What changes next year?

[Swervin81]

We're coming to the same realization that the Caps did during their Ovi/Backstrom/Semin/Green days. That core just isn't going to work. Of our core 5 (Matthews/Tavares/Nylander/Marner/Rielly), you need to really decide which two pieces are truly untradeable, and then listen to any offers you get on the other 3 so that you can make some trades and hopefully restructure with a massively different look.

 

[DueDiligence]

UFA. Matthews. Nylander
UFA Tavares Marner
UFA Kerfoot Hyman
Robertson Brooks Mikeyhev

No old guys

Spezza was fine. But don't get old guys to bring some grit. Thornton, Simmonds and Foligno were all past their best before date.

 

[stickty111]

I know the comments are fire Dubas, but we are blaming the wrong person here. The get grit fans have to take some blame too. They told Dubas to get more grit and what happened?
Simmonds was washed up but fans were happy because he brought grit. Where was that grit this series?
Foligno was brought up for grit and he was a plug we paid a 1st for.
Bogosian was a Dubas move and one of the rare grit players who played well.
The skilled people said Hall makes more sense because Leafs need offense outside of the top 4, and they were right. No good skilled player Hall is doing great things for Boston who went after skill.
Dubas listened to a group of fans and resulted in a disaster callapse.
The main thought here is get good players without focusing on elements.
I think Dubas deserves another chance to build a team his way.

 

[Bellefour20]

Lets start with anyone who has absolutely no connection to the Soo Greyhounds and go from there.

 

[ItsFineImFine]

Additions:

Bogosian - Experienced but slow (though good imo, I like this one)

Thornton - Slow and done

Simmonds - Slow

Foligno - Slow and expensive

Galchenyuk - Worthwhile risk

Brodie - Good add who the coach didn't allow to contribute offensively

....dude doesn't know what he's doing. Traded away a bunch of speed and needed to bring in hard-nosed gritty players. Ended up adding a bunch of slow old vets in the guise of experience and backed himself into a corner with the cap. I like him so I want him to succeed and he might elsewhere but why bother wasting time, give someone else a chance. He's too attached to the situation anyways, you need someone ruthless.

 

[DueDiligence]

Rielly, Nylander, Spezza and Campbell showed up to this series in a big way

Dubas gave this team the best shot he could

Muzzin and JT got hurt

the rest... have at er

A 1st for Foligno? A washed up Simmonds was the grit?

 

[freewilly]

But if you would’ve won they would’ve been good trades. I think he overpaid for Foligno. But sometimes you have too. As for signing them to bad contracts. Wheat do you suggest he does. Trade marner who is going to sign with another team and get a couple first and a prospect that may not pan out.
You dont just trade superstars when you are contending.

Wtf lol.. “if they would’ve won they would’ve been good”.

But... you didn’t. So the players weren’t the right ones

 

[Stephen]

Nevermind Babcock, we never even got the chance to see what Lou thought of these players come RFA negotiation time.

I don't think the fanbase was ready to see Lou go hard in the paint against our darlings.

 

[Jozay]

Get useless players like Thornton, Simmonds out of here. Try to replace their intangibles with players that can actually play. Easier said than done.

You probably lose a Marner trade unless some crazy opportunity pops up, so he's probably back. You cannot afford to lose a Marner trade, so you cant force it.

Nylander played well, so I think he's back.

Rielly played well in the playoffs IMO, but maybe thats a core piece that you can change out. Im indifferent on him. I guess see what he's asking for, and if its too expensive, move him.

Freddy is gone, which is fine.

Realistically, they re-sign Hyman, rejig the bottom 6, get a goalie to pair with Campbell and run it back.

As much I think a core change is needed, you just cant make a trade to make a trade when it comes to players as talented as Marner or Nylander. It needs to make the team better and make sense, and for that to happen will take a special circumstance, like the Jones for Johansen trade. Dont want to make the Hall for Larsson trade.

 

[gamer1035]

Dubas didn't build this team, he ruined it with those contracts. We had such a promising core before we let this idiot handle our rfa contracts.

 

[Buzzman17]

Spezza was fine. But don't get old guys to bring some grit. Thornton, Simmonds and Foligno were all past their best before date.

Yep. Need young speed for depth. Kapanen Connor Brown and Marchment on fourth line and we probably win this series.

 

[DueDiligence]

Dubas listened to a group of fans and resulted in a disaster callapse.

If he did that's a firing offense right there.

 

[The Best Leafs Ever]

I don't love Dubas by any means but he created what was the best Leafs team on the paper for all the Thornotn on PP, top line scoring 1 goal in 7 games; he can not be blamed. Our drafting has been lights out, overseas players are willing to sign with the team.

Keefe with Pejorative Slured decisions to not play Nylander-Kerfoot-Galchenyuk line which was the only line, sitting Sandin who was the only reason for PP production, Joe Thornton on the 1st PP unit. Then our 2 highest paid players in the entire league with whopping 1 goal in the entire series. There's only so much you can do from the press box. I would start blaming players before the guy who is actually trying.

 

[Canadian Game]

I won’t go as far as praising Dubas for doing a great job for the long term build, but I do think he did build a Stanley Cup contender this year.

Last year the main needs that everyone talked about were the defence, gaining a physical presence, and goaltending. Campbell stepped up huge and we never saw Andersen or needed a replacement, Dubas brought in Brodie as the main upgrade on D and then Bogo was brought in and Sandin got ice time while Marincin was nowhere near the team. He also added physical players although the players didn’t necessarily wear down the Habs. It also didn’t help that Foligno was damaged goods. With all that said, in my opinion this year’s failure is on the players. What was the main issue in the series versus the Habs? Scoring. Where was the Rocket Richard Trophy winner? Where was Marner? Can’t win if they can’t score. Goaltending wasn’t an issue, and the defence was less of an issue compared to scoring. Was scoring an issue in the regular season? No. Therefore, this falls on the players. Not Dubas.

