I'm Just Not Feeling It This Year

[snipes29]

Normally I'm excited for the start of every year but this year it's just meh. There is just so little to look forward too. They've done everything

-Team set it's points records.
-Auston won the individual awards now and set the Leaf Records.
-Marner is B2B 1st team All Star, nothing left to prove.
-Rielly signed long term, no UFA drama
-Nylander had his best year it will only go down
-Tavares will regress, and we will continue to complain about his cap hit
-Robertson is the only prospect that could even make the team and might still end up in the minors
-Goalies are new but it's pretty much lateral changes at best.
-All the new skaters players are bottom 6 wingers

They'll score a lot of goals, they'll give up a lot of goals, they'll win a lot of games, make the playoffs and play someone from Florida. There is no cap space to make a big TDL deal so this is it. Can we just fast forward to April.

I thought last year was an 82 game preseason but for the individuals it really meant something so that was fun to watch..... Now that they've accomplished basically everything possible in the regular season it really is an 82 game preseason and I just DGAF. Never thought I'd say that.

Anyone else feel like this?

agree this so called brain trust running this organization is a joke dubas and shanahan and keefe need to go

 

[Puckstuff]

Normally I'm excited for the start of every year but this year it's just meh. There is just so little to look forward too. They've done everything

-Team set it's points records.
-Auston won the individual awards now and set the Leaf Records.
-Marner is B2B 1st team All Star, nothing left to prove.
-Rielly signed long term, no UFA drama
-Nylander had his best year it will only go down
-Tavares will regress, and we will continue to complain about his cap hit
-Robertson is the only prospect that could even make the team and might still end up in the minors
-Goalies are new but it's pretty much lateral changes at best.
-All the new skaters players are bottom 6 wingers

They'll score a lot of goals, they'll give up a lot of goals, they'll win a lot of games, make the playoffs and play someone from Florida. There is no cap space to make a big TDL deal so this is it. Can we just fast forward to April.

I thought last year was an 82 game preseason but for the individuals it really meant something so that was fun to watch..... Now that they've accomplished basically everything possible in the regular season it really is an 82 game preseason and I just DGAF. Never thought I'd say that.

Anyone else feel like this?

I actually felt this in 2020-21 and 2021-2022 but not this season. The 44 year old Thornton and other old guys on the 1st and 4th line infuriated me to no end and at those times I didn't even want to watch... how they were so naive to think a 44 year old floater could do more then some young hungry and agressive 20 something puck hounders that go full tilt on the 4th line was unreal to me. I'm really excited to see the proper buy-lows in Aston-Reese, Kampf and Aube-Kubel. Excited to see if Engvall can grow. I think Nylander can go from 80 to 100 if they don't play him with Tavares. I think if Robertson could get a chance he could score 60 points. Murray is either a gamble I will critique Dubie on or I will admit i'm wrong and that it's a good decesion but i'm still excited to see how it plays out. I'm pretty excited for this year. I also think they could get a deadline acqusiition. I don't understand how these guys manipulate the cap but they always seem to pull something off. Pavelski at 50 % off would be a nice deadline addition.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

I honestly don't understand why some of you watch hockey.

"Let's just fast forward to the playoffs".

f*** no. I want to relax, drink a beer, and watch Matthews daddy the Habs defence after a long day of meetings and emails. I want to see Matt Murray prove the haters wrong, and end up being the missing piece. I want to watch Bunts chirp every dinkus in this league.

Do some of you just watch so you can talk shit about us winning the Cup? Enjoy the journey, nothing is guaranteed in life or sports.

 

[Mess]

Building towards a Stanley Cup is the only thing that matters.

Success and failure depend on what the goal is each year. The long term goal is the cup, but short term goals vary from year to year. The season Toronto finished last, that was their goal, so they succeeded. Ever since then, they’ve been trying to win and failed.

.......................... " Building since 1967 " ..................................

 

[Dekes For Days]

The 44 year old Thornton and other old guys on the 1st and 4th line infuriated me to no end and at those times I didn't even want to watch...

Pavelski at 50 % off would be a nice deadline addition.

Thornton was 41, not 44, and the only other "old guy" was Spezza, who had a great year that year, and he was younger than the guy you're advocating for as a deadline addition...

 

[Gary Nylund]

For the people who aren't feeling it.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Lol.

Sports wouldn't exist if people didn't enjoy the ride.

Out of the 120+ pro teams in the 4 big North American sports only 4 can win.

Nevermind soccer leagues all over the world.

