Post-Game Talk: We suck - Leafs lose 4-1

[Peiskos]

It's definitely a tough market, you have the most passionate and frustrated fanbase in the league. You would think that would at least translate to a great home crowd, but nope...it's a library in there when the team plays.

For years this pressure has lead to us throwing away picks to prop up failing teams leading to cycles of mediocrity. Finally we did a proper rebuild - but are blowing it having taken a chance on a kid learning on the job. Shanny thought he can hire Lou to teach Dubas the tricks of the trade, but miscalculated here too - Lou did not see Dubas as a successor, but rather as a competitor coming for his job.

If there's a ray a hope, I'd look to the Raptors - another franchise that seemed utterly hopeless until they found a brilliant GM in Masai Ujiri. We gotta find hockey Masai, because I don't think Shanny's it.

The Raptors will win another championship before the Leafs even win a round. That isn’t crazy to say either.

 

[SniperOnTheWing]

Thats the most extreme cases though. Anybody who sends death threats is clearly disturbed and not a fan IMO.

Vast majority of fans are normal. You act like everyone is plotting murders against the team and their families

You're a fan, by your logic that must mean you are trying to run over marner's dog

Naw I’m not angry. Disappointed, but not angry. Marner’s dog is safe.

But even in a fanbase as huge as Toronto’s you only need a few bad apples unhinged enough to make threats, or god forbid actually act on them, to make a player feel unsafe and effect their day to day life. If I had even one nut job stalking me or threatening me or my family I wouldn’t be very focused on my job either.

 

[Fat Ryan]

I figure these would be needed in here this morning...
Use as many as you need!

And please stay away from any sharp objects!

 

[Apex Predator]

I was not of the opinion the coach should be fired just yet, but yikes. This is BAD. They played terribly. Terrible narrative Sheldon.

He probably got in trouble for being so hard the game before and now he has to be nicer.

 

[sparxx87]

It's amazing pp still defend Dubas. Let it burn. We need the front office gone or we're stuck in purgatory.

So bizarre. Nothing wrong with admitting he sold you. He’s done it to a number of very smart people. He’s a master snake oil salesman.

 

[yubbers]

Naw I’m not angry. Disappointed, but not angry. Marner’s dog is safe.

But even in a fanbase as huge as Toronto’s you only need a few bad apples unhinged enough to make threats, or god forbid actually act on them, to make a player feel unsafe and effect their day to day life. If I had even one nut job stalking me or threatening me or my family I wouldn’t be very focused on my job either.

You should try being Conservative. LOL

 

[RoyalCitySlicker]

The Raptors will win another championship before the Leafs even win a round. That isn’t crazy to say either.

Yes, it is.

 

[yubbers]

Lou was mediocre here, I agree.

Everyone who comes here--no matter how successful before or after--seems to become infected with mediocrity. Burke, Babcock, Lou....

Does anyone doubt that Marner, once dealt from here (probably for 50 cents in the dollar) will light it up in his next stop? Or that Kyle Dubas will win a championship as GM of some other franchise 5 or 10 years from now?

Is it that the hockey gods just love to f*#k with us? Or is it something more real? That winning in this market is just that much harder?

Took us to the playoffs for the 1st time in over a decade and set a franchise point record. If that's mediocre.....do you need a cp in order to be 'good'?

 

[BigGulpsEh]

Naw I’m not angry. Disappointed, but not angry. Marner’s dog is safe.

But even in a fanbase as huge as Toronto’s you only need a few bad apples unhinged enough to make threats, or god forbid actually act on them, to make a player feel unsafe and effect their day to day life. If I had even one nut job stalking me or threatening me or my family I wouldn’t be very focused on my job either.

Who is stalking and threatening the players constantly like you keep going on about??

Police should be involved. You should call them. You seem to have some inside info.

 

[Peiskos]

Yes, it is.

Not really, it’s very possible the Leafs go another 5-10 years without winning a playoff round, I mean they’ve already gone 18 years…another 5-10 wouldn’t be surprising at this point.

Raptors under Masai could very well pull out another ring in 5-10 years, that’s just how good Masai is and how night and day the culture is between the Raps and Leafs.

 

[hockeyes]

Businesses respond to their customers wants all the time. At least good one do.

Ah yes, if only Leaf fans wanted their team to win. I think we nailed it.

 

[DarkKnight]

We miss Bogo as well.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Fans can’t or won’t admit they’re part of the problem too. And unlike the players or management they get to say whatever they want or threaten whoever they want without having to be held accountable for any of it. Ah, how convenient the life of a fan.

 

[Ports]

Any team would take Matthews and Nylander in a heart beat, especially Matthews.

That was my point. Those are the only two.

 

[kevsh]

If they lose to the Hawks I don't see how Keefe has a job this weekend. If they lose and Dubas does nothing, then don't look any better against the Wings at home Saturday they could both be gone by Monday.

Apathy is contagious and MLSE see the fanbase tuning out; A loss in revenue due to diminishing interest in the "product" is unacceptable. They will make a move, even if they believe in Shanny/Dubas/Keefe just to (hopefully) bring some optimism to the fans.

Secondly, the Matthews factor. The team has this season and next to ensure arguably the biggest star this franchise has ever seen (thanks EA Sports for another box cover for AM34) re-signs - the last thing they want is for him to go into his final year with no commitment to return. So the clock is ticking to make this team a winner, and MLSE cannot lose this season.

