Toronto is in big trouble... Matthews's injury is still there. Surgery incoming?

[HockeyVirus]

Honestly don't know of a single Leafs fan that cares about the regular season at this point. Most I think are hopeful that the team goes into the playoffs healthy.

There's probably not many hockey fans in general that care if the Leafs are one or eight in the conference. It's the first round where casual fans seem to start paying attention, to see if it's "their year" or "same old same old".

To be honest, I care about winning the division and that is about it. Really they are facing a top 3 team in the first few rounds regardless, but maybe an easier team helps them get deeper who knows.

Everything else, why do people think Leaf fans feel there is anything to prove in the regular season? Our players have dominated it. They've finished everywhere from 1st in division and basically tied for 2nd in NHL. Had players score historic amounts of goals, win all major regular season trophies basically or be finalists for them.

We literally care about making the playoffs A) Healthy and B) with them comfortable playing Berube hockey

 

[a mangy Meowth]

They'll be fine in the short term, but obviously the wrist is concerning at this point.

 

[BallardEra]

They'll be fine in the short term, but obviously the wrist is concerning at this point.

It's not his wrist.

 

[a mangy Meowth]

It's not his wrist.

So his wrist is totally fine?

 

[BallardEra]

So his wrist is totally fine?

He scored 69 goals with them last season.

 

[a mangy Meowth]

He scored 69 goals with them last season.

I'm not trying to be snooty I legitimately don't follow the team

 

[BallardEra]

I'm not trying to be snooty I legitimately don't follow the team

Has to be a bad back that's ailing him this season based on his limited mobility, slower speed and less effective shot.

 

[Nothingbutglass]

To be honest, I care about winning the division and that is about it. Really they are facing a top 3 team in the first few rounds regardless, but maybe an easier team helps them get deeper who knows.

Everything else, why do people think Leaf fans feel there is anything to prove in the regular season? Our players have dominated it. They've finished everywhere from 1st in division and basically tied for 2nd in NHL. Had players score historic amounts of goals, win all major regular season trophies basically or be finalists for them.

We literally care about making the playoffs A) Healthy and B) with them comfortable playing Berube hockey

Leafs have never finished 1st in the division

 

[SheldonJPlankton]

Leafs have never finished 1st in the division

North Division Champs.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Leafs have never finished 1st in the division

Wrong

 

[Nothingbutglass]

Wrong

right. never won the Atlantic division, i stand corrected

 

[AvroArrow]

They'll be fine in the short term, but obviously the wrist is concerning at this point.

His wrist is fine, it looks like a back/core injury. He got cross checked hard when he came back and went down pretty bad. At some point the league has to start protecting it's star players from scummy plays like that, it's the only major sport that allows players to repeatedly take dirty shots at the games stars solely with the intent to injure them.

I genuinely do not understand it at this point, boneheads in charge have no idea how to actually grow the game. Imagine the NFL where the corners can't just hold onto a receiver and interfere the entire game, or allowing the safety to just blindside hit guys in the back who aren't even involved in the play. It's almost never called a penalty, but if someone retaliates they'll be sure to call that.



I'm all for physicality and battling, but randomly cross checking guys from behind isn't hockey. When he did injure his wrist the first time, it was in the covid season against Calgary, I can't remember the player. But he got hit from behind late and went into the boards injuring his wrist.

 

[AvroArrow]

They’ve been healthy in past playoffs and did next to nothing.

Ovechkin was always a playoff choker until he wasn't.

Matthew Tkachuk was considered one of the worst playoff performers in the league until he wasn't.

You're always a loser until you aren't. Failing in the past doesn't mean you can't succeed in the future. If that's your logic, you might as well write off every single player who doesn't win in their rookie year. "He was healthy last year and did next to nothing!" Great logic.

 

[a mangy Meowth]

His wrist is fine, it looks like a back/core injury.

Glad to hear about the wrist. Core injuries are always such a nightmare in terms of pain.

 

[Nothingbutglass]

His wrist is fine, it looks like a back/core injury. He got cross checked hard when he came back and went down pretty bad. At some point the league has to start protecting it's star players from scummy plays like that, it's the only major sport that allows players to repeatedly take dirty shots at the games stars solely with the intent to injure them.

I genuinely do not understand it at this point, boneheads in charge have no idea how to actually grow the game. Imagine the NFL where the corners can't just hold onto a receiver and interfere the entire game, or allowing the safety to just blindside hit guys in the back who aren't even involved in the play. It's almost never called a penalty, but if someone retaliates they'll be sure to call that.



I'm all for physicality and battling, but randomly cross checking guys from behind isn't hockey. When he did injure his wrist the first time, it was in the covid season against Calgary, I can't remember the player. But he got hit from behind late and went into the boards injuring his wrist.

He didnt "randomly" cross check him from behind for the hell of it. Matthews was still in position to score and he cleared him out. That play happens 100 times a game

 

[shaner82]

He didnt "randomly" cross check him from behind for the hell of it. Matthews was still in position to score and he cleared him out. That play happens 100 times a game

It does happen but it's technically against the rules, and has resulted in many injuries over the years. It's almost never called though, which is I think the point he was trying to make.

The NHL doesn't do a very good job at protecting its star players, or really any of its players.

 

[Lahey]

Toronto isn’t in trouble at all lol. Winning without him, as long as he’s healthy for playoffs all that matters. Classic HF

 

[SheldonJPlankton]

Of course, we all remember who the North Division playoff champions were.

 

[John Mandalorian]

Toronto isn’t in trouble at all lol. Winning without him, as long as he’s healthy for playoffs all that matters. Classic HF

Do you know how behind the net was “Gretzky’s Office”? Well...Oct-Dec has been Marner’s office. The problem is, it’s been proven time and time again to be fools’ gold.

Guys can overcome a bad history of post season performance. But Marner has to push that rock up that hill.

 

[AvroArrow]

He didnt "randomly" cross check him from behind for the hell of it. Matthews was still in position to score and he cleared him out. That play happens 100 times a game

He went skating into him with momentum and cross checked him, that doesn't happen 100 times a game. Guys are battling in front of the net for position and sometimes cross check to make space, they don't come flying in to cross check a guy. He took 3 strides, that adds a lot of extra power/weight when you're hitting a guy especially with your stick.

Also "that play happens 100 times a game" is precisely my point, NHL is the only league stupid enough to allow bad players to repeatedly target the games stars with dirty plays with intent to injure. Please don't respond to this saying a cross check isn't mean to hurt a guy next.

 

[quackquackquack]

Toronto isn’t in trouble at all lol. Winning without him, as long as he’s healthy for playoffs all that matters. Classic HF

Spoken like the team is a multi-cup champion lol