After 20 games.......

[Budz]

I truly think we are a 2C/3C away from being a legit contender. Would really like to see Tre cook early, and NOT wait until the deadline. Chemistry takes time and shared experiences. I think the centre needs to be a play-maker type.

Running 3 lines, that can score, be physical and not a defensive liability. Then a solid 4th that plays heavy.

Knies Matthews Domi
McMann XXX Nylander
Patches JT Marner
Dewar Lorenz Jarnkrok
Reaves

Kampf has to be in the package for cap reasons.

 

[ACC1224]

Updated the title from 10 - 20.

First place after 20 games with all these injuries is a feat!

Hottest of all hot takes, this is the best Leaf team since 2004

 

[BrannigansLaw]

1st place in the Atlantic by the 20 game mark. When has that ever happened before? (I'm not counting that COVID joke division).

Lots and lots to like. I'm more concerned with Matthews coming back right now and somehow disrupting this all around team game we've been playing since his absence.

 

[Jojalu]

Why do Leafs fans always apologize for good goaltending? Potvin, Cujo, Belfour, it’s part of the mix for success. We’re the first to lament ass goalies here, when we finally get some saves, suddenly it’s a bandaid over bad play. Ummm no, it’s imperative.

I would argue it is more than part of the mix, but instead crucial for success.

Very difficult to win with even average goaltending.

 

[Jojalu]

1st place in the Atlantic by the 20 game mark. When has that ever happened before? (I'm not counting that COVID joke division).

Lots and lots to like. I'm more concerned with Matthews coming back right now and somehow disrupting this all around team game we've been playing since his absence.

When you objectively get one of the top 10 players in the league back from injury it should be a blessing when a team is playing well.

Berube should have taken notes during this stretch that Marner and Nylander can play on their own lines, leaving Matthews to have one of his own.

That leaves the Leafs with 3 lines with a gamebreaker on it making it a nightmare to matchup against.

With the D stabalized, and good goaltending there is very little reason to be concerned about getting a true #1 C back into the mix

 

[DarkKnight]

I would argue it is more than part of the mix, but instead crucial for success.

Very difficult to win with even average goaltending.

Every run this team has ever had, there's a dynamite goalie. Not a coincidence.

 

[1specter]

1st place in the Atlantic by the 20 game mark. When has that ever happened before? (I'm not counting that COVID joke division).

Lots and lots to like. I'm more concerned with Matthews coming back right now and somehow disrupting this all around team game we've been playing since his absence.

Not to be a debbie downer (and also because I know a certain individual on this board will probably bring it up anyways to fight for Dubas' honour), but the Leafs did have a brief stretch at the end of Nov 2021 through early Dec 2021 where they led the Atlantic division after going on a ridiculous 15-2-1 run starting at the end of October, following a horrific start to the season where it looked like Keefe could possibly be getting fired, which was also after the infamous Montreal chokejob. As the season went on though goaltending didn't hold up and lost us some games we should've won, though the team itself still went on to set a franchise record with 115 pts and 54 wins. In other seasons, that would've been enough to win the division but Florida had a historic year themselves with 122 pts.

That was a good team that deserved a better fate, they had Tampa on the ropes in the first round but of course that bullshit 5v3 took away what should've been a game 6 series win. Tampa smashed through to the finals after that.

But I digress, those teams were always 'shoulda woulda' and never did. This run is more impressive because they're doing it without Matthews and many others, and look incredibly clean defensively and in net, which gives me more hope that it is sustainable. It is bizarre to me though that this team always has poor starts in October and then goes on a nuclear November run, before settling back into a 2/3 divisional seed playoff team.

 

[Jmo89]

1st place in the Atlantic by the 20 game mark. When has that ever happened before? (I'm not counting that COVID joke division).

Lots and lots to like. I'm more concerned with Matthews coming back right now and somehow disrupting this all around team game we've been playing since his absence.

Berube has the easy option right in front of him IMO. Leave what's working (Marner, Tavares, Nylander) and put together the two guys who played great together last year and are both struggling with production and injuries this year: Matthews* and Domi. Subtract from the bottom of the lineup.

*We are spoiled because even Matthews "struggling" and dealing with an injury is almsot ppg.

 

[GoonieFace]

Feeling confident up to this point, but it’s a long road ahead.

The East looks vulnerable this year, let’s hope they can finally take advantage

 

[darrylsittler27]

No real surprises. Impressive back end that bottom 6 needs work.

 

[Suntouchable13]

1st place in the Atlantic by the 20 game mark. When has that ever happened before? (I'm not counting that COVID joke division).

Lots and lots to like. I'm more concerned with Matthews coming back right now and somehow disrupting this all around team game we've been playing since his absence.

Imagine we finish 1st in the division but end up facing wildcard Boston team? Ooof.

