Mailbag: Blown leads, Jack Campbell's struggles give Leafs fans something new to complain about

The Maple Leafs go right into a tailspin — and by historic comparisons, a 2-2-1 highway journey isn't a lot of a tailspin — and the fanbase begins to lose it.

Blown leads. Jack Campbell. Jake Muzzin. It appears Leaf followers will at all times discover one thing to complain about. And when you're into the game of it, happening Twitter is an efficient place to see the complaining. This Mailbag, as you'll uncover, is one other.

However it's virtually like Leaf followers are jealous that their brethren in Edmonton get to observe their crew implode. Or the tire fires that have been Vancouver and Montreal have been sucking up a lot air that Leaf followers have to have the ability to say, “Hey, us too.”

The Leafs was once these groups. Simply bear in mind the Phil Kessel period. It wasn't that way back. I do not assume you need these days again.

It is a fan-base that's used to disappointment, conditioned to assume one thing is at all times incorrect, somebody is at all times guilty. I get that. It is virtually like a consolation zone.

However step again for a second. This season, essentially the most constant Leaf-fan “grievance” was that Mitch Marner hadn't scored on the ability play. Then Marner went and scored on the ability play.

The blown leads and Campbell's struggles have come alongside at simply the best time, then, to get us by way of the canine days till commerce deadline. After that, the actual complaining will start. And the actual fretting, when the primary spherical of the playoffs get underway.

However actually, Leaf followers have not had a lot to complain about this season.

To the Mailbag. As at all times when you've got a query, e-mail me at askkevinmcgran@gmail.com and I will reply it within the subsequent Mailbag.

QUESTION: This Leaf crew will go the way in which it did the final three years within the playoffs. No defence! After TJ Brodie and possibly a wholesome Jake Muzzin, this defence is all smoke and mirrors. For my part, Morgan Reilly is overrated and sucks the life out of the ability play together with his time losing again passes and he would not have a PP shot and is a mean defenceman in his personal finish at finest.

Basically this defence is undersized and have an affinity to stay examine as an alternative of muscling opposition forwards out of the purpose crease and giving their goaltender some effectively deserved assist. There are too many occasions when opposing forwards are left standing unmarked in entrance of the Leaf web.

GM Kyle Dubas as soon as once more will show that an solely offensive crew with a mean defence won't go far when it counts and the opposing large boys play for actual.

The Leafs want no less than two defencemen that may make life depressing for opposing forwards and never these flyweight stick checking defencemen that we now have now.

I've by no means had religion in Dubas and thought Brendan Shanahan would have seen by way of him years in the past. Dubas doesn't know construct an all-around crew.

For this crew to have any likelihood to succeed, homeowners have to discover a educated hockey males as an alternative of a easy speaking G.M and a president that solely talks powerful.

I believed that Shanny would have finished higher, and please cease reminding me this can be a new N.H.L Common season solely will get you an opportunity on the Cup when the playoffs begin. These gamers who're keen to undergo the wall for you and quit there our bodies to indicate they actually need it

good things.

Mike B

ANSWER: Thanks Mike and good to listen to from you. The stick examine is the technique lately. Some groups are terrific at it. The Leafs are certainly one of them. It is a good way to upset the opposite crew's mojo and switch the play the opposite manner. ... Rielly's back-passes on the ability play are additionally all the trend throughout the league, the very best zone-entry technique anybody has give you. Observe the participant taking the cross, often Mitch Marner, is the one one on both crew skating at full velocity, and has wingers on the boards on the blue line for a give-and-go. ... I do not disagree that they might have some larger defencemen, however not at the price of velocity. And I feel Dubas has come round on team-building. He has began to worth grit and bodily gamers a bit extra.

QUESTION: Has Jack Campbell's play come again to earth considerably or has the current improve in objectives towards been extra reflective of poor crew defensive play?

Chris M

ANSWER: I feel it is a bit of each, if that is not taking the straightforward manner out. The Leafs have finished a horrible job these days in their very own zone, in order that overworks Campbell a bit. He is a reactionary goalie and generally he over-reacts and places himself in unhealthy positioning if the play is within the Toronto finish for prolonged lengths of time.

QUESTION: Hello Kevin hope you’re doing effectively. Simply after I thought possibly I might get snug once more trusting the Leafs then poof the balloon bursts and so they present who they are surely!! And I’m questioning if the shine isn’t dimming on Jack Campbell? He’s giving up 5 - 6 objectives virtually each sport now. And three objectives on 9 photographs within the third towards the Rangers???!! And there isn’t a hope in hell they're ending first within the division, most likely third if not a wild-card spot and everyone knows what which means. Sigh! Wash, rinse, repeat.

Thanks, Craig.

ANSWER: I do not assume the crew we have watched on this highway journey is who they “actually are,” as you set it. They are going by way of a troublesome stretch and are 2-2-1 in it. (Keep in mind what powerful stretches was once?) They will get by way of this. They've had lots of highway video games in a row. Enjoying .500 on the highway is an efficient crew.

