GDT: Around the League - Stanley Cup Final Edition - #1

[Mess]

Well the Stanley Cup finals are here and its a pair of Atlantic teams.

Someone from our Leafs regular Div is going win it all this season.

Click to read more...

 

[rumman]

I hope the intensity continues in the finals, I have really enjoyed this year’s playoffs, they’ve given me faith that hard nosed hockey is going nowhere, sorry Team Dubas, shinny hockey is for Sunday mornings.......

 

[Mess]

I hope the intensity continues in the finals, I have really enjoyed this year’s playoffs, they’ve given me faith that hard nosed hockey is going nowhere, sorry Team Dubas, shinny hockey is for Sunday mornings.......

I hope Dubas biggest learning experience he takes away from this years playoffs is, that your player personnel needs to be both regular season & playoff equipped by its adaptability to play the game anyway its played, with the same personnel for both, and the most important one to focus on, is the later for Cup success.

 

[socko]

You still have hope in Dubas? The man who has killed the cap. The man who throws away draft picks. How are you supposed to fill out your depth when you have no cap space and no draft picks? Who do we know that will play for the same money as a 20 year old on an ELC? Yep, that's right, the 35 and older club. Oh boy. Step on down grandpa. You could be the next contestant on who wants to play for the Leafs next season.

 

[Brobust]

You still have hope in Dubas? The man who has killed the cap. The man who throws away draft picks. How are you supposed to fill out your depth when you have no cap space and no draft picks? Who do we know that will play for the same money as a 20 year old on an ELC? Yep, that's right, the 35 and older club. Oh boy. Step on down grandpa. You could be the next contestant on who wants to play for the Leafs next season.

I guess they're f***ed. Probably a good time to take a break from the team, don't you think?

 

[ToneDog]

Hedman 6'6" 241 Weber 6'4" 229 Holl 6'4" 210
Sergachev 6'3" 215 Edmunson 6'4"227 Muzzin 6'3" 217
Cernak 6'3" 230 Chariot 6'3" 234 Bogo 6'2" 200
Rutta 6'3" 204 Petry 6'3" 208 Rielly 6'1" 219
Savard 6'2" 233 Merrill 6'3" 195 Brodie 6'1" 185
McDonagh 6'1" 215 Kulak 6'1" 192 Dermott 6'0" 205
Foote 6'4" 227 Gustufsson 6'0" 197 Sandin 5'11" 183
Schenn 6'2" 225 Romanov 6'0" 208

Draw your own conclusions.

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

I hope Dubas biggest learning experience he takes away from this years playoffs is, that your player personnel needs to be both regular season & playoff equipped by its adaptability to play the game anyway its played, with the same personnel for both, and the most important one to focus on, is the later for Cup success.

Problem is even Montreal's skill players are playing like hardened warriors. Our skill guys aren't just going to flip a switch all of a sudden and become battlers. You either have that instinct or you don't. I personally don't and have always known that which is why I stopped playing men's league hockey - never understood why anyone cared about winning at that level but a lot of people play like their lives depend on it. Again, it's in the blood for some people.

 

[HEAVY DUTY]

CBJ did sweep the Lighning two years ago. Anything can happen. Put money on Montreal, so this way you'll win with both outcomes. Now all you have to figure out is how much you are willing to pay to see the lightning win?

 

[ToneDog]

You still have hope in Dubas? The man who has killed the cap. The man who throws away draft picks. How are you supposed to fill out your depth when you have no cap space and no draft picks? Who do we know that will play for the same money as a 20 year old on an ELC? Yep, that's right, the 35 and older club. Oh boy. Step on down grandpa. You could be the next contestant on who wants to play for the Leafs next season.

Have faith, the pipeline is bursting with talent. So far we have a total of 43 games played by 2 of Dubas' best smurfs from his last 3 drafts.

 

[Mess]

Problem is even Montreal's skill players are playing like hardened warriors. Our skill guys aren't just going to flip a switch all of a sudden and become battlers. You either have that instinct or you don't. Again, it's in the blood for some people.

That is 100% correct, as a leopard never changes its spots. IMO

You don't always need to play every game the same, but your still need a spine, because without a backbone when things get tough, you're simply always going to be a jellyfish.

Its deep down the greatest flaw of Leafs core 4, as its not only their cap hits, but their style of play that holds the Leafs back come playoff time, because the opposition knows when they turn up the heat physically Leafs most talented players are going to fold like a cheap tent.

