Around the League 20-21 Thread: Playoffs Edition

[DryIslandBartender]

I liked Simmonds but he is a shell of what he used to be.

3rd/4th liner maybe?

 

[kingsfan28]

Sucks for Simmonds too, maybe the Kings can pick him up and also Hyman. Both are UFAs I believe. I wouldn’t touch Marner at all.

All Simmonds would do it take a spot away from one of the kids. His better days are long behind him.

 

[Herby]

You should never pay your guys until they actually win something.
Hawks, and Kings paid their guys after they won cups, and haven't done anything since but they got the hardware.

In the playoffs youd need to roll 3 or 4 lines, and you need quality depth.

This is a an overreaction.

For one,

The Kings signed Kopitar to a 7/$48m deal before he had ever played a single playoff game.
Doughty was signed to a 8/$56m deal before ever winning a playoff round.

And second,

What is Toronto supposed to do with Marner coming off a 94 point season at age 21?
What is Toronto supposed to do with Matthews who had scored 111 goals in 212 games as a 19, 20, 21 year old?

 

[Steve Zissou]

What They're Saying // Leafs Lose To Habs After Up 3-1 In Series Edition

The worst leafs loss ever.

I used to think our team was a tragedy

But now I realize it's a comedy

My mom gave birth to me in Scarborough in 1993, and I'll never forgive her for it.

I finally understand why others call us the Maple laffs

But in Excel, we should be champs. <<<< Note the sarcasm

Nylander came to play every game

I don’t wanna see anyone trash him

f*** the rest of the team

I’m done until Marner is dealt

Where are the Dubas fan boys? We told you for years he doesn’t know what he is doing.

Fire this clown.

If you're a middle aged Dubas' fan. This one's for you.

I bet Dubas is a championship winning GM in xbox but as a real GM he is a failure.

Somebody please apologize to Jason Spezza

Matthews and marner make me sick and are the sole reason why we lost this series.

Matthews can score a 100 goals next season and Marner (if this dumbass is still on this team next year) can put up 250 points and I wouldn't give a shit.

Do we try and blame our grit now to avoid blaming our 22 million dollar duo? The 22 million dollar duo that makes it so we can't really bring in better depth players because better depth players won't sign for league minimum. In our last 11 playoff games our 22 million dollar duo has scored 3 goals and all of them were from Matthews.

the fact that none of them are mad. super sad. in tears, cursing.

If they don't care, why should I?

Not much to say. This is by far the lowest point for the franchise in the past 30+ years.

Look on the bright side guys at least we'll have a mid first round pi-.....oh wait

Probably the best thing to come out of this, is that I've realized that investing this much passion into a hockey team is pretty dumb. I like hockey, so I'll take in games in the future for some entertainment. But after decades of this bullshit, and losing like this to the team I hate the most, I bleed blue and white no more. It's over.

Everybody calm down! Next year is going to be...............






Us losing in game 7 of course.

 

[KingLB]

This is a an overreaction.

For one,

The Kings signed Kopitar to a 7/$48m deal before he had ever played a single playoff game.
Doughty was signed to a 7/$56m deal before ever winning a playoff round.

And second,

What is Toronto supposed to do with Marner coming off a 94 point season at age 21?
What is Toronto supposed to do with Matthews who had scored 111 goals in 212 games as a 19, 20, 21 year old?

I agree, ppl unfortunately don’t realize how often luck comes into players contracts. Like Marchand/Pasta were good players that absolutely broke out, AFTER signing deals.

Hell MacKinnon is the the poster child for this. Was good not great. Signs longer term deal. Might be the most unstoppable player in the planet, makes Sakic look like absolute genius. Now every contract ever is compared to that...

 

[Steve Zissou]

 

[Herby]

I agree, ppl unfortunately don’t realize how often luck comes into players contracts. Like Marchand/Pasta were good players that absolutely broke out, AFTER signing deals.

Hell MacKinnon is the the poster child for this. Was good not great. Signs longer term deal. Might be the most unstoppable player in the planet, makes Sakic look like absolute genius. Now every contract ever is compared to that...

