Post-Game Talk: Leafs lay a next-gen egg in a lackluster loss 4-2 to the Senators.

[kevsh]

The same team, every year.

What's worse is a game like last night is just completely predictable at this point. As soon as the Leafs got up 2-0 it was a guarantee the Sens would come back and at least tie it.

Whatever "lessons learned" have not been learned. They make the same mistakes, have the same attitude with the same core year after year. And thanks to efforts last night there's zero reason to believe they'll have any more post-season success than the past 7 years.

 

[rumman]

I wondered what some were watching with the comments last night.
Thinking it was going to be a walkover.

They looked good for less than 1/2 a period, but you could see they were playing on the margin and making risky plays, and mindless decisions.

They played without purpose.
They just don't seem to be a team.

A collection of talent, leaderless and rudderless.

Leafs sre like ketchup and ice cream, separately good, together not so much……

 

[Evilhomer]

I feel like the team must keep “completed passes” as a stat or something. Never seen a collection of players who don’t seem to mind not scoring on the PP like them.

And yet they have one of the best power plays in the league. Penalty killing is a bigger problem.

 

[REALTALK81]

I don't understand why this team keeps getting one D caught in deep so often. Don't bother! Outside of Rielly, nobody scores from the back end! 2 Goals due to that. Can't blame the goalie for the poor system in place.

Aside from an aging Brodie, we don't really have stay at home defenseman and our fwds aren't coming back when the D pinches. Every pairing should have a stay at home Dman but we haven't had that type of line up for as long as I can remember.

 

[rumman]

Penguins now just 4 points behind the Leafs all though Leafs have a game in hand. Woll, Keefe and Matthews are carrying the Leafs. Dubas was called the worst GM in franchise history, yet our current GM has us very close in the standings with him.

All the problems with the Leafs are Dubas’ fault, oh and lou Lam says hi. See how that works, what goes around comes around…….

 

[RunItBackAgain]

I don't understand why this team keeps getting one D caught in deep so often. Don't bother! Outside of Rielly, nobody scores from the back end! 2 Goals due to that. Can't blame the goalie for the poor system in place.

Same issue why we don't have secondary scoring. Keefe caters to the core 5 and has no bloody clue how to get anything out of the rest of the team.

 

[leafs in five]

kinda miss watching a dominant team (regular season)

Same issue why we don't have secondary scoring. Keefe caters to the core 5 and has no bloody clue how to get anything out of the rest of the team.

one D gets caught deep so often because Keefe caters to the core 5?

 

[RunItBackAgain]

kinda miss watching a dominant team (regular season)


one D gets caught deep so often because Keefe caters to the core 5?

Kind of, yes. He can't recognize that none of the other D have any kind of skill in the offensive zone and should just play their f***ing positions. What have we got with years and years of bottom pairing Dmen pinching? The answer: endless, absolutely endless, odd man rushes and year after year of the worst point production from the D in the league.

I'd rather stay at the bottom in defenceman point production and stop giving up glaring 2 on 1's and breakaways because the Holl's of the world think its time to activate Orr-mode and Keefe pats them on the back for the attempt and says do it again!

 

[ToneDog]

All the problems with the Leafs are Dubas’ fault, oh and lou Lam says hi. See how that works, what goes around comes around…….

If only Shanny allowed Tre to fire Dubas' legendary coach instead he extends him like he was about to extend the dummy. Shanny has to fall on his sword this summer of they do not get out of round #2.

 

[Sypher04]

Penguins now just 4 points behind the Leafs all though Leafs have a game in hand. Woll, Keefe and Matthews are carrying the Leafs. Dubas was called the worst GM in franchise history, yet our current GM has us very close in the standings with him.

Keefe? I see a team that continues to exhibit the issues it started the season with. Not saying that’s entirely on the coaching, but coaching thus far seems weak.

 

[stickty111]

Keefe? I see a team that continues to exhibit the issues it started the season with. Not saying that’s entirely on the coaching, but coaching thus far seems weak.

