Post-Game Talk: Leafs lose 5-3

[Puckstuff]

Rielly-Brodie will be fine. Rielly is not elite defensively and it will limit them from being a dominant shut down pair but it will still work and that’s why getting a top defensive D to play with Muzzin is crucial so the Muzzin pair will be the shutdown pair not Rielly-Brodie.

Marner... guy isn’t good enough right now. Needs to pick it the eff up. Your making 10 x (literally) what a lot of your teammates make and you can’t even shoot straight. You demanded the money now perform!! We can’t fill out the bottom 6 because of your salary so figure your self out. You can’t have 2 bad night’s in a row when your making 11 million.

Holl isn’t brutal but a small step back. Bogosian however hasn’t been good at all but better then game 1

Kerfoot, Mikheyev, Hyman look great. Size, speed, skill and defensive responsibility. They have the most chemistry. I wish we could clone Hyman so we could have one on the top line. A Coleman type acquisition at the deadline would be nice.

Tavares has been the most consistent player. Matthews is working hard. Nylander just had a couple bad shifts and a mental gaf which lead to a penalty but I’m not worried.


This team needs another top 4 RD and at minimum one more two-way bottom 6 player by the deadline. How they make that work, I’m not sure. But I know this team needs more to win a cup

 

[RoadWarrior]

I'm not sure how many times I've said it this offseason. This season has to be about the will to win.

For us to make that step forward, these guys have to have the will to win, bring it every game, and play in whatever manner it takes to win. Forget about being soft, and complaining about a cross check, just get out there and do it. You wanted to be paid like a MVP, now play like one... be the leaders in a positive way.

If these guys are going to play like this, nothing else matters.

Thornton has been a liability on the top line. While the defensive effort hasn't been there they need a new LW to give them more offensive zone time.

 

[Farsailor]

Tavares has been our best forward so far so I expect to see him play more than 15 minutes tonight..

 

[hockeynorth]

Optimal lineup:

One of Thornton or Spezza a night, Robertson and Anderson draw in up front. Lehtonen and Bogosian rotate on D. Andersen/Campbell split games 50/50. We need to find a way to get Dell through waivers.

Hyman-Matthews-Nylander/Marner
Robertson/Vesey-Tavares-Marner/Nylander
Vesey/Robertson-Kerfoot-Mikheyev
Anderson-Spezza/Thornton-Simmonds

Rielly-Brodie
Muzzin-Holl
Dermott-Bogosian/Lehtonen

Andersen
Campbell

 

[horner]

Thornton aon the 3rd line

Hyman with Marner and Mathews

Kerfoot with JT and Nylander

Vesey Thornton and Simmons

 

[Captain Crunch]

Its a start though.

Im not sure what theyre rrying but its clear its not working. Thornton was passable in game 1 but terrible in game 2. Hyman was been buzzing both games. Passable doesnt even cut it when youve got a guy that has played well on the line for years and is playing well off the line now.

Ibsuppose theyre trying to get multiple lines clicking at once so they want hyman on the third line, but itsreally hurting the first line.

Do you really see much changing, though? Due to the way Dubas put this team right up to the cap by paying 4 forwards $40 million, we don’t have the necessary cap room to properly address the bottom 6. Hell, we can’t even have Lehtonen in the lineup.

 

[PromisedLand]

It's only two games in, but only 54 to go. I'm trying not to be scared of the sky falling, but why does it seem it doesn't matter what name is on the jersey of my team, they always lack the passion?

Robert's, Sundin, Cujo, last time I saw real passion on the ice on an everyday level, since then we've changed entire teams twice or more and we always have these pathetic lackluster games.

One year I watched most of the pens games a few years back (big Crosby fan) and they were never as inconsistent as my up and down leafs, sure bad game here and there, but I just, I just don't get it.

Technically this team on paper is great, very talented, Simmonds was a great pick up, I still think we need 1 big stay at home D for Morgan, but it shouldn't be this pathetic of an effort.

Anyways, rant over. Go Leafs Go, we'll get em tomorrow hopefully.

If Leafs fail to do anyting significant this season; Dubas will be FIRED and as far as I am concerned that is a good start.

It is a win-win situation for Leafs fans. Leafs to well Leafs fans enjoy; Leafs suck Dubas gets fired!

Leafs fans cannot lose this season

 

[Captain14]

maybe but

i see it like this

players lose their inner fire when they join a roster of tinkerbells

little battle/little pack and team mentality/no self sacrifice

2 games in and we have 7 players with 0 registered hits

Matty/marner/kerfoot/nylander/rielly/spez/derm

we have been out hit 65 to 26 so far

Agree 100%. I realize it’s early in the “preseason”, players need to get acclimated to the system and new teammates etc...
However, there is no excuse for a lack of compete, desire and hunger. This has been all too common with this roster or years now. Just looking at them and reading their body language has to bring laughter from their opponents each game.
How many times do you think Simmonds is going to want to throw down for teammates that refuse to stand up for themselves and others?
Hell, even Mats had some jam to his game.
I really miss the Gary Robert’s, Shane Corson’s and John Tucker’s of the past.
This roster is hard to get behind and I doubt very much Thornton and Simmonds will have the ability to show them what it takes to win in this league.
It’s the me generation and we have the charmin extra soft version of it.

 

[guyzeur]

Let’s finish some hits tomorrow

Sens fan here: the team that will come out of our division can thank the Sens to have them ready for the physicallity of the playoffs.

 

[Gary Nylund]

There’s lots of cities here.
Panic city, followed by everything is great city, skip across to concern city and finally break down in excuse city. No flights in or out.

