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Post by kazzie on Mar 27, 2024 6:44:43 GMT -5
So glad I didn't watch 3rd. Sadly I can see us swept vs bos , Florida or Rangets. Tampa may pass us putting us in wild card. Don't think it will matter. Pick your poison. Zero killer instinct. We score 2 quick goals. Up 3-2. Instead of turning it up we relax and 18 seconds give one up. Nothing has changed. We don't have another gear. At least Keefe was angry in post game. Kind of. I dud like his response that the immaturity from our leaders showed up. Even named JT from last night. Said this has been ongoing for years. Was a little refreshing until he said we have been playing very well recently. What? Even when we win there are too many bouts of poor play. I hate focusing on Boston but it's all around me. They step up and win in Florida. Look at that Bruin roster? Firstb2 centers, Coyle and Zacha. How do they win? Well they have a coach that can teach and push buttons for one. But enough of them. We got ten games to turn things around.. not that we will change Careless and sloppy play. That’s what I saw last night from everybody. It’s disappointing and makes me sick. But like has been said we’ve seen this show before and nothing changes. Luyubushkin has been awful and where is the physicality? Why does Keefe continue to put Gregor in? He does nothing. Our defense is still not good and when you don’t have Rielly and Edmundson available it just makes things worse. Keefe said the other night that he takes advantage of our depth. Taking one guy that sucks out for another one that sucks is not depth in my opinion. I’m so tired of his act. We get outcoached more times than I can count. Boston or Florida must be licking their chops thinking of getting the Leafs in Round 1.
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Post by kazzie on Mar 27, 2024 7:31:59 GMT -5
Sitting here enjoying my morning coffee and just thinking about last night’s game. We have to lead the league in giving up breakaways and in screening our own goaltender. What a 💩show!
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Post by TMan on Mar 27, 2024 8:00:27 GMT -5
Inconsistent! It’s a habit this team can’t break and until they do they go nowhere. Maybe it is coaching. I think we’ll find out next season after another early exit. I hope that it is coaching but to me there isn’t enough willpower among the core to change the culture or attitude or whatever you want to call it. They preach the same garbage every post game loss and it might change for a couple games but that’s it. We all know that an effort like last night lurks around every corner. As fans we can never get comfortable thinking we’ll see a good effort every night win or lose. I hate losing but when the effort is there but the bounces aren’t it’s easier to take than that sh*tshow last night. They just don’t take every team seriously and I can’t figure out why. Will much change when Marner and Jarnkrok return?? TBD
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Post by stugats1 on Mar 27, 2024 9:21:24 GMT -5
We've done same with Marner n Jancrok healthy.
I'm no coach. Keefe is the expert. But I've seen quite a bit of hockey in my life.
We aren't gonna win with 2 overplayed stacked lines then 2 garbage lines he won't trust and they get 8 to 12 minutes.
Balance 3 lines. 4th line should be defensive, physical and hard working. I hate to say it but I think in a crazy way Reeves is missed. Not for fighting. But he is a presence that helps on forecheck and cycles in O zone. Maybe him Kampf and Holberg. The new guy Dewar is about as generic as can be. I don't see him being scrappy n physical as advertised. Having him n Kampf as 3/4 center asks for trouble.
I don't have answers but something needs to change. First rd as it always does will get tougher for 34, 16, 88. No room more physical. We need others. The new guy
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Post by kazzie on Mar 27, 2024 10:21:54 GMT -5
We've done same with Marner n Jancrok healthy. I'm no coach. Keefe is the expert. But I've seen quite a bit of hockey in my life. We aren't gonna win with 2 overplayed stacked lines then 2 garbage lines he won't trust and they get 8 to 12 minutes. Balance 3 lines. 4th line should be defensive, physical and hard working. I hate to say it but I think in a crazy way Reeves is missed. Not for fighting. But he is a presence that helps on forecheck and cycles in O zone. Maybe him Kampf and Holberg. The new guy Dewar is about as generic as can be. I don't see him being scrappy n physical as advertised. Having him n Kampf as 3/4 center asks for trouble. I don't have answers but something needs to change. First rd as it always does will get tougher for 34, 16, 88. No room more physical. We need others. The new guy You would think that by now the powers to be would get it but they don’t. It doesn’t work. Why can’t they get it through their thick skulls? And playing Gregor instead of Reaves give us zero. Gregor hasn’t scored since Moby was a minnow!
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Post by jayleaf on Mar 27, 2024 11:23:51 GMT -5
My only hope for this season is Keefe and Shanahan are finally shown the door after the club is eliminated in the first round. At least then there is the possibility of putting together a coaching staff that knows what they are doing. The Leafs defensive system pretty much consists of "everyone, chase after the guy with the puck." The elite clubs have systems in place and everyone knows their job. When someone gets hurt, their replacement knows exactly what to do, with minimum damage to the club.
