GDT: The BwO Presents: The Game After Game 6 Like We Promised - 7:30 EDT - SN

[al secord]

"Be not afraaaaaiiiid. I go before you always..."

 

[Fonzieleaf]

We need this one tonight boys. Every single one of us has put up with the taunting, the memes, the same lame jokes. Some of us have dealt with it for decades.

We deserve this win.

Remember if we win tonight, change your name to KniesMadeTkachuksCry

 

[TMLAM34]

I can’t wait to see the meltdown tonight if the Leafs loose lol, myself being apart of that included lol

 

[al secord]

I can’t wait to see the meltdown tonight if the Leafs loose lol, myself being apart of that included lol

I think they actually play better when they're loose.

 

[Torontonian]

Play with some pace, get the first goal, crowd will be nervous if Toronto is down at any point in the game.

 

[ThrowDemTongs]

I think they actually play better when they're loose.

Marner's defiantly gonna resign!

 

[TMLeafer]

I would love for them to play this in lieu of the national anthem tonight something that is truly Toronto

Voice of an angel

 

[Jmo89]

I wonder how different this core would have been if they had someone like Patches around instead of Marleau their first few years in the league?

 

[Jmo89]

I wonder if anyone's considered that Marner's decision to stay or go may not be based on how well this team does these playoffs but rather him just wanting to get out of town, maybe he really wants to play with player X and/or on team X, maybe it's something personal between him and MLSE, the team, coaches, etc?

In other words, I'm not assuming that if the Leafs go deep, even to the Final, that it's automatic he's staying. Or conversely, if they flop tonight it's 100% he's gone.

I just hope tonight, for starters, he puts in a performance that makes us (most of us) want him back. That's probably the best scenario for everyone.

If Marner's goal is to continue to hold the team hostage with demands then good riddance to him whether they lose tonight or win the cup.

I agree with you, all that matters right now is he helps the team win.

 

[rielledup]

I think you need to look at lots of factors when assessing the season, if they lose today...

How far did they go in the playoffs? Further than ever before in this era. Yes, G7 is further. Check

Where did they finish in the regular season? First Atlantic division title of the era. Check

Success in first year with a new coach and new system. Yep, the above two points are success and we have a new coach. Check

Key players under contract beyond this season. Matthews, Nylander, Knies (RFA), Laughton, Domi, Rielly, Tanev, McCabe, Carlo, OEL, Benoit, Stolarz, and Woll.

Growth from younger guys and prospects with a chance to contribute over the next year or two. That's Knies, Woll, Holmberg, Robertson, Cowan, Quillan, Hildeby, Akhtyamov, maybe even Danford and one of the kids we just signed.

Cap space. We can bring it all back. If we lose tonight...12.5 x 8 for Mitch and 5 x four or five (years) for JT. Done. We are saving $3.5M on those two (combined) and we use the cap increase (and move our Kampf and Jarnkrok) to cover Knies, Woll and McCabe increases. We still have room to add.

What would NOT running it back actually look like? We need to get better and not JUST different. Maybe we turn the $22M for our two UFAs into Bennett, Ekblad and Marchand? Are we better? Can we possibly even pull this off? Plan B might be let them walk and sign a bunch of guys for one year deals and then get McDavid. Some risk to that for sure....maybe we pull for Edmonton to win this year if we don't, to make that more likely to happen?

One big problem with letting Marner and JT walk is that people seem to assume that it's a guarantee we will be able to acquire good players to use that extra cap space. There's only so many good players available and a lot of teams looking to improve. There's a good chance we'd end up struggling to even make the playoffs. A ppg center and a 100 pt forward is a lot to replace.

That's why I'd rather they just completely blow it up and start over, even though I know that's very unlikely to happen.

 

[keonsbitterness]

BREAKING NEWS: Odds of a Leafs win jump to over 140%!

 

[bax]

If Marner's goal is to continue to hold the team hostage with demands then good riddance to him whether they lose tonight or win the cup.

I agree with you, all that matters right now is he helps the team win.

