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

[JT AM da real deal]

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.

I think they are giving it everything they have .. bottom line they just don't have it .. each of them has deficiencies in their games and collectively it is a brutal mix .. i am talking about playoff hockey here .. regular season hockey they are great

 

[Superstar]

I think the vitriol is hilarious.

We have pieces that can be moved.

Panic after three game losing streak.

The core is proving to be a bunch of chokers...they choose the most important time of the year to choke...this team has not lost 3 games in a row since Oct 30th.

 

[killer1980]

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.

How foolish of me. Guess 1 Cup isn't good enough for you. Scroll down a bit and maybe show all this to your idol and former Leaf GM Dubas.

 

[seventieslord]

I dont see him waiving. Hes home with a young family. I just cant see it happening. We maybe able to move another contract or 2 or 3 somewhere else. I just dont see him waiving.

Whether he waives his NTC or not is going to be a huge part of his all-time legacy as a player. He was an individual star playing on a garbage franchise for 8 years, couldn't lead them anywhere significant, then went to a supposed winner (and also clearly chased the money but that detail would be forgotten if the team won anything), then, when he had the chance to be sent somewhere else to win, decided that his cushy situation in Toronto was more important and instead suffered through the start of a rebuild he had no part of. All those things together are very damning of his character as a player even if none of them on their own are that bad.

 

[Trapper]

I really feel stupid.

I thought getting past Round 1 would ease the pressure and they would come out and take charge of the series.

I couldn't have been more wrong.

The depth guys have all done their part. Couldn't really ask for more.

It is just so frustrating . Inexusable really.

Don’t feel stupid, you’re not. We all thought that, wanted that and believed that.

We ignored all last behaviour and thought a light bulb came on. Maybe they pull out some miracle comeback, or at least play with some self respect if they lose. Go out hard.

 

[Nineteen67]

Leafs are the Atlantic Division whores, everyone gets a turn! Boston, Montreal, Tampa, Florida, maybe next year Buffalo or Ottawa?

This might be the best analogy to describe of this core, ever.
Core Fore Whores - CFW

 

[seventieslord]

I mean if you decide to start the rebuild you eat the fact that one of your 1st is gone and bank on the return value of the players you are trading off setting that. Is what it is. I would imagine it will end up being more of a retool year then a complete blow up and start over again though.

You're right.

Ottawa made a couple of absolutely horrible moves before they had fully embraced a rebuild, and for a brief period it looked like they were a terrible team with no present and no future. Then they sold off everything and proved that wasn't true at all. If you're willing to got your roster, a rebuild can happen quite quickly

 

[Nineteen67]

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

They’ll turn on him so quick.

 

[3blizzard4]

We don’t have defence and we dont have goaltending.

And …. Our core guys lack the cajones to get past our deficiencies.

 

[PanniniClaus]

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.

Brodie had his best game of the playoffs last night (low bar) but for the life of me I can't understand where he went when Reinhart rang the puck to Lundell... that's clearly a set play for them.. Most D would get to the net and work out from there... at worst, he's there to confront a Reinhart wrap or Sam sees nothing and has to turn back behind the net, gives us time to protect the house.. Does anyone have a clip of the full route he takes?

Kampf and Lafferty getting split was less than great but that's what a Reinhart can do. He's no burner but he's a talented man..

 

[seventieslord]

Who do you think current management would move that would net us enough in return to turn this mess around

Who said anything about "current management"?

 

[disgruntleddave]

I'd go nuclear with the lines.

Matthews is a shooter and he's not driving his line. Put him on the wing with ROR and Bunting.

Put Tavares and Marner on the wing with Kampf at C. Willy and Acciari on the wings with kerf at C. I guess make a line with Jarnkrok and Laf.

I don't care if I've got rw / lw issues too, didn't even check.

Murray in goal because lol let's see. Hell, he if plays well maybe it increases the chance we can move him. Although at this rate I'm moving Sammy since he's got value, run woll and murray next year, trade the farm this off-season.

 

[PromisedLand]

whats JT's value on the trade market with his contract? The only teams that would accept him are trying to get the cap min.

we'd have to give up a lot of assets and retain salary just to get him off the books.

you have to live with what you have. Tavares is not tradable. The situation is what it is we can't do anything about it.

Step 1: Fire the management
Step 2: Hire a GM asap
Step 3: Tell GM to trade matthews, marner, nylander before their July 1st NTCs kick in. Tavares can playout his last year no need to dump him. he can suffer here like we did with him. F-him.
Step 4: If Rielly wants out you accommodate him too, if not he can stay
Step 5: Tank for the next 2 to 3 years. DO NOT fasttrack rebuild like we did this time around. We should have tanked instead of trading Marleau. I had said it but poeple here ganged up on me. I also said do not do anything this post season just let it playout but people again ganged up on me. Enough is enough. Common sense has to prevail sometime.
Step 6: DO NOT REPEAT the same mistakes i.e. pay the core what they want, term included and screw yourself
Step 7: Hopefully build a better overall team composition with balance, and a team that can compete in the playoffs that may lead to cup runs

 

[killer1980]

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.

