Post-Game Talk: Leafs lose 3-1; lose series

[WillTheThrill]

Look it’s the Kyle dumass fan club he is very large part of a problem whether you want admit it or not recognizing The proper kind of talent we need he deserves no more chances I’m sure he’ll mess our draft up again you can have all the skill in the world The only way this team is ever going to win is if they take body checking out at the League then the players could skate figure eights around everyone

LOL he acquired toughness over the offseason and at the TRDL and it still didnt work. Also mess up the draft? Are you aware the Leafs have a top 10 farm system (arguably top 5) despite not having a high pick since 2016?

 

[17 Clark]

Not so sure about this. This team has been through many different rosters, but the end result is always the same - pissing it all away in the playoffs with a lack of effort and almost seeming intentional each time. So there's a pattern there. If it IS team culture/chemistry, then what is causing so many different rosters of players over many many years to always have team culture problems in Toronto? Wouldn't that mean there's a problem a little higher up, maybe with the way this franchise conducts its relationships with its players (just as one example).. it would seem there's a "systemic" problem (i hate that word) with this franchise because if it's a culture/chemistry problem then it's ALWAYS a problem no matter what year it is or which players are on the roster

Does anyone remember the Muskoka five

 

[lebdafor norris]

Totally agree, this franchise was ruined when Dubas signed JT and paid Marner that kind of money.

You could have just ended it right there, why did the Leafs ever pushed Lou out for this guy.

 

[rumman]

Team looked good on paper... problem was team effort.

Poor defense, weak goaltending and lack of offense. They need to look for a goalie in the off-season because Andersen is getting slow and Campell isn't ready

The entire problem is the game isn’t played on paper, Dubas has been a total failure, ditto for the Prez. Time for some competent people to salvage this train wreck.

 

[17 Clark]

LOL he acquired toughness over the offseason and at the TRDL and it still didnt work. Also mess up the draft? Are you aware the Leafs have a top 10 farm system (arguably top 5) despite not having a high pick since 2016?

and exactly where has That got us God you Kyle lovers will write anything his antics might’ve worked in Junior hockey obviously they don’t work here he’s a Push over And is in love with his players Half assed jobs just don’t work

 

[Diver3368]

It’s only hockey. I doubt Dubas or Keefe are released. Marner won’t be traded. They will tinker a bit. Sign Hyman and extend Reilly. They will be third in the Atlantic and bow out to a vastly improved Sens team next spring

 

[rumman]

Odds are nothing will change anyway.
I don’t trust the core, I don’t trust management at this point.

So another offseason of rearranging the bottom 6, finding next year’s Thornton/Simmonds and telling us how the core is mentally tougher after going through these types of battles.

That’s what I expect.
Something about the definition insanity or something.

Well, I’ll be back again next year to once again say “I told you so.” It’s actually getting tedious repeating the same message year in, year out. Expecting different results from the same incompetent mgmt, player, is beyond stupid.

 

[JayfromNB1219]

I don’t pin this on Keefe...I think I’m in the minority, he’s had 1.5 years and let’s be honest here the team has shown noticeable improvement defensively under him

He’s new to the NHL and seems to be willing to learn the lessons these situations present...that being said I didn’t agree with his use of line 1 or his unwillingness to make changes in the playoffs but I want to see if he learns from this before I toss him under any busses...at some point it’s on the players to perform he can’t make them try or fight through tight checking...let’s see what changes next year before we toss him anywhere

 

[CabanaBoy5]

After having time to reflect, I'll tell you why we lost this series starting from most important to least:

1. Our core are entitled, immature, and self-serving. Marner signing that ridiculous contract without earning it, Matthews not using his size and skill early in games to will this series in our favour, etc.
2. Playing Sandin over Dermott to begin the series. Sandin hardly played any hockey all season and he's inserted directly into the starting lineup. Cost us 4 important goals in all.
3. Powerplay was clueless. Part falls on the players, most falls on the coaches
4. Low IQ plays at critical times. Galchenyuk pass at the blueline, Dermott stopping and losing the puck, etc.
5. Puck luck. It's a game of inches, and we were inches away from scoring in Game 6 overtime when we dominated
6. Injuries to key players. Tavares out first game, Muzzin out for key game 7
7. Campbell allowed questionable goals whether he couldn't cover pucks in crease, allowing long shots to beat him.
8. No shows from grit players like Simmonds, Thornton, Foligno, Hyman.

Some of this is just part of sport, some speaks to the character of the team, but alot falls on the coaching and management of this team.

 

[Trapper]

The entire problem is the game isn’t played on paper, Dubas has been a total failure, ditto for the Prez. Time for some competent people to salvage this train wreck.

And until Dubas is moved we are stuck in this time loop.

Dubas can’t trade the core. It would be admitting failure and flawed build.

You can move Barrie or Kadri but he absolutely cannot move what he bet his job on and went to the wall for.

