Post-Game Talk: Leafs Lose in OT Again to Devils.

[Ianturnedbull]

Nylander leads the team in ES goals, so there is no reason to start him 3-on-3. Much better to start three of the five players with the most giveaways!

I hate to admit it, but right now Nylander looks like the most talented and consistent player for the Leafs. He can drive whatever line he is on and he's a threat to score. I'm not sure what is going on with Marner/Matthews. Hopefully they can get out of their rut. They're both good, but they are not at their best right now.

 

[Nineteen67]

So someone mansplain to me why our "coach" has the the 2 time Rocket Richard Award Winner standing in the middle of the 4 defenders on the PP. Now I realize he got one tonight, but is that really the best deployment for him?

OV can score from the same spot for ~20 yrs
Stamkos can score from the same spot for ~10 yreas
Kucherov can score and set up from the same spots for ~8 yrs
Matthews is a combination of all these guys and he’s not major threat on the PP

At some point Keefe should be banned from the PP room.

 

[Nineteen67]

I hate to admit it, but right now Nylander looks like the most talented and consistent player for the Leafs. He can drive whatever line he is on and he's a threat to score. I'm not sure what is going on with Marner/Matthews. Hopefully they can get out of their rut. They're both good, but they are not at their best right now.

Thats what makes Nylander so frustrating in the playoffs. HoF talent, but hasn’t played like he wants to stick around too long in the spring.

 

[Niagara Bill]

I don't deny that Keefe deserves some criticism. But the players deserve just as much, if not more.

But Keefe is charged with creating environment and organization where the players succeed. If a fourth liner is not performing that is Dubas. If your top 2 players are not, that is Keefe.

 

[Drytoast]

Thats what makes Nylander so frustrating in the playoffs. HoF talent, but hasn’t played like he wants to stick around too long in the spring.

If the Leafs change their colors from blue and white to blue and yellow, it should help motivate Willie.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

This game felt a bit depressing to me - the Devils basically play the style of game we want to play, but are younger, better, faster and deeper.

Seeing Hischier and Hughes out there, both signing to 8 year dears at 8 or less, that is pain.

Just a stark reminder of what we all had hoped this rebuild would look like 4 years ago. Instead we signed JT and the big boys got their big (and short term) contracts, and the rest is history.

Either way, heck of a game. Lots of pace, lots of skill. Fun hockey.

 

[ToneDog]

The mistake isn't in sending out the player, it's the reason why he sent out the player.
If they are coaching by telepathy they should have hired Kreskin.

Nylander was flying last night, not sure how a coach's feelings didn't conclude he should have started.

You still have to send out a second trio if 34 and 88 do not score. I am not sweating the extra point. There were good signs but this team is clearly flawed. I mean for an elite skilled, power offence, we sure don't score many goals while our elite D clearly cannot handle being pressured.

 

[Notsince67]

I hate to admit it, but right now Nylander looks like the most talented and consistent player for the Leafs. He can drive whatever line he is on and he's a threat to score. I'm not sure what is going on with Marner/Matthews. Hopefully they can get out of their rut. They're both good, but they are not at their best right now.

Maybe you missed that Marner is only the second player in leafs history to have achieved an 11 game point streak 3 times as of last night.

Matthews and Marner are fine. The coaching strategy is off.
The team play is disconnected.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

This game felt a bit depressing to me - the Devils basically play the style of game we want to play, but are younger, better, faster and deeper.

Seeing Hischier and Hughes out there, both signing to 8 year dears at 8 or less, that is pain.

Just a stark reminder of what we all had hoped this rebuild would look like 4 years ago. Instead we signed JT and the big boys got their big (and short term) contracts, and the rest is history.

Either way, heck of a game. Lots of pace, lots of skill. Fun hockey.

I'm not so sure I'm ready to annoint the NJD yet. They seem like the make up of a good regular season team. I could be wrong, but they might fold like a cheap suit in the playoffs.

 

[ULF_55]

Thats what makes Nylander so frustrating in the playoffs. HoF talent, but hasn’t played like he wants to stick around too long in the spring.

Yes, but don't forget Nylander hasn't been stapled to the 2 time Rocket winner during the playoffs and here are their results since 2016-2017 season in the playoffs.

Compare playoffs to regular season, and check out who checks out in the post-season.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Maybe you missed that Marner is only the second player in leafs history to have achieved an 11 game point streak 3 times as of last night.

Matthews and Marner are fine. The coaching strategy is off.
The team play is disconnected.

I just said that they're both good. Why are you making me say it again?

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

If the Leafs change their colors from blue and white to blue and yellow, it should help motivate Willie.

I honestly have thought Willy has been our best player all season.

 

[ToneDog]

I'm not so sure I'm ready to annoint the NJD yet. They seem like the make up of a good regular season team. I could be wrong, but they might fold like a cheap suit in the playoffs.

