Post-Game Talk: Leafs Lose to Sharks

[Leafs1991]

And he at least has an excuse after missing most of training camp and the first 4 games (plus recovering from wrist surgery still). But still, that doesn't excuse that horrid giveaway.

It happens. No players are perfect and expecting them to be is ridiculous. He and Nylander have been our best players so far and I think going after tham isn't the thing to do. Going aftr the guys who haven't been playing well is what needs to be done. At least those two guys are playing with urgency out there. It's something Marner and Tavares needs to start showing.

 

[therealkoho]

Toxic fan base. View attachment 473385

I don't see where Jeff is wrong with what he's saying. It's really tough to find positives in the LeaFland ravings, and those of us in Leafs Nation are exhausted with the constant negation of any positives that can be found. You can only try talking sense for so long until you realize, that some folks are never going to listen. There's a real parallel in this to what's going on in several countries around the globe.

The media sets the narrative and hysteria holds it aloft on its bony shoulders and propels it forward.

 

[usernamezrhardtodo]

We didn't play very well, but I still think we could have won with Campbell in net. I'm not excusing the play of our top guys, but Keefe also took an unnecessary gamble with Hutch and lost.

I agree. What does it say to the team when you start Hutch in the first of a b2b? It says this team coming in should be an easy win...so easy in fact, that we are starting Hutch. And the players played like it. I am glad they did not come back to win this game because it would just reinforce that lazy attitude of giving effort only when we are in the "Oh shit" moment of realizing we might lose. We are guilty of this problem for many years. It was under Babs and now under Keefe....the only common denominator is the core players..

This team is like flowing water...they always look for the easiest path of resistance.

 

[ACC1224]

Let’s say they went with Campbell last night and won or at least got a point. Can you imaging Hutch tonight when the team is “fatigued” and not expected to put in an effort.

Don’t have to imagine, we saw it last night.
Oven Mitts played as expected IMO

 

[dubplatepressure]

I don't see where Jeff is wrong with what he's saying. It's really tough to find positives in the LeaFland ravings, and those of us in Leafs Nation are exhausted with the constant negation of any positives that can be found. You can only try talking sense for so long until you realize, that some folks are never going to listen. There's a real parallel in this to what's going on in several countries around the globe.

The media sets the narrative and hysteria holds it aloft on its bony shoulders and propels it forward.

IMO it's kind of eye-rolling. I mean, the whole reason we're in this is due to chronic underperformance. Every time we are expected to win, we disappoint. This is contrary to all of these reports suggesting we "should be" winning. This paradox is the reason for the negative focus. Right now, every regular season win IS meaningless, relatively. And every loss IS an indicator of not being able to overcome the same issues we've struggled with.

 

[usernamezrhardtodo]

Keefe doesn't have the balls to send the big boys a message.

I am seriously starting to wonder if Marner doesn't have some kind of blackmail thing going on over team management. He never gets pulled off a line or benched no matter how bad he plays. At least Babs would do it once in a while. When he demoted MM a few seasons ago to the 4th line, a lot of people asked him why he would do that to a player struggling...Babs just replied that he can figure out his issues there on the 4th and then when he is done figuring it out he can move up....I doubt Keefe has the stones to do that.

I hated Babs BTW.

 

[therealkoho]

I'm going to say something and many of you will lose your freaking minds but it has to be said.

Keefe needs to be gone, Gabby is available.

If the situation is still rotting on the vine then either one of the big two needs to be gone at the TDL.

 

[AvroArrow]

Keefe is an idiot for starting Hutch. Give your starting goalie the first game, secure the 2 points and then deal with the 2nd of the back to back. The boys are gonna be going into Pittsburgh tired and coming off an L. The energy around the group is totally different if they go into the 2nd of a back to back coming off a win. Lost 2 points, lost some momentum.

I really do like Keefe and I think he's gonna be a great coach in the NHL but hiring a rookie coach was just a terrible idea. This group was supposed to be in win now mode, not let's develop a coach while developing players. An experienced coach would've had this group break through by now, but to stay on topic, an experienced coach would not be making these rookie mistakes. Hopefully he learns from it and we can win the next one, making the playoffs is gonna really tight this year. We have to secure the 2 points vs weaker teams.