QUESTION: Ought to Dubas transfer out good, younger, cost-controlled gamers as a part of an absolute home-run of a deal?

What's that home-run deal?

Usually you ask us the readers to give you situations for YOU to investigate, nonetheless, as subscribed readers, I'd be taken with your take as to what realistically could possibly be a home-run of a deal that would give the Leafs an opportunity on successful the Stanley Cup this 12 months?

Dan W

London, Ont.

ANSWER: If you say “residence run” it sounds such as you need one thing large, one thing huge. I do not assume a commerce like that can occur, or is even mandatory. I might see the Leafs including a veteran defenceman and versatile centre, hoping they'll get them low cost. I feel they maintain their first-round decide this 12 months.

QUESTION: Hello Kevin. I hope our winter storm this week did not hit you and your loved ones too badly. I've a number of quick questions.

We have heard that the NHL and NHLPA have agreed to cease testing asymptomatic gamers and workers for COVID-19 after the All-Star break. What's your response to this improvement?

Do you assume the Canadiens hiring Kent Hughes as GM is the reply to the crew's challenges?

On this week's 13 Musings you mused about what crew the Leafs would draw if the playoffs have been to begin now (Lightning with home-ice benefit). In fact we do not know but what to anticipate down the highway but when COVID-19 remains to be a difficulty, how do you assume the league will cope with these playoffs based mostly on what they could have discovered from final season's playoffs?

I used to be additionally glad to see you discuss how Sportsnet is apprehensive about scores. I can not start to inform you what number of of my hockey pals say they depart the room throughout intermissions, flip the channel, or simply tune themselves out of the published. Hopefully for its sake, Sportsnet finds a formulation/format that works higher and regains viewer curiosity and scores. Possibly they need to have caught with the supply that they had? Because the saying goes, "If it ain't broke, do not repair it."

Take care Kevin and thanks.

Sincerely,

Janis J-W

North York, ON

ANSWER: Thanks Janis. To a sure diploma, I feel leagues just like the NHL are paving the way in which to a post-pandemic life. They led the cost early — closing down fully practically two years in the past — and we adopted swimsuit. That obtained our consideration. ... Now they've come again to life, at a unique tempo in numerous places. However I feel they're the lens the place we are able to see the place we're going. They clearly do not see the virus as the identical risk it was two years in the past. Lots of people really feel the identical. And these playoffs, I consider, will the way in which playoffs was once. Massive, loud crowds.... I do not know sufficient about Kent Hughes to provide a well-formed opinion, however the evaluations of individuals I respect are fairly constructive. ...

QUESTION: Hello Kevin. I've typically questioned how a crew capabilities with one multi-millionaire celebrity surrounded by a number of decently paid teammates and the remaining are paid consuming cash. The proficient and effectively paid Auston Mathews is surrounded by many equivalents of expertise and remuneration, with different gamers proving they are going to be value extra sooner or later. He should go searching at his crew (and I imply that actually) and assume this can be a fairly good arrange.

Many nice gamers that may take away any focus directed on him alone. Thoughts you, there would not appear to be any crew the Leafs play towards that may do that. When John Tavares leaves (hopefully after getting a hoop ) there can be extra cap house. Is Mathews value extra? In all probability. One wonders what he'll need. Much less cash on an amazing crew? Or enormous cash on his residence city crew and be the one-man-show.

I feel Sheldon Keefe is an enormous issue, too. He has the expertise to work with and appears to will get essentially the most out of all of the gamers.

Ron B

ANSWER: Nicely, Ron, how a lot cash do you make that you simply assume incomes $750,000 — the league minimal -- is “consuming cash.” Most groups are structured equally, with a number of gamers getting paid rather more than the remaining. However it has at all times been thus. They kind it out amongst themselves. None of what you are asking will matter till 2024 on the earliest when Matthews and William Nylander turn out to be free brokers. Tavares and Marner are a 12 months later. And who is aware of the place the wage cap shall be. I believe it will likely be not more than $85 million, so the “large cash” gamers will nonetheless be incomes across the identical as they're now. That stated, you would possibly see the celebrities take shorter offers, ready for the dollars to actually begin flowing after the player-induced prices of the pandemic are paid again to the homeowners.

QUESTION: I’m 76, performed hockey and cheered for the Leafs since I used to be 5 years outdated.

I'm questioning why Justin Holl isn't enjoying for the Marlies? He doesn’t block photographs and is often behind the web when the opposite crew scores. Because of this Jake Muzzin isn't enjoying effectively.

Additionally, I feel they need to commerce Tavares for a very good defencemen.

Glad to have the ability to share my ideas with you.

Ken D

ANSWER: Thanks Ken. Possibly we'll depart it there. However I'll say, you grew up in period when knee-jerk reactions — (Ship him to the Minors!!!) -- was a bit extra of a norm even amongst homeowners (Pal Hal). The collective bargaining settlement has — fortunately — taken knee-jerk determination making out of the method.