How would YOU tackle this early season slump?

[Ianturnedbull]

Firing the coach is the easiest thing to do.

 

[WTFMAN99]

It would've saved us loads of time if they acted after Columbus. We'd have won a round by now for sure. Most likely the Montreal series.

We pushed Boston to game 7 without JT, we then lead Boston 3-2 and lost in 7 with JT.

We drew CBJ, an opponent, not an elite one and lost. They were without Josh Anderson, Panarin and Bob...we lost.

You could have easily fired Keefe then.

People wanna debate it? I don't know why but *fine* - there's NOTHING that excuses the MTL series loss.

 

[capfit9]

Maybe some perspective would help? What do these teams have in common?

• 2021-22: Colorado - 4-5-1
• 2020-21: Tampa Bay - 8-1-1
• 2019-20: Tampa Bay - 5-3-2
• 2018-19: St. Louis - 3-4-3
• 2017-18: Washington - 4-5-1

Stop comparing them to cup winners, you’re being delusional to say the least

 

[6ix]

They need to trade for patty kane and when Liljegren gets back that should stabilize the D.

Put Kane with Matthews and Marner and with Tavares.

 

[Menzinger]

New GM. Give him as much time as possible evaluate what changes need to be made.

Even if things were overwhelming it's Probably the worst time to hire a GM is early in the season. Very few candidates are going to be available

 

[IPS]

Maybe some perspective would help? What do these teams have in common?

• 2021-22: Colorado - 4-5-1
• 2020-21: Tampa Bay - 8-1-1
• 2019-20: Tampa Bay - 5-3-2
• 2018-19: St. Louis - 3-4-3
• 2017-18: Washington - 4-5-1

Previous playoff success?

What did you think they had in common?

 

[Menzinger]

Maybe some perspective would help? What do these teams have in common?

• 2021-22: Colorado - 4-5-1
• 2020-21: Tampa Bay - 8-1-1
• 2019-20: Tampa Bay - 5-3-2
• 2018-19: St. Louis - 3-4-3
• 2017-18: Washington - 4-5-1

Yep. Not to mention even a cursory glance around the league at the moment shows some strange records that likely won't hold true for the next 6ish months.

We also know the problem - the top line has been overly quite. Which won't last. At worst I'd separate Marner and Matthews for a game or two as a wake up call or to try and get them going with others for a bit.

 

[SprDaVE]

Previous playoff success?

What did you think they had in common?

I don't know, you can point that out. I just pointed out previous cup winners and their starts.

 

[SprDaVE]

Stop comparing them to cup winners, you’re being delusional to say the least

COL, STL and WSH were not cup winners before they were. TB 2019-2020 their first one weren't cup winners with their core.

Basic common sense needs to be applied.

 

[BrannigansLaw]

Maybe some perspective would help? What do these teams have in common?

• 2021-22: Colorado - 4-5-1
• 2020-21: Tampa Bay - 8-1-1
• 2019-20: Tampa Bay - 5-3-2
• 2018-19: St. Louis - 3-4-3
• 2017-18: Washington - 4-5-1

This is such an oversimplification. I know you are smarter than this and understand that a poor start isn't really the problem. It's the pattern of issues that are showing up again that have caused issues for us come spring time.

Do I expect them to make the playoffs? Yeah but it was never about that. It's about their habits of not starting on time and playing down to the level of their opponents among other things.

 

[SprDaVE]

This is such an oversimplification. I know you are smarter than this and understand that a poor start isn't really the problem. It's the pattern of issues that are showing up again that have caused issues for us come spring time.

Do I expect them to make the playoffs? Yeah but it was never about that. It's about their habits of not starting on time and playing down to the level of their opponents among other things.

You don't think these teams listed had these issues at the time? It is a simple fact that provides perspective that starting badly or on an average footing doesn't mean the season is done. It's cause to take a step back and chill a bit on the sky falling rhetoric.

The team has issues and it is very frustrating but that can be completely different by the end of the season.

 

[IPS]

COL, STL and WSH were not cup winners before they were. TB 2019-2020 their first one weren't cup winners with their core.

Basic common sense needs to be applied.

My basic common sense tells me it's completely illogical to compare our team to those teams.

No clue what yours is telling you.

This is such an oversimplification. I know you are smarter than this and understand that a poor start isn't really the problem. It's the pattern of issues that are showing up again that have caused issues for us come spring time.

Do I expect them to make the playoffs? Yeah but it was never about that. It's about their habits of not starting on time and playing down to the level of their opponents among other things.

Watch the games and you can realize very quickly how incredibly dumb it is to compare our team to past cup winners.

 

[BrannigansLaw]

You don't think these teams listed had these issues at the time? It is a simple fact that provides perspective that starting badly or on an average footing doesn't mean the season is done.

The team has issues but nothing and it is very frustrating but that can't be completely different by the end of the season.

Agree the season isn't done but all those teams showed they can win at least a round and didn't really have historical collapses.

Our group feels like a special case.

 

[SprDaVE]

My basic common sense tells me it's completely illogical to compare our team to those teams.

No clue what yours is telling you.

How much different can I explain that those teams were not cup winners prior to them winning the cup? They had vastly different playoff experiences as well.

If you can't understand that, then I guess we'll have to move on from this discussion. Seems really simple to me.

 

[hamzarocks]

I'd give the team 15 more games

By game 23 if they're not at .600 hockey I'd consider a major move

Trade/firing/hiring whatever

If they're still struggling 1/4 of the year in then it's going to be a crap season. The boys need to wake up and start playing to their potential

I am happy we have our 1st round pick this year.

