Remember the Caps and Blues

[AustonMarner]

Tavares turned out to be a waste. Yes

Marner and Matthews most certainly crapped the bed in Florida.

Core players should have responded. Captain is soft as butter confirmed. There is no push back from any of the leaders though except maybe Morgan.

Yeah... Matthews or Marner or Nylander should have went after Bennett after crushing Knies

Morgan did step up a few notches in my eyes and I said he should have been captain over Tavares as well

Team crapped the bed in Florida
Reilly stepped up like a leader
Marner had a great playoffs as a whole
Nylander elevated his play for sure
Matthews was the most disappointing out of the true core four in the playoffs and missed the most opportunities/high danger scoring chances early in games 1, 2 and 3 (targeting blocker side for some reason) Hopefully the reason why he couldn't convert a few of those opportunities was because of his "temporary" wrist injury... but I thought it was just an over thinking/ over analytical keefey thing to try and do... terrible post season coach but Dubas never really gave him a proper playoff roster either so...

 

[thewave]

Yeah... Matthews or Marner or Nylander should have went after Bennett after crushing Knies

Morgan did step up a few notches in my eyes and I said he should have been captain over Tavares as well

Team crapped the bed in Florida
Reilly stepped up like a leader
Marner had a great playoffs as a whole
Nylander elevated his play for sure
Matthews was the most disappointing out of the true core four in the playoffs and missed the most opportunities/high danger scoring chances early in games 1, 2 and 3 (targeting blocker side for some reason) which could have made for a different game. Hopefully the reason why he couldn't convert a few of those opportunities was because of his "temporary" wrist injury... but I thought it was just an over thinking/ over analytical keefey thing to try and do... terrible post season coach but Dubas never really gave him a proper playoff roster either so...

The best leaders in the game do get into peoples faces. Especially those that win the cup.

Ovi, Toews, Crosby, Perry, Yzerman, Messier, Stamkos, Modano, Roberts, Clark, Sundin, Bergeron, ROR, Mackinnon, McDavid isn't even shy that way. Honestly I could just keep going and going with leaders that win cups or flat out just stick up for the team. The level of wimpy is actually an extreme phenomenon in Toronto. It's odd.

 

[Stephen]

Sport is about winning……..everything after T ball and tykes hockey is about winning.
Maybe we shouldn’t keeps score and give everyone a cup.
this is why there is no motivation from leafs management and ownership to win because so many fans are satis by watching Marner dipsy doodle and Matthews tear it up……until the games get tough then poof they are gone

Eventually, the Leafs even managed to break that guy. Complaining about playoffs.

The Toronto Maple Leafs Should Have Fired Sheldon Keefe

The Toronto Maple Leafs Should Have Fired Sheldon Keefe . Instead the poorly run team is bringing back the coach who couldn't get it done.

editorinleaf.com

 

[AustonMarner]

The best leaders in the game do get into peoples faces. Especially those that win the cup.

Ovi, Toews, Crosby, Perry, Yzerman, Messier, Stamkos, Modano, Roberts, Clark, Sundin, Bergeron, ROR, Mackinnon, McDavid isn't even shy that way. Honestly I could just keep going and going with leaders that win cups or flat out just stick up for the team. The level of wimpy is actually an extreme phenomenon in Toronto. It's odd.

Gotta blame Dubas for that... way too much of a "smarter than thou" mentality from the former GM... horrible trade downs... rentals for high draft picks, poor maximizing of expiring assets out of blind loyalty & ufa signing that punctuated analytics over play-off needs... ESPECIALLY ON THE FORTH LINE... Dubas gets a C- grade over because there were a few things he did well, systematically wise

 

[AustonMarner]

The best leaders in the game do get into peoples faces. Especially those that win the cup.

Ovi, Toews, Crosby, Perry, Yzerman, Messier, Stamkos, Modano, Roberts, Clark, Sundin, Bergeron, ROR, Mackinnon, McDavid isn't even shy that way. Honestly I could just keep going and going with leaders that win cups or flat out just stick up for the team. The level of wimpy is actually an extreme phenomenon in Toronto. It's odd.

Look how scared Tavares looks while Schenn has to defend the whole team... it's pathetic and sad...

 

[666]

People say the same.thibg after Columbus, and after the Habs series too. Easy to say in June. Less so in November

I hear you but it feels different this time. The ratio of hater posts feels much higher this time. At least the haters can feed off of Dubas being fired for now but if Treliving doesn't do something soon they are going to implode. I think he's got until July 1 to do something big or things are going to get uglier around here.

 

[tmlms13]

I see a trend too. I don't think the elite #1 Defenseman Store has much left in stock.

