the Oilers had to deal away a couple of their highly coveted players, who were high draft picks, to get to the next level, and the leafs will have to do the same.

I don't think thebleafs would consider it, even with karlson and a first. that 28th pick is nothing special.
- prock

Well if you were the leafs GM, you would not even take Karlsson for free, so your opinion does not really even matter.

Well if you were the leafs GM, you would not even take Karlsson for free, so your opinion does not really even matter.
- D0PPELGANGER

awww, so funny to see you pout.

From what I've seen, and heard (pundits) Nylander could very well develop into a #1 center, but he is on the same team as Matthews who, if he's not now, will be very soon, the leafs #1 center.

The leafs have a huge gaping hole on defense, and desperately needs PP QB for the future, and Chabot looks to be heading in the direction.

Somewhere in the near future the leafs are going to have to address this need, and will have to make a trade to acquire a PP QB .......... and wee Willy Nylander would bring that desperately needed asset to the leafs.

Hey, the Oilers had to deal away a couple of their highly coveted players, who were high draft picks, to get to the next level, and the leafs will have to do the same.
- D0PPELGANGER

Yep. Leafs 2nd ranked PP last year surely needs a PP QB.
Be better.
Try harder.

From what I've seen, and heard (pundits) Nylander could very well develop into a #1 center, but he is on the same team as Matthews who, if he's not now, will be very soon, the leafs #1 center.

The leafs have a huge gaping hole on defense, and desperately needs PP QB for the future, and Chabot looks to be heading in the direction.

Somewhere in the near future the leafs are going to have to address this need, and will have to make a trade to acquire a PP QB .......... and wee Willy Nylander would bring that desperately needed asset to the leafs.

Hey, the Oilers had to deal away a couple of their highly coveted players, who were high draft picks, to get to the next level, and the leafs will have to do the same.
- D0PPELGANGER

The team with 2nd best pp% needs a pp qb? Da (frank).

I think Reilly. ( who didn't get much pp min) and gardiner and zaitsev are just fine for the pp. leafs need to play better in their own zone, not another pp specialist.

Yep. Leafs 2nd ranked PP last year surely needs a PP QB.
Be better.
Try harder.
- daws44

exactly.
the leafs use 4f 1d and do not run the PP from the point.

I forget who wrote on it, but I read a good breakdown on how the leafs PP works.
the better PPs have gotten away from the big point shots, instead getting the pucks in from the sides to create high % chances instead of long Point shots

edit: found it, Dellow of course, I like this work

https://theathletic.com/3...-the-nhls-top-power-play/

exactly.
the leafs use 4f 1d and do not run the PP from the point.

I forget who wrote on it, but I read a good breakdown on how the leafs PP works.
the better PPs have gotten away from the big point shots, instead getting the pucks in from the sides to create high % chances instead of long Point shots

edit: found it, Dellow of course, I like this work

https://theathletic.com/3...-the-nhls-top-power-play/
- senstroll

Can’t read it, but the leafs run a 1-3-1 PP aside from deploying only 1 dman.

You need a dynamic quick skater at the top of the 1-3-1. One of the reasons phanuef was useless as a leaf, he is only able to run an outdated PP model.

From what I've seen, and heard (pundits) Nylander could very well develop into a #1 center, but he is on the same team as Matthews who, if he's not now, will be very soon, the leafs #1 center.

The leafs have a huge gaping hole on defense, and desperately needs PP QB for the future, and Chabot looks to be heading in the direction.

Somewhere in the near future the leafs are going to have to address this need, and will have to make a trade to acquire a PP QB .......... and wee Willy Nylander would bring that desperately needed asset to the leafs.

Hey, the Oilers had to deal away a couple of their highly coveted players, who were high draft picks, to get to the next level, and the leafs will have to do the same.
- D0PPELGANGER

the leafs will need to acquire a legit top 4 dman, which is why they won't be looking at chabot.

SUMMER TALK!
That's some strong Kool-aid you're drinking.
- daws44

Logan Brown regresses in junior, but has a good shot at making the sens.

he's not drinking kool-aid. what's funny about the sens is this is how they operate.

Logan Brown regresses in junior, but has a good shot at making the sens.

he's not drinking kool-aid. what's funny about the sens is this is how they operate.
- Tumbleweed

Led the team

Led the team
- burn

in busts?

You honestly believe I would give up the leafs roster to take the Sens roster for one year of a flukey run to the conference finals ???

All you won is the 28th pick, so you could stay firmly on that road to mediocrity.

No one is going to write ballads about the legendary 2017 Senators... especially when every hockey fan everywhere knows that you had everything break your way this season.
- Aetherial

- D0PPELGANGER

This is most likely what you're tax dollars go towards.