Speculation: Chris Johnston "An atom bomb could drop"

[Martin Skoula]

It’s what they do and how they buy time. Pelley should have done it last year, but he didn’t.

Someone who looks at the situation and prioritizes buying time for themselves is fundamentally unfit for the position, suggesting or even considering burning another year with lame duck management must be an instantly disqualifying idea.

There’s a patient on the operating table bleeding out right now, “I’m not sure, let’s run some tests first and check back tomorrow” is not in the realm of acceptable answers.

 

[Apex Predator]

considering he was injured since training camp, it makes sense why he looked defeated, dont ya think??

He sure looked happy at 4 nations.

 

[Gabriel426]

The new President will probably take a year to assess the situation and go from there, but it would be nice if he mandated Tre to starting building the farm system.

Unless they hire someone who has no knowledge of Hockey and too lazy to do due diligence and ask around about the Maple Leafs. I doubt they even need a week to assess the situation.

Anyone who watches Hockey knows the Leafs are built with Chokers who can’t get it done in the playoffs and two of those chokers will be UFA. The team also had no first round picks till 2028 and the farm system is bad.

 

[Ports]

shouldn't take stupid penalties and then should kill them or superstar your way back into the game, they had a Ton of time after going down 4-3 and still f***ed the dog.

It happens to every team but their PK is an issue. Go Oilers. Go Canada.

 

[Nineteen67]

Someone who looks at the situation and prioritizes buying time for themselves is fundamentally unfit for the position, suggesting or even considering burning another year with lame duck management must be an instantly disqualifying idea.

There’s a patient on the operating table bleeding out right now, “I’m not sure, let’s run some tests first and check back tomorrow” is not in the realm of acceptable answers.

It isn’t a patient though, it’s a career.

 

[Nineteen67]

Unless they hire someone who has no knowledge of Hockey and too lazy to do due diligence and ask around about the Maple Leafs. I doubt they even need a week to assess the situation.

Anyone who watches Hockey knows the Leafs are built with Chokers who can’t get it done in the playoffs and two of those chokers will be UFA. The team also had no first round picks till 2028 and the farm system is bad.

Does that matter to the new president if they come from outside the org?

 

[mydnyte]

Unless they hire someone who has no knowledge of Hockey and too lazy to do due diligence and ask around about the Maple Leafs. I doubt they even need a week to assess the situation.

Anyone who watches Hockey knows the Leafs are built with Chokers who can’t get it done in the playoffs and two of those chokers will be UFA. The team also had no first round picks till 2028 and the farm system is bad.

is we are CHOKERS what would you call the Canes and 14 straight losses when it matters most.

 

[Gabriel426]

Does that matter to the new president if they come from outside the org?

I don't think it matters at all. Like I said earlier, I don't even know what is the job of President of Hockey Ops. Like is it like Masai and Webster with Raptors but if thats the case, it is often the GM who pulls the trigger with trades in NHL.

 

[Captain34]

With all due respect to Brad T, I am not a fan of him being essentially the top hockey guy in this organization. He hasn't exactly shown in his 9 years of management in Calgary to be capable of drafting and developing players, or building a true contender.

What's likely going to happen is that this team will continue to be good, but not good enough to win until 2028, at which point, the rebuild will commence and Matthews will walk as a free agent, like his buddy Marner.

At that time, a new era of the Leafs rebuild will begin.

 

[stealth1]

is we are CHOKERS what would you call the Canes and 14 straight losses when it matters most.

They a chokers too. Why are we comparing the Leafs to the Canes? They both are great regular season teams that continue to fail come playoff time. IMO both teams need to have major shakeups.

 

[tp71]

They a chokers too. Why are we comparing the Leafs to the Canes? They both are great regular season teams that continue to fail come playoff time. IMO both teams need to have major shakeups.

is getting the final four "a choke"? i mean inherently 31 teams "choke" every year. Final four is a legitimate stanley cup contender...choke seems quite hyperbolic in this sense.

 

[The Shadow]

The team was on the cusp of stepping on the panthers. That game 3 was the turning point in the series. Look at what Carolina is doing now. They would have had a less difficult route to the finals

 

[TheGreenTBer]

With all due respect to Brad T, I am not a fan of him being essentially the top hockey guy in this organization. He hasn't exactly shown in his 9 years of management in Calgary to be capable of drafting and developing players, or building a true contender.

What's likely going to happen is that this team will continue to be good, but not good enough to win until 2028, at which point, the rebuild will commence and Matthews will walk as a free agent, like his buddy Marner.

At that time, a new era of the Leafs rebuild will begin.

That's exactly what's going to happen.

 

[Stephen]

I don't think you need to wait for a player to be completely ready to play in the NHL, especially when you're on a good solid team.. Teams like Dallas & FLA are good because they are getting & got tremendous value from their first round picks playing on a ELC. Lundell, Johnston, Stankoven, Harley. At such a young age, how did those teams know they were NHL ready with zero experience.

Toronto has gotten that once in the 9 year span and that's from Knies. There would be growing pains with Cowan, & it would be tough, but he doesn't need to playing in 82 games, him playing in 50 games is good for his development.

Instead of signing 30 year olds, Toronto needs to develop their younger 1st round talent into being productive and cheap.

It’s a fairly obvious statement but there’s a balancing act between development and promotion and a lot of it will depend on what Cowan actually looks like in camp.

If his skating looks good, strength looks decent, he’s absorbing the coaching and chipping away, I wouldn’t hold him back. If he’s tentative and overwhelmed by the possibility of being a Leaf, other athletic things that need work on. No shame on half a season or more with the Marlies.

