2021-22 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion

[Zee]

Keep making the playoffs, getting home ice, and hope the guys push through.

OR purposefully make the team slightly worse to secure the 7th seed instead.

So you're advocating Garrett Sparks as backup and play him at opportune moments to lose games?  8)

 

[ZBBM]

Not super surprising (especially given that you only make a move if a better one is available) but Shanahan confirms Keefe and Dubas will be back next year.

So before the playoffs I said I could support giving them both the 86 if they didn't get out of R1.  I wasn't clamoring for it, at least not very much.

But if this happens again next year, no excuses are good enough. In fact, it'll be hair on fire time.  If they can't get over this hump and at least look like they have a shot at a Cup before Matthews' contract runs out, he will decamp.

 

[L K]

Not super surprising (especially given that you only make a move if a better one is available) but Shanahan confirms Keefe and Dubas will be back next year.

So before the playoffs I said I could support giving them both the 86 if they didn't get out of R1.  I wasn't clamoring for it, at least not very much.

But if this happens again next year, no excuses are good enough. In fact, it'll be hair on fire time.  If they can't get over this hump and at least look like they have a shot at a Cup before Matthews' contract runs out, he will decamp.

I really wish we didn't have to play this stupid game in the media with Matthews.  He has done absolutely nothing to indicate that he will go elsewhere.  The Matthews to Arizona stuff is made entirely because of where he lives.  We have clearly seen how well that has benefitted Toronto over the last 30 years with all the young superstars leaving at the first opportunity to sign in Toronto (hint, Tavares is the only one and it's borderline to call him young).  Matthews has done nothing to suggest he's not going to stay in Toronto short of not signing an illegal 20 year contract.  He signed an extension that would potentially maximize his earnings but nothing indicates he is going elsewhere.  Make moves to make the team better and have the best chance to win, don't make moves to appease a single player, especially when they have done nothing to suggest they need appeasement.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Not super surprising (especially given that you only make a move if a better one is available) but Shanahan confirms Keefe and Dubas will be back next year.

So before the playoffs I said I could support giving them both the 86 if they didn't get out of R1.  I wasn't clamoring for it, at least not very much.

But if this happens again next year, no excuses are good enough. In fact, it'll be hair on fire time.  If they can't get over this hump and at least look like they have a shot at a Cup before Matthews' contract runs out, he will decamp.

I really wish we didn't have to play this stupid game in the media with Matthews.  He has done absolutely nothing to indicate that he will go elsewhere.  The Matthews to Arizona stuff is made entirely because of where he lives.  We have clearly seen how well that has benefitted Toronto over the last 30 years with all the young superstars leaving at the first opportunity to sign in Toronto (hint, Tavares is the only one and it's borderline to call him young).  Matthews has done nothing to suggest he's not going to stay in Toronto short of not signing an illegal 20 year contract.  He signed an extension that would potentially maximize his earnings but nothing indicates he is going elsewhere.  Make moves to make the team better and have the best chance to win, don't make moves to appease a single player, especially when they have done nothing to suggest they need appeasement.

Just to add before someone mentions his NMC in the 5th and final year. Lots of stars have signed similar contracts. Crosby, Malkin, Toews, Kane, Getzlaf, Perry, Stamkos, Hedman and the list goes on.
Oh and none of them were friend with Beiber lol.

 

[herman]

End of Season media availability with Brendan Shanahan and Kyle Dubas

MLHS will have the transcript shortly.

 

[ZBBM]

Not super surprising (especially given that you only make a move if a better one is available) but Shanahan confirms Keefe and Dubas will be back next year.

So before the playoffs I said I could support giving them both the 86 if they didn't get out of R1.  I wasn't clamoring for it, at least not very much.

But if this happens again next year, no excuses are good enough. In fact, it'll be hair on fire time.  If they can't get over this hump and at least look like they have a shot at a Cup before Matthews' contract runs out, he will decamp.

I really wish we didn't have to play this stupid game in the media with Matthews.  He has done absolutely nothing to indicate that he will go elsewhere.  The Matthews to Arizona stuff is made entirely because of where he lives.  We have clearly seen how well that has benefitted Toronto over the last 30 years with all the young superstars leaving at the first opportunity to sign in Toronto (hint, Tavares is the only one and it's borderline to call him young).  Matthews has done nothing to suggest he's not going to stay in Toronto short of not signing an illegal 20 year contract.  He signed an extension that would potentially maximize his earnings but nothing indicates he is going elsewhere.  Make moves to make the team better and have the best chance to win, don't make moves to appease a single player, especially when they have done nothing to suggest they need appeasement.

