mjd1001

My opinion of the Leafs for the last 2-3 years is that they don't want to be pushed to play hard. They WILL play hard when THEY (the players) want to play hard. When they can easily play at 75% and 'out talent' a team, they seem to like that game. But when there is a team that makes things hard on them (that can even be a 'worse' team but one with a lot of young/raw talent that just forces the Leafs to skate to keep up), well, the 'core 4' up there doesn't like that. Its just a feeling, but I think the Leaf's core wants to play their game, when they what, how they want, and if things don't go well they would rather wallow in their own misery than push themselves out of their comfort zone as players.

Its about expectations. 2 ways to have a 'good' season as a fan: 1.) you win the cup. 2.) you exceed expectations. In Buffalo, its possible to do the 2nd one without doing the first one. Some/many people will enjoy that type of a season. In Toronto right now, expectations ARE to win a cup, and they have realistically been that for a few years. EVERY season that you don't win the cup is basically a 100% failure and not enjoyable. And they haven't really been close to that.

One more year for Krebs sure, but not if you are relying on him to be the 3C without a legit back up plan. You can sign him, have him show up to camp and EARN a spot on the team, but he can't be penciled in to the lineup in any way. Bryam...not enough of a sample size on this team for me to say for sure how good I think he is. But I don't think he was better than Power since the trade happened. Power I thought was vastly over-rated on this board last year, and he struggled the first half of this season. However, I think Power played very VERY well the last month or two. I'm not so sure I'd say Byram is better, or even matched Power's play toward the end of the year.

Ok, I ran some numbers, 'back of the napkin calculations' so to speak, on how Lindy Coached teams have done in each period. For his coaching CAREER (1165 games as head coach), his teams goal differential by period is: 1st: +59 (+4.15 per 82 games) 2nd: +51 (+3.59 per 82 games) 3rd: +69 (+4.85 per 82 games) And those are totals, again, over 1165 games. I think it would be harder to find stats that close over that many games. Basically, his teams, at least in terms of goal differential, are pretty much the same each period. For comparison, the Sabres this past season over 82 games were: 1st: -30 2nd: +7 3rd: +25

Good. I like Lindy. Hes a coach with a lot of experience, ties to Buffalo, he's had a good year coaching a team recently. Fine. In the end, he's not a bad coach, and that is all I care about. Ultimately, once we get a game or two into the season, I watch the team play not the coach behind the bench.

He may be, or maybe not, but I didn't get that at all from his press conference.

I'm kinda waiting for a question about team toughness, nothing yet.

As far as Mike Weber as an assistant, he is a dark horse candidate for the head coaching job in Ottawa apparently. Late last week I was listening to 590 out of Toronto, they spent a few minutes talking about the Ottawa job and his name was brought up (not as the favorite but they did bring it up). I like the hiring, I like Ruff and want him to do well. But at the same time, I think what you said has more truth to it than most want to admit.

I'm good with this, his success may very well come down to assistants.

I'd be ok with another "EJ" guy under 2 conditions: -He be at least SLIGHTLY better than EJ was. Doesn't have to be great or even very good. Just a guy with experience that doesn't kill you out there, a guy who works hard on the ice, works hard in practice. Defends his teammates, etc. -He is penciled in as the #7 guy, getting a game every once in a while and when injuries happen. Not thinking he is a 2nd or 3rd pair guy. Even Bryson and Clifton played much better once the forwards starting supporting them in their own zone. I want an experience guy back there, but one that you have to promise ice time to in order to sign him.

one of the reasons I am not THAT upset at the Sabres not making the playoff is....sure I WANT them there, but I just love playoff hockey. Especially the first 2 rounds. Yeah, the Sabres need to be there, but when they aren't, I still love watching it.

I'm not worried about Byrum. You can see the talent there. He's a good skater, fast, carries the puck well. Has a decent shot for a Defenseman. I think the biggest thing is what he said, he was 'the new guy', he needs to find his role on the team and be confident in it. Interesting to me on both sides of the trade....contract. Byram. He is signed just for next year. Do you try to extend him? If so, for how much how long? Mitts. He's an RFA for Colorado this summer. His production, and ice time, went down with Colorado. He finished the regular season (combined) with 18 goals and 39 assists. I'm interested to see what happens to both sides of this trade in the offseason.

