Post-Game Talk: Leafs Lose 2-1

[LeafSteel]

Watched the game and spent the whole time saying “Man, we can’t trade Minten soon enough for Laughton! If only we had Laughton in the lineup tonight!!!!”.

Prepared to be underwhelmed at best and disappointed as always by the moves the management makes and the result achieved by this team.

 

[MSZ]

He is still posting his forecasts? I blocked the dude lol

Yep. He obviously posted the Leafs were going to win last night.

 

[hoglund]

8 Straight Leaf losses in Vancouver now.

That is bad, but what were the scores in those games, were any or most of them convincing wins or like last night where it was close and either team could've won?

 

[Budz]

Watched the game and spent the whole time saying “Man, we can’t trade Minten soon enough for Laughton! If only we had Laughton in the lineup tonight!!!!”.

Prepared to be underwhelmed at best and disappointed as always by the moves the management makes and the result achieved by this team.

I don’t understand this line of thinking?

I’m not sure any “pro” Scott Laughton fan (me) would try to say he is some sort of saviour. What he is, is a low cost option - with term.

I just don’t see how we acquire a Schenn/Cozens type. I personally would hate it more if we blow another first on a UFA type (Nelson).

You are reasonable guy - what would you like to see then?

 

[Ports]

The bigger concern is that almost every time the core is put in this situation, they can’t bring it. They were going through the motions early in the game, but Vancouver picked it up in the third and the core didn’t compete. I don’t think it’s lack of desire as much as it’s a lack of ability.

Or a lack of compete. Opponents know that if they turn up the compete level, the Leafs star players won’t turn up theirs. It’s been that way for eight years now. It’s no secret.

 

[notDatsyuk]

The only thing this core wants to raise is their pay cheques……to the sky


It was. Peterson love fest

They had three Petterssons playing - maybe the love was shared?

 

[Cap'n Flavour]

In the first intermission, Bieksa was raving about Matthews' excellent two-way play and how inevitable it is that he's going to win a Selke. No comment on his now 6-game goalless streak.

Benoit-Myers are trash, the Marner-Tavares-Nylander experiment is a mess, and the team must have allowed like a dozen passes through the slot even after the absolutely embarrassing Hronek goal. Like they immediately allowed another chance almost exactly like it just 2-3 minutes later.

 

[Racer88]

They had three Petterssons playing - maybe the love was shared?

Ahhhhh the old triplet shell game

 

[Hallonbroder]

And no ovi, and probably no Crosby! Two guys I really want to see

Ugh, Ovi is a cheerleader for the most dangerous man in the world, plus a pal of the leader of “Putins army youth”, so he should stay away from the civilised world imo

 

[Stephen]

I don’t understand this line of thinking?

I’m not sure any “pro” Scott Laughton fan (me) would try to say he is some sort of saviour. What he is, is a low cost option - with term.

I just don’t see how we acquire a Schenn/Cozens type. I personally would hate it more if we blow another first on a UFA type (Nelson).

You are reasonable guy - what would you like to see then?

Laughton isn't all that low cost if you factor in someone like Minten going out the door. We have a very limited number of trade assets and I don't think you spend them just for the sake of a minor upgrade.

 

[Stephen]

In the first intermission, Bieksa was raving about Matthews' excellent two-way play and how inevitable it is that he's going to win a Selke. No comment on his now 6-game goalless streak.

Benoit-Myers are trash, the Marner-Tavares-Nylander experiment is a mess, and the team must have allowed like a dozen passes through the slot even after the absolutely embarrassing Hronek goal. Like they immediately allowed another chance almost exactly like it just 2-3 minutes later.

I thought that was a really weird clip by Bieksa. He showed a clip of Matthews standing in position on D and intercepted a pass, lobbed it out. Why is that in a highlight pack?

 

[hoglund]

Mathews not scoring in 6 games is concerning, but it happened in 2019 and he scored 47 goals that year.

 

[Budz]

Laughton isn't all that low cost if you factor in someone like Minten going out the door. We have a very limited number of trade assets and I don't think you spend them just for the sake of a minor upgrade.

I’m not suggesting Minten is okay for Laughton.

I personally think a 2nd and B prospect.

 

[Stephen]

Mathews not scoring in 6 games is concerning, but it happened in 2019 and he scored 47 goals that year.

I guess you never count Matthews out, but if he continues on this inconsistent post injury trend, this could be the year he fails to hit 40.

 

[Nineteen67]

Or a lack of compete. Opponents know that if they turn up the compete level, the Leafs star players won’t turn up theirs. It’s been that way for eight years now. It’s no secret.

I agree, but I think the ability to compete in all situations is a skill. 3 on 3 or the all star game they compete and are somewhat effective, the problem is when they have to fight for space and be quick to a 50/50 puck theyve shown they are too timid, lack speed and havent competed in those situations

They get another chance in the spring to show they can play hockey but I don’t feel too confident they’ll suddenly turn it up.

 

[leafsfan5]

Domi:

First 22 games: 0 goals
Next 3 games: 3 goals
Last 22 games: 0 goals

This is absolutely horrific

3.75 million lit on fire

 

[LeafSteel]

I don’t understand this line of thinking?

