Post-Game Talk: Leafs lose in OT 4-3

[leafsfan5]

The core has shown us who they are, Keefe has gotten what he can out of them. A new coach won’t change that right now.

Time to let the core show why Dubas clings to them (spoiler alert, they’ll fail), and make the management and roster changes in the off-season. Keep all picks and prospects and go from there.

A big trade now won’t fix things. And a new coach won’t fix this specific group right now either. It starts at the top and if the core players aren’t leading the way the team us screwed. You’ll lose a reaction trade right now anyway.

Yeah unfortunately we're stuck with this team for the season

Once the offseason hits it's time for big moves. All the management should be gone from Shanahan on down along with one of the core 4 gone. We need a re-tool and culture reset

 

[centipede2233]

The right play is to actually wait out the year, tell dubas the 1sts are not to be traded. And if things progress and finish like how we typically see, you fire shanahan early off season, name a new president and then he can chose a gm and the gm can chose a new coach if he wants. I’m all for,punting shanahan and dubas into the employment line yesterday, but I think what’s done is done, play out the year and let the chips fall.

 

[ULF_55]

Hi there.

View attachment 601204

Lidstrom says, "I made you."

Well past his best before date when the Leafs got him.

...

Dubas problems are many, including giving in to Paul.

 

[Stephen]

I wouldnt be worried about optics. The new coach basically has to turn things around and win or the core changes.

True. I am curious to see if we can get to a Marner Free future though and what those steps would be.

 

[Sypher04]

Love him, hate him, indifference, whatever you feel about Dubas, it's a damn shame that while he's continued year after year to stick his neck out and show faith in this core of players, when it's finally just now come to the point of Dubas being on the hot seat, the core has essentially responded by taking a dump in his bed.

 

[Steven1562]

The despondent look of the team as they left the ice tonight reminds me of all the times in the past 5-6 years where they choked and had the same look. Where is the fight in this team? The apathy in this group is sickening. Act like you give a damn or hate to lose. These guys look like they are here to cash a cheque.

 

[yubbers]

They sure did. But having best regular season is not running the team into the ground. Nonis did that. I was there for that era. This is nowhere close. Lets not act like itis and run around like chickens with our heads cut off...which is unfortunately what this Leafs media has done to everyone.

Agreed. Nonis didn't piss away generational talents. Dubas has managed to do so. ing choe-job in chief. He's literally reverse Rumplestilskin. He turns gold into straw ffs.

 

[frizzer1]

I think the hate for Marner is becoming a bit much. He is a 97 point player in 72 games. That's a 110 point pace guy. Maintaining superstar form over 82 games is hard.

Marner-Matthews are out of form but they aren't the problem. Their stock will rise soon. Keefe hasn't shown me anything though.

Matthews and Marner will be fine.
The problem is lack of depth up front ’and an awful, soft, slow defence

 

[Gabriel426]

Making the playoffs is not driving the team into the ground. It never has been. It's not what I'd like to see, but its not driving the team into the ground.

What the heck does that even mean?
Honestly, I have no idea what you meant. Bc anyone associated with the NHL, whether owners, MGTs or players and even fans are all about winning the Cup. And in order to win the Cup, you need to win in the playoffs.

 

[Antropovsky]

Was Matthews out there the entire time? I'm pretty sure he was

Yeah... I noticed that too. Seemed like another act of desperation by Keefe.

 

[PromisedLand]

Not sure if true or not but YIKES if true

 

[Alamo Leafer]

Keefe told Mitch I'm taking your X-Box away till we get back home?

 

[tp71]

Slow, small and prone to getting counter rushed on the blueline. Don’t find him a compelling package as a defenseman at all. The contract talks didn’t help that perception.

Well no, that was dumb. I'm always in the fine, then sit camp. I just think it's a tad early to be giving up on what could still be considered a prospect.

