Back to Excited Hockey Podcast: Recent Episodes
Arvind, Acting the Fulemin
The official podcast of PensionPlanPuppets.com. Arvind and Acting the Fulemin take you around the world of hockey and the NHL, with a focus on the Toronto Maple Leafs
Today, we do our annual deep dive into the Leafs' offseason moves. In particular, we discuss:Firing Craig Berube [1:15]The Leafs' coaching and front office departures [8:24]Trading Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit for Emil Andrae and a 3rd round pick [19:23]Trading Brandon Carlo to St. Louis [28:45]Non-qualifying Mattias Maccelli [33:37]Trading Nick Robertson to Pittsburgh [38:43]Acquiring Nick Paul [42:20]Hiring Jim Hiller [52:10]The Leafs' coaching and front office additions [58:43]Drafting Gavin McKenna [1:02:11]Acquiring Darren Raddysh [1:07:33]Signing Sergei Bobrovsky [1:15:20]Signing Jack Roslovic [1:25:11]Signing Colton Sissons [1:27:45]Signing Brandon Duhaime [1:34:18]Signing Teddy Blueger [1:37:30]Reviewing the offseason [1:41:04]
Today, we discuss the Leafs stroke of good luck in their draft lottery win. We follow it up with a long deep dive into John Chayka's history as GM of the Arizona Coyotes, and what it might mean for his tenure as the Leafs GM.Timestamps:[0:00] Draft lottery reactions[13:48] What will Mats Sundin's role be in the Leafs front office?[18:30] What do we know about the process that led to the Leafs hiring John Chayka as their lead decision maker?[33:33] A long deep dive into John Chayka's moves as Coyotes GM
In this episode, we go through the positives and negatives of the Leafs season through the first six weeks of their campaign
Today, we talk about teams from Philadelphia to Winnipeg. Timestamps: Intro (0:00) Philadelphia Flyers (1:43) Pittsburgh Penguins (16:01) San Jose Sharks (29:38) Seattle Kraken (38:40) St.Louis Blues (49:44) Tampa Bay Lightning (55:48) Toronto Maple Leafs (1:02:00) Utah Mammoth (1:05:08) Vancouver Canucks (1:16:12) Vegas Golden Knights (1:29:02) Washington Capitals (1:37:32)* Winnipeg Jets (1:51:28)
Today we discuss the teams from Edmonton to Ottawa, and their offseasons. Timestamps:Edmonton Oilers (1:00)Florida Panthers (21:26)LA Kings (31:20)Minnesota Wild (49:51)Montreal Canadiens (58:44)Nashville Predators (1:08:44)New Jersey Devils (1:20:25)New York Islanders (1:30:17)New York Rangers (1:41:40)Ottawa Senators (1:51:25)
Welcome to another episode of Back to Excited! Today, we begin our survey of every team's offseason moves, going alphabetically from Anaheim to Detroit.Timestamps:00:12:07 – Anaheim Ducks00:38:31 – Boston Bruins01:02:47 – Buffalo Sabres01:16:48 – Calgary Flames01:27:59 – Carolina Hurricanes01:48:20 – Chicago Blackhawks01:58:20 – Colorado Avalanche02:09:35 – Columbus Blue Jackets02:26:26 – Dallas Stars02:42:54 – Detroit Red Wings
[00:00] The End of the Core Four[10:25] Marner's legacy and perception in Toronto going forward[26:10] The devastating loss of Pontus Holmberg[34:44] John Tavares signs a team-friendly deal[41:35] Matthew Knies becomes a core player[48:38] Evaluating Steven Lorentz and fourth-line strategy[52:03] The Leafs take a flier on Matias Maccelli[1:03:20] Treliving finds a legit 3C in Nicolas Roy[1:09:27] Some depth contracts + team overview
We discuss the Leafs loss to the Panthers, and the major questions facing them this offseason
On this episode, we discuss the Leafs beating the Sens in Round 1 (1:30) and preview the Toronto / Florida series (1:01:45)
We preview the Leafs vs Sens series, talking about each teams' strengths, weaknesses, and give our predictions
Welcome to another episode of Back to Excited. Today, we finish our look around the league, covering another set of 12 teams. Timestamps:Philadelphia Flyers [1:50]Pittsburgh Penguins [14:37]San Jose Charks [29:13]Seattle Kraken [43:15]St Louis Blues [56:02]Tampa Bay Lightning [1:03:20]Toronto Maple Leafs [1:19:05]Utah Hockey Club [1:40:22]Vancouver Canucks [2:00:45]Vegas Golden Knights [2:22:58]Washington Capitals [2:31:23]Winnipeg Jets [2:41:10]
Today, we go through the middle third of the league alphabetically, and review their offseason moves, along with their outlook. Timestamps:Edmonton Oilers [1:00]Florida Panthers [30:00]Los Angeles Kings [43:21]Minnesota Wild [1:02:24]Montreal Canadiens [1:11:55]Nashville Predators [1:24:34]New Jersey Devils [1:43:57]New York Islanders [1:52:35]New York Rangers [1:56:04]Ottawa Senators [2:03:43]
Welcome to Back to Excited's annual offseason review, where we go through all 31 non-Leafs teams, and discuss how they changed over the summer. In part 1, we go through teams alphabetically from Anaheim to Detroit. Timestamps below:Anaheim Ducks [4:09]Boston Bruins [17:27]Buffalo Sabres [35:05]Calgary Flames [59:10]Carolina Hurricanes [1:08:43]Chicago Blackhawks [1:28:30]Colorado Avalanche [1:43:44]Columbus Blue Jackets [1:52:18]Dallas Stars [2:02:23]Detroit Red Wings [2:13:14]
Welcome to another episode of Back to Excited. Today we discuss the Leafs signing William Nylander to a contract extension, as well as some trade targets that might be of interest if the Leafs decide to bolster their defensive group.
Today, we discuss the Leafs after their first 20 games of the year, and where things have gone well, poorly, and everything in between.
Welcome to the final episode of our annual offseason reviews. Today we discuss the following teams:Pittsburgh Penguins [0:43]San Jose Sharks [40:24]Seattle Kraken [48:43]St. Louis Blues [1:05:16]Tampa Bay Lightning [1:11:21]Vancouver Canucks [1:22:50]Vegas Golden Knights [ 1:33:16]Washington Capitals [1:38:26]Winnipeg Jets [1:45:00]
Welcome to another episode of Back to Excited, where we do our annual offseason review of every NHL team. We've split it up into thirds this year, and still managed to go for 2.5 hours on 12 teams! Timestamps are below: Arizona Coyotes [0:30] Anaheim Ducks [20:05] Boston Bruins [32:32] Buffalo Sabres [46:20] Calgary Flames [58:05] Carolina Hurricanes [1:09:41] Chicago Blackhawks [1:22:10] Columbus Blue Jackets [1:30:48] Dallas Stars [1:39:19] Detroit Red Wings [1:49:07] Edmonton Oilers [2:07:59] Florida Panthers [2:15:28] You will notice that we completely forgot to do the Colorado Avalanche... we'll add them into one of the future versions.