If 2 of 16/34/88/91 etc get injured at the same time for a month at least and were around .500 I wouldn't mind selling off and seeing how a mini tank looks. If we can nab a spot in the top 10 I'd go that route and then do a major retool in the summer

 

[SprDaVE]

Agree the season isn't done but all those teams showed they can win at least a round and didn't really have historical collapses.

Our group feels like a special case.

So if they had won a playoff round, the fact that I brought up would feel different?

I'm just as fed up with the lack of success as anyone here but it's weird that a simple fact is bringing up so much anger and goal post moving. Nothing would change if the team was 8-0 either because lack of playoff success would over shadow everything.

 

[IPS]

How much different can I explain that those teams were not cup winners prior to them winning the cup? They had vastly different playoff experiences as well.

If you can't understand that, then I guess we'll have to move on from this discussion. Seems really simple to me.

0-9 in elimination games.

0-9 in elimination games.

0-9 in elimination games.

Who else is doing this?

 

[BrannigansLaw]

I'd give the team 15 more games

By game 23 if they're not at .600 hockey I'd consider a major move

Trade/firing/hiring whatever

If they're still struggling 1/4 of the year in then it's going to be a crap season. The boys need to wake up and start playing to their potential

I am happy we have our 1st round pick this year.

If 2 of 16/34/88/91 etc get injured at the same time for a month at least and were around .500 I wouldn't mind selling off and seeing how a mini tank looks. If we can nab a spot in the top 10 I'd go that route and then do a major retool in the summer

What is the infamous cutoff date for predicting who makes the playoffs? Is it Christmas? I'd give them at most til then.

 

[egd27]

Maybe some perspective would help? What do these teams have in common?

• 2021-22: Colorado - 4-5-1
• 2020-21: Tampa Bay - 8-1-1
• 2019-20: Tampa Bay - 5-3-2
• 2018-19: St. Louis - 3-4-3
• 2017-18: Washington - 4-5-1

They didn't go 18 years without winning a playoff series?

Actually any team that that's existed that long has that in common except one.

 

[BrannigansLaw]

So if they had won a playoff round, the fact that I brought up would feel different?

I'm just as fed up with the lack of success as anyone here but it's weird that a simple fact is bringing up so much anger and goal post moving. Nothing would change if the team was 8-0 either because lack of playoff success would over shadow everything.

Honestly, yeah it would be different. It's a huge mental hurdle for them and it would demonstrate some sort of tangible progress. It would also shut us up for awhile.

It brings up anger because we've heard this argument every year and it's meant nothing.

 

[SprDaVE]

0-9 in elimination games.

0-9 in elimination games.

0-9 in elimination games.

Who else is doing this?

The OP is talking about the regular season. And I quote:

"Would you just chalk this up to early season struggles similar to years past and continue to stay course?"

"I am just curious what most people think needs to be done at this point or do we just take a deep breath and see where we're at by American Thanksgiving?"

I am talking about the regular season. Calm down, take a step back and breathe.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Fire Dubas, Keefe and Shanahan.

It's time to let new management take a crack at this core. Get management that's not afraid to hold anybody accountable.

I think it is time for new ownership too .. enough of Larry's BS .. he has lost his edge and gotten too fat and happy on development deals

 

[SprDaVE]

They didn't go 18 years without winning a playoff series?

Actually any team that that's existed that long has that in common except one.

My response was in response to the original point of the thread. Not previous playoff success.

The point is, if you need clarifiation as well, is would you panic now with the teams recent struggles? I merely pointed out that the start of a team doesn't always mean they finish in the same position.

 

[IPS]

The OP is talking about the regular season. And I quote:

"Would you just chalk this up to early season struggles similar to years past and continue to stay course?"

"I am just curious what most people think needs to be done at this point or do we just take a deep breath and see where we're at by American Thanksgiving?"

I am talking about the regular season. Calm down, take a step back and breathe.

Does this regular season start not say ANYTHING AT ALL to you about what is possibly coming come playoff time?

If you can't see the same weak character, not give a f*** attitude this team has demonstrated time and time again then there's no helping you.

 

[Andrewcoursol]

I would have made the necessary changes years ago to avoid being in this position. At this point there’s nothing you can do besides hoping they figure it out and Matthews re-signs. Can’t fix culture mid-season.

I would have no issues with a retool or rebuild, the reality is that many teams like Buffalo,montreal,detroit, are only another year or 2 from expecting to compete on a yearly basis for a good 5 or 6 year run, Tavares can stay if he signs a team friendly contract, like Giordano, Spezza, this leaf team is still 4 key pieces away from being a serious playoff contender That is with the fab 4, the entire blue line can go, except Rielly, maybe Sandin, and Lilly turn into 2nd or 3rd pairing defenseman, at this point in time Muzzin is done, and Holl even being a right handed shot would clear waivers . at forward the bottom 6 are softer than melted butter, Simmonds is essentially done. As for goaltending Samsonov is the best available,, the coach will not sit star players, which has to be done to send a message, I would trade Matthews while his value is Hi before he leaves as a UFA, he can get closer to home, less media, same money, and hang with Biebs. I am not a leafs fan but sentimentality aside sometimes you got to just see how things are and make the tough changes for the better otherwise this team will not be playing Hockey in the months of May or June in any year anytime soon.