2021-2022 Leafs team appreciation thread.

[HoweHullOrr]

We are a damn good regular season team but we are not 1 "tweak" away. If we were, Dubas should be fired for not making it at the TDL.

Well, what's the solution for the future then?

Thinking about the window, it's shrinking.

Matthews has a NMC in 2023-24. Would we let him walk and get nothing if it came down to that? Keep the band together and have one (or two) last kicks at the can?

I know people are going to say he'll resign, but we've been saying we have a good team and will have playoff success seemingly forever now too. AM can get north of McDavid money if that's what he wants, and there would be plenty of interest from U.S. teams especially.

I wouldn't want to be Dubas now.

 

[DarkKnight]

We lost. I’m also pretty proud of this group, they played hard and competed against the best. I don’t feel like I did last year, they deserved all the scorn they received, this is a different result. I also dont think we need big changes to this group, we are literally right there imo. It hurts, the guys are devastated, but this isn’t the end of the line for this core and I strangely have confidence for the future.

 

[ToneDog]

Well, what's the solution for the future then?

Thinking about the window, it's shrinking.

Matthews has a NMC in 2023-24. Would we let him walk and get nothing if it came down to that? Keep the band together and have one (or two) last kicks at the can?

I know people are going to say he'll resign, but we've been saying we have a good team and will have playoff success seemingly forever now too. AM can get north of McDavid money if that's what he wants, and there would be plenty of interest from U.S. teams especially.

I wouldn't want to be Dubas now.

We are at the point where we need to make a Kawai or Alomar deal. We seem to be like the Jays are Raps who could not get over the hump until the GM pulled the trigger on those deals. Unfortunately I don't think Dubas is the man to make such a trade. As J.D. Bunkis likes to say, "Dubas gets body bagged in trades".

I think all Shanny, Dubas and Keefe need to go but I'd be willing to keep Shanny if he can hire Trotz and a new G.M. Trotz and Dubas won't work.

 

[RobBrown4PM]

We are a damn good regular season team but we are not 1 "tweak" away. If we were, Dubas should be fired for not making it at the TDL.

Best season in Leafs history.

Most goals from a player in a season in Leafs history.

Everyone played lights out.

Campbell played well and beyond what anyone expected from him.

You'll be hard pressed to find a rational person that can disagree that it was a few bounces that f***ed us (and the refs).

So the obvious solution here is fire Dubas and start over. Give me a break.

 

[ToneDog]

We lost. I’m also pretty proud of this group, they played hard and competed against the best. I don’t feel like I did last year, they deserved all the scorn they received, this is a different result. I also dont think we need big changes to this group, we are literally right there imo. It hurts, the guys are devastated, but this isn’t the end of the line for this core and I strangely have confidence for the future.

You are right, it seemed more toxic last year. Perhaps the fans are becoming numb to the losses ?? Either way you cannot run this sh1t back. That would be insanity.

Best season in Leafs history.

Most goals from a player in a season in Leafs history.

Everyone played lights out.

Campbell played well and beyond what anyone expected from him.

You'll be hard pressed to find a rational person that can disagree that it was a few bounces that f***ed us (and the refs).

So the obvious solution here is fire Dubas and start over. Give me a break.

Yeah, let's give him another kick at the can. Sorry we'll be in the same boat next year. Time to wake up and smell the coffee.

 

[saltming]

We are a damn good regular season team but we are not 1 "tweak" away. If we were, Dubas should be fired for not making it at the TDL.

Disagree.
Dubas has constructed a great team. They stood toe to toe with the defending Champs and subjectively were the better team except at 1 position.
This team set new records for the season, this is not disputable. I understand the impatience of some thinking oh no another first round knockout, and I would much rather still be watching the Leafs play, but it takes years to build a contender the right way, as Tampa did, Florida is doing, Carolina also. These teams are years ahead of UN in their development.
Should dubas have made that tweak at the deadline? Of course he should have but it's always a question of is it possible or even advantageous. My thought was that we need a goalie and I didn't see any clear upgrade at the deadline. So, should our gm waste assets on a lateral move at best? That Imo would be a bad decision.

