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PS GDT - Leafs @ Sens 7:30PM SNET

the bad thing about the rule is that both gyys have had their foot over the line each time.
 
The whole point is so people don't put their skate/entire body in the faceoff circle pushing people out. Instead everyone who puts even 1 inch on the lines parallel to the circle get a 2 minute minor. This will be super annoying to watch as a fan in an important playoff game.
 
If Fehr, Moore and Martin never suit up this season, I won't mind.
The three players wearing an "A" tonight are Auston Matthews, Morgan Rielly...and Matt Martin.

I think that tells you all you need to know about how regularly he'll play this year.
 
The three players wearing an "A" tonight are Auston Matthews, Morgan Rielly...and Matt Martin.

I think that tells you all you need to know about how regularly he'll play this year.

The one big concern I have about the management of the team is them giving the coach too much say.
 
Meh, if the consequence of the one big concern you have is just Matt Martin taking a regular 4th line shift, I'd say we're doing alright.
 
This is probably a result of the analytics guys having a say.... there is so much emphasis on offensive zone and defensive zone faceoffs that they want to give the attacking team the advantage, so penalize any aggressive attempt to win the face off. They already cracked down of pushing it back with your hand... this is just the next non logical next step.
 
Interesting to see Josh Leivo out with Matthews & Nylander for a couple of PP shifts.

That's a trio I'd really like to see Babcock try at five-on-five.
 
babs taking great pains to point out that the only guys he liked tonight were dermott and rosen.
 
How does a guy like Hyman get a 4 year deal at $2M+?

Take a look at his contract comparables: https://www.capfriendly.com/comparables/zach-hyman-7927

A few things stand out. Very few of these matches got over 3 years. Virtually all of them had better points production. Few of them get first line minutes, let alone with two elite offensive talents.

Hyman has Babs to thank for that contract. $2.25M is small potatoes but the term suggests that he'll be a perma-fixture on Matthews wing.
 
I don't know. I don't think 4 years @ $2.25 mill is a particularly big contract. I actually like that its 4 years because you are locking in a high end PKer that is a good forechecker/possession and can skate well enough to play anywhere in your lineup for 4th line money.

I'm sure you could have signed him to a 1-2 year deal for less, but locking him up longer just guarantees a cheap, effective tool for 4 years. Just because he isn't the best linemate for Matthews from an offensive perspective doesn't mean he wasn't an important player for us last year.

That is the exact same contract a guy like Matt Martin got and in terms of value brought to the team its not even close.
 
Hyman should be a super-elite 4th liner. But Babs has chained him to Matthews. He is a great PKer, strong on the forecheck, and excellent at puck recovery in the offensive zone. But he should not be a fixture next to our best player. However that is on the coach, not Hyman. His deal is pretty reasonable for what he brings.

For the faceoffs, I will point out that they did not change the rule. They are simply enforcing it. But everyone cheats a ton anyways, so I'm not sure where this is going to get them. And I doubt it continue much once the season starts.
 
To me the faceoff thing is like offside reviews. Sure, technically cheating is cheating. But who cares it doesn't actually affect anything.

You want more PPs start calling slashing and obstruction again.
 
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