• Moderators, please send me a PM if you are unable to access mod permissions. Thanks, Habsy.

Around the League 2019-2026 Edition

leafman101 said:
Last 3 years:
1. Tampa: 54.07
2. Vegas: 53.96
3. Boston: 53.64
Carolina: 53.64
5. Minnesota: 53.13

Kinda seems like the Canes are the young, elite team ready to break out. They actually just need a goalie.
Click to expand...
Minnesota is hampered by a lack of shooters so they will likely always underperform their xgf%. Canes may have that issue to some extent too. I feel like the top 3 is pretty solidified at this point but I do love the Canes.

Would like to see Toronto at least come close to being as good as the top 3. Even if they're worse, that's fine. Just come close enough to give them a chance to Prestoluck their way to a cup.
 
The big issue with the Leafs xGF% is how they play defensively. I think this has been posted previously but …

xGA/60 5v5 (rank)

2019-20: 2.32 (17th) --> Cock 2.30 (20th) and Keefe 2.33 (16th)
2018-19: 2.48 (25th)
2017-19: 2.47 (27th)
2016-17: 2.34 (28th)
 
I suspect a fair bit of the modest improvement this past season on xGA/60 is Matthews becoming really good defensively and also having a full season of a solid Willy. It probably also helped to get Zaitsev out of the lineup, despite his replacement's shortcomings.

The big, big thing they have to do to correct this is get a defensive stud to play alongside Morgs. The next thing is to get those forwards dedicated to the 200 ft. game.
 
A nice quiet, low event top 4 d would be absolutely enormous. Even if they can push themselves closer to the top 10 in xGA (10-13th), that alone likely puts them in a much nicer spot. They're not built to ever be a top 5 defensive team nor will they ever play a defensive style so I'm not really expecting that, but being in the top half of the league at minimum would go a long way.
 
I’ve been thinking, the Arizona situation is too convenient an opportunity for Dubie to not be seriously looking at. They’re broke. They would probably die to do a Kuemper for Freddy swap just on the money alone. They have OEL there collecting cobwebs at $8m per. If they retain some money and we move some money out, there’s probably a deal there where we drop Freddy, Dermott and Johnsson on them.
 
And I said it before and I'll say it again.. I'm unusually bullish on Lehtonen. I think he's far better than Zaitsev was in the KHL. I wouldn't count on him being a top 4 d in the NHL but it would sure as fuck be nice if they get one of those freebies (along with signing a Brodie please).
 
LeafOfFaith said:
I’ve been thinking, the Arizona situation is too convenient an opportunity for Dubie to not be seriously looking at. They’re broke. They would probably die to do a Kuemper for Freddy swap just on the money alone. They have OEL there collecting cobwebs at $8m per. If they retain some money and we move some money out, there’s probably a deal there where we drop Freddy, Dermott and Johnsson on them.
Click to expand...
I've been saying that as well. Dubas needs to focus on Arizona. Florda is another team that badly needs to cut $$$.
 
I love Dermott but I think we have to figure he’s gonezo in the expansion draft, otherwise I wouldn’t consider it either. Adding OEL would mean that Holl is probably gone, but gonna lose someone.
 
LeafOfFaith said:
I love Dermott but I think we have to figure he’s gonezo in the expansion draft, otherwise I wouldn’t consider it either. Adding OEL would mean that Holl is probably gone, but gonna lose someone.
Click to expand...
If that's the issue, then play him in the top four and build up his trade value.
 
If you think Dermott could be/is a top 4 d, keep him. If not, get rid of him before he proves and gets old enough to prove that he can't hack it. Trade value won't get any higher than it is watching him carve up tertiary matchups.
 
Preston said:
If you think Dermott could be/is a top 4 d, keep him. If not, get rid of him before he proves and gets old enough to prove that he can't hack it. Trade value won't get any higher than it is watching him carve up tertiary matchups.
Click to expand...
That's the other thing. Play him up there and, if he does well, expose someone else.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top