 

[Gabriel426]

is we are CHOKERS what would you call the Canes and 14 straight losses when it matters most.

How many 10mil plus players do the Canes have? None
How many individual awards winners do the Canes have? None
Is Canes a better team than the Leafs? NOPE

Canes is a fraud, I had been saying for a few years, they are a good structure and balance team but they are not that good despite beating us once with a Zambroni driver.

I don't know why some here think Canes is a better team than us. Now I am not saying Canes won't come back and make it a series or even beat Panthers as Denmark just beat Canada. But Canes is not a good team.

We all expected Panthers will step all over them in the ECF.

 

[stealth1]

is getting the final four "a choke"? i mean inherently 31 teams "choke" every year. Final four is a legitimate stanley cup contender...choke seems quite hyperbolic in this sense.

I was responding to the previous poster who said the Canes were chokers for losing 14 straight conference final games. Why do so many people try to find any little thing to try and prove the Leafs aren't that bad.

 

[tp71]

I was responding to the previous poster who said the Canes were chokers for losing 14 straight conference final games. Why do so many people try to find any little thing to try and prove the Leafs aren't that bad.

In all honesty, the Leafs aren't that bad. They have issues and it feels like the sky is falling and no we didnt get to where we want, but bad? No. This team was very good. Good enough? No. But good? Yes. Very.

The 14 straight talking point is so dumb. Some of those losses came in 2009. They aren't relevant. Heck I'd argue 2019 isn't relevant. Their starter was Peter Mrazek and their backup was Curis McElhinney. Scott Darling played games for them that season...remember him? What they did in 2019 has nothing to do with today.

This is an open forum. Am I not allowed to respond to any post on here?

 

[Rare Jewel]

The team was on the cusp of stepping on the panthers. That game 3 was the turning point in the series. Look at what Carolina is doing now. They would have had a less difficult route to the finals

Yeah, ifs and buts...

But stepping on them?

They were better than in 2023 series against them, but I think if we're honest and look back. Bobrovsky flattered the Leafs in the first two games.

After Bob tightened up, they were 2nd best in most areas, and thus, they shouldn't be in the ECF.



Which is why this thing needs a bigger overhaul than people think, but alas....

 

[The Shadow]

Yeah, ifs and buts...

But stepping on them?

They were better than in 2023 series against them, but I think if we're honest and look back. Bobrovsky flattered the Leafs in the first two games.

After Bob tightened up, they were 2nd best in most areas, and thus, they shouldn't be in the ECF.



Which is why this thing needs a bigger overhaul than people think, but alas....

Bob wasn’t his usual best but guess what - our best goalie was punched in the head and knocked out

The team in my opinion always has more confidence when Stolarz is in net vs Woll.

With Stolly I think they win. That’s how close they are

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

Matthews is the biggest passenger on this team. He needs to go as well. He's not a winner or a leader.

They said these same things about Yzerman and Ovechkin until they won. They also said it about Sundin (although he didn't quite make it happen). I would never give up on a player like Matthews. I don't want to give up on Marner either, I just don't know how the numbers can work and he's the next man up right now.

 

[Apex Predator]

They a chokers too. Why are we comparing the Leafs to the Canes? They both are great regular season teams that continue to fail come playoff time. IMO both teams need to have major shakeups.

Funny thing is they thought getting Marner to a team full of chokers was going to help.

 

[Trapper]

is we are CHOKERS what would you call the Canes and 14 straight losses when it matters most.

Chokers. They just manage to swallow a little more food before it kills them than us. 2 wrongs don’t make a right. What are the Canes doing differently each year or are they just running it back?

 

[JT AM da real deal]

How many 10mil plus players do the Canes have? None
How many individual awards winners do the Canes have? None
Is Canes a better team than the Leafs? NOPE

Canes is a fraud, I had been saying for a few years, they are a good structure and balance team but they are not that good despite beating us once with a Zambroni driver.

I don't know why some here think Canes is a better team than us. Now I am not saying Canes won't come back and make it a series or even beat Panthers as Denmark just beat Canada. But Canes is not a good team.

We all expected Panthers will step all over them in the ECF.

Any playoff team with Freddy in net is screwed from da start .. Freddy is good for a bad goal per game bottom line .. and you can't have those in playoffs .. but Metro is such a weak conference that a highly structured team can grind out 2 series wins pretty easily

 

[Gabriel426]

Any playoff team with Freddy in net is screwed from da start .. Freddy is good for a bad goal per game bottom line .. and you can't have those in playoffs .. but Metro is such a weak conference that a highly structured team can grind out 2 series wins pretty easily

I am disappointed that Caps just ran out of gas. Thought they would had played better in the playoffs.

 

[BlueForever75]

As far as I am concerned the changes made by B Trev have passed in flying colors thus far:

1. Signed Nylander to a max deal which will be team friendly in a couple of years compared to other salaries
2. Revamped the goaltending and defense core to be very hard to play against which wasnt the case previously
3. Hired a coach that brings a different style but effective all season and playoffs.

Not his fault same core players didn't show up for games 5 and 7 against Florida. Not his fault Stolarz hit someones elbow by accident. Not his fault Knies got hurt for games 6 and 7 against Florida. Not his fault that Calgary has a horrible scouting staff. Not his fault no one wanted to play in Calgary.

His moves have made a positive impact. I trust that he will continue to make smart moves and get us where we need to be with the Toronto Maple Leafs. His moves he made in Calgary were done under duress because players wanted out. His lack of drafting are not all on him. His lack of players wanting to come to Calgary are not on him.

He has more intrigue and resources available in Toronto to be able to succeed.