Post-Game Talk: Leafs lose 3-2 in OT | Down 3-0 in the Series

[Trapper]

Nylander is the first one mentioned in trades because he's the only one of the four who is underpaid, so he would bring the best return. It makes some sense, but by the same logic he's the best one to keep.

At present I agree. But he is a UFA the same time as Matthews. Hard choices might be needed.

 

[TMLeafer]

That ot goal was despicable. Reinhart goes completely untouched.

I get all the comments about the big money guys being invisible, but this pissed me off. Like no leafs forward is probably cruising into the zone, behind the net, and wraparound with zero resistance. What the legit heck were Brodie, McCabe doing?

 

[ACC1224]

I get all the comments about the big money guys being invisible, but this pissed me off. Like no leafs forward is probably cruising into the zone, being the net, and wraparound with zero resistance. What the legit heck were Brodie, McCabe doing?

That and the PP breakaway were just brutal.
Not sure what Marner was thinking there.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Since it's already a lost cause, how about starting murray in game 4?

We have nothing to lose.

Sure, why not?

 

[notDatsyuk]

In an essential must win game for the Leafs the Core 4 mustered a mere 3 shots combined after the 1st 2 period and ran their 2nd round combined stats to 0 goals 4 assists (2 coming on the same goal & PP) and -10 =/- in the series against Florida.

View attachment 704650

Congratulations! You are the 100th person to post that stat since the end of the game.

 

[egd27]

If TML management doesn't already have at least a pretty solid understanding of Matthews' contract expectations and a plan in place, then they should all be fired for gross incompetence.

My opinion - They realize there's no way to keep both 34 & 88 and that's why Dubas went all in at the TDL to take what he felt was one last shot with these guys.

 

[killer1980]

Marner was scared. I thought it was hilarious everytime he got hit. He had ta look of utter disbelief like, "didn't you get the memo?" It worked!. Whenever any Cat came near him he said, "here's the puck, please don't hit me."

 

[Mess]

Watching Sam Reinhart in OT access the Leafs zone 1 on 4 all alone and untouched, and then dump it round the boards and get it back unopposed, and wrap it around for the game winner has got to be among the most brainless defensive plays and embarrassing moments one can remember for this Leafs team.

That play wouldn't even happen in our Beer league.

 

[seventieslord]

but at the same time I don't know how you can decline bringing home a star/superstar hometown player that would improve your offense significantly and give you two great centers down the middle.

The reason that you decline to do that is because cap space is the best asset of all and he cost us a ton of that asset.

Hometown kid who takes a discount to come back home and then we get rid of him and his family. Not a good look.

Honestly, this matters like 0% in the question of whether to trade tavares. His contract, his age and his performance are the most important factors to consider. If you think that Ontario kids are suddenly not going to want to come home anymore, you're out of your mind. They always will. We just need to be smarter about it. We can't be signing 27-year-olds to 7-year contracts worth 11 million per year.

Five years ago - absolutely; these playoffs, he's a damn train wreck.

This is the playoffs and every goal against is very visible so I can understand you thinking that, but Brodie's expected goals against per 60 are the second lowest on the team aside from schenn, who's been playing a little more sheltered and with Rielly. Furthermore, the last three seasons of data clearly indicate that he has a very noticeable and measurable effect on the quality and quantity of chances going on the leafs net. He is an elite defensive defenseman and is on the complete opposite end of the spectrum from a player like Tyson Barrie.

 

[Da Mash]

Been a fan since 1970 and I won’t give up. I don’t get caught up in how many rds we win or how tough we are because the sport changes rules in playoffs.

Win the cup …everything else means nothing. I witnessed teams with Sittler and Salming and McDonald and they won squat.

Same with TO icons like Clarke and Domi and Gilmour and we won nothing with them. Geez we praise Darcy Tucker because he looked crazy.

Our core now haven’t produced like our stars in the past. We had no cap back then so it was easier adding the missing pieces

Now we have to fight the cap mainly because of the three 11 mil contracts. Will they take a hometown discount so we can add
more missing pieces. Or do we say Goodbye to one or two if them?

