List of objective mistakes Keefe could make in the playoffs (A priori, aka before) (speak now or forever hold your peace).

[HamiltonNHL]

Recently Keefe played JT in 3 on 3 overtime.
JT is slow for 5v5 hockey, let alone 3 on 3.
I think that is an objective mistake.

With Dubas' job on the line this year, that makes Keefe a vulnerable target, if they dont win at least a round. So Keefe's job is potentially on the line as well.

When a goal is scored in the playoffs, everybody second guesses Keefe ... IN RETROSPECT. Well, in retrospect is quite an easy place to be. If you are going to complain about Keefe's moves vs Tampa .... spit them out now or STFU.

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[Leafblooded]

Retrospect in the handshake line

 

[57 Years No Cup]

Recently Keefe played JT in 3 on 3 overtime.
JT is slow for 5v5 hockey, let alone 3 on 3.
I think that is an objective mistake.

With Dubas' job on the line this year, that makes Keefe a vulnerable target, if they dont win at least a round. So Keefe's job is potentially on the line as well.

When a goal is scored in the playoffs, everybody second guesses Keefe ... IN RETROSPECT. Well, in retrospect is quite an easy place to be. If you are going to complain about Keefe's moves vs Tampa .... spit them out now or STFU.

How does one know the moves Keefe is going to make until he makes them?

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

First of all, I think he's at the point of his tenure where results trump everything. You can't justify keeping him around after losing 4 straight series in the first round, especially that brutally ugly Montreal series loss.

But to answer your question, I think there are some key areas he has control over that he should be able to influence positively. For starters, no more patting themselves on the back and easing up when they win a game or take a lead in the series. Being okay with a split in Tampa is just a losing mentality, they should not accept losing ever. He also has to find a way to get the powerplay going, as that's pretty much always been an issue in the playoffs. Finally, in a bit more of an abstract sense, he has to be able to make the right changes and quickly. It's harder to call this ahead of time, but we'll know it when we see it. For example, he can't play Matthews+Marner together for the whole series if they're not generating anything like against Montreal. Tampa is a team that is able to force mistakes and generate goals from turnovers, and Keefe is going to need to find a way to limit that as much as possible. I personally get the sense that he'll go too far the other way and play it too safe at the expense of our own offense.

As far as things like motivating the team to start on time or whatever, I don't think that's on him anymore. The players should know by now that they have to play a full 60 minutes and not fall behind in games. He can't figure that out for them.

 

[ACC1224]

Recently Keefe played JT in 3 on 3 overtime.
JT is slow for 5v5 hockey, let alone 3 on 3.
I think that is an objective mistake.

With Dubas' job on the line this year, that makes Keefe a vulnerable target, if they dont win at least a round. So Keefe's job is potentially on the line as well.

When a goal is scored in the playoffs, everybody second guesses Keefe ... IN RETROSPECT. Well, in retrospect is quite an easy place to be. If you are going to complain about Keefe's moves vs Tampa .... spit them out now or STFU.

First thing that comes to mind is how many pints did you have at lunch?

 

[Stephen]

While Keefe can always invent new issues on the fly, I’d say his big overall issue is having a poor intuitive feel of momentum changes, on the fly tactical adjustments and being a bad judge of chemistry. Whether experimenting too much or moving off things that work to try and prepare for backup plans for situations all in his head.

 

[Canadian Finn]

- showing up to the arena.

 

[Clark4Ever]

Same mistakes he's made in the past. Overthinking and making unnecessary lineup changes, and not adapting to the opposing coach's tactical adjustments.

 

[WillyC]

Do other team boards have threads like this?… or is this something only we’re blessed with.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Same mistakes he's made in the past. Overthinking and making unnecessary lineup changes, and not adapting to the opposing coach's tactical adjustments.

This exactly
And his use of time-outs, or lack-thereof

 

[HamiltonNHL]

How does one know the moves Keefe is going to make until he makes them?

because he's predictable.

 

[Canadian Finn]

Do other team boards have threads like this?… or is this something only we’re blessed with.

our success is definitely something we are blessed with, yes.

 

[Niagara Bill]

He will without a doubt wear that Dino the dinosaur purple suit. That would be a mistake.

 

[Nineteen67]

- showing up to the arena.

Showing up at the wrong arena

 

[bbgobie]

Sticking with a goalie.
Play whoever gets hot.

Playing Holl

 

[Blanche Blanche]

He will adjust too late. Like in the Montreal series…

Ineffective lines just peppering Price in the chest from the perimeter. Then with 7 minutes left, he blends the lines and goes for it, double shifting Matthews and Marner.

We score and come close, but playing from behind is against you.

We lost to Montreal and Columbus the same way because he was too scared and reluctant to make the moves with confidence.

Also he seems to be unable to calm the players into making simple plays at times. Last night VS islanders was just chaos, that’s also on the coaching…

Islanders had a system of interception having predicted the Leafs breakout methods.

What was the counter?? NOTHING…
Repeat until it was 7-2

Bad coaching will try having Marner, and Willy Dangle their way with no system.

The other series with Bolts was a closer game, but still the same type of flavour of not fully utilized lines.

I said it here. I hope Keefe proves me wrong in a month

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Playing Kerfoot too high in the lineup.

Over relying on Holl.

Not giving Matthews one of Marner or Nylander to play with.

Special teams killing us again will also be on him so he better get the PP and PK in order.

 

[Canadian Finn]

Showing up at the wrong arena

nah, that wouldn't be a mistake, that would be a benefit.

 

[All Mod Cons]

Throwing literal poo on the ice is an objective mistake Imho.

Holding a fan hostage with a banana under a T-Shirt, disguised as a weapon is an objective mistake Imho.

Betting the players he could watch the whole game upside down is an objective mistake Imho.

There are definitely more that aren't immediately coming to mind.

 

[thewave]

Suace too much sauce.

 

[Its not your fault]

While Keefe can always invent new issues on the fly, I’d say his big overall issue is having a poor intuitive feel of momentum changes, on the fly tactical adjustments and being a bad judge of chemistry. Whether experimenting too much or moving off things that work to try and prepare for backup plans for situations all in his head.

When you're a lock for the playoffs then I don't hate the idea of experimenting
That's the most important thing to do over the course of the regular season. If you're not working on new things you become stagnant. Unless you're calling on our past playoff success as support to not change the lines up. Heard reports the leafs are much harder to match up with when they roll random. Also learned this year Marner inflates everyone's stats. Also probably the one of the 3 you keep. Which a year ago I would have traded him for Tkachuk which would have been an overpayment if you ever seen one. Not that he isn't worth the value, just to have him traded out even for 30 year Olds was wild. Early signs of 90s Flames and early 2000s.

 

[DarkKnight]

Be satisfied being up 2-1 like you’ve actually won something.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Overthinking the goaltending.
Expecting a tough/rough Tampa night and injecting Simmonds/Clifford (both are still in the organization).
Nylander at 3rd line C.
11 F/7 D (aka 7-Eleven).
Using Kerfoot in the top 6.
Putting Rielly on the 3rd pairing (to please blood thirsty fans).

 

[Skullz]

I would say overuse of Kerfoot is big for me. Constantly singling out Willy and not anyone else. Remember when he said something about Matthews and Marner and backtracked?

Overall it isn't his fault I would say, he doesn't play. But I will never as long as I live get over the respect in the handshake line.

 

[egd27]

Giving "pep talks" in the room like the OT one we saw in All For Nothing.