 

[DitchMarner]

It was a really good season and a fun playoffs. For whatever reason, losing in the first round didn't really leave a bitter taste in my mouth this time.

I like what guys like Engvall, Mikheyev, Kampf and Kase brought this year. Hopefully next year's team is even better.

 

[DarkKnight]

You are right, it seemed more toxic last year. Perhaps the fans are becoming numb to the losses ?? Either way you cannot run this sh1t back. That would be insanity.

We were toe to toe with the best, their experience perhaps the difference, it’s a shame we had this as a first round test really, literally worst “draw” in the league. I run a lot of this team back.

If I make a move, I change coaches, it’s a fresh direction and I don’t feel Keefe is some mastermind that can’t possibly be replaced or improved upon. I actually didn’t mind what Dubas did this year, Gio was a good trade and Boosh was so solid the last half of this series. Kampf was exactly what we needed, Bunting, Kase, good pickups. I keep Dubas, this result doesn’t scream firing him to me and I’ve never been a knee jerk fan boy.

 

[theTTC]

I appreciate the entire team, they gave all they had to give. Even Nylander showed up to stick in hard. Can't get angry at the players. Each is what he is. Each has strengths I appreciate and flaws I hope they can reconcile by next playoffs.

Leaf management is another story. Dubas assembled this particular concoction of talents and personalities all based on his philosophy of hockey, and Shanahan rubber stamped the "plan". A ridiculous project that has failed. Time to be frog-marched in front of the board of directors, to be handed their heads.

 

[robertmac43]

At the end of the day, it was a fun year. After last year's first-round exit I was down on this group, but they ended up bouncing back and putting together an amazing season. I still believe in the team and will be back enthusiastically come next season.

 

[ToneDog]

We were toe to toe with the best, their experience perhaps the difference, it’s a shame we had this as a first round test really, literally worst “draw” in the league. I run a lot of this team back.

If I make a move, I change coaches, it’s a fresh direction and I don’t feel Keefe is some mastermind that can’t possibly be replaced or improved upon. I actually didn’t mind what Dubas did this year, Gio was a good trade and Boosh was so solid the last half of this series. Kampf was exactly what we needed, Bunting, Kase, good pickups. I keep Dubas, this result doesn’t scream firing him to me and I’ve never been a knee jerk fan boy.

Before the playoffs some fans were saying this Tampa team was not as good as last year's team because they lost their 3rd line. How good Tampa really is will be determined in the next round when I expect them to be in a dog fight with Florida.

Gio was a great pickup. He exceeded my expectations. Changing the coach might be the safest option but I have my doubts Dubas has what it takes to build a playoff team (he is now oh for 4); add a flat cap and 4 players taking half the cap and it is all the more challenging.

IMO we need to move an $11m player but the one we need to move has a NMC.

 

[Future]

Sorry but it is absolutely moronic to suggest firing the GM and coach over this. They’ve built one hell of a team, and they are coached very well.

Some tweaks are needed, such as acquiring another top 4 D that is a legitimate shooting threat from the point. When the going gets tough and things tighten up and we need a powerplay goal, we need that threat. Teams just play tight on Marner and Matthews from the wings and give Rielly time and space because he is deemed not to be a significant threat compared to every other player on the ice.

The other thing is, we absolutely need some of our prospects to step up and contribute in key roles next year. It’s been too long and it’s time to see some results from the slow cooking approach.

Would also love to acquire some playoff veteran role players in the bottom six. Ones that can actually play meaningful roles, unlike Simmonds and Spezza.

 

[Mess]

Leafs had a great regular season and those 82 games earned them home ice advantage in the playoffs and the right to play 7 more games this year with 4 of them on home ice.

That is what the regular season is all about, earning a ticket to the real season that counts, as this the objective of all teams to win the Cup, when each new season starts.

In case not everyone noticed all 8 teams from the East had +100 point seasons to make the playoffs this year, which made it the minimum requirement to advance this year to the post season, when presented with context.

Individually in the big picture however when measuring organizational progress one would say Leafs current GM inherited a record setting 105 point team that lost in 7 games in round #1, and 4 seasons later established a new 115 point franchise best record [+10 point improvement] that lost in 7 games in round #1. Going from 49 wins to 54 wins over the course of 4 years is a little over a +1 extra win per year improvement over time in the regular season, with no playoff improvement.

