Are you feeling more or less optimistic about the leafs future since Dubas took over?

[PromisedLand]

Under Lou the leafs finished dead last.

wow what a great observation. do you know how Leafs selected Auston Matthews as 1st overall?

you might right?

 

[mikeyz]

All I will say is, anyone that thinks this team has what it takes to beat a team like Tampa, is out to lunch. Just my opinion.

I think you’re being too nice, Lol.

 

[egd27]

That's one way of excluding relevant players, including a player that falls exactly on the 3m x 2 year mark. You also brush off a cap anchor of a contract,

It's really more of a way to indicate that these signings were both:
a. inexpensive ( not impact players)
b. short term (not part of a longer term plan)

And I did mention the "cap anchor" contract since it's what you guys always trot out anytime someone brings up the former GM.

Those 3 whole years, it's a wonder the franchise didn't fold up.

 

[LogicalOrca]

This thread is looking eerily similar to Canucks fans forcing the firing of the "arrogant I'm-smarter-than-you analytics guy" in Gillis in 2013 for an "Old Boys Club Hockey guy" in Benning. Which clearly worked out great for them...

Can we not come to the conclusion that competent management does not stem from a having an "Analytics Guy" or a "Hockey Guy" as the GM, but from having an adaptable and capable GM surrounded by multiple subject matter experts in the room working together to assist the GM in his shortcomings?

 

[The Masters]

Under Lou the leafs finished dead last.

lmao
they were tanking.

 

[The Masters]

This thread is looking eerily similar to Canucks fans forcing the firing of the "arrogant I'm-smarter-than-you analytics guy" in Gillis in 2013 for an "Old Boys Club Hockey guy" in Benning. Which clearly worked out great for them...

Can we not come to the conclusion that competent management does not stem from a having an "Analytics Guy" or a "Hockey Guy" as the GM, but from having an adaptable and capable GM surrounded by multiple subject matter experts in the room working together to assist the GM in his shortcomings?

Who cares. It comes down to winning. So far this skill only approach by Dubas isnt working, especially when the cap is being taken up by 4 players. The new coach he hired in Keefe looks way in over his head as he's been outcoached 2 years in a row now.

Dubas and the Leafs are in a tough spot and they need a great year just making the playoffs. If they play Boston or Tampa next season in 1st round, they are likely out again and this team will need significant changes with or without Dubas.

 

[zeke]

wow what a great observation. do you know how Leafs selected Auston Matthews as 1st overall?

you might right?

So you would rather be awful than good.

 

[hamzarocks]

So you would rather be awful than good.

We are going to be awful again in 2023. Fall hard for Bedard. Time for another rebuild

 

[LogicalOrca]

Who cares. It comes down to winning.

Raptors weren't winning either in 2013, thus they should have canned Masai and brought back Colangelo.

 

[PromisedLand]

So you would rather be awful than good.

would you rather not have auston matthews?

 

[Bomber0104]

lmao
they were tanking.

Abundantly obvious to 99% of Leafs fans.

The other 1% were using stats to "prove" that the Leafs had a playoff-caliber team lead by Dion Phaneuf, PA Parenteau, Tyler Bozak, Jake Gardiner, etc.

Guess which one you're talking to?

 

[Bomber0104]

Not sure how you could feel optimistic after watching what happened last year.

We were expected to win.

Is that not good enough for you?!

 

[The Masters]

Raptors weren't winning either in 2013, thus they should have canned Masai and brought back Colangelo.

They actually hired Ujiri in 2013 and showed progression making the ECF in 2016. Leafs cant even get past Columbus or MTL - that should tell you something about the roster.

 

[Dekes For Days]

And I did mention the "cap anchor" contract since it's what you guys always trot out anytime someone brings up the former GM.

Actually, we're not currently talking about how bad the contract was. We're talking about the fact that you attempted to ignore it and what it and countless other moves and decisions meant, while trying to falsely attribute the "win now" mode to a singular signing and GM years after the "win now" mode started.

 

[Leaf Fans]

They actually hired Ujiri in 2013 and showed progression making the ECF in 2016. Leafs cant even get past Columbus or MTL - that should tell you something about the roster.

