Is this leafs team likeable?

[Teeder Keon]

 

[Erdinger]

I don't recall that.

Guess it never happened then

 

[BayStreetBully]

Players were more likable pre-cap when no one knew how much they made.
Players then were judged on how they played, conducted themselves not by how much cap they took up.

The salary cap was never good for the Leafs or their fan base. The NHL shot itself in the foot when they imposed a salary cap in 2005. This league thinks they can take the biggest hockey market for granted, that we’ll always be here just because it’s Canada and because of our long tradition.

The NHL wants to expand in the south and in newer markets, which is fine, except that they lost out on an entire generation of youth and immigrants in Toronto who could have become fans, but instead went the Raptors and Jays route. What was there for a potential fan to cheer for in the last 15 years? Some of those potential fans are lost for good, others might join at a later date, but not as enthusiastically or as a secondary fan to another team in another sport.

In the long run, the salary cap will prove to be detrimental to the league, because as Toronto goes, so does the league. Baseball had a stranglehold in America in the 1950s, because the NY market was well-catered. Look what happened to America’s national pastime since then. The NHL thinks Toronto will always be the cash cow it wants them to be. Unless the Leafs do some winning soon, the NHL might learn the hard way that you should always take care of your best customer.

 

[rumman]

Players were more likable pre-cap when no one knew how much they made.
Players then were judged on how they played, conducted themselves not by how much cap they took up.

ya, but they weren't paid much, and you spent your summers working in Smyth's quarry's. How things have changed.................

 

[rumman]

I don't recall that.


yes.

he earned every penny on this night:

 

[Erdinger]

The salary cap was never good for the Leafs or their fan base. The NHL shot itself in the foot when they imposed a salary cap in 2005. This league thinks they can take the biggest hockey market for granted, that we’ll always be here just because it’s Canada and because of our long tradition.

The NHL wants to expand in the south and in newer markets, which is fine, except that they lost out on an entire generation of youth and immigrants in Toronto who could have become fans, but instead went the Raptors and Jays route. What was there for a potential fan to cheer for in the last 15 years? Some of those potential fans are lost for good, others might join at a later date, but not as enthusiastically or as a secondary fan to another team in another sport.

In the long run, the salary cap will prove to be detrimental to the league, because as Toronto goes, so does the league. Baseball had a stranglehold in America in the 1950s, because the NY market was well-catered. Look what happened to America’s national pastime since then. The NHL thinks Toronto will always be the cash cow it wants them to be. Unless the Leafs do some winning soon, the NHL might learn the hard way that you should always take care of your best customer.

No other league screws their cash cow franchise over like the NHL does

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

No other league screws their cash cow franchise over like the NHL does

No other league displays such brazen contempt for their most profitable and largest franchise. You think Goodell would ever take a shot at the Cowboys like Bettman did to us? How about Silver with the Lakers or Knicks? Manfred with the Yankees? Not a chance.

Since Parros has been named head of the DoPS has any player been suspended for something they did to the Leafs? Nope, but he was damn sure to give Hyman a record with suspension for interference against McAvoy. Wagner can nearly take Rielly’s head off in the same game but nothing given there.

 

[BayStreetBully]

No other league screws their cash cow franchise over like the NHL does

It’s like they don’t learn from history. Does the NHL honestly think what happened to baseball in America in the past 50 years couldn’t happen to hockey here?

The Leafs aren’t the only entertainment option in town. The NHL had better hope that the Leafs win a cup over the next few years, because if they don’t and things turn sour and players like Matthews and Marner are gone (probably to get even more of da moneys), then that’s probably the beginning of the end for the Leafs as #1 in Toronto, and once that happens the next step is a death knell for the NHL.

The NHL has no idea how much it depends on hockey interest in Toronto for the good of their own league.

 

[Throw More Waffles]

The salary cap was never good for the Leafs or their fan base. The NHL shot itself in the foot when they imposed a salary cap in 2005. This league thinks they can take the biggest hockey market for granted, that we’ll always be here just because it’s Canada and because of our long tradition.

The NHL wants to expand in the south and in newer markets, which is fine, except that they lost out on an entire generation of youth and immigrants in Toronto who could have become fans, but instead went the Raptors and Jays route. What was there for a potential fan to cheer for in the last 15 years? Some of those potential fans are lost for good, others might join at a later date, but not as enthusiastically or as a secondary fan to another team in another sport.

In the long run, the salary cap will prove to be detrimental to the league, because as Toronto goes, so does the league. Baseball had a stranglehold in America in the 1950s, because the NY market was well-catered. Look what happened to America’s national pastime since then. The NHL thinks Toronto will always be the cash cow it wants them to be. Unless the Leafs do some winning soon, the NHL might learn the hard way that you should always take care of your best customer.

The cap was supposed to create an even playing field, in which Toronto could still of course succeed.

