French Collection

The Leafs top goalie Woll was helped off of the ice and left the rink with crutches. They are going with Samsonov and Martin Jones as their tandem. I think they lose a lot of games in the next while.

Clifton had one of his better games, low bar, but a step in the right direction. Does RyJo stay in the lineup to give EJ a rest if Dahlin is back? I like the way this guy has been playing, smart hockey, the Benson of the backend.

VO has been better lately but they needed more. That pairing would be playing chess with other team’s D playing checkers.

Mitts gets saddled with youth but Benson plays smart enough to help. Kulich blasting Mitts’ passes could be a nice pairing. There is some defensive conscience between Mitts and Benson.

I would sleep better knowing Allen was an option. I doubt KA can get him for a conditional 7th, LOL. They have just committed to Montembeault for 3 years. Primeau is part of the future. I imagine Montreal has had offers, just nothing good enough yet. Their three headed goalie system is probably causing some grief. Laval is minutes away, that has probably helped.

So many people undervalue Quinn’s game. It will take him time but his impact will be felt. His hockey sense is like Benson’s. He doesn’t have as big a motor as Benson but he is faster and has a better shot. He can play PP, PK and is a hard worker defensively. His time away will make him hungrier and he will have seen plenty of games and videos to make him play smarter. He was ahead of JJP and look at the steps that guy has taken so far this season.

Robinson and Greenway on L4 would make Krebs play angrier.

Did he end up graduating? Baby steps but I am liking the way they played, they need to stay at that level for a bit to get me back to not needing as much hopium.

Neat little clip, small details can make a difference. I’ve been asking DG to load manage KO since October but he hasn’t listened. I can’t understand him on the PP, doesn’t help entries and his shot is not a real threat. His best move is dump and chase with someone else doing the chasing. He wins the odd board battle but even his hands are slower this year. I am calling him Oh-so-slow out loud during every shift.

Yeah, they’ve dug a hole to start the season, but this is the approach they need. It is a marathon not a print and they need to obey the old cliche, one game at a time. The Bruins have really good goaltending, good Dmen but they are worse than their record imo. One game doesn’t make a season but their forwards shouldn’t exactly instill fear in anyone. Coyle and Zacha as 1&2 C. Beecher, Heiden, Lauko, Frederic, Geekie, Steen and JVR are all 3rd liners at best.

Agree. They need to start winning ASAP, just to stay in the hunt. Going back to their win one lose one mode makes it harder to come back.

Comrie only plays if UPL gets hurt during a game. If he gets a game and blows it, he’s done, imo. Levi can go back and forth for practice time and some games in Rochester when UPL returns to form.

Good points. My only concern with the goalie situation is having to play Comrie. I don’t trust him anymore. He has good games but too many clunkers. Maybe Levi can be parachuted in on B2B games or tag along on western road trips.

Well, that was a great sleep last night after that one. If they can do that without Dahlin, Tuch, Quinn, Greenway and Girgensons I think every game is winnable. The collective effort was good, they were backchecking, getting sticks and bodies into lanes and holding their positions for the most part. Levi was solid, please repeat. I liked the overall D game. A few wimpy plays by Power and Mule but a solid game. TNT regaining his form, he can win games once he is 100%. The faceoff game is coming, experience and confidence. Robinson helped, 4th line play like that can stay. I wish KO would “rest” when Girgs get back. Mitts was strong, he didn’t create much offensively but his board battles, puck possession and team first play was great. Cozens wasn’t brutal, he has been getting a lot chances lately and will break the seal very soon. JJP has always been fast and direct, now he has man strength, confidence and a better shot. Love his game. VO, timely goal, great shot. Thanks for your years of service but I still want you gone. Multiple times in one shift the puck is on his stick in the D zone, within a few feet of the blue line and he cannot get it out. Drives me nuts. If they play like this every night even a loss would be OK.

Preach!

Levee turns the tide. Levee holds back the tide. When the levee doesn’t break.

They proved it last night and vs the Rangers. They need to get their mental game to this level and believe they can beat them all.

