Around the League - PLAYOFFS!?

[fahad203]

Oilers are Leafs West but the only difference is that they get 1-2 easy match ups before facing a good team and the Leafs have to face a good team in the first round.

I would disagree. Their star players are star players. 2 of them hold record for fastest to 100 points
That's the first to have 2 players in the same team reaching that milestone while being in the same team

Other players, Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemiuex. Not bad company

Their problem is their goaltending and depth. Our problem is our depth player showed up, yet stars were total no shows
That's all that matters

Goaltending, I say we are both the same

This is the 2nd time in 4 years they are headed to conference finals. We haven't done jack even when we played Columbus and Montreal

 

[MCR74]

Here's to hopefully two more meltdowns this round!

If the Oilers lose Game 4 it's over. Dallas can put them on the ropes here and they need to take advantage of that.

The issue is that the Oilers have the two best players in the league so if you make a mistake with one or both of them on the ice it's probably going in your net.

I was hoping to see Gentleman Jack in net at some point, especially given all the chest pumping a few summers ago. Oh well.

 

[ULF_55]

We can't afford having Matthews, Marner and Nylander. You can't have two wingers taking up more than 25% of your cap. We can't afford the depth we need when so much cap space is taken up by guys that aren't truly game-breakers when it matters.

This formula just doesn't fricken work. It just doesn't. We've proven that over and over. It doesn't work and they failed. Time to change or don't waste the fans' time.

I suppose marner could walk ... but I'm not sure his handler will want to risk losing $100mm with some catastrophic injury?

 

[ULF_55]

I would disagree. Their star players are star players. 2 of them hold record for fastest to 100 points
That's the first to have 2 players in the same team reaching that milestone while being in the same team

Other players, Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemiuex. Not bad company

Their problem is their goaltending and depth. Our problem is our depth player showed up, yet stars were total no shows
That's all that matters

Goaltending, I say we are both the same

This is the 2nd time in 4 years they are headed to conference finals. We haven't done jack even when we played Columbus and Montreal

I disagree with the Leafs depth players showing up.

Nylander scored 3 goals, in 4 games to lead the team.
Next best, Knies scored 2 in 7 games.

This year was a little different due to Nylander and Matthews missing games.

Previous years, it's always the same players (last 5 years)
Goals: Nylander, Matthews, Tavares, Rielly, marner
Assists: marner, Matthews, Rielly, Nylander, Tavares/Kerfoot

ELSC must save the team ...

 

[VanW27]

Serious question, is Hyman the human backboard a strategy other teams will start to employ regularly?

I mean it makes sense and clearly works. Hyman isn't even trying to make a play most of time, just be a target for the puck to hit and then it either goes straight in or you need to win a battle to shovel it into the open net.

 

[MilkofthePoppy]

Oilers are Leafs West but the only difference is that they get 1-2 easy match ups before facing a good team and the Leafs have to face a good team in the first round.

Cmon dude, we completely blew it against the Jackets and Montreal.

 

[ULF_55]

Serious question, is Hyman the human backboard a strategy other teams will start to employ regularly?

I mean it makes sense and clearly works. Hyman isn't even trying to make a play most of time, just be a target for the puck to hit and then it either goes straight in or you need to win a battle to shovel it into the open net.

You mean a modern day Andreychuk?

 

[3blizzard4]

When Dallas turned it on in the second period you wouldn't think the Oilers had McDavid, Draisaitl and Hyman playing on the other side. Those guys were invisible.

And thats a big YIKES.

 

[VanW27]

I disagree with the Leafs depth players showing up.

Nylander scored 3 goals, in 4 games to lead the team.
Next best, Knies scored 2 in 7 games.

This year was a little different due to Nylander and Matthews missing games.

Previous years, it's always the same players (last 5 years)
Goals: Nylander, Matthews, Tavares, Rielly, marner
Assists: marner, Matthews, Rielly, Nylander, Tavares/Kerfoot

ELSC must save the team ...

The core may lead them, but it's a completely different ask.

