Leafs talk 2

17 Oct 2026 03:01:27
That loss to me was on Hiller. Absolutely terrible decision to sit 3 guys for almost half the game after just getting back from the West Coast. They played an absolutely great 1st period, we get a little resistance in the 2nd and he sits a line? He shout of been rolling all 4 lines all game and we would been able to scrape out that win. Matthews and Nylander were dog tired by overtime, they were taking 20 seconds shifts at times. Yes everyone is talking about sitting McKenna and I agree but McEwen was playing great along with Blueger. That decision didn’t make any sense to me and IMO cost them the game. That’s it for Clarky's corner today!

17 Oct 2026 18:11:00
Hilly made some odd decisions for sure, but I have to say Willy and Roslovic, tired or not, need more effort.

After losing JT, he really should have run 4 lines though.

16 Oct 2026 18:31:16
Been talk about the D standing up more at their blueline and not being too deep. I agree, they do need to. One of the reason they often seem to sag behind their blueline was on display on the Samuelsson goal. Roslovic and Nylander are at the redline both facing Samuelsson as he comes up the ice with the puck. No forecheck, just standing waiting. Freeze the play as Samuelsson is making his pass. Roslovic engages Samuelsson. McCabe is starting to move to his left to cut off the guy he thinks is getting the pass along the boards. Instead of Willy picking up a man, he stands there hoping to pick off a pass. The pass goes through him and both him and Roslovic let Samuelsson and Thompson blow right by them and literally stand there and watch.

McCabe starts to back peddle to the middle of the ice because he now is facing a two on one all of a sudden. Neither Roslovic or Nylander touched Samuelsson or Thompson.
I am not letting the D off the hook, but this happens way too often with our forwards. I don't think the D trust the forwards to take a man or slow them down and it has a lot to do with why they don't close at the blueline. If McCabe had of been up at the blueline, Thompson would have blown by him or if McCabe engaged, he slips it back to Samuelsson who walks in untouched.

16 Oct 2026 18:46:49
I agree here completely. No D in the league wants to backpedal into their goalie's face. They all know that isn't the right play, but the D on this team have no choice.

Everyone losing their minds about McKenna being benched needs to remember how badly he played.

He deserved the benching.

My only issue with it was not also benching Willy and Roslovic. They both just gave up after the first period and decided they're done for the night.

16 Oct 2026 03:57:33
If Tavares is out does Raty get a shot?

Cowan Matthews Nylander
McKenna Raty Marchenko
Paul Sissons Roslovic
4th line. Who cares?

16 Oct 2026 18:37:32
I don't think he will get a shot at 2C. The Canucks tried to turn him into a defensive C. He is very good on the dot, pretty safe with the puck and uses his body. He isn't used to 17-18 mins a night at the NHL level though and as a 2C, he would have to think more offence than what Van tried to have him play last year and this year.

They have Groulx and MacEwan to fill roles and Paul might see 2C time. My guess is he plays in the minors and they give him more of an offensive role to see if he can put up points again as he had almost a point per game his last season in the A.

16 Oct 2026 03:42:50
This coach…really?
He forgets he has an uber talented rookie on the bench?
This is not going to end well…
What a meathead…

16 Oct 2026 02:36:08
Reminds me of Babs.

Mckenna looked like garbage (he's 18, no hate towards the kid). But Babs always benched certain guys and not others. No different from what I can tell.

16 Oct 2026 08:43:08
For whatever reason he likes to just button mash with the lines. Whether Mckenna played poorly or not, sitting him half the game is a good way to lose a player.

16 Oct 2026 14:39:59
I get that Leafs were killing penalties second half of the 2nd period. But man, they had a 2 goal lead to start the third. McKenna pushes play forward. Needed to get him on the ice early in the 3rd. I will never understand when teams are outplaying other teams, they get a 2 goal lead then sit back and just play D in the 3rd.

Keep pressing. Keep the puck in their end. Try and get a 3 goal lead. I would rather my team lose trying to take it to them, then sit back and try and hold onto a lead by just playing defence.

16 Oct 2026 15:08:32
Jim Hiller lost us that game, plain and simple.

15 Oct 2026 09:33:11
A lot of talk about the d core and I came across something that may make us feel better. Washington currently has a top six that includes Liljgren and Holl and they are considered as a cup contender...

Do I think the Leafs have the best built blueline... no, but I do think when healthy they are 1 solid player away from being a good blueline. They need a shutdown guy to help ease the loss of Tanev.

15 Oct 2026 17:43:10
And the Caps aren't doing great.

I like the Caps moves for them in the off-season, but it really shows the lack of solid D-men across the league right now.

