Series Talk: ECSF: (A1)Toronto Maple Leafs vs (A3)Florida Panthers - (Series tied 3-3) Part 2

[Divine]

I know it's perfect and you don't get anything for him great managing

Cap space is pretty valuable.

 

[sampollock]

Cap space is pretty valuable.

And having him walk for free even better not even a draft pick with you guys give away everything

 

[ACLEVERNAME]

 

[Leaf Fans]

I know it's perfect and you don't get anything for him great managing

Yeah, that is how free agency works sometimes.

 

[Divine]

And having him walk for free even better not even a draft pick with you guys give away everything

Oh well, let him walk.

Lots of UFA’s to replace him with, including a few on Florida.

 

[Dread Clawz]

I can’t think of times where I have disagreed with you more over the years. We are a unique team that is not easily constructed, with players that are buying into a coaches requests and system 110%, who will put their bodies on the line, and do whatever is required to win 4 rounds. It is an awful lot to ask players to sacrifice points and individual success, for the good of the team, especially when it could potentially cost them millions. These players are not easily found in this day and age.

Toronto does not have that, and will never have that with Matthews leading them. We’ve seen enough of him to know he does not have that dog in him, he is not the alpha male in the playoffs, and refuses to lead by example and make the non-goal scoring plays required to win. Nylander is the same. He’s pathetic in his own end, and again, will refuse to make those non-goal scoring plays required to win. I won’t even speak about Marner because he’s useless in the playoffs, and we don’t know of his future.

Bottom line is, their top players are soft, and they are losers. Nylander is the only one who has shown any heart, but again, is too flawed of a player. I don’t see any of them changing at this point of their careers.

One other thing is you mentioned Chucky. That was an organization-changing trade, that doesn’t happen that often. It added a dimension and a character to the Panthers that was lacking. I believe the Leafs had that chance to make that deal, by moving Marner for Rantanen, but that was never able to go through.

Listen, I hear you. We are blessed to have the blend of players we have on this roster, to me it really is the most complete and versatile team in the league. It would be hard for a GM to try to replicate how the Panthers were built. Matthews is what he is. He's too big of a star to trade, and no rebuilding team is gonna give up their entire future for him. They're stuck with him. Nylander has his flaws but he can still be very dangerous in the playoffs. I think they should let Marner and Tavares walk. Bring in some real dogs who will go to war for the team in the playoffs. Add that to Knies, Domi, Laughton, Lorentz, Robertson, Tanev, McCabe, Carlo, OEL, Benoit, and you could have something. I mean it took us some tweaking to figure it out, we shipped out Duke who wasn't really cutting it for us in the playoffs, brought in Lorentz who became a solid grinder for us.

The Leafs would never be us, and they won't get a Tkachuk, as those players just don't come along often, but they might be close enough to take us down in one series. And maybe that's a year they go deep. Believe me, I don't want it to happen, as a division rival, but I could see it. Berube is a good coach like Maurice, he knows how to win in the playoffs. Questionable if Tre is the right GM , as he kinda built the Panthers' championship team, but it would really only take 2 or 3 moves for the Leafs to become dangerous .

 

[sampollock]

 

[koyvoo]

The disrespect to a blood and guts warrior like Matthews is just insane

 

[Gil Gunderson]

One year ago the Canucks were up 3-2 on the Oilers and the future looked bleak. This series isn’t over yet Leafs fans.

That’s true, season isn’t over, but from what I remember Edmonton was the better team throughout that whole series except for goaltending. Florida has been controlling the play since the second period of Game 1 here.

Edmonton’s defence also wasn’t getting drilled series by Vancouver’s forecheckers like what’s happning here.

 

[sampollock]

Quiet night here
All better Friday

 

[HockeyWooot]

Series not over yet, though this is of course do or die for the Leafs.

Playoffs require you to constantly find another level the best teams have experience of doing this.

Panthers are doing it now, Oilers have done it as well, saw that last year when they knocked out my Canucks in the late stages of round two. It was like playing another team altogether.

Next game will see what this group is made of.

 

[ACLEVERNAME]

Posted without comment.

 

[geebster]

Every single year it reaches "this is embarrassing enough is enough we need to address the core 4". And every year they run it back and do the exact same thing.... surely the 5th times the charm here.... if Marner re signs and they run it back...

 

[sampollock]

Just want to be nice if 34 AKA nostrils was put on the hot seat for his leadership

 

[Leaf Fans]

And having him walk for free even better not even a draft pick with you guys give away everything

no, it would be better to have a draft pick than not

 

[Delete1]

noticeable change in your prognostications from previous posts

noted

Leafs will win in 7 instead of 5.

 

[sampollock]

Funny I checked over on the fig site and fans are saying to trade 34 away

 

[ACLEVERNAME]

 

[Leaf Fans]

Funny I checked over on the fig site and fans are saying to trade 34 away

Lol, not true

 

[Korpse]

This series is far from over. The leafs will be a much better team in game 6. Win that one and then see what game 7 brings.

They should have been better in game 5 than they were in game 4. Yet somehow they were worse. Looked like they packed it.

 

[Leaf Fans]

They should have been better in game 5 than they were in game 4. Yet somehow they were worse. Looked like they packed it.

They should have been better

 

[HockeyWooot]

Posted without comment.

Seems like a fair assessment.

Playoff tested teams that have gone on deep runs know how to elevate their game, will see if the Leafs can raise their game in game 6.

 

[sampollock]

Seems like a fair assessment.

Playoff tested teams that have gone on deep runs know how to elevate their game, will see if the Leafs can raise their game in game 6.

Cats will raise theirs too

 

[Leaf Fans]

OT in Vegas

 

[MajorLeaf]

Looks like a reverse sweep is about to happen. Losers since 1967 is the new team motto for the Leafs.

Seems like the Leafs only wanted to battle for Stolarz in net, that injury was the turning point for this series. Yes, Woll has been decent….just seems like a different team in front of him.

I got to give it to Florida for always tweaking the roster even when they lost some players this past off-season to free agency like Montour and OEL. Panthers fans enjoy the good times while it lasts, it’s too far and in between. Just ask Chicago fans. Tampa Bay fans and LA Kings fans from the last decade. They all had great runs enjoy this team and cheer hard as they deserve it!

There is no silver lining for the Leafs after this round. They will lose Marner, which should be the case and Tavares should walk as well. Hopefully these two are not signed again.

No amount of tweaking will get the bad mojo from this franchise. How many eras does it take to figure it out? It’s hard being a Leafs fan, with a die hard fan base that cheers mediocrity and feeling like being in an abusive relationship with a franchise that takes fans for granted.

Don’t care if the Leafa win in 7 by some miracle. This team is not built for the playoffs and will lose eventually. Disappointing.