so far, yes

I wanted the leafs to make the moves they did (C/D), but did not have either of Laughton or Carlo on my bingo card. so hope it works out
- senstroll

I don't think ANYONE had Carlo on their radar for the Leafs.

Just for fun though, would this team be better if it was +Rantanan, -Marner, Laughton, Carlo?

So tired of this narrative. He is healthy the dude is just not himself, for whatever reason.
- Santo_44

Well, if he is hurt, it's not impacting his faceoffs. He's winning faceoffs at over a 59% rate. So, I wouldn't think it's wrist or shoulder.

If he's not hurt, then what do you think it is? Just an extended funk? Personal issues at home? I mean, something is happening. Elite players adapt to the opposition and trends, so it's not like everyone just figured out how to smother him in coverage. This doesn't seem normal, or maybe my expectations are just too high for him.

Benoit is entertaining, but he's a trainwreck in his own end.

OEL-Myers should be a permanent thing, because at least Myers can move the puck and can get pucks on net.
- gravyface

It's so refreshing to have a Dman that consistently gets pucks on the net

Theyve lost a couple of games now to good teams and if you are into analytics and what not, those numbers dont look good.
Again its only reg season, but this appears to be the leafs all in year. They have an aging dcore, no 1st round and only two second picks for the next 3 drafts.
So hopefully a team of "superstars" who havent been able to get their poop together in the playoffs the past 8 years finally get it together this year to beat a couple of teams that are better than them.
Its all good.
Hopefully the next two times we play the panthers, they are missing 4 star players or the goalie has a bad game
- Fakepartofme

Why would this be their "all in" year? A lack of draft picks next year doesn't have any impact on their window for like 4 years or more. I know losing last night doesn't bode well for confidence but the way your talking they might as well not bother playing the games, good god it's a stretch of bad games get off the ledge man!

They have been battling for top spot in the division all season, they beat the Jets when nobody else had, they shut out Vegas in Nov, beat the Oilers in Nov, beat Tampa twice early in the season & again in Jan, beat the Oilers again in Feb.

My point is they have beaten good teams, March hasn't been good so far but they have been good more often than bad this year and it seems silly to me to say they way they have been for a couple weeks is 100% who they will be come playoffs.

Maybe I'm nuts but I think they can get back to being more like they have been more often than note this year - I guess we will see. It's easy to forget how they were (how good they were) not too long ago, the recent stinkers make it hard and I get that.

And as I said yesterday multiple times I am all in on a huge core shake up if they fail miserably again this year come playoffs but I'm not ready to say it's a sure thing they will based on what I have seen they are capable of.

I think Carlo is going to settle in VERY nicely. To have him for two more years at less than $4M is just *chefs kiss* Nice cooking by Tre on that one.
- Whipper

Let's wait for five games with Tanev in the lineup before assessing Carlo.

Yeah, I'm not worried about Carlo at all, Laughton may have a little ways to go in my opinion, though.
- Whipper

Yeah. Him on the wing to end the game wasn't what I wanted to see, but we do have a few guys who can play 3C in a pinch (Jarnkrok/Domi/Holmberg).

How the (frank) would you know?
- gravyface

Because they said he is healthy.

They are playing him every game and 25+ mins a game.

Pretty (frank)ing easy to understand he is healthy. As healthy as the rest of the league that goes through ailments all year as well.

"How the (frank) would you know?" to go against what the team is saying along with his usage. He is playing the 2nd most mins on average since 2019.

The "he is injured" crowd is getting annoying as (frank). He is playing bad to his standards, plain and simple.

I don't think ANYONE had Carlo on their radar for the Leafs.

Just for fun though, would this team be better if it was +Rantanan, -Marner, Laughton, Carlo?
- Whipper

No.

Well, if he is hurt, it's not impacting his faceoffs. He's winning faceoffs at over a 59% rate. So, I wouldn't think it's wrist or shoulder.

If he's not hurt, then what do you think it is? Just an extended funk? Personal issues at home? I mean, something is happening. Elite players adapt to the opposition and trends, so it's not like everyone just figured out how to smother him in coverage. This doesn't seem normal, or maybe my expectations are just too high for him.
- GalacticStone

Considering how dominant he was last year, lighting the lamp almost every game or multiple times per game, something HAS to be off. Like someone said, you don't go see a specialist in Germany in season if there isn't something going on. If it's something that time can heal, sit him out for the rest of the regular season.

No.
- gravyface

Agreed. Can't go with the Oiler plan to win every game 13-11.

But, they're not scoring as much as they should be either.

Let's wait for five games with Tanev in the lineup before assessing Carlo.
- Atomic Wedgie

That can only help his situation, no?

Anyone else not feel like working today?

