Angry/frustrated fans what would it take to be

[Leaf Fans]

I am going to watch every game. I will do so regardless of who the team fires hires trades or keeps who they have.

 

[pcruz]

I wonder if people would be happier if the Leafs had done what Florida is doing now:

Struggle through, but win in the first round
Get swept in the second round by a clearly superior team

Of course, that clearly superior team struggled mightily against the same Leafs and then went on to lose a few key players as well, so they're not anywhere near as strong as they were in the first round.

Just curious.

 

[Bomber0104]

I'd like to see cap-space moved out for a good piece or two on defence (priority one) and/or forward (priority two).

Either/or but priority on defence.

We need players that play hard in all minutes that can change the tilt of game noticably through defensive play and physicality.

No nonsense, just brutish players that are players and want to win.

 

[Aashir]

Don’t really care as much as last 2 years

2019-2020: regular season losses hurt a lot
Columbus: physically hurt
2020-2021: Loved every regular season game
Montreal: Team disgusted me
2021-2022: Regular season was fun, but not as immersive as years prior
Tampa: I’ve gotten over the loss for the most part
2022-2023: couldn’t care less about the regular season and games 1-6 of the playoffs

For me to truly get on board we’d have to win game 89

 

[Nylanderthal]

I will watch less and care less for sure

Will you also post less? Or just tell everyone you’re not watching as much

 

[Bomber0104]

Will you also post less? Or just tell everyone you’re not watching as much

It just dawned on me that Justin Bieber becoming a fan of this team is actually one of the worst things that's ever happened to this fanbase...

Why couldn't he like the Habs instead?

...

Now to answer the OP's question, I'd also really like the Leafs to drop all affiliation with Justin Bieber and all of his teeny-bopper fans.

It's a real bad look on the organization and makes us look even more immature, soft, and lame than already-thought possible.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Will you also post less? Or just tell everyone you’re not watching as much

Sure will.

 

[ShaneFalco]

I have some big criticisms of the club but I'll always be on board

On board was the wrong term

 

[Mike1]

Significant changes of substance to the managerial attitude & personnel. Keeping everything the same & crossing your fingers isn’t a viable strategy in my opinion. At the end of the day, they lost & didn’t have the killer instinct required to get the job done again. I’m tired of the “they played so well so it isn’t that bad“ attitude that is spewed by not just media pundits but brainwashed fans. I don’t care about your phony moral victory. The Leafs could have beat Tampa & squandered all their opportunities. They had multiple leads in the series, they had the lead in a clinching game & blew it by taking 2 penalties 200 ft away from their own goalie. They also had 2 games to eliminate Tampa & couldn’t do it. They didn’t score AT HOME despite boasting an offence with the leading goal scorer in the league. Where were our highly paid offensive players in game 7? Nowhere. Where were our role players? Nowhere. We got out gunned by Nick Paul….Nick Paul.

During the season ending press conference, Leafs management underwhelmed & showed they have the same mentality their media lackey’s spout. A lot of these people shouldn’t have their jobs because they have a stagnant mentality. I want a management team that stops letting their own delusions & fears dictate everything. Let’s roll the dice, let’s be bold & unafraid to make a substantial change. What do we have to lose? Why cling to this team that can’t rise to the occasion? Enough!

 

[Canadian Finn]

It just dawned on me that Justin Bieber becoming a fan of this team is actually one of the worst things that's ever happened to this fanbase...

Why couldn't he like the Habs instead?

...

Now to answer the OP's question, I'd also really like the Leafs to drop all affiliation with Justin Bieber and all of his teeny-bopper fans.

It's a real bad look on the organization and makes us look even more immature, soft, and lame than already-thought possible.

 

[Clark4Ever]

I am disappointed, but it's not the same feeling as past seasons. I think the boys showed up and played Tampa Bay as hard as can be expected. We were literally one goal and a couple of blown calls away from dethroning the back to back champs.

The roster needs retooling and we are facing salary cap challenges, but I'm on board for next season.

 

[Brobust]

Split the top PP unit into 2 groups. Have some internal competition.

Make Nylander's move to the 3rd line permanent, but with a different centre than Kampf.

I hate to sound like Don Cherry, but more Canadians in the bottom 6. And not worn down guys like Simmonds or Clifford.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Struggle through, but win in the first round
Get swept in the second round by a clearly superior team

Then the narrative would have been "We beat the 2 time SC champs"

 

[pcruz]

Then the narrative would have been "We beat the 2 time SC champs"

Still failure though right.

What's the point of failing tomorrow vs failing yesterday?
Other than making more money for the NHL, there is no benefit to winning 4 games vs 3 games, in the playoffs.

Also, it seems like Tampa is not having much trouble with Florida.

