Leafs @ sens - Mar. 16th, 7:00pm - CBC, Fan 590
- Thread starter CarltonTheBear
- Start date
azzurri63
Active member
Chris said:
Wow actually hearing a lot reiterating what I?ve been harping about for ages. Said it a million times team is way too easy to play against.
As much as I know we needed help on the D and picking up Muzzin but Grundstrom is exactly the type of players we need. Hated see him included. Scores has some skill and a little sandpaper something we definitely lack.
Stronger Than All
New member
Did I miss a Gardiner update? People talking likenhes done for the season.
WhatIfGodWasALeaf
Active member
lc9 said:
I don?t think you?re a fan of another team.
I think it?s just your relentless negativity that is grating to a lot of people.
I?m sure it?s probably a way for you to vent as an allowance for whatever else is going on in your life.
There have been a lot of times when things have been going well this year when you?ve continued to be negative.
Eventually people just switch off.
I?m sure in your mind you think you?re merely pointing out problems you see with the team, but that?s not how a lot of people here perceive it.
Either way, I wish you well, we?re all in this together.
TheMightyOdin
New member
The kicker is we know this team is better than this. We want them to play to their upmost potential and challenge for a championship.
Let?s be honest, even if the leafs play to the best of their abilities, beating Tampa in a 7 game series is a mountain of a challenge. Playing the way they have as of late and they?d be lucky to win 1 game in 5.
Come playoffs I?ll still be in front of the tv watching, cursing, pacing back and forth.
Let?s be honest, even if the leafs play to the best of their abilities, beating Tampa in a 7 game series is a mountain of a challenge. Playing the way they have as of late and they?d be lucky to win 1 game in 5.
Come playoffs I?ll still be in front of the tv watching, cursing, pacing back and forth.
ZBBM
Active member
TheMightyOdin said:
Well, there's no doubt that if they don't play any better than this in the playoffs a sweep is very possible.
That said, while I'm not optimistic about their chances against Boston I also don't think they are going to turn in 4 performances in a row like the last 4.
I don't think they'll get swept. They are still a good team guys. Let's be realistic here.
In the absolute sea of mediocrity that is the modern NHL, the Leafs are in the upper echelon. They have a good core group of players, most of whom are under contract for a significant amount of time. There is still room for improvement. I admit that I haven't watched a lot of the team this year thanks to work, and their record during games I watch is not good and that accounts for a lot of my negative GDT posts. But I acknowledge that, as mediocre as the league is, you don't get to the top of it by being firm dog poop.
I think I've been pretty consistent in my criticism of the Leafs this year, right from the start of it. It's just not their time. They have a lot of maturing to do. The thing is, most of these guys are young, and have been among the best players if not THE best players everywhere they've played. Now they are getting into their 2nd and 3rd years in the league, enjoying relative success, but they haven't matured enough as a group to take the next step. The team is too soft to compete successfully in the grind of an NHL playoff series, let alone multiple. But these aren't areas that can't be improved upon with a little bit of work ethic and a little bit of toughening up. I'm not saying that Marner has to start banging bodies or that Muzzin needs to start laying guys out, or that they should replace half their forwards with Kassian-like goons, just that the players they have need to give that little bit extra effort to win puck battles and force turnovers. Nobody in this league is going to just give the puck up if you don't force them to.
Babcock has been echoing these sentiments all year. Things like "starting on time" and "playing heavy." He's trying to teach them what it takes to win in this league. But the truth is that none of these guys have really had to work that hard on the ice throughout their playing days. Everything just sort of came to them and now they're discovering that it's just not that easy at this level. To be honest, I think Babcock is allowing them to fail, because sometimes failure is the only way you learn. This is a process, and the Leafs are in it for the long haul. If you look at the big picture, things are looking up. I know we are all tired of failure but we've been waiting this long...what's another year or two?
