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

[Zur En Arrh]

Getting rid of Holl and Kerfoot should be priority#1. Then you can find a nameplate for new coach Barry Trotz.

Cause that will make our generational franchise centre happy with two years left on his contract.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

That's fair. The problem is, #34 only has 2 years left and we can't move JT. We need to have a deeper team.

I have seen that being suggested that doesn't make this team deeper, that creates a massive hole at #2 center

 

[RoadWarrior]

They just are not built for the playoffs. The only one I saw consistently trying to engage on hard forechecks and not just do fly-by's was Marner for the most part. Matthews is 6'3 215 and prefers to stick check rather than lay out the body. Nylander is self explanatory and Tavares does his best to look like he's doing something but then ends up bobbling the puck regardless. When it comes down to it, they don't have the desire to really go out there and win and never change it up. Desperation is their only motivation in games when it ends up being too late.

Nylander has to go. I think he played his last game as a leaf. He's only a perimeter player who doesn't give 100% effort every game. They need a higher compete level with more jam.

Kerfoot has one of the lowest hockey IQ's I've ever seen. Kind of shocking as an Ivy league school graduate. He's only suited for a 4th line role in crucial games because of his stupidity. Should be gone.

Justin Holl is massively overrated by Dubas and company. No other team would have this guy anywhere near the top 4. Liljegren is clearly the better player. Should be gone.

As for Campbell I kind of like the guy. He's not an a**hole like some other goalies but he's also shown that he's just a middling starting goaltender with confidence issues. More of a 1B guy than a 1A guy. He is replaceable if they can find a true #1.

Keefe......well his passive attitude isn't what this team needs. They need a fire lit under their behinds with real consequences for slacking on the defensive end.

Trotz or Tortorella would be a big improvement.

 

[BTP]

Find a way to ship out JT and bring back Kadri

 

[ORRFForever]

I have seen that being suggested that doesn't make this team deeper, that creates a massive hole at #2 center

You lost me. ???

 

[Throw More Waffles]

Remember when everyone said the Salary Cap would go up so much that the Marner/Matthews/JT/Nylander signings would not come back to haunt us?

That's precisely why there needs to be a change of plan. Dubas needed to adapt, a long time ago.

Tavares was signed with the belief that Nylander and Marner would sign for around 6-7 mil. Matthews 10. That's 6-7 extra mil in cap space. But a combination of a rookie negotiator and better than expected final elc years from Marner/Matthews ruined that plan. But then STILL it was in some ways manageable because the cap was projected to be closer to 100 mil by 2022 than 80 mil. But then the flat cap...

It's left the leafs in an unsustainable situation. Simply too much of the cap is tied up on 4 forwards. But these are SUPERSTAR players that don't really ever get traded (other than the 1 with an nmc). How do you trade a 100 point winger in their prime?

I don't think Dubas will do it. And so we'll keep seeing these first round defeats. And it's not the covid flat cap that is the cause of it. It's Dubas's unwillingness to respond to the covid flat cap.

 

[Apotheosis]

I also never want to hear Matthews compared to McDavid ever again. McDavid turned it up in this year's playoffs and dragged his dogwater team to the second round while Drai played like ass. Matthews played alright but did not turn it up in the slightest and was a no-show in game 7 in comparison.

 

[KPower]

McDavid got the job done. He was a beast.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

They just are not built for the playoffs. The only one I saw consistently trying to engage on hard forechecks and not just do fly-by's was Marner for the most part. Matthews is 6'3 215 and prefers to stick check rather than lay out the body. Nylander is self explanatory and Tavares does his best to look like he's doing something but then ends up bobbling the puck regardless. When it comes down to it, they don't have the desire to really go out there and win and never change it up. Desperation is their only motivation in games when it ends up being too late.

Matthews had the most hits on the team and 5th most out of any player in the first round

 

[ORRFForever]

That's precisely why there needs to be a change of plan. Dubas needed to adapt, a long time ago.