Today we discussed: The players who departed the Leafs this offseason [2:13] The new extensions and additions, including: David Kampf [20:30] Ryan Reaves [35:35] John Klingberg [47:55] Tyler Bertuzzi [1:00:26] Max Domi [1:06:16] Our overall assessment of the offseason
Today, we go in-depth on the Tampa Bay Lightning, breaking down their strengths, weaknesses, and all their players in advance of their series against the Leafs.
Welcome to another episode of Back to Excited. We've hit 200 recorded episodes, and to celebrate, we have a long mailbag for you all to dive into.
Today we discuss:Early thoughts on Jake McCabe [6:45]Early thoughts on Noel Acciari [12:45]Early thoughts on Sam Lafferty [15:53]Early thoughts on Luke Schenn [23:10]The Leafs 11/7 experiment [34:08]William Nylander’s next contract [48:02]The gap between Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner [1:00:13]Some bad takes, including James Reimer refusing to wear a Pride jersey [1:08:55]
Today we go in depth on the Leafs’ deadline moves. Timestamps:Ryan O’Reilly’s injury [2:50]Jake McCabe and Sam Lafferty acquired [6:26]Rasmus Sandin traded [23:22]Pierre Engvall traded [33:30]Luke Schenn acquired [43:42]
Today we discuss:The deal which brought Ryan O'Reilly and Noel Acciari to the Leafs [0:25]Other trade targets (Jake McCabe, Max Domi, Vladislav Gavrikov) [35:09]
Today we discuss the rental market including:Bo Horvat - [2:46]Timo Meier - [4:53]Ryan O'Reilly - [47:00]Vladimir Tarasenko [1:12:39]
Today we discuss Kyle Dubas' offseason moves. Timestamps:Calle Jarnkrok - 5:16Nicolas Aube-Kubel - 14:06Zach Aston-Reese - 20:02Denis Malgin / Dryden Hunt - 25:41Rasmus Sandin / Timothy Liljegren - 29:50Connor Timmins - 36:57The Goalies - 43:25Laughing at the Oilers - 57:45
Today we discuss:The Leafs play over the past few weeks [1:44]Morgan Rielly’s play this year [4:53]The poor season of the Florida Panthers [26:26]Luc Tardif’s comments after the World Juniors [47:46]
Today we have a mailbag for your listening pleasure, featuring questions about indie rock albums, Leafs trade targets, and the best possible NHL lineup!
Today we discuss the Leafs 2018 draft in general with a focus to the players who are in the NHL or NHL adjacent now. Timestamps:Rasmus Sandin [4:59]Sean Durzi [14:09]Mac Hollowell [24:15]Filip Kral [35:08]Pontus Holmberg [39:48]Complaining about people who wonder why teams don’t just cover Ovechkin on the power play [48:10]
Today we discuss:
The Leafs’ defensive injuries and their impressive play keeping it together despite them [0:45] The Connor Timmins trade [15:37] Auston Matthews’ shooting slump this season [23:30] Whether the referees are in the Leafs pockets [35:35]
Welcome to another episode of Back to Excited. Today we discuss:
Matt Murray’s strong performances since his return from injury [4:01] This disappointing season of Rasmus Sandin [9:11] Do we think forwards are more impactful than defensemen [20:35] Has our opinion of the Leafs’ ceiling changed at all this year [34:45] A quick glance at the rest of the Atlantic Division [39:23] Non-hockey topic: we revisit Chris Johnston’s terrible crypto take in the wake of FTX going up in smoke
Today we discuss:
A deep dive into the Leafs win against the Bruins, including the Bruins changed style from this season, and how it interacts with the Leafs’ strengths and weaknesses [3:30] The general strength of the Bruins this year, and the disastrous decision to sign Mitchell Miller [22:53] The Ilya Samsonov injury, and where the Leafs go from here with their goaltenders [45:06] The hot start of Rasmus Dahlin, and his growth from highly touted prospect, to possible draft disappointment, to possible Norris candidate [49:12] The early season success of the New Jersey Devils [1:00:04] Luke Fox’s terrible article about the Leafs [1:04:18]
Today, topics include:
The Jake Muzzin injury, and Rasmus Sandin’s promotion [0:35] Nick Robertson isn’t going back down to the minors [13:01] Is Auston Matthews okay? [17:56] Were we wrong about the Leafs fourth line of Aston-Reese - Kampf - Aube-Kubel? [21:44] The manic Toronto media [31:18] ESPN’s NHL Top 100 list [39:17]
Today we chat about our takeaways from the first three games of the NHL regular season, including the rejuvenated John Tavares, the Matt Murray injury, and the Leafs strong special teams.
We go through the Leafs projected lines and defense pairings for the foreseeable future in depth, including our expectations, where we’re confident, and where we’re not.
Timestamps:
Top line (Bunting - Matthews - Marner) [2:30] Second line (Malgin - Tavares - Nylander) [13:12] Third line (Aston-Reese - Kampf - Aube-Kubel) [26:16] Fourth line (Jarnkrok - Kerfoot - Engvall) [33:34] Top pair (Rielly - Brodie) [39:07] Second pair (Muzzin - Holl) [42:09] Third pair (Giordano - Sandin) [45:46] Goaltending [50:02] A brief discussion about where the Leafs are projected to land by various statistical models [52:35]
Today we discuss a variety of topics related to the questions facing the Leafs as they head into training camp and the preseason, including:
The ongoing contract negotiations with Rasmus Sandin [2:05] The enduring hole in the Leafs lineup at second line left wing [30:47] Whether there will be a goaltending battle during training camp [55:55] The return of the bad take of the week [59:32]
Today we discuss the remaining NHL teams and their offseasons.
Timestamps: Kadri / Monahan trades - 1:30 NSH - 8:28 NJD - 18:37 NYI - 36:40 NYR - 43:18 OTT - 55:26 PHI - 1:11:13 PIT - 1:20:22 SJS - 1:28:05 SEA - 1:33:59 STL - 1:44:07 TB - 1:53:42 VAN - 2:04:31 VGK - 2:14:14 WSH - 2:20:52 WPG - 2:26:09
Today we review the offseasons of the teams from Anaheim to Montreal.
Timestamps: Anaheim Ducks - 3:00 Arizona Coyotes - 20:20 Boston Bruins - 36:41 Buffalo Sabres - 46:50 Calgary Flames - 53:23 Carolina Hurricanes - 1:07:04 Chicago Blackhawks - 1:21:09 Colorado Avalanche - 1:34:33 Columbus Blue Jackets - 1:43:34 Dallas Stars - 2:00:00 Detroit Red Wings - 2:14:49 Edmonton Oilers - 2:29:25 Florida Panthers - 2:40:35 Los Angeles Kings - 2:48:05 Minnesota Wild - 2:54:03 Montreal Canadiens : 2:59:56
Today, we go through the Leafs offseason in full and chat about what we liked and didn't like about it.
