It's best not to rely on the PP to win games in the playoffs, especially the deeper you go and the whistles get put away.
- GalacticStone

Stonesy, the Leafs didn't rely on the PP to win. They relied on the PP (and PK) to lose.

At 5v5 they scored at virtually identical rates as NYR, Dall, etc....they were right in the mushy middle against a Boston team that plays a very tight low scoring set up.

The very very obvious problem for them was that their PP scoring rate was embarrassing. If it was average they might have won the series ..and there's an argument that they might have won it quick.

PP scoring rates per 60 in the playoffs this year ...(the average is about 8/60).

Avs ~15.1
Oilers ` 13.1

....

FLA ~ 7.7
Dal ~ 7.0

....

The Leafs ~ 1.4 ...........I can't emphasize how devasting this is. You can't win with a number like this.

5v5 playoff scoring is pretty "mushy middle" ..meaning the difference between the worst and best is typically 1.5 - 2.5. The Leafs were 1.93 ..right in the middle.

It carried them to the finals....like special teams have carried many teams before them.
Unfortunately, mcd and Draisaitl have gone cold.
- Fakepartofme

Stop this… please… 19 PP goals and 64 overall goals

they’ve gotten 1 goal in two games… this is WAY more than a PP failure. They’re only due for one in the next two goals. They’re failing all around. Good.

If Vegas did trade for Marner they would 100% get a team to retain some cap in exchange for picks.

Cap floor teams will be lining up to retain some cap for some picks on Marner. If traded after July 1.

He has no deception whatsoever. Telegraphs his passes, and shot is the opposite of a "threat".

Our powerplay kills us EVERY YEAR in the playoffs. This group does not work.
- fifty__missions

My opinion has always been that MM and MR are almost too similar. They're both elite puck movers but neither are great threats to shoot. When they're both on the ice it lets the PK'ers lean into AM and stay deep.

A point shot would drag the PK'ers out more and create more space and time for WN and AM to get their rockets off.

Wrong. The PP was poopt since the end of Feb/early March.
- fifty__missions

so when Marner was hurt?

Ok, let's assume for a moment that no major core members are moved this offseason.

According to CapFriendly, the Leafs have $18.8m in projected cap space with 33 contract spots taken.

They have ten roster forwards under contract.

They have five roster d-men under contract.

They have one roster goalie under contract (Woll).

Prospects and two-ways under non-roster contracts : Nine forwards (notables are Cowan and Minten), six d-men, and three goalies.

Here is a roster that is 100% Run-It-Back(tm) with no new additions and promoting prospects into vacated roster spots. This will be the baseline roster without the unsigned UFA's (Domi, Bert, etc).

Knies - Matthews - Marner
McMann - Tavares - Nylander
Cowan/Minten - Holmberg - Yarncock
Minten/Cowan - Kampf - Reaves

Rielly - McCabe
Benoit - Timmins
Webber - Niemela?

Woll - Random Hobo - A Beer Keg

Obviously, this theoretical is not a roster built for winning. Prospects are bolded.

$18.8m is not a lot of money to polish up that roster. I'd start at defense first, then goalie, then forward. From there, I have no friggin idea.
- GalacticStone

Appreciate the hard work

3rd line LW- Martinook or Joshua
Or call in the BooneTangClan and rejig things

Also, still have Robertson
And potentially resigning DomiNation

Top UFA RHD- Tanev, Zadorov, Pesce, Roy
And Edmundson or Hakanpaa for lower pair

1B goalie

Plan the parade 💙

My opinion has always been that MM and MR are almost too similar. They're both elite puck movers but neither are great threats to shoot. When they're both on the ice it lets the PK'ers lean into AM and stay deep.

A point shot would drag the PK'ers out more and create more space and time for WN and AM to get their rockets off.
- The Law

Counter argument is saying the Leafs have too similar players on the PP like Marner and MR is weak sauce.

In no world should a unit of AM, Marner, WN, MR, JT ever not be a top 6 PP in the league.

Having MM and MR as too similar players should not be a significant weakness

My opinion has always been that MM and MR are almost too similar. They're both elite puck movers but neither are great threats to shoot. When they're both on the ice it lets the PK'ers lean into AM and stay deep.

A point shot would drag the PK'ers out more and create more space and time for WN and AM to get their rockets off.
- The Law

I mostly agree. If you have a unit of 3 or 4 guys who are elite passers, you aren’t playing to your strengths if you keep running the same set plays over and over. Adding a shot from the point creates chaos and allows the creativity and skating/passing skills to come into play.

Stop this… please… 19 PP goals and 64 overall goals

they’ve gotten 1 goal in two games… this is WAY more than a PP failure. They’re only due for one in the next two goals. They’re failing all around. Good.
- Dozzer

Stop what?
Yes they havent scored as i said, mcd and dry have gone cold.
Their specialty teams carried them.

What exactly am i stopping?

Counter argument is saying the Leafs have too similar players on the PP like Marner and MR is weak sauce.

In no world should a unit of AM, Marner, WN, MR, JT ever not be a top 6 PP in the league.