Tavares was signed with the belief that Nylander and Marner would sign for around 6-7 mil. Matthews 10. That's 6-7 extra mil in cap space. But a combination of a rookie negotiator and better than expected final elc years from Marner/Matthews ruined that plan. But then STILL it was in some ways manageable because the cap was projected to be closer to 100 mil by 2022 than 80 mil. But then the flat cap...

It's left the leafs in an unsustainable situation. Simply too much of the cap is tied up on 4 forwards. But these are SUPERSTAR players that don't really ever get traded (other than the 1 with an nmc). How do you trade a 100 point winger in their prime?

I don't think Dubas will do it. And so we'll keep seeing these first round defeats. And it's not the covid flat cap that is the cause of it. It's Dubas's unwillingness to respond to the covid flat cap.

Well said. Great post.

So if YOU were Dubas, what would you do?

P.S. I've said I'd move Matthews - you'd get a mint in return and I believe he'll be gone in 2 years.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

You lost me. ???

you suggested trading Tavares, because we need a deeper team.

The problem with that is that trading Tavares doesn't make the team deeper it would creat a giant hole at #2 center.

therefore trading Tavares even if he were willing to go does nothing

 

[Apotheosis]

Matthews had the most hits on the team and 5th most out of any player in the first round

Genuinely did not look like it. I won't argue though. Only thing I can counter with is the intensity of the hits. He thrives down low and I just didn't see him engaging down low with the puck like he does in the regular season.

 

[wingman75]

Matthews had the most hits on the team and 5th most out of any player in the first round

Great. But maybe he should have been spending more time finding ways to get open or carrying the puck, he literally looked like he didn't want it. Which is baffling.

 

[ORRFForever]

you suggested trading Tavares, because we need a deeper team.

The problem with that is that trading Tavares doesn't make the team deeper it would creat a giant hole at #2 center.

therefore trading Tavares even if he were willing to go does nothing

???

I think you misread what I wrote - unless I mistyped something. If that is the case, my bad.

I know JT won't move.

 

[LeafsFan89]

Cause that will make our generational franchise centre happy with two years left on his contract.

I would argue until Matthews dominates playoff games like Crosby or McDavid does, then he is not generational.

 

[Throw More Waffles]

McDavid got the job done. He was a beast.

Yep. McDavid went superstar mode and singlehandedly won the game for Edmonton.

It's embarrassing Matthews has never been able to do that FIVE times in a row. Not even close really.

In our 5 game 7 humiliating losses (counting Columbus series) Matthews has 0 goals and 2 assists.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Genuinely did not look like it. I won't argue though. Only thing I can counter with is the intensity of the hits. He thrives down low and I just didn't see him engaging down low with the puck like he does in the regular season.

I think he looked pretty engaged without the puck, but deferred too much with it. Especially in the later games. That's pretty normal for his game, but I think it can be exploitable by a strong defensive team. I hope he can become a more puck dominant player

 

[Canadian Finn]

Maple Leafs fans turn on each other in concourse fights after Game 7 loss

Toronto Maple Leafs fans are taking out their frustrations on each other.

nypost.com

Toronto Maple Leafs fans are taking out their frustrations on each other.

At least two separate skirmishes between fans broke out, viral video shows, after their team lost, 2-1, in Game 7 to the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night. A shirtless man was chased in circles by another man, who swung at least four times but never seemed to connect. Police slowly reacted to break up the second fight that saw fans rolling around on the floor.

There is no knowing what started the fights.

But there is plenty of reason for Maple Leafs fans to be frustrated after the most predictable first-round series of the Stanley Cup Playoffs played out exactly as expected.

The Lightning’s hope for a three-peat lives on as they won the final two games against the Maple Leafs when facing elimination to capture their ninth straight series since a first-round elimination as heavy favorites in the 2019 playoffs.