For the Leafs you're asking the depth to make up for Matty/Marner underachieving. For the Oilers your asking the depth to help out because they can't do it all.

Maybe the depth hasn't been good enough, but we really don't know because the top hasn't been anywhere near good enough. If Matty/Mitch gave us 1.59/1.56ppg in the playoffs like McDavid/Drai or 1.30/1.25 like Mac/Rantanen instead of 0.87/0.88 do you think we'd have only 1 playoff round win?

 

[TheGreenTBer]

I suppose marner could walk ... but I'm not sure his handler will want to risk losing $100mm with some catastrophic injury?

As a fan of the team I am not worried about Mitch's ability to handle his own personal stuff. All of them, Mitch included, are VERRRRRRRRY concerned about their personal situation and brand; to a fault, in fact.

I care about the team, the organization, the sweater. None of these individual players have yet earned the right to mean anything more than that.

 

[ULF_55]

The core may lead them, but it's a completely different ask.

For the Leafs you're asking the depth to make up for Matty/Marner underachieving. For the Oilers your asking the depth to help out because they can't do it all.

Maybe the depth hasn't been good enough, but we really don't know because the top hasn't been anywhere near good enough. If Matty/Mitch gave us 1.59/1.56ppg in the playoffs like McDavid/Drai or 1.30/1.25 like Mac/Rantanen instead of 0.87/0.88 do you think we'd have only 1 playoff round win?

Tampa for example:

 

[horner]

With what the Panthers have accomplished since they hired Maurice is amazing he turned this team around a new culture.
Do you think this would have happened with
Huberdeau or did they need Tkachuk.
The reason iam saying this points to our situation creating a new culture.
Can Berube gave the same effect ?

 

[Punch Drunk Loov]

Dallas has forward depth for days. Just rolling legit guys nonstop.

 

[MCR74]

As a fan of the team I am not worried about Mitch's ability to handle his own personal stuff. All of them, Mitch included, are VERRRRRRRRY concerned about their personal situation and brand; to a fault, in fact.

I care about the team, the organization, the sweater. None of these individual players have yet earned the right to mean anything more than that.

This.

If Marner walks, he walks. If he sticks around, Ferris will try to fleece the organization for $100M. I'd be fine with him hitting free agency. Obviously some idiot GM might break the bank, as long as it ain't ours.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

This.

If Marner walks, he walks. If he sticks around, Ferris will try to fleece the organization for $100M. I'd be fine with him hitting free agency. Obviously some idiot GM might break the bank, as long as it ain't ours.

Exactly.

I'm all about asset management. But we're at the point now where cap space and culture change are necessary, concrete assets of their own. This is not a normal situation because a normal team would have long since made changes.

 

[3blizzard4]

Dallas has forward depth for days. Just rolling legit guys nonstop.

None of their guys played more than 20 mins. Depth for sure.

Edmonton had three guys McDrai and Hyman logging in more than 20 min each and Kane and RNH very close to the 20 min mark.

 

[MCR74]

Exactly.

I'm all about asset management. But we're at the point now where cap space and culture change are necessary, concrete access of their own. This is not a normal situation because a normal team would have long since made changes.

Culture change is a big one IMO. Dubas' formula didn't work. Look at who's left in the playoffs. Dallas is a machine, built the right way, as is Florida. The Leafs have a ways to go before joining their level.

 

[Fogelhund]

As a fan of the team I am not worried about Mitch's ability to handle his own personal stuff. All of them, Mitch included, are VERRRRRRRRY concerned about their personal situation and brand; to a fault, in fact.

I care about the team, the organization, the sweater. None of these individual players have yet earned the right to mean anything more than that.

What brand do these guys have? Are they selling "Marner" gear or something?

They should know, that their endorsement brands, are never going to be more lucrative than here in Toronto. A little bit off the top of salary, is likely made up by the difference in endorsements, as opposed to playing in Utah, or Columbus.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

What brand do these guys have? Are they selling "Marner" gear or something?

Come on, you're a smart poster, you knew what I mean by personal brand; it's social media presence, endorsements, etc.