Nobody thought it would be managed psychotically for 15 years, causing all of the problems you’ve outlined above.

It’s more of an incompetence problem than a cap problem.

 

[Cappuccino]

They should totally implement a system where a player only gets a percentage of his cap hit. If a player had a great season he gets 100%. If he had a bad season he gets like 40% himself and the rest is donated to charity or something.

 

[Clark4Ever]

This team is almost as unlikeable as the teams that preceded Babcock. What's even worse is that the skill level is much higher with this group.

Part of it is lack of intensity, and part of it is the coach's strategic approach.

It's shocking that it's come to this considering how they played a couple of years ago with the same core group in place.

 

[Erdinger]

I know Coliacovvo isn't popular here but he just made a great point on Overdrive. Babs preaches a defensive approach which means you are always trying to win close games. But that doesn't work if your special teams are as scheisse as the Leafs are

 

[Gary Nylund]

The cap was supposed to create an even playing field, in which Toronto could still of course succeed.

Nobody thought it would be managed psychotically for 15 years, causing all of the problems you’ve outlined above.

It’s more of an incompetence problem than a cap problem.

I tend to agree. Winning the cup would much more satisfying on an even playing field as well. Though if it doesn't happen in my lifetime then ... never mind.

I know Coliacovvo isn't popular here but he just made a great point on Overdrive. Babs preaches a defensive approach which means you are always trying to win close games. But that doesn't work if your special teams are as scheisse as the Leafs are

Remind me of the beginning of last season, I though oh baby this PP is going to be so awesome in the playoffs when goals are hard to come by. And now ... FML.

I'm not a huge Coliacovvo fan but honestly, he's not so bad. Though TBH I rarely listen to him any more.

 

[Teeder Keon]

The cap was supposed to create an even playing field, in which Toronto could still of course succeed.

Nobody thought it would be managed psychotically for 15 years, causing all of the problems you’ve outlined above.

It’s more of an incompetence problem than a cap problem.

Cap Shmap
It’s without a doubt the worst thing to happen to NHL hockey and or to any professional sport ...
If you and your franchise and city can’t play with the Big boys and a girls in terms of financial and customer and merchandise and Tv and radio support , then bigger off !
I’m sick of the cap and this parity bull shite !
Sick of it .. it’s another word and term for participation medals ..
There always saying well if this team or that team ever wins , then the fans will come out , bull crap .. listen y’all , not every team wins , and you may never win , a solid franchise and fan support is either there or not , either you have money or you don’t ...
It’s great to hate the Yankees as I do , it’s great to hate the Sox and Dodgers like I do , that’s real fan and sport interest ..there the big bad bully in terms of money , well the interest is in trying to beat them and hate on them ..
No not in today’s NHL Love in
It’s all about everyone makes it ..
Soon there will be 6 wildcard teams and everyone makes the playoffs
Bull I say ! Bull to that!
Get lost , Ottawa , get lost , Florida , get lost all those teams that draw poorly , you know what , that’s what the ECHL and amateur sports are for ..
Let’s get back to dynasty’s and a good hate for the big teams in the sporting world
Also because the Leafs are loaded , money wise lol
In all seriousness
The cap stinks in my books !!

 

[Throw More Waffles]

Cap Shmap
It’s without a doubt the worst thing to happen to NHL hockey and or to any professional sport ...
If you and your franchise and city can’t play with the Big boys and a girls in terms of financial and customer and merchandise and Tv and radio support , then bigger off !
I’m sick of the cap and this parity bull ****e !
Sick of it .. it’s another word and term for participation medals ..
There always saying well if this team or that team ever wins , then the fans will come out , bull crap .. listen y’all , not every team wins , and you may never win , a solid franchise and fan support is either there or not , either you have money or you don’t ...
It’s great to hate the Yankees as I do , it’s great to hate the Sox and Dodgers like I do , that’s real fan and sport interest ..there the big bad bully in terms of money , well the interest is in trying to beat them and hate on them ..
No not in today’s NHL Love in
It’s all about everyone makes it ..
Soon there will be 6 wildcard teams and everyone makes the playoffs
Bull I say ! Bull to that!
Get lost , Ottawa , get lost , Florida , get lost all those teams that draw poorly , you know what , that’s what the ECHL and amateur sports are for ..
Let’s get back to dynasty’s and a good hate for the big teams in the sporting world
Also because the Leafs are loaded , money wise lol
In all seriousness
The cap stinks in my books !!

I agree to an extent.

The problem is that back in 2004, only like 5 teams were making any money.

The players seemed perfectly ok with that horribly unsustainable system, and borderline refused any sort of compromise.

I would have preferred if the league shrank and lost 5-10 teams bleeding money, but it’s the PLAYERS that would hear nothing of it in cba negotiations. So then the league said we can keep all of these teams and jobs, but only with a hard salary cap. Again, the players wanted nothing of that also. Which lead to the lockout. Which lead to the cap.

