Thoroughly unexcited.

[Sypher04]

Really? You don't want to see a loaded up top 6? I think you have to try it, there is to much talent there not to try it.

I do agree with needing a better 3rd line center that's the major weak spot up front in my opinion.

I suspect Backlund will be a deadline target if Calgary falters.

I think both should be tried but I do like the balance going 3 lines gives our offense

 

[Notsince67]

I don't trash the team. Do you mean posting critical opinions of Marner?Lol why do you keep referring to Marner as the team? He's not the team. He isn't the Toronto Maple Leafs. Why do you keep insisting that someone not being a Marner fan means your not a fan of the Maple Leafs? It's weird... Go make a Mitch Marner fan board, and fuel your obsession.

Lol. You aren't a leaf fan. The only thing that feeds your narcissism is trolling for attention. You don't even have a working knowledge of the game ffs.

 

[Antropovsky]

Lol. You aren't a leaf fan. The only thing that feeds your narcissism is trolling for attention. You don't even have a working knowledge of the game ffs.

Lol... So you appear to have missed my question. You said I'm trashing the "leafs" on the main board. I've only been critical of Marner on the main board. Which means in your mind if someone is critical of marner, than they aren't a leaf fan? Care to explain why you think Marner is the Leafs? Somebody is obviously a little too attached to Marner.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

At the very minimum they should have replaced Keefe (not because he did anything wrong but because it would be the easiest major change - and something has to).

they will when they get a chance to "get their guy".

 

[Arzak]

Lol... So you appear to have missed my question. You said I'm trashing the "leafs" on the main board. I've only been critical of Marner on the main board. Which means in your mind if someone is critical of marner, than they aren't a leaf fan? Care to explain why you think Marner is the Leafs? Somebody is obviously a little too attached to Marner.

You are trashing Mitch = Paul gets mad. At this point the pattern is clear and you should expect an emotional response.

If anything it just proves someone is Mitch Marner supporter first, the Leafs fan second.

Sounds like the best person to judge who's cheering for the team.

 

[conFABulator]

I know it's not popular to not piss on this team, but how about some positivity? I know they haven't won the cup and had playoff success, but this is true of most teams.

Before the 2021/2022 season the Panthers hadn't won a PO series in something like 20 years. Then they won a round before getting swept in the second round by the Tampa team that the Leafs had just lost in seven games to. Of course this year Florida wouldn't have even made the playoffs if the Penguins has beaten the Blackhawks on the last day of the season. But hey, keep telling us that the Panthers are contenders and we are not...it's more fun that way.

..this is not about the Panthers though, it's about our Leafs and reasons to be excited...

- No team has a long active streak of playoff appearances.
- Every contender in our division is getting older and declining.
- We have a new GM and two new coaches on the bench...a recipe for a different approach for sure.
- we have a (still) young coach that seems to get better every year
- We have a trio of young forwards that score goals, get lots of points, get nominated for and win awards, and are rounding out their games with defense, hits, blocks, etc. every year.
- Our team defensive play is getting better every year.
- Our "next level" includes a PPG 2nd line centre and captain, Rielly, and Samsonov (a young goalie with pedigree coming off a top 10 season for goalies).
- These guys are supposed by role players like Brodie, McCabe, Klingberg, Kampf, and Jarnkrok.
- We just added Bertuzzi and Domi to this.
- We have young guys ready to contribute in Knies, Woll and Liljegren, possibly Holmberg and this doesn't mention Niemela or Robertson.

Can someone list the teams that have MORE to be excited about this coming season?

 

[ViewsFromThe6ix]

Lack of quickness and speed was evident last year, I’m not sure getting slower is the best remedy.

Vegas, Boston and Tampa are three of the "slowest" teams in the league historically over the past 3 seasons (by eye test, quantitatively, whatever). Vegas is legitimately one of the slowest teams to win the cup since some advanced metrics began being tracked. Speed is so overrated because in the playoffs there's no space.

 

[mjd1001]

I know it's not popular to not piss on this team, but how about some positivity? I know they haven't won the cup and had playoff success, but this is true of most teams.

Before the 2021/2022 season the Panthers hadn't won a PO series in something like 20 years. Then they won a round before getting swept in the second round by the Tampa team that the Leafs had just lost in seven games to. Of course this year Florida wouldn't have even made the playoffs if the Penguins has beaten the Blackhawks on the last day of the season. But hey, keep telling us that the Panthers are contenders and we are not...it's more fun that way.

..this is not about the Panthers though, it's about our Leafs and reasons to be excited...