I've been put through the meat grinder all week.

Time to dust off the Fake Cup of Coffee 3000.

That can only help his situation, no?
- Whipper

That's what I'm figuring.

It's the thing I love about hockey: you get a new guy for your 4th line, it makes your 4th line better.

You get a new guy for your 1st line, it makes all 4 lines better.

Yeah. Him on the wing to end the game wasn't what I wanted to see, but we do have a few guys who can play 3C in a pinch (Jarnkrok/Domi/Holmberg).
- gravyface

I kinda like what I've seen from Jarnkrok. He might turn out to be as impactful as a TDL add.

Well, if he is hurt, it's not impacting his faceoffs. He's winning faceoffs at over a 59% rate. So, I wouldn't think it's wrist or shoulder.

If he's not hurt, then what do you think it is? Just an extended funk? Personal issues at home? I mean, something is happening. Elite players adapt to the opposition and trends, so it's not like everyone just figured out how to smother him in coverage. This doesn't seem normal, or maybe my expectations are just too high for him.
- GalacticStone

Kipper and Sammy on 590 said it best a few weeks ago. He looks (frank)ing tired. His face is long and looks off. Kipper said he has played with stars who go through funks of just not having fun going to the rink with mental issues.

He is visibly frustrated. They are playing him as much, even more than ever.

Medical staff and coaches are knowledgable...If you don't trust what the team says then the proof is in the pudding. His usage is way up and his shot speed and skating is back to normal since December.

I don't think ANYONE had Carlo on their radar for the Leafs.

Just for fun though, would this team be better if it was +Rantanan, -Marner, Laughton, Carlo?
- Whipper

It wouldnt have been - marner.
That wasnt the final ask. The final ask was two 1st, minten and cowen.
We spent the two 1st and minten on a 3rd liner and carlo.

[quote=Atomic Wedgie]
They just don't make commercials like they used to.

Considering how dominant he was last year, lighting the lamp almost every game or multiple times per game, something HAS to be off. Like someone said, you don't go see a specialist in Germany in season if there isn't something going on. If it's something that time can heal, sit him out for the rest of the regular season.
- Whipper

You also don't play him 25 mins a game and send him to 4 nations if there is something wrong.

He is allowed to be having a poop time on the rink and off the rink. It happens to the best of us.

Just because he is Auston Matthews doesn't mean he can't have something going on upstairs.

Interesting that Berube notes FLA's a "high shot volume team", was thinking the same thing watching last night, and how quickly they get shots off, where we've done the opposite, as a supposed "possession" team since Babcock days.

You'd think that with our talent, we could be a high-volume shooting team with success... getting in front of the net, getting pucks back, rinse and repeat.

I kinda like what I've seen from Jarnkrok. He might turn out to be as impactful as a TDL add.
- Whipper

He definitely has a good motor, forgot about that. Him and Holmberg look pretty good lately; relentless.

Because they said he is healthy.

They are playing him every game and 25+ mins a game.

Pretty (frank)ing easy to understand he is healthy. As healthy as the rest of the league that goes through ailments all year as well.

"How the (frank) would you know?" to go against what the team is saying along with his usage. He is playing the 2nd most mins on average since 2019.

The "he is injured" crowd is getting annoying as (frank). He is playing bad to his standards, plain and simple.
- Santo_44

Who said he was healthy? When? Do you have a link because I don't recall every reading he was healthy and this video clip of the GM before the 4 nations cup sure didn't say he was for sure over whatever the issue was - just that they hoped that to be the case:

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...iving-on-matthews-injury/

And this article from yesterday sure doesn't make it sound like he's 100% healthy:

https://www.yardbarker.co..._report/s1_17430_41902316

Do you have something where someone with knowledge of the situation said he was healthy?

Interesting that Berube notes FLA's a "high shot volume team", was thinking the same thing watching last night, and how quickly they get shots off, where we've done the opposite, as a supposed "possession" team since Babcock days.

You'd think that with our talent, we could be a high-volume shooting team with success... getting in front of the net, getting pucks back, rinse and repeat.
- gravyface

The problem with this team is they try to pass the f@cking puck into the net. Just park JT or Knies in front of the net and SHOOT THE F@CKING PUCK!!!

I don't think ANYONE had Carlo on their radar for the Leafs.

Just for fun though, would this team be better if it was +Rantanan, -Marner, Laughton, Carlo?
- Whipper

if it was Rantanen signed now x8, id take that

They lost a close game - we must talk about blowing it up now.
This is the way.
- Cush29

You and I have had this conversation for at least five years.

if it was Rantanen signed now x8, id take that
- senstroll

But then how do we fit McDavid?

The way things are going in Edmonton, my hopes have been reignited. After Drai re-signed, I lost all hope.