I maintain it's personnel more. We have moved more towards an offensive group with less defensive players, and it's showing. The roster construction is an issue and thats on the GM. I think it's a credit to the coach we are in a good spot despite the injuries and roster.

 

[Cleetus]

Penguins now just 4 points behind the Leafs all though Leafs have a game in hand. Woll, Keefe and Matthews are carrying the Leafs. Dubas was called the worst GM in franchise history, yet our current GM has us very close in the standings with him.

why are you posting this nonsense in the leafs board?, who gives a f*** about the pens, there is a board here for them, you want to post about the penguins go over there, this should not be allowed here

 

[Sypher04]

I maintain it's personnel more. We have moved more towards an offensive group with less defensive players, and it's showing. The roster construction is an issue and thats on the GM. I think it's a credit to the coach we are in a good spot despite the injuries and roster.

I think it’s definitely a significant amount of both. Players can be taught to defend. But honestly my issues with the coaching extend well beyond just that our goals against are up.

 

[weems]

why are you posting this nonsense in the leafs board?, who gives a f*** about the pens, there is a board here for them, you want to post about the penguins go over there, this should not be allowed here

That post reads like someone that's actually cheering for the Pens to finish with more points than the Leafs.

 

[stickty111]

I think it’s definitely a significant amount of both. Players can be taught to defend. But honestly my issues with the coaching extend well beyond just that our goals against are up.

Thats fair. Keefe certainly has flaws and maybe a change is needed, but I don't know if a different coach solves the issues on this team.

 

[Stephen]

I maintain it's personnel more. We have moved more towards an offensive group with less defensive players, and it's showing. The roster construction is an issue and thats on the GM. I think it's a credit to the coach we are in a good spot despite the injuries and roster.

It's a bit of an enigma, since guys like Domi, Bertuzzi, Robertson are not even all that offensively productive relative to their defensive drawbacks.

 

[stickty111]

That post reads like someone that's actually cheering for the Pens to finish with more points than the Leafs.

Nope, but stats don't lie

 

[BallardEra]

I maintain it's personnel more. We have moved more towards an offensive group with less defensive players, and it's showing. The roster construction is an issue and thats on the GM. I think it's a credit to the coach we are in a good spot despite the injuries and roster.

I think it's more that Matthews has kept them afloat. Imagine where they'd be if he was having an off season?

So much parity and loser points every night in the league has allowed the majority of teams to hang around.

 

[Sypher04]

Thats fair. Keefe certainly has flaws and maybe a change is needed, but I don't know if a different coach solves the issues on this team.

On its own doubtful. The D and G isn’t good enough right now and that is very obvious

 

[rumman]

why are you posting this nonsense in the leafs board?, who gives a f*** about the pens, there is a board here for them, you want to post about the penguins go over there, this should not be allowed here

It’s all nonsense from a certain poster……

 

[stickty111]

On its own doubtful. The D and G isn’t good enough right now and that is very obvious

I think a top 4 d man and a couple defensive players on the forward group, and we are okay. Keefe has shown he can make a roster that is semi competent defensively or better work.

 

[Da Cool Rula]

I know people say Keefe can't play defence or goal. But a good coach can demand & expect the forwards to consistently help out. He can get them to buy in. Not everything but alot of this is confidence. I know we need additions, but for now, Might the goalies not make the key save because they have been left in the lerch so many times. Might the forwards and def not be playing well cause they lack confidence in the stopper? Alot of this and a lot of that.
Keefe "Best Before" Date is up.
We need a fresh voice then go from there. On a side note I don't want Guy Boucher.

 

[Sypher04]

I think a top 4 d man and a couple defensive players on the forward group, and we are okay. Keefe has shown he can make a roster that is semi competent defensively or better work.

I do think those are our biggest needs.
1 top 4 RHD, maybe a bottom pair D as well
Ideally a 3C
4W to replace McMann

 

[Clark4Ever]

Too much Christmas turkey for the boys in black.

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

I think a top 4 d man and a couple defensive players on the forward group, and we are okay. Keefe has shown he can make a roster that is semi competent defensively or better work.

Not sure about "work". A more defensive personnel went 7 straight playoff games scoring < 3 goals last year.