Post-Game Talk: Leafs lose to Minnesota and end January with a whimper

[Aashir]

What if they don't? Hoooboy what an offseason that would be. I'd almost welcome it over another first round loss as maybe someone will get their head out of their asses and make some significant changes.

Don't get me wrong, I'll be living and spewing nonsense on here, but... could it be for the best? A bit of a wakeup call for the arrogant core?

at this point, who even knows..

having the team fight and claw their way to the playoffs didn't work, see 16-17 and 19-20
having them make it comfortably the entire time doesn't work, see 20-21 to 23-24
having them almost sorta choke it away but still make it doesn't work, see 18-19

this core can't win any way, being the underdog, favourite or an even matchup.

So yea maybe missing it would be for the best, but this team missing the playoffs is almost impossible. The division is soooooo bad they'd have to win like 10 games max

 

[Suntouchable13]

We'll probably see this exact game in the playoffs, unfortunately. Game 7 against Boston or Ottawa probably.

 

[CabanaBoy5]

When your offence struggles, you can’t start slowly nor can you allow two weak goals or be muscled off the puck so easily like Rielly did.

But make no mistake, this team is really struggling to score, especially depth scoring. At least I don’t have to hear people say “we’ll we’re still in first”. Berube has to hold people accountable. Sit Rielly down. Stop playing Reaves. Bring up Steeves who deserves a call up.

 

[wingman75]

I'd like it if we had draft picks to do some damage but that is not happening for the next 3 years. That's why I would let them stew in the smell of their failure. Hope they come begging to be let out of their NMC especially captain fantastic.

We just need 1 to move on.

I always thought it had to be Willy, then I thought it had to be Mitch... I think I was wrong in both cases.

 

[baton elevated]

This coaching team looks like they have lost the room already. Not a fan myself, didn't like the hiring at the time and don't like it now.

 

[wingman75]

at this point, who even knows..

having the team fight and claw their way to the playoffs didn't work, see 16-17 and 19-20
having them make it comfortably the entire time doesn't work, see 20-21 to 23-24
having them almost sorta choke it away but still make it doesn't work, see 18-19

this core can't win any way, being the underdog, favourite or an even matchup.

So yea maybe missing it would be for the best, but this team missing the playoffs is almost impossible. The division is soooooo bad they'd have to win like 10 games max

If they lose out on this road trip it could be a thing.

Anyway, enough of this nonsensical talk.

 

[Ports]

Did he gain weight so that he could try to play a more physical style, how do lose all that speed at age 30, he's bottoming out worse than Brodie did at a much younger age.

More physical ? I would say he’s less physical but that’s impossible.

 

[Stephen]

Team was overachieving with good goaltending for awhile there. Bound for a slump.

Looks like they’re just coasting to this 4 nations break. Hopefully that can get them healthy and recharged for a run.

Wasting the best chance they have to win the Atlantic in the Matthews era though

Just feels like the universe is constantly telling us Matthews, Marner aren’t good enough to lead a team anywhere but we keep thinking they’re blowing it. Not sure which one it is.

 

[ToneDog]

I thought this one would go to OT, but on to the next. I think the injuries are probably getting to them at this point. They don't have guys who can replace Tavares and Knies in the lineup, but I'm not sure any team does.

Minny was missing Kaprizov who is 3x the player Tavares is today. They outworked the Leafs.

 

[Stephen]

Did he gain weight so that he could try to play a more physical style, how do lose all that speed at age 30, he's bottoming out worse than Brodie did at a much younger age.

Rielly move like the Ovechkin of defensemen without the goal scoring and occasional hitting.

 

[wingman75]

This coaching team looks like they have lost the room already. Not a fan myself, didn't like the hiring at the time and don't like it now.

I don't think he's lost the room, since the team is playing the way the coach wants. As awful as it is to watch, he seems pretty pleased with their play. Focusing too much on the defensive side imo. This team needs more of a balance. We are trending to be bottom 10 in GF, and PP and mid pack in GA and PK. Doesn't sound like a winning formula to me.

 

[centipede2233]

People realize that when Berube won the cup, he coached half a season and had players who could play north south.

 

[wingman75]

Minny was missing Kaprizov who is 3x the player Tavares is today. They outworked the Leafs.

They just made it hard for the Leafs to get to the inside. Everyone knows if you do that these guys disappear for most of the game. If you get the lead you are probably feeling pretty confident. If you get a 2 goal lead, you have room for error and know you will only have to defend hard for 5 minutes or so. Very dooable, clearly.

 

[Ports]

The lack of confidence card is a weak one though. He’s a 12 year pro, go figure it out or commit to simplifying your game and back to basics to buy time and just be quietly reliable. He’s the opposite.

He’s always been bad defensively and now that his offense is drying up he’s got nothing to contribute and he knows it. Probably just waiting for the shoe to drop.

 

[ULF_55]

This team isn't very good from the captain on down, I wouldn't trade any futures at the deadline to support this mess.