We discuss the Leafs huge Game 5 win, featuring standout performances from the Big 4 and Jack Campbell
We go through the Leafs' Game 2 loss, discussing special teams, penalty differentials, and adjustments we'd make if we were Sheldon Keefe.
We chat about the Leafs dominant Game 1 performance and what to expect from the series going forward.
Today we discuss:
Why an NBA-style play-in would be a bad idea in the NHL [1:30] Some of the Stanley Cup Contenders who are not in the Atlantic division (Carolina, Colorado, Calgary, Minnesota, St. Louis, Edmonton) [25:20]
Today we discuss:
Auston Matthews' amazing goalscoring run [0:33] Justin Holl's quietly good season [20:33] Evaluating the thought process behind Kyle Dubas' least successful moves [29:45]
Today we discuss:
Our initial impressions of Mark Giordano and Colin Blackwell [1:15] Why a William Nylander trade might actually make sense this offseason [24:30]
Today we discuss the Leafs’ moves at the trade deadline. This includes sending Travis Dermott to the Canucks, Alex Biega to the Predators, and most critically, acquiring Mark Giordano and Colin Blackwell from the Kraken for a bevy of draft picks.
Today we discuss the Hart Trophy race, and whether Auston Matthews deserves it over the likes of Johnny Gaudreau, Igor Shesterkin, and Connor McDavid
Today we discuss: The Leafs goaltending issues [0:45] Teams we were wrong about in the pre-season [32:01]
We go in-depth on the Leafs trade for Ilya Lyubushkin and Ryan Dzingel (in exchange for Nick Ritchie and a 2025 conditional 2nd round pick)
Today we discuss defence, goalie, and coaching grades for the Leafs up to the All-Star break.
Timestamps: Morgan Rielly [2:46] TJ Brodie [14:28] Jake Muzzin [20:22] Justin Holl [36:26] Rasmus Sandin [42:00] Travis Dermott [50:41] Timothy Liljegren [58:45] Goaltenders + Coaching [1:04:57]
Today we're joined by the boss of PensionPlanPuppets.com, Katya Knappe. Katya helps us go through all the Leafs forwards and assign them a grade, since we're at the halfway point of the year.
Timestamps: Auston Matthews [2:00] Mitch Marner [10:48] William Nylander [27:21] John Tavares [35:28] Michael Bunting [43:10] Alexander Kerfoot [52:00] David Kampf [58:06] Pierre Engvall [1:04:45] Ondrej Kase [1:12:01] Wayne Simmonds [1:19:02] Nick Ritchie [1:24:05] Jason Spezza [1:30:51] Ilya Mikheyev [1:35:50]
Today we go in-depth on the top teams in the Atlantic (aside from the Leafs) and their strengths, weaknesses, and how the Leafs match up with them.
Timestamps The Tampa Bay Lightning [5:09] Florida Panthers [43:55] Boston Bruins [1:05:12]
Today we discuss:
Assorted trends from the last 3 games [3:05] Muzzin + Guy struggling [11:26] Is Timothy Liljegren ready for a 2nd pairing role (probably not) [19:55] The pleasant surprise of the forward depth [23:45] What are the Leafs regaining with Mitch Marner’s return [27:25] John Chayka’s kind of weird open letter in Sportico [42:39]
Today we discuss:
The Leafs game against the Avalanche and the test that faces them over the road trip [0:47] Some awesome plays by Cale Makar [9:00] The Detroit Red Wings [18:25] The Buffalo Sabres [39:37] The Ottawa Senators [54:05] The Montreal Canadiens [1:15:11] Bad Take of the Week [1:23:00]
We talk about the Leafs win against an undermanned Ottawa, Nick Ritchie, and our skepticism that Ilya Mikeheyev is any different to before.
Today we discuss:
The COVID cancellations sweeping the NHL [0:57] Paul Maurice resigning as the Jets head coach [9:37] Jason Spezza's suspension getting reduced from 6 games to 4 [18:46] The general state of the Leafs recently, and their play without Mitch Marner [20:49]
Today we discuss:
The Habs firing Marc Bergevin [2:45] The Canucks firing Jim Benning [26:17] The Jason Spezza suspension [50:22]
Today we talk about a few positive developments helping the Leafs this season. In particular, we discuss:
John Tavares' resurgence [3:15] Michael Bunting as a third wheel on a top line [15:10] Jack Campbell's Vezina campaign [27:25]
Today we discuss a whole host of things, including our general thoughts on the state of the team, Pierre Engvall, Rasmus Sandin, and more. To do so, we brought on our friend, Ian Tulloch, who writes for MapleLeafsHotStove.com and is a long-standing member of Leafs Twitter.
Today we discuss: The Leafs' ability to convert on their chances [3:14] The development of Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren [23:26] Ondrej Kase and whether we should re-adjust lines to give him Top 6 minutes [35:35] John Tortorella's bad take about Connor McDavid [47:30]
Side note: I mention a stat from HockeyViz early on where the Leafs have 42 xG and 27 actual goals (the Leafs have scored 43 goals per NHL.com). This is clearly incorrect. This stat is for 5v5; the HockeyViz chart I was using incorrectly states that it’s all situations.
Today we discuss:
The Morgan Rielly contract [4:00] Petr Mrazek's latest injury [23:18] The success of the Leafs budget 3rd line [28:30] Justin Holl trade rumours [37:00] Have our opinions on the Leafs changed? [48:37]
Today we discuss: The Rangers game [1:05] The San Jose game [3:00] The Pittsburgh debacle [6:07] Jake Muzzin's bad start [14:00] The toxic cloud surrounding Mitch Marner discourse [19:32] What the Leafs can do from here [27:15] The bad take of the week [37:09]
Today we discuss what’s gone well and poorly for the Leafs in their opening week. Timestamps:
The Petr Mrazek injury [1:40] Jack Campbell’s strong start [5:01] The Leafs’ best skater so far (surprise, it’s William Nylander) [10:34] The shutdown line of David Kampf, Ondrej Kase, and Pierre Engvall, their success, and the possible galaxy braining of 5v5 ice-time allocations [18:52] Possible changes in the Leafs’ offensive shot choices and their implications [29:25] A tale of two complementary left wingers (Michael Bunting and Nick Ritchie) [37:44] Mitch Marner’s performance so far [45:39] Jake Muzzin’s struggles, last night notwithstanding, and Timothy Liljegren’s audition [49:45] Access media in sports journalism [58:45]
Today we discuss:
Robin Lehner’s accusations of NHL teams handling of prescription drugs/painkillers habits with their players [0:55] Our thoughts on the Leafs preseason so far [18:55]. Subtopics include John Tavares, the Leafs plethora of LW options, and the difficulty in cracking the roster for Timothy Liljegren and Nick Robertson Sheldon Keefe’s extension [1:09:08] Audio note: there is some humming from my AC unit present in the audio.
