Where do the Leafs go if they blow it yet again?

[Draiskull]

You can't outscore your problems, but you can't win with no scoring from the bottom six either.

I dont think the bottom 6 is a problem. I think playing fossils on defense is a bigger issue in Toronto.
See how Walman, Bouchard, Klingberg can move the puck up to the skilled players and compare it to seemingly slower Dmen on their D.

 

[Kennerback]

I dont think the bottom 6 is a problem. I think playing fossils on defense is a bigger issue in Toronto.
See how Walman, Bouchard, Klingberg can move the puck up to the skilled players and compare it to seemingly slower Dmen on their D.

The problem is the same as it’s always been too much money is tied into the Core-4 which are high skilled forward that are too similar to each other. I don’t think the problem is any of those players individually, it’s hoarding too many of them.

 

[sampollock]

The problem is the same as it’s always been too much money is tied into the Core-4 which are high skilled forward that are too similar to each other. I don’t think the problem is any of those players individually, it’s hoarding too many of them.

so true
core 4 this and that
in a gm out a gm in a coach out a coach

babs tried to fix the laziness but had to got to AZ to apologize to nostrils

 

[ManofSteel55]

I dont think the bottom 6 is a problem. I think playing fossils on defense is a bigger issue in Toronto.
See how Walman, Bouchard, Klingberg can move the puck up to the skilled players and compare it to seemingly slower Dmen on their D.

It's going to be an issue, fixing the Leafs blueline. Their only regular coming back without some type of trade protection is Benoit, and he's not the problem in that regard. OEL and Carlo have partial NTC's, and McCabe's partial turns to a full in the offseason.

 

[Draiskull]

The problem is the same as it’s always been too much money is tied into the Core-4 which are high skilled forward that are too similar to each other. I don’t think the problem is any of those players individually, it’s hoarding too many of them.

2 of the 4 are UFAs so a good time for them to reevaluate what they truly need

 

[ijuka]

Assuming all teams that are 1-3 are going to lose:

Should Vegas blow it up? Caps? Jets?

These are all considered good teams, and reaching the top 8 is a fine achievement. One could even argue that for this Leafs team, getting to the conference finals would have been overachieving.

They have the cards they got dealt, you can't really force it. Letting Marner walk would likely be a poor option. Whatever they sign for UFA in place of him would likely not come even close. Star players in general tend to be good value for their contracts so they should be kept. Also, they don't have first round picks for the next few years, so rebuilding isn't an option, either.

The better thing to do would be to just change the supporting cast. Not every team is destined to win cups right away, and you cannot force things shortsightedly. If they end up having to rebuild, it should be done in 3-4 years when they actually have picks, not now.

 

[SirPaste]

Since 2016/17 Marner and Matthews are 8th and 9th in league scoring. Matthews is 1st in goal scoring and probably retires with 600+ goals. It's absolutely insane how terrible they are in the playoffs while being paid some of the highest salaries in the league. Trade Matthews and let Marner walk. Matthews wants to be a celebrity, send him off to a perennial loser so he can cash out

Isn't he already on one?

 

[sampollock]

Assuming all teams that are 1-3 are going to lose:

Should Vegas blow it up? Caps? Jets?

These are all considered good teams, and reaching the top 8 is a fine achievement. One could even argue that for this Leafs team, getting to the conference finals would have been overachieving.

They have the cards they got dealt, you can't really force it. Letting Marner walk would likely be a poor option. Whatever they sign for UFA in place of him would likely not come even close. Star players in general tend to be good value for their contracts so they should be kept. Also, they don't have first round picks for the next few years, so rebuilding isn't an option, either.

The better thing to do would be to just change the supporting cast. Not every team is destined to win cups right away, and you cannot force things shortsightedly. If they end up having to rebuild, it should be done in 3-4 years when they actually have picks, not now.

I say keep the core 4 together.. that would be perfect

 

[Iwishihadaspacebar]

Assuming all teams that are 1-3 are going to lose:

Should Vegas blow it up? Caps? Jets?

These are all considered good teams, and reaching the top 8 is a fine achievement. One could even argue that for this Leafs team, getting to the conference finals would have been overachieving.

They have the cards they got dealt, you can't really force it. Letting Marner walk would likely be a poor option. Whatever they sign for UFA in place of him would likely not come even close. Star players in general tend to be good value for their contracts so they should be kept. Also, they don't have first round picks for the next few years, so rebuilding isn't an option, either.

The better thing to do would be to just change the supporting cast. Not every team is destined to win cups right away, and you cannot force things shortsightedly. If they end up having to rebuild, it should be done in 3-4 years when they actually have picks, not now.

The difference for Vegas, the Caps and the Jets is that they've not seen the same thing time again for the past 4-5 playoffs.

If Vegas saw this happen for two years running, they'd have already made huge changes (as they have done in recent years anyway).

This is groundhog day for the Leafs fans.

 

[NVious]

Assuming all teams that are 1-3 are going to lose:

Should Vegas blow it up? Caps? Jets?

These are all considered good teams, and reaching the top 8 is a fine achievement. One could even argue that for this Leafs team, getting to the conference finals would have been overachieving.

They have the cards they got dealt, you can't really force it. Letting Marner walk would likely be a poor option. Whatever they sign for UFA in place of him would likely not come even close. Star players in general tend to be good value for their contracts so they should be kept. Also, they don't have first round picks for the next few years, so rebuilding isn't an option, either.

