The Leafs Convo: Why Travis Dermott’s on thin ice, and the Leafs with much to prove, little to move

We still need a real money goalie and a right Dman

Dermot is fine and he just needs time.

Thanks guys ,,wow Mike you don't look nearly your age .
And remember since covid we had 0 flu deaths 0 old age deaths 0 heart attack deaths ect....
Turn off the TV.. all this goes away...
Covid survival rate according to CDC latest numbers including nursing home debacles and co-morbidity ,and were taken before advances in treatments and therapeutics..
0-19 99.997 %
20-49 99.98 %
50-69 99.5 %
70+ 94.6 %
That's the survival rates for someone who has been infected with "covid 19"

Dermot will only get better and they don't come any better character wise with the way he handled this new contract.

Still no goalie and a right Dman. Freddy Andersen is a bum and come the playoffs he can't stop a beach ball. Darcy KUEMPER is worth a shot. Manson, savard, weegar, hamonic, pk subban. Chara,

I love the recent leaf moves... this team finally has some grit! And Some serious vet leadership.
I think they may be a mid-season or deadline move once they see how the first 40 games go!
(when the first 40 games go) Hopefully, the new guys won't be 13 months older when we get to watch them play!

Wait a minute Norman.... I love wendle, but he has never beaten the crap out of anyone! He hit people three times and held on for the linesmen to rescue him! It was epic!

LOL

I don't think people get the problem that existed that prevented the Leafs from being better and what their issues are. I don't know why they think that the issue was strictily financial and paying someone 3-4 million AAV for 4 years instead of a vet who produces at the same rate and is more gritty and effective defensively is the key to winning a cup and having franchise talent is team destroying but it's strange.
The Leafs issues were a lack of balanced role players and a lack of ability to shut teams down without the puck. They didn't have the grit or the defensive ability to push the play and keep the play in the offensive zone. It wasn't just a lack of a top right Dman. It was a lack of defensive play by the team including the forwards. It's not about fighting it's about finishing big checks and forcing turnovers. Taking ice away from the other team and making them nervous to go into high risk areas.
How effective this lastest group is now is about Keefe's ability to use the skillset, size and ability this team has to create a system that makes this team work as a more cohesive unit.
My guess would be that the two top lines are going to get a lot more minutes and the minutes the third and fourth line get are going to be shorter much harder minutes. Be physical, wear opponents down, and keep them from getting comfortable and don't let them hold on to the puck. It will be interesting to see how keefe does now that he's got time to build and have a system down and how effective that system is. Dubas built the team he invisioned now it's up to Keefe to put that vision into practice. This season will determine how effective they both are.

This team is way less skilled but let’s no pretend like that got us anywhere. A few key points for me:

AJ barely played last year I don’t count him as a loss.

Mikheyev (butchered that I know) barely played either, will be nice to see a full season from him

Robertson is a huge wildcard. Could come in firing, could be a traditional rookie. I assume he will have lots of high and low moments.

Our bottom 6 is much less skilled, but much more competitive, and a handful of guys on show me deals with incentive. Kapanen last year seemed disinterested at points with his guaranteed salary.

Now to why I’m not worried about the skill loss.

Back to back 47 goal scorers up the middle

30gs from William

90+ point pace from MM

30 goal pace from Zachary hyman

We’ve got plenty of skill.

I don't think you can blame Dubas if Toronto doesn't get past the first round this year. Thats not on Dubas. Dubas has got the right guys. Its really just up to them to come together. People put too much on Dubas.

Thanks for answering my question, now I can sleep easy 😂

We downgraded the forwards to accommodate the cap and plug d holes. Let's see

There's positives and negatives as a result of the off season changes Dubus addressed. Positives - proven veteran guys with more grit, and negatives - older and slower and loss of Kapanen and Johnnson. Taking a step back I'm guessing not much will change overall unless something almost miraculous happens - and that never happens. Fingers crossed, maybe this is the year everything comes together. Or not. I'm elated about 12 new picks in the system because if you don't have prospects nipping at the heels of the 10 million club then you're not moving forward. Go Leafs - I'm fully invested until such time I'm pushing daisies. Hopefully I see a cup parade until such time :)

Will live or die based on goal. Freddieeeee. 👍🏿

Many say this season will be do or die for Dubas. It's debatable.

Good Morning Normanand Mike TheLeafs have made good Improvements. However they need to go over their Checklist and see what else needs to be done.