The Toronto Maple Leafs' Biggest Concerns Heading Into This Year's Playoffs Against Tampa Bay!

[@BradGoodspeed]

Thanks for the anxiety.

[@almVancouver]

ROR will show throughout the series why he was acquired. This guy won a cup, Conn Smythe and Selke only 4 years ago. Leaf center depth will be apparent as the series goes on.

[@almVancouver]

I'll give a shout out to Gio as well. If for no other reason than he wants to be a Leaf and his amazing contract for what is arguably a top 4 D.

[@Tiago-mb4lv]

Great analysis. Leafs need to take less penalties and score on power plays. Two things we can do when playing good hockey.

[@dankotaber9056]

Great analysis, thank you, and get well soon! We appreciate the videos!

[@late3619]

I'm glad Keefe has JT-ROR-Willie on the 2nd line. With ROR faceoff skill they will dominate TB. I think the weak link is Kerfoot. If he struggles at all, I'd put Knies in his spot. He's had 1 good playoff in his career, that's it and he won't be back next season.

[@dmd434]

Rielly is the biggest threat to the Leafs chances. He's had a ton of defensive partners throughout the years and fans always put his partner at blame for his struggles. When will the blame finally land on Rielly? He's fed mostly offensive zone starts and prime power play time and still has mediocre offensive numbers. Than there's his defensive side, he's flat out terrible. He gets pushed around, sags off his man constantly and is caught wondering out of position often. He would be my 7th defenseman at best, probably further down. He gets playing time strictly off of name, not based off performance.

[@kennedypollard467]

Cant wait for puck drop tomorrow night! Go Leafs!!!!

[@gregknight3901]

the hedman thing screams of not enough depth on the blue line and trying generate more offence lower in the lineup , hedman is the one guy the leaf forwards should target ground and pound him relentlessly

[@almVancouver]

It'll be interesting what strategy Leafs deploy to lesson the effectiveness of Hedman. Generally speaking, makes sense to gain the zone on his opposite side.

[@harmj5606]

Great analysis, Feel better. Thanks 👍Go Leafs

[@xrsroofingsolutionscanada2151]

I think the bunting issue started with the wrist slash from Sergachev when the ref roughed up bunting forcing him off the ice. But who knows. I will say the reffing needs a major overhaul as it's the furthest thing from consistent in regular season and even more so in the playoffs.

[@DarylRenz]

Never in my life have I seen refs favouring teams , It seems like the nhl is corrupt. Haha. Think

[@illwillsquared]

well it started awhile ago, but that was the last straw for bunts

[@DarylRenz]

@@illwillsquared So what you’re saying is only Toronto can’t have a lowlife on its team. What’s the difference between Boston lowlifes or Floridas lowlifes or every other lowlife in the N H L

[@EnglishFuture-xg1gw]

gambling

[@tomdixon1213]

My biggest concern for the Toronto Maple Leafs is their lackluster, uninspiring coaching. The coaches are the wild card in the playoffs. Tampa in six due to superior coaching.

[@EnglishFuture-xg1gw]

agreed. you ever hear keefe's pre-game talk? It's completely lame.

[@markgarlock2939]

Gustafsson on the 1st power play unit is the best option.

[@lukewoodworth2101]

The 3 things that will determine if we win or lose this series will be matthews,nylander,tavares and marners play, the goaltending from both teams and if our depth can finally make a difference

[@BurtTurbo]

so, the entire Leafs roster?

[@lukewoodworth2101]

@BurtTurbo what I meant in terms of depth is 1 to 3 guys in the bottom 6 to make a difference like a nick paul or Ross Colton can't have guys like mikheyev and engvall be non existent offensively

[@EnglishFuture-xg1gw]

well summarised

[@lukewoodworth2101]

@@EnglishFuture-xg1gw thanks

[@chadwodraska2607]

62 playoff wins for Vas only 1 win combined for the leafs

[@irishducky4578]

Good video but between your first and second concern should have been that terrible goal song time to change it

[@nicholaswalls6212]

Yeh play slipknot every goal lol

[@Leafgreen1976]

Facts!

