As a fan what is your "Realistic" expectation for next season? What you want?

[Deuce Awesome]

Less points in regular season, hopefully so we dont face off against the cup winner in the first round again, then a better playoffs. One of the goalies will play "well" enough to win the odd game for them. Mathews will put on yet another clinic, Tavares will drop off a bit.

Anything but a cup will be considered a failure.

Must be my age, and remembering those dreadful few years after the salary cap, I am just happy to cheer for a team who actually makes the playoffs every year.

 

[Nineteen67]

Luckily for the Leafs the flat cap has forced some eastern conference teams into moving players they’d probably rather keep, and Boston got a three for one deal on surgeries.

 

[Nineteen67]

Less points in regular season, hopefully so we dont face off against the cup winner in the first round again, then a better playoffs. One of the goalies will play "well" enough to win the odd game for them. Mathews will put on yet another clinic, Tavares will drop off a bit.


Must be my age, and remembering those dreadful few years after the salary cap, I am just happy to cheer for a team who actually makes the playoffs every year.

Winning the Cup is an unrealistic expectation unless team leadership steps up in training camp and demands change. It‘s getting a little easier to win it, but it still requires that every player commits and sacrifices for four rounds.

 

[notDatsyuk]

And how many playoffs rounds did our top guys and their offence help our team win over the past 6 years?

We were talking about last year, not six years when there were a lot of different players.

Last year "our top guys and their offence" weren't why we lost.

 

[Gabriel426]

Why not just start with this argument if it is your go-to when someone proves you wrong?

Am I wrong?

"We should blown it up for Bedard."

Just come out and say it.

Wait a sec, when did pointing out the Leafs didn’t advance to the 2nd round for six years straight means blow it up.
Should we all just live in LaLa Land and pretend the teams are Cup Champs if only they had better goaltending or didn’t get outgoalied or if refs or this or that.

 

[Gabriel426]

We were talking about last year, not six years when there were a lot of different players.

Last year "our top guys and their offence" weren't why we lost.

We lost. Our top guys played better but they needed to do more bc we didn’t advance.
Fair or not but when you look at last playoffs roster, of the forwards group, only 5 of them made over 2mil. To me, unless the players are on ELC or vets taking a huge discount like Spezza or Phil, players making under 2mil are usually just solid players, there will be exception like Bunting, Goodrow.. but most of them are just okay players, to rely on a whole bunch of under 2mil players to score in the playoffs is not a good strategy. There is a reason why AM, MM and JT are getting paid three of the top seven salaries in the league. They need to deliver and carry the team to playoff success. Kopitar was the only 10mil player whose team made the playoffs but didn’t advance, the rest of the 10mil plus players who made the playoffs all helped their team advance to the 2nd round.
Think it is about time at least one of our 10mil players to carry the team and steal a series.

 

[ALine]

Or just roll three units and depending on time a matthews or marner can start the next shift after the pk just fine

I just don’t understand the push for Matthew’s to kill penalties when we have Marner, Kerfoot and kampf who were good and and Jarnkrok, Engvall or some younger guy to step up in place of Mikheyev and Kase. Keep Matthew’s fresh for even strength or pp instead
Leafs had the 8th best pk % last year and exhausting Matthews there likely doesn’t move the needle much. Juice ain’t worth the squeeze
Although I wouldn’t be appeased to him or Johnny being out there after a whistle with less than 10 seconds or so left or if they manage and offensive zone draw.

 

[andora]

I just don’t understand the push for Matthew’s to kill penalties when we have Marner, Kerfoot and kampf who were good and and Jarnkrok, Engvall or some younger guy to step up in place of Mikheyev and Kase. Keep Matthew’s fresh for even strength or pp instead
Leafs had the 8th best pk % last year and exhausting Matthews there likely doesn’t move the needle much. Juice ain’t worth the squeeze
Although I wouldn’t be appeased to him or Johnny being out there after a whistle with less than 10 seconds or so left or if they manage and offensive zone draw.