Today we discuss:
The Leafs plethora of depth forwards - [1:35] The choice the Leafs have made by not making a choice about Morgan Rielly - [31:00] The All or Nothing documentary - [45:00]
Today we discuss the Leafs free agency moves and our thoughts on them, as well as their implications for the broader team-building strategy. Specifically, we chat about:
Petr Mrazek [1:10] Michael Bunting [10:22] David Kämpf [28:10] A host of smaller signings for the Marlies / Leafs depth [42:04] An optimistic look at why things aren’t that bad for the Leafs [59:15]
Today we discuss:
Jared McCann and our thoughts on him [1:06] The logic of the Leafs in the expansion draft, choosing to protect Holl over Kerfoot and McCann [6:58] Some of the weird moves that have been made around the league in recent days [25:58]
Today, we continue an annual tradition and rank the top 10 U22 players in the NHL. It’s a long one, so enjoy!
Timestamps: The players who just missed the top 10 [6:04] Rank #10 (Cole Caufield) [13:57] Rank #9 (Dylan Cozens) [20:56] Rank #8 (Alexis Lafreniére) [29:40] Rank #7 (Jason Robertson) [35:22] Rank #6 (Brady Tkachuk) [42:46] Rank #5 (Nick Suzuki) [52:45] Rank #3 - tie (Quinn Hughes) [1:05:33] Rank #3 - tie (Jack Hughes) [1:14:42] Rank #2 (Miro Heiskanen) [1:21:00] Rank #1 (Andrei Svechnikov) [1:28:43]
Today we discuss: 1:02 - Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart, and what the Sabres want for both 23:34 - what went wrong for the Sabres in their rebuild 29:30 - Dahlin and Cozens 35:13 - What specifically caused the huge issues the Sabres saw this past season 37:00 - How can the Sabres sell another rebuild to fans 42:05 - Our expectations for the Atlantic Division next year 1:00:30 - How did the divisional format this year impact stats
There are some audio issues around 36 minutes, but they don't persist.
Today we chat about Games 3 and 4 and the Leafs really impressive play to take a commanding 3-1 lead in their series against the Habs.
Today, it’s pretty simple. We just talk about the Habs, and the upcoming series between Toronto and Montreal. Enjoy!
Today we go around the league and chat about some trends or storylines from the year (some of which are Leafs related) that we found noteworthy. In particular:
How are the Sabres this bad [4:00] What went wrong for the Flames [16:56] What went wrong with the Leafs PP [30:10] Are people underrating Carolina [40:00] The Boston Bruins now have a second line [47:08] What made Zach Hyman become a bona fide first liner [52:46]
Today we discuss NHL awards. Timestamps:
Hart Trophy - 4:18 Selke Trophy - 14:58 Norris Trophy - 30:15 Vezina Trophy - 46:23 Calder Trophy - 52:15
Today we discuss:
Jets games and their chippiness - 4:45 Montreal floundering - 16:19 How has Nick Foligno looked - 27:58 What do we make of Rasmus Sandin - 45:20 Our confidence in Jack Campbell - 55:01 Adam Brooks with a dark horse run for a roster spot - 1:02:40 We think the Leafs are actually great - 1:10:22
Today we discuss: The Leafs misfiring power play - 0:40 The ineffective play of Joe Thornton and Wayne Simmonds recently - 14:56 The pros and cons of re-signing Zach Hyman - 33:15
Well, that was fast. About 6 hours after our last pod went up, Kyle Dubas goes and makes a big trade, so we went to record another! Here’s a full hour of our takes on the Foligno trade.
Today we discuss the profiles of the three likely Leafs Round 1 playoff opponents and what makes us eager (or not eager) to face them. Timestamps: Winnipeg Jets - 5:30 Edmonton Oilers - 18:46 Montreal Canadiens - 31:45
Today we discuss:
The Leafs’ third line experiments with Hyman-Engvall-Mikheyev and Kerfoot-Engvall-Mikheyev [1:10] The future of Leafs goaltending [30:22] A very bad set of takes [1:10:12]
Today we discuss:
3:50 - The Leafs week that was 14:30 - Auston Matthews wrist concern 21:51 - Darryl Sutter hiring 34:48 - Stop asking hockey players about analytics 40:05 - Zach Bogosian has been fine 46:10 - Stop trading Nylander for the love of god 55:55 - Our issues with the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Today we discuss the North Division, including:
Ottawa Senators [13:01] Vancouver Canucks [34:00] Calgary Flames [45:48] Montreal Canadiens [58:52] Winnipeg Jets [1:21:51] Edmonton Oilers [1:28:28]
Today we discuss
The Leafs win against the Habs [1:56] The Brodie - Rielly pairing generally [8:15] How essential is Morgan Rielly and should we explore trading him, in advance of his contract expiring in 2022 [11:15]
Today we discuss:
Whether we were too negative on the Leafs in the early going, and whether our opinion has changed [0:40] Our thoughts on the Canadiens [31:54] The return of the bad takes segment! [42:11]
Today, we discuss some trends around the league, and whether they are real or fake. These include:
How bad the Canucks are [3:08] Whether the Habs are for real [20:48] How bad the Senators are (bit of a trend here) [31:41] Whether Auston Matthews is a Hart Trophy contender [37:01] Whether Alex Kerfoot is a good 3C [52:40]
Today we discuss:
The Leafs’ poor numbers [0:45] The depth forwards [13:45] The depth defensemen [45:54]
Today we discuss:
Calgary game - 2:08 Can we clone Zach Hyman - 5:08 The trouble with Jimmy Vesey - 9:43 How should we arrange the top two lines with Thornton out - 12:01 The Leafs offense/defense tradeoff - 16:12 The Rielly / Brodie pairing and their bad numbers - 30:01 Laine / Dubois trade - 39:30.
Topics include:
Recapping the first three games [0:20] Our initial takeaways [10:20] Discussing the forwards [14:02] Discussing the defence [39:01] Is there a goalie controversy? (No) [57:58]
Audio note: There is some feedback on Arvind's track which results in some light beeping; sorry for the annoyance. We think there’s something wrong with his microphone, which will be fixed for next week. Our apologies!
