Around the League - 2022-23 Season Edition

[leafsfan5]

If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best I guess.

It sucks there isn't an easy path compared to other teams but the Leafs had their shot at an easier route in the playoffs and still lost (Columbus, Montreal).

I don't really consider Columbus an easier path, the Leafs straight up weren't that good in 19-20 tbh. We ran a defensive core including the likes of Barrie, Ceci, and sometimes Marincin. Freddy's decline in play began that year, and we had major character issues leading to humiliating losses (Zamboni driver). It was an 8th seed vs 9th seed level matchup, people just look at the Leafs regular success before and after that year and think the team was good for that season as well

Montreal is definitely the one they blew and the worst loss in the history of this franchise, but it shouldn't subject them to facing elite 1st round opponents for the rest of time. We've earned the right to a weak opponent in the first round

If we lose in round 1, it's on us. 7-8 years of first round failure and the blame primarily lands on the team. But, it's BS that we continuously have to have the hardest path to the finals. It's screwing Toronto over now, and will screw someone else in the future.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I don't really consider Columbus an easier path, the Leafs straight up weren't that good in 19-20 tbh. We ran a defensive core including the likes of Barrie, Ceci, and sometimes Marincin. Freddy's decline in play began that year, and we had major character issues leading to humiliating losses (Zamboni driver). It was an 8th seed vs 9th seed level matchup, people just look at the Leafs regular success before and after that year and think the team was good for that season as well

Montreal is definitely the one they blew and the worst loss in the history of this franchise, but it shouldn't subject them to facing elite 1st round opponents for the rest of time. We've earned the right to a weak opponent in the first round

If we lose in round 1, it's on us. 7-8 years of first round failure and the blame primarily lands on the team. But, it's BS that we continuously have to have the hardest path to the finals. It's screwing Toronto over now, and will screw someone else in the future.

We had a ton of injuries but were healthy for the playoffs (except for Johnsson IIRC) so we should have been much better. CLB had a ton of injuries as well but I'd say our missing players were better than theirs.

CLB wasn't an easy opponent per say, but they were easier than playing BOS/TB for sure.

Agree that the playoff format sucks. It is what it is though so nothing to do but suck it up and win. No matter who your opponents are, we shouldn't be losing 6 playoff series in a row in a 6 year span.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

The hard path to the cup thing went out the window when the Leafs blew that series against the Habs for me

That is it for me. That was the one year....The Leafs had an Oiler like path to glide to the conference finals and they still tripped and face planted over the finish line.

 

[The Management]

Yup.

Some Leaf fans are insecure over the Oilers (and Matthews over McDavid) just as much as some Oilers fans are insecure about the Leafs.

It's actually a weird dynamic because they are not direct rivalries and they play in different conferences. A lot seems to stem from Matthews vs. McDavid, and really, outside of a few blinded Leaf fans, no one else actually really believes it.

I agree. Part of it is also birthed by hanging around the main boards too much and letting a couple bad actors over there get on your nerves. I've always thought Oilers and Leafs fans should be able to commiserate, but the forums make everything a zero sum game (an attitude prevalent on all social media).

 

[Fogelhund]

That is it for me. That was the one year....The Leafs had an Oiler like path to glide to the conference finals and they still tripped and face planted over the finish line.

Of course they did. Tavares was out and Matthews had a wrist injury that required surgery.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Of course they did. Tavares was out and Matthews had a wrist injury that required surgery.

Tavares missed the whole series.
Muzzin missed part of the series.
Foligno missed part of the series, and played at like 50% the rest of the time.
Matthews played, but through a surgery-requiring injury.
Hyman played, for the first time in over a month, coming off an MCL sprain, and didn't look right.

That's like our two best centers, two best left-wingers, and best defenseman that season.

People act like it's just top team vs. mediocre team, but do all that to any top team, and give the mediocre team a Vezina+ caliber goalie, and it's obviously going to be a lot closer than regular season standings, where all that wasn't happening, may suggest.

We also looked completely shell-shocked in game 1, and justifiably so, considering that they had just watched their friend and captain black out on the ice after getting a knee to the face, in one of the scariest moments in modern hockey history.

But we didn't beat this team a few years ago that went on to the Stanley Cup Final, so I guess now our team needs to be punished for the rest of eternity by having the hardest opponents and path to the cup, no matter how well we do in the regular season.

 

[BallardEra]

Kraken looking solid. Came into Boston 14-4-2 on the road and about to win the game.

 

[BertCorbeau]

How do these expansion teams keep doing this? Unimpressive rosters on paper all of a sudden click and they're great?

