Post-Series Talk: The Florida Panthers defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 (mod warning in OP)

[Deestroyer]

Leafs need a Tom Wilson, I would trade Reilly and 2 first round picks, but Caps will 100% say no

 

[sampollock]

"its gonna be different next year!"

Year 58 of Leaf fans saying next year is our year.

They're already planning the parade

 

[IceManCat]

Yeah... but Berube's not that kind of coach. He's more of a 'rah-rah' kind of guy who's more about motivating people than out-strategy-ing the other guy. Not disagreeing with you but that's who he is.

And his team laid two duds in games 5-7. Maybe Berube was the problem here, but if so it was because he wasn't able to get his stars to show up, which isn't something that Berube's ever had trouble with in either his playing or coaching careers.

Sometimes the simplest answers are the correct ones.

I just think no adjustments from Berube is just as inexcusable as Matthews and Marner turning into ghosts.

 

[sampollock]

Leafs need a Tom Wilson, I would trade Reilly and 2 first round picks, but Caps will 100% say no

What two first round picks are you going to trade you don't have any first round picks for the next 2 years

 

[toddkaz]

Hot take here:


A)
Leafs should resign Marner and Tavares assuming its a somewhat friendly contract.


B)

The Leafs lost because of their defense as much as because of Marner and Matthews. Their defense sucks. You have an aging Tanev, Reilly sucks, OEL isnt great. The leafs lack a true number 1 guy back there. Every d-player should be playing one pair down.

So you want the leafs to eat up their cap paying 18 million to two forwards who did nothing in the playoffs then go on to blame the defense for the loss.

Makes sense.

 

[sampollock]

Well at least nostrils can head out on this big vacation with Bieber

 

[ShootIt]

I also want to add one more to the list.

C)

Berube is at fault here too. What adjustments did he make? You can point to numerous adjustments the Panthers made throughout the series, from team strategy, holding dman back to prevent odd man breaks. Replacing the entire 4th line, and changing around several other lines. What the hell did Berube do? Absolutely no adjustments.

He did shift the lines in the games they were down in for spurts.

Problem was that it didn't spark much offense or zone time etc...

I just think that some players just couldn't commit to a physical battle. Game 1 and 2 they got the lead early and they could play their game, while Florida did mount a comeback in the 3rd for both games

Game 3 was the same except Florida was able to tie it back up.
Once Florida stopped the bleeding in the 1st starting with game 4, and could just forecheck, dump, chase and hit, the Leaf players just sort of wore down or made business decisions for the board battles, puck chases or made dumb plays with the puck.

While the Leafs FO did acquire guys for the run, it felt like Zito's first all in trades here. The trade for Chiarot, Giroux etc... Gave away a lot for not much impact

 

[pb1300]

I also want to add one more to the list.

C)

Berube is at fault here too. What adjustments did he make? You can point to numerous adjustments the Panthers made throughout the series, from team strategy, holding dman back to prevent odd man breaks. Replacing the entire 4th line, and changing around several other lines. What the hell did Berube do? Absolutely no adjustments.

To his defense, somewhat, Berube did not have the luxury of subbing in contributors to his bottom six. Florida has 5 lines they can run in the playoffs. The Leafs have half of that.

Again though, it does not matter when the leaders are not leading by example. I am curious to see how much more competitive they would have been if they sat Matthews and Marner. Obviously they wouldnt, but I bet they may have been more physical and competitive.

 

[Strangle]

And just like that 4 million hockey fans all cancel their sportsnet subscription

 

[Dradavich]

Can leafs fans now stfu about Mcdavid going to toronto? Mcdavid has his eyes on the ultimate prize, he's not leaving the 2nd best playoff performer of this era to go play with a bunch of jobbers.

 

[sampollock]

How many 34 jerseys were on the ice last night

 

[IceManCat]

So you want the leafs to eat up their cap paying 18 million to two forwards who did nothing in the playoffs then go on to blame the defense for the loss.

Makes sense.

So you want to give away a 100 point player and 40 goal scorer instead of cutting salary somewhere else?

Makes sense lmao.




Tanev is a good player he can stay but Reilly, OEL taking up 10 million back there. Max Domi a 4th liner making 3.75 million. This is horrible usage of the Cap space.

 

[Strangle]

He's protecting his good looks. What good is $100 million if your face is smashed.

I bet Marner and Matthews both have all their natural teeth

Tells you everything you need to know

 

[waffledave]

Matthews looks absolutely devastated. His summer is ruined.

 

[PainForShane]

I just think no adjustments from Berube is just as inexcusable as Matthews and Marner turning into ghosts.