 

[ToneDog]

That is 100% correct, as a leopard never changes its spots. IMO

You don't always need to play every game the same, but your still need a spine, because without a backbone when things get tough, you're simply always going to be a jellyfish.

Its deep down the greatest flaw of Leafs core 4, as its not only their cap hits, but their style of play that holds the Leafs back come playoff time, because the opposition knows when they turn up the heat physically Leafs most talented players are going to fold like a cheap tent.

As soft as our core 4 are, they can succeed but they need to be surrounded with players with spines. 11 has some, 71 was done but clearly 65,47,12,15,19,97,24 do not have enough to compensate for the lack from the core 4.

 

[Gallagbi]

That is 100% correct, as a leopard never changes its spots. IMO

You don't always need to play every game the same, but your still need a spine, because without a backbone when things get tough, you're simply always going to be a jellyfish.

Its deep down the greatest flaw of Leafs core 4, as its not only their cap hits, but their style of play that holds the Leafs back come playoff time, because the opposition knows when they turn up the heat physically Leafs most talented players are going to fold like a cheap tent.

Did you see folding or did you see lack of finish? Seemed like the chances were there for the most part. Any finish from our top line has us coasting into the next round after Game 6.

I'd also say Tavares doesn't fold, Matthews seems willing to battle between the whistles and we just saw the best playoffs Nylander has ever produced.

 

[ToneDog]

Did you see folding or did you see lack of finish? Seemed like the chances were there for the most part. Any finish from our top line has us coasting into the next round after Game 6.

I'd also say Tavares doesn't fold, Matthews seems willing to battle between the whistles and we just saw the best playoffs Nylander has ever produced.

The issue I see is that they did not show up for games 5-7 this year, game 5 last year and games 6-7 the prior year. Clearly something is wrong.

 

[rumman]

As soft as our core 4 are, they can succeed but they need to be surrounded with players with spines. 11 has some, 71 was done but clearly 65,47,12,15,19,97,24 do not have enough to compensate for the lack from the core 4.

Tampa’s star are surrounded by gritty players, but they can hold their own when things get rough, I don’t see anything that indicates AM/MM/WN can/would do the same. AM’s goofy smirk while letting the opposition face wash him is just embarrassing and shows he’s not interested in imposing his will against the opposition.

 

[Gallagbi]

The issue I see is that they did not show up for games 5-7 this year, game 5 last year and games 6-7 the prior year. Clearly something is wrong.

There are problems, blaming physical play is a lazy narrative that doesn't seem accurate at all.

They've been shutdown and clogged up. We've seem that often throughout the playoffs, not just with the Leafs. Last night was very slim on scoring chances both ways as an example. The narrative there won't be how the Tampa stars were shutdown and their 3rd line C won them the series with a shortie. It'll be how they gutted out a defensive win.

This team needs to finish opportunities and be happy winning some final games 1or2 nothing.

We lost our series because the top line didn't convert and our bottom tier made costly turnovers (Jumbo, Sandin and Dermott specifically). The physical play didn't stop Hyman from converting his breakaways and point blank chances. It didn't force Marner to miss his 3-4 empty nets.

 

[Trapper]

There are problems, blaming physical play is a lazy narrative that doesn't seem accurate at all.

They've been shutdown and clogged up. We've seem that often throughout the playoffs, not just with the Leafs. Last night was very slim on scoring chances both ways as an example. The narrative there won't be how the Tampa stars were shutdown and their 3rd line C won them the series with a shortie. It'll be how they gutted out a defensive win.

This team needs to finish opportunities and be happy winning some final games 1or2 nothing.

We lost our series because the top line didn't convert and our bottom tier made costly turnovers (Jumbo, Sandin and Dermott specifically). The physical play didn't stop Hyman from converting his breakaways and point blank chances. It didn't force Marner to miss his 3-4 empty nets.

The core obviously needs a change as it can only play one way.
Prevent that and they struggle. We’ve seen it every year running.
Why would you only want to be a 1 style team?
Crosby - Malkin aren’t just dangles and fancy.

 

[Gallagbi]

The core obviously needs a change as it can only play one way.
Prevent that and they struggle. We’ve seen it every year running.
Why would you only want to be a 1 style team?
Crosby - Malkin aren’t just dangles and fancy.

I'm fine with changes, in fact I'd encourage it, but only 1 of 4 is just fancy.

