The post-mortem continues.
Top 10 lingering Leafs thoughts on what happened ... and what's next | Toronto Sun
Top 10 lingering Leafs thoughts on what happened ... and what's next | Toronto Sun
2020-21 Maple Leafs Thread
- Thread starter gcostanza
- Start date
As whiny and shameless as they come, you nailed it.
OH, OH, here comes the laughing emoticon.
Without trading either Marner or Nylander, the Leafs will very likely lose Hyman. Getting rid of Kertfoot will not be enough and there’s also the need of cap if they want to upgrade the depth.
It’ll be either Andersen or Rittich I believe. It‘ll depend on what offers Andersen can get in the open market nut I‘d think Campbell will be the no.1 goalie and Rittich will be the cheaper backup.
Sorry to disappoint you, but IMO Rielly is not the stud d man of a championship caliber team. He wasn’t the worst Leafs in the playoffs but I thought he regressed over the season and wasn’t impactful enough in the playoff. His strength is skating with the puck but his defence, lack of a power shot and as a quarterback of the pp are his weaknesses. He‘s of good value with his existing contract and he’ll probably play his heart out next season as this’ll be his contract year, but the Leafs may be wise to move on from him if he decides to test the free agency market.
The performance of the Canadiens from hereon-in will have an impact on how management and the cheerleaders view this team’s chances next season. If the Canadiens can upset the Golden Knights, or even make a close series out of it, they’ll believe that the Leafs are close enough to stay course and no major changes are needed. They’ll probably cite the injuries to Tavares and Muzzin as excuses and totally ignore how the rest of the core choked, just as they did the past three seasons.
I have always been of the opinion that having 40+ millions tied up on 4 forwards won’t work. They need to spread the wealth over to defence and depth on goal and forwards. They need more team players like Hyman. I still believe in Marner but won’t be terribly disappointed if he’s traded for the right kind of players, but the better decision will be the trading of Nylander to keep Hyman and add depth elsewhere.
I tend to agree with smuddan regarding Reilly. I don't really see him as a top pair defenseman, more like a number 4 guy. He doesn't really rack up a ton of points, he's not a shutdown defenseman, he's neither a PP or PK specialist, and he's not big enough to be a defensive intimidator like Muzzin, Weber, Hedman, Hamilton, Burns, Carlson or Pietrangelo. He skates and moves the puck well, but his shot strength and accuracy are absolutely terrible. I don't even get the impression that he's viewed as a real leader by his team mates.
I'm also beginning to wonder if MSLE has drunk so much Shanny/Dubas kool-aid that they're no longer able to see through the empty narrative supporting this team, its supposed core group, and excusing its poor performance. There really hasn't been even a hint of urgency or desperation heard from anyone in charge, nor is there even the remotest hint they are willing/intending to make some big moves and really shake things up from the status quo. If they're serious about winning, a few big names need to be shopped and if possible moved or absolutely nothing will change in the seasons to come.
I'm also beginning to wonder if MSLE has drunk so much Shanny/Dubas kool-aid that they're no longer able to see through the empty narrative supporting this team, its supposed core group, and excusing its poor performance. There really hasn't been even a hint of urgency or desperation heard from anyone in charge, nor is there even the remotest hint they are willing/intending to make some big moves and really shake things up from the status quo. If they're serious about winning, a few big names need to be shopped and if possible moved or absolutely nothing will change in the seasons to come.
1)Why should they tip their hands now by making a public declaration and therefore dealing from a weaker position by having to stick to a promise? The other GMs will take advantage of that.
2)Last I looked the off-season isn't finished yet. If, when it is over, and they've done nothing significant, your criticism would carry more weight. Wait.
I think what happens to Rittich is the least important thing on the team. He showed nothing here, or in Calgary. Guys like him are a dime a dozen and easily replaceable.
Hey smuddan, I know you are a loyal Leaf fan but that has never stopped you from your usual excellent, intelligent, rational, objective and civil posts. Agree with everything you said.
The first step in getting better is actually admitting you have a problem. Admitting you have a problem in terms of overall roster composition does nothing to weaken your trade positioning, nor does it diminish the value of your top end assets. The Leafs leadership cannot really even seem to admit to themselves, or their fans, that they still haven't got close to the correct mix to succeed in the playoffs. Their egos seem to insist on defending past decisions and largely maintaining status quo rather than admitting critical mistakes have been made and then working to correct them. Time will tell whether or not the emotionally disconnected MLSE leaders finally force Shanny and Dubas' hand. Patience is at an all-time low at this point. They could both find themselves on the sidewalk if they refuse to get with the program.
Unless we are privy to their private discussions, we have no idea as to what or what not they have admitted to themselves.
IMO, I believe there is no advantage in making their plans public. They basically paint themselves into a corner by doing so. I think that they are better off keeping their cards close to their proverbial vest.
Let the speculation begin.
The only things they said publicly is that the team lack a "killer instinct" and are "unlucky". Who knows what they are thinking/saying privately?
Yep, his constant use of the ha ha (laughing) emoji has become a joke in the community. (The intelligent, rational and civil posters rarely if ever use it.)
The only member of this organization who openly acknowledges his own subpar performance and holds himself accountable is Jack Campbell, even though he would be way down on the list of underachievers responsible for the team‘s failures.
I hope I’m wrong on this but we may be witnessing the formation of a new “Muskoka Five” like the one we had towards the end of the Sundin era.
And the top brass said they lack a "killer instinct" and were "unlucky".
So, how does a team fix a lack of a "killer instinct" and a lack of luck?
A behavioural economist would suggest that front end loading of contracts as heavily as the Leafs do (or rather as Dubas does) is a bit of a recipe for creating a "Muskoka Five".
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i noticed watching the habs against Vegas. They have only 2 thing going for them, heart and goaltending.
The 2 exact things the leafs don't have
The 2 exact things the leafs don't have
Congrats to former Leafs Gm Lou Lamoriello on winning his 2nd consecutive gm of the year.
And congrats to maurice93 for winning the most subtle but effective Leaf's GM put down of this thread award.
