When did you know it was over for this group?

[Ianturnedbull]

 

[Leaf Fans]

So

 

[JKG33]

When the Leafs picked spreadsheet boy over Hunter (a legit hockey guy), I knew this team was run by geniuses with room temperature IQ. The Kyle Dubas Fan Club celebrated.

When Matthews and Marner bent Dubas right over in negotiations, I knew the inmates were running the asylum and this team was going nowhere fast. This was quite possibly the worst misuse of RFA leverage in the modern day NHL. Even if they're not technically overpaid based on regular season performance, Dubas caved on both term and AAV. The Kyle Dubas Fan Club claimed everything was fine.

When Babcock was fired because he hurt poor baby Mitchy's feelings, I knew this team had the emotional maturity of a group of 1st graders. I didn't even particularly like Babcock, but f*** me what a stupid series of events. The Kyle Dubas Fan Club rejoiced, cause they got rid of the big meanie and Dubas got to install the only coach he's ever hired.

When they lost to Columbus in the Covid Cup, I knew it was over. This pathetic group can't even win a play-in series against a non-playoff team. The Kyle Dubas Fan Club insisted everything was fine, and Columbus beat Tampa too (who later went on to rebound quite nicely).

When they lost to Montreal in the easiest division this league's seen since the original expansion, I started laughing. Laughing at the insistence that this team was anything special. Laughing at anyone who thought spreadsheet boy was a competent GM. The Kyle Dubas Fan Club yet somehow insisted they "got goalied" whatever the f*** that means.

Losing to Tampa, beating Tampa, losing to Florida... none of it even matters when the whole thing should've been detonated after the Montreal loss.

edit: I don't even remember what year the zamboni driver loss was, but we can add that event to the timeline as well. Yet another example of the type of team this is.

 

[leafsfan5]

I said it before, but Tavares' return to NYI in 2019 showed us everything we needed to know about the core

They don't have it

 

[Lauro]

Today.

 

[Phion Keneuf]

When we’re getting crushed by a Paul Maurice coached team who barely made the playoffs. f***ing embarrassing.

“But they beat Boston”. Cool. Boston would’ve wiped the floor with us too with the way we’re playing.

 

[Eternal Leaf]

The right answer remains the Montreal series.

Everything after that has been Dubas and company refusing to accept reality. No way should they have tolerated what happened in that series.

 

[Stephen]

The right answer remains the Montreal series.

Everything after that has been Dubas and company refusing to accept reality. No way should they have tolerated what happened in that series.

Well, there was the theory that winning a round would unleash some kind of playoff beast (like Florida apparently) and the team would hit a new level, play free and finally realize their potential. So I guess we can put that one to rest. Not seeing a lot of reasons why there shouldn't be big changes.

 

[TorMapleJays]

Hello Darkness, my old friend.

It’s telling when a team has been together for 6 plus years and this year they did things differently by having dinner together on the road…..

That means this team has never gelled and there are the “cool kids” and “non-cool kids”. Disfuntional.

I wonder what the future is going to hold but I hope it isn’t a “we believe in this group/trust the process/ run it back “

 

[sittler rules!!!]

For me, it was the infamous "The Leafs lost to a 42-year old zamboni driver, who works for them" game against CAR in 2020. I personally see that game as not only the most humiliating loss in Leafs history, NHL history, hockey history, but all of sports history (if anyone has one that's worse, please share it for the sake of my morbid curiosity). It was not only the loss of that game, but the fact that Sheldon Keefe cancelled practice the following day, presumably so that the players wouldn't have to face scrutiny from the media. Lastly, Kyle Dubas claiming that the opposing team losing both of their starting goaltenders and so you get to shoot for half the game on a human shooter-tutor is a "no win" situation.