I don't really care too much one way or another if he does.

Those games that get silly with all the power plays and limited five on five time it would be great if he could penalty kill this to keep them playing in those situations

 

[notDatsyuk]

We lost. Our top guys played better but they needed to do more bc we didn’t advance.
Fair or not but when you look at last playoffs roster, of the forwards group, only 5 of them made over 2mil. To me, unless the players are on ELC or vets taking a huge discount like Spezza or Phil, players making under 2mil are usually just solid players, there will be exception like Bunting, Goodrow.. but most of them are just okay players, to rely on a whole bunch of under 2mil players to score in the playoffs is not a good strategy. There is a reason why AM, MM and JT are getting paid three of the top seven salaries in the league. They need to deliver and carry the team to playoff success. Kopitar was the only 10mil player whose team made the playoffs but didn’t advance, the rest of the 10mil plus players who made the playoffs all helped their team advance to the 2nd round.
Think it is about time at least one of our 10mil players to carry the team and steal a series.

Our top players outperformed their top players.

The rest of their players outperformed the rest of our players.

Therefore our top players were the problem?

 

[mapleleaf979]

First round exit, next year. They have proven to lack any fight in important games for over 5 yrs now with this core.

 

[SmoggyTwinkles]

I just want to watch some hockey. If there's a Maple Leaf on the chest all the better.

 

[Dekes For Days]

We lost. Our top guys played better but they needed to do more bc we didn’t advance.

You seem to think that if the team loses, then it's automatically the top players fault, with no consideration for how they played or contributed or why we actually lost.
That's not how this works.

 

[Racer88]

You seem to think that if the team loses, then it's automatically the top players fault, with no consideration for how they played or contributed or why we actually lost.
That's not how this works.

If the top paid guys have no bearing on if they win or lose why are they paid so much.
shoukdnt there be some correlation between their level of pay and success

 

[Uncus13]

Luckily for the Leafs the flat cap has forced some eastern conference teams into moving players they’d probably rather keep, and Boston got a three for one deal on surgeries.

For the leafs ???? why is it lucky for the Leafs ... they would have signed more players if the cap went up too.

 

[Uncus13]

I just don’t understand the push for Matthew’s to kill penalties when we have Marner, Kerfoot and kampf who were good and and Jarnkrok, Engvall or some younger guy to step up in place of Mikheyev and Kase. Keep Matthew’s fresh for even strength or pp instead
Leafs had the 8th best pk % last year and exhausting Matthews there likely doesn’t move the needle much. Juice ain’t worth the squeeze
Although I wouldn’t be appeased to him or Johnny being out there after a whistle with less than 10 seconds or so left or if they manage and offensive zone draw.

If you would rather have the giraffe or Kerfoot or any other player out on the ice instead of Matthews I seriously question your judgment, sorry.

If the top paid guys have no bearing on if they win or lose why are they paid so much.
shoukdnt there be some correlation between their level of pay and success

Success is determined by filled seats and television ratings ... economics is not your strong point?

 

[Nineteen67]

For the leafs ???? why is it lucky for the Leafs ... they would have signed more players if the cap went up too.

Yes, the Leafs benefit from guys like McDonagh leaving the conference this season, Florida just given up by hiring Maurice, Boston having key guys out for 1/2 the season, and they should be favourites to win the Atlantic.

As for the flat cap, they more than likely would have signed the same players for more money.

 

[Dekes For Days]

If the top paid guys have no bearing on if they win or lose why are they paid so much.

Of course the top paid guys impact whether they win or lose. That doesn't mean you can arbitrarily blame them, regardless of what they do, if the team loses though.

 

[egd27]

I just want to watch some hockey. If there's a Maple Leaf on the chest all the better.