The Leafs can recover from a slow start but missing the playoffs (see loss in revenue and the Matthews factor above) is not an option. So I just can't see them being patient and letting the team sort itself out. If Dubas hasn't been read the riot act yet, a loss tomorrow night and his hand will likely be forced, either Keefe goes or they're likely both gone, word "coming from upstairs".

 

[RoyalCitySlicker]

Not really, it’s very possible the Leafs go another 5-10 years without winning a playoff round, I mean they’ve already gone 18 years..

Raptors under Masai could very well pull out another ring in 5-10 years, that’s just how good Masai is.

Listen, pile on the Leafs all you want. I don't care. But your take is an unrealistic one. I could see it taking the Leafs another 5-10 years to make Rd2 though I don't think it will....I just think outside of an absolute miracle - which is what the Kawhi season was - the Raps aren't winning another championship on that timeline either. Masai is great, but he's handicapped by having to get players to come to Toronto....as shown by the lack of impact free agents he's been able to lure here. Not to mention the existence of super teams throughout the East/League.

 

[yubbers]

LOL. This one dropped my jaw.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Thankfully Buffalo and Detroit are off to the hot start and not Tampa and Boston

That doesn't matter at all really. If we keep playing poorly, we will miss the playoffs. If we get our shit together, we will make the playoffs. And we have an idea of how many points are needed to make the playoffs no matter how everything else falls into place.

 

[killer1980]

Lou was mediocre here, I agree.

Everyone who comes here--no matter how successful before or after--seems to become infected with mediocrity. Burke, Babcock, Lou....

Does anyone doubt that Marner, once dealt from here (probably for 50 cents in the dollar) will light it up in his next stop? Or that Kyle Dubas will win a championship as GM of some other franchise 5 or 10 years from now?

The only lights Marner will be be turning on are the lights to his mansion thanks to the $millions Dubas gifted that bum. And Dubas winning a Championship, maybe the TDIAA High School Championship if some high school is dumb enough to hire him. I doubt he will ever be in another NHL arena unless somebody sneaks him in through the exit.

Ya I doubt it!

 

[Ports]

You’re right but the fans aren’t paid millions and therefore shouldn’t be held accountable. Management and the players need to be though.

 

[Peiskos]

Who would have thunk it?? A 32 year old rookie GM who had precisely zero experience in the NHL upon hiring is running a franchise into the ground? You don’t say? Lmao

Huh? A rookie head coach with precisely zero experience in the NHL upon hiring has lost his team? You don’t say!

Clown show franchise.

 

[yubbers]

So bizarre. Nothing wrong with admitting he sold you. He’s done it to a number of very smart people. He’s a master snake oil salesman.

It's not just hockey. People just refuse to eat crow these days on any topics. It's odd and frustrating.

 

[Peiskos]

Listen, pile on the Leafs all you want. I don't care. But your take is an unrealistic one. I could see it taking the Leafs another 5-10 years to make Rd2 though I don't think it will....I just think outside of an absolute miracle - which is what the Kawhi season was - the Raps aren't winning another championship on that timeline either. Masai is great, but he's handicapped by having to get players to come to Toronto....as shown by the lack of impact free agents he's been able to lure here. Not to mention the existence of super teams throughout the East/League.

The Raptors have already drafted their own Kawhi in Scottie Barnes, the kid has already had a double double and already looks like the best player of the draft.

Raps don’t need FA signings because Masai knows how to draft, develop and most importantly trade/negotiate. It isn’t unrealistic at all to suggest the Raptors will be a title contender within 5-10 years again.

 

[Gary Nylund]

If they lose to the Hawks I don't see how Keefe has a job this weekend. If they lose and Dubas does nothing, then don't look any better against the Wings at home Saturday they could both be gone by Monday.

Apathy is contagious and MLSE see the fanbase tuning out; A loss in revenue due to diminishing interest in the "product" is unacceptable. They will make a move, even if they believe in Shanny/Dubas/Keefe just to (hopefully) bring some optimism to the fans.

Secondly, the Matthews factor. The team has this season and next to ensure arguably the biggest star this franchise has ever seen (thanks EA Sports for another box cover for AM34) re-signs - the last thing they want is for him to go into his final year with no commitment to return. So the clock is ticking to make this team a winner, and MLSE cannot lose this season.

The Leafs can recover from a slow start but missing the playoffs (see loss in revenue and the Matthews factor above) is not an option. So I just can't see them being patient and letting the team sort itself out. If Dubas hasn't been read the riot act yet, a loss tomorrow night and his hand will likely be forced, either Keefe goes or they're likely both gone, word "coming from upstairs".

Great post, a lot of truth here. It's easy to say it's only been X games, it's still early and so on but in this market, that doesn't fly for very long. And it's not just the beginning of the season either, these "few" games are preceded by multiple playoff failures and while the first 2/3 were acceptable, the last two (and most def the last one) were not.

Put it this way, not sure who exactly out of coach/GM7president is on the hot seat but whoever it is, that seat is hotter now then it's been since Babcock's seat was just before he got fired. It's damn hot!!

 

[Gary Nylund]

The Raptors have already drafted their own Kawhi in Scottie Barnes, the kid has already had a double double and already looks like the best player of the draft.

Masai knows how to draft, develop and most importantly trade/negotiate. It isn’t unrealistic at all to suggest the Raptors will be a title contender within 5-10 years again.

It's hard not to get carried away when talking about Barnes. Or Masai for that matter. Thank god for the Raptors!