Once again, skidding into the playoffs...

[mclaren55]

What's your take on this teams complete lack of compete running into the final 20 games of the season? They are 4-5-1 in their last 10 right now, while duking it out for first in our division. The saving grace this year is the two teams we are competing with for that position are also fairly inconsistent right now. The Leafs have the worst last 10 GP out of any team in a playoff position right now (maybe outside of NJ). Does anyone really think this team is going to do damage this year? Seems like our goaltending has finally started to return to the mean after outperforming for the first 3-4 months of the season.

So, the question is, given the recent performance, what are your expectations this post season? I'm guessing another first round exit. Rather keep my expectations low and be surprised, than have high expectations and be disappointed. This is the way.

 

[GoonieFace]

I have no idea what to make of this team. I’ve felt optimistic in years past, against my better judgment. I’m just going to watch with no expectations.

 

[Evilhomer]

All I care is that they avoid any significant injuries the rest of the season.

 

[notbias]

They look terrible, but they have goaltending that can steal some games, so they will go as far as the goaltending takes them.

I don't understand how anyone thinks Berube is doing a good job... this team is way better on paper than last season and they look worse.

 

[Legion34]

None of this is surprising. Poor start, get hot. Challenge for the division and then speed wobble into 2/3.

Lose 2-1 in game 7. Everyone belly aches about change and they can’t roll it back. Then. They do.

Only difference is if Marner actually walks.

 

[Jojalu]

12 games left to change the narrative. Win 8 of those games and then lose in game 7. Lol

 

[leafsfan5]

Just expect them to finish A2, play Tampa in R1, struggle to score and lose in 7 games

 

[Confucius]

Just expect them to finish A2, play Tampa in R1, struggle to score and lose in 7 games

Given a choice between losing to Tampa in 7 or getting swept by Ottawa I’d choose the latter. Maybe that would have MLSE wake-up and smell the coffee.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Games pick up in speed and grit as post season approaches .. we have always lacked those team qualities up front .. in playoffs they rachet up another level .. our core guys, outside of Willy, can't compete .. and Willy has always had grit issues .. I have always said if Willy decided too play like a mean SOB we would stand a decent chance cause he has da speed and agility to skate with anyone in league

 

[The Shadow]

The forward depth is really not there for a deep playoff run. I think the same thing will happen where goals are hard to come by for this team in the playoffs. The power play needs to be successful unlike last playoffs.

Tre has work to do this summer to change the forwards to fit Berube’s style.

I remember Tre saying that they wanted to fix the goaltending and defence first and they did a good amount on that last summer with work on D still to go but I like the start there.

 

[ACC1224]

This seems incredibly bleak.

 

[Torontonian]

They look terrible, but they have goaltending that can steal some games, so they will go as far as the goaltending takes them.

I don't understand how anyone thinks Berube is doing a good job... this team is way better on paper than last season and they look worse.

They look worse due to their system... To be fair though, Keefe would completely change their system come playoff time to exactly this. Dump the puck and collapse to the front of the net.. The only good thing is Toronto has been doing this for 70 games now, so they are used to playing like it.

 

[mjd1001]

Make the plaoffs, nothing else matters.

Too many times we have seen teams 'skidding' into the playoffs and then done very well once the playoff start. We have seen teams finish in the bottom 4 on the conference but then go on to have upsets. To me, make the playoffs and be healthy and fairly well rested going in. At this point that is WAY more important than where you finish in the division or the conference going in, or what your record was the last 10-15 games of the season.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

I just saved twenty percent or more on my car insurance by fleeing the scene of an accident.

Every year they enter the playoffs with a whimper instead of a roar. It's like they know what's coming. So they start playing scared nervous hockey a few games earlier than the season before.

We all want them to play meaningful games in May and June of each year.

But that seems to be the last thing the players want. These players and their egos (especially Marner) are lacking the heart or the balls or the guts or whatever other organ responsible for winning. They're all so mentally fragile and weak.

A bunch of pusillanimous milksop pantywaists.

You have no choice but to use kid gloves. Rub their backs and soothe them after every first round exit. Tell them it's not their fault they keep losing so just enjoy summer and come back ready for next year.

Lying, denying responsibility, then laying low for a while works in all areas of life.