- No team has a long active streak of playoff appearances.
- Every contender in our division is getting older and declining.
- We have a new GM and two new coaches on the bench...a recipe for a different approach for sure.
- we have a (still) young coach that seems to get better every year
- We have a trio of young forwards that score goals, get lots of points, get nominated for and win awards, and are rounding out their games with defense, hits, blocks, etc. every year.
- Our team defensive play is getting better every year.
- Our "next level" includes a PPG 2nd line centre and captain, Rielly, and Samsonov (a young goalie with pedigree coming off a top 10 season for goalies).
- These guys are supposed by role players like Brodie, McCabe, Klingberg, Kampf, and Jarnkrok.
- We just added Bertuzzi and Domi to this.
- We have young guys ready to contribute in Knies, Woll and Liljegren, possibly Holmberg and this doesn't mention Niemela or Robertson.

Can someone list the teams that have MORE to be excited about this coming season?

New Jersey. Jack Hughes is awesome, only 22, still getting better and might already be in the top 5 players in the NHL at 22 years of age. Hischier is another 1st overall pick that was a +33 and 30+ goal, 80+ point guy at just 24 years of age. Timo Meier is a multiple time 30+ goal scorer who is new to the team at just 26 years old.

2nd overal Pick Nemec and 4th overall pick Luke Hughes haven't even arrived yet but will soon and may have both rated in the top 10 NHL prospects in the entire league. Lets not forget about Alexander Holtz, another 21/22 year old former 7th overall pick who lit up the AHL with over 30 goals in his last 60 games there. And remember, this team had more points and a better goal differential already last year than the Leafs.

I'm not saying they are clear cut better than the Leafs and would beat them in a series head to head, but I'm not saying they wouldn't and I think, with their youth, they do have more to be excited about coming into this year. (Depending on how things go, possibly Buf and Ott to as they both have a chance of taking another big step forward.)

 

[BrannigansLaw]

Vegas, Boston and Tampa are three of the "slowest" teams in the league historically over the past 3 seasons (by eye test, quantitatively, whatever). Vegas is legitimately one of the slowest teams to win the cup since some advanced metrics began being tracked. Speed is so overrated because in the playoffs there's no space.

Yup.

Luke Schenn is probably the slowest player in the league but was a beast for us in the playoffs and vital for Tampa in their runs.

 

[Nineteen67]

Vegas, Boston and Tampa are three of the "slowest" teams in the league historically over the past 3 seasons (by eye test, quantitatively, whatever). Vegas is legitimately one of the slowest teams to win the cup since some advanced metrics began being tracked. Speed is so overrated because in the playoffs there's no space.

Vegas? I watched Smith, Marchessault, Karlsson, Tuch skate circles around the Leafs the first time they played.

TB may not be fast but they were noticeably quicker than the Leafs in the playoffs.

 

[saffronleaf]

yup little to no interest in next season. hope knies develops well, that'll be worth keeping tabs on.

 

[Nineteen67]

yup little to no interest in next season. hope knies develops well, that'll be worth keeping tabs on.

I’m looking forward to watching Bedard develop.

 

[Nineteen67]

Yup.

Luke Schenn is probably the slowest player in the league but was a beast for us in the playoffs and vital for Tampa in their runs.

Schenn was one of the better D for the Leafs, and that’s the issue.
He played in less than 1/2 of TB’s playoff games.

 

[ViewsFromThe6ix]

Vegas? I watched Smith, Marchessault, Karlsson, Tuch skate circles around the Leafs the first time they played.

TB may not be fast but they were noticeably quicker than the Leafs in the playoffs.

Tuch doesn't play for them anymore? They statistically play at an extremely slow pace. Stone is one of, if not the worst skater in the league. So is half their defence.

 

[TopG]

It should come as no surprise to you that the Leafs are a joke

 

[Christ]

Least exciting thread on HF...

 

[Nineteen67]

Tuch doesn't play for them anymore? They statistically play at an extremely slow pace. Stone is one of, if not the worst skater in the league. So is half their defence.

They were faster than Leafs who were once fast when they had Hyman, Johnson, Kappy.

Anyway it’s about quickness and getting to loose pucks something we all saw cost the Leafs in the playoffs.

 

[Maple Leaf]

you need to make a splash that will be talked about for years to come

kawhi leonard

not keefe 5

 

[mikeyz]

I know it's not popular to not piss on this team, but how about some positivity? I know they haven't won the cup and had playoff success, but this is true of most teams.

Before the 2021/2022 season the Panthers hadn't won a PO series in something like 20 years. Then they won a round before getting swept in the second round by the Tampa team that the Leafs had just lost in seven games to. Of course this year Florida wouldn't have even made the playoffs if the Penguins has beaten the Blackhawks on the last day of the season. But hey, keep telling us that the Panthers are contenders and we are not...it's more fun that way.

