Re-tooling For One More Run With This Core

[EGL22]

My god. Edmonton needed 7 games to beat a Doughty-less Kings team and Calgary played the second worst team to make the playoffs in the league this year and were one goal from elimination. Giving either credit for eeking out series wins by the skin of their teeth against such mediocre teams while punishing the Leafs for a close game 7 loss to an actual power house is about as disingenuous as it gets.

This is true,we faced a much tougher team.
It's not like we were barely beating crappy teams like Montreal and Columbus to get to the 2nd rd. and bragging about it.

 

[Suntouchable13]

This is true,we faced a much tougher team.
It's not like we were barely beating crappy teams like Montreal and Columbus to get to the 2nd rd. and bragging about it.

Yes, that’s right. Leafs couldn’t even beat 2 crappy teams. At least Calgary and Edmonton did.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

My god. Edmonton needed 7 games to beat a Doughty-less Kings team and Calgary played the second worst team to make the playoffs in the league this year and were one goal from elimination. Giving either credit for eeking out series wins by the skin of their teeth against such mediocre teams while punishing the Leafs for a close game 7 loss to an actual power house is about as disingenuous as it gets.

This is just loser mentality, in my opinion.

They deserve credit, they won playoff rounds. You can complain about matchups all you want but Montreal and Columbus should have been near-sweeps and we blew it. Can't start throwing out "but Tampa!" now. There is a history beyond this year.

I am actually very excited to see this BOA series. McDavid looks like a God out there, he really stepped up and crushed the Kings hopes despite a pretty bad supporting cast.

 

[Trapper]

It’s 99.9 % guaranteed we are going to roll with the same/same, bottom 6 tweak for a 7th go.

And if that doesn’t work, 50% of people here would still go for a same/same 8th.

People are conditioned and Dubas has us locked in with the auto pilot smashed. Strap in for the ride.

 

[Nineteen67]

This is true,we faced a much tougher team.
It's not like we were barely beating crappy teams like Montreal and Columbus to get to the 2nd rd. and bragging about it.

People forget that CBJ was one point behind the Leafs and they were in a battle for the WC spots, and that’s the reason they faced each other in the play in , just to make the playoffs.

 

[Maplebeasts]

This is true,we faced a much tougher team.
It's not like we were barely beating crappy teams like Montreal and Columbus to get to the 2nd rd. and bragging about it.

True. It would have been pathetic for us to pretend like we were world beaters for beating the Habs last season.

 

[Maplebeasts]

This is just loser mentality, in my opinion.

They deserve credit, they won playoff rounds. You can complain about matchups all you want but Montreal and Columbus should have been near-sweeps and we blew it. Can't start throwing out "but Tampa!" now. There is a history beyond this year.

I am actually very excited to see this BOA series. McDavid looks like a God out there, he really stepped up and crushed the Kings hopes despite a pretty bad supporting cast.

It's not loser mentality and you bet your bottom dollar I'll be pushing for signifcant change next season if we still don't win a round heading into the last year of Matthews' and Nylander's contracts. I'm still pissed we lost. I just happen to be annoyed with "fans" pumping up Edmonton and Calgary for beating the two worst teams in the playoffs in 7 games while simultaneously panicking because the Leafs lost in 7 to Tampa. It's like they want to confirm their biases no matter the situation or context.

 

[usernamezrhardtodo]

He purposely forced a trade here. Insiders are suggesting he would sign here for cheaper.

Could that have been in the waffle years?

It was about 4yrs ago at a party that I spoke to his relative....so I don't know if it's changed now. It wasn't the Team or MLSE that he didn't like as much as the media from what I can recall. So, lets see if he is willing to take less. He did play well and got rave reviews from the media...so that might change his perspective....that and having Brodie playing here already.

 

[makbeer]

This is just loser mentality, in my opinion.

They deserve credit, they won playoff rounds. You can complain about matchups all you want but Montreal and Columbus should have been near-sweeps and we blew it. Can't start throwing out "but Tampa!" now. There is a history beyond this year.

I am actually very excited to see this BOA series. McDavid looks like a God out there, he really stepped up and crushed the Kings hopes despite a pretty bad supporting cast.

Agreed. We are in no place to comment on other teams' strength of opponent after losing to MTL last season.

Congrats on EDM and CAL for making it to the second round. Will be cheering for you guys to bring the cup to Canada.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

It's not loser mentality and you bet your bottom dollar I'll be pushing for signifcant change next season if we still don't win a round heading into the last year of Matthews' and Nylander's contracts. I'm still pissed we lost. I just happen to be annoyed with "fans" pumping up Edmonton and Calgary for beating the two worst teams in the playoffs in 7 games while simultaneously panicking because the Leafs lost in 7 to Tampa. It's like they want to confirm their biases no matter the situation or context.

