Post-Game Talk: Leafs lose 3-2 | BREAK UP MATTHEWS AND MARNER!

[notbias]

Not enough cap space to carry extra players in the press box, so can't swap out guys who aren't performing. Thanks, Dubie.

We had 20 million in cap... we can also carry extra players right now and are.

 

[Lemontree]

Is anyone sure that Kyle Wellwood isn't wearing number #16 this season? Outside of Marner being thinner, his game resembles Wellwood in every terrible way possible. Bottom end NHL shot, can't or doesn't skate, looks to force every pass through multiple defenders.

 

[Aashir Mallik]

No worries, they gonna beat all the top teams. Marner gonna get 100 points in the remaining games. We good.

Good joke, really cracked me up. Marner getting 100 total this season is a reach. 100 in the remaining is hilarious

f*** this sucks

 

[TimeZone]

I don't disagree and by no means mean that the Leafs should have kept Dubas.

Just how it was done, the timing of it, desparate hire in Tre, never had a proper list of candidates to interview and vet...what did Tre did in his career to justify his hiring?

Shanahan needs to be accountable for this mess he created.

I think we both can agree that Shanahan is the one pulling strings here and the main person to blame.

I do think Dubas had to go, the issue is, who was a realistic target to become Shannys next puppet?

We're stuck in purgatory now, lets hope Brad (unlike Dubas) at least keeps our first round pick.

 

[notbias]

I hope you are right because honestly I don’t see that they can do much more than you just outlined. I don’t have a lot of faith in Matthews/Marner, they have been in the league long enough that they should be serious committed players but we are not seeing that.
as far as goalies go with a little more help from the defence they might be serviceable.

I think Matthews and Marner will play this badly the same way I think McDavid will barely be PPG this year...

I just don't see it, they are too good.

 

[ULF_55]

My worry has been, since the hot start Willie has had, is that it was all show for the trip to Sweden... And he would cool off after said trip. Hoping to be so wrong.

Do you really think he'd carry on at 130 point pace?

Post-crossbar-post ... had to end and that usually requires a reset.

Still looked like the best option for puck control and distribution.

 

[Stephen]

That description is not of someone who should be making 13.5. This is the description of someone who should be making 9.5-10. A guy who IF he figures it out, he’s unstoppable, but he probably won’t. It’s been too long, if he isn’t getting it now, he’s not getting it

Marner’s favourite move is the bellyflop poke check. His second favourite is a turn around shot from the point. His third favourite move is taking a backhand from 20 feet out. He spends more time at the point in the ozone than anywhere else on the ice. He is allergic to the front of the net, and his passes go nowhere.

Matthews looks more and more like a guy who climbed the top of the mountain, looked around and enjoyed the view and been there done that. I don't detect any kind of burning desire to win above all, be better than the next guy, find the next gear, find a reason to be excellent again and again.

True greats just keep coming at you doing the same thing over and over to the point of monotony. I don't think that's Matthews. I think he's post Hart Fedorov, post Cup Eric Staal and just go into a mid career cruise control.

Marner is just more or less what he is. He'll figure it out and pile on the points, but the guy is just like this. One crisis every year, struggle with maturity issues, heats up and goes white hot, great stats line and an early spring.

 

[TimeZone]

My worry has been, since the hot start Willie has had, is that it was all show for the trip to Sweden... And he would cool off after said trip. Hoping to be so wrong.

You think he built up a 17 game point streak "for show" ?

Interesting take, especially considering Nylander has generally been our most consistent forward the last several years.

 

[Larcos_Unal]

We've had a bunch of regular season success years, that doesn't last forever.

This may be the year we squeak in just barely

 

[ToneDog]

Good joke, really cracked me up. Marner getting 100 total this season is a reach. 100 in the remaining is hilarious

f*** this sucks

He's got the same number of points this year as he did last year after 19 games. I jest but he can get 100 if he wakes up soon. Maybe we need to keep him away from his wife. Lol.

 

[Hoglund4MvP]

Defence especially having no skill or toughness and goaltending are issues start way back from previous regimes. Years of bad planning have contribute to the product we see today. Not a UFA fix.

But there is no excuse for matthews and marner right now. They should be winning games on their own in spite of issues. They need to stop playing like trash.

 

[notbias]

Matthews looks more and more like a guy who climbed the top of the mountain, looked around and enjoyed the view and been there done that. I don't detect any kind of burning desire to win above all, be better than the next guy, find the next gear, find a reason to be excellent again and again.

True greats just keep coming at you doing the same thing over and over to the point of monotony. I don't think that's Matthews. I think he's post Hart Fedorov, post Cup Eric Staal and just go into a mid career cruise control.

Marner is just more or less what he is. He'll figure it out and pile on the points, but the guy is just like this. One crisis every year, struggle with maturity issues, heats up and goes white hot, great stats line and an early spring.