Having MM and MR as too similar players should not be a significant weakness
- Santo_44

And yet....here we are.

I think a new voice will help this team.

Counter argument is saying the Leafs have too similar players on the PP like Marner and MR is weak sauce.

In no world should a unit of AM, Marner, WN, MR, JT ever not be a top 6 PP in the league.

Having MM and MR as too similar players should not be a significant weakness
- Santo_44

I officially feel better about my opinion now.

I mostly agree. If you have a unit of 3 or 4 guys who are elite passers, you aren’t playing to your strengths if you keep running the same set plays over and over. Adding a shot from the point creates chaos and allows the creativity and skating/passing skills to come into play.
- Canada Cup

The debate is mostly around the edges. A good coach should be able to make anything work but if you watch PK's work against a team with a point threat their forwards are forced to stay a little higher to stop/block the shot. Against the Leafs they have much less of that concern. A guy can/does shadow 34 and the others are able to stay in a deeper box and block shots.

We all see the Leafs move/pass the puck on the outside throughout the PP and that's (again generalizing) because teams tend to give them the outside b/c the threat is less.

Stop what?
Yes they havent scored as i said, mcd and dry have gone cold.
They specialty teams carried them.

What exactly am i stopping?
- Fakepartofme

at 5v5 the Oilers are 39gf and 42ga
so yeah the PP has probably kept them afloat

Stop what?
Yes they havent scored as i said, mcd and dry have gone cold.
Their specialty teams carried them.

What exactly am i stopping?
- Fakepartofme

Their special teams do not carry them… excellent talent, carriers no. They have 45 non PP goals so while the PP has been nice, it hasn’t been the core.

at 5v5 the Oilers are 39gf and 42ga
so yeah the PP has probably kept them afloat
- senstroll

And (I remember this only b/c this same convo happened a few weeks ago) a pair of their 5v5 goals were scored 1-2 seconds after a PP ended ...so really PP goals.

Mike Augello: Podcast Wednesday - Off The Post Radio Discusses The Scouting Combine
- mikeinbuffalo

Good morning hb fam👍🏿

I’m eating a crepe on the campus of Princeton and making fat stacks 😮

everyone here is as insufferable as you would imagine 🤦🏿‍♂️

they probably think we should back up the brinks truck for more of pencil neck female dog and his playoff ice capades disappearing act🤦‍♂️

what a (frank)ing joke🤦🏿‍♂️

edit:nice alliteration 👍

so yeah, adjust what you think is a good batting average (if you still use that).. also ..you shouldnt

Codify
@CodifyBaseball
MLB teams hitting under .240:
1993 to 2009 - 0
2010 - 1
2011 - 2
2012 - 5
2013 - 5
2014 - 4
2015 - 0
2016 - 1
2017 - 1
2018 - 8
2019 - 4
2020 - 11
2021 - 12
2022 - 14
2023 - 8
2024 - 15 so far

at 5v5 the Oilers are 39gf and 42ga
so yeah the PP has probably kept them afloat
- senstroll

Yup
I believe they went into the series with only 1 more goal then against at 5v5

Their special teams do not carry them… excellent talent, carriers no. They have 45 non PP goals so while the PP has been nice, it hasn’t been the core.
- Dozzer

Just for some context.

Oilers even strength GF 44 GA 50 * 2 of those GF were really PP goals
Oilers special teams GF 20 GA 4

Florida even strength GF 45 GA 31
Florida special teams GF 17 GA 9

Just for some context.

Oilers even strength GF 44 GA 50 * 2 of those GF were really PP goals
Oilers special teams GF 20 GA 4

Florida even strength GF 45 GA 31
Florida special teams GF 17 GA 9
- The Law

NBA and NHL finals suck this year.

2 over matched teams getting wrecked.

Onto the draft already this series is over.

Just for some context.

Oilers even strength GF 44 GA 50 * 2 of those GF were really PP goals
Oilers special teams GF 20 GA 4

Florida even strength GF 45 GA 31
Florida special teams GF 17 GA 9
- The Law

And like I was saying it’s a one out of three that is a PP goal. They just have an offence that makes opposition teams focus on D big time when it comes to PPs. I’d love to see the shots against stat during PPs for Edmonton vs Florida.

NBA and NHL finals suck this year.

2 over matched teams getting wrecked.

Onto the draft already this series is over.
- Santo_44

Series is never over until the home team loses a game. Might happen tonight, but it hasn't happened YET.

It's completely normal for the home team to be up 2-0. Though the 2nd game was heavily tilted in Panthers favour, first game was winnable for the Oilers.

My opinion has always been that MM and MR are almost too similar. They're both elite puck movers but neither are great threats to shoot. When they're both on the ice it lets the PK'ers lean into AM and stay deep.

A point shot would drag the PK'ers out more and create more space and time for WN and AM to get their rockets off.
- The Law

Exactly.

so when Marner was hurt?
- drexel

The PP is poopt every year in the playoffs.

running on the field is dumb..but this was funny..backflip tazer

https://x.com/JoeKinseyex...tatus/1800842038419890405