..this is not about the Panthers though, it's about our Leafs and reasons to be excited...

- No team has a long active streak of playoff appearances.
- Every contender in our division is getting older and declining.
- We have a new GM and two new coaches on the bench...a recipe for a different approach for sure.
- we have a (still) young coach that seems to get better every year
- We have a trio of young forwards that score goals, get lots of points, get nominated for and win awards, and are rounding out their games with defense, hits, blocks, etc. every year.
- Our team defensive play is getting better every year.
- Our "next level" includes a PPG 2nd line centre and captain, Rielly, and Samsonov (a young goalie with pedigree coming off a top 10 season for goalies).
- These guys are supposed by role players like Brodie, McCabe, Klingberg, Kampf, and Jarnkrok.
- We just added Bertuzzi and Domi to this.
- We have young guys ready to contribute in Knies, Woll and Liljegren, possibly Holmberg and this doesn't mention Niemela or Robertson.

Can someone list the teams that have MORE to be excited about this coming season?

I think the majority of “The sky is falling“ crew are pissed not just because the core 4 upfront are still here. But, Keefe as well. Who have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that come playoff time they all turn into pumpkins.

 

[DutchHockeyGuy]

The world can accuse us Leafs-fans of a lot. But we are not glory hunters.

 

[ANDI P IS CUTE]

Yeah, I remember the excitement of the Ballard years, and I certainly recall all the excitement l felt knowing the PA Parenteau's and Matt Stajan's were going to lead the Leafs to the promised land.

PRETTY SURE those teams had zero 10 million dollar players though and under performed every series.

 

[conFABulator]

New Jersey. Jack Hughes is awesome, only 22, still getting better and might already be in the top 5 players in the NHL at 22 years of age. Hischier is another 1st overall pick that was a +33 and 30+ goal, 80+ point guy at just 24 years of age. Timo Meier is a multiple time 30+ goal scorer who is new to the team at just 26 years old.

2nd overal Pick Nemec and 4th overall pick Luke Hughes haven't even arrived yet but will soon and may have both rated in the top 10 NHL prospects in the entire league. Lets not forget about Alexander Holtz, another 21/22 year old former 7th overall pick who lit up the AHL with over 30 goals in his last 60 games there. And remember, this team had more points and a better goal differential already last year than the Leafs.

I'm not saying they are clear cut better than the Leafs and would beat them in a series head to head, but I'm not saying they wouldn't and I think, with their youth, they do have more to be excited about coming into this year. (Depending on how things go, possibly Buf and Ott to as they both have a chance of taking another big step forward.)

That's a good choice and I wasn't saying that there wasn't any team to be more excited about I was asking who those teams were. I think once you realize how few teams there are to be more excited about it should increase a person's excitement in this Leafs team.

Yes, Jersey is a good one too. They are not a perfect team either. Pretty unproven goaltending (like Samsonov). They just lost Severson too. NJ is a good choice though.

 

[conFABulator]

I think the majority of “The sky is falling“ crew are pissed not just because the core 4 upfront are still here. But, Keefe as well. Who have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that come playoff time they all turn into pumpkins.

I am not sure that's accurate. I think there is a lot of room between "raised their game and carried us" and "turned into pumpkins"

In the last three PO years Matthews, Marner and Nylander are over a PPG and Tavares and Rielly are not far off that pace.

Our top players have pretty significantly outscored the top guys on Tampa the past two series as well.

Do we want more from our guys? Yes. Could they have scored another goal or two in a clutch moment? Yes. Pumpkins? No chance.

 

[mikeyz]

I am not sure that's accurate. I think there is a lot of room between "raised their game and carried us" and "turned into pumpkins"

In the last three PO years Matthews, Marner and Nylander are over a PPG and Tavares and Rielly are not far off that pace.

Our top players have pretty significantly outscored the top guys on Tampa the past two series as well.

Do we want more from our guys? Yes. Could they have scored another goal or two in a clutch moment? Yes. Pumpkins? No chance.

Yeah. Matthews, Marner and Nylander really lit the lamp to record breaking status in that Panthers series didn't they? Especially Matthews.. Lol

 

[conFABulator]

I know you used sarcasm and "lol" and all that, but you didn't really answer my question.

How do guys who got PPG in two rounds of playoffs get described as having disappeared (turning into pumpkins)?

I acknowledged that we want more and a clutch goal in round 2 would have been nice, but every team that gets eliminated says those things about their players in the round they were knocked out.