They may or may not but odds are they do not 6 years in a row.

 

[willmma]

Leafs on pace to 100 points

 

[egd27]

Leafs already tried that. How's it working out?

I guess I'm hopeful that if they could select a bonafide NHL coach instead of an OHL one it may work out better.

 

[Macallan18]

I was at the game. I'm hesitant to say that Murray was good. He looked ok. I think his massive equipment is part of the reason they got the point.

and he can wear that equipment every game!!!

 

[Notsince67]

I just said that they're both good. Why are you making me say it again?

You just talked about consistency which I just pointed out was wrong. An 11 game point streak is pretty consistent.

 

[snipes29]

Bad turnover JT

Lmao our Mumbles Captain can do no wrong

 

[Peasy]

I just said that they're both good. Why are you making me say it again?

You complimented Nylander. If you compliment Nylander it is mandatory that Notsince67 brings up marner randomly to defend him. Mans been doing it for years.

 

[ULF_55]

I was at the game. I'm hesitant to say that Murray was good. He looked ok. I think his massive equipment is part of the reason they got the point.

That is kind of a funny take, with regards to the equipment.

Look at goalies a few decades ago.

They could almost be wearing shin pads, but those things were heavy. I volunteered to play net in one of our pick-up games and I stayed on my feet because I couldn't get up once I went down.

All goalies wear big equipment.

 

[ULF_55]

You just talked about consistency which I just pointed out was wrong. An 11 game point streak is pretty consistent.

A few games ago, IIRC both Matthews and marner were + players.

Now marner, in this point streak is even, and Matthews is still a + player and Nylander is now even.

Yes, we all know +/- is a crap stat, but ... what changed?

 

[therealkoho]

Not really, we need those pieces, but for example if someone like jarnkrok starts producing at his usual 30-40 pace that’s one bottom six guy, then we get one more and that gives us a solid third line with kampf. ZAR and Malgin with someone makes a decen fourth line

Top 6 winger has been needed since 2020-2021. 2nd LW was always a hole, kerfoot isn’t good enough there, but he’s ideal in 3rd line, so getting a top 6 winger addresses the third guy on the 3rd line.

Top 4 dman is just for muzzins replacement, he isn’t going to play probably and we will wanna look for a replacement.

These pieces are hard to find, but not impossible

TJ coming back into the lineup will help the D, he's truly missed, replacing Muzz is going to be the steepest hill.

I think the Leafs will have an easier time filling the 2LW spot, although they were hoping that the guy wearing 89 was going to be the solution. He still could.

Acquiring all these pieces will cost and if you look critically at the Leaf cupboard it's pretty much empty. A top 4 heavy lifting Dman is going to cost a whole bunch, which means you'll have to find the medium of exchange in the starting line-up. You'll end up creating a deficiency in order to fill one. Which is very much like shuffling the deck chairs on the titanic.

Or maybe you're fine with offering up 1sts starting in 23 and beyond. We know from history it's maybe not the safest of strategies

 

[therealkoho]

Wow. So yeah jersey seems for real.

Trying to be positive but another thing... if you look at the standings... yes Leafs had a bad west trip against a couple shit teams... but they've played 7 of the top 9 teams. Boston, Jersey, Vegas, Kings, Dallas, Carolina, Winnipeg.

Leafs sit 8th overall. Haven't played Islanders yet.

Leafs got at least a point off all of them but Kings and only 1 point in 2 games at Vegas.

They need to beat up on the shitty teams more.

This, exactly this. Thanks.

But no "too many turnovers" seems to be the #1 talking point, the #2 of course is monumental suckage everywhere, #3 is something the coach said or did. All of which are burning hot soul crushing takes.

After holding one of the top 3 teams in the league to well below their normal game output, coming back to tie them up and forcing OT and stealing a point, the conversation seems to be where it always ends up.

 

[Larcos_Unal]

OV can score from the same spot for ~20 yrs
Stamkos can score from the same spot for ~10 yreas
Kucherov can score and set up from the same spots for ~8 yrs
Matthews is a combination of all these guys and he’s not major threat on the PP

At some point Keefe should be banned from the PP room.

All those players had a Dman who could shoot the puck. If you take away those players you listed then Hedman, Carlson will absolutely tee off. The Leafs are too predictable, it's all going through Matthews.

Rielly is a joke of a PP QB, Marner's shot is not intimidating anyone.

 

[therealkoho]

Maybe you missed that Marner is only the second player in leafs history to have achieved an 11 game point streak 3 times as of last night.

Matthews and Marner are fine. The coaching strategy is off.
The team play is disconnected.

There we go

The disconnection, the lack of cohesion, sometimes it can be a coaching problem, there's no doubt about that. We all know that the coach is in charge, but is he?

After he got frog marched out to the press to publicly apologize for being a big meanie, that's when I knew that a change of coaches would be futile