In the absolute sea of mediocrity that is the modern NHL, the Leafs are in the upper echelon. They have a good core group of players, most of whom are under contract for a significant amount of time. There is still room for improvement. I admit that I haven't watched a lot of the team this year thanks to work, and their record during games I watch is not good and that accounts for a lot of my negative GDT posts. But I acknowledge that, as mediocre as the league is, you don't get to the top of it by being firm dog poop.
I think I've been pretty consistent in my criticism of the Leafs this year, right from the start of it. It's just not their time. They have a lot of maturing to do. The thing is, most of these guys are young, and have been among the best players if not THE best players everywhere they've played. Now they are getting into their 2nd and 3rd years in the league, enjoying relative success, but they haven't matured enough as a group to take the next step. The team is too soft to compete successfully in the grind of an NHL playoff series, let alone multiple. But these aren't areas that can't be improved upon with a little bit of work ethic and a little bit of toughening up. I'm not saying that Marner has to start banging bodies or that Muzzin needs to start laying guys out, or that they should replace half their forwards with Kassian-like goons, just that the players they have need to give that little bit extra effort to win puck battles and force turnovers. Nobody in this league is going to just give the puck up if you don't force them to.
Babcock has been echoing these sentiments all year. Things like "starting on time" and "playing heavy." He's trying to teach them what it takes to win in this league. But the truth is that none of these guys have really had to work that hard on the ice throughout their playing days. Everything just sort of came to them and now they're discovering that it's just not that easy at this level. To be honest, I think Babcock is allowing them to fail, because sometimes failure is the only way you learn. This is a process, and the Leafs are in it for the long haul. If you look at the big picture, things are looking up. I know we are all tired of failure but we've been waiting this long...what's another year or two?
azzurri63
Active member
When I?ve gotten on my rants about this teams lack of toughness, grit, compete level etc I?ve been bashed by some for being negative and getting wound up.
LC9 is getting the same bashing but fact is he?s right.
We are all fans here myself since I was 5 years old a year after their last cup.
Do I take it too seriously? Probably.
I see a lot of positives with this team. Most of it.
But although the team has taken some great strides I think that?s mostly due to how we sucked in prior years.
Had some good picks to help us get where we are.
It?s not due to Babcock?s coaching.
What I do see and unfortunately a lot on here don?t is how the team plays without the puck especially in our end. That has been dreadful since Babcock arrived and isn?t any better today.
Another area of concern is team toughness, willing to battle, take a hit to make a play etc. I understand the game has changed but those are still key parts of the game and ultimately make a team better. We are definitely missing that and although those facets of the game may come with maturity I personally feel for most players it?s something you have or don?t.
Dubas needs to improve this area this summer plain and simple.
I personally didn?t think we were going to win a cup last year and certainly not this year so instead of picking up players for draft picks we should have been trading JVR, Bozak and Gardiner at the deadline and picked up some draft picks or young players.
Use the picks to restock the cupboard to ease in some players to help with the cap issues.
Anyway I don?t see things changing for the playoffs. Hope I?m wrong. Bruins are a one line team. Think they can be beat but don?t see us getting any further even if we figure out how to get by them.
LC9 is getting the same bashing but fact is he?s right.
We are all fans here myself since I was 5 years old a year after their last cup.
Do I take it too seriously? Probably.
I see a lot of positives with this team. Most of it.
But although the team has taken some great strides I think that?s mostly due to how we sucked in prior years.
Had some good picks to help us get where we are.
It?s not due to Babcock?s coaching.
What I do see and unfortunately a lot on here don?t is how the team plays without the puck especially in our end. That has been dreadful since Babcock arrived and isn?t any better today.
Another area of concern is team toughness, willing to battle, take a hit to make a play etc. I understand the game has changed but those are still key parts of the game and ultimately make a team better. We are definitely missing that and although those facets of the game may come with maturity I personally feel for most players it?s something you have or don?t.
Dubas needs to improve this area this summer plain and simple.
