Is this leafs team likeable?

[Sniper99]

What are these boards for?
Only to praise our collection of spoiled brats?

Are they only for whining and ********* the same broken records all the time?

 

[Nineteen67]

Ferraro brought up again today on Overdrive about how the Leafs don't talk at all when they're on the bench. No words of encouragement, no "let's go boys," it's as quiet as a morgue (my words). It's like queuing for the bus in England; go for your shift, come back, shuffle down, rinse, repeat. Now I never played at a high level but our benches in hockey always had noise going on, especially during our playoffs, and I'd reckon everyone else that's played hockey would say the same. I don't know, maybe that's just how it is around the league now and we just focus on the Leafs too much, but at this point I'd even take a high pitched "somebody f***ing go" at this point.

I would think it would be difficult to get along with the guys that hang with Bieber, regardless of how good they are.

 

[axlrose87]

Are they only for whining and ********* the same broken records all the time?

That’s a strange post to respond to two months later

 

[Pookie]

Are they only for whining and ********* the same broken records all the time?

I’m really curious as to what the ***** you are doing to your LPs. No wonder they are broken.

 

[Leaf4Life]

Ferraro brought up again today on Overdrive about how the Leafs don't talk at all when they're on the bench. No words of encouragement, no "let's go boys," it's as quiet as a morgue (my words). It's like queuing for the bus in England; go for your shift, come back, shuffle down, rinse, repeat. Now I never played at a high level but our benches in hockey always had noise going on, especially during our playoffs, and I'd reckon everyone else that's played hockey would say the same. I don't know, maybe that's just how it is around the league now and we just focus on the Leafs too much, but at this point I'd even take a high pitched "somebody f***ing go" at this point.

Here's the video


This is exactly why I do not like this team. No energy, no fire, no emotion. They're just going through the motions. This all while they're in the thick of a tight playoff race is what pisses me off even more. If that doesn't light a fire for them then what will?? Pathetic.

 

[Boxscore]

Ferraro brought up again today on Overdrive about how the Leafs don't talk at all when they're on the bench. No words of encouragement, no "let's go boys," it's as quiet as a morgue (my words). It's like queuing for the bus in England; go for your shift, come back, shuffle down, rinse, repeat. Now I never played at a high level but our benches in hockey always had noise going on, especially during our playoffs, and I'd reckon everyone else that's played hockey would say the same. I don't know, maybe that's just how it is around the league now and we just focus on the Leafs too much, but at this point I'd even take a high pitched "somebody f***ing go" at this point.

I was listening and heard that.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

No energy, no fire, no emotion. They're just going through the motions.

They've all been paid.
What's to work for now ?

 

[mapleleaf979]

The media wont say it but I will....

This team it appears, has locker room issues. Someone doesn't like someone. This jives with what Ferraro was saying. Its also supported by this team not giving a bleep for many games. They don't play for each other nor are they reliable for one another.

 

[Nineteen67]

The media wont say it but I will....

This team it appears, has locker room issues. Someone doesn't like someone. This jives with what Ferraro was saying. Its also supported by this team not giving a bleep for many games. They don't play for each other nor are they reliable for one another.

The media won’t flat out say it but they have been hinting at it for weeks.

 

[Bomber0104]

Ferraro brought up again today on Overdrive about how the Leafs don't talk at all when they're on the bench. No words of encouragement, no "let's go boys," it's as quiet as a morgue (my words). It's like queuing for the bus in England; go for your shift, come back, shuffle down, rinse, repeat. Now I never played at a high level but our benches in hockey always had noise going on, especially during our playoffs, and I'd reckon everyone else that's played hockey would say the same. I don't know, maybe that's just how it is around the league now and we just focus on the Leafs too much, but at this point I'd even take a high pitched "somebody f***ing go" at this point.

That's not the first time Ferraro has mentioned this.

He pointed it out during a game at the beginning of the season, when Babcock was behind the bench. Something along the lines of "Babcock is by far the most vocal person on the Leafs bench right now".

