stuart5035
Registered User
- Apr 9, 2017
- 328
- 338
I am confounded at the difference between the Tampa game and the Florida/Minnesota/Colorado games, it’s like Jekyll and Hyde. So difficult to go from euphoria to utter frustration.
Could it be that the way to beat the Leafs is to clog the middle, everyone back in front of the net, have big fast forwards to jump on the frail Leaf defense, have their own defense muscle any Leafs who dare get to close. Play a classic trap, hit constantly. Don’t do what talented fast Tampa did, go end to end. We all know that talent on paper doesn’t mean anything.
Or is a major reason our defense, as so many comment? Analysts laud the offender and puck handling our defense brings (I think we are amongst the top teams for offenders from the defense, so I’ve heard). Is a better approach to have a few physically punishing types instead? Or is the smart approach a fast skating mobile corps as hitting increasingly decreases and speed is everything? Is our defense really that bad? Is all that’s needed is to have the forwards reduce the spread? Drop the stretch passes, numerous icings?
Or is a major Re-set needed? Like “give” the team to Matthews, make him captain, give him 22-23 minutes a game, stack the lines, bring back Moore, don’t mix the Marleau’s, Browns and Hymans with the pure offensive talents. Stop this “socialist” approach where minutes are spread out to everyone.
Is the “poor effort” we constantly complain about in the past month plus really that? I think all players want to play hard and win, but does our team “go home” a bit when the going gets tough (like the big muscular team that traps and sends big fast forwards at us, like Colorado?). Is it not work ethic but more too many players that don’t get pissed off? Is it needing a few nasty ones to stir a complacent placid crew?
More than anything, where has the offense gone ? Are we really a fast team? Or are so many teams just as fast, even faster? Is there a way to measure that? Why do we seem to have so little offensive zone time lately? Why are so many forwards ineffectual?
Is coaching the issue? What would a Joel Quenneville do differently? Is there a rift between Babcock and Matthews as so often rumoured? Is “giving” the team to Matthews mean saying good bye to Babcock? ( I believe Matthews is the key to unravel this, something is very wrong imo, for a player that should be about ready to take over the league, he is a mere shadow of that)
I’m at a loss, as you can probably tell, a long time suffering Leaf lover who thought, last fall, that the suffering was over.
Or is patience all that’s needed, like so many say? Is this just “every team goes through a rough spot”, they’ll be fine?
Please, thoughtful, caring replies, reasoned criticism where deserved. Simply venting our frustration publically will only hurt our Leafs and our own hopes.
Could it be that the way to beat the Leafs is to clog the middle, everyone back in front of the net, have big fast forwards to jump on the frail Leaf defense, have their own defense muscle any Leafs who dare get to close. Play a classic trap, hit constantly. Don’t do what talented fast Tampa did, go end to end. We all know that talent on paper doesn’t mean anything.
Or is a major reason our defense, as so many comment? Analysts laud the offender and puck handling our defense brings (I think we are amongst the top teams for offenders from the defense, so I’ve heard). Is a better approach to have a few physically punishing types instead? Or is the smart approach a fast skating mobile corps as hitting increasingly decreases and speed is everything? Is our defense really that bad? Is all that’s needed is to have the forwards reduce the spread? Drop the stretch passes, numerous icings?
Or is a major Re-set needed? Like “give” the team to Matthews, make him captain, give him 22-23 minutes a game, stack the lines, bring back Moore, don’t mix the Marleau’s, Browns and Hymans with the pure offensive talents. Stop this “socialist” approach where minutes are spread out to everyone.
Is the “poor effort” we constantly complain about in the past month plus really that? I think all players want to play hard and win, but does our team “go home” a bit when the going gets tough (like the big muscular team that traps and sends big fast forwards at us, like Colorado?). Is it not work ethic but more too many players that don’t get pissed off? Is it needing a few nasty ones to stir a complacent placid crew?
More than anything, where has the offense gone ? Are we really a fast team? Or are so many teams just as fast, even faster? Is there a way to measure that? Why do we seem to have so little offensive zone time lately? Why are so many forwards ineffectual?
Is coaching the issue? What would a Joel Quenneville do differently? Is there a rift between Babcock and Matthews as so often rumoured? Is “giving” the team to Matthews mean saying good bye to Babcock? ( I believe Matthews is the key to unravel this, something is very wrong imo, for a player that should be about ready to take over the league, he is a mere shadow of that)
I’m at a loss, as you can probably tell, a long time suffering Leaf lover who thought, last fall, that the suffering was over.
Or is patience all that’s needed, like so many say? Is this just “every team goes through a rough spot”, they’ll be fine?
Please, thoughtful, caring replies, reasoned criticism where deserved. Simply venting our frustration publically will only hurt our Leafs and our own hopes.