Around the League - 2024-2025 Part II

[Peasy]

I love how people continue to put the Canes as contenders when they have never shown anything when they have to play an Atlantic team. All they do is beat up on shit Metro teams over the years and everyone thinks theyre a top team.

Canes will be done in 5 or 6.

 

[Clark4Ever]

Carolina has lost 13 conference final games in a row. That is astounding.

 

[TheTotalPackage]

Carolina has lost 13 conference final games in a row. That is astounding.

Yeah, that's insanity. They got swept in three straight Conference Finals. Like...how low do the odds have to be for that to happen.

 

[horner]

I love how people continue to put the Canes as contenders when they have never shown anything when they have to play an Atlantic team. All they do is beat up on shit Metro teams over the years and everyone thinks theyre a top team.

Canes will be done in 5 or 6.

4

 

[Metroid]

Apparently main boards all think head shots are playoffs hockey....tough , hard , etc etc ..
Until a leaf players do it and everyone is screaming for suspensions

 

[Kurtz]

No since Leafs is a better team than both TB and Canes. Unless we move the goal post and think that Leafs is below TB and Canes

If that's the case, my follow up would be - if we accept that we're better than TB and Canes, that would make us the 2nd best team in the East. And if we're the second best, is it really smart to blow the team up or should we try to make incremental improvements to bridge the gap with the #1.

 

[Gabriel426]

If that's the case, my follow up would be - if we accept that we're better than TB and Canes, that would make us the 2nd best team in the East. And if we're the second best, is it really smart to blow the team up or should we try to make incremental improvements to bridge the gap with the #1.

Are we close to being the Best in the League?
And most importantly, can our top guys be better and raise their games when it matters?
I think we both know the answers to those questions.
Being the second tallest of the hobbits is still short.

 

[ULF_55]

I hate edm but I hope edm wins. Florida keeps getting rewarded for cowardly play.

That's a reward for playing there, fits their fans.

Oilers might have Kane this year.

 

[Aashir]

While what you say is true, it also does disminish what the reality of the situation is.

Basically the Leafs are the Jets of the 80's trying to get by Cal and Edm.

Or rhe Superbowl Bills.

A very good team that didn't have what it takes.

By no means is this the worst era of Maple Leafs history.

The Core 4 is soft, but it's the GM and coaches fault.

Dubas screwed us, but he was handed 4 guys that seemingly can't win.

The NMC didn't kick in til after Tre arrived and he still signed Matthews and Nylander and didn't trade Marner.

People need a villian. We have blamed everyone but our own entitled selves for thinking somehow we are more deserving of a Championship team then the fans of who we deem lesser markets.

Ridiculous to call Matthews Pigface, or Bitch Marner because they didn't win.

They 100% deserve criticism for their lack of ecer putting it together, but to take it as an insult is crazy.

Calling someone entitled while they don't reach your expectations or don't play the way you fantisize you would have played if you made it out of house league is crazy.

It’s an entire organizational failure, from MLSE putting up and maybe even advocating for the “run it back” because of money, to management not finding better alternatives for the core or better support for the core to the coaching for usage and systems to the players for straight up not showing up in critical moments. You don’t have 9 years of this type of failure with just one thing being wrong

I’m not willing to absolve anyone of blame, they all deserve it.

While this isn’t the worst era of the leafs, it should be the most disappointing. We had all the talent to make it happen, and we didn’t even get close. It’s one thing to try and just not have enough in you, but this team has only played a full series with effort and passion and lost once (2022 vs tampa), every other time they just take games off.

The only name calling I feel is truly appropriate is losers, because that’s what they are on the ice. I say that knowing full well they make multi million dollars per year, but throughout the league and to their fans they always sell/no show when the belief in them is there. So losers is a fine term IMO

The bolded is true to an extent, but during this era we should’ve at least gotten closer than the 2nd round. I get winning a cup is hard, but to have the highest win total be 7 is not good enough. We’ve been one of the few teams to compete for the past decade, so our chances should be higher than most, not saying that guarantees a win, but we should have more success than we’ve had by a long shot.