Today we discuss the Leafs forward lines and defence pairings:
Thornton - Matthews - Marner: 3:18 Vesey - Tavares - Nylander: 20:52 Mikheyev - Kerfoot/Engvall - Hyman: 35:10 Barabanov - Spezza - Simmonds: 49:30 Rielly - Brodie: 57:48 Muzzin - Holl: 1:02:40 Lehtonen - Bogosian: 1:04:52
Today we have some assorted preseason ramblings, including:
What a successful season looks like for the Leafs The World Juniors, and our impressions of Leafs prospects Ottawa’s trade for Derek Stepan
Today we chat about some topics that have been on our mind recently. This includes:
Whether McDavid is still the best player in the world [1:01] Sportsnet’s list of the best centres and wingers on Canadian teams [33:38] Travis Dermott, again [1:02:01] The Canadian division and how it impacts the Leafs [1:09:51]
Today we discuss the second half of the league in our Around the NHL series. Timestamps are:
Montreal Canadiens [1:30] Nashville Predators [18:00] New Jersey Devils [29:46] New York Islanders [35:58] New York Rangers [47:13] Ottawa Senators [51:41] Philadelphia Flyers [59:54] Pittsburgh Penguins [1:05:24] San Jose Sharks [1:10:44] St. Louis Blues [1:13:19] Tampa Bay Lightning [1:19:47] Vancouver Canucks [1:27:29] Vegas Golden Knights [1:37:56] Washington Capitals [1:44:12] Winnipeg Jets [1:46:42]
Today we discuss half the NHL and their offseasons, including:
Anaheim Ducks [3:00] Arizona Coyotes [11:53] Boston Bruins [32:36] Buffalo Sabres [39:41] Calgary Flames [52:38] Carolina Hurricanes [58:41] Chicago Blackhawks [1:03:47] Colorado Avalanche [1:08:50] Columbus Blue Jackets [1:12:37] Dallas Stars [1:16:10] Detroit Red Wings [1:19:46] Edmonton Oilers [1:21:48] Florida Panthers [1:28;30] Los Angeles Kings [1:35:35] Minnesota Wild [1:39:30]
Episode 121 - Leafs Depth Signings and Front Office Hires by Arvind, Acting the Fulemin
Today we discuss:
The trade [0:48] Fulemin rains on our parade (which we JUST planned) [1:44] What the Leafs gave up in Kasperi Kapanen [6:18] What the Leafs got back in Evan Rodrigues [16:30], Filip Hallander [26:54], and the 15th overall pick [39:07]. Should the Leafs trade or keep the pick [41:15]
Today we discuss:
Whether the Leafs are actually capped out (they are) [2:24] Whether Cody Ceci is actually good defensively [9:03] The leave-Britney-alone routine Dubas pulls to defend Mitch Marner [21:11] How good is the Leafs core and is there reason to doubt them [53:22] Where Dubas goes from here [1:10:40]
Today, we go 90 minutes deep on the Leafs series against Columbus and break it all down, discussing what went wrong, the Leafs overall level of play, and the questions it raises going forward.
We chat about the craziness of Games 3 and 4, and Jim Hughson’s no-good, very bad call.
We discuss the Leafs dominant Game 2 win over the Blue Jackets and Jake Muzzin's injury
Today, we’re discussing:
The Leafs’ exhibition win over the Canadiens - 0:35 Our impressions of Nick Robertson’s (sort of) NHL debut - 3:30 Our continued frustration with Tyson Barrie - 9:25 The Columbus Blue Jackets, and how we think the series will go - 18:30 The ongoing John Chayka saga in Arizona - 49:00 Bad takes of the week - 56:00
Today we discuss: NHL RTP - 0:25 Line combos - 5:43 Nick Robertson and whether he'll make the Leafs roster - 21:44 CBJ defence - 30:52 Sandin vs Robertson - 47:41 Marner vs Nylander - 50:01
Welcome to another episode of Back to Excited. Today we discuss:
The NHL Draft lottery - 0:59 Hub cities - 4:49 NHL awards including the Hart (12:25), Norris (22:04), Calder (29:10), Vezina (33:07) and Selke (37:30) We also have some fake awards to discuss, such as Worst Under-30 Contract (42:11), Worst GM Move In The Past Year (53:20) and Player Who Used To Be Underrated But Isn’t Anymore(59:14)
Today, we welcome Shawn Ferris (@shawnferris98) and Olivia Lin (@oliviaylin) onto the podcast to talk about the Leafs power play and how it has changed over the last two seasons. Shawn and Olivia co-wrote an excellent analysis of this idea and it’s worth checking out for the level of detail and effort that went into it, including tracking information, shot assist patterns, and shot location patterns for each of the last two seasons (including who is doing the shooting).
Link:https://seventhatauston.wordpress.com/2020/06/15/a-thorough-review-of-the-changes-made-under-paul-mcfarland/
We discuss:
How this project arose, and the mechanics of getting all the data into a usable form [1:40] Whether Shawn and Olivia feel power plays are too static [13:15] How to get around the risk-aversion coaches would have in being more aggressive on the PP [17:08] The theory of the Leafs PP relative to Boston or TB [22:47] How the focal point of the Leafs PP has shifted from year to year [25:53] Comparing the effectiveness of the 2018 and 2019 PP1 units for the Leafs [33:24] The possibility and upsides / downsides of setting up a power play from behind the net [38:15] Their recommendations for the Leafs power play going forward [43:20]
We then bade goodbye to our guests, and finish up with some discussion on: Auston Matthews’ positive coronavirus test [56:43] The Buffalo Sabres, no-good, very bad week [1:01:37]
Today we discuss:
Black Lives Matter, systemic injustice, and hockey [0:28] Comparing the NHL and NBA’s plans to return to play [47:42] The PPP Top 25 Under 25 [57:53]
If you’re looking to help:
Various ways to donate your time / effort to BLM (https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/) A Toronto-specific template to email your elected official to discuss the police budget (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1roduncOZ_y0C_oWIMIQ6yV-13fZqck0i54RZoPSwYBw/mobilebasic) Donating to the Movement for Black Lives (https://secure.actblue.com/donate/movement-4-black-lives-1) Donating to Color of Change (https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/support-us) Donating to Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto (https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/10351) Donating to Native Canadian Centre of Toronto (https://ncct.on.ca/donations/)
Today, we discuss:
Adam Brooks’ new deal [1:00] The proposed (and tentatively accepted) 24 team NHL playoff structure [9:31] The Columbus Blue Jackets (the expected Leafs opponent in the play-in round) [27:35] Does it make sense to call Nick Robertson up for the playoffs [35:59]
Today we discuss: The Mikko Lehtonen signing [4:34] Arvind revisits Esa Lindell theory [33:39] Paul McFarland leaving the Leafs, and their PP [40:15]
Today we discuss:
NHL playoff plans and lottery plans [1:41] Can the Leafs trade Marner and end off the better for it? [22:47] Are new aging curves that say players are essentially always declining from when they enter the league incorrect [44:03]
Today we discuss:
How do the reported plans for finishing the NHL season help/hurt the Leafs [2:00] Micah McCurdy of Hockeyviz has a new Isolated xG impact model - how do various Leafs look? [22:14] Auston Matthews might be a top 5 player? [34:42] Arvind gets annoyed at people running simulations [48:56]
We talk about:
The likely salary cap [0:42] The Leafs goaltender succession plan (or lack thereof) [6:00] The necessity to clear out room, likely by trading a forward [30:41] Fulemin presents his unified theory of hockey disagreements [55:01]
Today, we discuss the types of mistakes teams make, deep dive on the situations that make teams like the Oilers and Sabres consistently poor, and offer a refinement on the stars ‘n scrubs team-building mentality.
