The Core Has To Go

[baton elevated]

I would want to see more anger in his game. He smiles when pushed in a scrum and then doesn't use that to elevate his game.
I'd like to see more Jaimie Benn out of him. Even Sundin, Mario, Sydney Gretz ,Orr etc didn't take crap laying down. You can't allow yourself to be pushed around, period.
Im not saying fight these POS but swat them back like Kessel did.

 

[Boxscore]

I mean, how many super memorable hits have there been all playoffs, for any team?

I can recall at least 3 dandies from Tkachuk this playoffs, 2 from Gudas, and 1 from Montour. And that's just Florida. This core, and Matthews, are soft as sponge, and that's honestly okay as long as you're outscoring other teams and winning rounds.

Personally, I don't want Matthews to be Ryan Getzlaf or even Sundin. But when you're losing, show some fire and anger. Blow a dude up out of frustration. Smash some sticks and come out the next game all fired up. Flip out in a post game presser and spend all summer training and getting in prime shape (like Nate MacKinnon did the summer before the Avs won the Cup).

And, when all else fails, show some character, commit long-term to the organization, and take a bit less money so they can surround you with better supporting pieces who can provide the elements you cannot.

If Matthews was scoring 1.6 ppg in the playoffs like Draisaitl, I wouldn't care if he ever threw a check in his life. Honest to God.

 

[arso40]

I don't think we need Willy to be an own rental...if he doesn't want to re-sign with the Leafs, work out a deal with a team who he's willing to sign an extension with and get a good young player who could step in and play.

Though I hope we can keep him too it’s going to be tough but it’s possible

 

[Superstar]

His 38 hits has to be padded. When is the last time you remember him just flat out smoking a guy……..little bumps along the boards or in the corner are fake hits kinda like expected goals

He smoked Dubas pretty badly in his last contract negotiation...I mean flat out smoked him...biggest hit of his career...regular season, playoffs, golf season, you name it...

 

[Superstar]

Seth Jarvis wouldn't look bad in the Blue and White either.

Is he the guy that Carolina picked with our 1st that Dubas gifted because he couldn't wait to overpay Marner, so he had to move Marleau out a year early? Another genius move I tell ya...no wonder he's got such a cult following...must be those hypnotic glasses of his...

 

[Notsince67]

Is this a trick question? I'm talking about producing in the playoffs. The comment was made that Matthews and Marner suffer from "being the focus of the opposition." Well, all the guys I named are also the focus of the opposition, yet they manage to produce and lead their teams beyond a single round win in 7 years. Some have been key contributors during Cup wins.

Below are each of the player's career PPG in the playoffs and their cap hit.

1. Leon Draisaitl - 1.6 / ($8.5, ranked, ranked 11th)
2. Connor McDavid - 1.53 / ($12.5, ranked 2nd)
3. Nate MacKinnon - 1.31 / (12.6, ranked 1st) + Cup
4. Mikko Rantanen - 1.24 / ($9.25, ranked 10th) + Cup
5. Nikita Kuckerov - 1.13 / ($9.5, ranked t7th) + Cup
6. David Pastrnak - 1.11 / ($11, ranked 4th)
7. Brayden Point - 1 / ($9.5, ranked t7th) + Cup
8. *Mitch Marner - 0.94 / ($10.9, ranked 5th)
9. *Auston Matthews - 0.88 / ($11.6, ranked 3rd)
10. Matthew Tkachuk - 0.82 / ($9.5, ranked t7th) + Cup Finals w/ points on 8 of 12 GWG this Yr.
11. Aleksander Barkov - 0.81 / ($10, ranked 6th) + Cup Finals
12. *William Nylander - 0.8 / ($6.9, ranked 12th)

Notice how our guys are all towards the bottom of the list when it comes to playoff production (and rounds won) but towards the top for salaries -- other than Nylander who is the best value on the club for his production.

Our guys (playoff scoring):
8th
9th
12th

Our guys (cap hit):
3rd
5th
12th

Could you imagine Auston Matthews being down at the bottom, scoring at well under a ppg in the playoffs and demanding to be paid $14 mil a pop? Lmao.

