Around the League - 2024-2025 Part II

[saffronleaf]

I put the chances of the Canes winning 4 straight against the Panthers at a The-Leafs-Have-A-Better-Chance-To-Win-The-Cup-Next-Year-Than-That out of 10.

 

[saffronleaf]

Sometimes I hate being in the Atlantic.

Then I realize that evidence strongly suggests we'd fail in the other division too.

I'd be more sympathetic to the Atlantic Division arguments if we didn't blow it in the Canadian Division... after being up 3-1... ugh.

 

[saffronleaf]

They just beat the pressure into the Hurricanes players. If the Hurricans were located in any city other than [checks Google...] Raleigh, they would be the best team ever.

 

[Aashir]

Carolina is such an embarassment to the word contender

They put us to shame at that. The leafs only convinced their own fans, Carolina has repeatedly convinced fans league wise they are legit

They are bigger paper tigers than us. Both teams need a full retool.

 

[blue stick]

I'd be more sympathetic to the Atlantic Division arguments if we didn't blow it in the Canadian Division... after being up 3-1... ugh.

get over it, it took me all of 30 minutes

 

[mikeyz]

 

[TorMapleJays]

There was only 1 team that could beat the Leafs and that’s the Panthers.

If the Leafs had beat the Kittens. They win the cup. The Atlantic is the East. Represented the East the last.. 8 years?

End of the day, the Leafs are good enough. They just don’t want to pay the price. They need to retool to get past Florida.

 

[ToneDog]

Carolina is such an embarassment to the word contender

They put us to shame at that. The leafs only convinced their own fans, Carolina has repeatedly convinced fans league wise they are legit

They are bigger paper tigers than us. Both teams need a full retool.

Now you know why they traded for Rantanen, even though Stankoven was their best player last night. They are missing that lead dog like Barkov, Mac, McD and Drai, need more size and a better goalie. Feel sorry for Blake, he took a beating last night. The Canes have heart but their smaller guys are not going to beat the bullies.

 

[ToneDog]

They just beat the pressure into the Hurricanes players. If the Hurricans were located in any city other than [checks Google...] Raleigh, they would be the best team ever.

Even when leading 6-1 with a few minutes to go, they still finished their checks and punished the Canes at every opportunity. The Panthers are a serious team. Those that laughed at the Maurice hiring must be enjoying their steady diet of crow because whatever he is selling, every one of his players has bought in.

 

[PromisedLand]

Even when leading 6-1 with a few minutes to go, they still finished their checks and punished the Canes at every opportunity. The Panthers are a serious team. Those that laughed at the Maurice hiring must be enjoying their steady diet of crow because whatever he is selling, every one of his players has bought in.

everyone on the panthers finishes their checks including barkov, reinhart ffs its not just the "some" they ALL do it. And they aren't afraid of going into dirty areas to win the puck battles either.

I can't find it but during the 2nd round there was a stat that shows "hits taken" there were 5 Leafs d-men in the top 10 list with Tanev at 1 (100 hits taken) and Sandin 2nd (56 hits taken).

They pummeled Tanev and every other Leafs D-man.

Leafs need a re-tool and it starts with not re-signing Marner to begin with. His stupidity not just that backhand pass from d-zone for a turnover that ended up in our net; but also other crap taking a lot of cap where leafs can't afford quality depth is an issue

if they re-sign marner Leafs are gonna regret it

 

[ToneDog]

everyone on the panthers finishes their checks including barkov, reinhard ffs its not just the "some" they ALL do it. And they aren't afraid of going into dirty areas to win the puck battles either.

I can't find it but during the 2nd round there was a stat that shows "hits taken" there were 5 Leafs d-men in the top 10 list with Tanev at 1 (100 hits taken) and Sandin 2nd (56 hits taken).

They pummeled Tanev and every other Leafs D-man.

Leafs need a re-tool and it starts with not re-signing Marner to begin with. His stupidity not just that backhand pass from d-zone for a turnover that ended up in our net; but also other crap taking a lot of cap where leafs can't afford quality depth is an issue

if they re-sign marner Leafs are gonna regret it

Barkov is their leader and is followed by a pack of dogs. Matthews is the Leafs leader and is followed by 2 p***yes who play as big as a chihuahua.

The Panthers 3rd line with Marchand is probably the best in the NHL and has produced more than any Leafs line in these playoffs. Bob opened the door for the Leafs by playing poorly in games 1 and 2. After he woke up 10 minutes into game 3, it was 4-1 Panthers.

 

[PromisedLand]

Barkov is their leader and is followed by a pack of dogs. Matthews is the Leafs leader and is followed by 2 p***yes who play as big as a chihuahua.

The Panthers 3rd line with Marchand is probably the best in the NHL and has produced more than any Leafs line in these playoffs. Bob opened the door for the Leafs by playing poorly in games 1 and 2. After he woke up 10 minutes into game 3, it was 4-1 Panthers.

IMO Matthews does play big when his line-mates are playing big. I remember when Matthews centered Brown and Hyman and then Domi and Bertuzzi he played big with forecheck and body.

Even this year Matthews did play big on occasion I recall him absolutely trucking reinhart. Matthews IMO would thrive without marner in playoff situations.

The problem has always been that they've forced matthews-marner together and it is marner that ruins that line. Any time there is an offensive zone or defensive zone pressure it is marner that effs up

 

[Da Mash]

That’s the NHL playoffs.
If we met Florida in conference finals and lost in 7 games like other leafs teams have in the past 50 yrs …there would be a totally different perception on the players we have.

