Brad Treliving: 'DNA has to change'

[Brookbank]

Treliving does what he thinks the fans think he should do. That's the logic behind the Reeves signing.

The fans think they need grit. So Sam Bennett will be his guy. And he'll make the deal as buyout proof as possible because that's the way he likes it

 

[Jyrki]

I can see Treliving trying to do roster surgery that will just lead to a worse version of the Panthers, while the league meta moves onto something else.

That was quite literally what happened to the Canucks after 2011, where management insisted the team needed to be bigger and heavier in response to losing to the Bruins, yet they just ended up too slow and quickly fell from the top as they aged. The Kings were better at playing a heavy game, the Hawks kept winning with their skill (beating the Bruins two years later, to wit) and even the Sharks ended up well ahead.

The truth is that there's never one "right" way to play. The roster needs to be evaluated holistically and coaching needs to be on the same page as management. The Panthers know how to find guys that fit the style they want to play, because they know not just to scout the traits they're looking for but they're also aligned with their coaching staff as to whether these players would thrive in their system.

Maybe the Leafs just needed to be a bit faster, and they wouldn't have been pinned down by the Panthers forecheck as often. Or they needed better shooters, so they capitalized on the breaks they created more often. Bigger, scrappier guys who could've handled the aggression better, why not? Or did they just need some guys with that je-ne-sais-quoi to see through the pressure?

 

[HockeyWooot]

I can see Treliving trying to do roster surgery that will just lead to a worse version of the Panthers, while the league meta moves onto something else.

That was quite literally what happened to the Canucks after 2011, where management insisted the team needed to be bigger and heavier in response to losing to the Bruins, yet they just ended up too slow and quickly fell from the top as they aged. The Kings were better at playing a heavy game, the Hawks kept winning with their skill (beating the Bruins two years later, to wit) and even the Sharks ended up well ahead.

The truth is that there's never one "right" way to play. The roster needs to be evaluated holistically and coaching needs to be on the same page as management. The Panthers know how to find guys that fit the style they want to play, because they know not just to scout the traits they're looking for but they're also aligned with their coaching staff as to whether these players would thrive in their system.

Maybe the Leafs just needed to be a bit faster, and they wouldn't have been pinned down by the Panthers forecheck as often. Or they needed better shooters, so they capitalized on the breaks they created more often. Bigger, scrappier guys who could've handled the aggression better, why not? Or did they just need some guys with that je-ne-sais-quoi to see through the pressure?

Mostly agree it’s this. At the end of the day you play to your strengths, there is no need to make wholesale changes and replicate the style of the opponent you couldn’t get past. Should be smaller targeted changes specifically.

Oilers are a good example- back to back SCF visits now. Oilers are indeed a high powered offensive juggernaut have been for a while but that’s not what they’re all about either they also do the other things you need for post season success.

They are working as a team, keeping each other accountable and sticking through adversity, executing their structure playing with a high degree of compete.

Leafs are a strong offensive team with good defensive structure. There are some question marks on the latter points though.

 

[nbwingsfan]

In the 2021-2022 NHL season the Florida Panthers traded their leading scorer, Johnathan Huberdeau. He scored 115 pts in 80 games. His 85 assists lead the NHL that season.

But you’re afraid of losing Mitch Marner lol.

Okay but they replaced him with another 100pt player so that’s a bit different don’t you think?

 

[TS Quint]

The D Tre overhauled needs an overhaul…..ok

The problem the Leafs have is they have let their highest paid players be completely unaccountable. They are entitled brats and the living embodiment of the inmates running the asylum. Shannahan let them do and say whatever they want. They were held above their coach, GM and team mates. As soon as Marner went to the media to say we are going to have to have a talk with Keefe because Keefe said his stars were not playing like stars and that’s not good enough that was all I needed. And then that cuck actually had a press conference to apologize to them. He should have been a man and said “no, fire me”.

This year you got Matthews deflecting his responsibility as the captain and highest paid player to “passengers”. Aka the players who make 30% of what he does or less. Zero class, zero accountability.

 

[GeeoffBrown]

What Treliving loves to do is give up money and assets for replacement level players, so that's probably what he means

But also, Shanahan probably wanted to keep Mitch Marner and the Leafs are probably moving on from Mitch, which is a pretty big change

 

[Number8]

I guess Dubas was right after all....2 years ago!!

I'm not sure that I should get much credit for telling you your tire is flat, if I'm the one who jabbed a spike into the thing in the first place.

 

[A1LeafNation]

DNA of the top 6 needs a refresh.

They couldn't push the pace and lack of scoring 5on5 and on PP kills them every year.

Knies Matthews Nylander
Cowan Toews Marchessault
McMann Tavares Domi

 

[Draiskull]

By DNA he meant Domi, Nylander and Austin!
I am sticking to it!!