 

[Suntouchable13]

I see no point watching every single regular season game next season either. I wasn't paying as much attention to LEafs games this past season or to this board. I see that continuing into next season, probably paying even less attention till the playoffs. I don't understand why people are so hostile in here, though. If you don't like how this team is ran, or you're not happy with the results or you want one of the core 4 moved, it's "f*** you!" This team can do no wrong in some people's eyes. I just don't like how this team is run, they are just happy to make the playoffs and nothing more. They know you guys will blindly follow them, still buy tickets and merch. This team doesn't deserve unconditional love. This team has been "abusing" the fans for decades. They don't deserve much from me till they show they actually care about winning in the playoffs and winning the Cup.

 

[pcruz]

I see no point watching every single regular season game next season either. I wasn't paying as much attention to LEafs games this past season or to this board. I see that continuing into next season, probably paying even less attention till the playoffs. I don't understand why people are so hostile in here, though. If you don't like how this team is ran, or you're not happy with the results or you want one of the core 4 moved, it's "f*** you!" This team can do no wrong in some people's eyes. I just don't like how this team is run, they are just happy to make the playoffs and nothing more. They know you guys will blindly follow them, still buy tickets and merch. This team doesn't deserve unconditional love. This team has been "abusing" the fans for decades. They don't deserve much from me till they show they actually care about winning in the playoffs and winning the Cup.

I haven't seen any solutions yet.
All I have seen is whining that the core of this team is a bunch of chokers who will never win anything.

I've been through that a bunch of times before -

Sundin was accused to being a good player who would never amount to anything
Kaberle
McCabe
Kessel
Bozak
Phaneuf

All players who the fans of this franchise have turned on at one point or another and accused of being perennial losers who could never win. In fact, Kessel and Phaneuf were accused of actively being disruptive in the room and of being coach-killers.

There was a time when Kessel was trashed and Lupul was the heir-apparent for the Captaincy.

Angry, seething Leafs fans mean nothing to me. They talk with their heart and never with their brains.

Blow it up.
That's the most common saying in Leafs land.

 

[Racer88]

Still failure though right.

What's the point of failing tomorrow vs failing yesterday?
Other than making more money for the NHL, there is no benefit to winning 4 games vs 3 games, in the playoffs.

Also, it seems like Tampa is not having much trouble with Florida.

Yes it would be failure but it would show some sort of progress and if we take that first step it may lead to more success but crapping out in the first round every year shows nothing

 

[Suntouchable13]

I haven't seen any solutions yet.
All I have seen is whining that the core of this team is a bunch of chokers who will never win anything.

I've been through that a bunch of times before -

Sundin was accused to being a good player who would never amount to anything
Kaberle
McCabe
Kessel
Bozak
Phaneuf

All players who the fans of this franchise have turned on at one point or another and accused of being perennial losers who could never win. In fact, Kessel and Phaneuf were accused of actively being disruptive in the room and of being coach-killers.

There was a time when Kessel was trashed and Lupul was the heir-apparent for the Captaincy.

Angry, seething Leafs fans mean nothing to me. They talk with their heart and never with their brains.

Blow it up.
That's the most common saying in Leafs land.

Yea, but there is so much to be happy about being a step above what they were from 2005 till 2016. They just care about making the playoffs, nothing more. I am not "angry" I am not saying "blow it up" but I am not attached to anyone. I want to see more progress than what we have seen. Management and these players have not accomplished anything of note for people to defend them so much. Making the playoffs in a league where 50% of teams make it, is not much.

 

[pcruz]

Yea, but there is so much to be happy about being a step above what they were from 2005 till 2016. They just care about making the playoffs, nothing more. I am not "angry" I am not saying "blow it up" but I am not attached to anyone. I want to see more progress than what we have seen. Management and these players have not accomplished anything of note for people to defend them so much. Making the playoffs in a league where 50% of teams make it, is not much.

Again, more assumptions.
Have you spent any time with the players, coaching staff and/or management?
What are they like in person?

Also, if you haven't paid attention, Tampa is up 3-1 and completely neutralizing Florida in what is looking more and more like a sweep.
If Florida and Toronto swapped, would you and other fans be any happier?
Making it to the 2nd round and getting trounced by what may be 3-time champions.

I don't really care if they lose in the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd round.
Anything less than competing for the Cup and it's a failure to me.

What they did this year is completely different from previous seasons.

There was not a point in the 7 game series against Tampa Bay that the team looked defeated.

Game 7 last year and game 5 the previous year, the team was finished before they entered the rink.

Although I don't really like the Moral Victory bullshit that is spewed all over sports, I do believe in gaining experience via failure while attempting to succeed.
That's not the same as failure after accepting defeat, because to me those are very different scenarios.

We hear about teams playing angry, players playing guilty.
These are players and teams that are still reeling from something negative that happened to them previously and have a score to settle.

