NHL 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs IV - Leafs crash and burn in Game 7

[GQS]

Thanks for the reply

The Leafs D is just pedestrian ~ there is no real top pair guy

Leafs don't have a number one Dman, but McCabe and Tanev have been playing like a top pairing together and have gotten the toughest minutes most games this season. Benoit has looked surprisingly good in the playoffs and to me was playing much better defensively than Rielly for a supposed bottom pairing guy and its why he and OEL played as much or sometimes more than Rielly/Carlo in some games.

Carlo seemed to be decent most games, but hard to judge him accurately when he had Rielly as his partner alot of the time. If the Leafs can trade Rielly and find a decent replacement, then if everyone is playing to their capabilities the Leafs defense shouldn't be a weakness at all. The thing they need to work on as the number one priority is their forwards who yet again can't score much when they're needed the most.

 

[DKH]

Leafs don't have a number one Dman, but McCabe and Tanev have been playing like a top pairing together and have gotten the toughest minutes most games this season. Benoit has looked surprisingly good in the playoffs and to me was playing much better defensively than Rielly for a supposed bottom pairing guy and its why he and OEL played as much or sometimes more than Rielly/Carlo in some games.

Carlo seemed to be decent most games, but hard to judge him accurately when he had Rielly as his partner alot of the time. If the Leafs can trade Rielly and find a decent replacement, then if everyone is playing to their capabilities the Leafs defense shouldn't be a weakness at all. The thing they need to work on as the number one priority is their forwards who yet again can't score much when they're needed the most.

Cowen looks really good in the Knights games I’ve watched ~ they need him to hit. He’s an offensive guy

 

[bruins19]

You have to let Marner and Tavares go.

I hope they re-sign both and continue to mismanage team structure.

 

[Blowfish]

 

[Eddie Munson]

Today is satisfying for so many reasons BUT the cherry on top is that we just secured a 1st for Marchand.

 

[Boston Bandit]

I don’t think the Leafs have a true Captain

They need to give someone else the C

 

[goldenblack]

Today is satisfying for so many reasons BUT the cherry on top is that we just secured a 1st for Marchand.

I'm amazed they don't even need Marchy to kill penalties. That team is stacked.

 

[Bruinaura]

Every year!..... every year!!!..... every year!!!!...... every year!!!!!!......

 

[Over the volcano]

WIth all the craziness in the world it's good to know the Leafs are still the Leafs

 

[rfournier103]

Best thing I read today post game was somebody asking "who owns the Maple Leafs?" and the answer of course was Brad Marchand.

Listening to Brad's post game interview it almost sounded like he felt sorry for them. Mentioned how he grew up a Leaf fan. So wouldn't it be crazy (and horrifying) if next year he's a Leaf? Maybe then they can win a game 7?

Marchand grew up a leafs fan, eh? Longtime football fans might remember Hall of Fame linebacker Jack Lambert of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Captain Jack grew up a Cleveland Browns fan - the Steelers’ biggest rival - and never forgave them for not drafting him. He and the Steelers did quite well against the Browns whenever they met.

He and Marchand would get along famously if they ever met in person, too.

Leafs are officially dead

They have 2 second round picks in next 3 years no firsts

The Bruins 5 firsts and 4 seconds

Let’s hope the Bruins can actually draft some decent players with those picks. If they all turn out to be busts, the picks are worthless.

I feel bad for Carlo - underrated guy here but a step slower reactions seen a bit behind - all those hits the Bruins look like they moved him at right time

Besides the goal they scored, Carlo’s butt-save was the Leafs’ highlight of the night.

But yeah, I agree.

Matthews is very skilled but doesn’t have a gear ~ he belongs playing 18 years in Columbus

As an American, I cheer for Matthews whenever he suits up for Team USA, but it just seems like he has zero huevos.

I have no idea what Marchand said to Marner in the hand shake line after his first comment but it certainly caught Mitch’s attention- probably sign with Boston he did a double take for sure

I think Marner would actually play well here. Why? Because that would be par for the course for the Leafs.

Oh and I’d seriously explore Marner if he’s 11 M or under ~ he’s legit skilled - I’d be surprised if Toronto has him- he should get out of there.

See above.

The best move Justin Bieber could do is pay me a million dollars to be his life coach

Your first task is to redo that wardrobe of his.

 

[Bruinaura]

 

[Jorah Marshmont]

3 points for Marchand. He really wanted us to get that first rounder

 

[Drift]

I know we aren't in the playoffs and we had a horrible horrible year, but I feel a little better this morning waking up knowing Toronto lost (horribly), it was caused by Marchand AND we got another 1st round pick even though its not for awhile. Thank you Toronto.