Do you think the same for McDavid?

 

[Cleetus]

The Leafs have 5 regulation wins in 19 games

you know who else has 5 regulation wins? the Oilers!

 

[ULF_55]

Not enough cap space to carry extra players in the press box, so can't swap out guys who aren't performing. Thanks, Dubie.

With Klingberg on LTIR there is space.

 

[Bellefour20]

Tre needs to hire Babcock as Marner's personal coach.

In that case Marner's new contract will be the maximum allowable under the cba

 

[PromisedLand]

Lol I’ve said it time and time. If there is anyone this fanbase should be mad at its Shanahan. He is the person that called every member of the core four/five and promised not to trade them.

We can’t be mad at Brad, can’t be mad at Dubas. Shanahan won’t let anyone make the move that needs to be made.

ShanaCON is one of the biggest gaslighter out there

 

[Stephen]

I agree. But at the end of the day Matthews is going to be one of your top two down the middle.

I just find Marner a lot more ineffective these days. His decisions with the puck have been questionable at best. He is fumbling constantly. Give Matthews two wingers who will dig in and let them grind it out more.

Marner can play next to Domi and Robertson and see if he finds his game. I know it won’t happen but i would love to see the change for a while.

I'm not Matthews any damn thing. How about he gives enough of a crap to figure out his own problems and fix Marner while he's at it. Put on such a pedestal, star among the stars, given everything and he can't figure it out.

 

[BallardEra]

Flyers and Isles going into OT tied at 0-0.

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

My worry has been, since the hot start Willie has had, is that it was all show for the trip to Sweden... And he would cool off after said trip. Hoping to be so wrong.

Nylander was once again the most dangerous forward for the Leafs. Points haven't been there the last two games (due for some regression), but his game hasn't changed

 

[ToneDog]

Not enough cap space to carry extra players in the press box, so can't swap out guys who aren't performing. Thanks, Dubie.

Who is available that can help? Thanks Kyle.

 

[andora]

Matthews looks more and more like a guy who climbed the top of the mountain, looked around and enjoyed the view and been there done that. I don't detect any kind of burning desire to win above all, be better than the next guy, find the next gear, find a reason to be excellent again and again.

True greats just keep coming at you doing the same thing over and over to the point of monotony. I don't think that's Matthews. I think he's post Hart Fedorov, post Cup Eric Staal and just go into a mid career cruise control.

Marner is just more or less what he is. He'll figure it out and pile on the points, but the guy is just like this. One crisis every year, struggle with maturity issues, heats up and goes white hot, great stats line and an early spring.

This is easily the best way I've ever heard it described

 

[PROUD PAPA]

I have been silent on Keefe.

I honestly believe Matthews and Marner care about winning. None of us know the expectations Keefe has laid out for them.

It is obvious both are struggling with confidence and are not playing anywhere near close to what the Leafs need them to be.

If Keefe has gone to them and told them to simplify their game and stop trying to make everything a highlight reel then it is on him for not benching them for not listening.

If he isn't, it is on him for not figuring out how to get through to them.

Not to take any fault away from Matthews and Marner, but you need a coach to help you deal with adversity, set guidelines and make sure they are followed through.

It could be a coaching thing I honestly have no idea. What I do know is I watch the effort level and too often question it.
Offensive cold and hot streaks are just a part of being an offensive player so I'm not bothered by them as much as most people are but they're not even deserving of anything, based on effort.
As for benching, other than missing a few shifts I doubt Keefe goes there and TBH I don't think the response would be a good one if he did. Cut down their ice time and PP time to send a message. If they're going to respond they'll respond to that. You're not embarrassing them but still making your displeasure crystal clear.

 

[Stephen]

Do you think the same for McDavid?

I think McDavid has his own problems. I don't think it would be all that comfortable being a teammate of his when things are going poorly which causes a lot of highs and lows and confidence issues in Edmonton. I think teammates defer to him and he's sulking and he's beyond hopeless defensively so you'll always struggle building a system around him.

I also don't think McDavid and Matthews should be referenced together like they're on a similar tier.

 

[notbias]

I think McDavid has his own problems. I don't think it would be all that comfortable being a teammate of his when things are going poorly which causes a lot of highs and lows and confidence issues in Edmonton. I think teammates defer to him and he's sulking and he's beyond hopeless defensively so you'll always struggle building a system around him.

I also don't think McDavid and Matthews should be referenced together like they're on a similar tier.

Correct, this year, Matthews > McDavid.

They also have the same amount of Harts/Lindsays in the last 2 years.

People act like Matthews is some slouch... he was injured last year, this year is not playing great but is still contending for the rocket so far.

 

[m1ker]

PP1 goes out there for most the 2 mins and gets 0 shots meanwhile pp2 for 20 seconds gets all the chances. How about we play pp2 more or is it because no balls keefe?