Seems like not much has changed.

 

[ACC1224]

The media wont say it but I will....

This team it appears, has locker room issues. Someone doesn't like someone. This jives with what Ferraro was saying. Its also supported by this team not giving a bleep for many games. They don't play for each other nor are they reliable for one another.

The coach has already lost the room? It was pointed out in the Marner thread that Keefe doesn't hold him accountable in the same way Babcock held Nylander accountable.
Maybe this is weighing on the players a bit?

 

[janesy12]

My opinion:
Leafs have 2 lines with lots of skill that just don't want to work and play a hard game. (Save for Hyman).
Then, they have 2 lines that work, and can play a hard game. They just have little to no skill.

Engvall - Kerfoot - Malgin
Clifford - Goat - Spezza

Neither one of those lines would scare me as an opposing team. They aren't really a threat to light you up on the scoresheet, and neither line is a sound defensive line to keep a team off the scoresheet.
The D has struggled, but that California road trip cannot be blamed on the blueline or the goaltenders. The forwards got caught up in a few hard, tight games and didn't know how to adjust.

 

[Boxscore]

Pierre was on TSN 1050 in the morning today and was saying the Leafs are an "extremely quiet bench" on and off the ice. He said a lot of teams--like the Pens--communicate on the ice and are a very loud, passionate bench, but the Leafs are extremely quiet. He also said they are missing Marleau and Hainsey in the room--they were guys the younger players look to for guidance. What was interesting is Pierre said the Pens were even louder when Kessel was on the team--he was a "rah, rah" guy on the bench and ice. That surprised me.

 

[MSZ]

This whole dressing room drama sounds a lot like the 2nd half of the Vince Carter era. Before Davis wanted out he called out Wilkens for not able to motivate the team.

If that's the case, when the Leafs do win a cup in the future none of the current players will be on that team.

 

[ottomaddox]

This is a hard lesson for Dubas and for certain fans.

Skill was supposed to be only thing that Dubas needed to deliver on, and for fans to hang their hats on (oh those glorious stats and wonderful underlying numbers!). Once again we are still watching Kyle learn on the job. You can almost kiss this season goodbye and this core while you're at it. You can hope that the goaltending, powerplay, systems all iron out. But you're never going to change this team's personality (or lack of it). I'm sorry to say it but having so much invested in 4 players left us no room to have those personalities in our make-up. How is this quiet / no emotion team going to turn that around ? It's near impossible.

 

[egd27]

And yet...... those Pat Burns/Pat Quinn Leaf teams that basically did not have a ton of skill and were loaded with toughness didn't come through all the time themselves in big spots. But those teams were so beloved despite their playoff shortcomings.

Their "playoff shortcomings" were the best playoff results this franchise has had since 1967.

 

[ULF_55]

This is a hard lesson for Dubas and for certain fans.

Skill was supposed to be only thing that Dubas needed to deliver on, and for fans to hang their hats on (oh those glorious stats and wonderful underlying numbers!). Once again we are still watching Kyle learn on the job. You can almost kiss this season goodbye and this core while you're at it. You can hope that the goaltending, powerplay, systems all iron out. But you're never going to change this team's personality (or lack of it). I'm sorry to say it but having so much invested in 4 players left us no room to have those personalities in our make-up. How is this quiet / no emotion team going to turn that around ? It's near impossible.

Yes, I would guess they thought there was more character in their high picks.

I really would like the team to succeed, but individually some are unlikeable, being cute is fine for juniors.

 

[Rob Brown]

I genuinely believe naming Tavares captain causes some issues in the room. I thought Matthews or Rielly made more sense at the time and still do now. I still believe that if Matthews off-ice drama hadn't occurred that he would have been captain.

 

[Boxscore]

Their "playoff shortcomings" were the best playoff results this franchise has had since 1967.