16 Oct 2026 08:44:08
I guess my point is that there’s more teams than just Toronto that have similar bluelines.

16 Oct 2026 14:42:11
Without Tanev, the D-core becomes more of an issue. Not sure what they can or would give up to improve there through trade though.

14 Oct 2026 00:33:52
I know I am on an island here, but I am done wirh Raddysh.

Slow as mollases, does nothing offensively, poor defensively, does not help the PP in any way now he is away from Kycherov, poor on the PK, etc

He is a fine 3-4D, but he was signed as a 1D (apparently). What is the hate for Rielly whilr we pretend that Raddysh is a stud? I don't get it.

Mo on that top PP looks exactly the same as Raddysh on the top PP.

14 Oct 2026 07:23:55
I won’t go as far as saying I’m gonna write this player off, but I do think he’s a player you do need to shelter a bit, which isn’t great. Also, he’s been pretty passive on the PP. It’s feed Auston syndrome.

14 Oct 2026 16:29:09
Very poor deployment on the PP in my mind. He shouldn't be quarterback on the PP. Needs to be a shooter.

14 Oct 2026 18:56:06
Do you mean he was signed as a #1D or a top pair D? I don't think many thought he was a #1D, but he was playing top pair in Tampa. From what top #1 D are getting paid right now, Raddysh wasn't paid even close to what a lot of these guys are getting.
He hasn't been that good, but it isn't uncommon when these guys sign their first big deal and try to live up to the pay instead of just playing their game. Especially if they sign in their hometown. My hope is that he will continue to settle down and just play his game as time continues to go on.

He makes some nice plays, but he is definitely looking for Matthews on the PP a lot. Maybe trying too hard to fit in etc. Needs to be a little more selfish and let that bomb go more often. You may be right that he is more a 3-4 in the long run, but right now it's not like anyone is going to take his top pair slot from him. OEL has not looked good at all. MacCabe has been hot and cold. Rielly has been better this year, than last, but still not looking like a top pair guy. They have a bunch of guys playing like 3-5's.

14 Oct 2026 19:14:28
@RLF I listened to media hype Raddysh a true #1 D from the time they signed him and I honestly feel bad for the guy. He's getting the Mo treatment. Put a guy in a position to fail, then act surprised when he fails.



OEL looks his age and McCabe is definitely losing a step from when he first signed.

Not sure this D corps is getting any better.

14 Oct 2026 19:20:49
Does Reilly look better? He is definitely playing more physical, which is good, but he has some of the worst gap control in the league. That’s why he either gets walked, guys go around him on the outside. First periods of the last two games killed them because the gap control in the neutral zone is awful. They tightened up in the 2nd half of both games (especially the Avs). Utah game was too little, too late. Just watch next game when teams are breaking out, our D are already in our zone, backed way off.

Giving so much time and space to make passes, gain speed and be creative. Hopefully it’s something Hiller is working on. But none of the last 3-4 coaches have corrected this major issue. But I’m going to eat humble pie and say Matthews and Nylander are actually stepping up and playing a much better style (especially Matthews), trying to win every puck battle. If the team feeds off this, could be tough to play against.

14 Oct 2026 22:13:40
Clarky. I said Rielly looks better this year than last year. That's all. I think he does. I also said they have a bunch of guys looking like a 3-5. Rielly would be in that category along with Raddysh, OEL, McCabe. Tanev was the only one that looked better than a 3. Then you have Stecher, Blankenberg and Rafai that are 6-7's. You see it differently?

14 Oct 2026 22:45:03
@RLF That's pretty much how I see the D-corps as well. OEL looks bottom pairing, Rielly maybe a 4 probably a 5 and Raddysh a 4 (most would argue 3 and I wouldn't be upset with that either).

What is up with McCabe? Looks like a 7th D half the time.



I do think McCabe is a solid second pairing guy still, but man is he not good enough to cover up for Mo/Raddysh defensievly. He really needs a new partner.

15 Oct 2026 14:41:07
LL, I don't read or watch a lot of media coverage, but I don't remember anyone calling him a true #1D. I remember them saying he is the #1 defenceman available and a PP quarterback as well as a top 4 or top pair. You are probably right, I just didn't see much of that.

15 Oct 2026 19:15:04
@RLF I know you said Reilly looks better then last year, but the only improvement I have seen is he being more physical in the corners. But our D is going to always look bad no matter who you get, if they don’t change the defensive system to close gaps in the neutral zone.

Neutral zone is arguably the most important zone to be good at from a defensive standpoint point and the Leafs have been and still are one of the worst teams for gap control. Makes it easy to play against.

15 Oct 2026 20:11:52
Clarky. I would also say that Rielly is using his feet better to keep moving out of danger with the puck in his own end as another improvement. Point being, he was horrible last season and I wouldn't call him horrible this year. The gap control I don't disagree with, but that is also on the forwards as well. It's hard to stand up at the blue line when guys are allowed to come through the neutral zone with so much speed. When Sissons, Duhaime and Blueger are on the ice together, that speed is taken away and the D don't back up as much.

