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

[Oak]

Plan the parade boys

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

Ontario can now exhale.

 

[Brookbank]

Ovie had playoff years where he averaged 1.5ppg and the Caps failures were due to subpar blueline.

The Penguins won cups with subpar bluelines. The Caps didn't win cups because the playoffs are about luck and momentum. And they never had the momentum at the right time.

 

[Delete1]

Solid thread.

 

[Green Blank Stare]

Pretty sure Washington state probably has crappy taxes

No state tax, just like Texas and Florida.

 

[acor]

LOL at people telling to tear it down- suck for next 5 years, and in 10 years, if you're lucky, you might end where you are right now.

 

[notbias]

What skill forward with toughness did the Leafs add? Am I missing someone other than Domi?

Domi isn't tough... is your definition of tough just someone who fights?

He plays soft between the whistles.

 

[sampollock]

After last night goal
I have to hold to see what in game 7

 

[Beukeboom Fan]

Domi isn't tough... is your definition of tough just someone who fights?

He plays soft between the whistles.

Not necessarily just fights, but rather someone who will lay the body and is borderline dirty (or over the border). Someone like Bennett, the Tkachuks, or Benn/Perry in their prime.

 

[notbias]

Not necessarily just fights, but rather someone who will lay the body and is borderline dirty (or over the border). Someone like Bennett, the Tkachuks, or Benn/Perry in their prime.

Domi doesn't hit or lay his body on the line... I always find it weird when people use him as an example, to me, it just shows that the person has no clue what they are talking about.

 

[syz]

Question is where do the Leafs go if they lose a close game 7? Would that be enough to convince them to keep trying?

 

[sxvnert]

Question is where do the Leafs go if they lose a close game 7? Would that be enough to convince them to keep trying?

Marner is gone regardless so changes are happening no matter what. It's clear he wants to play in a non hockey market that will shield him from criticism.

 

[Turin]

I’m pretty sure Leafs win game 7 somehow. Just reminds me too much of Pittsburgh-Detroit 2009. The opportunity for redemption is too great. But then again it’s the Leafs. Very compelling game 7

 

[Strangle]

There are 6 teams still alive in the NHL

The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of them as of today

 

[Leafs87]

Game 5 was bad, but getting to round 2 game 7 against the reigning Stanley Cup champions is hardly blowing it. Hoping for a good game, but regardless, expectations need to be tempered at this point

 

[JianYang]

Game 5 was bad, but getting to round 2 game 7 against the reigning Stanley Cup champions is hardly blowing it. Hoping for a good game, but regardless, expectations need to be tempered at this point

It needs to be put in context though. I thought the leafs had a tremendous opportunity to get to the 3rd round this year. Boston finally collapsed. Tampa is getting long in the tooth and have not won a round since they last made the finals.

Likewise, Florida has gone to back to back finals, and no team has made 3 straight finals in over 40 years (aside from Tampa in the irregular covid offseasons).

It's an opportunity for Toronto to take advantage of all that accumulated mileage.

I predicted a big statement game against Florida in game 6, but I'm not so sure that's what I saw. You just know that if they lost that game, the narrative would have been that they mustered 17 shots in a do or die game after getting spanked the game before, and the team needs a blow up.

 

[Skolman]

What skill forward with toughness did the Leafs add? Am I missing someone other than Domi?

Domi? Tough?

Come on now

Domi doesn't strike fear into anyone. No one changes their game because Max Domi is in the lineup.

Not to mention he also doesn't add a physical component. Heck, McDavid threw more hits than him in less games this year.

 

[Leafs87]

It needs to be put in context though. I thought the leafs had a tremendous opportunity to get to the 3rd round this year. Boston finally collapsed. Tampa is getting long in the tooth and have not won a round since they last made the finals.

Likewise, Florida has gone to back to back finals, and no team has made 3 straight finals in over 40 years (aside from Tampa in the irregular covid offseasons).

It's an opportunity for Toronto to take advantage of all that accumulated mileage.

I predicted a big statement game against Florida in game 6, but I'm not so sure that's what I saw. You just know that if they lost that game, the narrative would have been that they mustered 17 shots in a do or die game after getting spanked the game before, and the team needs a blow up.

The narrative is rarely positive around the Leafs. They were very injured, which I know everyone is at this time, but losing their starting goalie, playing with Matthews at 50% and getting to round 2 7 isn’t getting blown out. Disappointing that they couldn’t capitalize and get to round 3 if they lose, but not blown out. The best way forward at this point is to build on what they have and fix the depth. Trading one of the “core 4” and restructuring the team should have been done years ago. Regardless, we may lose Marner and have to do that anyways, but without getting assets back.

 

[JianYang]

The narrative is rarely positive around the Leafs. They were very injured, which I know everyone is at this time, but losing their starting goalie, playing with Matthews at 50% and getting to round 2 7 isn’t getting blown out. Disappointing that they couldn’t capitalize and get to round 3 if they lose, but not blown out. The best way forward at this point is to build on what they have and fix the depth. Trading one of the “core 4” and restructuring the team should have been done years ago. Regardless, we may lose Marner and have to do that anyways, but without getting assets back.

I am curious about this. Assuming they get out of this round, I am still doing a major shake up if they cant get past Carolina.

Marner being the obvious play with the contract situation. I can't recall Tavares contract situation but if he is up, he's one they could let go as well. Obviously they would need to be replaced accordingly which isn't easy but it would pretty much be out of necessity to roll that dice.

I'm thinking the core brought back if they fail this year ought to be matthews, knies, and Nylander.

Not that I am thrilled with matthews either, but you have to bet on him as the entire era is defined under his name. He should only leave if the leafs decide to do a blow up which I don't think should be the case.