And this really is the bottom line to this entire Shanabuild. Unfortunately management shares the Tavares mentality of we were right there. It’s this mentality that has kept us in Groundhog Day mode for 7 years.
Cowan will help to change culture .. but i think da biggest issues will be Rielly and Matty .. these 2 talk like leaders but bottom line they ain't anymore .. Rielly has lost a few steps and can't do what he did 2 years ago .. Matty is too injury prone and can't handle da heavy game of playoff hockey .. at least of those 2 must go .. to me i would start with Rielly as he isn't going to come back from 2 really poor seasons .. Matty we just don't know enough about whether his back can be healed and withstand a heavy hit .. to me i would move Rielly for a high 2025 pick and eat $2M of his AAV to wherever he wants to go to .. we are gonna get stuck with 5 more years at 7.5M per which is gonna start to reak badly next year .. hard to have a guy sitting in minors like him even if he might just do it to stay in TO .. our D core needs to get better next year .. it needs to be able to withstand da Cats forecheck bottom line otherwise next year is another wasted year
and we need to build up 3 all round scoring and defensive lines like Cats .. 1/2 lines does not work in playoffs .. we need 3 deep lines and an energy line for 4th .. hopefully we can sign 3 guys to replace Mitch who can produce in all aspects of da game .. get 20 goals per and play on da right side of puck defensively
I'm fascinated, and mildly horrified, by the fact that you can't spell out the word T-H-E.
The hero we need, but don't deserve. Thank you for your service
Tavares isn't a 2C come playoff time, he had the same number of points as 30 year old Max Domi. Actually Domi has 11 points vs his 9 in the last 2 playoffs.
Good luck. How long have the Leafs being trying? They threw anybody and everybody they could overboard in order to pay and keep paying 3 proven losers, and traded high draft picks and talent to help get them over the hump to the point where there is virtually nothing of value left. Either they do it or you may as well blow it up because you are not coming close with a 3rd line like the Panthers had these playoffs.
Tavares needs to become our #3C or you are not winning any cup with him as your #2C. At this point he might be good for a round as your #2C. Started well vs Sens but subsequently faded. Sad thing is everybody knew they needed a #2C at the TDL and Tre's answer was Laughton. Sigh.
That's complete garbage.
Sadly you might be right. He is no Barkov, Kopitar, Messier, Crosby, Toews, Mackinnon or Gretzky. If he does not change and lead like a true leader, it will be business as usual. Leaders do not claim their lost because they had too many passengers. Saw Spicy Pete interview after the lost to OKC to go down 3-2. He said, "I have to be better" at least times. I do not think those words are in Matty's vocabulary.
from 18-19:
The point of this thread is the need for DNA change which is something all of us agree with Tre this team badly needs.
He was worried, Bennett and Tkachuk were going to mess up his pretty face and hair. Can't have that going back to Sweden in a few more games.
