One good thing about playing a back-to-back set is that you get the opportunity to put a bad game behind you immediately and act as if nothing happened.
With Mitch Marner out for a while, a revolving blueline and a penalty kill that still can’t seem to get it right, that’s easier said than done.
Links and news:
Our condolences go out to the friends and family of Chris Simon. Chris was able to produce a lot of offense during his career, but even more penalty minutes due to fighting. Sadly, Chris took his own life at the age of 52.
Cade Webber, who the Leafs traded a 6th round selection for at the trade deadline, was voted the best defensive defenseman:
After that, the 6’7″ defender was asked about his future with the Leafs and he stated that he intends to sign in Toronto:
We won’t know what they have in Webber until we see him at camp next fall, but if he can develop into a 3rd pair defender that can be trusted on the penalty kill it would be well worth a 6th round selection. The encouraging part for me is that whenever you read anything about him his skating and shot blocking is listed under “strengths.” It’s rare to find 6’7″ defenders and even more so ones that can skate well. You can teach positioning and stick work, but you can’t teach size and it’s hard to fix a rangy players skating stride, so the fact that he has the physical tools to be successful makes me believe that he’ll at least earn a cup of coffee at the NHL level. With any luck that can turn into a full on coffee franchise, as another Toronto defender did once upon a time.
At times (like, 99% of the time) we have begged Sheldon Keefe and company to hold the stars on this team accountable. Lazy backchecks, uninspired play and selfishness appear to be the identity that the Leafs have built for themselves. The complete opposite can be said of the Philadelphia Flyers and John Tortorella:
Making the healthy scratch even crazier, to me, is the fact that he was named captain of the Flyers just over a month ago. It’s a pretty big statement from the head coach to sit him at this time, but I sure do wish the coach of the Leafs had the balls that Torts does and would pull a stunt like this.