* shrugs *

Call it stupid speculation if you want.  But it's a concern.  If there's no forward motion, why wouldn't he sign with a contender?  (Not Arizona ... that kind of talk really is stupid.)  He's beginning to rack up major individual hardware.  What's left to accomplish except....

OTOH let's say they finally go on a run next year.  Then the speculation dies down.

My point is that next year is not just do or die for Shanahan & Dubas.  It has ramifications for individual player decisions.

 

[Joe S.]

Not super surprising (especially given that you only make a move if a better one is available) but Shanahan confirms Keefe and Dubas will be back next year.

Steady as she goes!

Honestly though, with a 115 point season and an OT goal away from advancing, I mean what can you do except hope internal growth + different mix of bottom 6 guys can get a different outcome next year?  Keep making the playoffs, getting home ice, and hope the guys push through.

They outplayed the defending champions 5 out of seven games. In any other universe that team advances. But you know this is the leafs so what can go wrong will go wrong.

All the big players came up big. I don?t know what they could have done better. That?s the random nature of sports.

 

[4EVRLEAFAN]

Not super surprising (especially given that you only make a move if a better one is available) but Shanahan confirms Keefe and Dubas will be back next year.

Steady as she goes!

Honestly though, with a 115 point season and an OT goal away from advancing, I mean what can you do except hope internal growth + different mix of bottom 6 guys can get a different outcome next year?  Keep making the playoffs, getting home ice, and hope the guys push through.

They outplayed the defending champions 5 out of seven games. In any other universe that team advances. But you know this is the leafs so what can go wrong will go wrong.

All the big players came up big. I don?t know what they could have done better. That?s the random nature of sports.

In the last 4 years in must win games  we have 3 goals, our PP is 0-18 and our top line scored no goals, none, in this game 7 Marner and Bunting didn't have a single shot, sorry to disagree with you but when it really mattered our big players folded like a wet blanket, we can talk about Campbell and the D but in games 7's it's our big players that are the problem, this was a series like last year we 100% should have won.

 

[ZBBM]

Not super surprising (especially given that you only make a move if a better one is available) but Shanahan confirms Keefe and Dubas will be back next year.

Steady as she goes!

Honestly though, with a 115 point season and an OT goal away from advancing, I mean what can you do except hope internal growth + different mix of bottom 6 guys can get a different outcome next year?  Keep making the playoffs, getting home ice, and hope the guys push through.

They outplayed the defending champions 5 out of seven games. In any other universe that team advances. But you know this is the leafs so what can go wrong will go wrong.

All the big players came up big. I don?t know what they could have done better. That?s the random nature of sports.

In the last 4 years in must win games  we have 3 goals, our PP is 0-18 and our top line scored no goals, none, in this game 7 Marner and Bunting didn't have a single shot, sorry to disagree with you but when it really mattered our big players folded like a wet blanket, we can talk about Campbell and the D but in games 7's it's our big players that are the problem, this was a series like last year we 100% should have won.

I see your points.  But: The lesson is that any line can be shut down if the other team has the skills/willingness, which most playoff teams do.  Stamkos, Kucherov, Hedman, and of course Point all folded like wet blankets in G7 too. 

We got defeated in G7 because Nick Paul (!) came up big.

 

[Kin]

* shrugs *

Call it stupid speculation if you want.  But it's a concern.  If there's no forward motion, why wouldn't he sign with a contender?  (Not Arizona ... that kind of talk really is stupid.)  He's beginning to rack up major individual hardware.  What's left to accomplish except....

OTOH let's say they finally go on a run next year.  Then the speculation dies down.

My point is that next year is not just do or die for Shanahan & Dubas.  It has ramifications for individual player decisions.

Ok, so if the only concern is how Matthews feels about it wouldn't the thing to do be to go to him and let him make the decision?

 

[Bill_Berg]

I saw Campbell's presser with the media.  He's going to go for top dollar and I don't blame him. Considering his age and earnings so far. But might mean the Leafs can't afford him.

 

[herman]

End of Season media availability with Brendan Shanahan and Kyle Dubas

MLHS will have the transcript shortly.

Shanahan
Dubas

 

[Guilt Trip]

I saw Campbell's presser with the media.  He's going to go for top dollar and I don't blame him. Considering his age and earnings so far. But might mean the Leafs can't afford him.