Leafs fans are turning on each other… pic.twitter.com/rm7RFcNqhE
— 6ixBuzzTV (@6ixbuzztv) May 15, 2022

Maple Leafs’ fans fight it out after their Game 7 loss.
Twitter/Q6ixBuzzTV

It was pretty dark leaving the arena last night. Almost saw a fight in the crowd when some young fans took exception to some booing while the leafs were giving the final "bye" from the ice. (tampa left the ice first leaving the leafs).

Then when in the square same thing. Saw a fan pissing on a jersey. Saw another fan run and shove the pissing fan causing him to piss on what appeared to be his GF. A melee ensued.

A fanbase divided.

Some fans are calling disallowed goals as goals and hiding behind the same old.

Others are pissing on their jersey.

A fanbase divided.

 

[Sinkkunaattori]

Was checking playoff stats, got a chuckle out of this

 

[Mess]

So "getting in the way" is interference? Isn't that specifically the defenseman's job? To get in the way and stop opposing players? What, are they supposed to just "move out of the way"?

I feel like I'm watching an entirely different sport. The front of the net is a warzone and everybody is smashing into each other and batling. That's interference each and every time? Then why have I pretty much never seen it called as interference?

The rulebook says that defensemen can't "get in the way" of opposing players? Where?

Are you sure you're not getting your OZone and DZone confused here?

Leafs Dman can't take out a player without the puck in the Offensive Zone.

Anthony Cirelli has defensive zone coverage on Tavares his man riding on his inside hip forcing JT to the outside, until Holl comes in from the point and picks off Cirelli without the puck, creating a clear path the slot and HDSC for Tavares. That is an easy and classic interference call often referred to as a pick play. The Refs hand went up immediately and the whistle blew before Tavares even shot the puck.

Definition : A pick play "Is an illegal maneuver in which a player intentionally makes contact with a defender in order to slow the defender's progress, and allow a teammate to get open for a pass or create a scoring chance."

 

[Apotheosis]

I think he looked pretty engaged without the puck, but deferred too much with it. Especially in the later games. That's pretty normal for his game, but I think it can be exploitable by a strong defensive team. I hope he can become a more puck dominant player

I do agree with your Keefe assessment though. You would think that after seeing the way Tampa defended, they would think to crash the net more and not just shoot from the perimeter. Also, wishing Matthews had the balls to drive the net more as well given that he outsizes everyone on the Bolts not named Hedman or Bogosian.

 

[Throw More Waffles]

Well said. Great post.

So if YOU were Dubas, what would you do?

P.S. I've said I'd move Matthews - you'd get a mint in return and I believe he'll be gone in 2 years.

I would have traded Marner after the Columbus series. It was abundantly clear at that point that covid would create a stagnant cap ceiling.

Three 11 million dollar forwards was immediately unsustainable. It's amazing that sentence even needs to be written.

Wait till after the July signing bonus, and Marner is relatively cheap in terms of REAL money. We could get a kings ransom.

 

[ORRFForever]

I would have traded Marner after the Columbus series. It was abundantly clear at that point that covid would create a stagnant cap ceiling.

Three 11 million dollar forwards was immediately unsustainable. It's amazing that sentence even needs to be written.

Wait till after the July signing bonus, and Marner is relatively cheap in terms of REAL money. We could get a kings ransom.

Sounds like a plan to me.

 

[Zur En Arrh]

I would argue until Matthews dominates playoff games like Crosby or McDavid does, then he is not generational.

Mcd dominated against a shitty kings team who took them to seven. Matthews had the best d man of this era drapped all over him, as well as point. They're not the same.

 

[ULF_55]

Yep. McDavid went superstar mode and singlehandedly won the game for Edmonton.

It's embarrassing Matthews has never been able to do that FIVE times in a row. Not even close really.

In our 5 game 7 humiliating losses (counting Columbus series) Matthews has 0 goals and 2 assists.

I'd have to recount but I think in deciding games:
Mathews now as 3 points, and marner has 2.
Nylander IIRC has 3.