If you want to say within 6 feet of the crease and right in front, they yeah, 44 of his goals from there....

Not sure if this was posted yet....pertains to the conversation and what you just said above...

Sam Reinhart 2nd in the league in goals with 57. Zack Hyman 3rd in the league in goals with 54. I have to think those are 2 things no-one going into the season was thinking.

So what is the benefit of someing BUYING 25% share of the Bills? I'm guessing if there is a sale of team anytime in the future, they are in best position to buy it?

I think Levi is ready for a role with UPL in Buffalo. He had his taste of the NHL AND a heavy workload in Rochester that he has responded well to.

Possibly. But the other side of it is, if he has another season of playing only half a season (or less) what will his value be? And who is going to want a guy signed to a long term deal that every single year can't play half the season. The same reason Buffalo might want to get rid of him would be the same reason another team won't want that long term deal on a guy who is injured just about EVERY year. Maybe if the Sabres retained some salary, but if you are retaining salary, you might as well just keep him here as a guy with potential you HOPE gets healthier.

He is getting older. He COULD get 35 next year, but I think we are starting to see his decline in production. However, I am with you that I don't see a reason to just jettison him, I think he has value. First, he is not an asset defensively, He doesn't like to go to the boards in the Dzone and win battles, and sometimes he won't even think of going into the D-zone deep. But he's also not a liability as much as many others on this team. Rarely do I see him make a costly turnover in his own zone or be out of position leaving his side of the ice totally open. He is not an asset for sure, but he doesn't cost you goals with obvious mistakes. Next, he does one thing better than anyone else on this team, a thing this team sorely needs. He goes to the front of the net, right in front. No one on this team has more shots from the 'high danger' spots in front of the goalie as Skinner over the past couple seasons. Not Thompson. Not Tuch, Not Cozens. Not Peterka. I think Skinner has one more year left of being an asset to this team. Talk to me at the end of next season. But if/when he is gone, you need a new coach to force the other guys to go to the front of the net more, or you need to bring in a skilled forward to do that.

I remember this last year. I looked at the first round matchups, I picked the 8 teams I thought would win, I was very confident in those picks, and then it turned out I was WAY off. This years round one looks a light tighter/closer to me, and to be honest, the most fun/interesting first round I can remember. I'm really looking forward to watching the next 2 weeks of hockey more than almost anytime I can remember in recent history.

I think UPL now, he has done it for longer stretches in the NHL. Longevity matters to me. That doesn't mean he WILL be better than Levi in the future. Just right now, If I have to pick one of the to start 60 games in a season for me, I go with UPL.

I'm not so sure. In most cases the GM would be probably on his last chance. In most cases, fans, owners, even players would understand he is next. But, there is a good chance things are different here. Pegula is still the owner. He has shown (to me) over and over he is more concerned with having people in power around him that he is comfortable with. People who massage his ego, people who defend him, speak highly of him, people who will 'take the bullet' for him when things are rough while he hides in Florida or on his yacht. Pegula to me will take a 'lesser' GM and give him more time if it is someone who tells him what he wants to hear. Adams is that guy. If Pegula makes a change, he may not get that. I think that is why a coach will be let go before Adams. Pegula seemingly hand-picked Adams because he probably is a nice guy, a 'yes man'. Pegula probably spends a LOT more time in contact with the GM (A GM he likes personally) so its harder to let that GM go than a coach, or even players. Again, maybe if the Sabres don't make the playoffs Adams will be let go. But I think it is far more likely that more trades would happen, more 'housecleaning' under the GM would occur, because Pegula simply will not hire a GM that will give him any kind of 'pushback' on making him feel good about himself. Adams doesn't seem to do that.

For many, its hard to root against Boston when they are playing the Leafs...I think there are just as many people that dislike Toronto as Boston. Plus there is one bonus for Boston winning....Even if you don't hate Toronto, lets say you are indifferent to them....having the Leafs lose in the first round....the drama, the stories, the reaction coming out of Toronto would be more than enough to entertain for the entire offseason.

Unless he gets another injury, and it becomes even more clear that is health/durability means he just won't have much of a career...unless that happens, I don't see why he wouldn't be here.

Yeah, I guess it can be either. A guy who is a top guy, or maybe a few guys who are at least not bottom of the roster guys.