I just don't see the defensive system being anything other than smart. At times teams cycle the puck around the outside at will but they never get any good shots and when they finally shoot, it gets blocked or saved and then usually the puck goes the other way. When they turn the puck over in the offensive zone and give up 3 on 2's or 2 on 1's or whatever. If you give up too many of those chances, you are going to allow goals against and that is where the Leafs are allow the majority of their goals. Since Keefe took over they are 8th in the league in goals against and if they figure out when its the right time to be risky and when its better to just dump it deep and regroup, this team could be come extremely good defensively.

Also Laudon is just an idiot, that clown is either just a troll or his defense mechanism for his fragile ego is to blast the Leafs and his fellow fans every day so he won't get hurt if they lose. Just reeks of a man who's way too emotional when it comes to sports so he needs to expect the worse so it doesn't send him over the edge if things don't turnout well.

I question that you ever watch Leaf games, just read what people on here say and make judgments without actually seeing and of the game play. No TO's defence isn't terrible defensively, that is a myth a lazy one at that. The whole system was a disaster under Babs and they are still learning Keefes system although already they are vastly improved. 8th in goals against since Keefe took over. And as I mentioned above, TO has been terrific when they are back defending, keeping all the shots to the outside and limiting high danger chances. Where they are getting burned is when they are on offence and try to force something. Its a balancing act that they are figuring out, and are getting better at it. Sometimes the right play is sending it deep and getting back to regroup defensively, too often they will try to force it and that causes problems.

Homer No.1, check....butthurted cause argumented out few times, being my trusted follower on site since then.....



Homer No.2, check, just a funny court jester.....living in TMLittle Pony Land with his CAPS threads.....



Homer No.3, check....also argumented out, now butthurting



And here he goes in his whole greatness and etiquette

Yes LogieBear, its me and my fragile ego, not your permanently damaged self-esteem and parents telling you how special you are regardless and always right about anything, even after other kids giving you such nickname.....

Please write this on my tombstone.

I don't disagree with what you are saying, but clearly you didn't read carefully what i said either as both are problematic. Keeping offensive guys at the D blue line or neutral zone when the puck is in their own zone is a problem. Watch carefully because if you don't see that I question if you are watching games.

They have have been stretching a bit too much but it hasn't been a problem. The opposition's defence has to get back to prevent odd man rushes so it isn't really doing much to create bad chances against. The turnovers in the opposition zone is currently the most glaring issue. The point is, regardless of whatever you want to say is the problem, the defenceman being terrible is just wrong. The Leafs on paper have one of the best bluelines in the league and NHLers just don't forget how to play their position so to suggest that they can't defend because they got scored on a tonne under Bab's stupid system of pressure everyone and leave the slot open is just a lazy analysis that TV people use to fire up fans and create controversy. Its not correct and I am tired of hearing about it.

Again, did you not read carefully? I clearly said the defense isn't terrible. I clearly said the problem lies in the forwards not getting back and playing solid defense. Toronto's forwards, with the exception of a couple, aren't great defensively and a lot of that has to do with cherry picking at the blue line or neutral zone.

You are so quick to react and defend anything Leafs without actually reading or having homer glasses on; like you calling Andersen an elite goalie top 3 in the league YoY yesterday.

Talking to you is pointless. Their forwards are much improved defensively. When anyone gives the puck up at the oppositions blueline its going to result in an odd man rush. And that isn't forwards not getting back. The defensive players are facing the Leafs zone when that happens and get several steps ahead of the chasing forwards and it causes odd man rushes. WHEN THEY ARE DEFENDING NORMALLY, as in not being caught in an odd man rush, their forwards are defending the slot and keeping the puck away from high danger areas. Which is why I am saying what you are saying is nonsense. Of course you are going to likely not read any of this and tell me i didn't read any of your statement and then tell me I'm an idiot or something. I am done, you are just a sour person.

"much improved" from what....garbage? Well obviously a handful of people agree with my original as you can see and not many with yours but we're all wrong and you're right of course lol

Yeah the same group of trolls that jump on every leaf post to say how terrible the team is. Its just tired and pointless. Get a hobby because going out of your way to fight with fans of other teams about stuff that really had nothing to do with you is just sad.

Cool story

Oh the good old if people watch the game. I watch every leaf game. Rielly is bad and always has been bad at defense. You can use the eye test, the numbers, whatever you want, it has always been the case. And where the leafs have failed is finding him a good top 4 dman that could provide the defence he lacks on the right side. The point on carelessness in the offensive zone makes no sense to me. I don't even really understand what that means. The leafs are built on their offense. It's how they plan to win. If you are talking about turnovers in the ozone, that is because they are trying to make plays and that happens sometimes. If you limit that you limit the leafs.

As far as Muzzin, Holl and Dermot go I'm right there with you. I think you and I probably agree on a larger level when it comes to the false perception out there that the leafs are the worst at defense. They have good players on the back end. I'm not entirely sold on the Keefe system of letting the team control the puck in your zone because like I said before I don't think the leafs have the defence to play defensive or break cycles and if you let good teams like the lighting stay in your zone for long enough, they will break you down. I just think they will probably have to make the move to get someone a bit better to play with Rielly.

I have like Barrie and Rielly, I think they have been pretty good and when they are on, they have the puck always. Ceci sucks but the rest of the blue line is good.

Lost with 5 GA against a hopeless team, when that's the game you should always win easily. Not by 1 goal, and not 6-5...
ARE YOU still keeping your opinion: Leafs = it has one of the best bluelines in the league? 12700 posts and that's your best take on it? Interesting... can't wait for your answer...
If you want my opininon: Only Muzzin is good(he came from defense la la land = Kings) = bottom 10 defensive core in the league = still more than 25% chance to miss playoffs = real possiblity, although in my book your team still has to make the playoffs, otherwise Dubas is fired. Dubas better trade for a new D-man soon..

FYI i have just seen recently a game, where Matthews did defend in his own zone... I have never seen that before... That move was Bergeron,Stone,Cirelli like, what i've seen from him on that play. So forwards are indeed improving on defense. But it's gonna take more than 50 games...