Post-Game Talk: Another Shit Effort, Another Predictable Loss, Rinse, Repeat

[mydnyte]

He had the 3 amigos on when MacKinnon scored the late game winner the previous night.

Coaching is still our biggest issue (in addition to a mediocre defense, where Brodie has been done for 2 seasons now, save a decent game here and there, and Gio as well)

Our defensive system just sucks right now, and every team is exploiting our passiveness. ...the Leafs do not ever pressure the opposing defensemen when they are in our zone and barely move past the circles... so, opponents just pass the puck around back and forth and side to side to their defense and play keep away until an interior shooter gets open, as the Leafs just flow side to side and chase the play.
Every goal yesterady was off a defensive turnover, and the Wings defense is not super mobile, and not threatening in any way, and Leafs players still gave then 5+ feet inside our zone to do whatever they wanted.

The PP has sucked since JT was moved from the net front to the side boards ...he isnt fast enough to pass out of a double team, and every team knows this play is coming as we do it every PP ...enter the zone, pass to JT on the side, and JT passes it back to the D ...never works though, but, they keep doing it

Treliving had a BAD offseason, and was a BAD choice as GM, and has done nothing...
Zadorov was basically given away, and he could have easily fit his full cap hit knowing Klingberg was done for the season, and was/is exactly the type of player we needed and wanted(and he wanted to be here too).

If/when Treliving makes a deal, I expect it to be a 'bad' deal short and long term.

I'm expecting at least, Robertson and our 1st will be dealt, and wouldnt be surprized if extra prospects get moved too, for likely a 3-4 D-man and maybe a big contract goalie retread or a pending UFA that we cant afford to resign.

 

[theTTC]

It was bad coaching...Keefe had Gregor, Kampf and Knies on when Detroit took the lead late in the 3rd...what kind of line is that?!

I gotta be the devil's advocate here. The Core Fore's combined eye-popping salary hit means the rest of the team is basically s**t thrown at the wall to see if it sticks. Sheldon already plays the Core Fore in every situation including PP and PK. Just before the last couple of minutes, they need a rest. Else, what's the next step - 35 minutes of ice time each?

 

[keonsbitterness]

How do the fans do that?

We'll hold a giant séance.

 

[ACC1224]

We'll hold a giant séance.

Open bar and snacks?

 

[Apex Predator]

For everyone blaming Keefe for having the 4th line on the ice when mackinnon scored. I know everyone hates Keefe but let’s not blatantly lie to make him look bad. Marner Matthews nylander on the ice.

 

[keonsbitterness]

Open bar and snacks?

free admission, pay at the door
have a seat, sit on the floor

 

[Blanche Blanche]

I think they are just that bad.

Individually, we got great players in AM, MM, Willie, JT, Reilly, to lesser extend, Knies, Bert, Domi, Calle, even Kampf as a defensive specialist. McCabe, Lilly, Beniot might not be great but they get the job done as bottom 3 Dmen.

But they don't play like a team. When they do, they are one of the best in the league.
This all comes down to Keefe's coaching.

Say what you want about Babs but Babs' Leafs plays more structure and system. Now do and can the players do the stuff is another story.

Keefe really relies on the top guys to take over games and win instead of building a team that win with the top guys.

This 10000000000x

 

[egd27]

Weren’t the keefe haters yelling for Tavares on line 3. What now? Or will you admit there’s more issues than Keefe?

You mean like having the 4th line on the ice with less than 2 mins to go in a tied game ?

 

[Fogelhund]

I think they are just that bad.

Individually, we got great players in AM, MM, Willie, JT, Reilly, to lesser extend, Knies, Bert, Domi, Calle, even Kampf as a defensive specialist. McCabe, Lilly, Beniot might not be great but they get the job done as bottom 3 Dmen.

But they don't play like a team. When they do, they are one of the best in the league.
This all comes down to Keefe's coaching.

Say what you want about Babs but Babs' Leafs plays more structure and system. Now do and can the players do the stuff is another story.

Keefe really relies on the top guys to take over games and win instead of building a team that win with the top guys.

Keefe in general is a structure guy.... I theorize, that the players have just stopped playing whatever structure he wants. I think they've tuned him out.

I agree with everything else you say, that they aren't playing like a team, and agree that when they play well as a team, that they can be the best in the league.. but often they just lack the effort, or discipline to do that.

 

[Fogelhund]

People just have a hate on for Keefe regardless of what he does or says. It's nauseating.

.
People are hating on just about everything to do with this team... Keefe isn't going to get off scott free... I don't hate Keefe at all, but every coach has a shelf life, and they are also the easiest part to change when things aren't going to expectations. Things aren't going to expectations, and I think we all can agree upon that. I do question some of his decisions lately.