I personally didn?t think we were going to win a cup last year and certainly not this year so instead of picking up players for draft picks we should have been trading JVR, Bozak and Gardiner at the deadline and picked up some draft picks or young players.
Use the picks to restock the cupboard to ease in some players to help with the cap issues.
Anyway I don?t see things changing for the playoffs. Hope I?m wrong. Bruins are a one line team. Think they can be beat but don?t see us getting any further even if we figure out how to get by them.
hockeyfan1
New member
TML fan said:
Right on. That is exactly what Babcock means (as well as other experts) on the merits of ?heavy hockey?. The compete factor, getting and retrieving the puck, etc., etc.
No one expects the Leafs to win the Cup this year. To get past the First Round? I, for one, have expectations there, albeit tempered with the way things are turning out right now. Hoping for the best.
Andy007
Active member
lc9 said:
Yea, you've always been a solid poster and, quite frankly, I think people are overreacting a bit to 'spur of the moment' posting. I get the same way when I'm watching, freaking out at all of the team's terrible (and let's face it, this team can be very bad very often) and lazy plays. It's definitely a frustrating team to watch. But I do think maybe the incessant repeating of the same complaints over and over again can get a bit grating, as WIGWAL pointed out. Just my meaningless two cents
OldTimeHockey
Active member
herman said:
They certainly earned it.
Strangelove
New member
A few takeaways:
1. Auston Matthews is elite in the offensive end but spends way too much time coasting in the defensive end.
2. The Leafs are not nearly as good at controlling/transitioning the puck and breaking up opposing rushes when Gardiner is not in the lineup.
3. Muzzin was somehow a +1 on the night. He is good.
4. Marleau is a liability. He barely comes into contact with the opposing team and gives the puck away constantly.
4. The consistent bad starts and chaotic play at both ends is a coaching issue. Babcock is not getting enough out of this team
1. Auston Matthews is elite in the offensive end but spends way too much time coasting in the defensive end.
2. The Leafs are not nearly as good at controlling/transitioning the puck and breaking up opposing rushes when Gardiner is not in the lineup.
3. Muzzin was somehow a +1 on the night. He is good.
4. Marleau is a liability. He barely comes into contact with the opposing team and gives the puck away constantly.
4. The consistent bad starts and chaotic play at both ends is a coaching issue. Babcock is not getting enough out of this team
Anyone else feel like they are watching "Carlyle Hockey" again? Same reliance on offense at the expense of defense, same
"drive-by" style of checking (waving sticks instead of engaging physically), same over-reliance on Andersen. Looks great early
in the season when games are more wide-open, looks great when "puck luck" is in our favor and pucks are going in the opponents
net every which way, looks OK when Andersen stands on his head. Doesn't look so good when the puck luck dries up or opponents
adjust/tighten their games or Freddy regresses to baseline performance.
The only difference seems to be a much higher overall talent level now (especially on offense) which often hides the deficiencies
and gets the team wins it doesn't necessarily deserve. What is unclear is how much of this might be on coaching/systems
and how much is a lack of maturity of many of our key players. The latter will certainly improve over the years but the former?
Anyway...getting blasted in the first round might be the best thing that could happen to this team.
"drive-by" style of checking (waving sticks instead of engaging physically), same over-reliance on Andersen. Looks great early
in the season when games are more wide-open, looks great when "puck luck" is in our favor and pucks are going in the opponents
net every which way, looks OK when Andersen stands on his head. Doesn't look so good when the puck luck dries up or opponents
adjust/tighten their games or Freddy regresses to baseline performance.
The only difference seems to be a much higher overall talent level now (especially on offense) which often hides the deficiencies
and gets the team wins it doesn't necessarily deserve. What is unclear is how much of this might be on coaching/systems
and how much is a lack of maturity of many of our key players. The latter will certainly improve over the years but the former?
Anyway...getting blasted in the first round might be the best thing that could happen to this team.