Post-Game Talk: Leafs Lose in Game 7. Again.

[dubplatepressure]

At least we can all slap ourselves on the back for another great regular season. That’s what they get paid for, right?

 

[Cynical]

The one thing that was a question and still remains a question is this powerplay. They just can't seem to score on it in the playoffs and it was a huge factor AGAIN.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Keefes talking like we are some rookie team that just made the playoffs for the first time

Not some band of chokers trying to shed that label

It's constant execuses

 

[TheRumble]

Looking back on the season, I was really angry at the team following the loss to the Habs, didn't bother watching the early part of the season but the team drew me back in because they were good this year.

As disappointing as the loss is, I think top guys have earned a summer without being scapegoated.

Marner, Matthews, Nylander - Only real complaint is that Nylander was a bit late in showing up. These guys earned a summer of not being scapegoated.

Tavares - Rough start to the series, finished strong. Didn't agree with the No Goal call. I think going forward, the Leafs will have to star preparing to find a new 2C as Tavares ages. He's likely going to have to switch to a winger role like Giroux did as he got older.

Kerfoot - Rough series for him but he's an important piece to the team, I'd like to see him finish out his contract here. Useful, versatile player.

Kampf - Love him as a shutdown center. Really surprising how well he played for us, I had no idea about him going into the season. Glad he'll be coming back.

Engvall - He surprised me with how much he improved this year. Really useful bottom six player. I dunno if we can bring him back but if we can, I'd do it.

Mikeyhev - Another player that has really surprised me this year. Thank you for your service Mikeyhev, good luck with your next contract.

Spezza - I dunno if he has another full season in him but I'd bring him back if he's willing to play less games and just be a locker room leader type.

Blackwell - Great to have on the 4th line.

Simmonds - He's probably washed. Loved him as a person though.

Bunting - He was better than I could have imagined. I think he played this series injured.

Defense:

Giordano - Would love him back, dunno if he'll come back.

Muzzin - He had a great series but he's aging and has injury issues. I dunno if he has another 82 game season in him.

Brodie - Great partner for Rielly. I don't know why they got away from that pairing.

Lybushkin - I don't think he's as good as people say he is. He's a really good 7th guy to have though.

Rielly - Love him warts and all.

Holl - I think he's a third pairing guy that got 2nd pairing minutes.

Liljegren/Sandin - These guys are full time NHLers. If they're not, the team should trade them next year because it's a waste to have these guys in the press box or on the bench. Next year is the final year of their RFA contracts as well. They need to be brought back and full intergrated into the team.

Goalies:

Campbell - Played as well as I could have asked him once his issues were sorted out. The Leafs aren't gonna be a team that beats others on the back of a goalie.

Mrazek - Didn't like the signing at the time but I just hope he can recover from a bad season. If he gets back to his career average he makes a good tandem goalie.

Kallagren/Woll - Just hoping they continue to develop.

Prospects -

Robertson - Mikeyhev is leaving, I hope Robertson can step in and replace him. Similar type of player - smart, two way winger type, good skater but Robertson has a much better shot.

Knies - He's spending another year in college but he'll be done before the end of the next regular season. Really interested to see how he fits on the team going forward.

Abruzzese - From what I saw of him, I think he needs a year in the AHL.

 

[garce]

Winnipeg Jets fan coming in peace.

You know I can count on one hand how many Leafs games I have watched in the past 5 years. Not that I hated them I just never quite found them quite compelling enough to watch.

I watched game 6 however and I watched tonight. I was very much looking forward to Game 7. I thought you guys would win. I thought you be faster and hungrier as I thought this version of the Lightening looks slower and more tired than their 2 championship teams.

Then tonight happened and it was not for a lack of effort. You can't say the Leafs were bad, per se.

But they were lacking. When the time came to elevate their game they couldn't do it. There was no bearing down or extra physical play, there was the one extra pass where a scoring chance went to die.

I thought I was watching the Senators from 20 years ago.

It's a tough call, but probably Nylander has to go and yes I would think seriously of trading Matthews because he screams like a guy who is going to walk on you and head to the States the first chance he gets.

I don't think you can keep this core intact after 6 straight first round flops.

Your in a tough spot, but a re tool could improve your team substantially.

Take a hike coming in peace guy, take a hike

 

[kk87]

I just can't get over Game 6. 10 minutes from advancing and Tampa's gifted a 2 minute 5on3 on a silver platter. We'll never know what would've happened that game had it been called properly. Would we have closed them out exactly like they did us tonight? Just excruciating that our fate in the two most important games was determined by selective, external factors outside of our control.