Auston Matthews established himself as perhaps the best pure goal scorer in the league claiming the Rocket Richard trophy for the 2nd consecutive season while setting a new franchise best mark of 60 goals. That likely the longer lasting takeaway from this year that will remain memorable over time about the 2021-22 season,.

 

[deprw]

I appreciate that Marner really turned his narrative around and grew to be complete player and also playoff performer. Almost the same you could say about Matthews, but his last season wasn't as abysmal but there was significant growth in physical presence. His best goalscorer in the league and when he uses his size like that his something special to watch.

This team in overall had best defense we've had during my time from early 90s and it was most exciting team ever for me. Our depth players performed way better during regular season and that is something we have to improve.

There is lots of things we can appreciate when moving forward like growth of Liljegren and bad season of Sandin (considering contract negotiations). We have lots of pieces in the right places, but it's disappointing that our puzzle is still unresolved.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Tampa will get knocked out next round. They aren't as good team this year.

The Leafs were favored and lost again.

Marner had a great year and really improved his shot.

 

[TorMapleJays]

It has to be skilled grit. Clifford and Simmonds are not winning this series for us. Skilled grit is difficult to find. Fingers crossed we may see Knies at some point.

Nylander is an attractive piece, but the piece we need is probably not on the market.

Not lost is the fact the Leafs played their best game of the playoffs with Clifford dresses.

 

[Darcy Tucker]

If I can step out of my persona for a second and give a real anecdote.

I would have to say a big point in the series for me was Sergachev getting plastered by AM34 in return for the cheap shot he gave Marner earlier in the season and got 2 games for. I think those type of points play a big role in checking and the tete a tetes that go on with cheap shots.

 

[AvroArrow]

The only thing that frustrates me is that the refs determined the outcome of the game. The compete and effort was there all night. People are saying "leafs only scored 1 goal" If we're going to use that logic then Tampa should have had 0 goals that game, they scored their only 2 goals off of clear interference that weren't called. The boys played great but Wes decided the outcome of the game. Some facts from game 7

Tampa player sat on Kampf for a good 10 seconds making him unable to backcheck, TB goes on an odd-man rush and scores goal #1. What should have been a Leafs pp ends up as a Tampa goal.

Tampa player interferes on Muzzin and grabs his stick, making him unable to check Paul. What should have been another penalty on Tampa, ends up as goal #2.

Nylander is interfered with on a breakaway attempt, a pivotal play in the game, no call.

Nylander is tripped late in the game while TB is already on the PK. Should have been a 5 on 3, but the refs decided not to call it, pivotal play in the game.

Tavares goal waived off and Leafs go on a PK because Holl set a pick on Point. The problem with this play is that TB was allowed to interfere and hold twice leading to both their goals, Holl did it once and it's immediately waived off and we go on the PK.

These plays unquestionably determined the outcome of the game. Both Tampa goals were scored directly because of the non call, we get a goal waived off, and 2 significant scoring chances are taken away because of illegal plays that should have been called but they weren't. Both teams played hard, but these plays mentioned above is what ultimately determined the outcome of the game. It was a tight checking game all through out, but it was a 2-1 game and both Tampa goals were scored off of illegal plays that were not called, and it's not even debatable.

 

[Anthrax442]

If I can step out of my persona for a second and give a real anecdote.

I would have to say a big point in the series for me was Sergachev getting plastered by AM34 in return for the cheap shot he gave Marner earlier in the season and got 2 games for. I think those type of points play a big role in checking and the tete a tetes that go on with cheap shots.

AM34 was hitting like crazy out there

 

[Lemontree]

Fun stat:

TB 23 goals for TOR 24 goals for

Whine fest of the millenium to commence until the fall.

Fun fact: TB have games to play next week.

 

[Darcy Tucker]

Fun fact: TB have games to play next week.

Fun fact TB is about to get bounced onto their big heads by The Panthers and my post was a light hearted post from a stat graphic.

 

[ANDI P IS CUTE]

this "team" has accomplished squat when it matters lol.