But we lost to them in the 2nd rd and its doom and gloom.

We witnessed this with Boston and Tampa also in the last several yrs.

So many get caught up in winning rounds and thinking it’s success winning some.

Winning the cup is the only thing that should matter. The rest is just reasons for mediots and fans to whine and complain and trash talk like it’s some kind of milestones.

But in fact no one cares and you can even try to google who has more 1st and 2nd rd victories over the past 20 yrs and find nothing because it’s meaningless. IMHO

I wonder if the Canes should blow it all up as they are done 3-0 and not one game has been close.

Will we hear the mediots comment and tweet over and over about it?
Don’t hold your breath

It doesn’t sell

 

[NVious]

Sure it would be nice to win a cup with the team you grew up cheering for, but you know what's just as nice if not nicer? Having your name engraved on the Stanley Cup. Maybe if the Leafs looked like they were very close to winning one it might be worth signing with them, but they probably aren't right now so why move to a team to experience the same heartbreak that you've inflicted upon them for so many playoffs?

Tavares chased that dream with the Leafs for 7 years and hasn't come close. Why would Marchand want to be like Tavares?

Depends how you look at it, Marchand has done everything in his career in terms of winning. Does he value the opportunity to do something beyond historic or does he want to play on stacked teams?

The Leafs literally just took the Cats to game 7 like the Oilers last year, seeing how the Canes are performing one can easily get there at them being close.

Again, up to how he sees it. It could never be a thought for him at all or could be an extremely serious consideration.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

They just beat the pressure into the Hurricanes players. If the Hurricans were located in any city other than [checks Google...] Raleigh, they would be the best team ever.

In their defense Eastern NC BBQ is the best in America. So they got that going for them.

And their team board is full of shitposters (in a good way) and I dig it.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

Barkov is their leader and is followed by a pack of dogs. Matthews is the Leafs leader and is followed by 2 p***yes who play as big as a chihuahua.

The Panthers 3rd line with Marchand is probably the best in the NHL and has produced more than any Leafs line in these playoffs. Bob opened the door for the Leafs by playing poorly in games 1 and 2. After he woke up 10 minutes into game 3, it was 4-1 Panthers.

Chihuahuas may be small but HOLY SHIT do they have the Anger of Satan injected into their veins. They are CRAZY. We could use some of that.

 

[Nineteen67]

Holy crap a prime time Sunday afternoon game. All it took was a long weekend to get it done.

 

[Stephen]

I notice in the Eastern and Western Conference finals these ex-Leafs and assets are still playing:

Hyman
Brown
Kapanen
Pickard
Marchment
Ceci
Andersen
Verhaeghe
Rodrigues

Plus the high profile:

Seguin (pick)
Jarvis (pick)

And we basically got sweet eff all for any and all of them.

 

[weems]

I notice in the Eastern and Western Conference finals these ex-Leafs and assets are still playing:

Hyman
Brown
Kapanen
Pickard
Marchment
Ceci
Andersen
Verhaeghe
Rodrigues

Plus the high profile:

Seguin (pick)
Jarvis (pick)

And we basically got sweet eff all for any and all of them.

John Klingberg also

 

[Stephen]

John Klingberg also

Just move the whole franchise to Houston. Seen enough!

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

If we met Florida in conference finals and lost in 7 games like other leafs teams have in the past 50 yrs …there would be a totally different perception on the players we have.

But we lost to them in the 2nd rd and its doom and gloom.

It's easy to play the 'if' game. But the fact is, they didn't, and the same issues that have plagued them for 7 straight years popped up. Top guys don't perform, can't score in the latter part of the series, and choke in game 7s.

Winning the cup is the only thing that should matter.

This is exactly why the Leafs need to make changes. They're not winning the cup with this group of players.

 

[Malachi Crunch]

I notice in the Eastern and Western Conference finals these ex-Leafs and assets are still playing:

Hyman
Brown
Kapanen
Pickard
Marchment
Ceci
Andersen
Verhaeghe
Rodrigues

Plus the high profile:

Seguin (pick)
Jarvis (pick)

And we basically got sweet eff all for any and all of them.

...and Lyubushkin LOL

​

 

[Stephen]

...and Lyubushkin LOL

​

It's like a whole supporting cast.

 

[Stephen]

IMO Matthews does play big when his line-mates are playing big. I remember when Matthews centered Brown and Hyman and then Domi and Bertuzzi he played big with forecheck and body.

Even this year Matthews did play big on occasion I recall him absolutely trucking reinhart. Matthews IMO would thrive without marner in playoff situations.

The problem has always been that they've forced matthews-marner together and it is marner that ruins that line. Any time there is an offensive zone or defensive zone pressure it is marner that effs up

I don't think Matthews is a self starting leader who can dictate any kind of playstyle, but more of a chameleonic follower who can simulate what's happening around him.

The big moment of doubt is whether he likes playing the power game and is willing to play the power game.

Because why else does he seem to insist on being with Marner to play that irrelevant game of his doing their Robin and Robin shit. That's where faith in Matthews has fundamentally been damaged.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

I don't think Matthews is a self starting leader who can dictate any kind of playstyle, but more of a chameleonic follower who can simulate what's happening around him.

The big moment of doubt is whether he likes playing the power game and is willing to play the power game.

Because why else does he seem to insist on being with Marner to play that irrelevant game of his doing their Robin and Robin shit. That's where faith in Matthews has fundamentally been damaged.

That about sums it up.