Post-Game Talk: Leafs lose in OT

[CaptainCrunch17]

Anyone blame the refs yet? I’ll go with that one.

Don’t forget to also blame the flat cap.

But not to worry, the fancy stats say we’re amazing.

 

[justashadowof]

I don't blame a marginal goalie for not being a marginal goalie. If only there was something different that could have been done in the recent past to ensure that the team didn't have to use a marginal goalie in the net in October. If only there was a way for the team and its coach to compensate for a bad NHL backup goalie.

Things are about to get very interesting.

 

[justashadowof]

It may not have mattered for the outcome of the game but I don't see the logic in using Kallgren against San Jose as workload management. Now Keefe is either forced to start Samsonov for consecutive games on Saturday and Sunday or start Kallgren again Sunday.

 

[Racer88]

I’m sure glad I only stayed up to watch the first period..
This group is a hot steaming mess. It’s hard to even know what to think of them anymore.

 

[Dayjobdave]

I watched the first. They seem to be on their heels or on the outside. Movement but no urgency. They really don’t look very good.

I was excited about the depth guys they brought in but so far none of them seem to be gelling.

Glad Matthews scored, maybe he will go on a roll, but this is starting to feel like the part of the movie where they introduce the new guy playing coach.

 

[DarkKnight]

For me, this is all about the Marleau fiasco.

 

[All Mod Cons]

This is not on the coach. They got the coach they wanted, the GM supports them undeservedly, and they still can't get up for some games.
I would actually respect it if Keefe and Dubas resigned tomorrow

I'd f***ing love it if Kyle resigned tomorrow. Keefe? I'm not bothered either way. The GM hasn't given his previous two coaches anyway near the right team to be successful so I'm not sure what the coaches are supposed to do.

All because of Kyle's smug, I know the game better than anyone attitude, trying to build the team around 4 forwards taking up 50% of the cap, and then rounding out the team with the same shitty vanilla soft players who you can't tell apart. It's hard to blame anyone but the GM.

Get rid of the GM and then sort out this mess, which will take a few years to do.

It's insane, after 2018, that this team has this lineup on paper. I'm not sure how people didn't see this coming with every single move Kyle has made since becoming the GM.

 

[Racer88]

I'd f***ing love it if Kyle resigned tomorrow. Keefe? I'm not bothered either way. The GM hasn't given his previous two coaches anyway near the right team to be successful so I'm not sure what the coaches are supposed to do.

All because of Kyle's smug, I know the game better than anyone attitude, trying to build the team around 4 forwards taking up 50% of the cap, and then rounding out the team with the same shitty vanilla soft players who you can't tell apart. It's hard to blame anyone but the GM.

Get rid of the GM and then sort out this mess, which will take a few years to do.

It's insane, after 2018, that this team has this lineup on paper. I'm not sure how people didn't see this coming with every single move Kyle has made since becoming the GM.

Many of us did see this coming. What boggles my mind is Shanny allowing his GM to build this heartless soft group………that was not Shanny as a player

 

[AvroArrow]

This team makes me physically ill

How many losses to bottom feeders will we see?

All of them, and then they'll show up vs the top teams. This is the most frustrating shit with this group, I forget who said it first but they absolutely play to the level of their opponent. They need more discipline with their work ethic and preparation. Treat every single opponent like a playoff team, that's what all the great teams do. So much talent but just extremely frustrating to see them come out unprepared every time it's a matchup against a bottom feeder.

Is it coaching ? Leadership ? Management ? I don't know but this is a recurring theme and it's pissing me off now.

 

[DarkKnight]

The best part, we’ve had a extremely easy schedule to start.

 

[Nineteen67]

If Sandin and Tavares are going to be on together in NHL 3 on 3 OT, you’d better not give up possession

 

[BrannigansLaw]

What’s the point of having a GM if he never has the balls to do anything of impact?

These guys seem to have a blank check for screwing up and half assed efforts for years now and yet nothing changes.

I mean this is literally the least likeable group of Leafs I have ever had the displeasure of watching even with all their talent. I just can’t stomach this group anymore.

How quick can we get Lily and Danny DeKeyser up from the Marlies?

Will make zero difference.

 

[notdoneyet]

It's hard to blame goalies for breakaways, but what on earth was Kallgren doing? He backed up so deep he was basically on the goal line, while Karlsson makes a dreadfully slow, off balance backhand forehand move inches in front of his face without even attempting any sort of poke check.

That was hilariously dreadful goaltending, he looked like a Jr B tender on that one.

None the less, the entire team is to blame for losing to a team as terrible as the San Jose Sharks, these guys are bad.

WTF was nylander doing
Scared to try to muscle past that monster karlsson so put on the brakes do your patented curl back to avoid contact and try to pass the puck across the middle if the ice

 

[TMLAM34]

Woke up this morning expecting an easy win… Should have known better…

 

[Once]

They lost to the sharks? Think I’m checking out until something changes.

 

[namttebih]

I am so sick and tired of these idiots talking the talk and then not walking the walk when it comes to showing up against bad teams. Either change or shut the f*** up.

They’re all grown men

I can't wait till new guys are in charge of the team. I just don't enjoy the product anymore.