 

[Roo]

Game 20 is a good sample size, and so far so good. A bit silly to think how some were already losing it after preseason game 1 LOL

 

[Aashir Mallik]

Imagine we finish 1st in the division but end up facing wildcard Boston team? Ooof.

Check the standings lol

It’s currently slated to be another game 7 vs Boston. At least it wouldn’t be in TD garden…Right?

Still over 60 games and the leafs were in a dollar spot in 2021-2022, so let’s see how it plays out

 

[crump]

I don’t understand some of these posts. If you’re judging success on expecting to win a cup because your concern about paying 4 players a huge percentage of the cap, then no one is performing up to their contract until you win a cup. We can’t win the cup in 10-20 games.

Anyway. It’s been a great start. Coaches, Goalies, D core, top 6, 4th line all looking outstanding. Defensive game is miles ahead of the past half dozen years.

Pp still needs consistency, secondary scoring needs to be improved. Last game showed a lot of team grit we haven’t seen in a long time. It’s not going to happen every night but it’s nice to know it’s there when we will need it.

 

[WillyC]

20 games in and we’re leading the division while Boston flirts with missing the playoffs.

The script has flipped.

 

[Jojalu]

Not to be a debbie downer (and also because I know a certain individual on this board will probably bring it up anyways to fight for Dubas' honour), but the Leafs did have a brief stretch at the end of Nov 2021 through early Dec 2021 where they led the Atlantic division after going on a ridiculous 15-2-1 run starting at the end of October, following a horrific start to the season where it looked like Keefe could possibly be getting fired, which was also after the infamous Montreal chokejob. As the season went on though goaltending didn't hold up and lost us some games we should've won, though the team itself still went on to set a franchise record with 115 pts and 54 wins. In other seasons, that would've been enough to win the division but Florida had a historic year themselves with 122 pts.

That was a good team that deserved a better fate, they had Tampa on the ropes in the first round but of course that bullshit 5v3 took away what should've been a game 6 series win. Tampa smashed through to the finals after that.

But I digress, those teams were always 'shoulda woulda' and never did. This run is more impressive because they're doing it without Matthews and many others, and look incredibly clean defensively and in net, which gives me more hope that it is sustainable. It is bizarre to me though that this team always has poor starts in October and then goes on a nuclear November run, before settling back into a 2/3 divisional seed playoff team.

Take away the sting, frustration and emotional turmoil of the playoff failures the past 8 years, and no Cup appearance on almost 60 years and people will look back at this era as one of the Leafs better ones.

The rebuild has not led to the ultimate prize yet, but is has produced a consistent 100-115 point team. The playoffs are almost certainly a lock every year. Looking at Ott, Mon, Buf, Arz, Det etc and how their rebuilds have gone shows that it is not simple to build a contending team.

I hope this group gets it done because it's a shame to have to look back at some of the most talented Leafs in history and have this black cloud of failure over them

 

[Dekes For Days]

At the quarter mark, I'd say the biggest positive surprises so far have been Stolarz, OEL, Knies, and Lorentz, and the biggest negative surprises so far have been Domi, Robertson, Holmberg, Liljegren, and Benoit.

 

[ULF_55]

Looked last night and Leafs were tied for 7th. in the league.
Like to see them in the top 5 ...

And not everyone is hitting their targets. (Dewar just getting up to speed.)

 

[Aashir Mallik]

Take away the sting, frustration and emotional turmoil of the playoff failures the past 8 years, and no Cup appearance on almost 60 years and people will look back at this era as one of the Leafs better ones.

The rebuild has not led to the ultimate prize yet, but is has produced a consistent 100-115 point team. The playoffs are almost certainly a lock every year. Looking at Ott, Mon, Buf, Arz, Det etc and how their rebuilds have gone shows that it is not simple to build a contending team.

I hope this group gets it done because it's a shame to have to look back at some of the most talented Leafs in history and have this black cloud of failure over them

While I get this to some extent, it also seems like fans of this mindset (looking back with fondness) are settling. Not for mediocrity per se, that would be Ott, Arz… but for average.

Seeing how talented this team is, how good the players can be, how they can play together, and still failing to get anything of note done makes it much worse IMO.

We’ve had a hart winner, multiple time rocket winner, multiple time first team winger + Center, multiple time all stats, Norris contender, vezina contender….and through all of that we have 1 division win and 1 playoff win

Take the cup appearance away and this still stings, not because of the past iterations of leafs, but because this iteration should be good enough to get it done, or at least get close, but they don’t, they never have.

 

[DarkKnight]

After 20 games....I miss Sheldon Keefe less and less.

 

[Jojalu]

While I get this to some extent, it also seems like fans of this mindset (looking back with fondness) are settling. Not for mediocrity per se, that would be Ott, Arz… but for average.

Seeing how talented this team is, how good the players can be, how they can play together, and still failing to get anything of note done makes it much worse IMO.