 

[Strangle]

Winnipeg Jets fan coming in peace.

You know I can count on one hand how many Leafs games I have watched in the past 5 years. Not that I hated them I just never quite found them quite compelling enough to watch.

I watched game 6 however and I watched tonight. I was very much looking forward to Game 7. I thought you guys would win. I thought you be faster and hungrier as I thought this version of the Lightening looks slower and more tired than their 2 championship teams.

Then tonight happened and it was not for a lack of effort. You can't say the Leafs were bad, per se.

But they were lacking. When the time came to elevate their game they couldn't do it. There was no bearing down or extra physical play, there was the one extra pass where a scoring chance went to die.

I thought I was watching the Senators from 20 years ago.

It's a tough call, but probably Nylander has to go and yes I would think seriously of trading Matthews because he screams like a guy who is going to walk on you and head to the States the first chance he gets.

I don't think you can keep this core intact after 6 straight first round flops.

Your in a tough spot, but a re tool could improve your team substantially.

If we trade bring in Trotz, trade Nylander and Matthews walks when his contract is up …. Well then we trade Marner and really blow it up until Tavares contract is done and start over, warm up the tank the window is closing.

There is something fundamentally wrong with the makeup of this team.

 

[Suntouchable13]

There is no doubt they played much better, though. I think it's a mental block now. 9 tries to close out a team, but they couldn't do it. It's very heartbraking.

 

[ITM]

Who gives a shit

Cry all you want you still lost and have done so for 5 years….nothing has changed from day one of the Matthews era to now

We still can’t close series out
We can’t hold leafs
We can’t completely come back

So spare me the sappy tears

Buddy...Take a breather and inhale some empathy.

Game 6, Tampa needed a 5 on 3 to go to OT. They didn't score again in regulation. That call back goal on Tavares...Gimme a break. This club, this series, dealt with a lot of pressure from within the game that shouldn't have been there.

If the man is fighting back tears...Just pause a moment and think about all the circumstances.

Nothing has changed in the Matthews era? Our best regular season. Our greatest goalscorer.

This series WAS terribly officiated. Maybe he's near tears because the club was good enough to win and that they did enough to win it, but were forced to go beyond that, and against the defending two-time Cup champions on top of it.

Hell of a gauntlet to put any athlete through.

 

[pcruz]

The one thing that was a question and still remains a question is this powerplay. They just can't seem to score on it in the playoffs and it was a huge factor AGAIN.

We don't have a respectable shot from the point.
Teams can cheat to Matthews.
He becomes the 2nd or 3rd option to shoot.

We don't score.

That's quite literally the problem.

 

[ErnieLeafs]

Disappointed and frustrating.

Leafs couldn't get it done, and the NHL got a Florida rematch. Refs played far too much of a factor in this series, and it was absolutely a difference-maker. Tampa was allowed to play with grit, and we had to be squeaky clean (and we still were penalized more).

And I know there are people saying "We need changes" but that is easier said than done. You can fire Shanny/Keefe/Dubas/trade a core guy and you can bring in Trotz, but you are not guaranteeing any success. This isn't a "change for the sake of change" situation and Trotz, especially, would require a complete overhaul of the roster which would not be able to happen within a year. It is also not something successful teams have done in our situation.

This isn't a learning thing anymore though. These guys know what it takes. They have what it takes. However, they are also not the only ones who know and have what it takes, and in sports, you don't always get what you deserve. The Leafs, especially over the past 4 series losses, have epitomized that to a tee. And the best they can do is fight through it with everything they can and this year especially, it would be good.

I am at the point where I am not making stupid changes just for fresh perspective. The Leafs have never been in that situation under Dubas. We are probably at the point where a guy like Nylander could be used to restructure our team for the better (and not just for the sake of restructuring it), but this is not a team that needs to be blown up or radically change the way it plays. I think it is a team that needs to be a little bit more selfish and ultimately, it is a team that just needs some things that is mostly out of their control to finally fall into place.

Excited for next year!

My feelings exactly. This wasn’t a choke job. This wasn’t losing to a grossly inferior team. We didn’t get what we deserved, and that’s what sucks about this one

 

[Antropovsky]

They were containing their laughter until they made their way to the visitors dressing room.

Marner: guys guys... Kucherov said I had a great series!!! Said he'd sign a stick for me in the parking lot later!

 

[CaptainCrunch17]

Dubas would still say the same in the interview/conference. "We believe the core!" Year after year of saying the same and the result was the same. Where's the believe?