What are his demands that he’s holding the team hostage with?

 

[ZEBROA]

i wish we had our neighbors housing prices

I wish we had our neighbors(Norway)oilmoney, you cant have it all

Hope they win or I will lock myself in the office.

 

[LastOne2100]

Leafs are 2-0 when I've attended the game this playoffs, and I secured my ticket tonight. Let's make it 3-0!

 

[kevsh]

No? Winning the division, winning a round and being one of the final five teams in hockey is not a fantastic season? Those are a lot of steps forward.

Winning the division, check.
Winning the first round? Not a step forward in any way considering they just won the division, it's more like compulsory at this point.
Final Five only because their series went 7 games (or just longer than all the rest), this is not a noteworthy step forward in any way. Really weak.

So lose tonight, I don't see a team heading in the right direction at all. They blew a 2-0 series lead where they were up 3-1 in game 3. Then were all but shut out in 2 straight games to let Florida go from just staying alive to taking over the series. Out in 7 is just another choke job.

At some point, like 9 years now, they have to at some point assert themselves as THE best team. Or simply beat someone better. Carolina just knocked off the division champs. Oilers, knocked off the division champs. Dallas, knocked off President's Cup winner. Toronto, division winner, 4th overall in the standings loses to Florida? "That's okay, they lost to a tough team."

This loser mentality - accepting defeat at this point as a step forward, even worse "lots of steps" forward - is far too embedded in much of Leafs Nation.

There is no celebration, moral victory or consolation prize for failing to get out of the division for the 9th straight season. Getting at least to the ECF is the only step that is worth anything, the rest is the s**t fans of losing teams repeat to themselves to feel better.

If Florida wins this I don't know how anyone in the Leafs organization or any fan can possibly consider this season a success. It's more of the same: Failed expectations and more big-game choking.

Okay, all negativity aside, they are the better team. I 100% am convinced of that. They play like it and they've got a great shot at winning this - a series they can & should win.

 

[Statsman1]

Tonight is the night. There is nothing else. Just go out and get it done, guys.

Go Leafs go!!

 

[ToneDog]

One big problem with letting Marner and JT walk is that people seem to assume that it's a guarantee we will be able to acquire good players to use that extra cap space. There's only so many good players available and a lot of teams looking to improve. There's a good chance we'd end up struggling to even make the playoffs. A ppg center and a 100 pt forward is a lot to replace.

That's why I'd rather they just completely blow it up and start over, even though I know that's very unlikely to happen.

That is a possibility but I think they squeak in worst case.. JT will be signed. I'd target a couple of bangers who can score with the Marner money. They might lose a step in the regular season but they could take two forward in the playoffs. Look at the impact Tanev, OEL and Stolarz have made.

 

[DarkKnight]

This is why I love sport, if they can win tonight and finally slay the dragon, the whole vibe around this core and team changes. Seize the moment and rewrite some narratives, hopefully they rise to this opportunity. It's been 21 years since we've been this far....

Beyond excited, I'll leave the negativity to when it's warranted, right now it's all stoked.

 

[Budz22]

 

[DarkKnight]

Love what Patches has done. He played hard. I can't ask more from him

That doesn't mean I want him back next year
But his effort during this playoffs have been exemplary for younger players

No vet that we got one a one year contract has done more than Patches

Finally a free wallet with some cash.

 

[The Management]

Just win, baby.

Move past the champs.

 

[Cleetus]

Think I am just going to make a cup of tea, and watch some Matlock, no stress!

 

[darrylsittler27]

View attachment 1037987

I thought Hakanpaa was toast?

 

[NinjaKick]

some christian music to get ppl pumped up

 

[darrylsittler27]

Man.. they could really use another top 9 forward.

Yeah we needed 3 lines and settled for Laughton. Such is cap. You can't pay 4 guys that much unless it's Lemieux, Jagr, Gretzky and Messier. Then it doesn't matter who your 3rd line is.Its time Tavares showed up. He looks at the end.