How many jobs are on the line?

[Stigma]

Raps fired the coach after he won coach of the year. If Lou's only smart move (as the Lou haters will tell you) was to hire Trotz and Trotz was the sole reason for the Isles success, you gotta make the change. If the GM can't work with Trotz, then he goes too.

This is a good point. We've been hearing for years on this forum that Trotz was the reason the Isles turned things around. If this is true then get f***ing Trotz right now.

 

[HomelessPepper]

"Lou like GM"

You mean the dude that led a successful tank to pick up Matthews, drafted Marner and didn't blow 11 mil a year on an unmovable contract?

I mean even burke has contributed more useful parts to this team then dubas. Dude has been great at dumpster diving but he was handed a Mercedes and drove it off a cliff

LMFAO, because it's so difficult to suck. Bahahahahaha, if that's the best you got, we're done here.

 

[Woodman19]

I think the only big person gone for next year is Nylander, anyone who actually pays attention can see the coach and any hockey analyst (former players) are fed up with his off and on effort and you can't win with one of your "best" players giving such an inconsistent effort (not results, effort. before you come quoting stats). Matthews and Marner are too good to break up and Tavares is unmovable with his NMC so unless you plan to move Reilly you can't really afford to do anything significant without moving him (and Mrazek).

 

[Trapper]

Honestly, how many Leaf fans on this board hoped to win but expected to lose? Why?
Because it’s in your DNA now. That’s why change needs to happen. Not a blow up but for sure a change.
Tampa wins a Cup without Stamkos all playoffs and game 7 without Point. They played a whole year without Kucherov and made the playoffs. So if you need to trade a Nylander for someone more core on D then you do it. Enough of we can’t do that.
The DNA needs to change because losing becomes an infection. The entire supporting cast needs to change, money needs to be allocated differently and a different core vibe needs to happen after 6 in a row. And not a good 6 in a row.

 

[Darcy Tucker]

Fire all executives, managers, and coaches. And trade away every single player and prospect. Scorched earth.

Ah old school video game chat. This is funny to get into.

 

[JKG33]

This NMC that he gave is unforgivable IMO. You can't give him a short 5yr term AND the NMC in the final year. It had to be one or the other. Giving him both means he can just walk for nothing and I can't believe he thought that was a smart move. Of all the stupid things he did with contracts...that was the worst.

The Matthews contract was the worst of all worlds. 5 year term walking him straight to UFA. A huge cap hit that should be reserved for 8 year deals. And somehow the NMC despite not giving in on a single contract issue. Dubas bent over, spread 'em, and told Matthews to have at 'em.

If he wanted shorter term then he should've had to get paid less. If he wanted the money he should've been forced to sign for 8. If he wanted a NMC then it's 8 years at a lower cap hit.

 

[Woodman19]

Honestly, how many Leaf fans on this board hoped to win but expected to lose? Why?
Because it’s in your DNA now. That’s why change needs to happen. Not a blow up but for sure a change.
Tampa wins a Cup without Stamkos all playoffs and game 7 without Point. They played a whole year without Kucherov and made the playoffs. So if you need to trade a Nylander for someone more core on D then you do it. Enough of we can’t do that.
The DNA needs to change because losing becomes an infection. The entire supporting cast needs to change, money needs to be allocated differently and a different core vibe needs to happen after 6 in a row. And not a good 6 in a row.

Im sorry but what fans think/expect has 0 influence on what happens on the ice. Thats where the series was lost.

 

[onlygotmygrade10]

Dubas is a good GM and Shanahan has been a good president. The moves Dubas made this year worked out pretty well for the most part in the regular season. Unfortunately, they have massive blinders when it comes to the core players which is where things really need to change. Need to stop with blaming supporting cast, goalie etc they are not the ones taking up half the cap.

This team needs a new perspective and it starts at the top. Fingers crossed management is canned, coach is canned and 2 of the core 5 can go. I don't see why so many are content running out the same team year after year and then surprised that the results are the same. Who cares if this year was a better loss and a better team - it was still a loss.

 

[Trapper]

Im sorry but what fans think/expect has 0 influence on what happens on the ice. Thats where the series was lost.