This doesn't make sense. Are you simply forgetting that we could not beat Montreal or Columbus?

Flames and Oilers deserve credit for doing what our core couldn't do.

The problem with the "significant change next year" mentality is that you are now at the point where Matthews and WN are a year away from walking. By waiting another year, you are potentially wasting another year.

Why not grab the bull by the horns now and give the team some fresh eyes? We've lost to a good Tampa team, yes, but we also failed to beat our own versions of the Stars and Kings.

The fanbase on this forum needs to get over this pettiness with the comparison to other Canadian teams. They did what we couldn't and should get credit. It's not like any of us fans have any control either way.

 

[Nineteen67]

It’s 99.9 % guaranteed we are going to roll with the same/same, bottom 6 tweak for a 7th go.

And if that doesn’t work, 50% of people here would still go for a same/same 8th.

People are conditioned and Dubas has us locked in with the auto pilot smashed. Strap in for the ride.

I heard on the radio this morning that this core is 1 and 15 in games where they could go up 2 games in a series or close it out.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Friedman thinks Dubas gets another year but he'll be lame duck if not extended
He mentioned moving JT off C and maybe 34 and 16 are your 2
Campbell's camp not close to accepting what the Leafs offered - somewhee in the 3 year 3 mill.

 

[Cap'n Flavour]

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Engvall-Tavares-Nylander
Steeves-Roy-Rodrigues
ZAR-Kampf-Hathaway

Rielly-Brodie
Giordano-Liljegren
Sandin-Walker

Campbell
Wedgewood

This lineup is a disaster. Engvall on LW2 and Steeves on LW3? WTF? Walker is coming off a major injury and may never be the same, and Giordano is penciled in for second pair minutes? Gross.

 

[ShaneFalco]

It’s 99.9 % guaranteed we are going to roll with the same/same, bottom 6 tweak for a 7th go.

And if that doesn’t work, 50% of people here would still go for a same/same 8th.

People are conditioned and Dubas has us locked in with the auto pilot smashed. Strap in for the ride.

And it's amazing b/c Dubas signed JT, Dubas overpaid for Marner, and now has a goalie to get rid of. He's done a lot of good things but look at the holes they need to fill next year. We keep losing yet people are scared to move on from a core piece, and I think you said it, because we may lose

 

[Maplebeasts]

This doesn't make sense. Are you simply forgetting that we could not beat Montreal or Columbus?

Flames and Oilers deserve credit for doing what our core couldn't do.

The problem with the "significant change next year" mentality is that you are now at the point where Matthews and WN are a year away from walking. By waiting another year, you are potentially wasting another year.

Why not grab the bull by the horns now and give the team some fresh eyes? We've lost to a good Tampa team, yes, but we also failed to beat our own versions of the Stars and Kings.

The fanbase on this forum needs to get over this pettiness with the comparison to other Canadian teams. They did what we couldn't and should get credit. It's not like any of us fans have any control either way.

Yeah last year we choked no doubt. This year was definitely not a choke and the best series this core has played by far. The rational thing to do with a 115 point team that almost beat the back to back cup champs is to try one more time then ship the core out if they lose early again next year. By that time half of the core is 1 year away from UFA so panic would actually be warranted by then. If you disassemble this team now you better be prepared to not compete for the cup again for a while.

 

[Drytoast]

They're right there. Don't gotta too much. They're a top 5 team that lost to a top 3 team. One bounce, they could be the ones moving on.

This will fall on deaf ears here because hysterical leaf fans get hysterical.

I share this opinion and it seems to be the same opinion from most hockey analysts. They are right there. They played playoff style hockey and just lost by 1 goal to an equal team.

I'm proud of the them. It's like they are growing up in front of us.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

Yeah last year we choked no doubt. This year was definitely not a choke and the best series this core has played by far. The rational thing to do with a 115 point team that almost beat the back to back cup champs is to try one more time then ship the core out if they lose early again next year. By that time half of the core is 1 year away from UFA so panic would actually be warranted by then. If you disassemble this team now you better be prepared to not compete for the cup again for a while.

Sure, and if they fail next year, I guess oh well! It's just a year

I am surprised people watch us and actually think "wow, that's a Cup contender". That's still the goal, right?

 

[makbeer]

Friedman thinks Dubas gets another year but he'll be lame duck if not extended
He mentioned moving JT off C and maybe 34 and 16 are your 2
Campbell's camp not close to accepting what the Leafs offered - somewhee in the 3 year 3 mill.

