ULF_55
Moderator
If they lose tonight I'd clean house, Dubas, Keefe, maybe even Shanahan. Mind you I would've for sure done so after the Montreal loss too. What Tampa would do the rest of the playoffs is irrelevant, I don't care if they get swept by Florida or win the cup. No playoff series wins after this long would be unacceptable (it is after last year already).
The big 4 have basically handcuffed this team. As much as I question Matthews desire to win (as opposed to going to hangout with Bieber after the season ends) you don't win a trade when moving a player of that stature, and to a lesser extent ditto for Marner. Although if a team was willing to give up significant assets I'd move Marner.
Tavares may be slightly overpaid, but even if you can find a team that can take him and he's willing to go, you're immediately looking for a near PPG forward to replace him. The team has nobody that could adequately replace him as 2C, they would need to use assets and cap space to acquire one. I know he's the popular scapegoat right now but what are you going to do? Dump him for nothing, and then spend assets and roughly $8m in cap to replace him? Thats a lot of work to save only $3m.
Nylander as soft as he is, is still the only one of the 4 that outproduces his cap hit. He'd be the most likely candidate to go if it means bringing in a Brayden Schenn or Tom Wilson type player, or a real #1 d-man. His cap hit and production should make him valuable in a trade.
Where Dubas has failed is how he's insulated this group. Zero toughness amongst the remaining 8 forwards and its shown again these playoffs. Nobody is scared of Simmonds and Clifford, because while they might be tough they're massive liabilities when it comes to playing hockey. Teams laugh at the Leafs bringing them out and wasting two roster spots. They need at least 3-4 forwards in the middle 6 who can play hockey and play physical. And they need a real shutdown C. Kampf is nice, but ideally you want him as a 4C and someone better as your 3C. A Jordan Staal type. But instead Dubas has guys like Mikeyev, Engvall, Kase and Kerfoot.
The defence lacks a true #1 as much as I love Rielly, and again Dubas has ignored goaltending. Campbell is a fine 1B but everyone else Dubas has brought in hasn't amounted to much. And ultimately even if the players don't have what it takes to win, thats on the GM who assembled the group
I agree with most of what you've written.
If you look at the last 5 deciding games, Matthews has 2 points and marner has 1 (Nylander 3). You have to believe this lack of production in the deciding games are indicative of them being young or them being unable to handle the pressure.
It would be nice to have a true number one, but we have to hope Sandin and Liljegren are good enough to cover up for that lacking piece. I don't see a #1 in their future, nor a means to acquire one. I also feel there are very few true number defenders that can be that after moving from team to team.
If they had a proven starter perhaps they'd have been fighting for home ice in every round, but Campbell is unreliable. Excellent to below average from game to game.
Goaltending might be the one piece that determines many futures on this current team.
Time for the double digits to show up when everything is on the line.