Is this leafs team likeable?

[AllDay28]

As much as you'd like to wish human nature away with woke messaging, one day as you mature, you younger generations will understand the reality that part of the human existance includes necessary violence.

youve almost certainly been in less than a handful of fights with this thinking

 

[keonsbitterness]

What exactly make a team 'likeable?'

For you, if Tom Brady is on it.

 

[Thissiteisgarbage]

youve almost certainly been in less than a handful of fights with this thinking

I don't enjoy fighting , not many do but I would never in a million years refuse to stand up for myself like Matthew's did. Especially if I had a 6'3" frame like he has.

 

[AllDay28]

What exactly make a team 'likeable?'

- they won their division
- They got an elite all world goal scorer
- Elite potential GM who needs an opportunity like everyone’s fav GM/Coach who failed to start (see: Lou/Trotz)

- young core and still some players to come up and play full time minutes (Sandin, Lily, Amirov, Robertson)

People act like the Leafs are this Barron wasteland but a lot of my friends are fans of other teams and would take a leaf player or two in a heartbeat. Grass is always greener on the other side

 

[Suntouchable13]

- they won their division
- They got an elite all world goal scorer
- Elite potential GM who needs an opportunity like everyone’s fav GM/Coach who failed to start (see: Lou/Trotz)

- young core and still some players to come up and play full time minutes (Sandin, Lily, Amirov, Robertson)

People act like the Leafs are this Barron wasteland but a lot of my friends are fans of other teams and would take a leaf player or two in a heartbeat. Grass is always greener on the other side

Wow, they won their division! Big deal. Who cares about that? You think fans in Montreal give a crap about the Leafs winning this division in the regular season? Enjoy your meaningless banner!

 

[AllDay28]

Wow, they won their division! Big deal. Who cares about that? You think fans in Montreal give a crap about the Leafs winning this division in the regular season? Enjoy your meaningless banner!

Man… imagine caring about the Habs …

I gave u reasons as to why they’re likeable.

 

[Mess]

What exactly make a team 'likeable?'

Winning makes a team likeable, and losing makes a team unlikable, unless of course losing doesn't bother you, then apparently you're in Leafs management and everything is fine.

 

[AllDay28]

Shit, remember when the Habs wanted to fire Bergevin.. now he’s a final 4 gm. Shows you how much fans really know about hockey (it’s those pesky eyes but I digress)

 

[Leafs1991]

As much as you'd like to wish human nature away with woke messaging, one day as you mature, you younger generations will understand the reality that part of the human existance includes necessary violence.

Lol, right, saying violence isn't necessary is "woke messaging" now? So everytime you hear something you don't like that it's woke messaging?

You people are so sensitive to change in the world. Violence is necessary for very select situations outside of sport (MMA and boxing are completely different obviously). In sport, I really don't care if it is ever continued. I'm one of the people who think fighting needs to go. A stupid pointless thing in hockey.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

What exactly make a team 'likeable?'

Winning is the big one, but beyond that I'd say a likeable team consists of having charismatic players, showing an honest effort in their games more often than not, having good relations with the community, and knowing that they have a chance to go far or win it all in a season.

The Leafs as they are right now can't win in the playoffs and have proven incapable of doing so for five seasons now (though I'd argue only the last three have really mattered in that context but I digress), so the first and last things I listed are moot. As for charisma, ehhhh like less than half the players on this team have winning personalities, and even then the play on the ice for a couple of them negated that. This regular season I'd argue the Leafs gave an honest effort more often than not, but holy shit do the final three games of the playoffs erase all of that, how do you not come out with a great effort in any of those games? So that leaves their relationship to the community, which credit to the organization is still pretty good with all they do charity and events wise, but the losing hurts their standing and the contract negotiations are still fresh in people's minds.

I think the last time this team was universally liked was 2016-17, when the organization was playing with house money and little stakes. Higher stakes though don't necessarily mean a team can't lose and not be likeable. Just look at Carolina the past three seasons, they haven't won it all yet but because they've managed to go on a couple of decent runs there's still hope and faith on their end. I'd reckon the same will be true for Colorado if they get knocked out, same with the Islanders. One thing these franchises have done over the past few years despite not winning the Cup is they've kept hope alive for themselves and their fans. Our Leafs have not done that. No one in this fan base now has any notion that this Leafs core in any given year can flip a switch and go on a good playoff run or potentially win the whole damn thing, they've f***ed up too many times and folded every time in games where the stakes were at their highest.

 

[Mess]

Shit, remember when the Habs wanted to fire Bergevin.. now he’s a final 4 gm. Shows you how much fans really know about hockey (it’s those pesky eyes but I digress)

Remember when Montreal wasn't winning, and Bergevin switched his coach, and now he's a final 4 GM and a lot more likeable.

That's because everyone loves a winner.

 

[Racer88]

You kids ought to watch an old episode of the Andy Griffith Show when Andy teaches Opie that in order to have self-respect and the respect of others, you need to learn to stand up for yourself. Physically if need be.
It's what makes you a man, not rationalizing your fear away on how you might break your hand on a helmet.

Matthews is a great hockey player but he ain't no leader and never will be.

Right on

 

[Racer88]

Remember when Montreal wasn't winning, and Bergevin switched his coach, and now he's a final 4 GM and a lot more likeable.