That's fair. But Berube did it once with Toronto, and before that he won a cup with a not very good STL roster after that team came back from the dead during the regular season. At the very least Berube has some sort of playoff track record and also a cup ring as a coach.

Also I wouldn't necessarily say Matthews and Marner turned into ghosts, but their play has been worse in the playoffs. And as leaders of the team, imo you can't really have that and / or expect your team to win if your leaders aren't leading the way.

Mind you there's still time for both of these guys to turn it around, but I think they're most of the reason (and Dubas for signing them to those deals) that Leafs haven't had playoff success with this core

 

[sampollock]

Matthews looks absolutely devastated. His summer is ruined.

Good the way he played supposedly is the captain he can suck it

 

[RonM11]

 

[Lshap]

In the last eight years, Toronto has tried different defence cores, forwards, goalies, and coaching systems. Nothing's worked.

Time to accept the problem lies with the only people who haven't changed: Matthews, Marner, Nylander and, shortly afterwards, Tavares. The one defenseman they've kept is Rielly. Back then, they were the players you build around; now they're the one thing that every Leafs failure has in common.

 

[IceManCat]

That's fair. But Berube did it once with Toronto, and before that he won a cup with a not very good STL roster after that team came back from the dead during the regular season. At the very least Berube has some sort of playoff track record and also a cup ring as a coach.

Also I wouldn't necessarily say Matthews and Marner turned into ghosts, but their play is generally worse in the playoffs. And as leaders of the team, you can't really have that and / or expect your team to win if your leaders aren't leading the way.

Mind you there's still time for both of these guys to turn it around, but I think they're most of the reason (and Dubas for signing them to those deals) that Leafs haven't had playoff success with this core

Thing is, the Leafs play in the ultra talented Atlantic. You lose a 100 point player in Marner, you lose a 40 goal scorer in Tavares. How do you compete in that division? Panthers will still be there next year, Tampa still very good, Ottawa getting better. You lose those guys where does that leave the Leafs. I just don't think you can get anywhere at all without them. I would look to make a roster changes on d. Changes to the 3rd 4th lines before getting rid of the guys who got you to the playoffs. I dont think a Leafs team without Marner and Tavares even make the playoffs in the Atlantic.

 

[nORRis8]

Tkachuk, Barkov, Verhaeghe, pretty quiet last night. Reinhart got a late goal after the game was out of reach. The Panthers third line dominated.
Meanwhile, Leafs' depth did f*** all as usual, but they'll be trashing the core 4 and running Marner out of town.

Hmmm...not sure of who'll totally get the blame.
Nylander actually was trying. Didn't do much but skated really fast, so that's nice.
Tavares has the personality of pocket lint and at times people forget he's actually a member of the team.
Matthews gets a little blame at times but there's lot of deflecting as when he's not scoring it means he's a defensive juggernaut!!!! Selke candidate!!!Ya right.

That leaves Marner. Poor poor poor Marner.
He'll leave town. My guess... going west.LA? SJ?

 

[57special]

Hot take here:


A)
Leafs should resign Marner and Tavares assuming its a somewhat friendly contract.


B)

The Leafs lost because of their defense as much as because of Marner and Matthews. Their defense sucks. You have an aging Tanev, Reilly sucks, OEL isnt great. The leafs lack a true number 1 guy back there. Every d-player should be playing one pair down.

That's because all of the money goes to the top forwards, who disappear when it counts. You don't find top pairing Dman for peanuts.

 

[cvaicunas]

I later qualified that it should be the core 3, to free up cap space. Tavares needs to go, or take huge pay cut.

Ok, but you still have three players who don't show up when it matters. And sure with the cap increase, and 11m freed up you can find some better complimentary players. But your then shopping for a 2C, for a team that does not have great C depth. People are talking about Bennett being able to command 8m/yr, 2Cs are not cheap, and not easy to find. The Red Wings have been searching for one since Datsyuk retired. Is 3m in savings really going to bolster team depth that dramatically? Everyone's entitled to an opinion, I personally just find it hard to see how it dramatically helps.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

 

[sxvnert]

Completely expected and why it's impossible to cheer on the wins knowing these types of efforts are around the corner.

 

[johnnybbadd]

I don’t think I have ever seen two games in the playoffs where a team has been dominated at home like games 5 and 7 in this series. What these games have shown is how far the Leafs really are. They have been the definition of a fringe contender for the last 9 years. It is maddening to think that they never shook up their team to try to get better results. People say that they are like the Thornton Sharks but even they had way more playoff success. This group is like Buffalo and Winnipeg in the 80s and early 90s and those teams were small market teams and had heart at least. Similar results though.