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

[Apotheosis]

The team is cursed and the core is weak. Not surprising and the loss doesn't bother me. We see it time and time again. It's been 5 years and they have learned nothing. "It was close, we took them to the brink" so the deciding factor becomes the paltry effort in 2 of the 7 games where they didn't even decide to give an effort. This team is going nowhere. It's a culture issue.

 

[PromisedLand]

maybe next year the opposing team will even bow down in the handshake line to show their utmost respect to the team they crushed in 7

Seriously what a LOSER attitude. Cream puff from top to bottom. Soft as butter

 

[Gabriel426]

I am going to stop you right there. Because it wasn't. It was the 1st round.... Again....... For a 6th straight year.

But just to humor you. Yes. The narrative would be different, because at least the team would have shown progression.

Aren’t they showing progression?
TB is the better team. And Leafs made Vas into human and almost eliminated them, something no team had done in the past two years. Now I am not saying that’s good enough bc it far from it.
The thing is, if say Leafs advanced to the 2nd round and the exact 7 games series happened, what’s the different?
There were not any being outgoalied excuses, or the big boys didn’t show up, or team lacked heart, or Goalie letting in soft goals….
For the first time in a few years, I really think this team is close. They really got beat by a better team under very questionable reffing decisions and unlucky with bounces.
I would disagree with anyone who used them a reasons the last two or three series but for this series, those were valid reasons.

 

[Apotheosis]

I am not even being melodramatic when I say I have no faith in this core. I would (in my own head not that it will ever happen), blow it all up and rebuild in the next few years because this team is so mentally weak it's insane to watch at times.

 

[Gabriel426]

I am so freakin' mad it is close to 3:30 am and I cannot go to bed. I've had it with this JOKE of a franchise. Until Dubas is fired I will be taking a break from the Leafs.

Maybe I will keep you around with my OMEGA stats, lol

I am not even being melodramatic when I say I have no faith in this core. I would (in my own head not that it will ever happen), blow it all up and rebuild in the next few years because this team is so mentally weak it's insane to watch at times.

I agree with you last year but this series was different, I know the results are the same but the way the boys played are very different and this is the progress that a lot of us want to see. Mind you, I expected this progress three to four playoffs ago.

 

[Apotheosis]

Maybe I will keep you around with my OMEGA stats, lol


I agree with you last year but this series was different, I know the results are the same but the way the boys played are very different and this is the progress that a lot of us want to see. Mind you, I expected this progress three to four playoffs ago.

Maybe I just see it differently. Tampa besides game 1 gave effort every night. The Leafs just decide which nights to check in and check out and our D core is incredibly flawed. They get exposed against any team that can flood the front of the net and they suck at clearing the front of the net which is a mainstay tactic in the playoffs when shooting lanes are blocked like it's no one's business.

 

[SniperHF]

Outside fans coming here to troll:
I'm not really a fan of posters taking advantage of the night hours to squeak trolling in while mods are asleep.

If I catch you doing it there's a pretty good chance I'll forum ban you from your own team forum or site ban you for a few weeks.

So knock it off.

 

[Eternal Leaf]

The team is cursed and the core is weak. Not surprising and the loss doesn't bother me. We see it time and time again. It's been 5 years and they have learned nothing. "It was close, we took them to the brink" so the deciding factor becomes the paltry effort in 2 of the 7 games where they didn't even decide to give an effort. This team is going nowhere. It's a culture issue.

They've built an entire culture around wooing players and coddling them.

Matthews - got the contract he wanted
Marner - got the contract he wanted
Tavares - got the contract he wanted + a complete UFA presentation begging him to come + captaincy
Nylander - got the contract he wanted after pushing things to the last minute
Rielly - got an extension
Mikheyev - wooed him to leave Russia, he asked out, and they still keep him around.
Simmonds - gave him an NTC

They don't even spare the prospects. They were literally wooing Knies to come over with a full in-person presentation.

Championship teams can't be built with this mindset. It devalues the team concept if so many players are treated in this manner. I get treating a couple of guys like that (i.e. Matthews and Marner) but these guys do it with everyone in a desire to sell Toronto as a player-friendly team.

Masai would never tolerate this nonsense with the Raptors. He sent Demar and Casey packing despite their credentials.

 

[Apotheosis]

They've built an entire culture around wooing players and coddling them.

Matthews - got the contract he wanted
Marner - got the contract he wanted
Tavares - got the contract he wanted + a complete UFA presentation begging him to come + captaincy
Nylander - got the contract he wanted after pushing things to the last minute
Rielly - got an extension
Mikheyev - wooed him to leave Russia, he asked out, and they still keep him around.
Simmonds - gave him an NMC

They don't even spare the prospects. They were literally wooing Knies to come over with a full in-person presentation.

Championship teams can't be built with this mindset. It devalues the team concept if so many players are treated in this manner. I get treating a couple of guys like that (i.e. Matthews and Marner) but these guys do it with everyone in a desire to sell Toronto as a player-friendly team.

Masai would never tolerate this nonsense with the Raptors. He sent Demar and Casey packing despite their credentials.

And it really reflects in the way the team plays. Unless they're rattled by the opponent's hitting hard, they don't engage heavily and by GOD, the thing that annoys me most if they ALWAYS f***ING LOOK FOR THE EXTRA PASS. They try to be so fancy instead of putting the puck on net.

 

[Bomber0104]

No words.

There's too many places to point the finger.