I don't like Hutch but I don't blame him. Yeah he sucks, but everyone knows that. He's an AHL goalie being forced into a starting G NHL role, it's not his fault he's being misused because our cap situation is so f***ed that we can't add depth for injuries.

Our three 11M dollar guys need to be better. They were no shows again, I don't care about expected goals for or creating chances when you don't bury them, it's pointless. Yeah guys we generated 10 scoring chances but put 0 in the net, let's pat ourselves on the back ! I expect much more from Matthews/Marner/Tavares. We should have won if we had even average goaltending, but even then the star players need to be star players. We can make excuses or hold guys accountable, those 3 in particular need to be better.

Hoping we can respond the right way and get the 2 points today.

 

[ottomaddox]

I don't see where Jeff is wrong with what he's saying. It's really tough to find positives in the LeaFland ravings, and those of us in Leafs Nation are exhausted with the constant negation of any positives that can be found. You can only try talking sense for so long until you realize, that some folks are never going to listen. There's a real parallel in this to what's going on in several countries around the globe.

The media sets the narrative and hysteria holds it aloft on its bony shoulders and propels it forward.

I see your point, but all TOR has to do is win.

The Last time TOR won a playoff series Sundin was the Captain, Quinn the coach, and JFJ the GM. AFTER that TOR missed the playoffs a lot. In the Matthews era TOR's playoff futility has been an issue. If the fans have nothing bright to go on do you blame them for being dark?

 

[therealkoho]

IMO it's kind of eye-rolling. I mean, the whole reason we're in this is due to chronic underperformance. Every time we are expected to win, we disappoint. This is contrary to all of these reports suggesting we "should be" winning. This paradox is the reason for the negative focus. Right now, every regular season win IS meaningless, relatively. And every loss IS an indicator of not being able to overcome the same issues we've struggled with.

Well yeah but that isn't what he's saying, but i do understand what it is that you're saying

 

[AvroArrow]

I'm going to say something and many of you will lose your freaking minds but it has to be said.

Keefe needs to be gone, Gabby is available.

If the situation is still rotting on the vine then either one of the big two needs to be gone at the TDL.

To be quite honest with you if this group can't win at least 2 series this year, and at the very least have an extremely competitive ECF, Dubas/Keefe both need to be fired. If they aren't, Shanny needs to be fired and then those 2.

That's my standard/expectation for this group this year. Anything less and the season/team is a complete failure.

 

[Eternal Leaf]

Toxic fan base. View attachment 473385

The team hasn't won for years and the fan base is to blame?

Winning or losing happens during a regular season. After all, no one wins 82 games in a row. But everyone can see when the process itself is wrong and will lead to failure in the playoffs. In fact, I see no difference in how they are playing right now vs. the Columbus or Montreal series.

No one can look at Marner and say he's changed a single thing about his game since those failures. The only changes are the ones forced on him such as his positioning on the PP.

It's easy to see why people are upset and don't value regular season performances win or lose.

 

[therealkoho]

Can we maybe stop trying to change the past, regurgitate the past, delve into the past or deeply regretting the past.

I am absolutely positive that we as fans know all about what f***ing happened in the past, as we were mostly all here, and that nobody needs to relive it.

No matter how long you hold your breath, no matter how hard you stamp your feet, the past is exactly what it is, we already know those outcomes, and we should all know that it CANNOT be changed. Let's just please stick to the here and now.

 

[therealkoho]

The team hasn't won for years and the fan base is to blame?

Winning or losing happens during a regular season. After all, no one wins 82 games in a row. But everyone can see when the process itself is wrong and will lead to failure in the playoffs. In fact, I see no difference in how they are playing right now vs. the Columbus or Montreal series.

No one can look at Marner and say he's changed a single thing about his game since those failures. The only changes are the ones forced on him such as his positioning on the PP.

It's easy to see why people are upset and don't value regular season performances win or lose.

Again it is not what he is saying

 

[Nineteen67]

I'm going to say something and many of you will lose your freaking minds but it has to be said.

Keefe needs to be gone, Gabby is available.

