Post-Game Talk: Leafs lose the opener 4-3

[Gabriel426]

If this team needs a fight to get motivated, then they don't have what it takes. Fortunately, this is not a team that needs a fight for motivation. They have plenty of motivation built up as it is. This is a team that needs focus and mental sharpness... And that is on the players.

If they don't have it, then they don't have it. We will have to rebuild or at least enter a strong retool. Coaches and GMs can't fix stupid. Until then, the players have at least one more year to prove they are not stupid... But today they played stupid.



A lot of the mistakes made were execution errors and simply not thinking. Montreal did nothing to catch the Leafs by surprise, and it is not even like they played particularly well. They just capitalized off of mistakes that simply never should have been made in the first place.

They have been playing stupid for a few years.

 

[Shooter2x]

I guess Keefe get a sense that he got respected from Handshake after today’s game.

Let Muzz plays with TJ and Reilly with Holl, bc this Muzz and Holl ain’t working.

Also, one team was ready where one team was still in pre season mode. Keefe needs to get the boys ready, this should be a statement game from the boys after last year playoffs. Not promoting fights or wanting Simmonds bc he was most often a liability on the ice last season but would Simmonds starting a fight with the Habs fire the team up?

Rielly-Sandin* until Lil is back.

Let's have at least 1 fast / skilled pairing (you only need 1 D to be fast for it to be a fast pairing).

Sandin looked like he wanted to rock someone tonight too. Time to demote Holl for good.

 

[kevsh]

Usually they go a few months, even a year or two, before they hang their starters out to dry.
There's a reason why all the goalies that come here get out as fast as they can. Matt is pretty quickly finding out why.

And what was Samsonov thinking watching from the bench? "Guess it's my turn tomorrow?"

 

[leafsfan5]

Here’s the thing, people point out he was on a cup team. Also true, he didn’t dress a lot the last two series, which says something as well.

Here's something else, these are the combined playoff stats of the 3 new forward additions (ZAR, NAK, Jarnkrok):

7 goals - 19 assists - 125 playoff games

7 goals in 125 combined playoff games.....Like I get a couple of those guys are used in more defensive roles and 4th line systems but it's not like we're adding them to a bottom 6 with some jam. The rest of our bottom 6 can't really score either. Go look at Engvall's playoff production for instance

We're going to run into the same problem we did last playoffs. No depth production

We really need Robertson/Knies to break through and join the club, imo. Robertson looked the part in camp but the cap is annoying

Definitely missed Liljegren tonight

He adds a level of mobility to the defensive core that we need

Can't wait for him to get healthy and return to the lineup

 

[TheGoldenJet]

#Fire Dubas

 

[SeaOfBlue]

They have been playing stupid for a few years.

Well as I said, GM's and coaches can't fix stupid.

 

[BrannigansLaw]

Here's something else, these are the combined playoff stats of the 3 new forward additions (ZAR, NAK, Jarnkrok):

7 goals - 19 assists - 125 playoff games

7 goals in 125 combined playoff games.....Like I get a couple of those guys are used in more defensive roles and 4th line systems but it's not like we're adding them to a bottom 6 with some jam. The rest of our bottom 6 can't really score either. Go look at Engvall's playoff production for instance

We're going to run into the same problem we did last playoffs. No depth production

We really need Robertson/Knies to break through and join the club, imo. Robertson looked the part in camp but the cap is annoying


He adds a level of mobility to the defensive core that we need

Can't wait for him to get healthy and return to the lineup

When you can’t fit a player making less than a million onto your roster because of the salary cap, it’s not the cap being annoying. It’s your GM being a moron and not knowing how to manage it properly.

The rest of your post I agree with completely. I’m not sure how management identified these guys as the solution to the bottom 6 but it is what it is. They are new and might surprise. The rest that have been here for the epic fails like Engvall though….

 

[centipede2233]

Where's the step back

Hey guys, it’s keefe here. I’m dissapointed as much as the fans on todays loss. But I do have some good news. Martin St.Louis came over to me shook my hand and told me he has a lot of respect for our team. So do not worry…

 

[HolyCrap]

When you can’t fit a player making less than a million onto your roster because of the salary cap, it’s not the cap being annoying. It’s your GM being a moron and not knowing how to manage it properly.

That’s what happens when a GM plays 3d chess only ignoring the fact he entered a simple checkers game.