Honestly haven’t for a few years now

 

[Niagara Bill]

It may not have mattered for the outcome of the game but I don't see the logic in using Kallgren against San Jose as workload management. Now Keefe is either forced to start Samsonov for consecutive games on Saturday and Sunday or start Kallgren again Sunday.

7 games in we are talking workload. Incredible. At this time of year only marginal players get that treatment but to say that would mean the off season was a failure.

 

[TMLAM34]

Starting Kallgren didn’t make any sense to begin with. Samsonovs last game was on Monday… Monday to Thursday is definitely enough time off. Then you could have split Kallgren and Samsonov however you want to on the weekend back to back…

Another terrible decision made by Keefe this season. Surprised he didn’t run Matthews and Marner who are off to slow starts into the ground again with 27+ minutes lol… But he’s got the most depth he’s ever had here in Toronto to work with apparently lol…

 

[hoglund]

This team is absolutely lost right now. They should be worse than 4-3-1

I think that that's why people are starting to panic already, their record is good enough to get 93 points and probably make the playoffs, but they are hard to watch and haven't played well against weak teams.

This team is absolutely lost right now. They should be worse than 4-3-1

 

[HockeyVirus]

So I have maintained I want to give this team 20 games. But I have noticed one thing has changed and that is post game interviews. Keefe seems really frustrated and like he doesn't know what the problem is and is just waiting on the team to figure it out. This aligns with Spezza last year after their loss he said something like "I wonder if I said the right things and pushed the right buttons".

Coaching is an easy answer but I think Keefe has had his finger on the pulse since the day he was hired. He is a smart coach and a good one. I think the players are to blame and to be honest what I haven't heard people mention is I wonder if the players themselves don't believe anymore.

Maybe "don't believe" is the wrong word, but the confidence in the group is gone. I think changes had to happen just so the narrative wasn't "things are the same". And while I am a fan of Dubas, this last offseason IDK about it. I wonder if a new vision is needed here to get the team to the next level because Dubas seems to be like "IDK we should have won cups by now let's keep it as is".

Our defense clearly is not up to snuff with our injuries and we can't rely on Muzzin.... Everyone saw that coming.

 

[ULF_55]

I don't blame a marginal goalie for not being a marginal goalie. If only there was something different that could have been done in the recent past to ensure that the team didn't have to use a marginal goalie in the net in October. If only there was a way for the team and its coach to compensate for a bad NHL backup goalie.

Things are about to get very interesting.

Losing on a breakaway isn't on the goalie.
I'd bet every goalie in the NHL has allowed a breakaway goal.

Edit:

Actually, the first goal was more or less a breakaway as well.
Yeah I know Holl was in the vicinity but it was Holl.

First shift of the game and last shift of the game a breakaway goal against with.
1st. line - first shift
2nd. line - last shift

Kind of fitting isn't?

Nice to see their insulating their youngish back-up.

 

[CabanaBoy5]

Any way you look at this, that was another embarrassing performance against a terrible team. The lack of urgency to the start of this game tells you where this team is at now. They don’t know how to play hard or simply won’t. One is a coaching issue, the other is a player issue.

There are too many weaknesses that need to be addressed and soon. Holl is absolutely gawdawful. Kerfoot should be nowhere near a first line. Engvall just doesn’t give a shit. ZAR is completely ineffective, no wonder he had to have a PTO.

Starting Kallgren was a big mistake. It gave the team the perception that SJ could be taken lightly. It was not all on him, he is what he is…a marginal AHL goalie.

One thing the team needs to address is having the defence pinch so deep in the ozone. Holl behind the opposition net is something we should never see. Sandin, Rielly, even Brodie, are causing too many opportunities the other way. Yeah it sometimes leads to a goal for us but too often it’s hurting our defensive structure.

On the positive side, Kampf has been really good. Matthews might awaken and stop missing the net and fumbling the puck so much now that’s he’s shot a puck into the net.

 

[All Mod Cons]

So I have maintained I want to give this team 20 games. But I have noticed one thing has changed and that is post game interviews. Keefe seems really frustrated and like he doesn't know what the problem is and is just waiting on the team to figure it out. This aligns with Spezza last year after their loss he said something like "I wonder if I said the right things and pushed the right buttons".

Coaching is an easy answer but I think Keefe has had his finger on the pulse since the day he was hired. He is a smart coach and a good one. I think the players are to blame and to be honest what I haven't heard people mention is I wonder if the players themselves don't believe anymore.

Maybe "don't believe" is the wrong word, but the confidence in the group is gone. I think changes had to happen just so the narrative wasn't "things are the same". And while I am a fan of Dubas, this last offseason IDK about it. I wonder if a new vision is needed here to get the team to the next level because Dubas seems to be like "IDK we should have won cups by now let's keep it as is".

Our defense clearly is not up to snuff with our injuries and we can't rely on Muzzin.... Everyone saw that coming.

Agreed. We need a new GM.

 

[Drugstorecowboi]

Yo...it's October still....

Agreed. We need a new GM.

Not a very good take.

 

[All Mod Cons]

Losing on a breakaway isn't on the goalie.
I'd bet every goalie in the NHL has allowed a breakaway goal.

Every goalie in the NHL has let in a bad goal. They've also, all of them, let in a goal.

I don't feel they shouldn't be criticized for letting in goals though. Regardless of what the goal looks like.