Every fan dreams their team will win. Not realistic.

What is this?

It's too hard to win at most things, so don't bother trying? Don't ever expect your team to win a championship because that's not realistic.

We would be stuck with the last management group if no one believes anyone can win ever.

Bring back Burke and Nonis. At least their pressers were a lot more interesting.

 

[Tak7]

I'll continue watching, because realistically this is the best core group of Maple Leaf players we will ever get in our lifetime.

However, the excitement just isn't there for me. To be fair, it wasn't last season either until Matthews started chasing his milestones and the playoffs neared the corner. I'm just not anticipating a regular season as smooth as it was last season - which might actually be a good thing for this group

 

[Jojalu]

What is this?

It's too hard to win at most things, so don't bother trying? Don't ever expect your team to win a championship because that's not realistic.

We would be stuck with the last management group if no one believes anyone can win ever.

Bring back Burke and Nonis. At least their pressers were a lot more interesting.

What I said is it is unrealistic to have Championship or bust mentality.

You miss too many good things on the journey if that is the mindset.

Of course everyone's goal is to win, but for most teams that isn't an option baseb on too many various circumstances.

Secondly, we are not part of the Leafs. Merely fans. We have little to no control over the outcome of any season unless as a whole we decide to stop caring or watching

 

[Gary Nylund]

What is this?

It's too hard to win at most things, so don't bother trying? Don't ever expect your team to win a championship because that's not realistic.

We would be stuck with the last management group if no one believes anyone can win ever.

Bring back Burke and Nonis. At least their pressers were a lot more interesting.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

 

[Voodoo Child]

I'll continue watching, because realistically this is the best core group of Maple Leaf players we will ever get in our lifetime.

However, the excitement just isn't there for me. To be fair, it wasn't last season either until Matthews started chasing his milestones and the playoffs neared the corner. I'm just not anticipating a regular season as smooth as it was last season - which might actually be a good thing for this group

That series loss to Montreal was hard on a lot of the fanbase, myself included.

The bad taste it left is still there and will probably still be there in five years, unless they win the Cup at some point.

And also last season, I don’t know if it’s just fatigue or if it’s because the East playoff picture was clear in December, I definitely felt the season starting to drag a little.

I don’t think they’ll do as well in the RS this year, lots of teams got inflated, but if goaltending holds up they should be able to win the division; Tampa lost two key guys and is a year older, and Florida lost a ton of their depth.

 

[ErnieLeafs]

Team hasn’t won a damn thing, and we’ve got spoiled fans. Imagine that…

 

[ANDI P IS CUTE]

While I know this kind of post is usually an excuse for people to gang up on someone, I will say that I get it. The team has reached a point where it's just stuck in a different kind of mud from the past. It's definitely better mud. At least they are stuck at the point of regularly making the playoffs before going out in a single round. That's definitely an improvement over the mud of just missing out and falling in the ugly middle ground.

But I still get it. The core guys are in their prime here. It's not getting much better than this. They are near certain to make the playoffs somewhere in the top 3 of the division. So while you can absolutely watch for the in-game entertainment, there isn't much mystery about where things are going.

So if you aren't feeling it then take a break. No point letting anyone make you feel bad for feeling that way. In a lot of ways nothing will be settled until several months later when we see if they can beat whoever they get in round 1 this year. I took most of last year off and it was pretty nice. Got nice and refreshed.

But if you stick around no big deal to feel a bit ambivalent. This age of talent is nice, but it's talent that still can't compare to teams we've had that actually could win series. So if nothing else it's worth watching to see if they can someday measure up to those teams and miraculously surpass them someday. Not much intrigue going into the regular season, but you might still have some fun during some high scoring wins regardless.

you are completely wrong- this is worse because we have 4 great players/ max cap and already have burned 5-6 years of AM/MM.

 

[ZEBROA]

Thats the spirit.

 

[Puckstuff]

Thornton was 41, not 44, and the only other "old guy" was Spezza, who had a great year that year, and he was younger than the guy you're advocating for as a deadline addition...

Big difference between Pavelski now and Thornton at 41

 

[Westlander]

What I said is it is unrealistic to have Championship or bust mentality.

You miss too many good things on the journey if that is the mindset.

Of course everyone's goal is to win, but for most teams that isn't an option baseb on too many various circumstances.

