gravyface
Participant
The Leafs were 29th at 5v5 expected goals last year; that’s lottery team level right there.
They won the division because they had excellent goaltending and a much better defensive group.
Matthews doesn’t need Marner to exceed at this point in his career. I would say Marner needs Matthews far more than the other way around.
Marner plays slow, was incapable of getting in on the forecheck, so any winger capable of doing that is going to suit Berube’s systems.
With Marner gone, they can build out a balanced team, it’s really that simple.
Not sure about that.
So far we know, matthews passes more when marner isnt on his wing.
Marner scores more when Matthews isnt on this line.
Everyone who plays with Marner sees their points go up.
Matthews can still score (just not the past year or so) in short term without marner
The leafs have a great record with Matthews out of the line up and Marner in. That drops a little when its the other way around.
Marner and matthews can, have been and probably will still be successful without eachother. Its just not true that marner “needs” matthews.
Now, I do agree the money and team need to be more balanced and that something needs to change….and right now the easiest thing to change are the two FA’s.
But we always seem to think that throwing money at FA’s will solve everything…..with marner leaving, we’ll have $25m to spend. Knies will take up about $7m of that. So $18m to get a top 6 winger and center and improve our bottom 6…..and we dont have any 1st rounders for the 3 years.
That’s tight.
Also, will our old D be able to stay healthy most of the year?
Can our goaltending repeat how stellar they were this past season?
Also, other teams will improve as well.
Im sure change is coming…..just not sure the change will make the grass any greener.
And I get that running it back is nuts as well.
The leafs have leafed themselves……..again.