I also don’t think any of this is on the fans, we support and show up for the team we love and they don’t do the same.

As for the other name calling, thats how it is in sports. It’s not exclusive to the leafs or even the league, it’s a sports thing.

 

[ULF_55]

If that's the case, my follow up would be - if we accept that we're better than TB and Canes, that would make us the 2nd best team in the East. And if we're the second best, is it really smart to blow the team up or should we try to make incremental improvements to bridge the gap with the #1.

Could it be 2 players to make a huge difference?

But not two players in the lower tier.

So realistically, pick any 2 players who are UFA and add them to the current roster under contract for next year.

In the fantasy world let's say they will sign with the Leafs.

Who are they?

Do they move the needle?
Do they move the needle in the playoffs?

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If it were 3 players, I'd go Ekblad, Bennett, Boeser. (Boeser over Ehlers)

But 2 players, Bennett and Boeser

If Leafs had anything cooking in the minors, to play in the Top 6, I'd go Ekblad over Boeser.

Of course, Tavares and marner are gone, unless Tavares takes a HUGE haircut to stay. But marner just doesn't fit.

 

[Jojalu]

It’s an entire organizational failure, from MLSE putting up and maybe even advocating for the “run it back” because of money, to management not finding better alternatives for the core or better support for the core to the coaching for usage and systems to the players for straight up not showing up in critical moments. You don’t have 9 years of this type of failure with just one thing being wrong

I’m not willing to absolve anyone of blame, they all deserve it.

While this isn’t the worst era of the leafs, it should be the most disappointing. We had all the talent to make it happen, and we didn’t even get close. It’s one thing to try and just not have enough in you, but this team has only played a full series with effort and passion and lost once (2022 vs tampa), every other time they just take games off.

The only name calling I feel is truly appropriate is losers, because that’s what they are on the ice. I say that knowing full well they make multi million dollars per year, but throughout the league and to their fans they always sell/no show when the belief in them is there. So losers is a fine term IMO

The bolded is true to an extent, but during this era we should’ve at least gotten closer than the 2nd round. I get winning a cup is hard, but to have the highest win total be 7 is not good enough. We’ve been one of the few teams to compete for the past decade, so our chances should be higher than most, not saying that guarantees a win, but we should have more success than we’ve had by a long shot.

I also don’t think any of this is on the fans, we support and show up for the team we love and they don’t do the same.

As for the other name calling, thats how it is in sports. It’s not exclusive to the leafs or even the league, it’s a sports thing.

I mean did they have the talent? I guess you could argue yes, but it means nothing if you can't use it when it counts.

I think all 4 of them could help a team win. Collectively it hasn't worked, and they play all too simular to keep trying it over and over.

Here's hoping they make the right decisions moving forward

 

[Mess]

 

[ULF_55]

It wouldn't work because all of the "hockey plays" that he currently gets away with would be called and/or he would be suspended for.

He doesn't have to get away with all of them ...

 

[Aashir]

I mean did they have the talent? I guess you could argue yes, but it means nothing if you can't use it when it counts.

I think all 4 of them could help a team win. Collectively it hasn't worked, and they play all too simular to keep trying it over and over.

Here's hoping they make the right decisions moving forward

You know what, it’s actually fair to question their talent. I’ve always subscribed to the idea they had the talent but just couldn’t get it out or choked, but maybe that just means they DONT have the talent.

I’ve been over the core 4 for a year now. Still cheered for them because I’m a fan of the team, but I didn’t believe they had what it took to go all the way.

I think Marner and nylander could win cups as 3-4th best players. JT in some 3rd line role could possibly win too as decent depth.

Matthews is where it gets tough, he’s not gonna be a 3-4th best player on a team, and he’s an awful goal scorer come playoff time which I don’t see changing tbh. He’s the one id bet on not getting much done in the playoffs

Whatever happens now, I just hope it doesn’t result in some soul crushing outcomes for the fans.

