Pierre McGuire joins Kyle Andrew to break down the Leafs preseason opener this past weekend. Including first impressions from Gavin McKenna’s debut, and from Raddysh, Andrae, & Roslovic in their Leafs debut.
00:00 New Leafs Roster
00:27 Gavin McKenna’s Debut
01:19 Marshall Rifai’s Fight
04:09 Preseason Adjustments
06:13 Player Evaluations
09:53 Defensive Strategies
14:07 Atlantic Division Stakes
19:28 Marlies Roster Challenges
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Leafs need tougher defensemen.
OMG Pierre McGuire just cursed the Leafs this season! Last pre-season he said the same thing that he felt the Leafs could and should make the playoffs and he just did the same! Plus he's a known Habs fan and he's trying to curse us lol!!
"Marshall" = Law, Order & Punishment .
– plays LD & RD !
– tape-to-tape , blueline-to-blueline , passer. (better than Muzzin)
– shutdown.
– enforcer.
– Gruden's most trusted …. proven by ..Babysitting rookie Dandford thru Calder & Pre-season..
– Marlies best +/- Dman in Calder .
– reason Danford lifted Calder.
– reason Akhtyamov lifted Butterfield ..
Benoit was one of the 1st gone , for a reason … Marshall is back from LTIR !
like a broken record, I have stated Rifai is Leafs 6th/7th Dman … since spring ..
Additions of Andrae, Blankenburg and Stetcher changes nothing. IMO.
Rifai = Muzzin Certified.
This is like a recording lol just go back one year and listen to McGuire all positive on ALL the Leafs off season moves and we know how that turned out!
Maguire likes all the midget defencemen
I hate the Habs sooo much but those xhekaj brothers are a menace
watching Matthews get whacked and hacked with no response just shows why this passive core 4 is not helping and they're taking the whole team down with them.
I thought Hiller's comment that McKenna has to 'go to where the puck is' was very apt. Compared to JT and Willie (two guys that aren't exactly going through walls to get the puck themselves), Gavin was hardly ever attacking the puck or puck-carrier. This is something he'll have to learn as a habit in the NHL. You can't just float around the ice or you'll get exposed. Giving your opponents that much freedom/time on the puck is suicidal at this level. A smart player like him knows that he has no chance to get the puck, so he saves his effort. But you need to put pressure on the opponent even with near-zero chance of getting the puck because it makes their play/pass that much harder for them, which makes it that much more likely that your teammate who is defending the pass-receiver WILL be able to steal/block the puck or fully close-down the player.
But it was obvious he has all the tools: skating, puck skill, speed-of-thought, and sufficient strength to produce in the NHL.
If Bobrovsky is so valuable why did Florida let him go?
What about when the panthers come to town? OPP working overtime that day? 😂😂😂
Boys please remember Johnny Bower
Gavin was unnoticeable,Marshall Rifih showed heart and energy fighting a much tougher Florian X,Boborosky looked decent,also Paul will be a good addition to this team
Leafs were a playoff team last year. They're a 2nd round team now. Last year was a perfect storm of bad luck
Very poor start to a hyped up season. Same old leafs nothing can motivate these guys to come out and dominate a game! 3/4 of our starters vs next to nobody and we sucked. Typical leafs… any good team would mop the floor with that mtl lineup. Except for us.
There is no doubt in my mind after watch McKenna play this guy is ready to go. He attacked the net he made slick moves. Most importantly he didn't look like a fish out of water or look like the other team too much for him. He did lose the puck a few times but watch this guy want let this keep happening down the road.
Exhibition games are about getting in shape. And getting up to game speed. Nothing more.
I choose to look at what my eyes see. Very silly idea, split quad. Chomping at the bit all summer to watch a game and scramble, scramble on the ice. Silly idea to postpone developing chemistry with NHL roster. SILLY!
1:54 Correction. Matthews was ASKED about the Marshal Rifai fight, he didn't comment 'very specifically'.
Always loved Rifai. Defensively, compete level and grit, he's been one of the better defensemen they've had in the organization since he's been here, in my opinion (yes that's not saying much for the Leafs). Don't know why he nevers gets a real chance with the buds. Especially when they continually trot out players like Phillipe Myers… Or grossly overpay for a Carlo… He's got Benoit snarl and physical play, but better defensively, faster and way more competitive. They always say they're looking for compete level…. The perfect 3rd line pairing or 7th defenseman, with chance to grow into larger role when a Tanev or McCabe is injured.
lol…Boys turn your phone off, i spent five minutes trying to answer your phone. roflmao!!!!
😂