Post-Game Talk: Leafs lose. Thornton on the first PP unit. Weak. Nice work keefe. Do better.

[Bomber0104]

Diversifying risk didnt help the Leafs when we were paying like 10 guys $4-5 mil to be league average players. Unfortunately one of the side effects of having top end talented players means you actually have to pay them and I would rather have the uncomfortable feeling of being a worried accountant over numbers that make me uncomfortable than having a team of uncomfortable players that make me feel better about finance.

Alright, well the worst has actually just happened and now that $11 million center is being replaced by a 750k player at the worst possible time.

It's great to talk about the potential benefits of putting all your chips in a few baskets but what's actually happened/happening right now is a total backfire.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Man rewatching the Habs GWG and Thornton is such a moron. Zero awareness about anything going on and let’s his pocket get picked. Yeah Sandin could’ve played it better but he shouldn’t have been in that position to start with.

 

[Woodman19]

Alright, well the worst has actually just happened and now that $11 million center is being replaced by a 750k player at the worst possible time.

It's great to talk about the potential benefits of putting all your chips in a few baskets but what's actually happened/happening right now is a total backfire.

So if we had the cap space we can go get two or three $3-4 million players right now to make it better?

 

[ToneDog]

If I was told mtl puts up 2 goals I'd bet the leafs win. No need to stress yet.

Could have said the same thing after game 1 vs CBJ. This game was a repeat but they get a pass due to the Tavares injury. No excuses Saturday night.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Man rewatching the Habs GWG and Thornton is such a moron. Zero awareness about anything going on and let’s his pocket get picked. Yeah Sandin could’ve played it better but he shouldn’t have been in that position to start with.

Same thing kind of happened on the Habs' first goal too.

 

[3blizzard4]

The hyenas and vultures sure aren't shy around HFBoards when the Leafs lose and once again ironically proving to everyone that Toronto indeed is the centre of the universe.

 

[ToneDog]

So if we had the cap space we can go get two or three $3-4 million players right now to make it better?

There would be no need cause those players would already be in the lineup. Instead we are bringing in Gally and Engvall.

 

[Woodman19]

There would be no need cause those players would already be in the lineup. Instead we are bringing in Gally and Engvall.

I doubt Kapanen and Johnson would have made a difference because those are the guys we would have in that situation.

 

[Bomber0104]

So if we had the cap space we can go get two or three $3-4 million players right now to make it better?

I would assume the Leafs will always spend to the cap so let's assume that those players would already be on the books ready to step up, providing better production possibility than the 750k options we're currently left with...

 

[Bomber0104]

There would be no need cause those players would already be in the lineup. Instead we are bringing in Gally and Engvall.

The poster for some reason thinks we wouldn't spend to the cap?

Odd suggestion for a team like the Leafs..

 

[crump]

Game was a write-off for me after that Tavares injury. Couldn't concentrate on it. Team was playing under extra stress all game. Causing the 3 delay of game penalties. Sticks held extra tight. Hopefully with the "clear" tests on Tavares, the team will be able to concentrate the next game. I really think looking at Matthews face during the injury downtime, he was severely affected by that scene as we all were. I'm giving the team a pass on that game. Could have gone either way and we weren't blown out. Price made some good saves, easily could have won without the penalties and missed opportunities.

 

[Woodman19]

I would assume the Leafs will always spend to the cap so let's assume that those players would already be on the books ready to step up, providing better production possibility than the 750k options we're currently left with...

Do Kapanen and Johnson move the needle?

 

[egd27]

The Habs are more than happy playing a tight game and waiting for a mistake. Need to inject more offense.

Putting aside Game 4 and the 3 goals with the goalie pulled miracle, they have now scored 7 goals in their last 5 playoff games.

Needing more offence is a massive understatement.

 

[Trapper]

Do Kapanen and Johnson move the needle?

This is our 5th try at round 1.
I hope someone can move it soon.

 

[ToneDog]

I doubt Kapanen and Johnson would have made a difference because those are the guys we would have in that situation.

Kappy has been better than any Leaf not in our top 5. Even so it could have been a UFA like Hoffman or Grandberg a Hall at the TDL. All are better than anything we have in our bottom 6. Shutdown 34 and you win most nights, especially in the playoffs.

 

[ToneDog]

The poster for some reason thinks we wouldn't spend to the cap?

Odd suggestion for a team like the Leafs..

Cap space is King. We got none and hence why we got a 4th line of 97, 19 and 24. Too bad it is not 2010.

 

[fahad203]

Because Riley Nash is a veteran with a history of solid playoff performances and Engvall has an hour of solid regular season play in what, three seasons? I start Nash 100% of the time in yesterday's situation.

There are a lot of veterans with great history but doesn't mean they should be part of any team. Especially when they are coming back from a knee injury has been out for 2 months and asked to be in a game against a fast team

 

[Bomber0104]

Do Kapanen and Johnson move the needle?

The choice was never between Tavares or retaining Kapanen/Johnsson when Dubas inked him to that UFA contract in 2018.

I have no idea why you're pretending those were the only two available options.

 

[fahad203]

The Foligno fight was pretty bizarre, Perry is a tough guy but he didn't seem to want to fight back and just took it. Very strange overall.

He played his role and knows he had to answer the bell. He did it and moved on
He's a vet, that was not his fault but accepted responsibility

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Kappy has been better than any Leaf not in our top 5. Even so it could have been a UFA like Hoffman or Grandberg a Hall at the TDL. All are better than anything we have in our bottom 6. Shutdown 34 and you win most nights, especially in the playoffs.

Leafs could’ve had Hall if they wanted this TDL, they chose Foligno. Jury is still out on if that was the right call.

 

[Notsince67]

This'll ruffle a lot of feathers, but I'd go
Galchenyuk - Kerfoot - Marner
Put Matthews with Hyman and Will

Perfectly reasonable IMO

 

[Notsince67]

Yep. Also Dermott is our best at denying zone entries; no surprise MTL had a lot more tonight.

yup

 

[BertCorbeau]

The choice was never between Tavares or retaining Kapanen/Johnson when Dubas inked him to that UFA contract in 2018.

I have no idea why you're pretending those were the only two available options.

True.. We could have kept Kadri as our #2C and had the great Derek Ryan as our #3C, or re-sign Bozak.

I'm sure that would have been a better alternative.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

How bout Simmonds out too?

For all this alleged grit he's supposed to bring, he sure made himself invisible lately.

Can we just go all in on our speed and skill identity? Mixing grit in does nothing, every player who comes here eventually blends in and completely abandons their physicality.

Simmonds and Thornton were both pretty bad.... I’d like to see younger faster legs in game 2

 

[Twine Tickler]

Nobody is panicking. Simply pointing out that the exact same issues that plagued this group last year vs Columbus, were evident again last night. Badly out hit vs a trapping team that congested the neutral zone and stooped the Leafs from making pretty passes. The result was another lifeless offensive effort, despite 4 powerplay opportunities, 3x 2 on 1's (all botched) and numerous high danger dances in which highly paid forwards didn't show enough scoring class to finish.

-We faced outstanding goaltending
-lost 1 of those "highly paid forwards" who lacks scoring touch 10 mins into the game with a horrific injury that clearly shook the team (that highly paid forward also happens to be our captain)
-we hit 2 posts that I can remember
-spent 10 minutes of the game dumb fluky penalties
-gave up 2-4 really dangerous looks
-played with 11 forwards, and the position we lost was 2L center. Not exactly easy to manage for 50 minutes

Tell me how much life you'd have if you saw one of your coworkers drop down at work and get carried away in a stretcher? think you'd be as productive the rest of the day?