IIHF - CAN - USA 30.08.2022 - 2022 IIHF ICE HOCKEY WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP - Game Centre Play by play

IIHF - CAN - USA 30.08.2022 - 2022 IIHF ICE HOCKEY WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP - Game Centre Play by play

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This checks both boxes

 

[PromisedLand]

 

[notdoneyet]

Stanley cup finals or BIG changes should be made.

Our net is just as questionable as last year.

D is primarily the same as last year but no one strong enough to stop cycle and clear the front of the net.

Top 3 were great and carried team on their back.

2nd line was hit and miss. Looked great for 10 games then disappeared for ten.

Bottom six contributed nothing in the playoffs and IMO is worse this year.

Needed to get to SCF.
1dman with snarl
1top six banger with soft hands
3rd line that can pop in 19/20 goals each
4th line crash and bang wear down opponents defense.
Goalie who can win us a game in the playoffs that we deserved to lose like a price,vasilevski etc

Teams in our division have gotten stronger it won’t be a cake walk this year.

 

[Racer88]

If you would rather have the giraffe or Kerfoot or any other player out on the ice instead of Matthews I seriously question your judgment, sorry.


Success is determined by filled seats and television ratings ... economics is not your strong point?

Nonsense. That’s just one metric. Winning is another.
Being a sports fan is not your strong point?

Of course the top paid guys impact whether they win or lose. That doesn't mean you can arbitrarily blame them, regardless of what they do, if the team loses though.

That may be true but they also must share some of the blame……1 more goal out of any of the 11 million dollar plays and we would be having a different conversation

 

[Dekes For Days]

That may be true but they also must share some of the blame……1 more goal out of any of the 11 million dollar plays and we would be having a different conversation

1 more goal out of any of the players, or 1 more save from our goalie, or 1 more pair of glasses for the ref, etc. and we'd be having a different conversation.

Heck, even just rearrange the goals we already got in a different configuration and we'd be having a different conversation.

 

[ALine]

If you would rather have the giraffe or Kerfoot or any other player out on the ice instead of Matthews I seriously question your judgment, sorry.

If you would rather have the giraffe or Kerfoot or any other player out on the ice instead of Matthews I seriously question your judgment, sorry.

Im not sure playing Matthews for 60 minutes straight is a solid path to success….

 

[Holymakinaw]

Yup its a summer thread!

Once again Leafs have gotten knocked out in the 1st round.

Just charting out some ideas about pros and cons:

Pros

• Team hasn't missed playoffs for 6 years in a row
• Team continuously in a race for first in the division
• Had the best regular season (10 pt increment from the one under Lou/Babs)
• Matthews won Hart, Lindsay and Rocket
• Technically still have a goalie signed (Mrazek); so not going in blind
• Wings, Habs and Sabres potentially still not in the race
• Management: Shanahan, Dubas, Keefe (according to some posters)

Cons

• No #1G, No true #1D
• Cap allocation still baffling (three guys with 11 AAV contracts)
• Matthews, Marner, Nylander have NTCs/NMCs kick in at the end of next season
  • Matthews and Nylander will be pending UFAs in 2023-2024 season
  • Marner and Tavares pending UFAs in 2024-2025 season
• No quality depth pieces available
• Sens probably the only non-playoff team that might see significant improvement
  • Dark horse: Habs -> b/c MSL is awesome and Price maybe back full time and can potentially turn their season
• Tampa is bound to lose Palat next season but can potentially ice the same roster as they have now
  • About same for Panthers
• Management: Shanahan, Dubas, Keefe (according to some posters)
  • Justin Holl (yes he is a freakin' CON)

Where do you see the Leafs? Whats your realistic expectation? What do you want them to do?

"Cons......No #1G, No true #1D"

You summed it all up right there. Another 1st round exit.

 

[PROUD PAPA]

I expect i'll miss Spezza.
Sure he was a shadow of his former self but his heart was clearly there and his shot was still good. He was here for 1 reason and 1 reason only and that was to win a cup in a Leafs sweater. That carries a lot of weight with me.