People like to meme and joke about this game and it's obvious why, however, if you look at it from a serious perspective, that 24 hour span truly shows how incompetent this organization is, top to bottom, from its soy-infused GM, to its cowardly coach, to its soft, gutless players. And sitting at the top of shit mountain is Shanahan, the carnival barker, who always somehow manages to escape criticism but should also be gone for allowing this obvious circus to continue unabated for his entire tenure. This organization is completely lacking in accountability and has been for years. We saw this ugliness rear its head again just recently when Keefe had to walk back his (perfectly valid and 100% correct) criticisms of his pampered prima donna stars. The inmates run the asylum in Toronto and this has been obvious to me for years. I'm glad other people are finally waking up to this fact.

You want change and success in Toronto? This entire organization needs to be gutted, top to bottom. Shanahan needs to go, Dubas needs to go, Keefe needs to go and this core needs to be blown into unrecognizable pieces. Then you start building from the ground up once more. Yes, it's horrendous luck (and just so Toronto) that when they finally draft and develop and hit on so many great picks that they all turn out to be spoiled immature children that worship at the shrine of failure when it comes to team success, but continuing to "run it back" for years and years with the same result is an even bigger L that is entirely self inflicted and completely unnecessary.

Taveras signing. They already had a # 2 centre in Kadri. No need for Taveras. This precipitated the domino effect. The kiddies wanted their money as well. Balance of the team - forward and D was sacrificed. Did not work. Blow it up. I am 63, and have never disliked a Leaf team as much as I dislike this one.

 

[TonsofPuppies]

Taveras signing. They already had a # 2 centre in Kadri. No need for Taveras. This precipitated the domino effect. The kiddies wanted their money as well. Balance of the team - forward and D was sacrificed. Did not work. Blow it up. I am 63, and have never disliked a Leaf team as much as I dislike this one.

I'm 32 and I can't stand them either. Even the Phaneuf / Kessel / Wilson era Leafs were more watchable than this team, which isn't something I ever thought I'd say. Soft, heartless, gutless... Pathetic group of entitled pukes. Just like their spineless GM.

 

[Dragao6]

Marner and Mathews each make 11+ million where I don’t come close to making 1 million per year and I have as many round 2 wins under my belt in nhl playoffs as they do!!!

 

[Mess]

What better evidence do you need then the 2nd round of this year's playoffs to validate the Leafs have TOO much Salary Cap in TOO few players to ice a Cup competitive hockey team.

When the Leafs signed John Tavares, it put them into Cap Hell and took them out of Cup competitiveness at the same time because of Leafs internal Salary Cap inflation would soon follow.

From the minute he signed in TO I claimed Its GAVE OVER for Leafs Cup window as his overpaid contract would act as a magnet and draw Matthews and Marner next contracts up to his.

Unless the Leafs mount some remarkable comeback now that has only happened 4 times in NHL history of a team down 0-3 going on to win. Then it looks like this it going to be the end of the Core 4 as we know it, and case closed on this poor Cap mismanagement project as a complete failure.

 

[Dirty Dan]

When we’re getting crushed by a Paul Maurice coached team who barely made the playoffs. f***ing embarrassing.

“But they beat Boston”. Cool. Boston would’ve wiped the floor with us too with the way we’re playing.

The difference is Florida can beat Boston in a game 7.

When the Leafs picked spreadsheet boy over Hunter (a legit hockey guy), I knew this team was run by geniuses with room temperature IQ. The Kyle Dubas Fan Club celebrated.

When Matthews and Marner bent Dubas right over in negotiations, I knew the inmates were running the asylum and this team was going nowhere fast. This was quite possibly the worst misuse of RFA leverage in the modern day NHL. Even if they're not technically overpaid based on regular season performance, Dubas caved on both term and AAV. The Kyle Dubas Fan Club claimed everything was fine.

When Babcock was fired because he hurt poor baby Mitchy's feelings, I knew this team had the emotional maturity of a group of 1st graders. I didn't even particularly like Babcock, but f*** me what a stupid series of events. The Kyle Dubas Fan Club rejoiced, cause they got rid of the big meanie and Dubas got to install the only coach he's ever hired.

