Are the Leafs' players tanking

[HamiltonNHL]

If they are tanking, then why ?

Tanking is defined as the players aren't trying hard enough to win.

I'm not sure myself as I just feel we are actually this bad. But sometimes the effort was so bad, I felt there could be a revolt going on behind the scenes.

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[Jozay]

Yes, they want Shane Wright.

 

[diehardleafsfan9878]

I'm going to say no. As tanking does require some sort of effort, but this team doesn't have any of that.

 

[Buds17]

I can understand why a team might tank (the current Leafs obviously aren't). I can't envision why its players ever would.

 

[Throw More Waffles]

Know how most fans no longer believe in them?

Well, I think the same thing is happening to them. They don't believe they can succeed, even with 100% effort, so why bother trying so hard?

I'm not sure if "tanking" is the right word, but I don't think they care/believe enough in themselves to give proper effort.

 

[Bomber0104]

Not likely.

I don't see how they'd think they can get yet another coach fired without putting a target on their own heads.

The team just isn't that good.

 

[Apex Predator]

Players don’t tank. Maybe they’ve don’t care that’s a whole different discussion.

 

[justashadowof]

If they're tanking it's because they've quit on a second coach.

The possibility remains that the stars are just cold AND...

Kampf, Kase and Ritchie aren't good NHL players AND...

Sandin is in over his head AND...

Muzzin and Holl are struggling to get up to NHL regular season speed AND...

Campbell isn't playing particularly well.

 

[ACC1224]

Organizations tank, Players don't.
The organization isn't tanking, they just don't know what they are doing.

 

[Stephen]

I’m picking up some Salute Gate vibes from the team, like they think the market and media are full or bozos, they’re going to steam roll the regular season and worry about everything later. For instance, you look at the AM34 media blitz and it’s about self expression, fashion, growing the game via personal branding, nary a word about rededication to the season, really narrowing focus on winning and proving everyone wrong. Compare and contrast the way McDavid stayed silent all summer and then has come out like a man on a mission.

But then when rubber hit the road to start the year, they’re also in shock that they’re not having any success whatsoever and things are snowballing out of control.

 

[keonsbitterness]

Players don't tank. They just stink right now.

 

[Mess]

Overpaid contracts and underperforming players does not = tanking.

Overpaid players without earning it breads complacency, and creates an environment of self entitlement, when you hand out guaranteed contracts in advance of performance.

In Toronto this is referred to as "Blue and White" disease, and its created by management both GM and Coach on how they created it, and are not handling this situation.

 

[Azail]

If they're tanking it's because they've quit on a second coach.

The possibility remains that the stars are just cold AND...

Kampf, Kase and Ritchie aren't good NHL players AND...

Sandin is in over his head AND...

Muzzin and Holl are struggling to get up to NHL regular season speed AND...

Campbell isn't playing particularly well.

Sorry? Have you watched the games? I think the only person you cannot blame on this is Campbell. Unless I'm misunderstanding what you're saying.

 

[wired14]

Certainly the players of any team wouldn’t tank on purpose. It’s ridiculous to think that players would purposefully play poorly and ruin their shot at future earnings to…what? help a team that they likely won’t be on in a few years get a high draft pick? I think they are trying but it just ain’t working and the team has some issues with the way they are built.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Players don’t tank. Maybe they’ve don’t care that’s a whole different discussion.

players 100% tanked to get rid of Babcock

 

[Mickey Marner]

Nah, management capitulating to them has just made them soft and complacent.

 

[AllDay28]

These threads are why Leaf fans get made fun of on here

 

[HamiltonNHL]

I'm not sure if "tanking" is the right word, but I don't think they care/believe enough in themselves to give proper effort.

maybe given up is a better word than tanking

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Nah, management capitulating to them has just made them soft and complacent.

That's worse than tanking

 

[HamiltonNHL]

These threads are why Leaf fans get made fun of on here

In this case, they would be correct.

 

[MagicalRazor]

0 chance they go to the cap ceiling to tank … they just aren’t playing well

 

[HamiltonNHL]

0 chance they go to the cap ceiling to tank … they just aren’t playing well

I'm talking about the players tanking.

Not the organization.

Are they losing games because they no longer care ?

 

[PROUD PAPA]

Can't vote but would vote no. I think the pressure has gotten to many of them and they're struggling to deal with it.

 

[yubbers]

These threads are why Leaf fans get made fun of on here

Nah. Losing to Zamboni drivers and Pittsburgh AHL squads 7-1 does.

 

[The Blueprint]

Matthews was laughing in pressers after Saturday's game. Saying the media is acting like the sky is falling after 6 games, saying they're blocking out the noise and they believe in themselves in the room and that's all that matters.

I call BS. I agree with people saying they're losing belief in themselves and Im not surprised, because to me they just don't seem like a team.

There's a few guys getting paid well who get supported by a rag tag group of project player mercenaries every year. There's nothing cohesive about the group anymore, no one is having fun. And neither are the fans.