Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Trade Deadline Day: Will Dubas make a splash?

February 24, 2020, 9:39 AM ET [245 Comments]
Lucas Neilson
Blogger •Atlantic Division Writer • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Well we know one thing is certain, the Maple Leafs need some help. They need a lot of help and it’s certainly not in the skill department. The lack of effort and pathetic display of hockey from Saturday night still has me irritated. It was one of the most pathetic games I’ve ever seen the Leafs play and it baffles me that these guys think they are worth what they are getting paid.

What ever happened to the dream of playing hockey in the NHL?

What about the dream of winning the Stanley Cup?

How about some intensity?

The Maple Leafs need something different. They need a change in attitude, not in players. This team has all the skill in the world to compete as one of the best teams out of the thirty one in the National Hockey League. But no, just lolly gagging out there out for a free skate on Sunday.

Was the first game against Pittsburgh the end? It seemed as if the Leafs were able to save face with a beautiful game as they beat Pittsburgh with ease after being embarrassed the game before. Then losing to Carolina and the Zamboni driver was just a slap in the face. Haven’t us Leafs fans gone through enough crap over the years? My god, just add a little more salt to the wound!

Truthfully, I believe the Maple Leafs organization lost some of their long faithful fans in that loss. It was that pathetic, it was actually painful losing that game in that fashion.

So does Dubas bother making a splash at deadline? Is it worth sacrificing any future what so ever for this team? I honestly don’t know. On paper and in the standings the Leafs don’t look too bad. But when looking at their number of wins over the last couple months combined with how they are playing and the fact there is absolutely zero care shown on the ice. It makes me wonder if some bigger changes are needed on this roster.

This is not easy to say considering I was a believer from puck drop game one that the Leafs just may have a team put together that can succeed. A big addition on defense was going to be the missing link and with a dominating season and a big add on the back end the Leafs would be the favorite.

Now it’s going to be tough to make it into the playoffs. If they keep playing the way they are, not a chance in hell this Leafs team will make it. Someone needs to go into that dressing room and unleash havoc for twenty minutes of straight yelling, stick throwing and rage. Wake these kids up.

It’s as if the Leafs are waiting for something to happen. Waiting for the puck to come to them, waiting for someone else to do the dirty work so they can just be there to cash in the goal. Well that’s not how it works in the new NHL. You have to work hard, try hard; all game, every shift.

It’s unreal how many points the Leafs have lost this season because they simply don’t have the work ethic. Sometimes you have to take a hit to make a play. Sometimes you have to ice the puck or take a few blocked shots off the body to get the two points.

The Maple Leafs are not hungry enough on the ice. They need to show they want this and that losing isn’t going to happen, and if it does; it’s not because the effort wasn’t there. At this point, nobody is saying “The Leafs gave it their all tonight”, because that’s not the case.

So will Dubas make a trade? Will one player change the dynamic of this team? I can tell you Clifford is the type of player the Leafs needed at the start of the season. Let’s hope his intensity carries over and some of the other players making big bucks start playing like it.

Leafs have three games this week, including a game against Florida on Thursday, which is a must win.

Hang in there Leafs Nation.

Let’s see what Dubas has up his sleeve. Could Barrie be out the door?

Thanks for reading.
Join the Discussion: » 245 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Lucas Neilson
» Bust out your monocle and take a gander of the Atlantic
» Atlantic Division Spotlight: Tampa Bay Lightning
» Slicing the Atlantic Division in Half
» Atlantic Spotlight: Toronto Maple Leafs
» Atlantic Spotlight: Red Wings