 

[Gabriel426]

Honestly, I really believe any teams that made the playoffs this season could had beaten the Leafs in that Game 7. And that’s the problem. It is not just ONE game, it is THE GAME. The top guys just collectively didn’t show up AGAIN. It wasn’t even close and it wasn’t just a one off, as it happened two other times in the same playoffs.

They need to change the culture and it starts at the top, Shanny, Tre, AM, MM, JT, Willie, Reilly.

You can’t run it back again and expect different results bc the Core 5 are either too scared to play in Game 7 or just don’t have it. Either way, it needs need players to set the culture.

 

[Gabriel426]

You know what, it’s actually fair to question their talent. I’ve always subscribed to the idea they had the talent but just couldn’t get it out or choked, but maybe that just means they DONT have the talent.

I’ve been over the core 4 for a year now. Still cheered for them because I’m a fan of the team, but I didn’t believe they had what it took to go all the way.

I think Marner and nylander could win cups as 3-4th best players. JT in some 3rd line role could possibly win too as decent depth.

Matthews is where it gets tough, he’s not gonna be a 3-4th best player on a team, and he’s an awful goal scorer come playoff time which I don’t see changing tbh. He’s the one id bet on not getting much done in the playoffs

Whatever happens now, I just hope it doesn’t result in some soul crushing outcomes for the fans.

In short, we have a whole bunch of Betas playing in the Alpha’s role.

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

Honestly, I really believe any teams that made the playoffs this season could had beaten the Leafs in that Game 7. And that’s the problem. It is not just ONE game, it is THE GAME. The top guys just collectively didn’t show up AGAIN. It wasn’t even close and it wasn’t just a one off, as it happened two other times in the same playoffs.

They need to change the culture and it starts at the top, Shanny, Tre, AM, MM, JT, Willie, Reilly.

You can’t run it back again and expect different results bc the Core 5 are either too scared to play in Game 7 or just don’t have it. Either way, it needs need players to set the culture.

You could probably apply that to any season

In the JT era:
Game 7 @ BOS: 1 goal
Game 5 vs CBJ: Zero
Game 7 vs MTL: 1 goal (garbage time)
Game 7 vs TB: 1 goal
Game 7 @ BOS: 1 goal
Game 7 vs FLA: 1 goal

Only once did they score first. Zero first period goals.

They all just shrink when it matters most.

 

[blue stick]

Gretzky shows up in Dallas Stars locker room

 

[Stephen]

I love how people continue to put the Canes as contenders when they have never shown anything when they have to play an Atlantic team. All they do is beat up on shit Metro teams over the years and everyone thinks theyre a top team.

Canes will be done in 5 or 6.

You know what’s annoying. The fact that they packaged off 2 Southeast Division teams in Florida and Tampa as part of the “Atlantic” Division because they want to make a NYC centric division.

Carolina, Florida, Tampa should all be grouped together in the no TV deal division.

 

[Stephen]

Something about Wayne Gretzky going to visit the Dallas Stars room before a series with Edmonton that really rubs me the wrong way. Imagine Doug Gilmour going to visit the Panthers room like, hey guys loving what you do!

 

[willmma]

League is turning into 'who can injure more' rather than 'who can score more'

Stupid league

 

[Peasy]

Something about Wayne Gretzky going to visit the Dallas Stars room before a series with Edmonton that really rubs me the wrong way. Imagine Doug Gilmour going to visit the Panthers room like, hey guys loving what you do!

Its insane how much that guy has tanked his reputation in Canada the past few months.

The states can have him.

 

[ULF_55]

Something about Wayne Gretzky going to visit the Dallas Stars room before a series with Edmonton that really rubs me the wrong way. Imagine Doug Gilmour going to visit the Panthers room like, hey guys loving what you do!

That's who he is today.

Ugly.

 

[Thrasymachus]

thought yall would find this amusing / intriguing

 

[Stephen]

thought yall would find this amusing / intriguing

Maybe he’ll want to slide the first overall over for some combination of the Core 4. Hah.