Half the cap spent on 4 forwards who as a sum of the parts aren’t playoff friendly.

 

[rumman]

It’s only hockey. I doubt Dubas or Keefe are released. Marner won’t be traded. They will tinker a bit. Sign Hyman and extend Reilly. They will be third in the Atlantic and bow out to a vastly improved Sens team next spring

Probably......

 

[ShaneFalco]

Didn't even feel like a playoff game. I mean if that's your best effort, in a game 7, after being up 3-1, we have big problems that aren't going to be solved by bringing in vets for "leadership"

 

[Trapper]

Well, I’ll be back again next year to once again say “I told you so.” It’s actually getting tedious repeating the same message year in, year out. Expecting different results from the same incompetent mgmt, player, is beyond stupid.

I’ll be right there with you listening to people say we can’t trade player x because we will never get value and then lose in the 1st round. But at least we have our value. No success as a team, but value.

 

[GoonieFace]

Shanahan’s a complete mystery, how a player of his ilk has let the team be built that resembles nothing like what I’d imagine a Shanahan team to be is beyond me? Wonder if he still has the stones to have a beer at the Blue Goose?

scary thing is Dubas tried with the additions of Simmonds/Thornton/Foligno etc. Problem is, this would have been helpful 7 years ago.

trading a 1st for Foligno was insane at the time and looks even worse now. Dubas has no clue, Keefe is awful. This team is a clown show. They lost to literally the worse team in the playoffs, a team that may not have made the playoffs in a normal season

 

[ToneDog]

No urgency
No compete
Not harder to play against

One year later under Dubas, not much has changed. Yup let's shuffle the pieces around the core and try again next year. Something is wrong in Denmark and it is not Freddy Andersen.

 

[rumman]

And until Dubas is moved we are stuck in this time loop.

Dubas can’t trade the core. It would be admitting failure and flawed build.

You can move Barrie or Kadri but he absolutely cannot move what he bet his job on and went to the wall for.

Half the cap spent on 4 forwards who as a sum of the parts aren’t playoff friendly.

Sadly I predict no changes other than fringe players and assistant coaches. Now it’s on ownership if they allow this failed experiment to continue.

 

[socko]

Whoever it is that can fire Shanahan... Is that the MLSE board? That's the only person who can change the narrative. If Shanahan stays, Dubas stays, and if Dubas stays nothing really changes and we all know it. Old 4 eyes and his spreadsheets. More playoff failure.

 

[CabanaBoy5]

Leafs will continue to spin their wheels year in and year out with Matthews and Marner at the top. Regular season performers who can't elevate their games come playoff time.

Pretty much how I feel...

Matthews and Nylander you keep I think, Tavares you have to, and then there are guys like Brodie and Hyman who I think deserve to stay. But beyond that I couldn't really care.

You are absolutely correct. I feel the same way. Ambivalence for the rest of the guys and frankly you can surround them with any other players under the cap and the results wouldn't be worse and probably better. Now it's up to management to follow your advice and make it happen as much as possible.

 

[robertmac43]

Still sucks the morning after....

 

[socko]

scary thing is Dubas tried with the additions of Simmonds/Thornton/Foligno etc. Problem is, this would have been helpful 7 years ago.

trading a 1st for Foligno was insane at the time and looks even worse now. Dubas has no clue, Keefe is awful. This team is a clown show. They lost to literally the worse team in the playoffs, a team that may not have made the playoffs in a normal season

Dubas would have paid them all $10+ million dollars 7 years ago. You would need to go back pre-salary cap for Dubas to be able to keep throwing money at his problems.

 

[BTP]

Still sucks the morning after....

I could barely sleep lmao.

f*** this team to the core

 

[Heritage]

I am done investing so much time, energy, and enthusiasm into this team.

I will most likely just casually follow them as I do with other sports going forward.

 

[GoonieFace]

Still sucks the morning after....

I couldn’t be happier. I wanted this core gutted for years, hopefully this is the final straw, but sadly I don’t think it is. Matthews and Marner combined 1 goal in 7 games against a garbage team like Montreal.

this is the real scary part, Montreal probably does not make the playoffs in a normal season. Imagine how bad they would have looked against a good team.

 

[GoonieFace]

Dubas would have paid them all $10+ million dollars 7 years ago. You would need to go back pre-salary cap for Dubas to be able to keep throwing money at his problems.

Lol, I know what you mean. I just meant these players were useful about 7 years ago. Dubas has no clue how to build a team, he’s lost.

 

[robertmac43]

I couldn’t be happier. I wanted this core gutted for years, hopefully this is the final straw, but sadly I don’t think it is. Matthews and Marner combined 1 goal in 7 games against a garbage team like Montreal.

this is the real scary part, Montreal probably does not make the playoffs in a normal season. Imagine how bad they would have looked against a good team.

Where is the enjoyment if you are cheering for the core to be gutted for years? Not even trying to be sassy or anything. Honestly curious when you started wanting them gone and why?