I agree. I do think 92-93 was the year. It was a great run but I still insist they should have beat the Kings, and ultimately the Habs, even though Roy was playing out of his mind--unbeatable in OT. Those Dougie/Wendel playoff runs were a ton of fun though.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

The coach has already lost the room? It was pointed out in the Marner thread that Keefe doesn't hold him accountable in the same way Babcock held Nylander accountable.
Maybe this is weighing on the players a bit?

Hard to know but guys making peanuts on a relative basis can get ticked at guys making a boatload and not giving their all. And there are times like on the west coast trip where Mitch and Matty should have had their *sses planted to the bench. And Keefe did nothing. By doing nothing it sends a message to team. You can say whatever you want after a game. But a coach sometimes has to make hard decisions even when they really like a player.
I can tell you a quick story which does happen. Mitch as a kid was known to come back from his shift and cut to first spot on the bench pushing back the other guys who wanted to go too. And he wore green laces so everyone could notice him. I remember a tournament final where we were losing late to a US team and Mitch had caused the turnover mid ice trying to go end to end to give them the lead. While he went straight to front again and coach told him to sit rest of game for the selfish play. Da boys got the tying goal late. Now in the dressing room waiting for da flood for OT da coach asked da boys if Mitch should get back in. Mitch said he was sorry to rest of team for his selfish play. and he went out and scored da winner on da 1st shift. That is how you build a team as a coach. No player is above da team. As the old saying goes there is no I in TEAM. For Keefe to take da room over he must build team. Mitch gets it. Not sure it was ever happened to a guy like Matty.

 

[Al14]

My opinion:
Leafs have 2 lines with lots of skill that just don't want to work and play a hard game. (Save for Hyman).
Then, they have 2 lines that work, and can play a hard game. They just have little to no skill.

Engvall - Kerfoot - Malgin
Clifford - Goat - Spezza

Neither one of those lines would scare me as an opposing team. They aren't really a threat to light you up on the scoresheet, and neither line is a sound defensive line to keep a team off the scoresheet.
The D has struggled, but that California road trip cannot be blamed on the blueline or the goaltenders. The forwards got caught up in a few hard, tight games and didn't know how to adjust.

And, you know what, thanks to the overpayment on the fab 4, there's little to no money to upgrade the bottom 6, or the D!

These fab 4 are all money, no compete, no desire to share the wealth for the good of the team!

 

[ottomaddox]

And, you know what, thanks to the overpayment on the fab 4, there's little to no money to upgrade the bottom 6, or the D!

These fab 4 are all money, no compete, no desire to share the wealth for the good of the team!

Share the wealth? Is TOR not Marxist enough to make the post-season?

This is highly cynical, and TOR's situation is more complex.

Boston are doing quite well this season and Chara is not handing over his paycheck to the other players.

 

[Al14]

Share the wealth? Is TOR not Marxist enough to make the post-season?

This is highly cynical, and TOR's situation is more complex.

Boston are doing quite well this season and Chara is not handing over his paycheck to the other players.

So, you don't think the fab 3 should have taken a little less money each to provide Dubas with more money to upgrade the team elsewhere?

Tavares apparently took less than what was supposedly offered to him by SJ. An extra 4 or 5 million could have been used to upgrade our Leafs.

Boston's top line is miles better than ours, and, are far cheaper too.

 

[Pookie]

So, you don't think the fab 3 should have taken a little less money each to provide Dubas with more money to upgrade the team elsewhere?

Tavares apparently took less than what was supposedly offered to him by SJ. An extra 4 or 5 million could have been used to upgrade our Leafs.

Boston's top line is miles better than ours, and, are far cheaper too.

A more relevant question is whether the team slogan should have been:

“Fab 3 and a solid D”

Or a

“Fab 4 and we must out score”

.... Tavares was available but that doesn’t mean we automatically should have signed him

 

[Willchel Marlynder]

They are likable but have far more gutless performances than you'd like. We've had our injuries, but with the fire power up front at the top, we shouldn't be fighting tooth and nail for a playoff spot.