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Could the Leafs miss the playoffs?

TheDoldrums said:
They have one regulation win in 7 games and are like 26th in xGF% over the last couple months. Goaltending is the only thing the team has been good at this season and has masked a thoroughly mediocre at best team.

Berube uses a chip and chase system that relies on elite forechecking, which the Leafs don’t have the personnel to pull off. It has destroyed their rush offense, which was a strength for the last decade. And there’s been no defensive improvements for this offensive neutering.
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This.
 
TheDoldrums said:
They have one regulation win in 7 games and are like 26th in xGF% over the last couple months. Goaltending is the only thing the team has been good at this season and has masked a thoroughly mediocre at best team.

Berube uses a chip and chase system that relies on elite forechecking, which the Leafs don’t have the personnel to pull off. It has destroyed their rush offense, which was a strength for the last decade. And there’s been no defensive improvements for this offensive neutering.
Click to expand...
In other words Brube can get them to play play off hockey, and if he could they don't have the horses anyways.
So who's rmturn is it to take them out on the first round this year. So far it's been;
Caps
Bruins
Bruins
Jackets
Habs
Bolts
Bruins
???
 
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PaulD said:
In other words Brube can get them to play play off hockey, and if he could they don't have the horses anyways.
So who's rmturn is it to take them out on the first round this year. So far it's been;
Caps
Bruins
Bruins
Jackets
Habs
Bolts
Bruins
???
Click to expand...
Bolts or Cats this year
 
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I think I'd be more concerned if they were playing desperate hockey and still losing.

Everyone is starting to up their game and the Leafs don't really have to yet, and they haven't.

Will they when it becomes important? We shall see.
 
unless Montreal goes on an insane run and the leafs only win a few games out of their 16 remaining. Sure. But they are in. It’s a matter of where they end up and who will knock them out of the first round.
 
leafsfan5 said:
missing the playoffs is next to impossible

They're not very good, though. Berube doesn't work for this team and the underlying numbers clearly show this. For all their flaws they should not be #27 in xGF% since December 1
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How many coaches and coaching styles need to be changed before the finger of blame is pointed at the players?
 
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Sens With Benefits said:


With the recent slide and teams making up ground is it possible? Steve Dangle breaks it down and shows how history could be repeating itself during this latest slide. I don't think they will slide that much and Ottawa will probably slow down, but what can even be done?
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About as likely as saying this is a good OP, sure it's possible but at the same time almost out of the realm of being so.
 
HockeyVirus said:
Miss the playoffs? No of course not only a troll could suggest it.

Get obliterated in the first round? Almost a certainty.
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I think the only question is whether or not they make the playoffs in the 3 division slot or a wildcard spot… the same fate my oilers are facing. It’s a bad time to slump.
 
TheDoldrums said:
They have one regulation win in 7 games and are like 26th in xGF% over the last couple months. Goaltending is the only thing the team has been good at this season and has masked a thoroughly mediocre at best team.

Berube uses a chip and chase system that relies on elite forechecking, which the Leafs don’t have the personnel to pull off. It has destroyed their rush offense, which was a strength for the last decade. And there’s been no defensive improvements for this offensive neutering.
Click to expand...

You hit the nail on the head here, but now I’m wondering if Berube adapts or just sticks to the same crap? Because if we could gain our real strength back combined with elite goaltending then we might be onto something. I somehow doubt that happens though.
 
TheDoldrums said:
Berube uses a chip and chase system that relies on elite forechecking, which the Leafs don’t have the personnel to pull off. It has destroyed their rush offense, which was a strength for the last decade. And there’s been no defensive improvements for this offensive neutering.
Click to expand...
Are you sure?
They're 27th in generated chances off the rush but are 1st in shooting % on the rush.

Screenshot_20250316_182350_YouTube.jpg
 
koyvoo said:
How many coaches and coaching styles need to be changed before the finger of blame is pointed at the players?
Click to expand...

I think you missed the point. The personnel might not be good enough to win a cup either way, but they’ve been a good regular season team with strong possession numbers before under Keefe. Berube has made them worse by taking away their rush offense.
 
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Regal said:
I think you missed the point. The personnel might not be good enough either way, but they’ve been a good regular season team with strong possession numbers before under Keefe. Berube has made them worse by taking away their rush offense.
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Exactly

The issue with the Leafs is they want to turn the page and play a new style, one closer to Florida which is predicated on a heavy forecheck. However, at the same time the Leafs want to keep the core 4, players who do not work under this kind of style and are better playing a possession heavy game

It's a ridiculous situation they have created. Either lean fully into the physical forecheck game or the skill, puck possession style. Their indecisiveness has led to them being in the middle, and you have a team drastically underperforming as a result
 
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leafsfan5 said:
Exactly

The issue with the Leafs is they want to turn the page and play a new style, one closer to Florida which is predicated on a heavy forecheck. However, at the same time the Leafs want to keep the core 4, players who do not work under this kind of style and are better playing a possession heavy game

It's a ridiculous situation they have created. Either lean fully into the physical forecheck game or the skill, puck possession style. Their indecisiveness has led to them being in the middle, and you have a team drastically underperforming as a result
Click to expand...

The worst part is that hfboards members can see it plain as day but you just know the coach isn’t going to budge from the system he has them playing. They’ll sail along with it until it inevitably sinks them in the 1st round again, or 2nd round at best.
 
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authentic said:
The worst part is that hfboards members can see it plain as day but you just know the coach isn’t going to budge from the system he has them playing. They’ll sail along with it until it inevitably sinks them in the 1st round again, or 2nd round at best.
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To a certain extent I don't blame Berube, he coaches a certain style and got a bag from the Leafs to do it. If I was him I'd probably accept the job too

It's puzzling why Treliving hired him. You need a coach to match the personnel, and it's clear they want to keep the core 4 so why not get a coach who works with them
 
leafsfan5 said:
Exactly

The issue with the Leafs is they want to turn the page and play a new style, one closer to Florida which is predicated on a heavy forecheck. However, at the same time the Leafs want to keep the core 4, players who do not work under this kind of style and are better playing a possession heavy game

It's a ridiculous situation they have created. Either lean fully into the physical forecheck game or the skill, puck possession style. Their indecisiveness has led to them being in the middle, and you have a team drastically underperforming as a result
Click to expand...

Yeah, a lot of the time when you're watching, it's like... what the actual f*** are they trying to exactly?

You see the opposition constantly playing in their zone, the Leafs clearing the puck and then the opposition getting more possession time. Once in a while, Nylander blows the zone smartly and gets a breakaway. Otherwise, they dump the puck in and often don't get it back.

They made upgrades at defense (though Rielly has unfortunately struggled this season) and have better goaltending now. Why not let your forwards play to their strengths and see if that makes the team successful with guys like Tanev and Carlo on the back end and more dependable goaltending than in the past instead of making your forwards play a game at which they're not very good or successful?
 
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