I agree if we're talking rentals.

Now if we're talking a real hockey trade, for a controlled asset, that is a top 6 player, or top pairing defender then I'm for blowing the futures for the now and the future.

 

[Voodoo Child]

Why does Mitch suck a bag of ass now?

Cowan, 2025 2nd, 2026 1st, Kampf and Holmberg for Rasmus Andersson...it's the shit we need.

Sit Mo a game.

Stolarz was 4-6 weeks 6-8 weeks ago, where is he!?

 

[Stephen]

I agree if we're talking rentals.

Now if we're talking a real hockey trade, for a controlled asset, that is a top 6 player, or top pairing defender then I'm for blowing the futures for the now and the future.

If we can add young core adjacent players who might be Leafs for many years and grow up with the Knies generation, absolutely. If it’s to add veterans to carry the water of the core and make up for all their deficiencies, no thanks.

 

[GQS]

Can we trade Marner? Not that I completely want him to go, but this mix of players has shown time and again that it can't get it done consistently. When they're on, our stars look like world beaters. The problem is far too often for whatever reason they're not on all together at the same time and often in games like tonight, almost none of them look like our best players out there with the exception of Nylander who looked moderately dangerous at times.

This is especially true in the playoffs and after seeing so many years of this core together with the same results, you have to change it up. You can't sign Marner to a huge deal and then hope Matthews, Marner and Nylander suddenly click all together in the playoffs when they've shown for so many years that they can't. Trade Marner for the best package you can find or if they refuse to do that then maybe its almost better to let him walk for nothing than to hand him a big contract.

As great a player as he is, with the money you save from not signing him hopefully you can sign some good players to take his place and just change up the chemistry and mix of this team which as much as we wanted them to succeed and have them bring home the cup and be the heros of this city, it hasn't worked out for all these years. The Leafs need major changes or else we'll forever be a 1st or 2nd round and out team.

 

[ClarkSittler]

So do we bother claiming Brandon Saad when the Blues put him on waivers tomorrow. He has size and averages over 20 goals/45 points a year. Can we even fit him under the cap?

 

[ULF_55]

If we can add young core adjacent players who might be Leafs for many years and grow up with the Knies generation, absolutely. If it’s to add veterans to carry the water of the core and make up for all their deficiencies, no thanks.

I agree with you 100%.

Quit throwing away assets for water carriers.

Go real or call up Marlies, stop nickle and diming the franchise.

 

[wingman75]

Just feels like the universe is constantly telling us Matthews, Marner aren’t good enough to lead a team anywhere but we keep thinking they’re blowing it. Not sure which one it is.

Feels like we should probably believe in what has actually happened. They say the proof is in the pudding; and I am full.

I am just not seeing much to say things will be different. This whole season has looked like a playoff series.

I guess when Stolarz comes back we'll have a better idea. And then again at the trade deadline if they choose to do something.

But based on the team we saw tonight, granted we are missing two good pieces in JT and MK, they are not good enough.

 

[ClarkSittler]

Can we trade Marner? Not that I completely want him to go, but this mix of players has shown time and again that it can't get it done consistently. When they're on, our stars look like world beaters. The problem is far too often for whatever reason they're not on all together at the same time and often in games like tonight, almost none of them look like our best players out there with the exception of Nylander who looked moderately dangerous at times.

This is especially true in the playoffs and after seeing so many years of this core together with the same results, you have to change it up. You can't sign Marner to a huge deal and then hope Matthews, Marner and Nylander suddenly click all together in the playoffs when they've shown for so many years that they can't. Trade Marner for the best package you can find or if they refuse to do that then maybe its almost better to let him walk for nothing than to hand him a big contract.

As great a player as he is, with the money you save from not signing him hopefully you can sign some good players to take his place and just change up the chemistry and mix of this team which as much as we wanted them to succeed and have them bring home the cup and be the heros of this city, it hasn't worked out for all these years. The Leafs need major changes or else we'll forever be a 1st or 2nd round and out team.

Hard to do, they all have no movement clauses.

 

[ULF_55]

So do we bother claiming Brandon Saad when the Blues put him on waivers tomorrow. He has size and averages over 20 goals/45 points a year. Can we even fit him under the cap?

No. Let the Blues buy him out, and ask Berube if he has any influence.

 

[Fogelhund]

Steeves scores, to put the Marlies up 1-0 tonight. His AHL league leading 23rd goal. I can't see any reason to call up someone leading the AHL in goal scoring, and putting them in a position to succeed. It's not like we need goal scoring.

 

[colchar]

Captain America has been doing an amazing job this year eh? What leadership! I don't understand how he is still able to walk after carrying the team on his back so much this year.

There is a reason he had never been captain at any level he played at.

At least the break for the most meaningless tournament ever is coming up and we should have most guys back after that, with Stolarz being the most important of them (although we might see him once or twice before that break).

And with the deadline approaching maybe prayers will be answered and Bitchy Mitchy will be dealt somewhere.