When they lost to Columbus in the Covid Cup, I knew it was over. This pathetic group can't even win a play-in series against a non-playoff team. The Kyle Dubas Fan Club insisted everything was fine, and Columbus beat Tampa too (who later went on to rebound quite nicely).

When they lost to Montreal in the easiest division this league's seen since the original expansion, I started laughing. Laughing at the insistence that this team was anything special. Laughing at anyone who thought spreadsheet boy was a competent GM. The Kyle Dubas Fan Club yet somehow insisted they "got goalied" whatever the f*** that means.

Losing to Tampa, beating Tampa, losing to Florida... none of it even matters when the whole thing should've been detonated after the Montreal loss.

edit: I don't even remember what year the zamboni driver loss was, but we can add that event to the timeline as well. Yet another example of the type of team this is.

Yeah a team which had an elite Bobrovsky , Panarin, Duchene , etc they were a stacked team. Leafs got walled by Korpisalo and torched by PLD

 

[Stephen]

Hello Darkness, my old friend.

It’s telling when a team has been together for 6 plus years and this year they did things differently by having dinner together on the road…..

That means this team has never gelled and there are the “cool kids” and “non-cool kids”. Disfuntional.

I wonder what the future is going to hold but I hope it isn’t a “we believe in this group/trust the process/ run it back “

I made this comment of the Edmonton Oilers before Jay Woodcroft came on. Like they always ran their big stars like an NBA team and treated everyone else like bench guys. Everyone always said Edmonton had nothing and I said that was a little bit overstated because they had guys who could play but were never enabled and counted on as contributing members.

Same thing with these Leafs. It’s Mitch and Auston’s room, you’re their buddy like Holl, Soup and Kerfy. They fall in love with the random veteran dads who come in and everyone’s just here for a cameo. And come playoffs they want the temporary subcontractors to come in and do all the heavy lifting.

 

[yubbers]

When they decided to hire Dubas so he could tell Babcock he invented a new way to build a team.

Doomed.

 

[Throw More Waffles]

What better evidence do you need then the 2nd round of this year's playoffs to validate the Leafs have TOO much Salary Cap in TOO few players to ice a Cup competitive hockey team.

When the Leafs signed John Tavares, it put them into Cap Hell and took them out of Cup competitiveness at the same time because of Leafs internal Salary Cap inflation would soon follow.

From the minute he signed in TO I claimed Its GAVE OVER for Leafs Cup window as his overpaid contract would act as a magnet and draw Matthews and Marner next contracts up to his.

Unless the Leafs mount some remarkable comeback now that has only happened 4 times in NHL history of a team down 0-3 going on to win. Then it looks like this it going to be the end of the Core 4 as we know it, and case closed on this poor Cap mismanagement project as a complete failure.

I agree with you, but you also need to point out the unprecedented dramatic overpayments as part of the problem.

Nylander wasn't nearly at Pastrnak tier, but held out till Dubas caved to the Pastrnak contract (while still much more front-loaded, much more in signing bonuses, one less ufa year.)

Matthews isn't McDavid tier but got McDavid money when term is included.

Marner got 1.5-2 mil more than every one of his direct comparables.

The leafs have 60% of cap tied up on 5 players. It's just not sustainable. Some of us have been saying it for years now while being mocked thoroughly for it.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Once they signed 4 forwards for half of CAP I knew it was over for playoff success .. there was never a chance .. in da core 4 you need 2C's, 1G and 1D .. then after you get that together you can add a fast skilled winger for a Cup run .. Tampa is exactly correct Stammer Point Vasi and Hedman and then you get Kuch as da 5th wheel .. formula equals Cup runs .. we have never had a 1G or a 1D .. and truth be told JT is not a 2C and Mitch isn't Kuch either .. we have way too many holes in roster .. and no CAP to fix it .. it requires a big trade this summer and then a few more to retool with picks

 

[GoonieFace]

Just curious where all the posters are that went out of their way to mock those who felt this core was rotten years ago.

