FrenchConnection44

Bummer. Total bummer. But the more significant issue is, for how long? A 7 day IR or 30 day IR?

We have several needs. We do need defense. But we also need a physical forward who can mix it up in front and also back check. Niederreiter provides that. And what defenseman of similar calibre is out there for a 2nd rounder? Who is also under contract for next year as Niederreiter is? Which makes it even more of a no brainer! An even better deal.

A second rounder?!?! What? We could have given them our 2nd rounder (which is likely to be higher) and we still have the Flyers 2nd rounder. Come on, man.

The Bruins are having a truly great season. But they are not close to the best. Even record wise. If one takes the OT wins and turns them into ties, their record right now would be 38-8-11. The 76-77 Habs finished 60-8-12. For Boston to tie that level of domination, leaving aside OT wins, they would have to go 22-0-1 the rest of the way. And to just match those losses they'd have to go undefeated the last 23 games! In fact, the 76, 77, and 78 Canadiens had 127, 132, and 129 pts. with records of: 58-11-11; 60-8-12; 59-10-11. Incredible run. That 70s era Canadiens are the greatest team I've ever seen. Felt like it was all-star after all-star (or HOFer after HOFer) on the ice every shift. The greatest dynasty in history, imo (winning 4 straight Stanley Cups with complete domination and flare; obviously, the greatest franchise in history). I'd put the 80s Oilers 2nd among dynasties (winning 5 in 7. But, of course, the talent was also insane). Also, it's a misnomer to say the competition was not as strong in those eras because there were fewer teams (obviously, human and sports evolution entails that modern players/teams are much better athletes than those in the past but that's a different discussion). The fact that there were fewer teams did not imply the competition level was worse. Imagine all the best hockey players today not being spread across 32 teams but only 6. One can argue that more teams dilutes talent and makes it easier to win games. How insane would those 6 teams be? How hard would it be to get a win against any of the 6 and having to play each team once every 5 games? Or, imagine if the Sabres entire schedule this year was Boston, Toronto, Carolina, New Jersey, and Tampa Bay?

The OT goal last night by Nylander was just an absolute gem. Dude is an incredible player. So much talent.

Legend. How does anyone not love that dude.

Would be SO great to see the Islanders miss the playoffs after their big trade (and I have hated the Isles since the early 80s. Always resented them winning the Cup before Buffalo).

Wow! Anderson!!! And, man, I love this team! They still have needs, IMO, but I also loved the end. F*** Tkachuk! Skinner did nothing wrong. It’s not like he is sitting there on the ice looking up at the clock! He was shooting as the buzzer went off. But how about Cozens and Krebs going after him! You gotta love both those guys. I love the feistiness of Krebs and Cozens both. Hell yeah!

Great to see. Tage needs to continue to grow and get better. He could be top 5 or 4 with his size and abilities. And he’s still only 25. Tampa Bay’s scouting department have such a knack for finding great players. We should steal one of their scouts. Watching Point skate tonight - how did that guy drop to round 3? Insane speed.

You can tell that was a good no call on the alleged hook. Clearly a dive by Stamkos. He fell the wrong way from where the stick was (as if Lyub hooked his lower legs on the opposite side of where his stick was. What a sneak little B Stamkos is). Great play and shot. We had one fortunate goal but five really good ones on Vas who was just rated the top goalie in an ESPN article a couple of days ago. Lol. Not last night and not against the Sabres. Huge win. Would love to get at least a point tonight. Big game against a fellow playoff contender.

Over reaction city.

UPL has talent. He needs some better coaching on positioning. But ultimately the Sabres are just getting dominated by a more physical team. And playing with poor fundamentals. Happens a lot with this young team. Granato has to correct that over the rest of the season.

We simply don’t hit. That’s the reality of the season. Haven’t all year. UPL was in bad position that first goal. But we have been very bad at back checking.

I don’t doubt that the Leafs fans bought these tickets early in the season since it’s such a close game for them. And there were probably thousands available.

When playing physical teams that can skate, we are. But still young.