In terms of coaching, one part that frustrated the hell out of me was the dump and chase, especially in game 7, which they lost a lot of those chases. For puck possession being preached as a big focus within the Leafs, dump and chase is about as reliable as a roulette wheel. That falls on coaching though, not management.

I blame the players above everything else, except for Campbell, Nylander and Jason Spezza.

100% agree with this.

 

[Bomber0104]

I don't think the fanbase was ready to see Lou go hard in the paint against our darlings.

They should've.

We'd have had a bunch of Barzal-type bridge contracts and in-turn depth options ready to replace an injured top-two centre or defenceman for our current playoff run.

And competent coaching, goaltending, and a better overall team play-style...

One can dream though...

 

[Havoc]

First change:

Nylander first line. Move Marner back with JT (if hes still here ) and let him lead the PK1. First line and PP1 belongs to matthews/nylander. Nylanders lower body strength is better suited for Matthews line in playoffs.

He's ready to take off. Keep any coach away from this team that plans to hold him back again.

 

[freewilly]

I trust Dubas tbh. I also think staying the course is play, even though it's really hard to say that right now. Look at the Lightning for reference to that.

These comparisons to Tampa and caps are so dumb. Were those teams rolling over against Columbus and the Habs? Blowing leads every series? Blowing leads in every big game? Stars showing NOTHING?

comparisons are not apt

 

[sxvnert]

1) A top line power forward. At best Hyman is a number two/three (would trade Marner + Rielly for this piece if necessary)
2) Two more top four D like Brodie & Muzzin to fill out the top four. One with a point shot for the PP
3) Another top four speedster like Willy. Preferably a LW.
4) Two way center with size for third line

PowerF Matthews Marner
Speedster Tavares Nylander
Kerfoot -------- Hyman
Mik Spezza Gally
Gone: Simmonds, Thornton, Foligno, Engvall

Muzzin Brodie
--------- --------
Sandin Bogo
Hutton
Gone: Holl, Dermott, Liljegren, Marincin

Campbell
Mrázek/Driedger
Gone: Andersen

 

[hockeyes]

The 40 million forward experiment has failed, new direction is needed. Marner most likely to be the guy moved but I wouldn't want Dubas making that deal, he hitched his career to those contracts and should go down with the ship. Shanahan has to be on thin ice as well and I wouldn't be sad to see him go.

 

[wingman75]

Shanahan's post season presser should be good... wait... does he even do one? Probably not eh? Imagine he is meeting with the 'board'.

I figure the managment are all back next year... and if no success at that point there is probably changes top to bottom. That would be 8 years for Shanahan in charge.

So, looking ahead to that point, because we sure as hell know this team aint winning shit, I'd look at brining in a veteran GM and coach. I don't know who will be available at that point, but there are always options.

I would trash the assistants this off-season... the lack of adjustment especially around the PP was disturbing... second only to the continued lack of any inkling of a killer instinct.

 

[DueDiligence]

Yep. Need young speed for depth. Kapanen Connor Brown and Marchment on fourth line and we probably win this series.

Connor Brown played harder for the Senators in a meaningless season than virtually every Leaf in this Game 7.

 

[TheScandal89]

What grit did Simmonds bring? One guy he brought in had grit and it was Bogosian and everyone was pretty pleased with him.

The grit we needed is guys going hard to the net, who win battles and make players second guess themselves in tight. Which Leaf did that?

The bottom 6 had what grit to it? Engvall, Mikheyev, Simmonds, Thornton, Kerfoot, Spezza? You call that grit? I'll give Kerfoot and Spezza a pass but as much as Marner and Matthews let us down, those 4 guys were TERRIBLE.

 

[NightTrain1]

It isnt just one trade from the "core" it is multiple changes that needs to happen. This team needs a new direction and it needs it fast.

The Leafs "core" is Reilly, Nylander, Matthews, Marner, Hyman, Anderson.

Anderson lost his spot with his declining play so he didnt show up... = gone.
Reilly is hot and cold constantly but for his price tag he is still a positive for the team unless it provides a nice package return...= stay pending deal
Matthews is a generational goal scorer and that alone means he needs to stay. He is mostly solid defensively and uses his body but doesnt appear to be that go to guy to take control. ..= stay
Nylander I think over time has grown into his contract. He really found his playoff legs for us this year and wasnt utilized properly imo, but still 5 goals 8pts in the series... =stay
Marner almost completely lost me with his contract crap. He has tremendous playmaking iq when there is nothing at stake. He is soft, lazy and falls apart under pressure... =trade
Hyman is dependent on what he wants for a contract. I know many love the guy and Id be lying if i said i didnt too. But where they have him playing just isnt working... stay pending contract.

 

[rocketman588]

Not only did he Savage the cap but for a drafting genius he has ONE player that he drafted on the team.

He doesn't need to go on 35 year old reject rampages if he actually drafts well to compliment the stars.

But to answer your question yes this is his team. All the way down to getting to choose his butt buddy as head coach and rebuilding most of the roster in the way he wanted. Also let him sell the farm for this year absolutely ass

He is very good at jerking off the media to get favor and making facial reactions for the cameras

 

[I am Canadian]

Dubas did everything expected of him this summer - got some physicality, upgraded majorly defensively. I don't see how any of the blame can be anything other than a lack of production from Matthews & Marner. What do you do about that? We had good secondary scoring this series IMO.