I'm honestly not sure how anyone thought this team would be a drastic improvement over past teams anyway. Brodie should surely help but beyond that I just don't see it really.
Post-Game Talk: Leafs lose 5-3
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Critical13
Fear is the mind-killer.
Oh I’m not pinning my hopes on him, I am just really excited to see him play NHL games.
- Dec 12, 2017
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I wasn’t big on anyone they signed, however Dubas wasn’t willing to, or maybe couldn’t, get rid of a big contract and get what they need.
There have been times in these first two games where I felt sorry for Thornton.
Shanny & Dubas have shown a willingness to find the next level.
Many of the players haven’t followed their lead.
Big picture: Our roster construction can be amended easily.
Marner.
He demanded a contract that put a grand piano on his back.
His shoot more comment was unnecessary and doesn’t play to his strengths.
He looked off a top five shot in the league last evening to prove a point?
If I’m Keefe he’s my send a message player.
Lastly,
Two games in a row with ridiculous bench minors.
Many of the players haven’t followed their lead.
Big picture: Our roster construction can be amended easily.
Marner.
He demanded a contract that put a grand piano on his back.
His shoot more comment was unnecessary and doesn’t play to his strengths.
He looked off a top five shot in the league last evening to prove a point?
If I’m Keefe he’s my send a message player.
Lastly,
Two games in a row with ridiculous bench minors.
HoweHullOrr
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Hopefully we learned a lesson. You have to compete and battle against all competitors for 60 minutes. You need will and skill. You just can't show up and expect to win.
We should expect a strong performance and a bounce back game tonight.
I'm still a little concerned about our defense though. Not sure we have the solution on the 1st pairing. But hopefully the poor performance of our 1st pair (-7 on the night) is just a one game aberration and not a trend.
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Critical13
Fear is the mind-killer.
Thornton has actually been okay in my eyes.
Spezza and Barbanov have both been bad. I’d love to see Robertson and Engvall swap in.
There is no question about it - we look slower than we’ve looked in 6-7 years. There is no tenacity. The team is in desperate need of some smooth skating puck hounds that suck the oxygen out of the opposition.
Spezza and Barbanov have both been bad. I’d love to see Robertson and Engvall swap in.
There is no question about it - we look slower than we’ve looked in 6-7 years. There is no tenacity. The team is in desperate need of some smooth skating puck hounds that suck the oxygen out of the opposition.
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Dion TheFluff
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They talked about in the opening season press conference because they recognized they took too many shifts off, too many nights off.
HoweHullOrr
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Glad you asked about that as I had the same question.
What does "Shanny/Dubas found the next level" mean?
And, how would we conclude anything like that with just 2 games played so far?
Guys, please take a deep breath. It was a horrible loss. I’m going to give you guys a heads up, there will be more just like this, this year.
Let’s not forget some key things:
-the leafs looked fantastic for all of the 1st period. Should have been up at least 2. Ottawa was gifted an extended 5 on 3 penalty late in the frame. By the letter of the law, that’s too many men. But the spirit of the law, that’s very borderline. Certainly one that should not put a team down 2 men for over 1 minute. My opinion, I respect if you disagree. This resulted in the game being tied, despite the right of play being heavily in TOR favour
- 2nd period, more of the same. Domination for 10 mins, capped off by kerf tuck. Did not like the 2 shifts post kerfoots goal, lacked any energy. And ultimately the paid the price when tckchuk put one in. This clearly demoralized the group, as up to that pt, Ottawa had no business being in the game.
The rest was kind of history at that pt. They fell off the game script and let Ottawa dictate the game for the next 5 mins, and eventually were down 2 going into the 3rd. Really putting this game virtually out of reach.
This is a very on brand L for this group. But let’s be honest, this game should have been over in the first 30 mins. Period. I’m not excusing them in any way. But anyone who has played a sport should understand that feeling when you dominate and see the opposite result on the scoreboard.
It’s further demoralizing when the their goalie is making high level, timely saves to keep them in it, and our goalie is not. This is not a stab at Freddy, he’s our starter, but he needs to step up. For example, the 5 on 3 goal. Of course great pass, great shot, VERY tough save. But when Freddy reads that play when he’s on, that’s a save. And sometimes you need your goalie to make that spectacular save. Is he to blame on that goal, absolutely not. What I am saying is, he has the opportunity to keep this group up, and he has yet to do it this year. I still have confidence he can do so.
Tough loss, bad games for most. But that first 30 mins was excellent hockey. Can’t forget that. Regroup, beat the piss outta them tonight.