Yeah, I knew I was lost.

 

[Captain Crunch]

Optimal lineup:

One of Thornton or Spezza a night, Robertson and Anderson draw in up front. Lehtonen and Bogosian rotate on D. Andersen/Campbell split games 50/50. We need to find a way to get Dell through waivers.

Hyman-Matthews-Nylander/Marner
Robertson/Vesey-Tavares-Marner/Nylander
Vesey/Robertson-Kerfoot-Mikheyev
Anderson-Spezza/Thornton-Simmonds

Rielly-Brodie
Muzzin-Holl
Dermott-Bogosian/Lehtonen

Andersen
Campbell

Would Bogosian have to clear waivers?

 

[RoadWarrior]

Thornton is suppose to change that.

I think Thornton is more effective as a coach than he is as a player. His legs are too old to lead by example.

 

[Captain Crunch]

Sens fan here: the team that will come out of our division can thank the Sens to have them ready for the physicallity of the playoffs.

Your team is definitely on the rise. They may finish at the bottom, but they will be a team to be reckoned with sooner rather than later.

 

[Faltorvo]

Agree 100%. I realize it’s early in the “preseason”, players need to get acclimated to the system and new teammates etc...
However, there is no excuse for a lack of compete, desire and hunger. This has been all too common with this roster or years now. Just looking at them and reading their body language has to bring laughter from their opponents each game.
How many times do you think Simmonds is going to want to throw down for teammates that refuse to stand up for themselves and others?
Hell, even Mats had some jam to his game.
I really miss the Gary Robert’s, Shane Corson’s and John Tucker’s of the past.
This roster is hard to get behind and I doubt very much Thornton and Simmonds will have the ability to show them what it takes to win in this league.
It’s the me generation and we have the charmin extra soft version of it.

your "preseason" quote concerns me greatly,,i am sure, i am misunderstanding you,,,considering the rest of your post

these are ALL 4 point games ,,,the next closest thing to PO games.

 

[hockeynorth]

Would Bogosian have to clear waivers?

yes

 

[RoadWarrior]

Thornton aon the 3rd line

Hyman with Marner and Mathews

Kerfoot with JT and Nylander

Vesey Thornton and Simmons

That third line would be a clown show. They need Robertson and Anderson in the lineup to provide energy and enthusiasm.

 

[hockeynorth]

I must say, Batherson and Norris were quite impressive last night

 

[Faltorvo]

Do you really see much changing, though? Due to the way Dubas put this team right up to the cap by paying 4 forwards $40 million, we don’t have the necessary cap room to properly address the bottom 6. Hell, we can’t even have Lehtonen in the lineup.

IIRC lehto not in is all about the waivers issue and not the cap

 

[Captain Crunch]

Its because he is waiver exempt. Injuries will happen soon enough and then sandin will be inserted into the lineup. Then lehtonen. Theyre just keeping their options open. Bogosian cant be sent to the taxi squad without going through waivers. As soon as injyries start to hit sandin and lehtonen will play.

This is a short season. Hopefully we will still have a realistic chance to finish first, or even get into the playoffs.

 

[Captain14]

your "preseason" quote concerns me greatly,,i am sure, i am misunderstanding you,,,considering the rest of your post

these are ALL 4 point games ,,,the next closest thing to PO games.

It was only made in reference to starting the year with no preseason and understanding there will be some rust and sloppy play.
But yes, in a short season, these are all big games, which is the exactly my concern over their lack of effort.

 

[Captain Crunch]

IIRC lehto not in is all about the waivers issue and not the cap

Exactly. We would lose Dermott if we took him out. I’m wondering when we will be able to have the best players playing, and not have to have them on the taxi squad because of this?

 

[Puckstuff]

Optimal lineup:

One of Thornton or Spezza a night, Robertson and Anderson draw in up front. Lehtonen and Bogosian rotate on D. Andersen/Campbell split games 50/50. We need to find a way to get Dell through waivers.

Hyman-Matthews-Nylander/Marner
Robertson/Vesey-Tavares-Marner/Nylander
Vesey/Robertson-Kerfoot-Mikheyev
Anderson-Spezza/Thornton-Simmonds

Rielly-Brodie
Muzzin-Holl
Dermott-Bogosian/Lehtonen

Andersen
Campbell

If we had cap and roster flexibility I’d swap out nearly the whole 4th line. Spezza and Barabanov for sure. Joey Anderson and Pierre Engvall would probably be better. Robertson for Jumbo, why not.

The whole 4th line except maybe Simmonds (who hasn’t been great either but at least provides toughness and net front presence) needs to change.

It won’t happen because of roster rules but this team would be better.


Robertson-Matthews-Marner
—-Vesey-Tavares-Nylander
-Hyman-Keefoot-Mikheyev
Anderson-Engvall-Simmonds
13th-Jumbo

 

[A1LeafNation]

2017-20 Leafs vs 2021 Leafs

 

[Nineteen67]

Dubas said in the off-season that he recognized the need to be a tougher team to play against.
How ironic was it that Nick Paul beats two veteran players in a puck battle along the left wall, skates unimpeded to the slot, passes to Braydon Coburn who passes to Austin Watson who snipes it off the bar.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Dubas said in the off-season that he recognized the need to be a tougher team to play against.
How ironic was it that Nick Paul beats two veteran players in a puck battle along the left wall, skates unimpeded to the slot, passes to Braydon Coburn who passes to Austin Watson who snipes it off the bar.

Doesn't really matter what Dubas realizes if the core of the team...which isn't gonna change anytime soon don't change the way they play the game. I don't exactly have a lot of faith in that happening at this point lol.