Post-Game Talk: Leafs lose to Stars, 4-1

[BallardEra]

LOL and we pay what 40+ million AAV combined for four forwards for offense eh? LMAO

Point still stands but his numbers are wrong. Should be:

Caps - +46
Jets - +53
Vegas - +32

 

[leafsfan5]

If they can't play dump and chase hockey then why are they playing hockey? Defending the line/neutral zone is not very hard and almost every team now is playing some kind of trap to do so. Speed can be one way to beat it/push it back but we don't exactly have that with this core.

Playing exclusive dump and chase hockey with skilled players does not work that well. We're trying to emulate Florida without recognizing Florida has the likes of Tkachuk and Bennett, players who thrive in the crash the net type of system

Our guys are similar in line to the Colorado stars or Edmonton stars, albeit significantly worse in the playoffs. If we're going to continue to run it back, we might as well optimize their ability to use their raw skills like those players can.

Connor McDavid is not dumping the puck in all the time, nor is Nathan Mackinnon. Not to say our guys are as good as them, but they have the talent type that is more in line with that kind of open-ended hockey

Right now it feels like we're mixing water and oil. Some players (Lorentz, McMann) thrive in this type of system, but the foundation does not.

People will say that means maybe we should change the foundation, and I don't disagree. I've been advocating for that since the MTL loss. But it's clear we won't do that so the best course of action might be to optimize their strengths.

 

[PromisedLand]

this air hockey clip is more intense than the Leafs on ice game LMAO

 

[Stephen]

Playing exclusive dump and chase hockey with skilled players does not work that well. We're trying to emulate Florida without recognizing Florida has the likes of Tkachuk and Bennett, players who thrive in the crash the net type of system

Our guys are similar in line to the Colorado stars or Edmonton stars, albeit significantly worse in the playoffs. If we're going to continue to run it back, we might as well optimize their ability to use their raw skills like those players can.

Connor McDavid is not dumping the puck in all the time, nor is Nathan Mackinnon. Not to say our guys are as good as them, but they have the talent type that is more in line with that kind of open-ended hockey

Right now it feels like we're mixing water and oil. Some players (Lorentz, McMann) thrive in this type of system, but the foundation does not.

People will say that means maybe we should change the foundation, and I don't disagree. I've been advocating for that since the MTL loss. But it's clear we won't do that so the best course of action might be to optimize their strengths.

Matthews, Marner and Nylander aren’t playing hard north south dump and chase hockey and that’s making them unsuccessful offensively. They just look like they’re in shut down playoff mode where they’re discouraged, disinterested and just willing to take the L with little to no push back. No ones stopping them from running the other team out of the building with their offensive brilliance.

 

[supermann_98]

this air hockey clip is more intense than the Leafs on ice game LMAO

If the game is fortnight Matthews and Marner maybe play with that kinda intensity

 

[NMacrules]

If this game is not proof Leafs need to make some major moves then nothing will work and we will be out in the first round....again.

 

[ACC1224]

Seemed like a pretty even game 5 on 5, special teams the obvious difference. Dallas has a pretty good team.

 

[PromisedLand]

You just don’t get low event playoff style hockey

except Leafs continue to suck ass on special teams in "playoff style hockey" LOL

here is Berube on the game tonight its like WHAT THE HELL

 

[LaPlante94]

Playing exclusive dump and chase hockey with skilled players does not work that well. We're trying to emulate Florida without recognizing Florida has the likes of Tkachuk and Bennett, players who thrive in the crash the net type of system

Our guys are similar in line to the Colorado stars or Edmonton stars, albeit significantly worse in the playoffs. If we're going to continue to run it back, we might as well optimize their ability to use their raw skills like those players can.

Connor McDavid is not dumping the puck in all the time, nor is Nathan Mackinnon. Not to say our guys are as good as them, but they have the talent type that is more in line with that kind of open-ended hockey

Right now it feels like we're mixing water and oil. Some players (Lorentz, McMann) thrive in this type of system, but the foundation does not.

People will say that means maybe we should change the foundation, and I don't disagree. I've been advocating for that since the MTL loss. But it's clear we won't do that so the best course of action might be to optimize their strengths.

They had their abilities optimized to their abilities their entire careers so far and no results. How many times do you just keep repeating the same thing over and over again? They are skilled players who should be able to thrive under any kind of system if their hockey IQ is as high as everyone claims it to be.

McDavid and Mac are 2 of the fastest skaters in the league which is why I said you could beat those traps with speed which our core just doesn't have. McDavid probably the best player ever and Mac is a beast that will run anyone over if they get in his way. That is why those players don't have to dump it in all the time, but they still do from time to time. McDavid also has Hyman to retrieve the puck for him if he dumps it in and Mac will get it himself if he has to.

They can keep trying to mix up the lines but it won't change. 2nd coach now that refuses to split up Matthews, Marner and Nylander on their own lines. If they aren't gonna try doing that then idk why they decided to sign all of them to extensions and repeat the same crap for almost a decade now.

These are guys making 11 million plus each. Guys like McDavid plays with 2 guys making around the same combined as Marner and Nylander. Hell, Draisatl plays with 2 guys making like 5 mil combined. Mac plays with 2 guys making a combined 7 mil. The excuses for our core are just made up at this point. They've been given everything. They got the money, they got the coach that optimized their abilities in Keefe and then they got extensions for even more money and plenty of sponsorships to give them even more money. Nothing seems to work with this core but they sell tickets so we're stuck with it and just gotta pray we get lucky like that Capitals team that won the cup.