That is your definitive proof? It just shows these guys are in the pack. Try looking at consecutive number of playoffs

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

The same old story about turning hot dogs into steak.

I dont see the elite talent turning this team into a cup contender any time soon.

Shanahan has squandered the best years of the faces of this franchise. Doomed to spending years on a mediocre team. With nothing for the fans to appreciate.

This is nothing new.

Long time fans have seen it all before. Most recognize it as a return to the futility of the Pat Quinn era. A few studs sprinkled with some Euro finds and a host of past their prime veterans for leadership.

A handful of "elite" players surrounded by castoffs and league minimum replacement level players.

Leafs fans want champagne and cavier. ML$E gives them cheap beer and hot dogs. Knowing full well the fans will always come back for another helping.

When you're the only hot dog stand in town, your hot dogs don't have to be the best.

 

[Leaf Fans]

I would want to see more anger in his game. He smiles when pushed in a scrum and then doesn't use that to elevate his game.
I'd like to see more Jaimie Benn out of him. Even Sundin, Mario, Sydney Gretz ,Orr etc didn't take crap laying down. You can't allow yourself to be pushed around, period.
Im not saying fight these POS but swat them back like Kessel did.

Yeah, the Kessel gif of he him swatting with his purse was flattering.

 

[ULF_55]

Is it really a good idea to have Matthews and Marner as the highest paid players in the NHL? If Matthews is set to become that, Marner won’t be far behind. So are these 2 guys so far above all the rest (with playoff success) that it’s a good idea? It’s probably best to have 1 double digit guy and then a balanced team from the net out.

Sounds like a poll idea doesn't it?

Face of Franchise

1 - Matthews
2 - marner
3 - neither

 

[ULF_55]

There are also giveaways and takeaways per 60.

 

[Trapper]

Sounds like a poll idea doesn't it?

Face of Franchise

1 - Matthews
2 - marner
3 - neither

Matthews(14) + Marner(13) for a combined 26-28 million or Matthews(14) + Kempe(5.5) + Nylander(9) for a combine 28/29 million.
3 40 goal scorers, a little more size and board play.

 

[ULF_55]

The same old story about turning hot dogs into steak.

I dont see the elite talent turning this team into a cup contender any time soon.

Shanahan has squandered the best years of the faces of this franchise. Doomed to spending years on a mediocre team. With nothing for the fans to appreciate.

This is nothing new.

Long time fans have seen it all before. Most recognize it as a return to the futility of the Pat Quinn era. A few studs sprinkled with some Euro finds and a host of past their prime veterans for leadership.

A handful of "elite" players surrounded by castoffs and league minimum replacement level players.

Leafs fans want champagne and cavier. ML$E gives them cheap beer and hot dogs. Knowing full well the fans will always come back for another helping.

When you're the only hot dog stand in town, your hot dogs don't have to be the best.

I think we have to credit the players with some of the squandering.

Don't you still think about $22m in cap producing 1 goal in 2 different playoffs series?

I mean it boggles the mind that they could pay that much in Cap space for a shutdown line.

 

[ULF_55]

Matthews(14) + Marner(13) for a combined 26-28 million or Matthews(14) + Kempe(5.5) + Nylander(9) for a combine 28/29 million.
3 40 goal scorers, a little more size and board play.

Leaves cap room for a middle 6.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

I think we have to credit the players with some of the squandering.

Don't you still think about $22m in cap producing 1 goal in 2 different playoffs series?

I mean it boggles the mind that they could pay that much in Cap space for a shutdown line.

Thank you for the response.

They didn't even do a good job shutting the other team down. Marner was -2 in the Florida series. Matthews was -1. Nylander -2. Tavares -2.

I agree the players need to shoulder their burden of the responsibility as well.

But it was Shanahan and Dubas that insisted on running it back so many times. Despite enormous pressure from the fan base to trade someone. It's not the players fault for being on the team.

It's the management group that put them in that position to begin with.

It's human resources 101. If someone isn't doing their job they need to be replaced. Can't fire the players.

