Speculation: Is winning games and being first in the Atlantic an indication that we're a bad team?

[Gary Nylund]

If this core had already won 6 series with a trip to the Eastern final, I think most would agree it was a good run.

I think you're right. I mean we obviously all want the cup, but I'm not one of those who say it's all meaningless if you don't win the cup. Every playoff series you win is something, even every playoff game you win is something and the more the better. I want the team to win some rounds, a lot more than 1 round in 8 years and I also want to feel like I can be proud of the team, that they played as hard as they can and left it all out there. I felt that way way when we lost to WSH, not sure I've felt like that since and that was a long time ago.

This team is on track to have the best regular season decade ever, and also a record for the most playoff futility in a decade. It's just weird but for me, overall unsatisfying, at least so far. I also think our window will be closing pretty soon considering our core doesn't have many prime years left and our D is old as f*** and could start sharply declining at any moment so if this core is ever going to give us some excitement, they need to get started.

I meant having a losing record for 8 straight years in the playoffs is most likely not a record.

I do believe losing 7 times in the first round in 8 years is.

Ah OK I think I got it now. I assume they don't track stuff like this (small mercies), but that's interesting anyway. I think I'll go make myself a coffee now LOL.

 

[Nineteen67]

I think you're right. I mean we obviously all want the cup, but I'm not one of those who say it's all meaningless if you don't win the cup. Every playoff series you win is something, even every playoff game you win is something and the more the better. I want the team to win some rounds, a lot more than 1 round in 8 years and I also want to feel like I can be proud of the team, that they played as hard as they can and left it all out there. I felt that way way when we lost to WSH, not sure I've felt like that since and that was a long time ago.

This team is on track to have the best regular season decade ever, and also a record for the most playoff futility in a decade. It's just weird but for me, overall unsatisfying, at least so far. I also think our window will be closing pretty soon considering our core doesn't have many prime years left and our D is old as f*** and could start sharply declining at any moment so if this core is ever going to give us some excitement, they need to get started.


Ah OK I think I got it now. I assume they don't track stuff like this (small mercies), but that's interesting anyway. I think I'll go make myself a coffee now LOL.

The idea of winning the Cup in those years went out the window with “we can and we will” and was never a realistic expectation.
Today, they’re still in the same boat in that they don’t many players that have demonstrated they’re good enough in their role to contribute to winning a couple of rounds. Some have shown they’re not good enough.

 

[Gary Nylund]

The idea of winning the Cup in those years went out the window with “we can and we will” and was never a realistic expectation.
Today, they’re still in the same boat in that they don’t many players that have demonstrated they’re good enough in their role to contribute to winning a couple of rounds. Some have shown they’re not good enough.

I wish I could poke holes in this but ... sigh.

 

[sunstersun]

No one here would be jaded about this regular season if we won in the playoffs a bit more.

But last year we lost to a crippled Bruins team. It wasn't prime Chara, Marchand and Bergeron.

Their best center was like Zacha. It should have been a series to win, but we didn't.

Everything after that series is BS until proven wrong in the playoffs. Why? Because the preponderance of evidence suggest the Leafs are frauds in the regular season.

 

[therealkoho]

I have a feeling that whether or not we're a good team or a bad team, in the final analysis the blame should be laid and have light shed on it that it's Marners fault and will always be Marners fault.

 

[Kazparov]

Regular season is just practice for the playoffs

Now it is but it wasn't in previous years. It was a completely different play style.

 

[Gary Nylund]

No one here would be jaded about this regular season if we won in the playoffs a bit more.

But last year we lost to a crippled Bruins team. It wasn't prime Chara, Marchand and Bergeron.

Their best center was like Zacha. It should have been a series to win, but we didn't.

Everything after that series is BS until proven wrong in the playoffs. Why? Because the preponderance of evidence suggest the Leafs are frauds in the regular season.

I wouldn't, that's for sure. Say we were something like 10-8 in playoff series with this core, I'd be so much more interested thinking about how this lineup might fare in the playoffs. But when you just lose every single time, it's more like OK another December game, whatever.

 

[Kazparov]

Great thread. Leaf nation will only be happy if every game is won 6 - 0 with 40 shots to 0 and Mitch Marner playing like prime Eric Lindros.

I swear we could go 82-0 then 16-0 and people would still find shit to complain about.

 

[ACC1224]

I have a feeling that whether or not we're a good team or a bad team, in the final analysis the blame should be laid and have light shed on it that it's Marners fault and will always be Marners fault.

It is hard for some to consider more than one thing at a time.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Great thread. Leaf nation will only be happy if every game is won 6 - 0 with 40 shots to 0 and Mitch Marner playing like prime Eric Lindros.

I swear we could go 82-0 then 16-0 and people would still find shit to complain about.

Clueless.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

I don't think anyone has ever said this team is a bad team.

Mediocre maybe. Playoffs loser definitely. But not bad.

They're just sorta meh.

I don't know about anyone else but that's not good enough for me. I want to see them win the cup. The only one who'd be happier than me if that ever happened would be my girlfriend.

Because that would be a neverending Viagra moment.

The fans deserve a team they can be proud of. They deserve a team that isn't the butt of every joke and meme on the hockey internet. They deserve a team of actual contenders.

Not this mediocre playoffs losing pretender contender they've been blessed with instead.

 

[therealkoho]

I think we're a really good team that has character issues.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I think we're a really good team that has character issues.

Can a team with character issues be a really good team?

 

[sunstersun]

Rielly is a big red alarm. The man is declining quick while on a terrible contract.

He's like the 4th best defender.

 

[colchar]

Winning matters, how they win doesn't. The Stanley Cup is awarded based on games won, not style points.