 

[Stephen]

The right play is to actually wait out the year, tell dubas the 1sts are not to be traded. And if things progress and finish like how we typically see, you fire shanahan early off season, name a new president and then he can chose a gm and the gm can chose a new coach if he wants. I’m all for,punting shanahan and dubas into the employment l8ne yesterday, but I think what’s done is sone, play out the year and let the chips fall.

Yep. It’s obvious we need to tear it down and make massive changes. But not burn it down as we want to. How do you turn the page on the Shanaplan without disadvantaging the next era.

 

[TMLeafer]

The good thing is that it's 10 games in. The season's not lost but you need to see some progress or signs of improvement, which sadly hasn't happened yet.

 

[Puckstuff]

The real issue is Shanahan, Dubas, Keefe and Marner

No the real issue is Shanahan, Dubas, Keefe, Muzzin and Murray.

 

[wingman75]

Shanahan is the one that needs to be fired. This has been his ship for far too long and it's been bungled all the way along. Let a new president try and build a winner.

I mean, does the board even give a f***? They are making cash hand over fist, and sure, while they could be making more with longer playoff runs... they are still one of, if not the, most profitable team in the league.

I would rather see a core piece moved before we tear it all down. It is the one thing that has not been done... and until it is, I don't feel you have done everything you can.

With that being said, something has to change... and don't tell me we have traded NAK or another fringe piece, those are not the kind of impactful change we need.

That roadtrip was disgusting.

 

[Pebble live]

Yeah unfortunately we're stuck with this team for the season

Once the offseason hits it's time for big moves. All the management should be gone from Shanahan on down along with one of the core 4 gone. We need a re-tool and culture reset

It has to be JT.

You can build around Matthews, Marner, and Willy. Everyone else can go. I'd keep Sandin and Samsonov as well.

Kadri should be the 2C on this team right now at 7 mill a year.

f*** Dubas.

 

[ChurchOfMatthews]

I found a positive. Flyers play the Rangers Tuesday night so they’ll be tired on Wednesday while the Leafs will be fresh and ready to go.

Ya, all of us here know how those games go. Automatic loss.

 

[theTTC]

Oh its not good right now, but I also realize its early. It's a long season. This hyperbolic narrative that this team was dead before the season started was irritating october 1st and its irritating now. The team will be fine. They will make the playoffs. They will likely lose in the 1st round. And Dubas will be gone. As is tradition.

Early? Its a continuation - this has been going on for six years.

 

[Stephen]

That was literally the best lookin pair to me tonight but maybe I’m seeing things wrong

We were in an evenly matched OTL against a lottery team. But I guess that’s what we are too at this moment.

 

[Menzinger]

The core has shown us who they are, Keefe has gotten what he can out of them. A new coach won’t change that right now.

Time to let the core show why Dubas clings to them (spoiler alert, they’ll fail), and make the management and roster changes in the off-season. Keep all picks and prospects and go from there.

A big trade now won’t fix things. And a new coach won’t fix this specific group right now either. It starts at the top and if the core players aren’t leading the way the team us screwed. You’ll lose a reaction trade right now anyway.

Yep.

I don't want or need anything drastic to happen in the early to mid season. The core are all still under contract in the offseason - if the team needs to be blown up, it can happen then. It's also a much better time to higher new coaches and front office staff than it is mid season.

In the meantime,.the core (and front office) has the rest of the season and playoffs to fight tooth and nail that they earn the right to justify the bets they've made on themselves.

And if it flops, it flops.

 

[BertCorbeau]

I’m not saying don’t trade Marner. But I keep going back to the heat Kadri got particularly in the last year or so before he was traded and how that trade woke his potential up into what we were hoping the Leafs would get. And now in hindsight that sucks.

I guess the takeaway is tread carefully. I agree a shakeup is needed but moving a big piece has a thin line between being a home run and delving into mediocrity

 

[Notsince67]

True. I am curious to see if we can get to a Marner Free future though and what those steps would be.

Zero chances management has the leeway to make core changes. That would be left to a new management team to assess.

 

[Mr_Fun]

I doubt anyone is getting fired tomorrow. If they don't make hey during this next 5 of six at home, I would at the minimum expect a trade.