Or this?

or this?

or this?

 

[disgruntleddave]

Tanking does f-all without 1st rd picks of our own.

 

[Pinto]

View attachment 704649
@Pinto you still laughing ?

Yes, the lack of Knies is why we are losing. You got me.

 

[Cournoyer12]

Draisaitl has more goals in this years playoffs then Marner has in his entire playoff career. That is absolutely wild.

Draisaitl is a Panzer!!!!!

 

[Twine Tickler]

Just watched Keefe's post game presser. Makes me sick to even listen to it TBH.

"Auston rings one off the bar 1st shift, if that goes in, that kind of changes the narrative a bit"

"tough for our guys to get in a rhythm, not much room 5v5, no powerplays"

"I thought we started the game well, I liked our first 5 minutes"

I am paraphrasing his comments, but more or less that is exactly what he said. It is such a loser mentality. There is absolutely nothing positive to take from that game other then Joe Woll looking comfortable. Happy about the first 5 minutes??? So you're happy that your team showed up for 8% of a game that essentially was do or die?? Referencing the 0 powerplays as if we even earned any. I am sorry, I don't like Wes Macualy and I wasn't a huge fan of the Rielly call, but we didn't earn any time on the PP last night. We didn't move our legs. That's not even remotely close to Wes' fault. So to even suggest that narrative is bullshit victim mentality. Take accountability. Call out your players. Demand more instead of making excuses for them. Enough is enough

 

[authentic]

You're right.

Ottawa made a couple of absolutely horrible moves before they had fully embraced a rebuild, and for a brief period it looked like they were a terrible team with no present and no future. Then they sold off everything and proved that wasn't true at all. If you're willing to got your roster, a rebuild can happen quite quickly

Maybe we should just trade everyone for a bunch of solid pieces but not quite as high end, become somewhat like the recent expansion teams or something. They seem to be doing much better than us.

 

[Peasy]

Yes, the lack of Knies is why we are losing. You got me.

You expected this core to actually do something lmao? Crazy people still down playing the importance of Knies in that first round. He was literally on the ice for every OT winner and had the 2nd highest xGF%, just behind Matthews.

 

[geo25]

It’s all Bettman’s and the refs fault.

Agreed with all your points & have been saying the same thing for years. Bettman hates Canadian teams & the results are rigged via the refs & phony calls at key times. A real turn off..

I cant understand how more people cant or refuse to see these things....

 

[authentic]

I'd go nuclear with the lines.

Matthews is a shooter and he's not driving his line. Put him on the wing with ROR and Bunting.

Put Tavares and Marner on the wing with Kampf at C. Willy and Acciari on the wings with kerf at C. I guess make a line with Jarnkrok and Laf.

I don't care if I've got rw / lw issues too, didn't even check.

Murray in goal because lol let's see. Hell, he if plays well maybe it increases the chance we can move him. Although at this rate I'm moving Sammy since he's got value, run woll and murray next year, trade the farm this off-season.

I have enough faith in Woll that I'd be happy to get something for Samsonov.

 

[3blizzard4]

Just watched Keefe's post game presser. Makes me sick to even listen to it TBH.

"Auston rings one off the bar 1st shift, if that goes in, that kind of changes the narrative a bit"

"tough for our guys to get in a rhythm, not much room 5v5, no powerplays"

"I thought we started the game well, I liked our first 5 minutes"

I am paraphrasing his comments, but more or less that is exactly what he said. It is such a loser mentality. There is absolutely nothing positive to take from that game other then Joe Woll looking comfortable. Happy about the first 5 minutes??? So you're happy that your team showed up for 8% of a game that essentially was do or die?? Referencing the 0 powerplays as if we even earned any. I am sorry, I don't like Wes Macualy and I wasn't a huge fan of the Rielly call, but we didn't earn any time on the PP last night. We didn't move our legs. That's not even remotely close to Wes' fault. So to even suggest that narrative is bullshit victim mentality. Take accountability. Call out your players. Demand more instead of making excuses for them. Enough is enough

He likes the first five min. What about the 55 min after that Mr Keefe?

 

[Trapper]

He likes the first five min. What about the 55 min after that Mr Keefe?

He stopped watching.

 

[PromisedLand]

Draisaitl has more goals in this years playoffs then Marner has in his entire playoff career. That is absolutely wild.

saw this on twitter last night. Matthews and Marner are frauds. Marner is the biggest Fraud I've ever seen