Today, we discuss:
The Leafs ELC moves [1:02] The Top 10 21 and under players in the NHL [8:22]
Here is Part 2 of our look around the NHL, from Minnesota to Winnipeg (alphabetically).
We go around the NHL alphabetically, and discuss teams from Anaheim to LA. Part 2 will be next week's episode.
On this episode, we discuss the NHL's decision to suspend the season, and answer listener questions.
Today we discuss:
The week that was [0:21] What changes would Kyle Dubas make if he could go back in a time machine [25:40] Pierre LeBrun’s bad take about the playoffs [52:59] The stupidity of looking at the record of teams when scoring first [1:03:47]
Today we discuss: The Leafs’ strong week [2:35] Chris Pronger’s caveman reaction to William Nylander’s through-the-legs goal [10:26] The criticism of Mitch Marner’s game that has popped up recently [19:39] Why we think Alex Kerfoot should stay on the third line [32:33] An overview of the Florida Panthers [47:11] Our bad takes of the week [55:36]
Today, topics include:
[0:59] The week that was for the Leafs [4:36] The Johnsson injury and what that means for the Leafs both off and on the ice. [13:09] The reported Jake Muzzin agreement [46:41] The Leafs game against Ottawa, and Tampa’s surge implying another Leafs - Bruins series.
Today the podcast includes:
Fulemin ranting about Tyson Barrie [0:29] (yes, 30 seconds in and we’re in full-blown rant mode) A recap of the week, including the gut punch loss to Florida [3:12], and the dispiriting Rangers loss [12:21] How much of the blame the Leafs can put on goaltending [16:42] The trade to acquire Jack Campbell and Kyle Clifford [25:07] Can the Leafs acquire an upgrade on D (and the possible cap space shenanigans that let us do so) [33:13] The struggles of the Leafs depth and how its turned them into a very top heavy team [48:10] The final two games of the week [56:50] Fulemin rants about Tyson Barrie again [58:11] Our bad takes of the week [1:05:13]
Today we discuss:
The Leafs perfect week [1:24] The weirdness of Kasperi Kapanen's punishment [12:59] The pros and cons of Matt Dumba [21:23] The big decision the Leafs have to make in extending Jake Muzzin [36:18], and the knock on effects of doing so.
Today we discuss: The Marincin signing [1:33] The Holl signing [4:07] Evaluating the Leafs at midseason [8:25] Are Kapanen and Johnsson expendable [43:13]
Today we discuss:
The Leafs poor defensive showing over the last three games [1:18] Some TOI trends under Keefe (Dermott, Top 3 Fs, Nylander) [15:11] Ilya Mikheyev’s injury and the impact it will have [37:30] We go transaction by transaction and discuss Kyle Dubas’ year [42:15]
Today we discuss:
The week that was, and how the Leafs have dug themselves out of a hole [1:18] The stabilisation of the Leafs defence pairings and the success they’ve had [12:02] Comparing the Babcock and Keefe Leafs now that we have more of a sample on Keefe [19:12] Can we consider the Leafs a contender if they keep doing this? [32:13] Auston Matthews .... defending? [39:12] Arvind gets mad at people who want to split up Matthews and Nylander [55:05]
Welcome back to another episode of Back to Excited. Today we discuss:
Why the Leafs win against St. Louis was a little unusual [0:34] Boston Bruins [14:24] Florida Panthers [18:00] Buffalo Sabres [27:11] Montreal Canadiens [40:39] Tampa Bay Lightning [52:32] Brief discussion on the Leafs [58:35] Ottawa Senators [1:03:14] Detroit Red Wings [1:08:12] Alexandre Burrows [1:10:38]
We discuss: The Leafs’ last three games [0:44] Drilling down deeper on the Buffalo games, and the specific tactics Keefe is using [5:00] The dissonance between the eye test and the stats for Rielly/Ceci [32:48] Rielly’s play on the whole, and the ceiling he may place on a team [35:12] Why our cap position will leave us with interesting decisions to make about Rielly and Andersen in a few years [45:34] We rant about people calling William Nylander ‘enigmatic’ [50:01]
We go through the Leafs roster and coaches and give them grades based on this season so far.
[0:30] Fulemin’s crippling caffeine addiction [4:43] The Leafs poorer 5v5 play recently, whether we are concerned, and how it changes our opinion of Babcock, if at all. [15:01] The high standards we place on the Leafs top line [19:20] The frustration of Rielly-Ceci [28:43] Our thoughts on Babcock temporarily benching Nylander [49:19] Fulemin gets mad at Sportlogiq and bad stats [1:02:02] Fulemin gets mad at Sid Seixero and bad opinions [1:07:43] Arvind gets mad at MoneyPuck and bad stats
Episode 78 - Coaching Changes, Why Marner + Matthews Don't Work by Arvind, Acting the Fulemin
Today we discuss:
[0:37] The Leafs game in Boston and the particular usage the forwards saw. We also discuss the Leafs usage over the course of the entire season, for both offense and defense. [36:50] We go over the first nine games of Alex Kerfoot and Tyson Barrie and discuss how they’ve performed relative to our expectations.
Today we discuss: [1:19] The Auston Matthews legal situation [16:53] The Leafs roster after preseason and the cap implications of keeping Rasmus Sandin on the roster. [52:34] Our optimism for the season
Episode 73 - Atlantic Division Preview with Alan (@loserpoints) by Arvind, Acting the Fulemin
Today we discuss
The Leafs and the expansion draft [1:47] Allocating resources across various positions [7:40] The Leafs Top 25 Under 25 - specifically, Jeremy Bracco, Timothy Liljegren, and Travis Dermott [41:17]
Today, we go through the NHL alphabetically and discuss the offseason activities of teams from Minnesota to Winnipeg
Welcome back to another episode of Back to Excited. Today, we go through the NHL alphabetically and discuss the offseason activities of teams from Anaheim to Los Angeles.
NOTE: We have some audio issues in this episode, where there’s some noise picked up by my mic when I speak — hopefully it’s not unlistenable. We’ll make sure it’s corrected for our next episode.
The Maple Leafs made a big trade. Fulemin and I discuss it:
[1:20] The Kadri - Barrie trade [4:35] Barrie as a player [18:57] Why we’re excited by Alex Kerfoot [35:35] The Zaitsev / Ceci trade [55:43] The Leafs’ resulting cap situation [58:00] The Leafs’ small signings [1:04:00] The future of the Leafs cap situation and a possible Barrie extension impacting our view of the trade [1:13:34] The Colin Miller trade, and whether the Leafs would’ve been better off competing on that trade.
We discuss
1:10 - The Patrick Marleau salary dump 13:05 - The reported Kapanen and Johnsson agreements 21:52 - The Leafs current cap situation, the options they have to address their defense, and their relative lack of options to do so 1:09:39 - the picks the Leafs made.