It also happens on plays where they dump it out and try to change or there is a neutral zone giveaway where now they are flat footed and they play is quickly coming at them. They need to be better at that for sure, but the forwards need to force them to one side better and have a strong backcheck ro support the D so the D can stand up more. Sometimes it is totally on them, sometimes not much they can do but back off or have a guy blow by them or just chip it past them and go get it pretty easily.

13 Oct 2026 20:18:04
I would love to see Rifai get his chance with Tanev out. Guy is all heart every time he gets the call up. Not bad with the puck either, hope they give him a good 7-8 game look.

13 Oct 2026 21:25:15
I also like Rifai.

He isn't replacing anyone as I currently see him, but maybe he can put in an effort worth keeping.

Last 10 years prospects have been ignored and left in the Marlies forever. Maybe one of them is good (Sorry Holl lol)

11 Oct 2026 03:20:29
Said it before, McKenna is looking better everyday.

Really like his back check at times, liking his effort, kid is a stud.

Give him half a year and he will easily have 60pts as an 18 year old.

11 Oct 2026 14:07:41
Great attitude. All I have heard is how much of a sponge this kid is for soaking up as much info from the vets as he can. The discussion before the draft was who is more NHL ready, him or Stenberg and should you take the so-called more NHL ready 2 way type winger. For me, as I believe you as well, I was taking McKenna all the way. He's ready and he is just going to get better. As I said then, his vision and ability to hold onto pucks to find the open guy is waaaaay beyond his years. Even on the PP, Matthews is giving him the puck to run the PP from the half wall.

That said, a shout out to Matthews and Nylander. Willy was good last year and has seemed to be grinding even more. Matthews is a different player this year. Ever since that Nashville game where he admitted after the game the decision for the team was not to lose any puck battles, he has been dominate.

He is skating well, the shot is there, he is winning battles. He is being an on ice leader.

We can give credit to the GM and coach, with the additions of Paul, Scissons, Duhaime, Raddysh, Bob, etc., because those moves are paying off and the style of offence play is more creative. To me, the other big difference we are starting to see from the team this year is the stars (Matthews, Nylander) are at a different level than last year and the emergence of Cowan and the addition of McKenna is huge. Rielly is much better this year. If those guys were playing like they did last year, they aren't 3-2-1. It would be more like 2-4 or 1-5.

08 Oct 2026 20:06:17
Liking the new lines. Pretty much exactly what a lot of us wanted. Just switch Cowan and McKenna so McKenna isn't so exposed defensively and gets lesser competition.

Cowan also deserves top 6 minutes. He came out ready.

06 Oct 2026 22:39:36
It might be early in this game, but penalties are an issue, effort is an issue, and coaching has done nothing to change this team.

Starting to lose hope boys.

07 Oct 2026 01:07:05
Alright, guess they made me look stupid. Happy to see it.

07 Oct 2026 11:37:52
It was nice to see them start to play like losing is not acceptable. I think Matthews even said something about deciding they weren't going to lose any puck battles etc as to what changed during the game.
Also nice to hear a young star quality player in McKenna say he loves this fanbase and it's a privilege to play for a passionate fan base where they want you to succeed so much and that even when there is criticism it's still a privilege.

He's got the right attitude to play here.
Matthews actually looked dominate for the first time since I can't remember when. After that JT goal, the whole team was buzzing.

04 Oct 2026 23:53:11
The way this team is constructed, it is very hard to make a top 3 lines without having a defensive or inexperienced weak spots on at least one of the lines. I think eventually someone from the 4th line will have to move up and someone from the top 9 will have to play 4th line. For now, before that happens, my next game lines are:
Paul Matthews Marchenko
Cowan JT Nylander
McKenna Sissons Roslovic
MacEwen Groulx Duhaime
Blueger - set the tone now by sitting a vet.

Haven’t noticed much from him. Maybe even swap Paul and Cowan between lines. Cowan looks like one of the more noticeable players so far these three games. #missKnies.

05 Oct 2026 12:32:27
I see what you are doing, but personally, I would just leave the lines as is for now except switch Cowan and McKenna so that McKenna sees lower competition and has two good defensive players with him that also can add some offence. Cowan will go get pucks for JT and Willy and McLenna. When McKenna has it more figured out, he can play left side with Matthews and Marchenko and move Roslovic to the 3rd line with Paul and Sissons.

For now
Marchenko Matthews Roslovic
Cowan JT Nylander
McKenna Paul Sissons
Blueger/McEwan Groulx Duhaime