GDT: End of season media availability - Today

[djdev]

that's fair that you think that.

I will have to respect the opinion of Cheryl Pounder that said when you say a comment like that you need to back it up and say "it starts with me." don't be evasive. don't be coy. own it.

the problem is being evasive is what this organization has taught these players since being prospects, it starts with the marlies where they wont even let certain players do interviews at all.

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

Because I think he implied that he was one of the "passengers" as well.

He would have said it, but didn't because he doesn't believe it as shown by the entirety of his career. The idea that a player like Matthews who is somehow the highest paid player in the world would fix his mouth to say that is insanity. To be the captain at that. Mind boggling for anyone to defend it.

 

[Martin Skoula]

Well think of it this way. It’s 4 months to preseason and he thinks it’ll be back to 100%.

So from September to February he would have had 4 months to go on LTIR just for Four Nations.

And from February to April he would have had 2 months to go on LTIR to be at 100% of the playoffs.

Neither off ramp was taken.

He didn’t go to Germany before the playoffs to get healthier.

So really you can’t downplay the injuries and simultaneously blame your poor season on them. We shall see what next year looks like.

It could easily be something as stupid as the planned treatment requiring a steroid or other banned substance temporarily and not wanting to get Ekblad’d mid-season.

 

[Rare Jewel]

that's fair that you think that.

I will have to respect the opinion of Cheryl Pounder that said when you say a comment like that you need to back it up and say "it starts with me." don't be evasive. don't be coy. own it.

He did score the GWG in game 6... and wasn't awful in the playoffs, even though he wasn't as offensively impactful as we would like.

 

[Stephen]

For the regular season, maybe a lot of his points come from the PP.

However, in the playoffs, absolutely not.


But this is the thing: a couple of days pass, and people get soft. Where's the change coming from? Is it just Mitch? That's not enough.

I feel like management will try and circle back to Mitch to be honest.

 

[Rare Jewel]

I'm kinda split on JT

Issue for me is, I don't see a viable replacement available in free agency

On 1 hand, we need major change. Marner alone isn't enough. Rielly needs to go and I think due to a need of culture change, Tavares probably has to go

Then on the other hand, he's a 60+ point C who is great on faceoffs

He provides a ton of value, but then again we need new voices and personsel in the locker room. If we can find a viable replacement for 2C, move off of JT. If not, who's playing in our top 6 behind Matthews ?

Perhaps it doesn't come from free agency, or it's someone younger and faster, like Suter or Donato.

 

[Ho Lee Mackinaw]

What does that even mean?

 

[PromisedLand]

lost all respect for Chief, another false idol...........

i understand and share your frustration but I also sympathize with the position berube is in

he can't come out and start calling out players in case we want to trade them and lower their trade value

I think reading between the lines Berube essentially did provide inputs that were meaningful

1. be strong physically (we couldnt win board battles or puck battles)
2. be on your toes (skate, skate, skate, be aware and don't half ass your shifts)
3. be strong mentally (psychological pause aside he is saying go out there and want it, game aint gonna come to you)
4. You have to earn your bounces (basically they didnt compete hard enough)
5. structure breakdown (basically if you are not gonna superstar the fancy shit to win then play within structure morons thats how I read it)
etc...

Berube did say alot IMO without saying much to keep reputation of the players, team, org and future in mind

only thing i didnt agree with berube was 16 and 91 back 100% but what was he gonna say on a public platform

 

[Cleetus]

If we lose knies to an offer sheet, I will be devastated

 

[wc17]

Unless he's signed before that could happen... which would be smart to do.

Knies should be priority #1. If it gets to a point where offer sheets are an option, it means the Leafs have allowed this to go way too far.

Going based on the past though, we should probably expect it to be drawn out with the threats of offer sheets and hold outs. Hopefully Treliving takes care of business.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Yes we could’ve had Rantaneen but do we know if he would’ve signed with us past the playoffs? Isn’t that why the canes traded him? He didn’t want to sign there because that’s not where he wanted to play.

But we don't know if Marner will sign so ... Ranta for one playoff run >>> Marner for one playoff run and had we been able to do that, ,we'd probably still be alive in the playoffs

It's an awesome country. I spent summers (and winters) there and love the country, landscape, and people. It's a perfect land for outdoorsy introverts lol. Very high tech, amazing nature, great infrastructure, extremely educated population, and fun but civil drinking culture lol. They love their hockey too - you can find indoor rinks in summer that people play or skate in throughout the country.

The Finns are also apparently the happiest people in the world.

It's a coaches job to support his players, so he wasn't throwing anybody under the bus, and it wouldn't be wise to do so. It's not his job to negotiate contracts, or trades.

Even the GM wouldn't publicly bash players individually, and I doubt that on Friday Treliving will do so. We won't have any idea of who might be traded, as he isn't going to put the team at a disadvantage in bargaining. He's likely to say we will be working on changes, or things like that... but I doubt he specifically names anyone leaving.

I know we are all hungry for change NOW... and many are emotional about it, but what counts is what happens between now and October... really until the end of the first week of July.... That we won't get all the answers is unfortunate, but it's what we should expect.

Matthews saying he's been injured all year was expected.

Yup. I mean unless he comes out and says "there are too many losers on this team and I can't take it anymore so I'm resigning my position as of right now", not sure what anyone expects.