If the situation is still rotting on the vine then either one of the big two needs to be gone at the TDL.

It has to be almost statistically impossible for thePP to be so bad with all the talent on this team and evidently he’s too involved in what they do.

 

[ACC1224]

What’s the opinion on Matthews effort last night?

 

[All Mod Cons]

I'm going to say something and many of you will lose your freaking minds but it has to be said.

Keefe needs to be gone, Gabby is available.

If the situation is still rotting on the vine then either one of the big two needs to be gone at the TDL.

Nah man. It's the fan's fault.

 

[Cpt Maple Leaf]

Holy Crap jersey tosses already

Bring back the waffles.

Another sorry effort from a poorly coached team of overpaid, entitled, lame ass, Beiber-loving brats. A coach with no backbone and seemingly no hockey sense, a general manager who just wants to be everyone's buddy, and another year of the same ole same ole crap. Trade a player away and they win the cup somewhere else. WTF.

 

[TOGuy14]

If Marner doesn’t start producing soon things will get real ugly at home games for him.

He wanted to get paid like a superstar, he better perform like a superstar

 

[therealkoho]

To be quite honest with you if this group can't win at least 2 series this year, and at the very least have an extremely competitive ECF, Dubas/Keefe both need to be fired. If they aren't, Shanny needs to be fired and then those 2.

That's my standard/expectation for this group this year. Anything less and the season/team is a complete failure.

Did you watch Keefes presser, he is defeated, he has no answers, he obviously can't motivate some of these guys into performing to their abilities. He needs to go now.

Much rather have Bruce guiding the team, just remember he got Ovi playing the full 200 feet and had a PP that was deadly.

 

[Notsince67]

Pathetic

SJ had every reason to lose this game, b2b and 3 games in 4 nights away from home

Yet it's the Leafs that can't execute, who play like mental midgets, show zero desire to be a difference maker, who aren't getting leadership

Pitiful, they deserve to be be bag skated until the vomit then bag skated again

I'm absolutely disgusted with this bunch of entitled children, if it wasn't for Spezza nobody on this team would be likeable

If there are no changes tonight in player deployment other than goalie, a loss should sit with Keefe.
Time for some tough love.

 

[Notsince67]

Did you watch Keefes presser, he is defeated, he has no answers, he obviously can't motivate some of these guys into performing to their abilities. He needs to go now.

Much rather have Bruce guiding the team, just remember he got Ovi playing the full 200 feet and had a PP that was deadly.

Forget Bruce. bring in Torts who isnt afraid to make example of players

 

[Mess]

It was pointed out on TSN last night post game that Leafs have scored 3 or less goals in their first 5 games which is their lowest offensive production to start a season since 2003 which was in the pre-Salary Cap era NHL.

 

[therealkoho]

What’s the opinion on Matthews effort last night?

Not much better than Marners, he wasn't getting himself into shooting positions, he looked lethargic on some shifts. On the PP he looked out of step with what he was supposed to be doing. I know it's hearsay but it didn't look like he deserves that 12+m, in fact overpaid by double.

 

[AvroArrow]

Did you watch Keefes presser, he is defeated, he has no answers, he obviously can't motivate some of these guys into performing to their abilities. He needs to go now.

Much rather have Bruce guiding the team, just remember he got Ovi playing the full 200 feet and had a PP that was deadly.

I feel like it starts from management. They don't respect or fear Dubas. The culture here was completely different with Lou around. These guys bullied him into getting their ridiculous contracts and pretty much run the show. When I watch this team it feels like Matthews/Marner own the team and are in charge. I don't get that feeling that this is Keefe's team, or that this is Dubas' team. I think they legitimately feel like they run the team and are untouchable and it just pisses me the f*** off.

If anything management should be on Marners ass, but instead they caved into his demands. He's a hometown kid who WANTS to play for Toronto. Remind him that it is a privilege to play for this team, and if he refuses to play with maximum effort, he can be traded. When he's on his game he looks like the best player in the world, problem is he decides when he feels like trying and when he doesn't.

Babcock went about it the completely wrong way, but the man had a very valid point. Just executed on it very poorly.