Post-Game Talk: Leafs lose

[IrishInOntario]

Can we all agree that this team isn't close enough to truly contending, for Dubas to do anything that costs major assets at the deadline?

We genuinely need a significant goalie upgrade, a top 6 LW and a top 4 defensemen to even be in the conversation, IMO, and we don't have the cap space to make that work, nor the draft capital to go for it.

You would have to be willing to sit Muzzin until the playoffs, ship Holl, Dermott and Kerfoot out, and probably part ways with your 1st round pick, 2nd round pick, plus future picks and 2 of your 3 best prospects, to make the upgrades we would need.

 

[Gallagbi]

Tavares could have shot it. Or he could have looked around and assessed the situation and made a pass. I’m sure an $11 million elite centerman can figure it out.

f*** your complaining about Tavares is insufferable.

 

[theTTC]

Because JFJ's strategy of 'win the hit battle more than the scoreboard' did them so much good

??? He had no strategy. A deer in the headlights, over his head, etc.

 

[Squiffy]

Selfish penalty by Clifford did not help their cause.

It wasn’t selfish, trying to slow a breakout. Selfish is a punch b/c the guy said your face is ugly. Dumb penalty tho. Really dumb.

 

[Anthrax442]

Dermott sucks trade now

Holl double sucks was a pilon all night
Killed his goalie because he is so soft couldnt takeca check
Kallegren took the penalty because the preds forward blew by holl like he was standing still

Kerfoor easily replaced

Nylander no balls lazy and too disinterested at times. Elite when hecwants to be but not consistent disappears for too many games

Fourth line is a joke. They can all be replaced

You cant just change 2/3 of the team. Maybe it's easier for you to just cheer for another club.

 

[Teeder Keon]

I would love to have a guy like Tanner Jeannot on our team

Yes yes yes yes yes

Did they ever

The Good: the 1 line

The Bad: hello zebras

The Ugly: Jeebuzz did anyone see the GDT?

 

[AvroArrow]

People here are blaming Kallgren for that loss ? Seriously ? I'm out of here. Have a goodnight folks

 

[SeaOfBlue]

So Nashville only took 3 penalties today.

They are the most penalized team in the league with 4.66 per game.

We are one of the least penalized teams in the league, 3.33 per game.

If we want to exclude that Kallgren penalty, we took 3 today too.

Where is our game management? And it is not like they even needed to use game management; they legitimately missed some obvious calls.

Not the only thing wrong with this game from the Leafs perspective, but it is getting a little bit tired.

---

4th line was not good at all. We can only have one of Spezza/Simmonds/Clifford in the lineup at one time.

Not loving that 2nd line effort either, especially from Nylander. Tavares at least had a number of excellent chances and looked like he gave a ****. Their defensive effort was especially bad, especially since I don't think any defenseman (and especially not Kallgren) played poor.

Saros was excellent today, and he was a major difference maker (plus got a few lucky posts too).

Only comment about defense is that I don't think Lyubushkin should be a top pairing defenseman on this team. He wasn't that bad in a pinch, but I wouldn't plan on that being a regular thing. He also loses too many physical battles for supposedly being a physical defenseman too.

I think we did a good job not letting Nashville get too physical with us after that first period, and even then, we made sure it didn't kill us. I think we were the better team in the 2nd and 3rd periods overall. In terms of what the Leafs could have controlled, there were some dumb mistakes made by forwards (Marner made a few bad ones, but made up for it later) and the 2nd/4th lines were nowhere near good enough at either end. With Saros playing the way he did, that can't happen.

 

[Stephen]

f*** your complaining about Tavares is insufferable.

If you like him, shouldn’t that be enough?

 

[francis246]

I really hope that they stand pat at the deadline. Nothing they get is going to put them over the top against much better teams in a seven game series.

Keep what few draft pics you actually do have, make some changes in the off-season, there’s no need to waste what’s not going to make any bit of difference. They don’t have the goaltending to cover up their poor defensive zone coverage. Petr Mrazek will just hand deliver the game against any team he faces, Jack Campbell will probably still give up four goals a game and you can’t rely on a rookie to bail this team out.

The first line was absolutely great. Our second line was absolute trash, as has been the theme for the last 3 1/2 months.

Clifford Brings absolutely no value to the team, why they re-signed him completely baffles me to no end. He’s horrendous.

I don’t really have anything else positive to say about this game, yeah they were much better after the dismal first period, that’s what happens when you don’t play 60 minutes, you lose by double. The better team won tonight.

I was excited for the playoffs until 2022 hit and then our team fell off the face of a cliff and continue to keep falling further and further and further. I have no excitement left, zero.

If you can get a defenseman for a decent price you make the trade. I hate to break it to you, but the crowd that keeps waiting for the perfect time to be a contender is going to wait a long time. There is never a perfect time, you either believe in the team or not. If Dubas believes in the team then he needs to make a hockey deal and upgrade the defense. If he doesn’t and they don’t advance he should be fired, simple. Why? Because he went on a limb to bet on this core but chose not to supplement them. You can add without selling the farm.