2023 Pietrangelo - UFA (2020) - Theodore is better fwiw and they got him in expansion draft trade
2022 Makar - #4
2021 Hedman - #2
2020 Hedman - #2
2019 Pietrangelo - #4
2018 Carlson - #27
2017 Letang - #62
2016 Letang - #62
2015 Keith - #54
2014 Doughty - #2
2013 Keith - #54
2012 Doughty - #2
2011 Chara - UFA (2006)
2010 Keith - #54
2009 Letang - #62
2008 Lidstrom - #53
2007 Niedemeyer - UFA (2005) - Just FYI Pronger - Trade (2 1sts, 2nd, Lupul, Smid)

 

[AvroArrow]

I see a trend too. I don't think the elite #1 Defenseman Store has much left in stock.

2023 Pietrangelo - UFA (2020) - Theodore is better fwiw and they got him in expansion draft trade
2022 Makar - #4
2021 Hedman - #2
2020 Hedman - #2
2019 Pietrangelo - #4
2018 Carlson - #27
2017 Letang - #62
2016 Letang - #62
2015 Keith - #54
2014 Doughty - #2
2013 Keith - #54
2012 Doughty - #2
2011 Chara - UFA (2006)
2010 Keith - #54
2009 Letang - #62
2008 Lidstrom - #53
2007 Niedemeyer - UFA (2005) - Just FYI Pronger - Trade (2 1sts, 2nd, Lupul, Smid)

^ This.

I'd try and package Nylander for a true #1D if there's one available. I think he probably gets moved for Hanifin in some kind of a package deal though.

Dump Murray, sign Bertuzzi to replace Nylander. That's quite a different core than last seasons.

Knies - Matthews - Bertuzzi
x - Tavares - Marner

Rielly - Schenn
Hanifin - Lily

 

[Larcos_Unal]

Matthews was the most disappointing out of the true core four in the playoffs and missed the most opportunities/high danger scoring chances early in games 1, 2 and 3 (targeting blocker side for some reason) Hopefully the reason why he couldn't convert a few of those opportunities was because of his "chronic" wrist injury... but I thought it was just an over thinking/ over analytical keefey thing to try and do... terrible post season coach but Dubas never really gave him a proper playoff roster either so...

Fixed it for you

 

[tmlms13]

I see a trend too. I don't think the elite #1 Defenseman Store has much left in stock.

2023 Pietrangelo - UFA (2020) - Theodore is better fwiw and they got him in expansion draft trade
2022 Makar - #4
2021 Hedman - #2
2020 Hedman - #2
2019 Pietrangelo - #4
2018 Carlson - #27
2017 Letang - #62
2016 Letang - #62
2015 Keith - #54
2014 Doughty - #2
2013 Keith - #54
2012 Doughty - #2
2011 Chara - UFA (2006)
2010 Keith - #54
2009 Letang - #62
2008 Lidstrom - #53
2007 Niedemeyer - UFA (2005) - Just FYI Pronger - Trade (2 1sts, 2nd, Lupul, Smid)

Oh and I should mention that

Niedermeyer signing: First year of cap so like half the league were FA and everyone had a free buyout

Pronger Trade and Chara Signing: Cap went from 39m to 44m (13%)

Pietro signing: Cap went from 79.5 to 81.5 (2.5%), I'll also add that the summer before the cap went up 4.5m (6%)

 

[notbias]

Look how scared Tavares looks while Schenn has to defend the whole team... it's pathetic and sad...

I think it's sad and pathetic that people think they can tell someone's feelings from that exchange, especially when that person shows no emotion in the exchange.

Half of this board is just fanfiction now.

 

[WillNy29]

The difference
Marner
Tavares
Matthews
Nylander

Ovie was one of the best players at the WJHC and battled against Sid. Auston Matthews played showcase hockey.

if you make things up and repeat them over and over again eventually people will believe them; I'll commend you for that effort

 

[WillNy29]

So you are good with giving them raises and just keep going with them regardless of how it will impact other positions? Crapping the bed every playoffs isnt enough justification? 7 yrs....really its 4 yrs as I didnt expect them to do much the first 3 yrs they were in the playoffs.

I think he means don't just give them away unless you are blown away in a trade...are you ok with just giving them away? you know since we feel like they're trash heap calibre players right now their value is likely very low.

 

[myleafs]

I think he means don't just give them away unless you are blown away in a trade...are you ok with just giving them away? you know since we feel like they're trash heap calibre players right now their value is likely very low.

I understand the reluctance to move them for something other than a boatload but I asked how long would you/anyone in here support keeping the core?....4 more years...10?

I mean Im in the I want to see some sort of change now like at least 1 core guy but lets say we go into this year status quo, and we get the same result as previous years then Im good with blowing the whole damn thing up at that point.

I dont see too many calling them trash heap calibre

 

[Larcos_Unal]

Look how scared Tavares looks while Schenn has to defend the whole team... it's pathetic and sad...

Tavares is a good player now, great player in his 20s, but at no point has he shown he has the leadership skills, voice & passion of an NHL captain.

Rielly was the right choice and they caved to JT cause he signed the big money UFA deal to come home.

 

[Captain Crunch]

Strong compete, strong desire to win.







