Like f*** you know what iam saying of fycking course I want to wn a f***ing cu. That is why I have put up with this garbage organization for 50 yrs..
We have one one f***ing with this weak core that crumbles when it counts.
Its true I dont see the effort that I would like from the 'core' either.
Matthews should be able to bully his way around the ice, but, he was off all season long from that Benn x-check to the ribs, and I speculated he played the season with fractured ribs, which could be why he couldnt take a 1-timer, or get his usual shot off. He did work his ass off on defense though, but our defense was useless.
Marner looked like he was getting better, but, you can only hold the puck so long when there is nobody getting open to pass to, and the name of the game to beat the leafs is pressure everyone.
Nylander wasnt 'bad', as he really is a support goal scorer, and had a few important goals, but, he could be a game changer on a more regular basis
Tavares was good in tight and along the boards, otherwise, he didnt bring much other than faceoffs.
RoR was rubbish, maybe the hand held him back, but even defensively, lots of mistakes from a guy i never expected them from
It doesnt help that this team has made it an art form in the playoffs of either missing the net, or hitting the goalies crest.
my main concern(s) were 2 fold:
1:
our Defense is really garbage compared to other top teams.
Reilly is our #1 and he shouldnt be a #1, a 2 at best, and everyone else should be bottom pair defenders. We have no strength at all on defense, and got bullied in front of our own net.
Holl was useless and got 20+ mins, Brodie is insanely weak and easy to outmuscle... positionally, he's good, but, too soft.
McCabe was in over his head, and after he laid out that one big hit, thought that was his job rather than defending
Gio was meant to be a 12 min bottom pair guy, and they had him paired with are most useless D in Holl most of the time, and he was just worn down and useless by the end.
Lily got hurt late, then back early, had a crap game, and was benched, and never got back in his groove
...Dubas gave us a nice forward group, but, did squat other than add depth pieces on Defense since he got Muzzin, and never replaced him.
2:
Keefe should have been fired mid season after the no-show games against bottom dwellers!
Keefe was out-coached in every series we played, and to be honest, we should have lost the first round, except Samsonov took it personally after blowing game 5, and stood on his head in 6.
I think he entered the playoffs hurt too, or at least not 100%, more like 70%.
I dont think Keefe has any idea or gameplan, there are 'great' lines out there. because they always play together and know exactly where everyone will be, we mix it up shift to shift, and having 2 guys know where to go, and the 3rd trying to stay out of the way doesnt work.
Same goes for D-pairings, and its WAY more important to be used to your D-partner,
Our D were like socks in a dryer, and they played that way too, all over the place, not knowing what anyone else was doing, or where they should be.
I HOPE Treliving is true to his word, and rebuild the defense in the Calgary style, and then we can see if not chasing the puck around our end shift after shift because our defense sucks and then get deflated after working your ass off and allowing a goal because a defender turned the wrong way, or forgot to cover his man in front of the net, or was just outmuscled and let them have 3-4 whacks at the puck before it went in. ...that is very demoralizing, especially when at the other end, the defense isnt playing like garbage, and is hacking the hell out of you, with never a call, unless you retaliate, and then you are in the box.
slightly longer rant than i expected ...not disagreeing with you at all, just slightly different perspective.