Boston is behind us and still made a play for a huge upgrade, it’s time for Leafs management to grow a pair of balls and stop being p***y’s and make a deal that not only helps the team today but in the future. Get a young dman with term or someone you can possibly extend, don’t waste assets on a rental.

 

[Azail]

It wasn’t selfish, trying to slow a breakout. Selfish is a punch b/c the guy said your face is ugly. Dumb penalty tho. Really dumb.

He was upset because he got hit, and lost the puck. Then turned around and grabbed the player. Maybe I am remembering it wrong, that is what I thought happened. Regardless, stupid penalty to take.

 

[CabanaBoy5]

Once again the other team had more power plays. We deserved the last two but Matthews being held and Bunting having his stick held we’re not called.

Holl and Dermott should be gone on Monday. Clifford should be back to the minors. Need to trade for a real gritty player who’s not stupid. Do not put Mrazek in next game, Kjallgren played well.

 

[Teeder Keon]

Wow.
Why do the Bruins get these sweet deals.

Par got what from the Bruins , msn he got a awesome deal

 

[Lightsol]

Everybody knows how to play our Leafs. Hit em hard and they will fold with no pushback. Especially in playoff style games. Hopefully next management and coach group will weed out this team weakness like Rangers did. Sadly, no hope this year.

 

[Gallagbi]

If you like him, shouldn’t that be enough?

Enough for what? To not read the nonstop and often illogical takes?

Hate the signing all you want, hate the player all you want, but it's every GDT you're crying about it

 

[CelticDruid]

Keefe has to split up Tavares and Nylander they are incompatible. Nylander looks unhappy, Tavares is Dr Gloom and Kerfoot is like the rodent in the the spinning wheel. Wake up Keefe it ain't working!

 

[Ciao]

That was a pretty miserable night.

Kase was concussed.

Boston acquired Lincoln.

The Leafs lost to Nashville.

However I really liked Matthews' nasty hit on Jeannot. I wish the rest of the Leafs would follow his lead and take their nasty pills before the game.

 

[leafsfan5]

People here are blaming Kallgren for that loss ? Seriously ? I'm out of here. Have a goodnight folks

He made a couple huge saves tonight, did fine overall

I don't think he's the long term solution but he's giving us chances to win. That's all you can ask for

 

[frizzer1]

Matthews and Marner are wonderful.
I am just going to enjoy their time here and try to ignore the rest of what’s going on.
But .... you know...

 

[Stephen]

There was pressure coming and Matthews dumped the puck on him when he was in the corner. Again, if there is warranted bitching I’m all for it. But people are literally overreacting to that play, he tried to put it on net at a bad angle after surprisingly receiving the puck. He missed, big deal. But you can’t fault him given the position Matthews put him in there. Matthews has the angle and should have shot it.

I didn’t really comment too much about that shot other than the fact that it’s a panic spam shot that a guy fighting it is going to make and that he probably has didn’t options if he read the play. Didn’t really even mind his PP shots to the chest cause he was getting shots at least. Other than that it’s mostly just he doesn’t bring $11 million in value shift to shift.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

the first line was great, the 3rd line was good, but the 2nd and 4th lines are so underwhelming. I don't mind having a shitty 4th line so much, but it's impossible to expect much from the team when Tavares/Nylander can't do anything in easy secondary scoring minutes and bleed chances/goals against

 

[Enga Olly]

One of those rare loses where I'm not really mad. Nashville played an excellent game and had fantastic goaltending as well. I haven't seen any Nashville games but my guess is that was one of their better ones this year. We hung in there until Clifford's stupidity was just a bit too much. Kallgren played pretty good some amazing shots and deflections beat him. His rebound control needs improvement but no way is this loss on him. Matthews and Marner are amazing. Shame they didn't get rewarded with a win playing that well. Shame our Captain couldn't bury his chances

 

[Azail]

If you can get a defenseman for a decent price you make the trade. I hate to break it to you, but the crowd that keeps waiting for the perfect time to be a contender is going to wait a long time. There is never a perfect time, you either believe in the team or not. If Dubas believes in the team then he needs to make a hockey deal and upgrade the defense. If he doesn’t and they don’t advance he should be fired, simple. Why? Because he went on a limb to bet on this core but chose not to supplement them. You can add without selling the farm.

Boston is behind us and still made a play for a huge upgrade, it’s time for Leafs management to grow a pair of balls and stop being p***y’s and make a deal that not only helps the team today but in the future. Get a young dman with term or someone you can possibly extend, don’t waste assets on a rental.

Honestly, this feels like a tough year to go all in when the goaltending is in flux, and the Atlantic is going out of its mind.

Maybe Chychrun. That for sure costs Nylander+ though. With Kase out, the scoring depth is looking thin.

 

[notdoneyet]

Because JFJ's strategy of 'win the hit battle more than the scoreboard' did them so much good

The way this team is built we wont win one playoffs series. Its been proven for the last 5 years. You need a mixture of skill and grit but our corsi is great and the stats say we should have won the game but in realty we go golfing.

 

[ThrowDemTongs]

We need Brian Burke