Not the point. Fans are human and if you expect to lose, it’s always there. Players are human and if all you know is losing, it becomes part of your core. That’s the point. Fans expect it, players keep living it. That’s why change need to happen.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Please no "they really care" stuff from Dubas

 

[ToneDog]

I agree. You bring in a perennial loser in Marleau to play a significant role in teaching this kids how to win, that's a loser move. The only player worth a damn from that shitbag franchise is Pavelski.

I'll give Thornton a pass because he's washed up and didn't cost a huge cap hit at least.

But they still only bring in losers. Their big deadline acquisitions, Foligno and Giordano. Both guys have only won what.. 3 combined playoff rounds over their long careers? Meanwhile a guy who plays winning hockey in Sam Bennett was right there for the taking.

Or even the captain Tavares, coming in from the loser Isles franchise

Maybe Kyle can bring in Bergeron for 750k as our #3C. I jest but he would be awesome.

 

[usernamezrhardtodo]

I agree. You bring in a perennial loser in Marleau to play a significant role in teaching this kids how to win, that's a loser move. The only player worth a damn from that shitbag franchise is Pavelski.

I'll give Thornton a pass because he's washed up and didn't cost a huge cap hit at least.

But they still only bring in losers. Their big deadline acquisitions, Foligno and Giordano. Both guys have only won what.. 3 combined playoff rounds over their long careers? Meanwhile a guy who plays winning hockey in Sam Bennett was right there for the taking.

Or even the captain Tavares, coming in from the loser Isles franchise

In the end, we have nobody who we can call a clutch player. We just don't. AM and MM can do well in almost all situations but you don't say to yourself when we have our backs to the wall that either of them will get that clutch goal. If we had brought in Justin Williams instead of Marleau...he might have taught them about being clutch...I don't know if it's even teachable or just ingrained. But I do know we do not have a player on our team that when the chips are down...will come through with a special play to elevate everyone else.

When you have a player or two that can do that...it gives the team confidence. We have no clue who may or may not score in critical games and that is a huge problem IMO. I don't know how you get a player like that easily...but I think it will continue to be a problem.

I want to see Tampa in round 2....if they get smoked by FLA I don't think the " Oh we are really close" crowd has much to stand on with this team.

 

[Mohar Ikram]

Alright, after the series done and the results still is the Groundhog Day.... I just want to say one thing about the job lost.

Personally for me, you gotta make one big change to advance. You gotta sacrifice one or two of your main pieces to win the chips.

Let's see how previous champs did it:

2021 Lightning - They did it without Shattenkirk.
2020 Lightning - They did it without JT Miller and Dan Girardi
2019 Blues - They did it without David Backes (and he is on the opposing sides in the final)
2018 Caps - They did it without Mojo
2017 Pens - They did it without Fehr and Miss Letang in the playoffs entirely
2016 Pens - They did it without Dupuis and David Perron
2015 Hawks - The only team without major sacrifice.
2014 Kings - They have to sacrifice Scrivens for depth since Quick came back and Jones shows similar potential
2013 Hawks - They did it without Byfuglien and Ladd
2012 Kings - They did it without Jack Johnson
2011 Bruins - They did it without Blake Wheeler
2010 Hawks - They did it without Martin Havlat

Basically, each previous 11 champs have something they sacrifice from their core (and that player performs amazingly well in the season prior to their transfer)

If you ask me - so, who? I give you the answer - I don't know. No one knows. Your management has to figure it out. But, most of the championship team lost someone that really good for the sake of the balance and for the "playoffs calibre plays".

I don't mean to blow it out. But, make one significant sacrifice. That's what I say.

 

[Clark4Ever]

I think this loss stings more than the others because it feels like it was taken from us by terrible officiating, especially in games 6 and 7.

I think the players all showed up to a man. Shaking up the core is not necessarily going to make us better, and could end up making us worse.

I think Dubas and Keefe deserve to stay, and the roster needs tweaking in the off season.

 

[JKG33]

I think this loss stings more than the others because it feels like it was taken from us by terrible officiating, especially in games 6 and 7.

I think the players all showed up to a man. Shaking up the core is not necessarily going to make us better, and could end up making us worse.

I think Dubas and Keefe deserve to stay, and the roster needs tweaking in the off season.