Maybe now they can win this series in 7?

 

[JKG33]

The difference is Florida can beat Boston in a game 7.


Yeah a team which had an elite Bobrovsky , Panarin, Duchene , etc they were a stacked team. Leafs got walled by Korpisalo and torched by PLD

Nit pick all you want. I knew this team didn't have it when they no-showed that series. And years later here we are, the win vs Tampa is looking more like a fluke than anything

 

[notbias]

Nit pick all you want. I knew this team didn't have it when they no-showed that series. And years later here we are, the win vs Tampa is looking more like a fluke than anything

Results, no such thing as flukes, this has been said every season.

 

[saffronleaf]

No matter what I and others may have said after it happened, including expressions of belief and hope...

I think deep down everyone must have known on some level that when they lost to the 21 Habs, the worst team to make any professional sporting playoffs ever, after being up three games to one...

that it was over for this group.

 

[saffronleaf]

When the Leafs picked spreadsheet boy over Hunter (a legit hockey guy), I knew this team was run by geniuses with room temperature IQ. The Kyle Dubas Fan Club celebrated.

When Matthews and Marner bent Dubas right over in negotiations, I knew the inmates were running the asylum and this team was going nowhere fast. This was quite possibly the worst misuse of RFA leverage in the modern day NHL. Even if they're not technically overpaid based on regular season performance, Dubas caved on both term and AAV. The Kyle Dubas Fan Club claimed everything was fine.

When Babcock was fired because he hurt poor baby Mitchy's feelings, I knew this team had the emotional maturity of a group of 1st graders. I didn't even particularly like Babcock, but f*** me what a stupid series of events. The Kyle Dubas Fan Club rejoiced, cause they got rid of the big meanie and Dubas got to install the only coach he's ever hired.

When they lost to Columbus in the Covid Cup, I knew it was over. This pathetic group can't even win a play-in series against a non-playoff team. The Kyle Dubas Fan Club insisted everything was fine, and Columbus beat Tampa too (who later went on to rebound quite nicely).

When they lost to Montreal in the easiest division this league's seen since the original expansion, I started laughing. Laughing at the insistence that this team was anything special. Laughing at anyone who thought spreadsheet boy was a competent GM. The Kyle Dubas Fan Club yet somehow insisted they "got goalied" whatever the f*** that means.

Losing to Tampa, beating Tampa, losing to Florida... none of it even matters when the whole thing should've been detonated after the Montreal loss.

edit: I don't even remember what year the zamboni driver loss was, but we can add that event to the timeline as well. Yet another example of the type of team this is.

To add to your comprehensive list...

Another shining example was JT's first game back in NYI. The team got utterly destroyed, humiliated, wrecked. JT came back weeping. The Mayor had to declare JT Day to console him.

 

[mikeyz]

I said it before, but Tavares' return to NYI in 2019 showed us everything we needed to know about the core

They don't have it

I really have to give a buddy of mine a lot of credit. Because he called it then and I laughed at him at the time and said "How can you make an assessment like that based on one game since the core was still so young" (At the time(

Fast forward 4 years later and now I'm starting to see exactly what he was talking about.

No matter what I and others may have said after it happened, including expressions of belief and hope...

I think deep down everyone must have known on some level that when they lost to the 21 Habs, the worst team to make any professional sporting playoffs ever, after being up three games to one...

that it was over for this group.

Exactly.

 

[saffronleaf]

I really have to give a buddy of mine a lot of credit. Because he called it then and I laughed at him at the time and said "How can you make an assessment like that based on one game since the core was still so young" (At the time(

Fast forward 4 years later and now I'm starting to see exactly what he was talking about.


Exactly.

the freaking mayor had to come and console JT how pathetic of a team is this