TO like most playoff teams need to score 3 goals per game, approximately, to win, generally scoring around 2 per game isn't good enough. In 7 games TO's top support players managed 4 goals, those players being Bert, Domi, Knies and Knies was a rookie.
In the event of injury, the support players are expected to over achieve, to step up like Bert did for Boston last year.
The support players have never shown up. Even when Kadri and Hyman were here.
Kadri had 10 points in 18 games, Hyman was even worse.
The question is why they have gone on to be guys who can be counted on elsewhere.
Individually the core 4, or 5 if you include Morgs have all performed in one playoff series or another. Collectively they have been awful, including when all 7 of them played together.
The hope has to be that it was either the result of a poor coach or GM and now somehow it will be different.
If not, the results will likely be the same. Last year the Leafs were more than physical enough to take on the Bruins. They suffered from an inabilty to score. They same could be said about the previous team.
Goaltendinv has let down some pretty decent variations of this team, not having a great D-Corps has as well. But in the end, when your top 4 can't steal a series, or overcome the weaknesses of the team while eating half of the cap, then the blame needs to fall on them.