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Toronto Maple Leafs are surprisingly underperforming

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They had a blurb during the game last night that indicated the Leafs started similarly last year and turned it around. The "underlying numbers" this year are actually a touch better. You don't want to see a middling start but it is too soon to push the panic button. That said, what is to suggest that the ultimate outcome for the Leafs this year will be any different than previous years? The same issues with the roster remains:

* Top heavy
* Not a lot of depth
* Middling defense
* Suspect goaltending
* Nerd GM
* Clueless coach
 
They are having a rough start to the season for sure, but lots of hockey to be played. They have the talent to outscore their problems enough to get another first round exit
 
The Leafs are going to get better. Every team in the league is going to have great stretches and stretches where they are only .500. Matthews is going to start scoring more. People panic too much at the start of the season.
 
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bsu said:
Dallas Cowboys of the NHL.
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I prefer the English national football team. Haven't won it all since the 1960s, still dominate the conversation because of their very existence, usually have some top end talent, find a way to lose in the kind of way even their most loyal fans have to find darkly funny, and everyone else hates them.
 
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Rabid Ranger said:
They had a blurb during the game last night that indicated the Leafs started similarly last year and turned it around. The "underlying numbers" this year are actually a touch better. You don't want to see a middling start but it is too soon to push the panic button. That said, what is to suggest that the ultimate outcome for the Leafs this year will be any different than previous years? The same issues with the roster remains:

* Top heavy
* Not a lot of depth
* Middling defense
* Suspect goaltending
* Nerd GM
* Clueless coach
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Yes, it's early. The difference this year is that the coach is already calling his players out, and then mysteriously takes his words back.

It makes me think that the coach is feeling alot of heat to call his players out so early, and it also gives a feeling of inmates running the asylum when he took his words back.
 
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serp said:
Their core players take too many games off. It's that simple. The way the team pays its star players they can't afford that. Their losses aren't on the cheap role players and the backup and third goalie . It's on the core. Somethings gotta give there. That probably should've happened a while back to be honest but at this point with Matthews becoming UFA at the end of next season there isn't much time left to make a move before the whole core could just desintegrate. If Matthews leaves in UFA this team will be blown up and its rebuild time again for the Leafs.

Question now is. Do you let a lameduck GM make major moves ? Conventional wisdom usually would indicate no.
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Mindboggling stat. Matthews has 1 ES point in 10 games..

I don't like when Mitch talks about last year. Was their first 10 game schedule as easy as it was this year?
 
Isles fan here. I remember when I temporarily went by the forum name FUJudas91 following Toronto's Tavares signing that many of us warned Leafs fans that this would happen. We saw how those huge contracts they signed with 4 players was going to unbalance the Leaf's lineup, but most Leafs fans didn't want to hear it- especially from an Isles fan- which is understandable, but just want to say we warned you. You can't win the Cup with a team that sports 3 overpaid girls plus 1 sloth.
 
BLONG7 said:
Coaching change coming soon.............
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At this point i don't think just Keefe would be fired . Dubas goes with him. Keefe is his boy and Dubas is on an expiring contract. A lameduck GM usually does not get to hire a new coach.
 
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They need to dump one of their high priced forwards. The last time a team with three 10+M forwards who won the cup was....never.
 
Transplanted Caper said:
I prefer the English national football team. Haven't won it all since the 1960s, still dominate the conversation because of their very existence, usually have some top end talent, find a way to lose in the kind of way even their most loyal fans have to find darkly funny, and everyone else hates them.
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Usually the loudest of the bunch as well, despite the lengthy drought.

Yeah, it fits.
 
On one hand, the Leafs have not look great against teams that should be easy wins for a roster as talented as they have. They don't seem to be playing hard for each other/for Keefe and there is a clear lack of accountability.

On the other hand, they are only 2 points back of 2nd in the Atlantic despite their struggles as almost every team in the East has a similar record. A small win streak (3 game or so) and they are back to being all smiles again.

Hard to justify making a huge move right now, but I get wanting some changes to the core/leadership given its been 6/7 years now with nothing to show for it.
 
Giz Mo said:
On one hand, the Leafs have not look great against teams that should be easy wins for a roster as talented as they have. They don't seem to be playing hard for each other/for Keefe and there is a clear lack of accountability.

On the other hand, they are only 2 points back of 2nd in the Atlantic despite their struggles as almost every team in the East has a similar record. A small win streak (3 game or so) and they are back to being all smiles again.

Hard to justify making a huge move right now, but I get wanting some changes to the core/leadership given its been 6/7 years now with nothing to show for it.
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Yeah they're only a win or two from being back near the top of the conference, still early days.

That said, they've given zero indication through ten games that they're any better than the teams that have lost their last 9 series-clinching games.

I bet Keefe sticks around longer than some might think.
 
PaulD said:
The fans are pissed, Shanny, Dubas and Keefe are stressed, the goaltenders are frazzled, the D is taking a ton of heat, the depth up front is getting bashed ...........but smiling all the way to the bank........Matthews, Marner, Nylander and Tavares. Appear not to have a worry in the world. ( ;
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One of the rare times I agree with you, and this is what the problem is. Zero accountability from the players
 
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Riddum said:
The Leafs have no depth. Once Matthews and Marner go on one of their crazy streaks, they will pile on wins... But they will fail in round 1 as usual. Dubas's vision is crap
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Yup. If Matthews and Marner struggle that's it. They are lucky to even be around .500 given how poor they've been. Too much money tossed around up front and not much else. They need to make some tough decisions and do some big trades to some of their core players. Tough to hear but it's true.
 
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A mediocre defense and a mediocre bottom 6 have been constants with the Maple Leafs for years.

Blame goaltending all you want but the drop off from Matthews, Marner, Reilly, Tavares and even Nylander is massive and always has been.

Their defense has never once been good. Not even close.

Blaming Kallgren is pathetic and honestly so typical at this point. He's an AHL goaltender thrown into a tough spot because management made yet another awful decision regarding player management (Matt Murray? Really?) and now he's the scapegoat for the week.

Rinse and repeat. The team should be stepping up like every other team does when they have their backup in. Remember that Carolina game where a zamboni driver (on your payroll) beat you? It's cause they stepped up their game to support the guy in net. That's what being a team is.

You'd think that would be all the lesson this group would need lol.
 
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Kind of surprising that the star players are playing so poorly tbh even though it’s only early days. After 6 straight first round losses you’d think they’d be motivated to prove something. Instead they’re playing like they’ve got a Cup hangover and are having trouble getting motivated for the early regular season. Keefe probably gets the boot if this continues but the core really needs a shakeup imo.
 
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