It's easier to blame goaltending (which has been a trend during the entirety of the Matthews era) for losses than accept the core four they've signed for a collective $1 billion have zero ability to step up when it matters.
That Marner quote after last night's game was mind boggling to me.
I don't know if it's arrogance or if he's just a dumb kid who can't read the room, but to essentially say they're playing great no matter what people outside the locker room say and they're just not getting the bounces right now was astounding given the team's overall "choke" label the past few playoffs, as well as on the heels of these recent 2-goal leads blown turning into losses.
Reminds me of his nonsensical "people are putting shambles in our brains" remark.
It's one thing to say they still have confidence in their roster, but acknowledge they need to be much better at executing and not blowing leads. It's another to basically be all, "nah, we're awesome. People ripping on us are dumb dumbs".
Elite talents, probably the best collection of talent that I can recall in my lifetime as a fan of the Leafs, and I've been watching since the 70's.
But, they are incredibly inconsistent, rarely play hard a full game, and when games get rougher, they tend to wilt. To their credit, Matthews and Nylander have learned to be better in these games, but it isn't far enough, and Marner hasn't made any progress. Tavares has just had his game and skating in particular decline. I'm in agreement on Marner's comments... who exactly is reinforcing their belief that this is "good enough". They are in the business of winning, and this core doesn't know how to do that.
We've seen other players, and teams take time to learn how to win, and with this kind of collection of talent, you have to be patient that it will eventually click.. but it hasn't, and it won't.
I don't even think that it has to do with paying them too much, and being too thin elsewhere... if you are going to win, you need your best players, to be your best players, when it really counts... one thing that has always stood out about Crosby, but not these guys. They've changed the supporting cast, brought in physical D at times... and it's the same thing... core 4 disappear.
Shanahan has had a decade to get this right, been blessed with some incredible talents... it's time for a clearing out of management, and a retool... some good pieces, but Toronto needs to do what others have done.. like Tampa after missing the playoffs, then winning the cup two years later... retool. This team won't get it done.
