Gotta give these guys credit for stepping up and accepting the challenge after management decided they were not good enough before the TDL and told it it was up to them. That Canes game could not have come at a worse time. Win it and Dubas perhaps adds a dman and perhaps Thornton or Simmonds.
This team looks completely different when they are competing hard. Think adding Clifford has made Kappy play a foot taller. Simmonds would have given us a big punishing 3rd line that won't put up with the crap the Bruins dish out.
I don’t read it as that at all. I read it as management thought they’re much better than they’ve shown, and they already addressed team toughness with Clifford and the backup problem with Campbell. He seemingly was right on both counts if you consider the last 3 games as an indicator.
Fans wanted a blockbuster trade, but for whom and at what cost? If the leafs continue to trade and squander picks and prospects the cupboard will be left dry.
Dubas, instead of him making a knee jerk save-my-job type trade bet on himself and his players that they had more to give. They leafs forwards as a whole have been much better chipping in defensively with a depleted blue line.
Ask yourself, what would the leafs defensive reputation be if the forwards were this engaged and responsible once Rielly, Muzzin and Ceci come back? I for one think it’s a lot closer to the top of the league defensively than the bottom.
The pieces to the puzzle have always been there, it’s the putting them together that’s been the problem. Perhaps as dubas’ Chinese farmer quote indicated, maybe the injuries have been a blessing in disguise.