How bad is the morale of the fanbase right now?

[Gabriel426]

What concerns me the most is what has happened the last 4 years when it gets down to one game to decide the series. We just don't show up and I'm at a loss to explain it. And until we win a series (at least one), it's just not possible for me not to be a bit worried about that no matter how good all kinds of fancy stats look.

Ritchie will crash the crease on his first shift of elimination game and send the opposing goalie packing. Lol

 

[hoglund]

What concerns me the most is what has happened the last 4 years when it gets down to one game to decide the series. We just don't show up and I'm at a loss to explain it. And until we win a series (at least one), it's just not possible for me not to be a bit worried about that no matter how good all kinds of fancy stats look.

2 of the last 4 years are tainted because of covid rules and odd schedules and the last 2 seasons don't count. If the Leafs won the cup either of those years most fans would say that the only reason they won is because of covid or shortened schedules.

 

[Gary Nylund]

2 of the last 4 years are tainted because of covid rules and odd schedules and the last 2 seasons don't count. If the Leafs won the cup either of those years most fans would say that the only reason they won is because of covid or shortened schedules.

I'd been waiting over 40 years for revenge against MTL. Don't tell me that series didn't count, it all counts. And nothing's tainted, TB won two cups and they were the best team, no questions.

 

[hoglund]

I'd been waiting over 40 years for revenge against MTL. Don't tell me that series didn't count, it all counts. And nothing's tainted, TB won two cups and they were the best team, no questions.

That's your opinion, I agree that Tampa Bay were the best 2 years in a row, but I'll bet if the Leafs won either of those covid affected seasons they'd say it doesn't really count, remember in 2013 the Leafs finally made the playoffs after missing many years and everyone said it was only because it was a shortened season, which probably had something to do with it.

 

[34]

It will bad after this game lol.

 

[Gabriel426]

That's your opinion, I agree that Tampa Bay were the best 2 years in a row, but I'll bet if the Leafs won either of those covid affected seasons they'd say it doesn't really count, remember in 2013 the Leafs finally made the playoffs after missing many years and everyone said it was only because it was a shortened season, which probably had something to do with it.

A Cup win is a Cup win, unless the NHL don’t hand out the Cup.
I could careless what other fans say, as long as Leafs win the Cup.

 

[Gary Nylund]

That's your opinion, I agree that Tampa Bay were the best 2 years in a row, but I'll bet if the Leafs won either of those covid affected seasons they'd say it doesn't really count, remember in 2013 the Leafs finally made the playoffs after missing many years and everyone said it was only because it was a shortened season, which probably had something to do with it.

Who cares what some people would have said? Win the cup and I'll be too happy and too busy celebrating to worry about what Leafs haters are saying. And what some people would or wouldn't have said is sure as hell no excuse for losing.

 

[James Blackley]

What do you think are the typical "prime" years of an nhl player?

Back in the 80's to early 2000's, I would say 27-33 was the players prime years. 2005 to now? I would say 23-26 are the prime years... League has gotten faster, and players are burning out quicker now then they did say 20 years ago.

 

[James Blackley]

What concerns me the most is what has happened the last 4 years when it gets down to one game to decide the series. We just don't show up and I'm at a loss to explain it. And until we win a series (at least one), it's just not possible for me not to be a bit worried about that no matter how good all kinds of fancy stats look.

Its quite simple this core just doesn't have the winner take all mentality when it matters most... none of them have it, and I include the captain in it. This team is lacking that emotional maturity needed to win post season.

 

[Throw More Waffles]

As of today, this core can't win in the playoffs. But same were said about MJ-can he leads the Bulls to Championship or can Ovie do it before they actually done it.
It is normal to ask this question bc they really have not won any series in the playoffs over the past 5 seasons.
If anything, I think it is a compliment to guys like AM, MM, JT, Willie and Reilly. Bc you don't hear anyone asked can ROR leads a team to a Cup like ever.
The talents are there but can this group win in the playoffs? It seemed like there are always excuses for this core failures.
Like, bad matchups, the other team is better, insane opposing goaltending, not getting bounces, refs, coaching, fatigue, converting chances, depth scoring.....
These excuses can be apply to every single playoffs teams in every playoffs except for the Cup Champs. Cup champs just go out and win.
Until the players start producing in the playoffs and getting the Wins in the playoffs, they will always be questions about them. Also, these questions won't go away by winning a round or two, it will only go away when they win the Cup. Then a new set of questions will arise, Can they repeat, can they do it again....

Resorting to pipe dreams...

Sure, there are some rare outlier examples of keeping an underachieving core together and them eventually figuring it out.