 

[ACC1224]

How do these expansion teams keep doing this? Unimpressive rosters on paper all of a sudden click and they're great?

Chips on their shoulder for being given away and no egos in the room

 

[Al14]

How do these expansion teams keep doing this? Unimpressive rosters on paper all of a sudden click and they're great?

Time for an expansion team in Toronto. It might be the only way to get a TO team in the cup finals!!!

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

How do these expansion teams keep doing this? Unimpressive rosters on paper all of a sudden click and they're great?

-Definitely overachieving in terms of goals scored. Decent talent up front, but nothing elite.....yet (Beniers soon!?)
-Solid defensive team again and while goaltending still blows, it isn't dead last by a mile like last year
-Other GMs making dumb decisions (Tolvanen) has certainly helped

 

[LeafsNation75]

Mikhail Sergachev continuing with the Lighting reputation of cheap shots.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Mikhail Sergachev continuing with the Lighting reputation of cheap shots.

Likely continuing the tradition of not getting any suspensions for it too.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Likely continuing the tradition of not getting any suspensions for it too.

And they've already continued the tradition of not getting called for it in-game.

 

[Rob Brown]

That is it for me. That was the one year....The Leafs had an Oiler like path to glide to the conference finals and they still tripped and face planted over the finish line.

My friend and I went up to my cottage that week and watched games 2-6 together, and I still remember going into game 5 being up 3-1 and saying to him 'they have 3 chances to win one game, no chance they blow this'. Yep...

Mikhail Sergachev continuing with the Lighting reputation of cheap shots.

Love the Tampa fans on the main board acting like this was totally fine and normal.

 

[ULF_55]

I agree. Part of it is also birthed by hanging around the main boards too much and letting a couple bad actors over there get on your nerves. I've always thought Oilers and Leafs fans should be able to commiserate, but the forums make everything a zero sum game (an attitude prevalent on all social media).

I have friends who are fans of many different teams and including Oiler, Habs, Wings, R... well you know. One good work friend (Oilers) and I usually had a preseason bet. Of course he was an adult.

Most people face-to-face are just.

Keyboard warriors ...

 

[ACC1224]

Likely continuing the tradition of not getting any suspensions for it too.

Suspended for a glove on punch in a scrum? That stuff use to happen nightly.
Definately a penalty but has anyone ever gotten suspended in that situation?

 

[Dekes For Days]

Suspended for a glove on punch in a scrum? That stuff use to happen nightly.

Sucker punching an unsuspecting player in the face is not a nightly occurrence, nor should it be. It's dangerous.

 

[The Management]

I have friends who are fans of many different teams and including Oiler, Habs, Wings, R... well you know. One good work friend (Oilers) and I usually had a preseason bet. Of course he was an adult.

Most people face-to-face are just.

Keyboard warriors ...

Yep, it's pretty much an online thing only. My friends and I still rib eachother about our teams, but it's tongue in cheek and all in good fun. We did a hockey pool one year with no restriction on players per team, and I chose everyone on the Leafs roster just for a joke, putting Simmonds and Muzzin at the top of the list. Ten bucks well spent.

On social media, you'd swear everyone was a PR rep for their teams. No one can laugh at themselves, have to come to small places like these local boards to find that.

 

[notDatsyuk]

They do vary but beating teams that are good will be part of the journey regardless. Can't always lament on it or make excuses, at some point, you just have to do it. The Leafs are 2nd in the league, they should act like it when the playoffs arrive.

Montreal beat three mediocre teams on the way to the final, and then got embarrassed by Tampa.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Suspended for a glove on punch in a scrum? That stuff use to happen nightly.
Definately a penalty but has anyone ever gotten suspended in that situation?

That is also a suspiciously short clip - what happened before that?

 

[LeafsNation75]

So last season Matthews gets suspended 2 games and Keller gets a $5,000 fine for doing the same thing.

I also highly doubt that a $5,000 fine will stop the Lightning players from doing stuff like that.

 

[BertCorbeau]

So the Sharks ask for Karlsson with 18% rendition is three 1st round picks.

LOL.

 

[Antropovsky]

Likely continuing the tradition of not getting any suspensions for it too.

Throwing a cheap shot should be a 5 min major minimum. Sure its hockey but it's also a workplace being decked by somebody glove or not should not be condoned. Such a cowards move and sends the wrong messages for the sport. Same with fighting after a clean hit. There should be a more significant penalty to making someone fight after a clean hit.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

This league is such a f***ing joke.