 

[TonsofPuppies]

except Leafs continue to suck ass on special teams in "playoff style hockey" LOL

here is Berube on the game tonight its like WHAT THE HELL

Berube is already starting to lose me. Not that I thought he would be able to turn this team around anyway, so it's a moot point. I did think that he'd at least make a more positive impact for a little longer, but he's already falling in line with the Shanaplan - no hurt feelings, no accountability, status quo for mediocrity. I cannot wait for this dreadful era of Leafs hockey to be dead and buried.

 

[wingman75]

except Leafs continue to suck ass on special teams in "playoff style hockey" LOL

here is Berube on the game tonight its like WHAT THE HELL

I mean, if that is the kind of game they are aiming to play, not sure I am a fan of this style of play. The things it relys on, I am not sure this team is capable of doing at a level required to win.

Guess we'll see. But fck if it isn't the worst hockey I have ever watched. Boo-rube.

 

[BrannigansLaw]

except Leafs continue to suck ass on special teams in "playoff style hockey" LOL

here is Berube on the game tonight its like WHAT THE HELL

Looks like the coach has slipped into full delusion too. That didn’t take long

 

[1specter]

LOL and we pay what 40+ million AAV combined for four forwards for offense eh? LMAO

Embarrassing. Division won't be ours much longer.

I mean, if that is the kind of game they are aiming to play, not sure I am a fan of this style of play. The things it relys on, I am not sure this team is capable of doing at a level required to win.

Guess we'll see. But fck if it isn't the worst hockey I have ever watched. Boo-rube.

Here I was hoping we'd try to be like 2022 Colorado or Tampa 2015-2021 yet instead we're trying to become the 2000s Devils.

 

[glue]

Leafs will make the playoffs, then lose in round 1…or if they’re lucky in round 2. Same story as every year. I’ll just enjoy the regular season wins as they come

 

[thewave]

Punishing and banishing Team B guys doesn’t feel like the just outcome here. They all suck in their own way, but the hammer’s got to come down on the guys at the top.

Sadly the NMC is NHL equivalent of turning your weapons into NERF weapons. Right now the Leafs can only somewhat wag a finger at the core.

Sad state of affairs really.

 

[Martin Skoula]

Embarrassing. Division won't be ours much longer.


Here I was hoping we'd try to be like 2022 Colorado or Tampa 2015-2021 yet instead we're trying to become the 2000s Devils.

With what speed? If you put together a list of the fastest skaters on those teams, only Nylander would break the top 10. Both teams had 3 or 4 better puck movers on D than our best one. Both teams had elite shooters down the lineup with multiple high end options on the PP. We could maybe be the Pens if we pulled a flash in the pan elite 3rd line out of nothing and freaky Friday’d Crosby’s work ethic into the core.

 

[saffronleaf]

This year's Leafs look so different with Berubabe and NewGM

 

[Dekes For Days]

Matthews, Marner and Nylander aren’t playing hard north south dump and chase hockey and that’s making them unsuccessful offensively.

The whole team is playing stupid dump and chase hockey, and it's making the whole team unsuccessful offensively. We're trying to force something that we don't need to and shouldnt. Our stars are the ones saving us snd dragging our offense along.

 

[thewave]

The whole team is playing stupid dump and chase hockey, and it's making the whole team unsuccessful offensively. We're trying to force something that we don't need to and shouldnt. Our stars are the ones saving us snd dragging our offense along.

So we are back to bad coach. Next is bad goalie. Then the media and town are not supporting the team correctly. Then repeat the full circle after the next bad coach is hired.

 

[Dekes For Days]

So we are back to bad coach.

Yeah, maybe we should have kept the better one. Or hired one that wasn't stuck half a century in the past, with no ability to adapt a system to his team.

 

[saffronleaf]

You remember that 3-1 series lead over Montreal in the Canadian division, this will be the regular season version, from division leader at halfway point to missing the playoffs.

Reminiscent of the 18 wheeler seasons with Kessel

 

[thewave]

Yeah, maybe we should have kept the better one. Or hired one that wasn't stuck half a century in the past, with no ability to adapt a system to his team.

Could be a bad core. Rielly doesn't even exist in that context anymore. Changes need made, lines are not being changed. Why?

 

[horner]

The whole team is playing stupid dump and chase hockey, and it's making the whole team unsuccessful offensively. We're trying to force something that we don't need to and shouldnt. Our stars are the ones saving us snd dragging our offense along.

Question
Doesn't Calgary play the same system
They just work there asses off with less talent than us. They never give up it is refreshing to watch that team which I would rather have than our core.

Our PP tells all you need to know about this team no urgancy

 

[Stephen]

except Leafs continue to suck ass on special teams in "playoff style hockey" LOL

here is Berube on the game tonight its like WHAT THE HELL

Sounds like they all got behind the Loss Management shield and will be projecting a business as usual approach to downplay and diffuse team failures from now on.

 

[saffronleaf]

And yet somehow we can afford a 4C that makes more than anyone in Florida’s bottom-6 last year. No problems affording a 3.5mil 3C with 3 goals that doesn’t know where the D zone is. Florida had Montour Bennet and Verhaeghe less than a mil more a piece but I guess Domi’s just as good as them.

Yes no shit the top salaries should take less but unless you have a time machine, not giving replaceable nobodies top dollar + trade protection would seem to be an important step.

NewGM strategy is to overpay the stars and the depth, rather than just the stars.