But want to know what is far FAR more common? The very clear issues everyone sees in an underachieving core never go away, they never succeed, and everyone's left bewildered that it was all kept together for so long.

You're hoping the leafs are the future Bulls. Many of us are worried they're a future San Jose Sharks.

 

[Confucius]

Bad period, there will be a few bad pages now.

 

[Throw More Waffles]

Back in the 80's to early 2000's, I would say 27-33 was the players prime years. 2005 to now? I would say 23-26 are the prime years... League has gotten faster, and players are burning out quicker now then they did say 20 years ago.

Fully agree.

Which is why it's so freaking infuritaitng when crazy people write things like "They're only 25".

 

[Confucius]

Back in the 80's to early 2000's, I would say 27-33 was the players prime years. 2005 to now? I would say 23-26 are the prime years... League has gotten faster, and players are burning out quicker now then they did say 20 years ago.

I've checked that as far back as gretzky and almost 100% of the time a stars best goal scoring year is 23 or younger.

 

[Gabriel426]

Resorting to pipe dreams...

Sure, there are some rare outlier examples of keeping an underachieving core together and them eventually figuring it out.

But want to know what is far FAR more common? The very clear issues everyone sees in an underachieving core never go away, they never succeed, and everyone's left bewildered that it was all kept together for so long.

You're hoping the leafs are the future Bulls. Many of us are worried they're a future San Jose Sharks.

I am hoping they are the Wings.

 

[James Blackley]

Fully agree.

Which is why it's so freaking infuritaitng when crazy people write things like "They're only 25".

Yep! Take a look at Chicago (I know they're corrupt but still), Tampa, Pitts... those teams were shelling out cups when their core was 22/23, there's no excuses for our core.

 

[Peiskos]

This Leafs team clearly lacks the “it” factor. Zero killer instinct as seen in numerous playoff series collapses with this core, a core that IMO is rotten.

The structure of the team is rotten too, a comically exorbitant amount of the cap is allocated to what 3-4 players? You cannot win in this league with that kind of inequality of salary spread. Full stop. Unless those 3-4 players are all McDavid, Crosby or Mario Lemieux in his prime it simply ain’t happening.

You can thank Dubas the clown for the roster construction and horrendous negotiation skills in letting young unproven players walk all over him.

People won’t like hearing this but this roster needs to be blown up, or at minimum a major shake up, no this isn’t hyperbole, they’ll get your hopes up then collapse as they always do when it matters most. Haven’t watched this team since the second Bruins collapse lmfao.

 

[WillyC]

There will never be any morale with the armchair GMs constantly flexing.

 

[varano]

2 of the last 4 years are tainted because of covid rules and odd schedules and the last 2 seasons don't count. If the Leafs won the cup either of those years most fans would say that the only reason they won is because of covid or shortened schedules.

Imagine the leafs finally getting their wish of not facing Boston for not one...but two years....and still not winning a round

 

[geo25]

Resorting to pipe dreams...

Sure, there are some rare outlier examples of keeping an underachieving core together and them eventually figuring it out.

But want to know what is far FAR more common? The very clear issues everyone sees in an underachieving core never go away, they never succeed, and everyone's left bewildered that it was all kept together for so long.

You're hoping the leafs are the future Bulls. Many of us are worried they're a future San Jose Sharks.

 

[geo25]

Very well articulated & so true.

 

[hoglund]

Who cares what some people would have said? Win the cup and I'll be too happy and too busy celebrating to worry about what Leafs haters are saying. And what some people would or wouldn't have said is sure as hell no excuse for losing.

It's not Leaf haters that would say it's not a real cup win, it's fans of the Leafs forum that would say it.

 

[Gary Nylund]

It's not Leaf haters that would say it's not a real cup win, it's fans of the Leafs forum that would say it.

Again, who cares?

 

[hoglund]

Again, who cares?

a lot of people like myself cares, after many years of no cup and we finally win only to hear that the only reason we won is because of covid and a shortened schedule makes the win less rewarding.

 

[57 Years No Cup]

Ah, the voice of reason. Thank gawd you made it, I was getting worried here with all the different opinions and such. Seriously though, small sample size this season, yes but not much good to take away from it. Expand the sample size to current regime and the team is declining rather than improving. Pan au out and it has been 17 years with no success. Really look at big picture, and well… 67. I think that might lead to some skepticism and critiquing of the team, no? Not sure how history is on your side with this one…

Because, like, we're winning the Advanced Stats dude!

 

[All Mod Cons]

It's not Leaf haters that would say it's not a real cup win, it's fans of the Leafs forum that would say it.

No