People here still think the hometown discount and bridge contracts are a thing for mega-star players. Like seriously, what was Toronto supposed to do in the summer of 2019? Tell Matthews and Marner "Hey Auston and Mitch, we just can't commit the big money to you until you show us you can win, so either sign a bridge contract or we're trading you."

Now imagine Dean Lombardi telling Drew Doughty the same thing in the summer of 2011, my guess is it wouldn't have gone over to well here on this board (and rightfully so).

They lost and their two best players disappointed but it doesn't mean every move they have made is bad or that they can't win in the future with those guys or they should blow it up. Matthews and Marner are 23 and 24 and stars in the league. People were saying the same thing about Tampa in 2019.

 

[Steve Zissou]

If they’re going to choke, it might as well be in front of 500 healthcare workers.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

All Simmonds would do it take a spot away from one of the kids. His better days are long behind him.

Make the kids beat him out. Hopefully we’re not just handing spots over to them.

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

Let go of the (in this case distant) past, Simmonds is not good anymore

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

The Leafs and the Dallas Cowboys are basically the same franchise:

"Biggest" team in the league, with some of the most annoying fans
The majority of the cap is tied-up in sexy offensive weapons, leaving the rest of the roster to be filled with mediocre players and plugs
Poorly coached, and management signs contracts and makes trades out of desperation because they always feel they are just one move away
Every year the media and fans claim "it's their year"
They put-up incredible regular season offensive stats
Zero postseason success in decades

 

[Reaper45]

The Leafs and the Dallas Cowboys are basically the same franchise:

"Biggest" team in the league, with some of the most annoying fans
The majority of the cap is tied-up in sexy offensive weapons, leaving the rest of the roster to be filled with mediocre players and plugs
Poorly coached, and management signs contracts and makes trades out of desperation because they always feel they are just one move away
Every year the media and fans claim "it's their year"
They put-up incredible regular season offensive stats
Zero postseason success in decades

Don’t forget that both are the media’s favorite. And America’s/Canada’s team.

 

[Telos]

I feel bad for Muzzin, Simmonds, and Campbell; but God damn would a Leafs win be annoying as all hell.

 

[kingsfan28]

The Leafs and the Dallas Cowboys are basically the same franchise:

"Biggest" team in the league, with some of the most annoying fans
The majority of the cap is tied-up in sexy offensive weapons, leaving the rest of the roster to be filled with mediocre players and plugs
Poorly coached, and management signs contracts and makes trades out of desperation because they always feel they are just one move away
Every year the media and fans claim "it's their year"
They put-up incredible regular season offensive stats
Zero postseason success in decades

America's team vs Canada's team... both suck!

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Never change, Craig Button.

 

[kilowatt]

lmao

 

[johnjm22]

I feel bad for Muzzin, Simmonds, and Campbell; but God damn would a Leafs win be annoying as all hell.

Yeah, but a Canadiens win is also annoying.

Montreal beating Toronto is like watching your mother in law drive your brand new Mercedes Benz off the edge of a cliff.

 

[KingsFan7824]

You should never pay your guys until they actually win something.
Hawks, and Kings paid their guys after they won cups, and haven't done anything since but they got the hardware.

In the playoffs youd need to roll 3 or 4 lines, and you need quality depth.

Doughty went to the last few days of training camp before signing. Players want their money. And they're all different. If you explode in your first couple years, you're getting paid. That's why you want to take advantage of those ELC years for top players. That's why the Hawks and Pens have 3 Cups to the Kings 2. Those two teams won early, the Kings won only after the 2nd contracts for all their best guys.

The Kings gave up two 1st's, Schenn, and Simmonds, before ever winning a round. The Leafs could be a cautionary tale for the Kings. They haven't even made the playoffs, let alone won a playoff game, with the current roster, and people(including players), want them to start investing, potentially heavily, into the team. Maybe it works, maybe it doesn't.

Make the kids beat him out. Hopefully we’re not just handing spots over to them.

First, Simmonds has to want to do that. He has to want to be a placeholder. He was sort of the in NJ, but not Tor, and he got paid to go to NJ. Second, the Kings already have plenty of guys that are there for the kids to beat them out.