We are paying mathews to basically be a Bergeron now. Marner is a great player but he disappears in playoffs to many times and Taveres is a fine 2nd center but he should not be taking up that much cap space.

Reilly has come thru these playoffs but he is such a defensive liability that you can’t help but think…
“How do I get rid of that contract”?

Oh well…still holding out hope as I still think we are just to talented to not score more then 2 goals a game.

If not ….next yr is another new yr to chase Lord Stanley …at least regular season hockey is a joy to watch….can’t ask for better hockey from the leafs the last few yrs in that regard.

 

[RODTHEBAWD66]

The minute you guys let the inmates run the asylum you were doomed. Started with Shanahan allowing them to dress the way they wanted...no suits and ties, letting the snowflakes have their way with everything. Coddled them like they were 6 years old. No grit anywhere. Soft pu$$y a$$ team.

 

[Twine Tickler]

the problem with this core has never been that they don't want to win. They clearly want to win, and understand working on their craft is part of that. What has held this team back, specifically this core group, is that they don't despise losing.

There was no reason in my mind to think that our boys weren't going to show up yesterday and play the game of their lives. Afterall, they deserved better from the first 2 games, and walked away with nothing to show from it. Yet, they played the most uninspired and purposeless game of the playoffs.

Even though I had zero doubt prior to puck drop that we were going to show up, somehow, someway they manage to do exactly what they always do in these moments. I have no clue why I thought it would be different this time around. Looking back on it, I should have known better. The post game-2 interviews were such loser mentality. Aside from ROR. Every single one of those clowns stepped up into the mic and gave excuse after excuse, and none of them showed any f***ing passion and/or ounce of discontent. They just felt sorry for themselves. A running theme for our guys unfortunately.

I certainly don't question the work they put in day to day. But this team just does not hate losing enough to change anything. They'd rather sit at the end of the game and look outwardly and say "why me"

I have defended this group far too long. I've not wanted to move on from them because I know we will more then likely lose any trade involving any core player. But at this point, I genuinely don't care if these guys go on to win harts, rockets, selkes, and cups elsewhere. They don't have the nugs to do that for the Leafs.

Of course the series is technically not over. But barring a next to impossible comeback, this will be a sad, yet unbelievably fitting end to this era of Leafs. I genuinely am not interested in a retool. Strip it down, and start from scratch.

 

[IPS]

If TML management doesn't already have at least a pretty solid understanding of Matthews' contract expectations and a plan in place, then they should all be fired for gross incompetence.

My opinion - They realize there's no way to keep both 34 & 88 and that's why Dubas went all in at the TDL to take what he felt was one last shot with these guys.

OFC they've had some preliminary discussions. You're probably right about the TDL and going all in. They talked a bit with Matthews and it was likely his team told them about the number he's going to demand and if it's not met, he'll test the open market.

 

[killer1980]

The silver lining. The Dubas shills should disappear once he is fired.

Let's go back almost 5 years to the day when Leafs announced this useless loser was hired to run the most storied franchise in the history of the National Hockey League. Less than a handful of us (me) said this was the dumbest thing that ML management had ever done and that includes the Stafford Smythe and Harold Ballard eras.

 

[The Iceman]

IMO Brodie is getting force fed minutes.
He and McCabe were great against TB.
They have been a dogs breakfast this round.

And if you get a chance rewatch the O'Reilly giveaway.
As bad as the O'Reilly give away was, it was superseded by him completely panicking and not covering the 2nd guy.
Would have been a non-dangerous 2 on 2 had he just picked up the open guy.

I expect more from these trusted vets.

And nice job Woll under crazy tough conditions.

 

[PromisedLand]

I think that is part of the issue here... with only less than 2 months to go until those kick in, how does a new GM come in and make assessments on how to manage that? Unless they are given clear instruction from ownership, in which case I would not want to be a puppet GM.

It's kinda f***ed... Dubas is in the best position to manage this, but, not sure he would be willing to make the moves we all see now as necessary.

The team kinda screwed themselves by not having the GM locked up to make such important decisions this summer. Regardless if that was Kyle or someone else, that should have been dealt with BEFORE this season started.

That is why I feel like Dubas comes back on a 2 year extension...