He's not worth more than 3.5 I hope Dubas doesn't pull a Dubas and overpay him. I mean this is the guy who gave 3.8 to Mrazek.

 

[The Masters]

Would like to move JT to the wing on 2nd line. He's better suited there at this stage.
Trade Nylander for 2nd line centre. Nylander is what he is, not what this team needs in playoffs.
Get another Power forward for your top 6.
Get another dependable solid D man.
Campbell was fine. I'd re-up him only for 3.5M/yr max, else let him walk.

 

[nuck]

I have to agree.

I could see him signing at the amount the Leafs are paying him this year, around 3.5 and I could see it being 2 years.

Gio has earned over $58m in his career so I would really expect it to be well under market. I don't think you can just he comes for peanuts but I am guessing $2m or less.

I'm fine with a left side of Rielly, Gio, Brodie, in any combination of minutes. IMO, Muzzin at 5.6 million, ought to be the odd man out. He just doesn't bring that kind of value to the lineup, at less than 2 million cheaper than Rielly.

Similarly, I'm fine with Liljegren and Lyubushkin on the right side, but we need a #1 RHD to pair with Rielly for a number of years.


If they can swing 3 years at that price I am definitely not going to complain. You'll get ZERO pushback from me. Something tells me that it comes in between $2.5-$3-0 for 3 years, but if they can get it done at the price you're suggesting, I'm two thumbs up!

Brodie is a lot more effective on the right and that is a really soft left side. I like Bush but if I am looking for a stud top 4 D on the right its him I replace and Lily swaps places with Brodie when he is ready. Is Sandin a future fixture on the left and replacing Gio soon or do you move him and Muzz for a different type of player?

 

[Mickey Marner]

It’s 99.9 % guaranteed we are going to roll with the same/same, bottom 6 tweak for a 7th go.

And if that doesn’t work, 50% of people here would still go for a same/same 8th.

People are conditioned and Dubas has us locked in with the auto pilot smashed. Strap in for the ride.

I've accepted that a lot of people, Dubas especially, would rather lose with their favorites than win without them.

 

[lebdafor norris]

It's not loser mentality and you bet your bottom dollar I'll be pushing for signifcant change next season if we still don't win a round heading into the last year of Matthews' and Nylander's contracts. I'm still pissed we lost. I just happen to be annoyed with "fans" pumping up Edmonton and Calgary for beating the two worst teams in the playoffs in 7 games while simultaneously panicking because the Leafs lost in 7 to Tampa. It's like they want to confirm their biases no matter the situation or context.

Thats because both Alberta teams managed to accomplished what the Leafs failed to do against the Habs and the CBJ during the previous 2 seasons, while the apologist are giving the same excuse we heard during the 2nd Boston series; "Leafs would have advanced had they faced any other team" "BOS just swept Carolina in the ECF while the Leafs took 7 games to beat" "Leafs would have demolished both the Isles and the Canes given the playoff results."

Whether the Leafs has gotten a favourable matchup or a tought one, the results is always the same so you cant downplay what the 2 Alberta teams has done because that was what we expected the Leafs would do against CBJ and MTL given the Leafs performaces against the SC runner up 3 years ago. Now we are back to where we were in summer of 2019, trying to pump the Leafs tire for hanging around with a SC caliber team.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

No .. da CORE needs to be changed otherwise insanity will continue .. but 1st mgmt needs to be terminated and a new hockey guy brought in to RETOOOL team with draft and trades (Shanny/Dubie don't have a clue what to do) .. actual results matter .. analytics don't work .. need a change in vision of team and how team plays to suit playoff hockey .. at same time you need enough skill pieces to get into playoffs .. it requires a balance .. maybe keep da CAP guru who wrote CBA but thats it

 

[Suntouchable13]

This will fall on deaf ears here because hysterical leaf fans get hysterical.

I share this opinion and it seems to be the same opinion from most hockey analysts. They are right there. They played playoff style hockey and just lost by 1 goal to an equal team.

I'm proud of the them. It's like they are growing up in front of us.

Sure, just like they were in 2017 against Washington. Give me a break, this team has not progressed much since then if we are taking about moral victories against another great team. Give me some players who can win when it matters.

 

[Maplebeasts]

Sure, and if they fail next year, I guess oh well! It's just a year

I am surprised people watch us and actually think "wow, that's a Cup contender". That's still the goal, right?

What else do you call a 115 point team that lost by one goal in game 7 to a team that has a good chance of threepeating? If we win a round against a lesser team before losing to Tampa the exact same way does that mean we were better as a team? No obviously not. Why are you and countless others unable to see this? Like it's really not that difficult.