 

[ULF_55]

Projected GF: 262
Projected GA: 243

Different and yet not better.

Last year ended Diff: +40
This year project Diff: +19

Is the difference a healthy Matthews?

Does anyone feel this current team is better?

 

[Confucius]

I just saved twenty percent or more on my car insurance by fleeing the scene of an accident.

Every year they enter the playoffs with a whimper instead of a roar. It's like they know what's coming. So they start playing scared nervous hockey a few games earlier than the season before.

Not Really
April 2021- 9-3-2
April 2022 -11-2-2
April 2023- 6-1-1
April 2024 -4-4-1

 

[ULF_55]

I just saved twenty percent or more on my car insurance by fleeing the scene of an accident.

Every year they enter the playoffs with a whimper instead of a roar. It's like they know what's coming. So they start playing scared nervous hockey a few games earlier than the season before.

We all want them to play meaningful games in May and June of each year.

But that seems to be the last thing the players want. These players and their egos (especially Marner) are lacking the heart or the balls or the guts or whatever other organ responsible for winning. They're all so mentally fragile and weak.

A bunch of pusillanimous milksop pantywaists.

You have no choice but to use kid gloves. Rub their backs and soothe them after every first round exit. Tell them it's not their fault they keep losing so just enjoy summer and come back ready for next year.

Lying, denying responsibility, then laying low for a while works in all areas of life.

Extra for pusillanimous.

I would however recommend laying down on the side boards for the insurance discount ...

 

[ULF_55]

Not Really
April 2021- 9-3-2
April 2022 -11-2-2
April 2023- 6-1-1
April 2024 -4-4-1

Good - Good - Good - Bad - ?

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Can we compare TOR to last season?

I hope to God Berube doesn't get his team to play milestone hockey / shinny before the playoffs. That's what Keefe did and it drove me crazy.

Toronto needs to be playing intense playoff hockey, but also manage minutes and get everyone healthy. If the standings don't reflect that, then so be it.

 

[Confucius]

Good - Good - Good - Bad - ?

As a whole 30-10-6
Very good closing out the year

 

[MilkofthePoppy]

Can we compare TOR to last season?

I hope to God Berube doesn't get his team to play milestone hockey / shinny before the playoffs. That's what Keefe did and it drove me crazy.

Toronto needs to be playing intense playoff hockey, but also manage minutes and get everyone healthy. If the standings don't reflect that, then so be it.

They don't know how to do that.

 

[Jojalu]

View attachment 998524

Projected GF: 262
Projected GA: 243
View attachment 998527

Different and yet not better.

Last year ended Diff: +40
This year project Diff: +19

Is the difference a healthy Matthews?

Does anyone feel this current team is better?

I would argue their D is better. Tanev, Carlo and OEL should help

 

[Fogelhund]

Is there actually any proven correlation between your record the last 10-15-20 games, and your success in the playoffs?

Edmonton was 4-4-2 last year, and almost won the cup.
2022 Colorado won the cup, and was 4-5-1 going into the playoffs.
2021 Montreal was 4-4-2 and made the finals
2020 Tampa was 3-6-1 down the stretch and won the cup.
2020 Dallas was 3-5-2 in their last ten and made the finals.

 

[kevsh]

Goals %: 8th
xGoals %: 16th
Corsi %: 24th
Goal differential: 8th
Expected GF: 21st
Expected GA: 9th
Expected Goal differential: 1th
PDO: 7th
PP: 7th
PK: 16th

And so on. Not a picture of a bad team, but nothing there screams contender either.

Which is kind of troubling considering they brought in Tanev, OEL and a significant upgrade in net with Stolarz.

 

[Stephen]

I think our leadership core has too many conflict avoidant personalities that don’t really perform well when they have someone in their face in a head to head series or high pressure situations when competition and heightened emotional states are at play but require control, perseverance and execution.

In hockey let’s call it the “Sedin Syndrome” as in if someone is actively punching you in the head it, your instinct isn’t to fight back but you make a bunch of risk assessment excuses and walk away, dignity and morale lost.

I also think they’re also coddled and don’t have any internal motivation to inherently succeed. You have San Jose and Nashville on the ropes and you can crush them but decide to fade away as a group. Why don’t you want to crush them and cruise control to a division title?