2020-21 Maple Leafs Thread

[TeeJay]

Unlike the Raptors who were only gutted once, the Leafs have been gutted four times. It started when Harold Ballard allowed Bernie Parent to jump to the WHA. That's a much tougher road to come back from. Muzzin is out for three weeks.

Ballard was in prison for tax fraud when the Toros came to town (and really that was an ownership battle anyways, since Basset was a part owner of the Leafs, had a fight, left, and came back to town with a WHA club in tow)
They hated each other and so many stories of what happened when Ballard was paroled and came back to the Leafs.
The NHL clubs had standing orders to not negotiate large dollar salaries for players who wanted to jump ship

Plante was still riding out his contract with the Leafs anyways (you know overpaid long term contracts for old players; sound familiar?)


I'd say blame Philadelphia more than Ballard
Philly traded an unhappy Parent to Toronto who promptly left for WHA
He returned in less than a year (demanded buyout during playoffs) and decided to resign with Philly
He then promptly won 2 cups

 

[tribunus]

So many variables for what happened. Stars not performing. Tavares out. A few posts here and there. Hyman shooting the puck right into Price's chest every fucking time. What if Matthews had raised the puck an inch higher above Price's pad in OT of game 6?

And I think the Leafs were fucked by the playoff schedule. They had to wait almost a week after the regular season ended for the first game, allowing a tired opponent to rest. Made no fucking sense that they played the first game 6 days after the playoffs had already started stateside, and Boston and Washington had already played three games.

 

[takrak]

Analytics can't measure heart.

 

[TeeJay]

And I think the Leafs were fucked by the playoff schedule. They had to wait almost a week after the regular season ended for the first game, allowing a tired opponent to rest. Made no fucking sense that they played the first game 6 days after the playoffs had already started stateside, and Boston and Washington had already played three games.

What are you talking about?

Canadians last game on May 12th
Leafs last game on May 14th
Leafs 1st playoff game is May 20th

Your excuse is that Montreal required rest (???) and (somehow) those extra 2 days off is what caused Toronto to choke again?

Leafs have not even won a series post lockout, the rare playoff trips are always early 1st round exits despite whatever excuses the fans come up with
I mean like 20 years ago you could beat the Senators but today I am not so sure

 

[Insidious Von]

Thanks for the information TeeJay, I didn't know the particulars.

The Urinating Tree is not from Toronto. I assumed he was, he did a clip for Blue Jays Today. His name is Steve Linkowski, from Pittsburgh.

 

[Toxboy75]

What are you talking about?

Canadians last game on May 12th
Leafs last game on May 14th
Leafs 1st playoff game is May 20th

Your excuse is that Montreal required rest (???) and (somehow) those extra 2 days off is what caused Toronto to choke again?

Leafs have not even won a series post lockout, the rare playoff trips are always early 1st round exits despite whatever excuses the fans come up with
I mean like 20 years ago you could beat the Senators but today I am not so sure

Love the Leafs but this is no excuse. It is weird why the playoff games didn't start earlier. This does not take from the fact that they were up 3 -1 and lost 3 straight. They may be a good regular season team but not a playoff team. Something needs to change, not sure what but it needs to happen so they can get over the hump.

 

[jalimon]

The highlights...

Paul Byron short handed goal in game 1. Showed the grits...

gal's turnover in game 5... The Leafs were finishing the job when that switched momentum completely...

Another stupid turnover game 6 in OT!

Price's attitude in game 7. He was so easygoing... Team knew he would not let an easy one go trough.

 

[Insidious Von]

I'm trading in the Leafs for Blue Tits.

 

[jcpro]

Maybe they should fire the coach, again. LOL!!

 

[mellowjello]

Mathews line fell on their face.
At the very least, I didn't expect the team to go out without a fight.

 

[bullitt]

You must be on drugs. Did you even watch this series? The guy picked up some opportunist points, sure, but beyond that he was absolutely pitiful. The last two games he was embarrassing to watch out there.

your the man john!! guy is kessel all over again.

 

[bullitt]

The highlights...

Paul Byron short handed goal in game 1. Showed the grits...

gal's turnover in game 5... The Leafs were finishing the job when that switched momentum completely...

Another stupid turnover game 6 in OT!

Price's attitude in game 7. He was so easygoing... Team knew he would not let an easy one go trough.

and keefe challenging that perry goal in game 6. what was he looking at? good thing they hired manny maholtra to run that pp. its not the size of the dog in the fight, its the size of the FIGHT in the dog. habs showed that, leafs didnt. the old saying, your best players, need to be your best players. changes coming in TRAWNA.

 

[northofsixty]

Well that was interesting !!!

As a Habs fan I thought at the start of the series Montreal had a chance of maybe winning two games – but never thought they could win the series.

I am not going to gloat (overly) or mention the continuation of the Leaf’s playoff futility (other than I just did) – but will only say that for Toronto to completely blow a 3 -1 games series lead showed a team wide lack of heart, drive, and killer instinct.

Were the injuries to Tavares and Muzzin a factor? – absolutely – but a team with true depth and character and real championship qualities finds ways to overcome those obstacles.

Was Carey Price amazing? – no doubt. Did the Hab’s capitalize of some glaring Leaf’s mistakes? – definitely. And when it mattered most in Game 7 did the Hab’s out hustle and out “heart” the Leaf’s more talented core? – without question.

How will Montreal do against the Jets? – don’t know.
But for the lowly Habs (in the eyes of most Leafs fans) to be the team to extend the Leaf’s epic playoff futility for yet another year - well that is just - Priceless !!

 

[blueray]

Maybe showing Lou Lamoriello the door wasn’t such a great idea. I have never been sold on Dubas.

Campbell played some good hockey against very mediocre teams down the stretch but If he is your number 1 goalie you are in trouble.

Please stop signing aging players with the bullshit ideology of how great their experience will be in the dressing room come playoff time.

Manner is not built or wired for physical tighter checking playoff hockey. He’s fun to watch during the regular season though....figure skating around when no one really gives a shit. Things get clamped down in the playoffs.

I thought the D played well but agree with others that thought Morgan has lost a step.

 

[Insidious Von]

When Carey Price has that lounge lizard look on his face, the rest of the team brims with confidence.

 

[mellowjello]

Really? I'd say Muzzin, Holl, Hyman and Campbell were far far better.

Broadie as well.

 

[Fun For All]

All the cliches coming out, all the "I told you so's"...everybody doing there analyst imitation...

If the Leafs could have scored the overtime goal in either game 5 or 6 they'd be on to the next round....

 

[mellowjello]

When I was a child,
I caught a fleeting glimpse....
The child is grown,
the dream is gone.

 

[mellowjello]

All the cliches coming out, all the "I told you so's"...everybody doing there analyst imitation...

If the Leafs could have scored the overtime goal in either game 5 or 6 they'd be on to the next round....

If Dallas could have won more games than Tampa in the finals, Dallas would have been the Stanley Cup champs last year.

 

[chuckertmg]

All the cliches coming out, all the "I told you so's"...everybody doing there analyst imitation...

If the Leafs could have scored the overtime goal in either game 5 or 6 they'd be on to the next round....

Yes, that's right up there with the analyst posting last night who pointed out that if the Leafs had scored on their chances and the other team hadn't scored on their chances then the Leafs might have won.
A very meaningful observation.

Or as Yogi Berra said: "If we hadn't lost, then they wouldn't have won."