They should know, that their endorsement brands, are never going to be more lucrative than here in Toronto. A little bit off the top of salary, is likely made up by the difference in endorsements, as opposed to playing in Utah, or Columbus.

So if that's the case, why have all of them also demanded to be overpaid by the team at every turn, making it harder for the team to build depth around them?

 

[Fogelhund]

Come on, you're a smart poster, you knew what I mean by personal brand; it's social media presence, etc.

So if that's the case, why have all of them also demanded to be overpaid by the team at every turn, making it harder for the team to build depth around them?

I mean... a social media presence has very little monetary value for these guys..... As to why... greedy agents, looking out for themselves in the short term. No long term value planning, from proper advisors.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

I mean... a social media presence has very little monetary value for these guys.....

I don't agree.

As to why... greedy agents, looking out for themselves in the short term. No long term value planning, from proper advisors.

That doesn't make it OK. They are (I'm so excited to bring these meme back!) grown men, after all, and grown men have responsibilities whether they like it or not.

It was Dubas' and Shanahan's responsibility to rein this in from the beginning and they were too cowardly and arrogant to do it.

 

[Pi]

Columbus and Montreal say hi

You talk as if the Oilers did not lose to the Chicago Blackhawks that same year.

Columbus was at least a real playoff team. Chicago finished 25th.

Montreal, I agree but that same year Winnipeg swept the Oilers lol.

Again. They are Leafs West.

 

[barilko05]

Exactly.

I'm all about asset management. But we're at the point now where cap space and culture change are necessary, concrete access of their own. This is not a normal situation because a normal team would have long since made changes.

And how these changes have been made? All these guys have NTCs. And other than Matthews current extension, those contracts we're signed over half a decade ago. And 3-5 years ago, the legacy of losing wasn't as acute. I mean, who would trade away a PPG 23 or 24 year player in their prime because they had a couple of bad playoffs runs. That's koo-koo. I do agree, though, that the time to trade Nylander was last year. But that has actually worked out because he elevated his game this year. Unfortunately, injuries curtailed his playoffs. And lets face it...he was the ONE guy who has always brought it in the post season. And he was also the only one out of he and M&M that management held the line against at contract time. If they hadn't folded for the other two, maybe we might be in a better situation capwise today. Dubas and Co. bet on them (and an increasing cap, which also didn't happen, don't forget) and lost. Shit happens and hindsight is 20/20.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

And how these changes have been made? All these guys have NTCs. And other than Matthews current extension, those contracts we're signed over half a decade ago. And 3-5 years ago, the legacy of losing wasn't as acute. I mean, who would trade away a PPG 23 or 24 year player in their prime because they had a couple of bad playoffs runs. That's koo-koo. I do agree, though, that the time to trade Nylander was last year. But that has actually worked out because he elevated his game this year. Unfortunately, injuries curtailed his playoffs. And lets face it...he was the ONE guy who has always brought it in the post season. And he was also the only one out of he and M&M that management held the line against at contract time. If they hadn't folded for the other two, maybe we might be in a better situation capwise today. Dubas and Co. bet on them (and an increasing cap, which also didn't happen, don't forget) and lost. Shit happens and hindsight is 20/20.

This is fair to some degree, but the bottom line is that 1) each member of the core is still here many years later despite the repeated failures; and 2) the primary architect of that vision/plan is also still here. Neither is acceptable. An organization either has Cup ambitions above all other factors (including keeping the status quo), or they don't. Shit or get off the pot. It's been too long.

It's time for Marner and Tavares to go. It's time for change, one way or the other.

 

[MCR74]

This is fair to some degree, but the bottom line is that 1) each member of the core is still here many years later despite the repeated failures; and 2) the primary architect of that vision/plan is also still here. Neither is acceptable. An organization either has Cup ambitions above all other factors (including keeping the status quo), or they don't. Shit or get off the pot. It's been too long.

It's time for Marner and Tavares to go. It's time for change, one way or the other.

Welcome to today's iteration of the Muskoka Five, sadly enough.