[@davidlambert5255]

Gonna go as far as the goalies can take us!

[@MaryJane-hi7tu]

Biggest concern is coaching. Tampa is out in four straight if Kiefer can out couch.

[@tonybozzelli287]

I can out-couch both of them 😂

[@zednik4hart]

​@@tonybozzelli287 i can outcouch all 3 of them

[@jekin416]

Good eye regarding the PP... Players can do a complete flip come wartime...oh I mean Playoff time.

[@Mrvegas6666]

I think Morgan is gone after this year if he bombs in the Playoffs

[@Gl-my8fw]

Yeah, never should have paid him that much tbh.

[@tomdixon1213]

Keep Morgan, dump the coach.

[@Gl-my8fw]

@@tomdixon1213 no

[@chamber32doors]

That's a long contract to get rid of. Might be hard

[@EnglishFuture-xg1gw]

NO MOVE CLAUSE. good job dubas

[@kenludlow7391]

I actually give the Leaf the edge for goaltending. Between his age and extra work load, Vasilevskiy has a slower reaction time now and it shows. As for him being dialed in for the playoffs, that determination wears down when the tank is empty.

[@almVancouver]

Not to be a downer, but Vasilevsky has won a couple cups, the Vezina in 2019 and the Conn Smythe just two years ago. He's generally considered the best goalie in hockey today. Leafs in 6 X factor: ROR

[@kenludlow7391]

@@almVancouver I know that he's a great goalie, but the defense in front of him is not as good as in past seasons and he has had several considerably long extended seasons in a row. His save% is not as good as Samsonov this season.

[@almVancouver]

@@kenludlow7391 I totally hear yah,. but I'm of the opinion that Tampa somewhat coasted this season due to the very issue you mention. These guys have been to the finals the past 3 years. They are going to dial in and turn it on when it counts. Saying this, Leafs are good enough to beat them.

[@EnglishFuture-xg1gw]

@@almVancouver totally coasting.

[@EnglishFuture-xg1gw]

Sandin has slightly better numbers than rielly since going to washington.

[@isaacisaac9658]

Can Stephen or anyone else recommend a resource for introducing someone to analytics/advanced stats? TIA

[@larceny3092]

Hey DTSB been awhile since videos

[@Leafgreen1976]

Last year in the playoffs Toronto lead all teams in the first round in penalty minutes. The Toronto team that had the most points in team history. I call bullshit. This team has more of an edge and I'd bet the refs will do the same thing to them this year. Bettman hates the Leafs!

[@late3619]

Bettman knows that Canadians will watch their team no matter what. He can't say that about the USA. There definitely is a bias.

[@theiceman1128]

The Russian Boogeyman Andrei Vasilevskiy

[@theiceman1128]

Last time leafs made round 2 this kid was still in his dads sack

[@tonybozzelli287]

Mo has NEVER been a good defensive D. Keefe needs to exploit Mo's strengths.

[@richkamminga4283]

Yup. Tampa is willing to take penalties because they know they'll end up roughly even and their special teams will be beat Toronto's

[@roberttruth2717]

1. Refs 2. Vasi 3. Powerplay.

[@navinjohnson9416]

If they reduce the turn overs in their own end and don't play Brodie and Holl together they'll be fine.

[@zednik4hart]

even worse than rielly holl

[@Oldmanflyfishing]

Reilly has become, arguably, the worst defender on the team. I am not talking offence but defence and his lack of offence sure isn’t making up for his garbage D zone play.

[@georgezuwala7075]

Go Leafs Go

[@stevenbrooks5429]

5 v 5 it is

[@timmytimmy803]

Getting really bad flashbacks

[@brolo3644]

Rielly contract is gonna look horrible as soon as next year. His pts production is reliant on being on the ice with Marner and Co. Sandin was equally as effective when Rielly was out, and a much cheaper cap hit (Sandin with 14pt in 17gms with Washington)

[@chadoldman1143]

It looked horrible the day it was signed. He's the softest 220lb man in the league. Low hockey IQ, no shot from point. Gio makes 10% of Reilly's salary, Morgan should be ashamed of himself.