 

[SFKingshomer]

TOR is proof you can’t pay 3 guys that much money. They overpaid bad for RFA then the Tavares contract was pure lunacy. Trade Marner because you can’t move the other 2. Eat some salary to maximize the return and improve overall depth. There’s at least 10 wingers I’d prefer to Marner due to his contract and none of these guys are ELC. Only 1 makes more (Panarin) and he was a UFA who wanted to play in a big market.


Kucherov
Pastrnak
Rantanen
Panarin
Stamkos
Marchand
Huberdeau
Landeskog
Wheeler
Stone
Pacioretty
Kane
Ehlers
Guentzel
DeBrincat

 

[DoktorJeep]

The Habs got major contributions from Kotkaniemi, Suzuki and Caulfield to win that series. I think they’ll have a much tougher time against the Jets, but it should be a good match up.

Price vs Hellebuyck won’t get the headlines of McDavid vs Matthews. But I’d rather see who wins between the Habs depth on D or the Jets depth on O. Whatever happens, you know the two teams will show some spirit and not skate around like a bunch of sour faced kids when things don’t go their way.

 

[KINGS17]

People here still think the hometown discount and bridge contracts are a thing for mega-star players. Like seriously, what was Toronto supposed to do in the summer of 2019? Tell Matthews and Marner "Hey Auston and Mitch, we just can't commit the big money to you until you show us you can win, so either sign a bridge contract or we're trading you."

Now imagine Dean Lombardi telling Drew Doughty the same thing in the summer of 2011, my guess is it wouldn't have gone over to well here on this board (and rightfully so).

They lost and their two best players disappointed but it doesn't mean every move they have made is bad or that they can't win in the future with those guys or they should blow it up. Matthews and Marner are 23 and 24 and stars in the league. People were saying the same thing about Tampa in 2019.

Are Matthews and Marner megastars though? They can't seem to win a damn thing when it matters.

 

[Bandit]

Put this on the main board, surprised I didn't get an infraction (yet, anyway)

Marner has the same number of career playoff goals as he does career playoff puck over the glass penalties. Wouldn't take that guy and his shit contract for free.

 

[kovacro]

Give credit to Philip Danault for the reason Matthews was MIA. He shut him right down.

He was excellent and will get a nice raise once free agency opens. Didn't have a good year offensively, but his defensive game is top end.

Marner, don't know what to say..He looks like he is trending to the type of player that puts up regular season numbers and just vanishes when it matters. No bueno. Thought is was alright defensively but your not paying him that amount of coin to be a guy who is better without the puck, that's not his calling card.

I'd still take Matthews in a heartbeat, Marner, no so much.

Interesting off season ahead for the Laughs.

 

[kovacro]

Put this on the main board, surprised I didn't get an infraction (yet, anyway)

View attachment 441785

Marner has the same number of career playoff goals as he does career playoff puck over the glass penalties. Wouldn't take that guy for free.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

TOR is proof you can’t pay 3 guys that much money. They overpaid bad for RFA then the Tavares contract was pure lunacy. Trade Marner because you can’t move the other 2. Eat some salary to maximize the return and improve overall depth. There’s at least 10 wingers I’d prefer to Marner due to his contract and none of these guys are ELC. Only 1 makes more (Panarin) and he was a UFA who wanted to play in a big market.


Kucherov
Pastrnak
Rantanen
Panarin
Stamkos
Marchand
Huberdeau
Landeskog
Wheeler
Stone
Pacioretty
Kane
Ehlers
Guentzel
DeBrincat

Sorry, you are dead wrong.....on over half that list....I'd take Marner over everyone on that list except Pastrnak, and maybe Huberdeau. When you take age, contract, skill etc. For LA, Marner is hands down the best winger on that list. (excepting Pasternak) the ones that would be in the same....area (age, youth, skill) Rantanen, Ehlers, DeBrincat, all need linemates to create for them, Marners can create by himself, hands down the most skill in his age range.....He needs to work on a 200 ft game for sure, but offensively, no one on LA can match him, not that we set the bar very high...