Maybe we should give the Habs some credit.

[jamo27]

Ya, we should give them credit for like actually finding a way to win rather than finding a way to lose like we did.

It’s going to really hurt when they win the cup this year because it only shows how close we actually were. We just didn’t show up when it mattered, again.

 

[The Blueprint]

Seeing Habs make the finals... I'm convinced this team is cursed. Can't believe they pissed this year away man. Keep em together one more year and if this doesn't light a fire nothing will trade em all

 

[Hansem1979]

Hockey math says we are better than vegas since we took the Habs to 7 and they only lasted 6 games.

I am a habs fan and I 100% believe that the Leafs are better than the Knights after what I saw.

Plus the Leafs core is younger.

 

[Trapper]

I am a habs fan and I 100% believe that the Leafs are better than the Knights after what I saw.

Plus the Leafs core is younger.

The Leafs aren’t better.
This is the third round of the playoffs.
These guys will be hard pressed to ever get there IMO.
They don’t have the overdrive button.
Regular season sure, not when you have to play every game like elimination.

 

[Suntouchable13]

This Habs team has a perfect record in games where they can close a team out this year. While the Leafs are 0-8 in 5 years.

 

[26Mats]

Ya, we should give them credit for like actually finding a way to win rather than finding a way to lose like we did.

It’s going to really hurt when they win the cup this year because it only shows how close we actually were. We just didn’t show up when it mattered, again.

Of all the top scorers we faced so far, Marner and Matthew's not only manufactured the most chances, but also put up the highest point totals. Kyle Connor, Blake, Wheeler, Ehlers, Dubois, Stone, Pacioretty, Marchessault, Karlsson, Smith all didn't do squat against Price, our top 4 on D, thr Danault line, and the defensive system.

It will be interesting to see how Point, Kucherov, and Stamkos, or Barzal, do.

 

[BrannigansLaw]

I am so salty. Habs make the Cup Finals without even really being expected to do jack shit. Meanwhile, our so called “cup contending” team can’t even close a 3-1 series. f***ing losers man. Least likeable Leafs group I have ever had the displeasure of watching. Forever underachievers.

 

[horner]

Montreal making the finals shows us that the regular season means nothing it's all about preparing for the playoffs.
It doesn't matter what position you end up in .
The playoffs everything is let go you need a well balanced team which we don't have .
Montreal has a bug tough defence that is very hard to penetrate.
We don't have a team that can hit them and break them down.
We don't hit period.montreal has an actual shut down line we didn't.
Price

Campbell was good enough for us to win.

 

[Guided by Veseys]

Them making the finals is just a touch redeeming I feel.
But them winning the finals and saying “Toronto was the hardest team” is going to be the icing on this kicked in the balls cake. One final glorious disappointment lol.

 

[Trapper]

Montreal making the finals shows us that the regular season means nothing it's all about preparing for the playoffs.
It doesn't matter what position you end up in .
The playoffs everything is let go you need a well balanced team which we don't have .
Montreal has a bug tough defence that is very hard to penetrate.
We don't have a team that can hit them and break them down.
We don't hit period.montreal has an actual shut down line we didn't.
Price

Campbell was good enough for us to win.

We need balance.
We are too much a fancy regular season team and not a playoff one.
That’s why the core needs adjustment.
A little more cap required to strengthen 4 line units.

 

[Blowfish]

I am so salty. Habs make the Cup Finals without even really being expected to do jack shit. Meanwhile, our so called “cup contending” team can’t even close a 3-1 series. f***ing losers man. Least likeable Leafs group I have ever had the displeasure of watching. Forever underachievers.

Yet many want to keep Dubas, Matthews, Marner, Tavares, Nylander, etc. etc. etc.

As an outsider wanting to see the leafs improve something big has to happen. Underachievers and just not a likeable team.

 

[BodaciousBeefBazooka]

I have a very uneasy feeling in my stomach about this. Ive never been so much ashamed as a leafs fan but i think its just a feeling of jealousy most likely at the moment against the Habs. But give credit where credit is due man. The Habs are well disciplined, persistent and they never give up. They have alot of 'winning qualities' that makes a difference between the losers like the leafs and themselves.

 

[Al14]

No words can describe how thoroughly disgusted I am with our Toronto Maple Leafs !!! I want the entire organization FIRED !!!

I have no love for anyone in the organization !!!

I hate the HABS with a passion !!! I'm only happy for Luke Richardson. Do it for Darron HABS !!!

R.I.P Darron-Ann Richardson !!!

 

[bentharbs]

But, but, trading everyone except Matthews and Brodie is the only way to win!!

It is really wild how we forget how long it takes some winning teams to…become…winning teams. This list below is imperfect and I am sure y’all will “what about” it to death, but I think the point stands. It takes a little while to win most of the time.

Sid’s Penguins 4 years
Ovi’s Caps 12 years
Bergeron + Marchand’s Bruins 6 years
Doughty + Kopitar + Brown’s King’s 7 years
Kane + Toews Chicago 3-4 years
Petro + Tarasenko + O’Reilly Blues 10ish years
Kuch + Stamkos + Hedman + Vasi Lightning 8-10 years (sans Point)

Average ~ 7 years.

AM+WN+MM = 5 years.

Again, this is like a random list based on what I recall and I am not looking up the actual years. It is just to say that it takes longer to win in the NHL than it does in other sports.