Just getting physically manhandled. Which is what has happened several times this year. That’s our big weakness. Players we have, almost to the man, could add 10 lbs of muscle and need to if they are going to become a strong contender. And then play more physical. They could also add a veteran forward and defenseman - both of whom need to be physical players. Just as the Leafs added Acciari. He’s like playing a bowling ball. Like Rick Tocchet was. We just don’t have anyone who can set the tone physically. Lots of talent. and the top prospects like Savoie and Julich are not close to physical players.

Missed the game and had planned to watch later. Saw some highlights. WTH? WTH Happened? Man. That was a disaster. We do know what we need aside from growth of the young players. Another strong defenseman - who plays serious defense. A two-way forward who can be physical. We just don't have that. A guy like Horvat would have been ideal. I don't see anyone on the horizon among our prospects. I'd be willing to give up a couple of those - and we have to hope a free agent comes available. Now that we have Cousins locked up I feel pretty good about going after a big free agent or two and also being able to lock up Dahlin in 2024.

Even if it’s mainly the former it’s also the latter it seems to me. He wouldn’t be the player they ship out of he was performing at a high level.

I wouldn’t give away much of the farm just to make a playoff push this year. Maybe we can swing a trade for a long term option and not just a 1/3 season rental. Granato has to both keep the team confident and grounded about how much work they have to do to get to a high level. But definitely need to make some moves in the off season to shore up weak points.

Yes. Agree. That’s part of what I love about the team. And why I expressed such. They have some really nice talent. Generally a joy to watch I’m simply expressing what I think needs to happen to be real contenders. (I mean, that’s part of what message boards are for - to discuss those areas. And to either rejoice or commiserate depending on outcomes). No telling how many teams in various sports I’ve seen have great potential and either the players didn’t develop as they could have or the GM never saw the weak points to enhance. I certainly don’t want the peak years of Tage / Tuch to go by the wayside. So I am enjoying the year immensely. And hopeful. Usually by now it’s “where are we drafting and who can we get?And how soon can the draft arrive?” Just observing the direction I have thought they have needed to go … evident for the past couple of years. They can’t simply continue down this road of being a soft team on the ice. The management, which has done pretty well, needs to (and needed to this past draft, imo) start addressing that overall physicality issue.

Oomph. Talk to text and then didn’t think correct it.

I love this team. But let’s face it. As constructed they are not physical enough to compete against stronger teams. They simply get out manned. Some of the boys can get bigger and MUST do so (Power; Cousins) and all of them need to add some muscle. But Power will need to get to the 230 area (in muscle). His comp he should be shooting for is an Hedman or a Burns whom we went against tonight. And at 6’3, Cousins should not be anywhere close to below 200. He should be at 200-210 with that frame. Obviously they are young but have to focus on becoming a more physical team. Yet they also need a real power forward or two. Girgensons has size but is just not a fast ,big hitter. It doesn’t need to be someone 6’4, 240 (though that would be nice). Even some players in the league who are 6’0, 210 can be physical and difficult players to go up against. The whole team doesn’t need that but they just get the hell checked out of them in some games. It’s like men against boys. They need at least a couple of other vet forwards and another physical defenseman Whether it’s a trade or signing a free agent or two that’s where they need to look. They have needed this among their forwards for a while now. Yet they drafted 3 undersized centers in round 1 last year. Talented. But they aren’t going to intimidate or out muscle anyone. I like a number of our prospects but there really isn’t anyone young, in the system with size. Maybe Bloom will get there but he has a ways to go. Again, not trying to be critical and I really love the young players on this team. But they just don’t match the physicality of other top teams to be able compete for the Cup.

Given Meier has to be signed to become a long term value not just a half year rental, unless there is strong competition, I’d hope we wouldn’t have to trade those young guys. Or give a ton up. And no way I’m letting go of Ólafsson. I would give up Mitts and our first. Maybe another prospect (Bloom?). Since Timo would fulfill a major need of a physical / power wing.

Agree straight down the line here. No way I move Ólafsson. Dude is a sniper capable of scoring 40 with a good center.

Agreed. It seems to me Toronto's problem has been lacking top tier goaltending come playoff time. Don't know whether we have a great goaltender right now but it has really flashed the last 3-4 games.