The series against Columbus did not feel like a team that was hurting.
I believe that although the team was lethargic during game 7 against Montreal, we saw just how angry Marner and Matthews were (I saw it in the docu-series from Amazon). Those 2 in particular came out on fire this year with a point to prove.

Matthews and Marner were our best players all year long. They were our best players all playoffs long.
It's obvious that Tavares is just as pissed off about losing as those 2 are, as is Rielly.
Muzzin has won before and knows what it takes, so I have no doubts about his commitment.
Gio and Spezza were playing well above their ability during the playoffs and it shows how determined they were.

I don't see a team accepting defeat.
I saw a team fight through a fantastic hockey team on the other side of the ice, fighting through all kinds of garbage from the officials, and still compete to the last second in game 7.

I'm not prepared to give up on a team that has the talent of this group, and which has shown us the determination (finally after 5 years) and will to win in the post-season.

They just went against a team with just as much skill, just as much determination and will, and with infinitely more experience in the playoffs. Didn't hurt them to have extremely generous calls all series long either.

 

[Mr_Fun]

It sort of begs the question - why even watch regular season hockey at all, regardless of how well the team does in the playoffs?

Personally, I like the regular season and will continue to watch it as long as its entertaining. Goal scoring has gone up quite a bit and "the trap" isn't finding a lot of employment these days.

Yes, this is a frustrating time but it's still better (to me) than the 9 years of NO playoffs.

 

[Enga Olly]

IMO, If you’re off board because of any season the Leafs have had since Auston arrived… you were never a fan to begin with.

Enjoy next season folks… even, those who jump back on the wagon.

Yeah this. I mean I'm pretty old and grew up during the Ballard era, but for those not as ancient, surely the last 6 years, regardless of the soul crushing disappointments is better than anything the JF Jr/Burke/Nonis era offered. Ron Wilson/Ray Crawford/Carlyle/Trevor Kidd/Jason Allison/Jeff O'Neil/Dion Phaneuf etc etc crikey we had some grim years. More 115 point seasons please

 

[LadyLala]

A lot of people seemed like they were done and now everyone is on board again. I am not surprised at all.

 

[ToneDog]

Still failure though right.

What's the point of failing tomorrow vs failing yesterday?
Other than making more money for the NHL, there is no benefit to winning 4 games vs 3 games, in the playoffs.

Also, it seems like Tampa is not having much trouble with Florida.

Those mothers said they did not care about the regular season bc they can beat anybody in the playoffs. They are walking the walk. Our core said don't worry we'll be yhere when it counts then crickets in game 7.

 

[mikeyz]

Again, more assumptions.
Have you spent any time with the players, coaching staff and/or management?
What are they like in person?

Also, if you haven't paid attention, Tampa is up 3-1 and completely neutralizing Florida in what is looking more and more like a sweep.
If Florida and Toronto swapped, would you and other fans be any happier?
Making it to the 2nd round and getting trounced by what may be 3-time champions.

I don't really care if they lose in the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd round.
Anything less than competing for the Cup and it's a failure me.

What they did this year is completely different from previous seasons.

There was not a point in the 7 game series against Tampa Bay that the team looked defeated.

Game 7 last year and game 5 the previous year, the team was finished before they entered the rink.

Although I don't really like the Moral Victory bullshit that is spewed all over sports, I do believe in gaining experience via failure while attempting to succeed.
That's not the same as failure after accepting defeat, because to me those are very different scenarios.

We hear about teams playing angry, players playing guilty.
These are players and teams that are still reeling from something negative that happened to them previously and have a score to settle.

The series against Columbus did not feel like a team that was hurting.
I believe that although the team was lethargic during game 7 against Montreal, we saw just how angry Marner and Matthews were (I saw it in the docu-series from Amazon). Those 2 in particular came out on fire this year with a point to prove.

Matthews and Marner were our best players all year long. They were our best players all playoffs long.
It's obvious that Tavares is just as pissed off about losing as those 2 are, as is Rielly.
Muzzin has won before and knows what it takes, so I have no doubts about his commitment.
Gio and Spezza were playing well above their ability during the playoffs and it shows how determined they were.

I don't see a team accepting defeat.
I saw a team fight through a fantastic hockey team on the other side of the ice, fighting through all kinds of garbage from the officials, and still compete to the last second in game 7.

I'm not prepared to give up on a team that has the talent of this group, and which has shown us the determination (finally after 5 years) and will to win in the post-season.

They just went against a team with just as much skill, just as much determination and will, and with infinitely more experience in the playoffs. Didn't hurt them to have extremely generous calls all series long either.

So, losing in the 1st, 2nd, CF or SF is the same thing but yet, the Leafs losing in the 1st round this year Is different than past seasons?

 

[pcruz]

So, losing in the 1st, 2nd, CF or SF is the same thing but yet, the Leafs losing in the 1st round this year Is different than past seasons?

Yes.

If you don't understand the nuance, then I won't waste time explaining it to you.