Lessons from the game against a super elite team

[ER89]

Honestly, don’t think Demko will be successful here. I read on the trade board that there is talk he doesn’t like the Vancouver market and the scrutiny. If it’s true, he won’t like it much here either.

True

 

[ACC1224]

I know it was, I still don't think Toronto cared

Yep, it showed.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Yep, it showed.

It sure did

 

[BallardEra]

Leafs cared last night. Main difference is that Boston was focused and determined to end its losing streak.

They played a more tenacious game than the Leafs did.

 

[ACC1224]

Leafs cared last night. Main difference is that Boston was focused and determined to end its losing streak.

They played a more tenacious game than the Leafs did.

I'd agree for the most part. They looked like they were checked out a bit in the 3rd.

 

[Stephen]

The fact those guys are on par or slightly better than the Leafs core leadership says what? Would you rather have 23-25 yr old versions of Boston’s core or the Leafs’ core?


Fingers crossed they are healthy and get hot against Tampa - nothing has really changed since they were signed.

I don’t think 23-25 year olds carry themselves with the gravitas and professionalism of players who have been through the NHL wars though. This Bruins team has core players who have blown 3-0 playoff leads and lost the cup finals to St. Louis and Chicago including a cup losing Game 7 on home ice. They know winning isn’t inevitable and how hard it is. The Leafs still probably think if they get past that first round Game 7 they’re marching on the cup.

 

[Stephen]

I always thought to myself that one of the factors holding the Leafs core players back is the lack of international tournaments this era. It would do matthews and Marner a world of good to participate in some more World Championship runs and best on best tournaments to get that big game perspective and learn from veteran stars from their respective countries. Get reps in playing big stage moments and gain that perspective on the first round. Learn from the best that isn’t the Leaf echo chamber.

 

[Leafs87]

I think Marchands comment about how much the stars make sums it up. The depth we’re complaining about is the depth we can afford. Ideally a better mix between skill and will would help, but again when we’re talking players typically under the 2 mill mark, the markets pretty dry.

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

Leafs cared last night. Main difference is that Boston was focused and determined to end its losing streak.

They played a more tenacious game than the Leafs did.

I'd argue the main difference was in net. One goalie was really good and the other allowed at least 2, probably 3 softies. Toronto's D zone play wasn't great, but I didn't think Boston's was that much better

 

[Peace Frog]

I think this team needs two defensemen in order to be serious Cup contenders. Two top four dmen that have physicality, can skate well enough and won’t take any crap from the other team in front of the net.

I truly believe that we need a legit threat on the back end for our PP. Someone who has a cannon and knows how to use it.

Other than the goalie, it’s the top four defenders that usually log the most ice time. Having an extremely well built defense corps can insulate most goalie issues and can really limit the opposition’s high percentage chances.

It’s been said many, many times….

Defence wins championships!

 

[Stephen]

I'd argue the main difference was in net. One goalie was really good and the other allowed at least 2, probably 3 softies. Toronto's D zone play wasn't great, but I didn't think Boston's was that much better

I didn’t think Boston looked that good but their 12 F and 6 D just all looked the same. The Leafs just had cheap parts that fell apart as the evening wore on. Nylander and Marner looked good on the attack. Simmonds was the designated puncher. And everyone else was kind of wallpaper.

 

[Maple Leaf]

Another top 6 forward with similar ilk to what we already have is not the answer. You need a couple of mean f***s in the top 9 who make it miserable to play against.

Look at the Bruins forwards in the top 9. Their dept is why they are tops in the league. Frederic, Foligno, Greer, Coyle, could even throw Nosek in there. The leafs counter with f***ing Kerfoot, Engvall, Holmberg, Zar, and Simmonds? This leafs team is not one piece away. It's multiple pieces and an ideology change at the GM level.

That's just the forward group.

I could not believe when I saw Rielly get beat by a f***ing chip / bounce play tonight from Pasta. That is some minor league shit man. 30 games left in the season. It's pretty obvious what this team is and it's not a contender.

Hopefully it only means 30 games left at the helm for Dubas. Unless he has an incredible deadline where things are really shaken up, it has to be over for him.

Dumas is as good as done

 

[Mess]

I think this team needs two defensemen in order to be serious Cup contenders. Two top four dmen that have physicality, can skate well enough and won’t take any crap from the other team in front of the net.

I truly believe that we need a legit threat on the back end for our PP. Someone who has a cannon and knows how to use it.

Other than the goalie, it’s the top four defenders that usually log the most ice time. Having an extremely well built defense corps can insulate most goalie issues and can really limit the opposition’s high percentage chances.

It’s been said many, many times….

Defence wins championships!

That is something along those lines that I would have typed also ..

A big physical Dman that replaces Muzzin and a big, PP QB Dman with a real blast from the point on PP #1.