Because this all had to be negotiated between the nhl and the nhlpa, it meant that simple logical solutions weren’t possible.

 

[Teeder Keon]

I agree to an extent.

The problem is that back in 2004, only like 5 teams were making any money.

The players seemed perfectly ok with that horribly unsustainable system, and borderline refused any sort of compromise.

I would have preferred if the league shrank and lost 5-10 teams bleeding money, but it’s the PLAYERS that would hear nothing of it in cba negotiations. So then the league said we can keep all of these teams and jobs, but only with a hard salary cap. Again, the players wanted nothing of that also. Which lead to the lockout. Which lead to the cap.

Because this all had to be negotiated between the nhl and the nhlpa, it meant that simple logical solutions weren’t possible.

I get it , don’t like it , but get it
Go Leafs Go

 

[axlrose87]

I gotta be honest though.... the salary cap is not our issue with this team. Our problem is we have too many me me me guys.
One of them is injured at home right now. What a great time to trade him for the heart and soul (and Defense) this team lacks..... and send Babcock with him.

 

[Bomber0104]

Delete.

 

[Dough72]

I just watched our captain get smashed from behind by a total wimp in David Pasternak and already know they will do nothing about it, and so does Pasternak. Last time we played Boston I watched Brad Marchand shove Mitch Marner on the ice at the end of a game that was already decided, pin him there with his knee and slap him around a bit just to disrespect the Leafs team. It was like a schoolyard bully shoving dirt in a nerds face. Not only is the team unlikable but so are the people running it. A pacifist for a coach, a male-feminist for a gm, and a president who was apparently spearheading the NHL getting rid of body checking and fighting.

 

[Resistance]

Young people making too much money are never likeable.

 

[The Iceman]

This team is like that significant other that went wrong, everytime you see them you cringe a bit.

I find fault with everything going on now.
Hate the anthems, no emotion. Want a new anthem singer or recording.
Hate the goal song, need a new one.
Hate the PP
Hate the PK
Hate the 4th line
Hate Ceci on top pairing
Babs rubs me the wrong way
Team getting roughed up all over the ice

I need a change

 

[indigobuffalo]

The internet makes it impossible to like any roster for Leafs fans.

So much negativity is infused into every player.

 

[CincoHolio]

I really want to, but I can hardly think of one player that I tune in to see.

This is a very mediocre, soft, effortless team. I'm already missing games because they give me nothing.

That lousy Ron Wilson (post-Sundin era) stunk, but at least they didn't cheat you for effort. Same with Babcock's first year with TOR. They ended up dead last, but they never didn't care or try.

I never know which key guy on TOR takes the night off, but it seems like they all take their turn. Sometimes all at the same time.

The way this team is built it seems like they might struggle to reach the post-season. That's awful when you consider how well everyone is getting paid and how little the cap allows adjustments.

I think might have more fun this season watching the NYR re-build. Ok maybe not, but I'm suffering here. This Leafs team has no one to cheer for.

I don't disagree with any of this. Games start at 6am for me so I've only bothered to watch a couple of periods over the last several games. Haven't watched any of the last 3. I'm focusing on the Raps. They have a fun plucky team. Play hard until the last second of the game.

I'm sad about this team so I'm staying away. It's the lack of character that disappoints me the most. Very. Unlikeable. Players.

 

[ToemassCabriolet]

No.

All the stars are either weak, floaters, or both. These Leafs are a product of sucking hard for a long time, then drafting the "BPA". Now the imbalance in the line-up shows from top to bottom since all the impact players are similarly skilled-but-soft guys. Dubas needs to figure which assets to convert in order to balance the line-up, and fast. The Kadri trade was a move made with this principle in mind, which is a good thing, it's just the players coming back have played flakier than anyone could have possibly imagined.

 

[phillytennis]

The salary cap was never good for the Leafs or their fan base. The NHL shot itself in the foot when they imposed a salary cap in 2005. This league thinks they can take the biggest hockey market for granted, that we’ll always be here just because it’s Canada and because of our long tradition.

The NHL wants to expand in the south and in newer markets, which is fine, except that they lost out on an entire generation of youth and immigrants in Toronto who could have become fans, but instead went the Raptors and Jays route. What was there for a potential fan to cheer for in the last 15 years? Some of those potential fans are lost for good, others might join at a later date, but not as enthusiastically or as a secondary fan to another team in another sport.

In the long run, the salary cap will prove to be detrimental to the league, because as Toronto goes, so does the league. Baseball had a stranglehold in America in the 1950s, because the NY market was well-catered. Look what happened to America’s national pastime since then. The NHL thinks Toronto will always be the cash cow it wants them to be. Unless the Leafs do some winning soon, the NHL might learn the hard way that you should always take care of your best customer.

The biggest sports market in Canada is Toronto.... biggest hockey market is Montreal.