I watched over 50% of all round 1 games across the league. Shitty reffing wasn't unique to TB/TOR, yet some Leafs fans are complaining the loudest about it

 

[ToneDog]

In the end, we have nobody who we can call a clutch player. We just don't. AM and MM can do well in almost all situations but you don't say to yourself when we have our backs to the wall that either of them will get that clutch goal. If we had brought in Justin Williams instead of Marleau...he might have taught them about being clutch...I don't know if it's even teachable or just ingrained. But I do know we do not have a player on our team that when the chips are down...will come through with a special play to elevate everyone else.

When you have a player or two that can do that...it gives the team confidence. We have no clue who may or may not score in critical games and that is a huge problem IMO. I don't know how you get a player like that easily...but I think it will continue to be a problem.

I want to see Tampa in round 2....if they get smoked by FLA I don't think the " Oh we are really close" crowd has much to stand on with this team.

But Point might be out.

 

[rocketman588]

LMFAO, because it's so difficult to suck. Bahahahahaha, if that's the best you got, we're done here.

My spreadsheet says blowing all our assets for 0 first round wins isn't very difficult

Dude got gifted all his star players and all he has done is over pay them and ruin the team.

As of July 1st of this year we will be paying 53 million of a 83 million cap to 6 players

That's because your boy is too afraid to make tough decisions and just pays everyone what they want

 

[Hockeylife2018]

I expect some of you to say none because nobody should be fired and/or traded when the team puts up 115 points in the regular season which is a franchise record

they won 54 games that's a franchise record.

and you'd be right those things are true and part of me would agree nobody should be fired or traded after setting franchise records.

But on the other hand how many more 1st round exits are acceptable before all those franchise record in points and wins as great as they are do not matter?

This depends on how you look at it
Was the team built for the Stanley Cup regular season or the playoffs?

If youre happy with winning the division every year, then mission successful. The team is built perfect, let's try and push it to 120 points next year!

 

[The Masters]

more and more I think Keefe is a goner.

Game 4 doesnt get talked about enough. That was bad. and game 7 we didnt come out ready to take it and win the fkin game. Thats on the coach. Need more intensity and that type of dna. dubas and shanny i give them another year to make changes along with coach and see what happens.

 

[CaptainCrunch17]

I doubt anyone will go.
let’s face it, this was the Stanley cup finals series…..

What if Tampa loses to the Panthers?

 

[DuklaNation]

Only logging back into this toxic place to state the obvious from a year ago, fire Dubas already. Ask yourself, how this guy got the job in the first place. Go back to spring 2018, has he really improved this roster? An online fantasy league manager could do better.

He chose to lock up 50% of the cap towards the finesse 4. What an idiot. Sure he made some decent moves, so what? Draft record, trade record, etc. Awful. Time is not on their side, Matthews is UFA in 2 years. That was your window. Anyone who's watched the game long enough can see this team's weaknesses. Pathetic.

 

[HomelessPepper]

your boy

LMFAO, he's not "my boy". I'm not a Dubas fanboy. I'm just capable of recognizing that no GM is perfect, and overall Dubas is a good GM. I'm just not interested in a knee-jerk firing of a good GM, leaving us with a likely shitty GM.

 

[DavePoulin4PM]

8 years for Shanahan without a division title or series win… and people are saying he’s a “good president”. They’re in the exact same place as they were when he took over. This management team clearly is incapable of putting together a team that can win in the playoffs. Do you really need a 9th season to prove this? Shanahan is nothing but a politician.

 

[rocketman588]

LMFAO, he's not "my boy". I'm not a Dubas fanboy. I'm just capable of recognizing that no GM is perfect, and overall Dubas is a good GM. I'm just not interested in a knee-jerk firing of a good GM, leaving us with a likely shitty GM.

Lol k bud when are your fake glasses coming in the mail so you can look more like your idol.

He is good at making faces when his team is getting teabagged in round one again.

Dude is too scared to do what is required to win

 

[DavePoulin4PM]

LMFAO, he's not "my boy". I'm not a Dubas fanboy. I'm just capable of recognizing that no GM is perfect, and overall Dubas is a good GM. I'm just not interested in a knee-jerk firing of a good GM, leaving us with a likely shitty GM.

How can you be a “good GM” if you are incapable of winning in the playoffs or winning a division title? Dubas has accomplished nothing.