 

[mikeyz]

Aren’t they showing progression?
TB is the better team. And Leafs made Vas into human and almost eliminated them, something no team had done in the past two years. Now I am not saying that’s good enough bc it far from it.
The thing is, if say Leafs advanced to the 2nd round and the exact 7 games series happened, what’s the different?
There were not any being outgoalied excuses, or the big boys didn’t show up, or team lacked heart, or Goalie letting in soft goals….
For the first time in a few years, I really think this team is close. They really got beat by a better team under very questionable reffing decisions and unlucky with bounces.
I would disagree with anyone who used them a reasons the last two or three series but for this series, those were valid reasons.

So we're at a point where we're actually giving them credit for not coming out flat at any point in the series?

Ohhh good lord almighty. LMFAO. They're not close. They're now 0-5 in deciding games and 0-9 in closeout games.

You need to wake up and see reality. This group is not working. They have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that they're incapable of closing a series out.

If Dubas decides to run this group back again, I can guarantee you....... GUARANTEE YOU that they'll lose in the 1st round again. Because they're almost very likely to play 1 of either Florida/Tampa/Boston. And this core isn't beating them. I hate to break it to you.

 

[Naych_PHX]

I was rooting for the Leafs this year, so tired of Tampa. They got away with some stuff, I'll just say that. TML is always an intriguing team to follow, especilaly recently.

 

[Man Bear Pig]

Presented to you by Kyle Dubas.

I'm not a huge supporter of Dubas, but wtf is he supposed to do at this point? He's set this team up to succeed and they don't follow through. He gave them plenty of depth at all positions. This is on the players.

 

[Gabriel426]

Maybe I just see it differently. Tampa besides game 1 gave effort every night. The Leafs just decide which nights to check in and check out and our D core is incredibly flawed. They get exposed against any team that can flood the front of the net and they suck at clearing the front of the net which is a mainstay tactic in the playoffs when shooting lanes are blocked like it's no one's business.

I think deflections were a problem for the Leafs down the stretch but I don’t recall TB scoring on a lot of deflection goals or tip ins. I really think not playing Sandin helped.
I think beside Game 4, the Leafs played hard and didn’t really as you put it checked out. They didn’t start on time but they were in all the games. I think Game 1 was more due to TB being bad than anything.

 

[bobbyking]

the leafs put up a hell of a fight againt the best team in the NHL. you tards just stfu

 

[ClarkSittler]

 

[saffronleaf]

reality is that losers lose

 

[Gabriel426]

reality is that losers lose

We are all disappointed but you need to sleep buddy.

 

[hfman]

as much as we need to keep Matthews look at the difference between him and McDavid.

The truth came out tonight in the playoffs.

McDavid is on a whole other level. Look at what he did in round 1 compared to Austin.

Matthews is great but is a step below McDavid. There's no more debating it.

 

[torniojaws]

The joke continues

Best season in franchise history

Can’t get out of round one

Wonder what’s next. I have no clue.

NHL regular season points record. First round sweep exit.

Maybe one day Toronto finally learns you can't buy a Cup. You have to build a team.

 

[mikeyz]

I'm not a huge supporter of Dubas, but wtf is he supposed to do at this point? He's set this team up to succeed and they don't follow through. He gave them plenty of depth at all positions. This is on the players.

I honestly feel bad for him. Because he is in a very rare "Dam if you do, dam if you don't" situation.

Say what you want about 34, 16, 88 and 91 about their playoff woes. But they are great players. At least in the regular season. So trading them and retooling/rebuilding could mean that you might be shit for a while. But, at the same time, is he really willing to run it back and get bounced in the 1st round again like groundhog day??

I don't envy his position at all.

 

[hfman]

I honestly feel bad for him.

lol feeling bad for a millionaire while we go back to our 9-5's on monday

 

[Man Bear Pig]

I honestly feel bad for him. Because he is in a very rare "Dam if you do, dam if you don't" situation.

Say what you want about 34, 16, 88 and 91 about their playoff woes. But they are great players. At least in the regular season. So trading them and retooling/rebuilding could mean that you might be shit for a while. But, at the same time, is he really willing to run it back and get bounced in the 1st round again like groundhog day??

I don't envy his position at all.

If Dubas sticks around, he has to do something major. The obvious move is Nylander. You may not get back a player who produces like him, but you're looking for a Tom Wilson type. Someone to give the top 6 some balls. As much as I love Bunting, he's tiny and isn't going to hurt anyone. I think the makeup of the roster is pretty damn good, just missing a bruiser in the top 6, someone who can skate. Another PK hitter to play with Kampf when Mikheyev leaves is another need.

 

[Gabriel426]

I honestly feel bad for him. Because he is in a very rare "Dam if you do, dam if you don't" situation.

Say what you want about 34, 16, 88 and 91 about their playoff woes. But they are great players. At least in the regular season. So trading them and retooling/rebuilding could mean that you might be shit for a while. But, at the same time, is he really willing to run it back and get bounced in the 1st round again like groundhog day??

I don't envy his position at all.

He either go bargain hunting and hope for another Bunting and Kampf or he will swing for the fences.
Really think Trotz is a huge possibility if Vegas don’t go after him first.
Vegas will do something with their cap and missing the playoffs.
Can see Wilds going big fish hunting too.

If Dubas sticks around, he has to do something major. The obvious move is Nylander. You may not get back a player who produces like him, but you're looking for a Tom Wilson type. Someone to give the top 6 some balls. As much as I love Bunting, he's tiny and isn't going to hurt anyone. I think the makeup of the roster is pretty damn good, just missing a bruiser in the top 6, someone who can skate. Another PK hitter to play with Kampf when Mikheyev leaves is another need.

Ideally it will be JT for Stone.
That will work for both teams.
Vegas gets that #1 C and Leafs gets that physical forward who can score, PK and win draws.

 

[Cap'n Flavour]

Can't wait to buy my ticket for the Atlantic Division Semifinalist banner raising night!