We’ve had a hart winner, multiple time rocket winner, multiple time first team winger + Center, multiple time all stats, Norris contender, vezina contender….and through all of that we have 1 division win and 1 playoff win

Take the cup appearance away and this still stings, not because of the past iterations of leafs, but because this iteration should be good enough to get it done, or at least get close, but they don’t, they never have.

Having a 9 year competitive team is a bigger deal than most give credit for. The playoff stink is real, but it is not settling for mediocrity. I don't run the team. No iteration of any Leafs team has managed to make the playoffs for 9 straight years. Even when it was easier to do.

While I understand that Championship or bust has to be the mindset, it really is not at all realistic.

No doubt this group should have more than 1 series win. No doubt if they crash out in the firat round again, big changes are needed, bit if ypu follow all sports, there are a tonne of franchises who would love to just be competitive as the Leafs have been.

 

[Antropovsky]

This feels like a "team", Keefes teams didnt. So many things I like about Berube and dislikes with Keefe.

Keefe was terrible to listen to and rambled on forever sometimes. Berube, on the other hand, radiates leadership, his responses are short, sweet, and confident.

Against Vegas, Berube rolled the lines, with everyone playing about the same 5v5 minutes, which was great. He seems to be fair and rewarding players for their hard work. Which I think is critical to earning players trust and having them work hard for the coach. Meanwhile Keefe had a double standard, core 4 wouldn't get benched for anything but others would, he'd walk back his comments about them...what a terrible culture.

This feels like Berube is in charge. With Keefe, it felt like the core 4 was in charge.

I also like seeing Berube animated and yelling at the ref, something we rarely saw Keefe do. Might not earn respect from the refs, but I think it motivates the players to see the coaches passion and him working hard for the team.

 

[Aashir Mallik]

Having a 9 year competitive team is a bigger deal than most give credit for. The playoff stink is real, but it is not settling for mediocrity. I don't run the team. No iteration of any Leafs team has managed to make the playoffs for 9 straight years. Even when it was easier to do.

While I understand that Championship or bust has to be the mindset, it really is not at all realistic.

No doubt this group should have more than 1 series win. No doubt if they crash out in the firat round again, big changes are needed, bit if ypu follow all sports, there are a tonne of franchises who would love to just be competitive as the Leafs have been.

For me, the championship or bust mentality didn’t just pop up randomly, it’s bubbled over time

The first I’d say like 4-5 years of this group I was fine with just progress. Get out of the first round and we can see what will happen. I’d say the tone around the team really took a nose dive after Montreal, that was an easy matchup, regardless of injuries. After that the team was in their prime and we’re still falling short.

Again I’m not saying it’s mediocrity, but it’s average. I’d rather be a team who has a 3-4 year contention, goes to the second round or conference finals or further and then back to a rebuild for 4 years. At least with that there’s no constant disappointment of losing so early. Build the hype up and disappear when it matters everytime

if there are teams that look at us and hope to be that, there are also teams we should look at and think the same thing. No one wanted this team to be a Washington, we wanted a Pittsburgh or Tampa, and we should have the talent to do so, yet we can’t.

 

[Jojalu]

For me, the championship or bust mentality didn’t just pop up randomly, it’s bubbled over time

The first I’d say like 4-5 years of this group I was fine with just progress. Get out of the first round and we can see what will happen. I’d say the tone around the team really took a nose dive after Montreal, that was an easy matchup, regardless of injuries. After that the team was in their prime and we’re still falling short.

Again I’m not saying it’s mediocrity, but it’s average. I’d rather be a team who has a 3-4 year contention, goes to the second round or conference finals or further and then back to a rebuild for 4 years. At least with that there’s no constant disappointment of losing so early. Build the hype up and disappear when it matters everytime

if there are teams that look at us and hope to be that, there are also teams we should look at and think the same thing. No one wanted this team to be a Washington, we wanted a Pittsburgh or Tampa, and we should have the talent to do so, yet we can’t.

Fortunately there is still time for this group. They can change the perception quickly with a Cup final appearance this year.

While they have been a bit unlucky in a few years, not being able to break through needs to change.

 

[WTFMAN99]

After 10 games who is your biggest surprise and biggest disappointment relative to expectations. (You can have more than one.)

For me,
Surprise
1. Stolarz
2. Max Patch
3. OEL

Disappointment
1. Holmberg
2. Woll

I didn't participate but if we're talking about the 20GP mark for surprises....

Patches, OEL, Timmins and McCabe have been surprising. McCabe has stepped up even more, wasn't sure what Patches/OEL would be, would they be washed? Timmins I was ready to give away or put on waivers.

Holmberg, Domi and Robertson would be the disappointments for me. I don't know how long Domi has been playing injured though so if he's been gutting it out for like 10-15 out of the 20 games and I find that out down the line, okay, forgiven.