We discuss:
The Raps winning and their takeover of Toronto [1:15] Viewership differences between the NBA and NHL, and the systemic differences in the sports that make the former more easily marketed, and how the NHL’s culture may be impeding it [6:54] The upsides and downsides of the NBAs heavy emphasis on stars/personalities above teams [20:15] Why NBA teams’ styles are more evident than NHL teams’ and the resonance that provides on a national level [35:00] The relative contrast in diversity between the NBA and NHL [51:14] The NHL Draft, and what little insight we have regarding the Leafs ‘type’ of prospect, and the trades we expect them to make (Brown, Zaitsev) [59:45] Some discussion on the Niskanen/Gudas trade [1:15:12]
Today, we discuss
Mitch Marner and the continued leaks out of his camp [1:40] The possibilities in trading Nikita Zaitsev [21:15] The surprising news about Patrick Marleau being willing to move on [38:22]
[2:42] Fulemin rants about how people react to ‘playoff injuries’ [14:53] Our trust in Kyle Dubas [31:23] The Leafs are very young and very good [36:43] We defend Mike Babcock against some of the criticism he has received [51:55] William Nylander ripping up the World Championships (he got another assist as I wrote this) [57:32] Rasmus Sandin blowing away our expectations [1:02:50] Mitch Marner is going to get overpaid, but he’s also an amazing player that is a joy to watch.
Today we discuss:
[0:56] Bob Cole's last game, and our memories of him. [6:50] How people lie with stats [17:22] Previewing Leafs vs Bruins from all angles [1:10:40] Other playoff series
We discuss:
The Rangers/Leafs game [0:41] The supposed Babcock/Dubas rift [3:36] The Sens and Oilers continue to be embarrassments [41:10] Revisiting our Real or Fake predictions from Episode 39 [53:43] What have we learned about the Leafs this year [1:20:24]
On this episode, we discuss:
[0:45] The allegations of Morgan Rielly directing a homophobic slur at a referee [8:40] The Leafs play within the last week [12:09] Jake Gardiner’s impact [14:46] The larger pattern of Leafs play in the past month [30:15] Our exhaustion with Zaitsev [32:56] Nylander/Matthews reunited [35:24] Babcock’s culpability [47:52] Sparks’ quotes
I apologize in advance for the below average audio quality on this one. It shouldn’t be unlistenable, but it’s a little worse than normal since I’m recording on the go and don’t have my usual microphone and equipment. We’ll return to our typical audio setup next week.
We discuss the rest of the NHL including:
How bad the Oilers are Columbus' all-in moves The Western conference playoff picture The Athletic's player poll
[0:47] The Leafs/Habs game, including: [2:37] William Nylander's strong showing [5:33] Connor Brown offensive ineptitude [10:45] The duality of Auston Matthews [18:00] Leafs defenders and usage [26:45] Cat shit guy [32:48] What should the Leafs do (if anything) as a result of Nylander's excellent play as a centre [47:25] What's up with Mitch Marner [53:00] Deadline deals around the league
The Leafs poor performance against Arizona [0:56] William Nylander has been the Leafs best forward for about 2 weeks [4:38] The impact of the weak competition they face on Nylander’s and Kadri’s success [7:02] We talk about math, and the strengths and weaknesses of the models used to assess play driving, factoring in the context in which a skater plays [9:02] How we feel about Mike Babcock’s toys (Hainsey/Zaitsev/Brown) [28:45] Frustration among Leafs fans with Babcock [35:21] The fear that the Leafs will end up in the same spot as last year (losing to Boston in Round 1) [37:00] What SHOULD Babcock do differently [44:30]
The Leafs win in Montreal, including their struggling power play and where they and the Habs differ [0:57]
The Auston Matthews contract [10:45]
What the Leafs should do for Mitch Marner’s contract [28:30]
A quick look around the Atlantic Division [42:30]
Early returns on Jake Muzzin [56:57]
[3:00] NHL All-Star PR [12:00] Patrick Marleau's season [24:53] Burke and Nylander [37:45] Questrade commercials [40:37] The Islanders, Lou, and Hunter [58:00] The Oilers
William Nylander’s evident demotion to the 4th line [2:20] Whether the Leafs should match Kadri up to the opposing team’s top line again [14:35] If we’d be on board with trading Kapanen (plus more assets) to Carolina for Dougie Hamilton [26:00] Why I think the Leafs (and their fans) should not even come close to panicking [39:00] Various Leafs defense targets [50:24] Criticism of the Leafs’ system [56:01] Kevin educates us on the Marlies [1:04:00]
On this episode, we discuss: The Trevor Moore contract - 3:25 The Leafs losing to the Bruins and the noise about them needing to be heavier - 9:06 The success of the Nylander/Kadri duo in doing everything but score - 32:07 Our mild concerns with Auston Matthews - 44:56 Mitch Marner's absurd play - 59:25
On this episode, we discuss:
The Vancouver Canucks and how excited we are at the prospect of more Jim Benning moves - 1:15 The rumours surrounding the Carolina Hurricanes, and why they are so much worse than their shot metrics - 11:00 Can the Leafs make a competitive offer for Alex Pietrangelo, and should they? - 27:00 Is a cheaper option like Nick Jensen worth a shot? - 43:43 Fulemin makes fun of the Oilers again - 57:02 We talk about the rest of the division. - 1:01:01
Welcome back to another episode of Back to Excited. On this episode, we discuss:
3:33 - Columbus and New York games 9:32 - Sparks stuff 21:20 - Things we were wrong about (Gauthier - 22:20, Marner - 29:16, Nylander - 42:30) 1:00:09 - The Oilers continual stupidity
On this episode, we discuss: The last five games for the Leafs [1:20] How William Nylander has performed [5:50] The game vs Tampa Bay and the NHL's divisional setup [18:00] A rant about Troy Brouwer's hit on Kasperi Kapanen [23:00] Whether we're concerned about a series against Buffalo [30:11] The knock on effect of having Nylander in our lineup [38:40] More discussion of how stacked Tampa is [41:00] The Josh Leivo trade [47:30] Kyle Dubas' comments on Jake Gardiner and offer sheets [55:00] The Athletic's article on Mitch Marner and how his father comes across [1:11:30]
Today we discuss:
The Leafs loss in Boston and whether this changes how we think of them or their tactics [1:30] The Alex Pietrangelo Rumours, and other possible deadline acquisitions, including Wayne Simmonds, Rick Nash, and more [38:04]
On this episode we play a game of Real or Fake. Each of us make a claim about the season so far, and we determine whether it will hold over the rest of the year.