The better thing to do would be to just change the supporting cast. Not every team is destined to win cups right away, and you cannot force things shortsightedly. If they end up having to rebuild, it should be done in 3-4 years when they actually have picks, not now.

Vegas has a cup and is shrewd, they'll make changes, but they're literally playing with house money.

Caps are just playing out the end of Ovis career, so even just making the playoffs is a good result.

Jets should get rid of Helle and try with someone else, having a bad playoffs is one thing, but having 3 abysmal playoffs is another.

Leafs are in the worst spot of the four:
No draft capital
No cups
Many problems as opposed to one glaring one:1.Old D 2.No prospects 3.Soft core that needs to totally go

 

[theguardianII]

Every team needs the star scorers for the easy season.

My observations as an outsider of the team in the playoffs is they seem soft. And really a little small.

IMHO they need a couple of missiles, guys that hit a lot, maybe three or more.
Trade for Catcomb, Olivier, Sherwood, Cuylle or McBain, those types that make opposition heads turn.
And size.

The stars get you there then the truculence has a bigger role.

TO isn't the biggest team either, Florida is bigger overall.

 

[WillardJFredricks]

The smart thing to do would be to let Marner go and trade Matthews. They'll let Marner walk, but won't dare trade Matthews. Nylander is clearly the only one of the "core four" who shows up (or at least makes an effort) when it matters. Keep him as the centrepiece and retool around him.

I understand why they won't get rid of Matthews, but it's clear (it was clear 5 years ago) that this current group won't win a thing and it's time to either retool or rebuild. They won't do that, they'll let Marner walk and keep betting on Matthews to eventually turn into a playoff player because he sells jerseys and is the face of the franchise. Send him to Utah, or Seattle or something and start over.

Truly a rebuild is the only logical way to go, but it won't happen. Why bother when the fans will keep paying money no matter the result?

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Assuming all teams that are 1-3 are going to lose:

Should Vegas blow it up? Caps? Jets?

These are all considered good teams, and reaching the top 8 is a fine achievement. One could even argue that for this Leafs team, getting to the conference finals would have been overachieving.

They have the cards they got dealt, you can't really force it. Letting Marner walk would likely be a poor option. Whatever they sign for UFA in place of him would likely not come even close. Star players in general tend to be good value for their contracts so they should be kept. Also, they don't have first round picks for the next few years, so rebuilding isn't an option, either.

The better thing to do would be to just change the supporting cast. Not every team is destined to win cups right away, and you cannot force things shortsightedly. If they end up having to rebuild, it should be done in 3-4 years when they actually have picks, not now.

Vegas won a Cup only two seasons ago, and the Caps are a younger team in the middle of retooling with youth. And with the Jets the issue seems to be the goalie, first and foremost, so that's the only "comparable" to the Leafs.

The issue with the Leafs is this has been the issue for YEARS. This isn't a reactionary thread based on THIS season's playoff performance. So lumping them in with teams who've actually had success as a core or who haven't been the same core for almost a decade is faulty logic.

 

[CowbellConray]

Leafs have 27M going into the offseason - 0 first round picks through 2027, need to sign Knies (expect $6M+ on a bridge or $8M for a long term deal).

Let's assume $20M after Knies, and they now need to add:

1) 2 top six forwards (1 center)
2) 1-2 bottom six forwards
3) another top 4 D

That's just to potentially stay relevant as a playoff team. That's not to make a contender. And, that's going to eat up ALL of their cap and they will need to revamp the D in 2 years as OEL/Tanev/Reilly all become ancient (35+)

If I'm their GM, I'm trading Carlo and OEL, asking Nylander to waive, getting a boatload of picks and prospects and trying to pull a Boston with Pasta to turnaround the team in 3 years when Matthews is 30. I dont think the core has ANY chance of winning, but you have built around Matthews, and you aren't moving him.

You have ok goaltending that's young, an OLD defense that isn't good enough, a bloated top end forward group, and zero top end prospects. Rough situation

 

[nbwingsfan]

They showed up flat to a pivotal game 5 at home after blowing a 2-0 series lead... if they get bounced this year, what can the Leafs do at this point? The effort displayed in this game ON HOME ice is absolutely pathetic.


Are the "big 4" the biggest collection irredeemable chokers in the NHL and maybe of all time? Do the Leafs finally break them up and start shipping out some big pieces?

We’ve asked this question every off season for like the last 5. There have been zero meaningful changes.

Why would it be any different? The obvious answer is to let Marner go, but the obvious answer was also to trade Marner last off season

Would be nothing short of hilarious to see them lose him for nothing when they could have got a Rantanen type return from him, but also hilarious to see them re-sign him.

There’s no winning situation anymore really.

 

[Niten Ichi Ryu]

Crazy how leafs fans already resigned to losing the series. Kind of the same attribute as the team. You know how many finalists had to overcome a 2-3 deficit on the way to the cup? Literally almost every year. 2024 Edmonton down 2-3 to Vancouver 2nd round. 2023 Florida down 1-3 to Boston 1st round. All 3 of Crosby's cup years he had to overcome a 2-3 deficit on the way to the finals. 2019 Blues, 2018 Caps, 2015 Hawks, 2012 Kings, etc etc.

Just 2 wins. They pull one out in Florida, its game 7 in Toronto. As an Oiler fan, we would be cheering them non stop, regardless of what the series is at. No one is victorious or dead until they win/lose 4. Just like how you never talk about the next round until your team wins 4, don't mindset being eliminated until your team loses 4

That being said my money is actually on Florida, but if it was my team, my belief wouldn't waiver and my money would go where my heart is