But they sure can be traded for someone who can do the same job cheaper and that money re-allocated to better resources.

 

[57 Years No Cup]

I also think Nylander's extension will likely be the easiest. He'll almost certainly push for 8 years of term, and there's fairly clear comparables or similar players. The team will then just have to decide if they want to pay or not.

The biggest obstacle for him I think is if the draw for bigger opportunity on another team is more alluring, but of course that's just speculation. At the moment I think he's extended the summer. And Shanny gets Pridham to work his magic to fit everyone under the cap until they get JT off the book in July of 2026.

And we continue to lose in the playoffs. Great strategy...

 

[ACC1224]

Sounds like a poll idea doesn't it?

Face of Franchise

1 - Matthews
2 - marner
3 - neither

I imagine it's #4 - Both

 

[notDatsyuk]

Is it really a good idea to have Matthews and Marner as the highest paid players in the NHL? If Matthews is set to become that, Marner won’t be far behind. So are these 2 guys so far above all the rest (with playoff success) that it’s a good idea? It’s probably best to have 1 double digit guy and then a balanced team from the net out.

"One double digit guy". Exactly.

Our biggest problem is that the first one we signed to a double digit contract was likely our third best player even at that time, and is at best fifth now.

If we try to go to the "one double digit guy" now, we lose at least AM and MM, and have a 3C as our top paid player.

Dubas messed up big time, and it has cost us the best seven years of three of the best players we've had in decades.

 

[ULF_55]

I imagine it's #4 - Both

Never works.

Like a double ended syringe.

 

[ULF_55]

"One double digit guy". Exactly.

Our biggest problem is that the first one we signed to a double digit contract was likely our third best player even at that time, and is at best fifth now.

If we try to go to the "one double digit guy" now, we lose at least AM and MM, and have a 3C as our top paid player.

Dubas messed up big time, and it has cost us the best seven years of three of the best players we've had in decades.

There are 3, but 2 are not immovable.

I think they can do 3 Double Digits, but it can't be overpayment double digits.

Realistically, what they make now is too much, but that was based on continuous cap increases bringing them into reasonableness.

Let's be honest here some have failed to live up to their compensation.

Only a relative would defend their post-seasons.

 

[notDatsyuk]

There are also giveaways and takeaways per 60.

Look at the difference between takeaways per 60 and giveaways per 60:

Nylander: 2.76 - 1.46 = +1.30
Matthews: 2.71 - 2.19 = +0.52
Marner: 3.66 - 3.31 = +0.35
Tavares: 1.95 - 2.29 = -0.34

 

[justashadowof]

Who cares about face of the franchise? I care about taking realistic runs at a championship while the opportunity is here. The year is 2030. Probably none of these guys are still here. The team's best talent will be back to being middle of the pack fodder if we're lucky. We won't be talking about who the face of the franchise was in 2024 if somewhere along that way the team finally won the Big Prize.

 

[darrylsittler27]

I think with Mathews wanting $14 Million for only 3 years and the fact Eichel is better means the top 4 is unravelling already. The reality is we need some high potential ,young ,cheap talent again.

 

[rumman]

2nd best player in the world? On what planet? Honestly.

It’s delusional to think 34 is the second best player in the league, some of the comments here are head shakers that’s for sure……….

If you want to see real hits not paper stat hits just watch the 2 teams that made it to the finals……..big rough and nasty.
Its no coincidence that two teams like that made it to the finals

Exactly, they’ll never get past the 2nd round until they’re willing to put the work in……..

 

[MCR74]

Personally, Treliving could get rid of all of them for pennies on the dollar, and l wouldn't care. They're only in it for the money. VGK doesn't have any Matthews or Marners, and they're doing fine.

 

[GoonieFace]

Personally, Treliving could get rid of all of them for pennies on the dollar, and l wouldn't care. They're only in it for the money. VGK doesn't have any Matthews or Marners, and they're doing fine.

Yep, there is a warped perception of what quantifies someone as elite. These guys love to pile on the points when the going is easy, because that’s how they make their money.