If dubas is back I am done with the Leafs. its like asking an arsonist to come back to put the fire out. um.. no... very bad idea!

 

[ECanuck]

Been a fan since 1970 and I won’t give up. I don’t get caught up in how many rds we win or how tough we are because the sport changes rules in playoffs.

Win the cup …everything else means nothing. I witnessed teams with Sittler and Salming and McDonald and they won squat.

Same with TO icons like Clarke and Domi and Gilmour and we won nothing with them. Geez we praise Darcy Tucker because he looked crazy.

Our core now haven’t produced like our stars in the past. We had no cap back then so it was easier adding the missing pieces

Now we have to fight the cap mainly because of the three 11 mil contracts. Will they take a hometown discount so we can add
more missing pieces. Or do we say Goodbye to one or two if them?

We are paying mathews to basically be a Bergeron now. Marner is a great player but he disappears in playoffs to many times and Taveres is a fine 2nd center but he should not be taking up that much cap space.

Reilly has come thru these playoffs but he is such a defensive liability that you can’t help but think…
“How do I get rid of that contract”?

Oh well…still holding out hope as I still think we are just to talented to not score more then 2 goals a game.

If not ….next yr is another new yr to chase Lord Stanley …at least regular season hockey is a joy to watch….can’t ask for better hockey from the leafs the last few yrs in that regard.

This core is in no way terrible. Don't look at our emotional reactions from last night. lol They are amazing players. Playoffs EVERY year with these guys. It's not because they suck. The playoffs is a bit different and our boys have a harder time adjusting to it.

 

[The Iceman]

Let's go back almost 5 years to the day when Leafs announced this useless loser was hired to run the most storied franchise in the history of the National Hockey League. Less than a handful of us (me) said this was the dumbest thing that ML management had ever done and that includes the Stafford Smythe and Harold Ballard eras.

Your recency biased is one series long.
Comparing the Dubas run Leafs to Ballard is probably the worst take I have EVER seen on this board.

 

[usernamezrhardtodo]

Watching Sam Reinhart in OT access the Leafs zone 1 on 4 all alone and untouched, and then dump it round the boards and get it back unopposed, and wrap it around for the game winner has got to be among the most brainless defensive plays and embarrassing moments one can remember for this Leafs team.

That play wouldn't even happen in our Beer league.

I think it's coaching to be honest. There is no "System" for O-zone and D-Zone play that they can automatically do like robots when things are not going their way. Too much freelancing by pretty much everyone out there. You see guys ringing the puck around the boards in the O-zone with nobody on the other side to get after it. Our guys are usually as surprised by the ring around as the other team is. This means Keefe tells them to just "Create" and that they just need to back check on the way out of the zone....that's the extent of it. It took Keefe 8 playoffs games to figure out how to slow down the forecheck with those hail Mary passes up to the blueline....8 friggin games to figure it out.

 

[robertmac43]

I'm honestly in a little bit of shock right now with where we are in the series. Down 3-0? Never would have seen this coming.

 

[Clark4Ever]

Last night was baffling. It felt like watching a regular season game.

You would never know that one team was fighting for their playoff lives.

 

[TheGroceryStick]

It's sad that the thought over the next few days is the hope we just win and not get swept.

But even then, do the players have the pride to not be an utter embarrassment....again.

 

[mogs]

I am happy I am at 57 days alcohol free. I would be drinking a lot watching this team and it would not be making me feel any better. And I am very happy I am not at 7 days alcohol free, because the temptation would be massive.

I couldn't belive what I was watching tongiht. It was so bad. These guys have no heart. These guys don't have it.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Last night was a baffling. It felt like watching a regular season game.

You would never know that one team was fighting for their playoff lives.

It’s been a problem for a while. The main guys we have don’t seem to have the playoff gear

 

[TheGroceryStick]

Since it's already a lost cause, how about starting murray in game 4?

We have nothing to lose.

If he's healthy enough AND I'm Keefe - I 100% start him. And also ride the F outa the core 4.... I'm likely let go anyway after this debacle of a 2nd round. Might as well prove it's the core/decisions of management rather than leaving any questions.

Not that it isn't coaching...he's definitely part of the problem