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Post by TMan on Mar 27, 2024 13:02:39 GMT -5
For 40 minutes in the Oiler game the Leafs played as smart a defensive game as I’ve seen for a long time. So it’s not like this isn’t the way the coaching staff doesn’t want them to play, it’s either they don’t get it, don’t like to do it or too selfish to do it. I’ve seen Keefes teams play great puck hungry, puck possession games very successfully. I’m not saying Keefe might not be the problem but I think the problem is much deeper than the coaching staff. The superstars are superstars because they thrive in the biggest moments. Do our stars have this? It’s about time they showed us if they do.
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Post by jayleaf on Mar 27, 2024 13:56:33 GMT -5
For 40 minutes in the Oiler game the Leafs played as smart a defensive game as I’ve seen for a long time. So it’s not like this isn’t the way the coaching staff doesn’t want them to play, it’s either they don’t get it, don’t like to do it or too selfish to do it. I’ve seen Keefes teams play great puck hungry, puck possession games very successfully. I’m not saying Keefe might not be the problem but I think the problem is much deeper than the coaching staff. The superstars are superstars because they thrive in the biggest moments. Do our stars have this? It’s about time they showed us if they do. It's the consistency that's lacking. Perhaps I exaggerated Keefe's lack of a system, but even if there is one in place, but nobody follows it, that would suggest the guys have tuned Keefe out. When that happens, the coach is usually toast. It seems to me hockey players are pretty much the same everywhere. If coaches in Boston and Florida can get their players to play within a structured system I don't see why it can't be done in Toronto. I should add if a player isn't willing to be a team player, maybe he shouldn't be on the club.
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Post by TMan on Mar 27, 2024 14:55:48 GMT -5
You make very valid points. But how do get rid of players that don’t belong on the club when the contracts are sky high with full NMC’s. I know…. stuck between a rock and a hard spot.🤦♂️ Don’t get me wrong…Willy, Auston and Mitch are stars and they can be superstars but they need to want it more than the 10+mil/season.
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Post by jayleaf on Mar 27, 2024 15:32:54 GMT -5
You make very valid points. But how do get rid of players that don’t belong on the club when the contracts are sky high with full NMC’s. I know…. stuck between a rock and a hard spot.🤦♂️ Don’t get me wrong…Willy, Auston and Mitch are stars and they can be superstars but they need to want it more than the 10+mil/season. I don't know if those guys are team players or not. Could be they just need a coach who brings real structure to their game to take them to the next level. But to me it's the job of the GM and scouts to weed out the selfish, uncoachable players at the Junior or College level. Beyond that the GM has to have the guts to make the tough decisions regarding players. That means sitting down with the coaches and deciding which players will get you to the Stanley Cup before handing out a big contract. It's just my opinion, but I don't think Dubas could make the tough calls.
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Post by stugats1 on Mar 27, 2024 15:47:29 GMT -5
Yeah I think you nailed it guys. We are stuck. Our superstars don't seem to have the do anything to win deal. It's weird cause 34 n 16 seem to play their hearts out. I remember hearing from islander fans saying there is something missing from jt's game. I figured it was bitterness. I don't know. I hate being so negative. I've been here for maybe 20 years. I've been more negative these past 2 years than previous 18 combined I'm just so tired of it. I fully expect us one and done again . Just a side note. I do apologize for being so negative. Partly the Leafs partly my mental health recently. If I need to be put in the penalty box or time out I would accept it
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Post by Leafs_Pam on Mar 27, 2024 16:27:29 GMT -5
Jim, you are close. You joined Leafschat on the previous server in Sep 2001. We moved to Proboards mid Feb 2002 during the Olympics.
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Post by mokole on Mar 27, 2024 18:19:24 GMT -5
That's what I've been saying. Balance the 4 lines and roll them now, keep all players fresh and ready for the playoffs. We play our top paid players too much every year, and they are worn out in the playoffs, mentally and/or physically. Not too late to roll 4 lines and win our way in.
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Post by TMan on Mar 27, 2024 18:31:38 GMT -5
mokole is the poster boy on here for optimism! Well done. I’ve had moments but not many.
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Post by Leafs_Pam on Mar 27, 2024 19:21:46 GMT -5
99% of the time the games on ESPN+ I get both the Leafs and opponents broadcast. But the last few games they have only given me the ESPN broadcast. As much as I hate not getting the Leafs broadcast, some times it is enlightening to get the opponent's broadcast instead. I believe it was Sunday's game where Edmundson was mentioned. They said Edmundson was a player the Leafs didn't know they needed until he arrived. In both the TNT and ESPN broadcasts they have said how good Rielly is, and what a great player Matthews is. At the same time, ESPN talks about the weakness of the Leafs opponent that night. I think sometimes we are too hard on our players because I hear the same thing from other teams.
I know 57 years since the last Cup is a terrible. One I understand from my MLB days with my team. 32 years between winning the World Series. 32 isn't 57, but it is long enough to feel like you guys. I decided last season to use a different approach with the Leafs. We are in a new era with a really good team, so I am taking the new era approach that it will take a while to achieve their AND our dream - the Stanley Cup. Otherwise, it gets too painful to think of 1967.
On another note, I liked the Overdrive video with them talking about Keefe calling out Tavares and the other "Stars." Something that was way overdue.
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