It tells me that we haven't been good enough.

 

[egd27]

Actually, we're not currently talking about how bad the contract was. We're talking about the fact that you attempted to ignore it and what it and countless other moves and decisions meant, while trying to falsely attribute the "win now" mode to a singular signing and GM years after the "win now" mode started.

Of the "multiple UFA's" after the tank year, one had a cap hit of over 3M and term greater than 2 years (and we all know who that was)

Who did you think I was referring to? Roman Polak?

 

[Dekes For Days]

Who did you think I was referring to? Roman Polak?

No, Marleau. You evidently forgot to read the end of that post you highlighted. Vaguely acknowledging the existence of something is not the same as acknowledging what it and countless other things mean in the context of your argument.

 

[egd27]

No, Marleau. You evidently forgot to read the end of that post you highlighted. Vaguely acknowledging the existence of something is not the same as acknowledging what it and countless other things mean in the context of your argument.

My apologies for being vague. I wouldn't have thought anyone that is a regular to these forums would have been confused.

Yes, I was referring to Marleau, well done for figuring it out despite the vagueness.

 

[Dekes For Days]

My apologies for being vague. I wouldn't have thought anyone that is a regular to these forums would have been confused. Yes, I was referring to Marleau, well done for figuring it out despite the vagueness.

Nobody was confused about who you meant. You're just continuing to completely dodge the point while being unnecessarily condescending. As you're well aware, the "win now" mode started long before Dubas. That's why we were signing veteran UFAs, chasing high-value UFAs, keeping valuable pending UFAs, and trading for rentals at the deadline. All things representative of a "win now" mode, not a rebuild.

 

[ottomaddox]

I’m hearing about trades and moves by some GM’s to try and improve their team…….has Dubas done anything yet or is he really going to repeat with the basically same bunch

Something will give, but I doubt it'll be significant.

KD needs to improve the goaltending and the 3rd line.

A couple of things should occur, but the Big 4 look to be returning.

 

[The CyNick]

That is why we have Auston Matthews. That is one of the things that gave us hope.

Exactly. People were saying for years the team needed to be stripped down and built up. That's what Lou was doing because he saw the team built before him wasn't going anywhere. He then made major strides in just one year. And continued to grow the next year. Only to be then passed over and we all know what's happened since.

 

[Racer88]

would you rather not have auston matthews?

I’m not really sure anymore. I bought into the tank for Matthews 100% but we still have had no success 5 years later…….not even a sniff of success just more failure

 

[daveleaf]

For those who bash Lou. Hasn't he been GM of the year since he left? Has he not taken his team to the semifinals and give Tampa a headache with arguably a lesser talented team?

This team is constructed wrong. I knew the Leafs were done when Mathews was getting rag-dolled in game four and sitting there and laughing. Buddy, grab the guy and punch him in the face, that was the time to start imposing your will. Instead we head into game five and Sandin gaffs, then laughs it off as no big deal and the wheels started to fall off.

This team needs more will. I like Spezza, I hated Thornton on this team at the end of the year. I liked Foligno but he was broken-just bad team makeup. There is no where near enough quality d-men to make a deep run. Forwards make way too much. I like Marriner, I just don't think he is an 11 million dollar man. Willy is signed right in hindsight, Mitch is way over valued. Only way to fix that now is trade him to a team that values that. Get a couple of really good young players and a first rounder. Sign Hamilton, another good young goaler and start adding some nice grit to this team. Sad we are relying on a former Senator to provide the heart for this team.

 

[Canadian Finn]

For those who bash Lou. Hasn't he been GM of the year since he left? Has he not taken his team to the semifinals and give Tampa a headache with arguably a lesser talented team?

Many of our (younger) fanbase is still learning hockey. They have the advanced stats down, but still lots to learn about how the game of hockey is actually played.

 

[socko]

I read about Connor Bedard but there is a draft lottery in place: if we finish dead last for 5 straight years we still have a...

0.834^5 x 100% = 40.3% chance of not getting a first overall pick. That's with 5 straight years of dead last.

And that's not even getting into the years where Nico Hischier, Nail Yakupov, etc. go first overall.

Dubas has screwed this team at historic levels.