 

[JSn0w93]

Our defence is going to be an issue, and Liljegren himself won't fix it. Otherwise 81 more of these.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Gut check time:


No guts

 

[ULF_55]

They have been playing stupid for a few years.

My wife knows that and she doesn't watch.

 

[Bomber0104]

Great to see the Leafs getting off on the right foot, adding another chapter in their book of embarrassing collapses.

At some point people need to stop being in denial that this defence is any good just because our forwards higher-volume nothing shots in the other end.

Shooting more shots at the other goalie that have no chance of going in doesn't all of a sudden make Jake Muzzin's game tonight look "good" by comparison.

He lost the game basically on his own.

 

[Srsly]

You’re probably not going to win on a night when Malgin is your best forward. That said I’m not concerned. It’s only game one and we were the better team the majority of the night despite a somewhat uninspired performance. Hopefully things go a little more smoothly tomorrow.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

JT not looking so happy.

 

[Shooter2x]

You’re probably not going to win on a night when Malgin is your best forward. That said I’m not concerned. It’s only game one and we were the better team the majority of the night despite a somewhat uninspired performance. Hopefully things go a little more smoothly tomorrow.

That honor goes to Nylander.

I mean his only problem was trying too hard to get assists instead of goals.

The two times he gave the puck away he followed it up with selke level defence, following the guy all the way up the ice.

Saves our ass with JT like they've been doing since second half of Tampa series until muzzin and Murray threw it away.

 

[ULF_55]

They were lucky they were still in it after the first.

Leafs in deep so many times coughing up the puck.

Canadiens handle marner and Matthews too frequently.

 

[DraftSchmaft]

With the exception of a slap pass, Marner hasn't looked elite at all since game 2 of the Tampa series. Some nice xGF padding but underwhelming otherwise.

Wake up.

 

[socko]

I feel bad for Nylander. Another year he has to play with the slug. He was the best forward tonight but just doesn't have the linemates.

 

[ULF_55]

how much is freed up on a waived player?

 

[WTFMAN99]

1. They were playing pond hockey and sloppy with the puck all game

2. Disappointed they can't be bothered to show up and take it serious. They didn't learn last year there was an easier road by finishing higher in the standings?

3. Brodie was the best D tonight, the rest were pretty crap.

4. I liked Jarnkrok

5. This team needs to move on from Engvall, Kerfoot and Holl if they want to win anything. Just soft / bad / useless players. Muzzin may be joining them.

6. Murray was good to start...willing to say his team sucked in front of him but if 4 goals against is a theme, we have an expensive Garret Sparks for 2 years.

 

[Stephen]

When you can’t fit a player making less than a million onto your roster because of the salary cap, it’s not the cap being annoying. It’s your GM being a moron and not knowing how to manage it properly.

The rest of your post I agree with completely. I’m not sure how management identified these guys as the solution to the bottom 6 but it is what it is. They are new and might surprise. The rest that have been here for the epic fails like Engvall though….

Looking at Muzzin's quality of play, general health trend and age, I think the Leafs would have done themselves a favour being more decisive and aggressive in dumping his contract.

 

[Gabriel426]

Well as I said, GM's and coaches can't fix stupid.

But GM and Coach choose the team.

Honestly not blaming Keefe on this loss but it is really the same old story over and over again.

It is just a game and the boys will better.

 

[Stephen]

1. They were playing pond hockey and sloppy with the puck all game

2. Disappointed they can't be bothered to show up and take it serious. They didn't learn last year there was an easier road by finishing higher in the standings?

3. Brodie was the best D tonight, the rest were pretty crap.

4. I liked Jarnkrok

5. This team needs to move on from Engvall, Kerfoot and Holl if they want to win anything. Just soft / bad / useless players. Muzzin may be joining them.

6. Murray was good to start...willing to say his team sucked in front of him but if 4 goals against is a theme, we have an expensive Garret Sparks for 2 years.

It's too bad we couldn't have made opening night more of a statement game. Look at Colorado. Stomp on Chicago opening night as scripted, points night all around and start the season on a positive note. No strange rustiness, not ready to play, bullshit nonsense. But I guess that's why they're the defending champions and the Leafs are the Leafs.

 

[killer1980]

Hey, the Leafs aren't that bad but, the problem is they aren't that good. Enjoy the season that's all you have to cheer for.