Ovechkin in 2018 was 12% of cap, Carlson 10%, Kuztenzov 9.8%, Backstrom 8.43%. for 40% of the cap.

Yup, I was way off on my assessment of Ovie. Based on your evidence, he’s way more like the prima donnas we have on our team, except for the fact that he has won a Cup. Of course, it did take him 14 years to win it, so we’ve only got to wait, what, another 8 years for it to MAYBE happen with this group.
This sums it up in a nutshell about this “core”:

 

[justashadowof]

Look how scared Tavares looks while Schenn has to defend the whole team... it's pathetic and sad...

Your delusion is noted.

 

[Matthews4Calder]

Think what most fans of this team have to say to themselves is do you really deep down think this core can get it done. Can look at other teams failures and draw comparisons but in all the years the Caps and Blues failed did they have any success, did their star players show up etc etc. That is the question. Ours haven't plain and simple and personally I don't see that changing. Every year it's the same thing. Make some changes. Shanahan needed to go along with Dubas as he is as much to blame for his love for the core. We overpaid years ago and we are going to do it again and handcuff ourselves one more time.

 

[Captain Crunch]

"Horribly run organization"

Sabres, no playoffs in 12 years... Coyotes, Canucks.... LOL

Recalls when the Leafs missed the playoffs 10 of 11 years.

Third in regular season points the last six years combined.

A number of top players in the league, playing exciting hockey.

Losing in the playoffs has sucked... but how about some Perspective. This is a very well organization, consistently icing one of the best teams in the league, who hasn't gotten over the top... go back to not making the playoffs for a decade, and then whine some more about Ned Flanders pills and pom poms.

Such an entitled, miserable fan base.

Toronto Maple Leafs Successful By All but the Dumbest of Standards

Toronto Maple Leafs Successful By All but the Dumbest of Standards . OK I'd like to see them win too, but that doesn't mean that if they...

editorinleaf.com

So, So Spoiled​

You get to watch a team with Auston Mathews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares and William Nylander. You get to watch it every night for like almost a whole decade. And they do nothing but win. Since Keefe was hired, he has something like the best points-percentage of any coach ever.

That means for four seasons and about 250 games, we’ve got to see some of the best players on earth, every night, playing for us. And they get it done consistently.

I don’t think we should put so much on the random results of an arbitrary tournament. I for one, love this iteration of the Toronto Maple Leafs and I hope they do win, because it will be really fun if they do. But if they don’t, I’m still going to enjoy the entertainment they’ve provided and respect the sacrifices they made to make it happen.

I love this team. I love how they don’t quit. I love how if they do win, it won’t be cheap at all. I love how they’ve built a team and grown it through the years. It’s all very romantic and exciting. The thing is, and maybe I’m alone on this, but I don’t need them to win to be satisfied.

Getting a great team, and actually filling it with some of the best players alive is good enough for me. Hell, it’s superior to every single other Leafs team we’ve had the pleasure of watching. The Gilmour years were fun, they didn’t get it done. The early 2000 Sandin year, same thing.

This is even more fun, and there is still a chance they win.

I for one don’t care if they don’t. I know that when they face Tampa in the Spring, there’s only a 55% chance they win in the best of scenarios. Who cares? If they, as they always have, give it their all and do their best, that’s good enough for me.

I want the Toronto Maple Leafs to win. I just think it’s immature and dumb and silly and pathetic to make sports into an all or nothing, either/or proposition. We have been blessed to get to watch this team for the last seven years, and I hope they re-sign everyone and give us seven more.

Talk about entitled, and how these players, core especially, have always “given it their all”? And that it shouldn’t be about winning??? What planet do you come from? They’re being paid millions of dollars, PLUS all the endorsements they get! Why in hell would we not want them to win some playoff rounds? If you don’t care if they win or lose, go and watch all the beer league games you can!
And as far as all these regular season points they’ve gotten with this core (5 with Tavares, plus 2 more without him), they have yet to win their division (not that it would have mattered)!
They have continued to show that when it matters the most, they cannot get it done. This “core” can’t do it. Time for a change or two!

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

Every year these same type of comparisons get brought up.

A transparent attempt to justify the losing. Only an underachiever would compare themselves to other underachievers and tell the whole world they're right there with them. Are we really going to continue comparing this team to those other disappointments and pretend the Leafs aren't the same sorry joke those guys were for all those years?

Just because those teams were dumpster fires that took forever to win doesn't mean it's okay for it to happen here too.

Even if the Leafs were some unholy mixture of hot garbage in 2014 when Shanahan took over, which they were, how long does it really take to put together a contending roster? If I remember correctly we were all told five years. Maybe they weren't clear what was gonna happen after those five years.

But I'm guessing it wasn't supposed to be another five years of underachievement.

 

[Leaf Fans]

Look how scared Tavares looks while Schenn has to defend the whole team... it's pathetic and sad...

Tavares doesn't look scared. He looks unconcerned. Besides, Jeannot was irrelevant in that series.