[@DownTownSports98]

Sandin was not equally as effective. No numbers or data supports this. We’ve gone over it. The contract part is fair right now. I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. He’s been great offensively for years. Can’t have recency bias destroy that without having a larger sample size. He could be playing through injury.

[@matthewg2530]

Riely's problem is he goes too often for a take away with his stick. Doesn't get the puck and next thing you know he is chasing the rush as his partner is left defending a two on one. He needs to get his butt back on defense before he is left trying a low probability take away and chasing the rush . . .

[@EnglishFuture-xg1gw]

@@chadoldman1143 well said

[@EnglishFuture-xg1gw]

@@matthewg2530 injury? mobility issues?

[@jimlangdon1947]

Rielly should only play when the Leafs require offence. Sammy was available to Leafs - he just doesn’t play well in high pressure. Hope that changes this spring - if not Veteran winning goalies most often thrive - which favours Tampa. Today - there is zero chance for Leafs to win in playoffs.

[@juju31897]

I'm concerned

[@chadoldman1143]

I have a large sum on Tampa in 6. I am not concerned at all.

[@TheUnknownTwister]

its almost like Rielly-Schenn sucks

[@oldman8952]

Leafs in 5.

[@assmanib]

Sounds like a rant ,lmao

[@nicholaswalls6212]

But he's always on pp so ....

[@chamber32doors]

The refs decided who won the series last year.

[@EnglishFuture-xg1gw]

thats not true. read the rule book and watch the calls. they are correct.

[@chamber32doors]

@@EnglishFuture-xg1gw I watched it all. The refs decided the series %100. That pick on the Tavares goal was the worst but also the 2 phantom high stick calls on Kampf and Kerfoot were brutal. You should rewatch it.

[@EnglishFuture-xg1gw]

@@chamber32doors read the rules and quote me the rule numbers. Start there. THEN REWATCH the play and you can see that Holl skated into the opposing player obstructing him. that's a pen by the rules. High stick is 'at the shoulders' go read the rulebook. Kerfoot's was at the shoulders. You do that, you take your chances. you beleafers are full of excuses. this team has no balls and will lose to tampa AGAIN.

[@chamber32doors]

@@EnglishFuture-xg1gw You don't know anything about hockey. High stick is at the shoulders...LOL

[@EnglishFuture-xg1gw]

@@chamber32doors READ. if you can

[@scottmorrison9432]

Your team is outstanding this year. Unfortunately, the outcome will be the same. Your core group is soft. Nylander is the only dude who ups his game in the playoffs. Matthews and Marner are the Sedin twins..... Amazing in the regular season but can't up their game when it matters. 4 reasons the Leafs lose 1 Goaltending. Tampa has better goaltending. 2 Media and fan pressure. The top guys fail year after year. Another failed season, and can't take the pressure. 3 Defense. Tampa has a better D 4 Special teams. Tampa will fill the net due to Toronto's undisciplined and over-excitement early in the series. Powerplay goal after the powerplay Tampa in 6. Sorry leaf fans but we get to watch Steve Dangle go into cardiac arrest live on youtube.

[@Leafgreen1976]

I can't wait to back to this comment and tell you how wrong you are.

[@Gl-my8fw]

Soft lol..... no more soft than tampa. How did maroon do last time he fought one of our guys?

[@scottmorrison9432]

@Clay Nickerson I've heard the same thing 6 years in a row now. Leaf fans are clowns

[@scottmorrison9432]

@Gl 1100 you misunderstood soft clown. Marner is like, what 155 pounds.

[@TheKitKatThe]

@@scottmorrison9432 you have to be a complete idiot to think that tampa would win in less than 7 games. toronto is significantly better than they were last season, tampa is significantly worse than they were last season, and that series STILL went to 7 games. toronto in 6 to make all tampa fans stop watching hockey

[@kennedypollard467]

Cant wait for puck drop tomorrow night! Go Leafs!!!!

[@Gl-my8fw]

Same here.