Let’s not forget some key things:
-the leafs looked fantastic for all of the 1st period. Should have been up at least 2. Ottawa was gifted an extended 5 on 3 penalty late in the frame. By the letter of the law, that’s too many men. But the spirit of the law, that’s very borderline. Certainly one that should not put a team down 2 men for over 1 minute. My opinion, I respect if you disagree. This resulted in the game being tied, despite the right of play being heavily in TOR favour
- 2nd period, more of the same. Domination for 10 mins, capped off by kerf tuck. Did not like the 2 shifts post kerfoots goal, lacked any energy. And ultimately the paid the price when tckchuk put one in. This clearly demoralized the group, as up to that pt, Ottawa had no business being in the game.
The rest was kind of history at that pt. They fell off the game script and let Ottawa dictate the game for the next 5 mins, and eventually were down 2 going into the 3rd. Really putting this game virtually out of reach.
This is a very on brand L for this group. But let’s be honest, this game should have been over in the first 30 mins. Period. I’m not excusing them in any way. But anyone who has played a sport should understand that feeling when you dominate and see the opposite result on the scoreboard.
It’s further demoralizing when the their goalie is making high level, timely saves to keep them in it, and our goalie is not. This is not a stab at Freddy, he’s our starter, but he needs to step up. For example, the 5 on 3 goal. Of course great pass, great shot, VERY tough save. But when Freddy reads that play when he’s on, that’s a save. And sometimes you need your goalie to make that spectacular save. Is he to blame on that goal, absolutely not. What I am saying is, he has the opportunity to keep this group up, and he has yet to do it this year. I still have confidence he can do so.
Tough loss, bad games for most. But that first 30 mins was excellent hockey. Can’t forget that. Regroup, beat the piss outta them tonight.
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He said words but no action. He said they had to be harder to play against, but did he address it?
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They dominated the perimeter. Their goalie stunk letting in two horrible goals.
Probably past achievements with a sprinkling of hero worship.
Of course by those standards you could bring back Clark and Gilmour and stick them on the top line too.
I like Thornton as a person. He just doesn't belong in the top six and shouldn't be playing every game. His biggest value is in the dressing room.
HoweHullOrr
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Ya, I'm expecting results. I don't care about the words.
I can't imagine that this year isn't our year. Its the 5th year of the rebuild, plus there's the divisional focus (the 2 top teams in our division were 12th & 13th last year based on point percentage).
It's time for RESULTS!!!
His body of work speaks to it.
He competes and isn’t afraid to look in the mirror.
He’s not perfect but he’s not the problem.
Thinking big picture: We’re set up well for the expansion draft. We’re not married to Andersen after this season. He worked well under a difficult set of circumstances with Babcock. Can easily change the cap structure if he chooses to. Essentially he likes his poker hand and is playing it.... he hasn’t gone all in on a bluff.
I may be wrong but I remember far worst eras around these parts.
Tavares was written off by quite a few after COVID cup....
Guy is an absolute soldier. We tend to forget the little things. He had his first child last year. Life changing occurrence, battled a bit of the injury bug, went through a coaching change and navigated COVID. After a two week August stretch we were blaming a guy who came home to win a cup.
FML
Arthur Morgan
Registered User
rebuild ended when we got Matthews but yes it is time for results. What I think happened was they walked into last nights game thinking it was going to be an easy 2 points but Ottawa showed they wont be just walked over top of. If Leafs dont blow them out tonight Ill be surprised and low key worried
Brodie and Rielly have zero chemistry.
So far the experiment isn't working.
Leafs biggest problems remain the same.
Very weak right side D and no effort backchecking from the top stars.
Moving out Barrie for Brodie is shifting deck chairs on the titanic.
One thing is certain. Dubas can't scout defensemen.
TheBeastCoast
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Dumping Freddie and picking up Ranta for next year is the move. We aren't going anywhere with Freddy...so why drag it out.
ACC1224
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Next level for those two would be salary and contract extensions. Congrats to both.
BertCorbeau
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They looked fine in game 1 .. It will take some time (particularly without a proper training camp) to get into a routine.
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He either recognize he had to make changes or it was recognized for him. I don’t know. But he was hampered by the cap issues he created and was limited in who he could sign.
ottomaddox
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Mr Knies Guy
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I don’t know the answer obviously but I feel really strongly the core will never win the cup and may not even win a round. Nylander, Marner and Tavares are uber talented of course but they don’t have what it takes to win IMO. Then on top of it the defence is still in shambles with their bad habits and total lack of net clearing and chasing the puck instead of playing zone. Add in one more ingredient to the failure stew in Freddie, and you have the recipe for a somewhat successful season team that doesn’t have the mentality, grit, or consistency to do a thing in the playoffs.
For me, Matthews was really the only decent performer against CBJ.
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