"Good teams are built from the goalie out, through strong defense ...." because "Defense wins Championships"

 

[Nineteen67]

I don’t think 23-25 year olds carry themselves with the gravitas and professionalism of players who have been through the NHL wars though. This Bruins team has core players who have blown 3-0 playoff leads and lost the cup finals to St. Louis and Chicago including a cup losing Game 7 on home ice. They know winning isn’t inevitable and how hard it is. The Leafs still probably think if they get past that first round Game 7 they’re marching on the cup.

There’s no question about it, the Bruins core has been very successful over the years. All you can ask for is the team to compete.

 

[Nineteen67]

I think this team needs two defensemen in order to be serious Cup contenders. Two top four dmen that have physicality, can skate well enough and won’t take any crap from the other team in front of the net.

I truly believe that we need a legit threat on the back end for our PP. Someone who has a cannon and knows how to use it.

Other than the goalie, it’s the top four defenders that usually log the most ice time. Having an extremely well built defense corps can insulate most goalie issues and can really limit the opposition’s high percentage chances.

It’s been said many, many times….

Defence wins championships!

If you’re talking Cup contention they need to fill all the holes The question now, what hole do they fill to give them the best chance to beat Tampa?

 

[stickty111]

I think this team needs two defensemen in order to be serious Cup contenders. Two top four dmen that have physicality, can skate well enough and won’t take any crap from the other team in front of the net.

I truly believe that we need a legit threat on the back end for our PP. Someone who has a cannon and knows how to use it.

Other than the goalie, it’s the top four defenders that usually log the most ice time. Having an extremely well built defense corps can insulate most goalie issues and can really limit the opposition’s high percentage chances.

It’s been said many, many times….

Defence wins championships!

Great teams win championships. You need offense, defence and goaltending.

 

[fahad203]

Great teams win championships. You need offense, defence and goaltending.

One of the most underrated mark of a championship team is their ability to home grown talents
Tampa won championship with 11 homegrown players
Boston when they won had 8, St.Louis had 8 so similar numbers for capitals
We know about Colorado, their top guns are internal and so Makar

One of our problem has been our inability to grow internal players
So far out of last 5 first rounder, only had 2 draft picks and one of them is Sandin

Our lower picks have been total shambles. Last 8 years best of our lower picks have been Sean Durzi, Travis Dermott and Pierre Engvall. Let that sink in

To put that into numbers

That's 54 draft picks 2nd round or later
We have 3 players in the league to show for

2015, 2016 and 2017 lower picks are total write offs... Thanks Mark Hunter
Especially 2017

 

[willmma]

for 20 years this front office and team has not learned. You cant make this stuff up. Its beyond comical.

small, soft, buttery skilled players on both defense and forward is not the way to build a playoff winner.

One of the smallest teams in the league is the defending Champs Colorado Avalanche.

Leafs are average size

Elite Prospects - Team Comparison in NHL

Compare average height, weight and age in NHL.

www.eliteprospects.com

 

[thusk]

Upon Further Review: Analyzing recent concerns about Leafs' defence

Toronto's defence hasn't really been a weakness -- and the team may need to add a forward more at the deadline -- but Justin Bourne points out one recent concerning trend that needs to be fixed for the playoffs.

www.sportsnet.ca

An intersting article i just read and represent very well this topic...

If leafs dont upgrading their D, they will be out in 1st round im pretty sure. You cant score if you dont have the puck... simple as that

 

[Dekes For Days]

One of the most underrated mark of a championship team is their ability to home grown talents
Tampa won championship with 11 homegrown players
Boston when they won had 8, St.Louis had 8 so similar numbers for capitals
We know about Colorado, their top guns are internal and so Makar
One of our problem has been our inability to grow internal players

We have 9 homegrown players, for the record... soon to be more.

 

[AvroArrow]

Need to start cross checking guys in the face, drawing blood and not get called for it to win games. Doesn't seem too difficult.

 

[All Mod Cons]

Need to start cross checking guys in the face, drawing blood and not get called for it to win games. Doesn't seem too difficult.

Our guys don't have the balls for that. They might hurt someone.

 

[darrylsittler27]

The lesson? We are more than 1 or 2 guys away from beating them . I just don’t see it this year.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Personally speaking these were the two thing that bothered me the most.

1) Allowing a shorthanded goal when Boston made it 1-0. Not long after that Marner scored on the power play tying the score at 1-1. If the shorthanded goal is not scored and the Leafs are leading 1-0 halfway through the 2nd period, who knows what the final score might have been.

2) The other was seeing Boston score to make it 4-2 only 30 seconds later after Jarnkrok made it 3-2. I'm not saying Toronto would have comeback to tie the game or even taken a lead, but this wasn't the first time this season where the Leafs scored a goal and allowed one in a short period of time.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Need to start cross checking guys in the face, drawing blood and not get called for it to win games. Doesn't seem too difficult.

History shows that when the Leafs play rough and if an illegal hit/cross check happens, their players seem to get penalties on those plays and end up getting suspended.

Game 2 against Boston in 2019 which got Kadri suspended.

Last year's Heritage Classic against Buffalo when Matthews got suspended 2 games for his cross checks on Rasmus Dahlin.