The leafs sucked and have shown little to no progression, which is totally alarming and perhaps makes this all an apples-to-orange comparison, but I am not *quite* ready to give up on the core after 5 years.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Facts: Habs only got this far because they didn’t play Detroit.

 

[The Blueprint]

I think the most frustrating part for me is just...how hopeful I was with these 3 unreal rookies coming in..pushing the veteran caps and Bruins teams in hard fought series the first 2 years...

...and then came the contracts.. I gave them the benefit of the doubt asking for so much, although it was unprecedented for what they had accomplished, the talent was clearly there with an ability to step up.

..and now we're here. Paid like big time players, regular season heros and playoff zeros. The fight we saw in the playoffs as rookies is gone.

The overachieving young leafs core has turned into a bunch of overpaid entitled young stars who refuse to acknowledge their lack of fire and blame it on bad bounces. Mental midgets when the heats on, paralyzed by fear of losing again.

I can only hope after being embarrassed...again..that they might show more next year, if not.. what an absolute waste of talent.

Go Leafs Go.....

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Looks like their new system kicked in at the right time for them.......maybe the leafs hit a buzz saw?

Or Maybe John Tavares got kicked in the skull.

They fell literally 1 goal short, you can't convince me John Tavares would not have produced a single goal or assist that's literally the difference

 

[Pookie]

Habs making it is probably one of the worst things for our Leafs, second only to losing again.

This invites idiotic excuses such as "we were so close" or "we lost to the eventual.... " and will help those who want the status quo to argue for it.

Of course... we are not close. We haven't won a playoff round in 17 years.

The Habs have showed that a balanced playoff team can go far. We have shown that a regular season pretender cannot.

 

[Woodman19]

Nope

They are a fluke team that is basically Carey Price and a bunch of C+ players benefitting from the playoff rulebook where talented teams can be mauled by a goon squad

Thats what annoys me, in the playoffs they call only plays that directly interfere with scoring opportunities so teams can clutch and grab all in the neutral zone before the dangerous play can even develop. The most talented teams in the league for the most part get shut down before any speed or skill can even get into an opportunity that may draw a penalty if they are interfered with, while the teams who do not rely on any skill are already used to playing the slow physical game that generally winds up winning in a long series. You essentially force teams to have to build for 2 different games, a regular season style and a playoff style.

To me that would be like having a baseball strike zone in the playoffs double in size so pitching is suddenly 10x more dominant or you don't call fouls in the NBA once playoffs start so teams can 1980's Pistons the opponent to death in the paint.

 

[janesy12]

Habs making it is probably one of the worst things for our Leafs, second only to losing again.

This invites idiotic excuses such as "we were so close" or "we lost to the eventual.... " and will help those who want the status quo to argue for it.

Of course... we are not close. We haven't won a playoff round in 17 years.

The Habs have showed that a balanced playoff team can go far. We have shown that a regular season pretender cannot.

After barely squeaking into the playoffs yet again this year, the Habs have accomplished more in the past month than the Leafs have in 54 years.
54 f***ing years.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Or Maybe John Tavares got kicked in the skull.

They fell literally 1 goal short, you can't convince me John Tavares would not have produced a single goal or assist that's literally the difference

It’s not like they have proven that they can win playoff series with JT, though. This team is not close.

 

[Trapper]

But, but, trading everyone except Matthews and Brodie is the only way to win!!

It is really wild how we forget how long it takes some winning teams to…become…winning teams. This list below is imperfect and I am sure y’all will “what about” it to death, but I think the point stands. It takes a little while to win most of the time.

Sid’s Penguins 4 years
Ovi’s Caps 12 years
Bergeron + Marchand’s Bruins 6 years
Doughty + Kopitar + Brown’s King’s 7 years
Kane + Toews Chicago 3-4 years
Petro + Tarasenko + O’Reilly Blues 10ish years
Kuch + Stamkos + Hedman + Vasi Lightning 8-10 years (sans Point)

Average ~ 7 years.

AM+WN+MM = 5 years.

Again, this is like a random list based on what I recall and I am not looking up the actual years. It is just to say that it takes longer to win in the NHL than it does in other sports.

The leafs sucked and have shown little to no progression, which is totally alarming and perhaps makes this all an apples-to-orange comparison, but I am not *quite* ready to give up on the core after 5 years.

You are missing some points.

1. Pittsburgh/Washington were able to circumvent the Cap and sign Crosby/Ovi to 13 year deals.
Matthews/Nylander UFA in 3. Playoff rounds win to date = 0

2. These teams moved out guys like Thornton,Kessel,Staal,etc either because they became too expensive or lack of success required change.

3. Chicago was able to bridge their guys in the 2nd contract, again signed Keith to a multi year contract with a less AAV. They traded away depth like Buff,Sharp,Versteeg,etc but they were able to recoup talent like Panarin/Saad/etc. that we have none of. Or the money to sign.

Not the same. Those teams could keep the flame going while we are already burning up.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

It’s not like they have proven that they can win playoff series with JT, though. This team is not close.

But for them to have lost the series he would have had to have scored literally NOTHING you can't convince me John Tavares would not have scored a SINGLE point had he not been kneed in the skull

 

[terranraida]

They suck. Wait til they have to play Vegas or Colorado.

Well this aged like milk.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Hockey math says we are better than vegas since we took the Habs to 7 and they only lasted 6 games.

Zeke will be along shortly to explain how our expected win stats against vegas show us to be an elite team, much better than most teams that actually win playoff rounds.