 

[Number8]

Quick question. What is the highest BAC level two guys can pull and still breath? These two are attempting to find out.

 

[Caper Bruins fan]

I know we aren't in the playoffs and we had a horrible horrible year, but I feel a little better this morning waking up knowing Toronto lost (horribly), it was caused by Marchand AND we got another 1st round pick even though its not for awhile. Thank you Toronto.

Yes , now I can relax and enjoy the rest of the playoffs without stress . Would I like to see Marchand get another Cup ? Yes , but I really don’t care that much .

 

[Number8]

Just my opinion, but outside of Rielly who hasn't looked good defensively in a long time, the Leafs defensemen in general looked pretty good in the playoffs. Sure they made some mistakes at times, but for the first time in a long time, the Leafs Dmen were big, could throw hits and block shots and generally weren't completely outmuscled by another team's players.

If you remove Rielly and add in another Dman that's better defensively and can move the puck abit, then that might be enough to improve the defense when removing Rielly is addition by subtraction.


To be fair to Knies, he was playing very good overall in the series until game 6 where in the 2nd period he and Mikkola collided awkwardly and Knies was hurt in what seemed to be the midsection somewhere and he didn't play much for the rest of game 6. In game 7 its pretty clear that he was still injured, but being game 7 he was going to play even if he wasn't 100% which is why this was the first game in the entire playoffs where he didn't seem to throw any hits and played without any kind of physicality.

This is spot on.

I think Carlo is impacted by all those concussions (as he was in Boston - which sucks. Nice kid). However his addition helped Toronto’s defense a lot. They were much better structured this year than in the past - were getting in lanes, sacrificing the body, etc.

Knies definitely got hurt in Game 6. I was wondering if he’d play G7.

Bottom line is the same old same old. $40M + tied up in four guys who cannot or will not deliver at crunch time. Nylander looked best in this PO’s but not enough. That top four could do with watching a 37 year old (?) Brad Marchand’s performance in G7 and ask themselves why they weren’t in same galaxy in terms of intensity, desire for the puck, and will to win.

 

[TD Charlie]

I don’t know how or why Toronto would keep Marner, or Tavares around going forward

But I honestly think that they will.

 

[Caper Bruins fan]

This is spot on.

I think Carlo is impacted by all those concussions (as he was in Boston - which sucks. Nice kid). However his addition helped Toronto’s defense a lot. They were much better structured this year than in the past - were getting in lanes, sacrificing the body, etc.

Knies definitely got hurt in Game 6. I was wondering if he’d play G7.

Bottom line is the same old same old. $40M + tied up in four guys who cannot or will not deliver at crunch time. Nylander looked best in this PO’s but not enough. That top four could do with watching a 37 year old (?) Brad Marchand’s performance in G7 and ask themselves why they weren’t in same galaxy in terms of intensity, desire for the puck, and will to win.

Personally, I’m glad the Bruins moved on from Carlo and thought he was terrible last night. I don’t think he’s a legit top 4 D anymore . When the Leafs acquired him many felt he was perfect for the Toronto Maple Leafs right now . The Carlo - Krug D pairing was arguably the Bruins best D pairing in the 2019 deep run but he hasn’t been good since then in my opinion.

 

[Fenway]

 

[Bruinfanatic]

I don’t know how or why Toronto would keep Marner, or Tavares around going forward

But I honestly think that they will.

Can’t see anyway both our back ,but hope they are.lol

 

[Terrier]

I bet some Leafs fans would rather have waved the white flag at 5-1 than let Marchand slide one into an empty net, of all people.

 

[IveGotToBeMe]

Quick question. What is the highest BAC level two guys can pull and still breath? These two are attempting to find out.

Honestly, try burning a jersey that you may have actually worn instead of two thrift store kids jerseys, then I might believe that you really are finally quitting on this team

 

[rfournier103]

Quick question. What is the highest BAC level two guys can pull and still breath? These two are attempting to find out.

I wonder what it would take for me to burn two of my Bruins jerseys (I own four) and become a Habs fan?

And no, that is not a challenge to Bruins ownership.

 

[TP70BruinsCup]

If I was this mad at the Bruins I’d burn a jersey…….a Montreal jersey!

Funny that people would burn or throw a jersey on the ice vs just throwing it in a closet or giving it away. Anywho, it was another classic Maple Leaf meltdown and they can say it’s the end of an era….I think it’s also the end of some success they have had and they will return to middle of the pack.

 

[Boston Bandit]

Brad Marchand’s price tag will be higher after these playoffs are finished

And he deserves every cent