That's because everyone loves a winner.

Well said.

 

[mikeyz]

Well, you know, well...

I got nuttin.

I hear you man.

 

[mikeyz]

- they won their division
- They got an elite all world goal scorer
- Elite potential GM who needs an opportunity like everyone’s fav GM/Coach who failed to start (see: Lou/Trotz)

- young core and still some players to come up and play full time minutes (Sandin, Lily, Amirov, Robertson)

People act like the Leafs are this Barron wasteland but a lot of my friends are fans of other teams and would take a leaf player or two in a heartbeat. Grass is always greener on the other side

So, in a nutshell, you’re satisfied with watching the Leafs lose in the 1st round every year.

 

[Gabe Kupari]

Likeable? Who gives a crap. All that matters is winning. Likeable? What is this junior high? Honestly I think it's better if your team isn't likeable. This is pro sports not some charity event. Ppl care to much what other fanbases think. Ppl care to much what the media thinks. None of that matters tho. Being likeable in hockey? Aww cute but honestly... Being the villain is much better. Ppl don't like you then you know you are doing something right. It's easy to be likeable. In pro sports tho nobody should care about being likeable. You should want the other fanbases to dislike you. You should want the other teams to despise you. Hate you. Hate playing you. Hate playing against you.

 

[Stephen]

Looking back at the date of the OP, I remember watching this game as the moment when the Leafs started their bad Jekyll and Hyde swings, horrible meltdowns. It was after the Marner contract debacle and about a month before the Babcock firing. Leafs had a 4-1 lead vs Montreal and blew it in the SO.

 

[HolyCrap]

- they won their division
- They got an elite all world goal scorer
- Elite potential GM who needs an opportunity like everyone’s fav GM/Coach who failed to start (see: Lou/Trotz)

- young core and still some players to come up and play full time minutes (Sandin, Lily, Amirov, Robertson)

People act like the Leafs are this Barron wasteland but a lot of my friends are fans of other teams and would take a leaf player or two in a heartbeat. Grass is always greener on the other side

They won their division in the regular season they are not the North Division champs, nobody cares about winning regular season division it’s post season that counts. Also the GM comment is making me think your just trolling and looking for laughs. I mean we’re laughing but it’s at you.

 

[mikeyz]

They won their division in the regular season they are not the North Division champs, nobody cares about winning regular season division it’s post season that counts. Also the GM comment is making me think your just trolling and looking for laughs. I mean we’re laughing but it’s at you.

I think he is trolling. Or at least I hope he is.

 

[axlrose87]

I think they care, but I don't think they are to the point where they absolutely hate losing. Unfortunately, some players just don't have that in their DNA -- we need to see if Matthews, Marner, Nylander and Rielly do. I believe Tavares does, but that's not enough, you need the entire core tugging on the same rope.

I also think we need our President, GM and Coach to stop being cheerleaders and start establishing some non-negotiables. These players have received everything they've asked for without resistance -- money, opportunity, recognition, praise, and work-life balance. They might need to be reigned in a little bit.

Tough to reign them in now after you gave them everything.
Only option now is to make an example out of someone.
Trade Marner and see if that makes the others change. If they haven’t after a full season and post season, trade away the rest.
Management needs to actually start doing their jobs instead of being fanboys.

 

[Gallagbi]

Man… imagine caring about the Habs …

I gave u reasons as to why they’re likeable.

They 7 straight playoff wins is pretty endearing for a plucky underdog team with little talent that everyone counted down and out

 

[myleafs]

In hockey, as in life, sometimes it is.

However, having Matthews break his hand in three places by punching the helmet of a Canadiens player is not the answer. We pay Matthews 11.6 mil to score goals and win games, not play the role of pugilist.

The more pressing question is: why didn't a Maple Leaf go out the next shift and run Suzuki? That's the answer I'd like to know.

I didn't want to see Matthews punch a helmet and break his hand but you can get into a scrum and push back. Or like a previous poster said where was everyone else on the leafs. He is learning to use his big frame and thats a good thing but a little bit of nasty can go a long way. You messed with Howe or Messier Pronger they would take your teeth out and you would think twice next time. This team for whatever reason does not stand up for each other and that isnt some old person wanting violence as another person stated. Winning teams go to war for each other. Always have.

 

[Aus34Matt]

Man… imagine caring about the Habs …

I gave u reasons as to why they’re likeable.

There’s your problem, you are easy to please.

You need to raise your standards if you’d like to cheer for a championship team one day.

 

[myleafs]

Likeable? Who gives a crap. All that matters is winning. Likeable? What is this junior high? Honestly I think it's better if your team isn't likeable. This is pro sports not some charity event. Ppl care to much what other fanbases think. Ppl care to much what the media thinks. None of that matters tho. Being likeable in hockey? Aww cute but honestly... Being the villain is much better. Ppl don't like you then you know you are doing something right. It's easy to be likeable. In pro sports tho nobody should care about being likeable. You should want the other fanbases to dislike you. You should want the other teams to despise you. Hate you. Hate playing you. Hate playing against you.

Marchand I fkn hate that guy but I respect his game and wish we had someone like him on the leafs.

 

[leaffaninvancouver]

Yes they are, it’s one of the more likeable teams in recent memory actually.