Dubas has to say that as he’s somewhat stuck with them.

 

[Nineteen67]

The real winner is Freddie Andersen. He's made it to 2nd round with his new team.

Only because he wasn’t playing.

 

[Aashir]

Yeah this one went down easier than the last few.

Every year I grow a bit more numb.

Yup
2019 - really f***ing hurt…thought that was our chance to make a run to the finals. Thought about the game 6 way too much months after

2020 - wasn’t even hurt..just disgusted

2021 - felt pure discontent for a month or so then started moving on

2022 - don’t even feel much, just disappointed in myself for thinking they could even do it

 

[Gallagbi]

There is no doubt they played much better, though. I think it's a mental block now. 9 tries to close out a team, but they couldn't do it. It's very heartbraking.

Game 6 is a back breaker. A blown 5on3 and losing in OT like they did. Missed opportunity, and a hell of a break for TB

 

[Canucky]

Engvall isnt a cap problem I’d argue Nylander does pull his weight as much or more than anyone on the team. He is without a doubt flawed and often frustrating but his cap hit strikes me as about exactly his value. He’s secondary the same way Kassel was to Sid and Malkin but at times able to elevate to elite level. He can’t carry or inspire a team but he can sure as hell contribute, again15 points in his last 14 playoff games.

 

[Martin Skoula]

the outcome of a hockey game is basically random. I wouldn't get too worked up about winning and losing. You have a fun team to watch; just enjoy it imo

No you don't get it a sports team lost now I have to watch something else 3 times a week, life as I know it will never be the same.

 

[Dragao6]

Winnipeg Jets fan coming in peace.

You know I can count on one hand how many Leafs games I have watched in the past 5 years. Not that I hated them I just never quite found them quite compelling enough to watch.

I watched game 6 however and I watched tonight. I was very much looking forward to Game 7. I thought you guys would win. I thought you be faster and hungrier as I thought this version of the Lightening looks slower and more tired than their 2 championship teams.

Then tonight happened and it was not for a lack of effort. You can't say the Leafs were bad, per se.

But they were lacking. When the time came to elevate their game they couldn't do it. There was no bearing down or extra physical play, there was the one extra pass where a scoring chance went to die.

I thought I was watching the Senators from 20 years ago.

It's a tough call, but probably Nylander has to go and yes I would think seriously of trading Matthews because he screams like a guy who is going to walk on you and head to the States the first chance he gets.

I don't think you can keep this core intact after 6 straight first round flops.

Your in a tough spot, but a re tool could improve your team substantially.

Tampa
Washington

All struggled for a few years not blowing up their core before they finally tweaked it enough to win something

Respect the comment and get it but prob won’t happen and doesn’t need to

There wasn’t much different in the series and if the refs were consistant this series wouldn’t have made it to game 7

 

[Byron Bitz]

Why do they always lose in 7 games? how come they never get swept or lose in 5?

 

[Amadeus]

2-1 is not a defensive issue...

Did you watch the game tonight? Puck was lava for our D the whole game tonight.

 

[Kurtz]

Winnipeg Jets fan coming in peace.

You know I can count on one hand how many Leafs games I have watched in the past 5 years. Not that I hated them I just never quite found them quite compelling enough to watch.

I watched game 6 however and I watched tonight. I was very much looking forward to Game 7. I thought you guys would win. I thought you be faster and hungrier as I thought this version of the Lightening looks slower and more tired than their 2 championship teams.

Then tonight happened and it was not for a lack of effort. You can't say the Leafs were bad, per se.

But they were lacking. When the time came to elevate their game they couldn't do it. There was no bearing down or extra physical play, there was the one extra pass where a scoring chance went to die.

I thought I was watching the Senators from 20 years ago.

It's a tough call, but probably Nylander has to go and yes I would think seriously of trading Matthews because he screams like a guy who is going to walk on you and head to the States the first chance he gets.

I don't think you can keep this core intact after 6 straight first round flops.

Your in a tough spot, but a re tool could improve your team substantially.

Nice try, but maybe you should focus on your own trash team underperforming rather than telling us to trade our 24 year old MVP.

 

[LastOne2100]

Why do they always lose in 7 games? how come they never get swept or lose in 5?

Because they are a good team that's hard to beat, but lack the same killer instinct other teams have when they're cornered.

 

[TMLeafer]

The PP did not deliver at all. And very few adjustments were made.

 

[NiL8r87]

This wasn't Montreal. Stop blaming Dubas. Stop blaming Keefe. Stop blaming the players. These guys played their asses off this year. Sometimes it's just not enough.