I’m not sure any “pro” Scott Laughton fan (me) would try to say he is some sort of saviour. What he is, is a low cost option - with term.

I just don’t see how we acquire a Schenn/Cozens type. I personally would hate it more if we blow another first on a UFA type (Nelson).

You are reasonable guy - what would you like to see then?

Fair question and I appreciate your approach to a discussion. What the spirit of the Forum needs to be.

I consider a prospect like Minten an asset that needs to be involved in a minimum tier 2 trade to bring in a 2RHD or 2C/3C centre.

Not saying Minten alone does it, but I’m ok with him being in a package for one of those that would be significant acquisitions.

Laughton to me is a tier 3 acquisition and I’m not sold on him at all. Feels like a path of least resistance move.

I’d be ok with him as a throw in for Cates (with retention), who would be my primary target. No interest in Risto either. Would rather just keep either Myers or Timmins and add a 2RHD like Murphy.

As much as I love the idea of big game hunting like Cozens and/or Dobson/Parayko, I don’t see it as plausible as we are currently constructed and would be loathe to lose a guy like Knies and even Cowan to make it happen.

My hope is to add players that aren’t the sexiest and biggest names, and add players with term who can plug in immediately and be helpful.

Cheers

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

This was also another one goal loss without managing to make it to OT. Christ’s sake why can’t this team at least manage to get 1 point?

 

[likecheese]

9

Laughton isn't all that low cost if you factor in someone like Minten going out the door. We have a very limited number of trade assets and I don't think you spend them just for the sake of a minor upgrade.

I hope Brad is a lot smarter than the guy who preceded him, you don't trade away the last young assets you have to double-down on a team that's got barely a chance of winning 2 playoff rounds. Unless they go on some magic run after the break where they actually look like contenders, they should be sellers.

 

[Budz]

Fair question and I appreciate your approach to a discussion. What the spirit of the Forum needs to be.

I consider a prospect like Minten an asset that needs to be involved in a minimum tier 2 trade to bring in a 2RHD or 2C/3C centre.

Not saying Minten alone does it, but I’m ok with him being in a package for one of those that would be significant acquisitions.

Laughton to me is a tier 3 acquisition and I’m not sold on him at all. Feels like a path of least resistance move.

I’d be ok with him as a throw in for Cates (with retention), who would be my primary target. No interest in Risto either. Would rather just keep either Myers or Timmins and add a 2RHD like Murphy.

As much as I love the idea of big game hunting like Cozens and/or Dobson/Parayko, I don’t see it as plausible as we are currently constructed and would be loathe to lose a guy like Knies and even Cowan to make it happen.

My hope is to add players that aren’t the sexiest and biggest names, and add players with term who can plug in immediately and be helpful.

Cheers

Thanks. Reasonable indeed.

The challenge for us, as fans, is that we will never know the asks of all the teams for the various options in trade. I find it challenging in articulating all of my thoughts.

I like Laughton, but only for a 2nd plus prospect.

I like Schenn, with retention, or big cap dumps and using 1rst rounders or top prospects.

I like Cozen - just like with Schenn (but at a higher price)

I do not want Nelson or Gourde as rentals and would want extensions in place in order to give up the necessary cost.

I don’t want O’Rielly. He left. Feels weird.

I feel like we see a deal soon.

 

[therealkoho]

Matthews looks seriously washed up.

Obviously he's not...he scored 69 last year.

But that's what he looks like. Washed up.

Not quite as bad as the Nick Ritchie that played here in Toronto. A lot more like "the Big Loaf" Rick Nash was that played with Rags

13 and change baby. Although that will look pretty good when the cap maxs at 125ish, but even that, all for 30 goals and some LTiR money isn't worth it.

The big contracts always have a way of looking like this, more to the end of the deal, and not ever from the start. Which begs the question why does stuff like this always happen to our Bud's?

 

[therealkoho]

Is that Barney in front of her?

 

[Al14]

He would rather skip Leaf games

And more often than not, he DOES SKIP Leaf games !!!

 

[therealkoho]

Thank God we have Auston Matthews what an incredible leader and incredible goal scorer that guy is.

And never forget just incredibly paid!

Matthews is playing with a bad back.
He really needs the 2 weeks off.
oh wait. …

He's saving it up for when he gets to play Captain America. A stick in one hand and a shield in the other, it'll be just like the movies I'll bet he's seen all of them 3 times and can recite every heroic soliloquy and poses like the posters hes hung up all over his condo.

So let me get this straight. We score 6 in one game and look amazing without the greatest Leaf ever and 4 goals in two games with the greatest Leaf ever in the lineup and playing major minutes.

Greatest Leaf ever? I know you meant the best negotiator ever

This is my quick analysis

Domi = Terrible
Marner = Unacceptable
Matthews = Awful
Tavares = Stunk
Willy = Hung over
Rielly = tried to be engaged but was lost most of the game
Robertson = below replacement player
Myers and Benny should be on the bus back to AHL. At this point I'd give Topi a try.
Bobby Mac was doing something
Tanev, McCabe and Woll were the only ones who showed up

Jes like Quicks Draw McGraw

 

[Warden of the North]

I never felt like we had any offensive momentum. I suspect our high danger chances for were quite low for the game overall.