2025-26 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion

[ZBBM]

This is an interesting discussion about playstyle but it's all academic unless Matthews can — somehow — get back to pre-2024/25 form. We are a month in and he has, what, one 5 on 5 goal? I've missed most of the games but in those I've seen he's mostly been on the same level as last year: good, responsible, but not changing the event.

We are a month into things, and there is no real sign that he is "over" whatever the hell his problem is. It's too early to say for sure, but we have to entertain the possibility that we've seen Peak Matthews. If that's so, then the team has already squandered its best chances for a Cup.

 

[cabber24]

This is an interesting discussion about playstyle but it's all academic unless Matthews can — somehow — get back to pre-2024/25 form. We are a month in and he has, what, one 5 on 5 goal? I've missed most of the games but in those I've seen he's mostly been on the same level as last year: good, responsible, but not changing the event.

We are a month into things, and there is no real sign that he is "over" whatever the hell his problem is. It's too early to say for sure, but we have to entertain the possibility that we've seen Peak Matthews. If that's so, then the team has already squandered its best chances for a Cup.

A short-term contract may have been a mistake.

 

[Arn]

The Dom article quoted is racially agreeing with what I said a few days ago, but with more evidence.

I also agree that Matthews isnt where he was.

I wonder how much of that might also be the play style and the players he’s now surrounded with.

Not saying the play style is the difference between 70 goals and 35, but could it be the difference between 35 and 45 goals?

But yeah, I’m basically out on Berube (and Treliving) as being the right options. As with Herman I’m not averse to the theory of what he wants to do. But I don’t think he’s also taking what the players do have onto account to mould his system around what they can do.

I’ve been taking a lot of time to watch a lot of other NHL, mostly in highlight form but other full games too. There are a lot of teams who are playing exciting winning hockey. Many of them without the high end individuals available to Toronto.

There’s some very young teams who are going to be making waves and pushing some older teams out of playoff qualification contention a lot sooner than maybe we’d like.

 

[Chris]

Wouldn't it be something if the Leafs were to can Berube around mid-season and then the new coach helped propel them to a Cup. Kind of the reverse-Berube effect.

I suspect the Leafs will pull themselves out of it enough to make the playoffs and keep Berube's job safe for now. I still think they could do damage in the playoffs (IF they make it) if one or both of the goalies get hot, Tanev returns to form, Matthews starts impacting games and everyone gets on the same page system-wise. Hmm, that's a lot of ifs...

 

[Arn]

Wouldn't it be something if the Leafs were to can Berube around mid-season and then the new coach helped propel them to a Cup. Kind of the reverse-Berube effect.

I suspect the Leafs will pull themselves out of it enough to make the playoffs and keep Berube's job safe for now. I still think they could do damage in the playoffs (IF they make it) if one or both of the goalies get hot, Tanev returns to form, Matthews starts impacting games and everyone gets on the same page system-wise. Hmm, that's a lot of ifs...

I know if your granny had balls she’d be your grandad and all that, but, imagine one of the Keefe coached sides got the goaltending stats that Berube got last year.

Keefe’s teams never really got anything like that and went out of the playoffs early cos they didn’t score enough to overcome that, so almost any goals conceded were backbreakers. But at least they generally scored a lot and had the potential to score and they were fun to watch during the regular season. With skilled players doing fun things.

This Leafs team looks like it also won’t score. It’s not actually defending any better. But its deficiencies were hidden last season by the goaltending bailing them out. All they’ve really done is make it worse. And they’ve killed that offensive side completely.

 

[Guilt Trip]

I know if your granny had balls she’d be your grandad and all that, but, imagine one of the Keefe coached sides got the goaltending stats that Berube got last year.

Keefe’s teams never really got anything like that and went out of the playoffs early cos they didn’t score enough to overcome that, so almost any goals conceded were backbreakers. But at least they generally scored a lot and had the potential to score and they were fun to watch during the regular season. With skilled players doing fun things.

This Leafs team looks like it also won’t score. It’s not actually defending any better. But its deficiencies were hidden last season by the goaltending bailing them out. All they’ve really done is make it worse. And they’ve killed that offensive side completely.

Ding Ding Ding.... winner....totally agree.

 

[4EVRLEAFAN]

I know if your granny had balls she’d be your grandad and all that, but, imagine one of the Keefe coached sides got the goaltending stats that Berube got last year.

Keefe’s teams never really got anything like that and went out of the playoffs early cos they didn’t score enough to overcome that, so almost any goals conceded were backbreakers. But at least they generally scored a lot and had the potential to score and they were fun to watch during the regular season. With skilled players doing fun things.

This Leafs team looks like it also won’t score. It’s not actually defending any better. But its deficiencies were hidden last season by the goaltending bailing them out. All they’ve really done is make it worse. And they’ve killed that offensive side completely.

It's very hard to watch this team play right now.

 

[Arn]

It's very hard to watch this team play right now.

The thing is, at the start of last season you kind of give it a bit of a pass. It’s the pain of adjusting to a more winning game. And at the end of the day, while we like to be entertained, winning is entertaining in itself.

Except, the pain has continued if not got even worse, and I think they’re further away from winning than they have been at any time in the last half dozen years or so.

 

[Guru Tugginmypuddah]

The thing is, at the start of last season you kind of give it a bit of a pass. It’s the pain of adjusting to a more winning game. And at the end of the day, while we like to be entertained, winning is entertaining in itself.

Except, the pain has continued if not got even worse, and I think they’re further away from winning than they have been at any time in the last half dozen years or so.

Currently sitting last in their division and second last in the east.

 

[Bill_Berg]

Slackin' for Gavin!

 

[herman]

The Leafs are basically suffering from one main issue; unfortunately it is foundational to every aspect of their play and thus the symptoms are widespread. Given that the personnel is largely the same, barring minor injuries to important people, this falls to coaching changes not giving the players a better chance of executing (Lane Lambert showing well in Seattle, Derek Lalonde fresh off the broadcast desk).

Basically, the defense is not able to move the puck out quickly and cleanly. I ain't gonna review the video compared to last year, but it's some combination of forwards focusing more on spreading up and out and the backend folks not being strong enough on their skates and puck handling to get the puck up. They're disconnected right now and it's reminiscent of the Carlyle and the last few weeks of Babcock (different situation there; that was mutiny). Transition game is basically non-existent unless Nylander is on the ice.

This leads to blind chip outs and purposeless dump ins, and too many rushes coming back the other way, which leads to defenses sagging off the blueline, and forwards having to spend a lot of time and energy tracking back and getting DZ'd to death. This puts the goalie in a bad spot obviously, and the forwards don't have the gas left to establish heavy OZ time.

Is it fixable? Yes. A lot of things will click into place if that happens.

What is the fix? Adjustments to where/when defenses should trigger aggressively and when to control the slot. Get forwards spreading the zone a little shorter to get the C or F3 to swing through for shorter break outs for the D, who need to actually try to make those passes instead of just airmailing it every time (or putting it on the opposing forechecker's tape). This should give more room under the opposing D (who would gap up higher) to establish the dump and chase with better speed differential. The dumper needs to pick one of two good spots and drop it in with good weight where the goalie can't make a play, and in the lane where F1 has built up speed.