Leafs 2023-2024 Thread
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In respect to the Europeans' reputation as being soft, it's true that they didn't play as physically as Canadians/NHL'ers, but I don't think it was because of their nature or they were less "manly" (yes, but I like it too) but they were just not used to that style of play. It just took time for them to learn or adapt to the Canadian style of play. Nobody questions their heart or compete level anymore. I don't think that Cherry appreciated that and out and out questioned their heart.
But as I said before, he was definitely entertaining and spoke from the hip. Another entertaining guy was Howie Meeker. You don't see guys like those two anymore. Nowadays we get robotic, non-offensive, advertiser pleasers. They may be knowledgeable but they they have no personality or style. They're all a bunch of boring as a doorknob monotone voices like Craig Simpson. Like the Monty Python accountant who wants to be a lion tamer, he's "duhw, duhw, duhw." (dull)
Don Cherry is still a fashion icon to golfers and people born with color blindness.
All I saw was Canada giving up 6 goals to Austria
Right until what time?
Certainly not by the early to mid 90's, when Euro's of all nations became more prevalent in the NHL -- and were successful and better defenders in general. I'll trust the hockey mind of someone like Scotty Bowman, who heavily invested in Euro's at the time, over Don Cherry.
Grit and hitting, does not equal heart or defensive ability. Cherry never saw that. Not to say you don't want a mix of that on your team either.
He said the same "soft" crap for the entire decade despite them having a bunch of NHL sccuess.. Once I got to my later teen years and was able to think for myself I lost all interest in him as a hockey analyst.. and it had nothing to do with the "politics" of the statements or his views. It was how poor they were logically from an on ice perspective.
Cherry saw Euro's as soft and in general, but not as direct, most French Canadiens as well. Look at the Champs of the NHL in the 90'sto see how wrong he was during this period.
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Cherry has always been a self-serving buffoon, I can never forgive him for the Bob Probert fiasco.
I agree, Europeans are soft, remember how Eric Lindros dominated Vladimir Konstantinov in the Stanley Cup Final of 1997? It was the beginning of the end for Baby Huey.
Europeans are like the Loafs, S'mores eaters.
I agree, Europeans are soft, remember how Eric Lindros dominated Vladimir Konstantinov in the Stanley Cup Final of 1997? It was the beginning of the end for Baby Huey.
Europeans are like the Loafs, S'mores eaters.
Why would he get on his case for not producing? He may get on him for not playing the game in a productive way at the right time, but that’s literally what a coach is there to manage.
There is a long list of average to below average players across all sports who made excellent and successful coaches because they know how to get the best out of their team and have the players live up to their ceiling.
Champion players understand and respect that dynamic.
Maple Leafs' playoff hits per 60 up every year since 2020.
One would have to think with Berube and Treliving that's going to continue.
2020: 19.0
2021: 28.0
2022: 36.4
2023: 40.4
2024: 48.9
Brazeau 6'5' 220 lbs forward currently on the Bruins was once a Toronto Marlie.
Skating was his issue. He worked with Underhill and it looks fine now.
One would have to think with Berube and Treliving that's going to continue.
2020: 19.0
2021: 28.0
2022: 36.4
2023: 40.4
2024: 48.9
Brazeau 6'5' 220 lbs forward currently on the Bruins was once a Toronto Marlie.
Skating was his issue. He worked with Underhill and it looks fine now.
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Berube is hired as a head coach so his resume as a nhl player is irrelevant. Many great coaches never played one game in the nhl just to make a point. At least he has had a good resume as a coach, unlike when Keefe was hired with no nhl experience, much alike Dubas was hired with no gm experience. Let‘s give him a fair chance to prove one way or another. One thing I’m sure is, even though he’s not an in your face kind of coach, he will not walk back on any criticism he may have on the core players.
