My take from watching them over the years is they were psychologically mismanaged as young players. In retrospect they started their playoff push too early and the contending pressures came too much too soon.
Organization’s expectations were both unrealistic in those 2018 and 2019 years but the message was also too coddling, underscoring belief in them and the inevitability of winning. So the belief that they’re better than everyone else but also a fragility from not being able to deliver.
This is all history and none of it would matter if some of them emerged into leadership roles with the maturity and self reflection to alter course and mentality. As it is, I think they basically struggle from a sense of superiority and inferiority at the same time which makes them both resilient and completely fragile. They’re not always dialled in because of their reputation and identity as higher skilled than anyone else. But they also carry the baggage of their own failure, the ghosts Paul MacLean talked about.
I think we(fans, and MGT) thought they either already are or close to alpha personalities with the skills and talents they(AM, MM and Willie) have. But as years go by. I don't think they are alpha. They have the talents to be the alpha but they lack the grit(google Angela Duckworth for her definition). I think the early success they had was a reason they are the way they are. Funny how Hyman seemed to be the one with the Alpha attitude with grit. Just look at how he carried himself esp with the Oilers and how he talked about Cup or Bust.
None of our guys ever said anything about Cup or Bust bc they know they are far from it and understand Leafs won't touch them even if they fail. When McD, Drai and Hyman spoke about Cup or bust, they know change will come and most importantly, they HATE losing.
I don't think our boys like losing but they don't hate it. Nobody talks about AM, MM and JT combining for ONE goal against the Panthers as long as AM was scoring in the regular season. I think you and I had a discussion about AM either scoring hat tricks or not scoring and being quiet in games earlier in the year, and thats not healthy. I do find AM more active with Domi and Bert even if he didn't score.
To me thats the part about our guys, they don't HATE losing. I don't want to point finger but Marleau was a really bad influence on them. If they actually had a better mentor/vet at that time, I do believe the guys will be much better than now. They probably still not alphas but they will have grit.
When he was a UFA, Dave Morrison, the scouting director who had drafted Verhaeghe recommended Dubas sign him. Dubas entertained it and proceeded to low ball Verhaeghe.
Verhaeghe asked for 1 million and Dubas refused. Which Verhaeghe signed with Florida. The rest is history.
Didn't he left and joined 2 or 3 other teams before actually getting regular playing time.