 

[ricky0034]

"okay we're bringing everyone back again but try harder guys we really mean it this time"

 

[Ulysses31]

marner gonna sign in detroit and light up leafs, revenge for them low-balling him on contract offers

 

[McShogun99]

Treveling destroyed the Flames, now he'll destroy the Leafs. They made it to game 7 with their starter injured against the best playoff team in the league. All he needs to do is make some teaks to the roster.

 

[SEALBound]

Not like they are going to acknowledge the real problem. Make your tweaks while dancing around the issue. That said, they get the chance to piviot from that issue this off-season so we'll see what happens.

 

[King'sPawn]

So do the players need to get vaccinated?

:Sarcasm:

Just in case people actually thought this was antivax rhetoric.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Treveling destroyed the Flames, now he'll destroy the Leafs. They made it to game 7 with their starter injured against the best playoff team in the league. All he needs to do is make some teaks to the roster.

Yea, sure. They have been tweaking the roster for years, before Tre. It's the core that's the issue. There has to be a shakeup there. Stolarz is not a starter. He is an injury prone goalie, and chances are Woll plays more games than him next season. People are acting like Woll is just a backup. I never expect Stolarz to play all games in the playoffs. Woll will probably start plenty of games next years playoffs too. So that's not an excuse.

 

[NVious]

Treveling destroyed the Flames, now he'll destroy the Leafs. They made it to game 7 with their starter injured against the best playoff team in the league. All he needs to do is make some teaks to the roster.

The problem with that analysis is threefold:

1.The Leafs easily could've put this series away in games 3 and 4, they didn't do that which is more of the same from this group
2.The Leafs lost in game 7, but they also lost 2 6-1 games, the Oilers dispatched the Stars in 5, pretty big drubbing all things considered and were +12 on goals, the Leafs went to game 7 and somehow still managed to be -9
3.There is psychological damage being done to the players who have to deal with the fact that there really are no excuses, they've failed in 50-50 series, they've failed in series where they were clear favorites and they've failed in underdog series, coupled with their terrible performances in games 5/6/7 and terrible pp

Running it back would be the craziest thing to do considering it's literally the core's fault they lost, Bob was meh for large stretches, the Leafs dominated the Panthers at times, Florida has to be tired and the Leafs have to be hungrier, they still didn't get it done. They had their chances and failed, it's time for something new which isn't a guarantee of a better result, but their results have been abysmal relative to the talent level present.

Buffalo who is considered to be another horrible franchise could win a round the next 2 years and match what this core accomplished in nearly 10 years. That's how bad the Leafs have been, their results in nearly a decade could arguably reached by one of the worst franchises in sports in 1-2 years.

 

[inthewings]

Leafs fans seem to have convinced themselves that losing their 100-point two-way winger is addition by subtraction. They're in for a surprise when they realize that its actually subtraction by subtraction, and that there's a long way to fall from being a perennial 100+ point team.

 

[12ozPapa]

This is f***ing shocking news. I can’t believe it.

 

[Rebels57]

Dear lord. They did not lose because of their D. They scored 4 goals TOTAL in the final 4 games of the series. Once again. Rinse and repeat of the past several years no scoring in those games

Their slow plodding D not being able to escape the pressure from Florida and help the offense transition is a big reason they couldn't score.

 

[KevinRedkey]

With that said, it only took the Leafs 5 years longer than their fans to realize the mix had to change. Shanahan apparently made 7M a year to be oblivious and do nothing

Bfore the start of the playoffs, you literally said you'd be shocked if the Leafs didnt win the cup this year. lmao

 

[HockeyVirus]

Their slow plodding D not being able to escape the pressure from Florida and help the offense transition is a big reason they couldn't score.

.. Meanwhile Carolina who apparently has the best D in the world couldn't even put up a fight. Same with Tampa. Maybe the Leafs D was very good and the Panthers forecheck is elite?

 

[HockeyVirus]

Bfore the start of the playoffs, you literally said you'd be shocked if the Leafs didnt win the cup this year. lmao

And? What's the point. Shame on me for as a fan believing in my team (who so far has done the best against the Panthers anyways)?

 

[General Fanager]

I'm not sure that I should get much credit for telling you your tire is flat, if I'm the one who jabbed a spike into the thing in the first place.

I know but at least Dubas realized his mistake 2 years ago and Shanny said no when he tried to make a few trades and then let him go when he wanted to make a change in the core 4. Dubas is also NOT the one who gave out massive contracts to Matthews and Nylander after everyone knew it wouldn't work with that group.

I am not saying that Dubas was a great GM but you have to admit it's difficult to do your job if there is a EVP preventing you from doing it.

 

[General Fanager]

And? What's the point. Shame on me for as a fan believing in my team (who so far has done the best against the Panthers anyways)?

Except for those 2 games I have to say The Leafs were right there with The Panthers. Game 3 was the killer.

I get they need changes but not a lot imo.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Treveling destroyed the Flames, now he'll destroy the Leafs. They made it to game 7 with their starter injured against the best playoff team in the league. All he needs to do is make some teaks to the roster.

If an organization doesn't want to rebuild, what's a GM supposed to do?