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

We are +8 for the year.
We have zero secondary scoring and we are telling our only scorers to play d.
Our best Dman is neither our best offensive dman or defensive dman.
We are losing way to many close games to be in control of a game. We do NOT control the pace of games, we cannot adapt to the situation. We are not opportunistic.
We cannot shutdown other teams, we cannot outscore other teams. We are slowly dropping in the standings across the league. Teams neither fear our defense, offense energy or toughness.
We have NO description of who we are.
Recipe for total disaster
 
If we're gonna bow out in the first round, I at least wanna get entertained in the regular season. This is garbage. What was the point of hiring Berube? I guess he will be judged by the playoff results, but so far I am not seeing why they would be more successful under him in April/May. Same issues popping up except they are popping up in the regular season now (stinky PP and can't score in general)
 
Like I said, this season likely presents the Leafs with their best opportunity to advance to the Cup final.
It’s funny that this year could be their best chance to win a couple of rounds, or it could be the year that Ottawa passes them. We’ve been expecting it since 2020 but they’ve been a zoo.
 
If we're gonna bow out in the first round, I at least wanna get entertained in the regular season. This is garbage. What was the point of hiring Berube? I guess he will be judged by the playoff results, but so far I am not seeing why they would be more successful under him in April/May. Same issues popping up except they are popping up in the regular season now (stinky PP and can't score in general)
I think the point of hiring Berube was to get him to get the boys to play like this because they thinking playing like this could win them a round or two. it might but agreed it can be real tedious to watch.
 
I agree, this team cannot go into the playoffs with Holmgren and Kampf as your 2nd and 3rd line centres. We better pray we’re fully healthy for the playoffs because M &M can and will be shutdown during playoff hockey.
It’s difficult to rebuild the team now and expect it to click.
 
It’s funny. It must be something in their contracts saying that Auston and Rich have to play together, or?

What else is funny is that as soon as one player shows any sign of offensive ability, he gets taken off Nylanders line and put with the “first line”. Must be kinda frustrating for 88.

Although, if any one of them was actually worth their cap hit, they would be fine with scrubs. Nylanders on his first year on that deal, and scoring at a high pace, so he getfs off a bit more easily
it's true both of those things are funny
 
With the conference weaker they could win two rounds. It would be take a few breaks but it’s somewhat conceivable if the goaltending holds up.

I was referring to this idea that we’ve been expecting Ottawa to pass us since 2020. That’s simply not true.

edit: I see now I may have taken it that way, but you may have meant we’ve been expecting the leafs to make a run since then which is fair

My apologies if I misinterpreted your comment
 
they played pretty good, Nylander was sick, it's just a grind, and the PP is trash and it feels like it will never improve. couldn't even be mad about the ignored trip on Robertson late because I hate watching the 1st PP piss away a chance won by guys who never get PP time
 
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Again .....Tre and Berube are trying to put a square peg in a round hole. Then Tre signs players like Nylander and Mathews and gets them a coach that takes their sticks out of their hands.

This team at one time had alot of speed and were fun to watch.

Now its a bunch of guys playing dump and chase and your D has no skill to make a outlet pass so they just bounce it off the boards.

The Berube game is played in the middle of the ice. When down....they have a hard time scoring.

And how is the bottom 6 doing? Antics in trying to be tough ( Reaves) a clown show. Domi got his money and is back to his usual self. But fans thought he was great because of his name. Black holes I see and Berube answer is too keep on dumping it in.....keep on getting to the dirty areas .....etc.....But didnt Nylander lead the league in dirty area goals with Keefer one year?

Again....we dont know if this will pay off. Playoffs will be telling. If we dont win a round or two playing this kind of hockey then what? You going to force players with NMC out? Like Marner? How is that working out?
He may leave during free agency and there isnt a damn thing Tre can do.

Berube said that he wouldnt take the sticks out of their hands.....well.....by the lack of scoring we have witnessed this year. He is doing just that.

Players need to be better and we all know that. But are they put in the best position to succeed? Im not so sure but hey....Berube will get a pass because he had a hot goalie and won a cup.
 
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It’s funny that this year could be their best chance to win a couple of rounds, or it could be the year that Ottawa passes them. We’ve been expecting it since 2020 but they’ve been a zoo.
Talent evens out over a full season. Ottawa is on a nice little streak right now, but it won't last. People were falling over themselves to rave about Tampa earlier in the season, and what are they saying now that Tampa has only won 6 out of its last 16 games? Ottawa will fight for third in the division with Tampa and Boston.
 
I was referring to this idea that we’ve been expecting Ottawa to pass us since 2020. That’s simply not true.

edit: I see now I may have taken it that way, but you may have meant we’ve been expecting the leafs to make a run since then which is fair

My apologies if I misinterpreted your comment
It was around the time they drafted Sanderson. When was that?
 
Talent evens out over a full season. Ottawa is on a nice little streak right now, but it won't last. People were falling over themselves to rave about Tampa earlier in the season, and what are they saying now that Tampa has only won 6 out of its last 16 games? Ottawa will fight for third in the division with Tampa and Boston.
Absolutely I expect them to be in a battle for a playoff spot and if they make it they could win a round.
 
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Talent evens out over a full season. Ottawa is on a nice little streak right now, but it won't last. People were falling over themselves to rave about Tampa earlier in the season, and what are they saying now that Tampa has only won 6 out of its last 16 games? Ottawa will fight for third in the division with Tampa and Boston.
Leafs 4-6 in their last 10. Tampa 4-5-1. Both teams do not look like serious SC contenders today.
 
Absolutely is, if the result of not doing it means a next to impossible struggle to avoid being a bottom team for the next decade plus. Not all high picks pan out, it's why we should keep all we get.
Although we’ve been saying it for the past 5 years, but this has to be the last chance for this core. They really have nothing to lose by going all in and certainly wouldn’t worry about being bottom feeder which wouldn’t be the end of the world.
If it doesn’t work, they start a complete rebuild and use the assets they have to acquire high picks and young talent.
 
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Yeah, they should. They also need games where the goalie is at least on par with the other teams goalie, and they haven't been getting much of that lately.

They're also missing 3/6 of their top 6 to start the season. When the second line was most effective it was Pacioretty - Tavares - Nylander.

Ideally with Tavares, Pacioretty, Knies and Stolarz back they should be scoring more and allowing less.
There's no shot your watching the games and blaming goaltending on the losses. It very unrealistic to expect the team to win 1-0 every game and have the goalie play perfect.

I'd understand during the slump/down month if they were getting goals but not getting saves / poor defensively. But they are playing for the most part pretty good in there own end, in there last 5 losses, they have scored a total of:

0 goals
1 goal
1 goal
1 goal
1 goal.

You can't really expect the team to win 1-0 every game?
 
There's no shot your watching the games and blaming goaltending on the losses. It very unrealistic to expect the team to win 1-0 every game and have the goalie play perfect.

I'd understand during the slump/down month if they were getting goals but not getting saves / poor defensively. But they are playing for the most part pretty good in there own end, in there last 5 losses, they have scored a total of:

0 goals
1 goal
1 goal
1 goal
1 goal.

You can't really expect the team to win 1-0 every game?
Goalie was fine last night, held them in and gave them every chance to win.
 
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They looked like they were sleepwalking last night. Goalscoring has been this group's achilles heel in the postseason every year, and I'm not sure I see much indication that is about to change.
 

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