Maybe Matt Irwin can shore up the PK.

The thing I think of when going 12 months a year at one sport is repetitive strain injuries and mental burn out. I wonder if the young goalies needing hip surgeries are victims of this stress. I know when I was playing my best at sports it was nice to step away for a few months and feel that burning desire to play again as the season was approaching. As far as the OHL draft, money and politics are involved there. We experienced it during the COVID-19 shutdown. Some GTHL teams found private rinks, practiced and played while other teams followed protocol and stayed away from the game. OHL scouts went to these private showings. There were almost entire AAA teams drafted while some others had one or two kids picked. I can’t believe the 16th best kid on one team is better than the second best kid on ours but that is what happened. Good luck with the baseball.

Now that Columbus has cleared some space watch them flip the pick and add another to pick up a guy like Blake Coleman.

Leino had a good series vs the Sabres too.

This guy has trouble cracking Columbus’ lineup. No thanks unless he is a throw in with a better piece. 6’2 205 fits a need but he sounds like a tweener, AHL/NHL this year.

Mule has been bad. It looks like he doesn’t even want the puck, just get rid of it ASAP seems to be his mindset. He’s not using his big body to move people or to win puck battles. Power is not much better, skating like he’s in quicksand and being indecisive.

I haven’t contributed my 2 cents here, I’m so disappointed that I don’t need to be reading negative stuff so I try and stay away for a while. Cozens comments are spot on imo. This team is too soft and others are taking advantage of it. They seem to be building a 4 scoring line team and I have entertained these thoughts myself. The focus has been skill, skill and more skill but this is still a man’s game. DG’s background from the USNTDP has been to go all skill so this probably makes up a big part of his plan. I don’t think the solution is to go out and get a fighter. A guy like Reaves is a liability in today’s game. He has not made the Leafs a foot taller or heavier by his presence. They are still soft and can’t play him because he sucks. I grew up in the 60’s and 70’s so fighting was a part of hockey and part of the entertainment package. I enjoyed that hockey but have moved on with the direction of the broader changes in the game. The Sabres need to fill out a roster with more grit. Many have been saying this for a while and I think the Cozens comments are a cry for help. He has dropped the gloves to try and defend and inspire others but he is not the guy to be doing this on a regular basis. I don’t know if it can be done in season but KA must go outside the organization and find bottom six guys with some jam. Recent Cup winners have had plenty of skill but they also had grit. I think if the Sabres had a fourth line of Barclay Goodrow, Myles Wood and Trent Frederic they would provide a heavy forechecking presence and the capability of throwing down to defend teammates. A guy like Goodrow also brings a winning pedigree and can win many draws as well as be an effective PKer. The Rangers wouldn’t part with him as they are thinking Cup this year. These 3 guys are probably not available, affordable or willing to come to Buffalo. You can plug in different names like Hathaway, Colton, Paul, Sissons, Kostin, Lafferty, Jeannot, Clutterbuck, Martinook, Carrier, Foligno and many more. If you can find grit to play on your second or third lines like Sam Bennett, that is a bonus. I don’t think one of these guys is enough to make a big difference, they need at least two and probably three. If they are older then they can be load managed and insert one of Kulich, Rosen and Biro once in a while. Those guys wouldn’t be as timid as they are now, flanked by VO, Jost and KO. I’ve said this in other threads, I love KO the person, but his leadership style doesn’t lead to wins. One guy people have been pointing out for poor play is Mule. That has been evident but his lack of grit disappoints me. His father wasn’t a fighter but he was tough to play against. Power is still young but doesn’t push back. I have wanted him to find a sliver of Pronger DNA and inject that into his veins. He will never be a tough guy but he doesn’t need to be targeted either. Anyway, that is my rant for today. I’m getting close to start scouring the ‘24 draft reports so these guys better start playing soon.

Going to watch because it’s what I have done for a long time. I have avoided looking at draft lists so far and I don’t feel like doing that this year. I was told the playoffs were the goal and that we had the players to do it. Just do it!