And even if he feels that way, he's not gonna say it unless he's fine with being blackballed from the NHL.

 

[Rare Jewel]

I feel like management will try and circle back to Mitch to be honest.

I mean, if he didn't take 13.5x8, there's no point. It would only be for optics to not look like the bad guy, and both parties are.

They've all handled it quite terribly.

 

[ACC1224]

If we lose knies to an offer sheet, I will be devastated

why? Signing it would just show he doesn't really want to be here.

I'd be very surprised if he signs one

 

[Daisy Jane]

the whole pressure thing while we're getting some good stuff from patches and woll, still bothers me because i feel the media isn't asking the right questions.

like. are you saying you wish the fans didnt care so much?
but then you get mad when they don't cheer
like do you want them to temper expectations that you can't do anything but 'win one game at a time?'
like why does it just have to be Toronto
why are you apparently okay with people basically bad mouthing the people who travel to support you

like what's the barometer that you want? because again. if i'm Hockey Canada, or USA Hockey and i'm looking at this i'm like if you can't handle Toronto where all they basically want is for you to simply play well, i'm supposed to trust you at the Olympics when your country wants you to kick butt?

 

[Aashir]

If we lose knies to an offer sheet, I will be devastated

if knies leaves due to an offer sheet I am done with the team

the one likeable guy and he's taken away too is too much

 

[AvroArrow]

If we lose knies to an offer sheet, I will be devastated

0 chance lol, we match whatever he's offered. Unless it's something absurd like 11M but no chance anyone is stupid enough to do that.

 

[NVious]

If we lose knies to an offer sheet, I will be devastated

Marner's gone, 0% chance we lose Knies.

If hell froze over and Mitch was back, we'd STILL keep Knies and JT would either be at league min or gone.

Anyways, Marner's gone so 0% chance we lose Knies.

Berube won with Tarasenko/O Rielly as his main offensive guys, no reason Knies can't at least hit that same pedigree.

 

[Jojalu]

If we lose knies to an offer sheet, I will be devastated

What could he really sign that the Leafs wouldn't match?

Also, why would the Leafs let it get that far? They could sign him tomorrow.

 

[Daisy Jane]

i understand and share your frustration but I also sympathize with the position berube is in

he can't come out and start calling out players in case we want to trade them and lower their trade value

I think reading between the lines Berube essentially did provide inputs that were meaningful

1. be strong physically (we couldnt win board battles or puck battles)
2. be on your toes (skate, skate, skate, be aware and don't half ass your shifts)
3. be strong mentally (psychological pause aside he is saying go out there and want it, game aint gonna come to you)
4. You have to earn your bounces (basically they didnt compete hard enough)
5. structure breakdown (basically if you are not gonna superstar the fancy shit to win then play within structure morons thats how I read it)
etc...

Berube did say alot IMO without saying much to keep reputation of the players, team, org and future in mind

only thing i didnt agree with berube was 16 and 91 back 100% but what was he gonna say on a public platform

it's also 39 days until UFA you have to be in schmooze mode for any potential newcomers too.

 

[PromisedLand]

Curious: would anyone want JT back at the right price? Like $5 million right price? Or has that ship sailed?

League minimum + whatever he left on the table from teh sharks offer to come to leafs

not a penny more than 2.5M AAV. If he wants more then he can get the bag from another eam

 

[ULF_55]

Willy stream is choppy as hell.
Coincidentally after he said " it was a shitty game" llol

Okay, so one honest answer so far in this thread, but I haven't got to bottom yet.

 

[Stephen]

I mean, if he didn't take 13.5x8, there's no point. It would only be for optics to not look like the bad guy, and both parties are.

They've all handled it quite terribly.

The way Berube talked about Mitch I think they might grovel at his feet a little bit.

 

[PromisedLand]

LOL "we hold ourselves to such high accountability"
ooooh mitch...

gods are changing their tune eh?

 

[Clark4Ever]

TBH I don't hate on him for not waving. I'd take Rantanen over him in a heartbeat though, don't get me wrong.

It's would be really hard as a husband and person to agree to that trade and move your 7 month pregnant wife to a new country. To me it makes so much sense to veto that trade, you got the trade protection for this reason.

As a father, I do understand that and it's a fair point. As mentioned, it was Dubas' fault for putting Marner in the driver's seat in the first place.

But if the speculation is true that Marner had no intention of re-signing here regardless of money because he got tired of the fan/media scrutiny, it would obviously have helped the organization tremendously if he accepted the trade to Carolina. As a hometown kid and Leaf fan, I thought that should have been part of his thought process.

Ultimately, he exercised his contractual right and put himself and his family first. I accept that. I don't hate him for it, but as a diehard Leaf fan, I can't help but have some resentment as well based on his entire history.

 

[Rare Jewel]

He would have said it, but didn't because he doesn't believe it as shown by the entirety of his career. The idea that a player like Matthews who is somehow the highest paid player in the world would fix his mouth to say that is insanity. To be the captain at that. Mind boggling for anyone to defend it.

Would he have?

I think we're just looking for something to vent our frustration at. In that last 8 minutes or so at the end of the 1st, he was the best Leaf and looked engaged.

Then everyone just kind of watched Florida run all over them.