Kasperi Kapanen is a first line winger - 2:30 Morgan Rielly is the Norris favourite - 14:57 Travis Dermott is the Leafs' 2nd best defenseman - 24:02 Frederik Andersen is the Vezina favourite - 39:40 Frederik Gauthier is competent - 51:30 Buffalo will be in the top 3 of the division - 1:02:00
Welcome back to another episode of Back To Excited. On this episode, we discuss:
The latest on the Nylander contract dispute, based on the reporting from the Headlines segment of Hockey Night in Canada, and our thoughts on it, and the situation as a whole. [0:53] The otherwise strong week for the Leafs, last night notwithstanding [28:18] How do we feel about facing Boston in the playoffs? [29:45] Garret Sparks poor performance thus far in the season [32:03] Kasperi Kapanen’s emergence as a bona fide top six winger [34:43] The Senators / Uber situation, and their bizarre approach to PR [39:54]
1:08 - How have the lightning been? 3:08 - How are the leafs relative to them? 4:15 - How does this lightning team compare to last years 5:40 - How do you deal with the banality of the regular season when you’re a good team 8:20 - Fan psychology 16:45 - the frustration that exists in the leafs fanbase despite their success 19:00 - The Yanni Gourde signing, and what it means for the Lightning’s cap situation 29:00 - How good is Brayden Point 33:29 - How does this affect the Leafs (i.e. Nylander) 43:00 - What can we learn from how the Lightning dealt with Nikita Kucherov 52:00 - The Jake Dotchin situation 59:00 - Are the Habs good? 1:05:00 - Talking about the Isles, Anders Lee, the Ducks, and the Canucks
On this episode, we discuss:
The Leafs winning two in a row against the Jets [1:40] The HNIC commentators and how bad they are [3:40] Auston Matthews' injury [10:00] William Nylander (again) [13:50] Why sponsorship dollars for players like Nylander aren't a difference maker [17:40] How the Leafs will line up without Matthews [25:20] Freddie Gauthier and the surprisingly competent Leafs fourth line [29:00] Igor Ozhiganov making the 3RD spot his own [34:30] Jake Gardiner is coming around [40:15] Our cautious optimism about Rielly's start [44:00] The Toronto Raptors [49:00] The myth of William Nylander faltering in the playoffs [53:01] A quick visit to the rest of the league, including Habs and Vegas talk [1:00:00]
On this episode, we discuss:
Where do the Leafs stand, and is Babcock earning his money - 2:31
Matthews’ lines struggles and potential solutions - 20:42
Our resignation that the Gardiner Zaitsev pair doesnt work - 32:15
Assorted short chatter on other teams - 40:00
Nylander chatter - 43:20
On this episode, we discuss:
How Kasperi Kapanen has revived Auston Matthews' line at even strength [1:00] Whether Kapanen's play adjusts where we play William Nylander when he returns [5:30] or his value to the team [10:00] Auston Matthews' defense [21:00] How close Matthews is to McDavid [26:00] Why other teams hate us... we then proceed to tell them to fuck off for about 15 minutes [30:00] The Leafs' overall play and how good we think they are [43:00] The questions around Gardiner + Zaitsev [47:00] When Travis Dermott will earn more minutes [52:00] The Arizona Coyotes, and their inability to score [57:00] Why we don't believe in the Buffalo Sabres [1:02:00] How ridiculous it is that Edmonton still sucks [1:10:00]
We discuss the first three games of the Leafs season and go into great detail on: [2:38] - Reviewing the overall level of play from the Leafs [6:33] - The Leafs' 'system' and whether it's holding the team back, and whether fans blaming it for the Leafs struggles are justified. [30:00] - A review of just about every player on the team
1:30 - Leafs preseason talk and projected lineups 10:00 - Frederik Gauthier 12:00 - Leafs D pairings 17:00 - The ability of the Leafs to score against the run of play 19:20 - Our thoughts on the goalies 21:20 - Fulemin talks about offer sheets 24:52 - Should we be worried about Marner’s contract 45:50 - We swoon over the fact that we’re adding Nylander to this offensive group 48:26 - Are we still unconcerned with the Nylander situation 56:40 - Can Nazem Kadri win the Selke (no) 1:00:00 - Has Steven Stamkos declined? 1:04:00 - Various things we were wrong about 1:07:07 - Leafs first unit power play One note: in the Marner discussion, I briefly mention power plays as the reason scoring went up last year. That is actually not entirely true. About 20% of the increase in scoring is attributable to increased power play success and opportunities, but the rest is at even strength. However, it doesn’t change the overall point that scoring 90 points is very hard, and shouldn’t be expected for Marner, nor does it make it clear that last year’s offensive levels will be sustained.
In this episode, we discuss the Leafs preseason including:
Who impressed us [2:10] Who was just OK [30:10] Who disappointed us [33:00]
We also talk about people galaxy braining the Leafs lineup [1:07:30] and why Buffalo will still be bad this season [1:16:30]
2:41 - Ottawa's bad decisions 4:29 - Is Hossa better than Alfredsson 6:28 - The Karlsson trade and the many, many mistakes Ottawa made throughout this process 19:19 - Fulemin disrespects Nikolai Kulemin 23:30 - the Melnyk video 28 - other assorted bad decisions 34:31 - should the Mens learn from the Jets 37:20 - Should we be worried about the Nylander deal 42:20 - Why using just Ehlers deal in arguing for Nylander’s contract is incomplete 49:58 - Leafs training camp battles 1:15:14 - Tavares/Marner on the PK
We welcome Alan Wells (@loserpoints) from Raw Charge to talk about the Leafs, Lightning, Bruins, and make fun of the rest of the Atlantic.
We discuss: Alan's take on the Lightning [2:35] The difficulty in rooting for a contender [6:48] The concerns Alan has about the Lightning [10:00] Whether the Lightning should be willing to give up Mikhail Sergachev for Erik Karlsson [13:02] How awful the Sens are [18:25] The state of the Atlantic Division [24:00] Alan's take on the Leafs [26:30] Whether the Leafs defensemen are that bad [32:30] The Leafs coaching in general [36:45] How the Leafs compare to Boston [40:30] How much we hate Brad Marchand [46:00] How much we hate Zdeno Chara [49:00] How bad the Sens are (again) [52:00] Whether teams are adjusting their behaviour in free agency [1:01:58] The future of NHL free agency [1:03:54] Making fun of the Habs [1:10:35]
In this episode, Arvind and Fulemin take on questions from Twitter, including:
The best lines for the Leafs
How we'd set up Toronto's power play
Whether Travis Dermott can replace Jake Gardiner after this season, and the argument against trading Gardiner now.
How is the role of defensemen changing, and how does that impact team composition
Who are our top 20 centres in the league
Arvind and Fulemin discuss PensionPlanPuppets' Top 25 Under 25 and their philosophies about ranking players. They also discuss the Tom Wilson signing, the Islanders bonkers offseason, and the state of hockey analytics in 2018.
Arvind and Fulemin discuss the ramifications of Andreas Johnsson re-signing, fantasize about acquiring Max Pacioretty from the Habs, and make fun of a bunch of bad teams for being stupid.
Kevin joins us once again to review the Leafs draft and talk about the possibility of Toronto signing John Tavares