Lmao is right.
You were the guy that told everyone at the time that Babcock was the problem, and once he was gone and Keefe was installed as coach, the team would take off to new heights and be amazing.
And why pray tell was that going to happen according to you?
Well you claimed Babcock’s personality was a problem, but more importantly, you claimed his systems were the biggest problem.
Well guess what?
Here we are in season 4 of Dubas with Keefe as coach and the team still can’t get out of the first round.
Your other scapegoat and whipping boy Lamoriello, has certainly done it though and won GM of the year twice back to back since leaving.
So Lmao is right.
What’s your excuse/explanation this year?
Lou’s supposedly bad signings? Covid? Flat Cap?
Or, are you going to shower us with more fancy stats and buzz phrases “like success isn’t linear” and tell us we’re on the verge of winning the Stanley Cup?
I‘ll tell you what the problem is here, it’s no big secret, as most of us who played the game already know what it is.
The problem here is that Dubas has a flawed team building and game approach strategy. His fatal mistake is that he’s built a team that is only capable of playing one style of play—offence. So as currently constructed, this team simply can’t adjust their style of play when it requires it, as they are too one dimensional both mentally and physically.
That’s why when the playoffs start, Leaf opponents know they simply have to clog up the neutral zone and trap the crap out of the Leafs and they have an excellent chance at winning the series.
Now during the regular season, most teams are not going to fully commit to that style of play on most nights, as it’s actually extremely physically demanding. But good teams do fully commit to it during the playoffs and during the regular season when it’s required. Full commitment requires throwing hits and blocking shots with whatever part of your body you have to.
The offensive antidote to that defensive scheme is really simple and old school, you dump the puck in and attack with speed. If you don’t get the puck back first , then you pound and punish the other teams defence and finish all your checks. If you keep doing it, especially in a 7 game series, your opponents defence will start backing up in anticipation of the dump, which is then when you can go back to attempting to carry the pack back into the o-zone. At that point you’ve got your opponent on their heels as they don’t know what’s coming.
Unfortunately, the Leafs, as currently constructed, do not have any players of substance that are capable of switching to that style of play when it requires it. Until that changes, the Leafs will never win anything more than perhaps a playoff round.
It is laughable that a Zamboni driver beat this team, but the cause was that exact same issue. Their opponent committed to an iron clad playoff style defensive scheme and stifled the Leaf offence. And just like they do during the playoffs, the Leaf stars got all sulky and frustrated and their opponent got the win.
What you seemingly seem to think, is that Kyle Dubas is such a genius that he can piece together such an overwhelmingly skilled offence (think 80’s Oilers) that the Leafs can overwhelm any opponent during the playoffs. In a non salary cap system, that might be possible given the Leafs superior financial resources. But, in a salary cap system, I don’t believe they will ever build a team strong enough to play a one dimensional, offence first, possession style game and win it all. A playoff round or two? Perhaps. But 4 rounds and a cup? No going to happen IMO.
That’s where I believe you and Dubas are completely flawed in your logic.
Many if not most “negative posters” (as we get labeled here) know this.
So the solution here is that either Dubas pivots his team building and construction approach, (seems unlikely at this point) or he and his puppet coach Sheldon Keefe both need to go.
That’s just my opinion. I’m not going to shower you with fancy stats and buzzwords to make my point.
But I do believe many other members here also know that what I point out is the heart of the issue with this current Leafs team.
I know in the end we all just want to bring the cup home, so with respect, all the best.
-CaptainCrunch17