Secondly, we are not part of the Leafs. Merely fans. We have little to no control over the outcome of any season unless as a whole we decide to stop caring or watching

Sure, win or bust is unrealistic but it goes without saying that success is defined differently for different teams, even if they won't come out and actually say it. For bad teams that means seeing progress in player development, so-called moral victories against the top teams etc, for other teams just making the playoffs is success.

So, what is the goal for the Leafs? Because the good things on the journey you mention, we've already seen those, with the team points record, Matthews with the goals. I'm afraid it is almost championship or bust now because if it doesn't happen, this core of the team will be defined by blown opportunities.

Anyway, I'm still a fan and will watch most games, but I'm not exactly pumped anymore. I'm watching now more with interest than excitement.

 

[Jojalu]

Sure, win or bust is unrealistic but it goes without saying that success is defined differently for different teams, even if they won't come out and actually say it. For bad teams that means seeing progress in player development, so-called moral victories against the top teams etc, for other teams just making the playoffs is success.

So, what is the goal for the Leafs? Because the good things on the journey you mention, we've already seen those, with the team points record, Matthews with the goals. I'm afraid it is almost championship or bust now because if it doesn't happen, this core of the team will be defined by blown opportunities.

Anyway, I'm still a fan and will watch most games, but I'm not exactly pumped anymore. I'm watching now more with interest than excitement.

Sure, win or bust is unrealistic but it goes without saying that success is defined differently for different teams, even if they won't come out and actually say it. For bad teams that means seeing progress in player development, so-called moral victories against the top teams etc, for other teams just making the playoffs is success.

So, what is the goal for the Leafs? Because the good things on the journey you mention, we've already seen those, with the team points record, Matthews with the goals. I'm afraid it is almost championship or bust now because if it doesn't happen, this core of the team will be defined by blown opportunities.

Anyway, I'm still a fan and will watch most games, but I'm not exactly pumped anymore. I'm watching now more with interest than excitement.

While I do agree that the Leafs have seemingly blown some opportunities and I understand your excitement level being down it just doesn't apply to me.

Every season brings it's own nuances and storylines that can only come with live TV and the drama that comes with dealing with people.

The small redemption arcs, the spurt of someone overachieving, a successful roadtrip or a crushing loss to a zamboni driver.

It all adds up to make for compelling entertainment that I still get excited for.

I sure aa hell hope the entire Leafs organization all has the goal of winning the Cup this year for the record.

 

[Dayjobdave]

I’m looking forward to this year. We get a pretty great team to watch every night.

 

[ACC1224]

I’m looking forward to this year. We get a pretty great team to watch every night.

100%.
Never understood why anyone would come to a hockey board to declare they aren’t interested in hockey. No one cares if you are.

 

[CabanaBoy5]

I do enjoy watching this vintage of the Leafs, however I did enjoy the Tiger Williams, Darryl Sittler years especially getting to watch the legendary Mike Palmanteer! He was a very entertaining goaltender to watch! Shoutout to Pat Boutette also!!

Was there ever a less exciting line than Jimmy Jones-Jerry Butler-Pat Boutettte? But, they were damn effective as a defensive 3rd-4th line.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Big difference between Pavelski now and Thornton at 41

Well yeah. One makes 5.5m, and the other made 700k as a complimentary depth player. You could have just said you didn't like Thornton, but you seemed to go after some unknown "old guys" while simultaneously advocating for an old guy.

 

[conFABulator]

you are completely wrong- this is worse because we have 4 great players/ max cap and already have burned 5-6 years of AM/MM.

Why have we "burned" 5 or 6 years of AM and MM exactly? Did Colorado burn 7 or 8 years of Mackinnon, Rantanen and Landeskog or were they building something? Tampa had Stamkos and crew for years before winning also.

I don't see it as burning, I see building. We have created an environment where young stars develop and they also seem to want to stay. The flat cap hurt for sure in terms of what we can add around the core (imagine if we had an extra $10M to spend right now)... but we have a group of young stars entering their primes...that's a good thing and not a wasted opportunity...every recent Stanley Cup champion took the same route.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

What I said is it is unrealistic to have Championship or bust mentality.

You miss too many good things on the journey if that is the mindset.

Of course everyone's goal is to win, but for most teams that isn't an option baseb on too many various circumstances.

Secondly, we are not part of the Leafs. Merely fans. We have little to no control over the outcome of any season unless as a whole we decide to stop caring or watching

Ok. Thanks for clarifying. I agree.

 

[Throw More Waffles]

I'm excited about watching Matthews. I want him to get another Richard and Hart.

I'll probably skip regular season games that he's not playing.