And good for him if he does, but I hope it's somewhere else. Noodles mentioned 5x5 which O'Neill said no one is giving him 5x5. It won't be the Leafs. I think they should go after Husso if he's available.
One thing for certain, both Jack and Mrazek together won't be on the team next season. One or both are gone.

 

[herman]

They're finally going to do the thing

With the salary-cap crunch, do you need more from your Marlies and guys coming up on ELCs next year?

Dubas: Yes, I do, and I expect that we will. It is not only the players that are the obvious ones that are higher picks, but if you look at the bottom of our forward lineup in particular? There are guys who may not have as high a profile but can play specific roles and provide specific elements, whether it is speed, physicality, power, or presence. A Bobby McMann, Curtis Douglas, Joey Anderson ? players in that mold ? in addition to the Robertsons and the like. That is where the focus will be for sure.

I met with those players yesterday. What their opportunity is going to be in training camp was made abundantly clear in terms of what they are competing for. We do need those players to begin converting from being good prospects and Marlies to being good players for the Leafs, yes.

[...]

At the end of the year with the Marlies, Pontus Holmberg came over. He was a sixth-round pick in 2018. He played exceptionally well for them. We feel he will challenge for the roster next year. He has played on the Olympic team and won a championship in Sweden.

Look who got name dropped super specifically amidst a listing of recent picks and Marlies role players.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/iihfhockey/status/1527564463892795392

 

[Redleaf]

Still thinking about the Leafs game 7 loss. Watching Tampa carve through Florida like butter does remind me of how good this Lightning team really is.

A lot of the uninformed Leaf disbelievers and haters aren?t taking into account the fact the Leafs have been the only team to come remotely close to knocking them off. And that Tampa Bay has been on a run of 9 straight playoff series victories on their way to clinching 2 and maybe even 3 straight Stanley cups.

I know this doesn?t mean much for the causal observer because the Leafs ultimately loss to them, but I think it does show how good this Leaf club is and how close they could be to making a big splash in the playoffs. Hopefully real soon.

 

[Bill_Berg]

Still thinking about the Leafs game 7 loss. Watching Tampa carve through Florida like butter does remind me of how good this Lightning team really is.

A lot of the uninformed Leaf disbelievers and haters aren?t taking into account the fact the Leafs have been the only team to come remotely close to knocking them off. And that Tampa Bay has been on a run of 9 straight playoff series victories on their way to clinching 2 and maybe even 3 straight Stanley cups.

I know this doesn?t mean much for the causal observer because the Leafs ultimately loss to them, but I think it does show how good this Leaf club is and how close they could be to making a big splash in the playoffs. Hopefully real soon.

I mean any team could beat any team, but it's possible Tampa was the only team that really should have expected to beat the Leafs, and even that was a coin flip. In the east anyway. Colorado is probably another coin flip.

That's the Leafs luck!

 

[CarltonTheBear]

The phantom call on Kampf in game 6 should probably go down in memory right alongside another bad reffing moment in a different game 6 in Leafs history.

 

[Redleaf]

Still thinking about the Leafs game 7 loss. Watching Tampa carve through Florida like butter does remind me of how good this Lightning team really is.

A lot of the uninformed Leaf disbelievers and haters aren?t taking into account the fact the Leafs have been the only team to come remotely close to knocking them off. And that Tampa Bay has been on a run of 9 straight playoff series victories on their way to clinching 2 and maybe even 3 straight Stanley cups.

I know this doesn?t mean much for the causal observer because the Leafs ultimately loss to them, but I think it does show how good this Leaf club is and how close they could be to making a big splash in the playoffs. Hopefully real soon.

I mean any team could beat any team, but it's possible Tampa was the only team that really should have expected to beat the Leafs, and even that was a coin flip. In the east anyway. Colorado is probably another coin flip.

That's the Leafs luck!

Yeah. The Lightning-Leafs series was clearly a coin flip. All the other 8 Tampa victories (going on 9) have not been though. Tampa?s dominated those other teams for the most part. That was sort of my point. They?ll never get credit for losing the series against them by 1 goal, nor should they I guess. But it should be a considering factor when analyzing the current state of this Leafs team. And I think MLSE did just that when they wisely decided to ?run it back? for another season.

EDIT: it sucks to have to wait another year to find out but I somehow grow more optimistic about the Leafs finally breaking through next year with every Tampa bay victory. As odd as that sounds .

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/willyscarl/status/1527639540894248961
lol wut