 

[Suntouchable13]

There are problems, blaming physical play is a lazy narrative that doesn't seem accurate at all.

They've been shutdown and clogged up. We've seem that often throughout the playoffs, not just with the Leafs. Last night was very slim on scoring chances both ways as an example. The narrative there won't be how the Tampa stars were shutdown and their 3rd line C won them the series with a shortie. It'll be how they gutted out a defensive win.

This team needs to finish opportunities and be happy winning some final games 1or2 nothing.

We lost our series because the top line didn't convert and our bottom tier made costly turnovers (Jumbo, Sandin and Dermott specifically). The physical play didn't stop Hyman from converting his breakaways and point blank chances. It didn't force Marner to miss his 3-4 empty nets.

Bottom line is that you have to be able to win a bunch of different ways in the playoffs. You can't be one dimensional. TB is a perfect example for us to follow. They are the most talented team there is, but they can adapt their play to a whole bunch of different styles. They don't show up thinking they can just outskill teams. Columbus sweep in 2019 was a fluke mostly. They are confident they can win every game but they know they have to work for it. The Leafs stars are prima donnas, plain and simple to me. They think they are so great but they can't hold a candle to teams like NYI, TB, Vegas, etc.

 

[rumman]

The core obviously needs a change as it can only play one way.
Prevent that and they struggle. We’ve seen it every year running.
Why would you only want to be a 1 style team?
Crosby - Malkin aren’t just dangles and fancy.

Leafs young guns have to learn and be willing to dump and chase, these “elite zone entries” are too predictable and too easy to defend when the opposition knows it’s the Leafs only way to enter the offensive zone.

 

[rumman]

I'm fine with changes, in fact I'd encourage it, but only 1 of 4 is just fancy.

I’d argue only JT has shown he’s a complete player, the other three are skilled, but far from complete. I doubt they ever get there as long as they’re lauded for only being offensively flashy.

 

[Trapper]

That is 100% correct, as a leopard never changes its spots. IMO

You don't always need to play every game the same, but your still need a spine, because without a backbone when things get tough, you're simply always going to be a jellyfish.

Its deep down the greatest flaw of Leafs core 4, as its not only their cap hits, but their style of play that holds the Leafs back come playoff time, because the opposition knows when they turn up the heat physically Leafs most talented players are going to fold like a cheap tent.

In the playoffs the majority of players, skill or not, play like Hyman and Brown.
If you want team success.
If you don’t, keep playing like it’s Ottawa on a Saturday night in November.

 

[Brobust]

The core obviously needs a change as it can only play one way.
Prevent that and they struggle. We’ve seen it every year running.
Why would you only want to be a 1 style team?
Crosby - Malkin aren’t just dangles and fancy.

Do you really believe the players haven't evolved?

There's a pretty massive difference, IMO, between the 2018 leafs and the 2021 leafs.

 

[Mess]

As soft as our core 4 are, they can succeed but they need to be surrounded with players with spines. 11 has some, 71 was done but clearly 65,47,12,15,19,97,24 do not have enough to compensate for the lack from the core 4.

When I saw Matthews use his great size and strength to throw a few hits in the playoffs it showed a glimmer of hope that Auston is growing and maturing into a more effective player when things get physical.

However Leafs core 4 is more equipped to be battling for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy as "player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability".

 

[rumman]

When I saw Matthews use his great size and strength to throw a few hits in the playoffs it showed a glimmer of hope that Auston is growing and maturing into a more effective player when things get physical.

However Leafs core 4 is more equipped to be battling for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy as "player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability".

AM has to do it more than half a dozen times a season for it to have a impact.

 

[Trapper]

Do you really believe the players haven't evolved?

There's a pretty massive difference, IMO, between the 2018 leafs and the 2021 leafs.

Shanahan: “There's a killer instinct that is missing that we need to address.

Jake Muzzin does not seem happy to have to do this again, and he has a right to his displeasure. He talks about the team needing urgency every night. He says his injury was a groin issue, and he doesn’t expect it to be a problem. He says it happened right on the ice in the video we’ve all seen, and he had not been previously injured.
“We can’t be easy to play against, or we won’t get it done in the playoffs.”

[Shilton] Mitch Marner: "We just didn't come ready to play at the start of the game. We really do have to start on time because it's getting said a lot, and it's not good enough."

No, I don’t.