 

[egd27]

For everyone blaming Keefe for having the 4th line on the ice when mackinnon scored. I know everyone hates Keefe but let’s not blatantly lie to make him look bad. Marner Matthews nylander on the ice.

Who is saying that? I am referring to the Copp goal with 1:20 to go in the Det game.

 

[Racer88]

The fans could start start chanting fire Sheldon fire Sheldon and throw a few fire Shannys in for good measure. I’m betting after a few games of that it would get the new president’s attention

 

[Ports]

Lou was a run it back shanny guy?

No. ”Run it back” is Shanny’s nickname.

 

[Evilhomer]

I'm expecting at least, Robertson and our 1st will be dealt,

The first round pick is guaranteed to be dealt.

 

[LeafalCrusader]

The first round pick is guaranteed to be dealt.

As guaranteed as the Leafs winning the division?

 

[myleafs]

Forward change-up was evident - no cohesion in new groupings - everyone trying to learn to lay with new guys

On D same old same old .. 1 D in Rielly and then lots of garbage .. great game back by Sammy .. good for him

He def made a couple big saves but .870 doesn't scream great game in my books.

 

[myleafs]

Sam’s save % improved form .862 to .863.

Exactly and yet he played a great game by some.

if leafs don’t win a cup with this core there will be hell to pay

Will there though?

 

[Brobust]

How?

The cap is going up $5 mil next year and Nylander going from $7 mil to $11.5 mil eats up $4.5 mil of that increase alone.

Matthews going up from $11.6 to $13.25 mil eats up another $1.65 mil putting Leafs in the red just handing out raises and needing to cut other places.

The following year it goes up again $5 mil and Marner's new raise and Matthews will eat up most of that.

Leafs are constantly chasing their own tails giving their own overpaid players raises to address the rest of the team.

You realize that the cap is also supposed to go up or you just really clueless?

 

[Gary Nylund]

The All-Star break is the HALF way part of the season meaning most teams still have 40 games to play. I'm not saying that the Leafs are a shoe in to make the playoffs, I'm saying if they're not in a playoff spot at the All Star break it's no need to panic because there are many more games to play. If Woll doesn't return or an injury to a major player happens in mid to late February then it's time to panic.

Not panic, but maybe be a bit embarrassed at what a shit show this group of high priced talent is putting on this season.

 

[MarMarSab3]

For everyone blaming Keefe for having the 4th line on the ice when mackinnon scored. I know everyone hates Keefe but let’s not blatantly lie to make him look bad. Marner Matthews nylander on the ice.

Marner was behind the Avs net,Matthews at the top of the slot somehow Marner beats Matthews by 20 feet to get back defensively, Zero effort by Matthews

 

[TheDoldrums]

As guaranteed as the Leafs winning the division?

who said that

I gotta be the devil's advocate here. The Core Fore's combined eye-popping salary hit means the rest of the team is basically s**t thrown at the wall to see if it sticks.

okay let me also play devils advocate and note they spent $14 million on Bertuzzi/Domi/Klingberg/Reaves, how many of them are earning their salary? Domi, maybe?

more cap room means nothing if we have bad management

 

[BrannigansLaw]

As guaranteed as the Leafs winning the division?

As guaranteed as the Leafs pick becoming the draft lotto winner the minute it’s dealt.

 

[wingman75]

For everyone blaming Keefe for having the 4th line on the ice when mackinnon scored. I know everyone hates Keefe but let’s not blatantly lie to make him look bad. Marner Matthews nylander on the ice.

I mean, we all knew who was on the ice? I guess some like to change reality to fit their narrative.

Nylander was clearly F3 on that play and he went flying into the zone. Marner was behind the net and was the first forward back! Ridiculous.

Keefe has spoken about situational awareness a number of times. Many of these guys do not have it.

 

[Stephen]

Lou once fired Julien 1 week before the playoffs and went on to win the Stanly Cup I believe

Wasn’t that Ftorek as well?

 

[Hellcat]

Not sure it was a shit effort as the title says , I thought for the first time the team actually looked like a team and not a team that was only interested in personal stats.

Keefe could have, a couple of times, put out the Marner/Matthews line to generate a little offence. The lines looked like lines that were just put together (because they were), very little chemistry but I think with time if Keefe sticks with this we will be a better team, top to bottom, vs being a two line team.

I've always subscribed to the model that you need to spread out your scoring talent among the top 3 lines and make the bottom line a pest, crash and bang, speed line. Not sure we have exactly that but this team looks closer to a balanced team.

I think for the top line Holmberg needs to be a distraction so either Willie or Matty can get lost in coverage, not sure I want either one of those guys carrying the puck through the neutral zone. Domi needs to learn to shoot as hard as he passes, that line might be something with some time, it's 2/3rds of the Knights top line, did they win the Mem Cup that year? I think Dvorak was the 3 forward on that line.