The leafs played .500 hockey from jan to the playoffs last season and still made the playoffs.
No one was worried then.
Its all good.
- Fakepartofme

Except we had a bonnkers hot start last season as a result of signing Tavares and all the excitement. Last year, when the regular season play ramped up, we became a 500 team. We took that mediocrity into the playoffs.

Same thing is happening now. We had the excitement of a new coach for a few weeks. Now its gone. Regular season is ramped up. Once again we are 500.

If we make it, we will play either Tampa or Boston (likely). Good luck with that!

Except we had a bonnkers hot start last season as a result of signing Tavares and all the excitement. Last year, when the regular season play ramped up, we became a 500 team. We took that mediocrity into the playoffs.

Same thing is happening now. We had the excitement of a new coach for a few weeks. Now its gone. Regular season is ramped up. Once again we are 500.

If we make it, we will play either Tampa or Boston (likely). Good luck with that!
- Hockey_Reverend

The season has ups and downs.

Just can't be down for too long like they were with Babs.

When it’s the only team you constantly watch you start to only look at the eye test for your team but the numbers for every other team. Not the best situation.

Lots of games left and lots of time for Freddy to get back to at least average goaltending. The Buffalo game for him was promising but not there yet.

You can’t go anywhere really with poop goaltending.
- Santo_44

Leafs have Pits,Pits,Car next three before deadline. Florida have Ana,LA,Veg,.... It could be a different story soon. Like I said, I still think Duba's should go for it. Can't show this team in anyway what giving up on a season is.
- Buck Norris

On the contrary, I think that is exactly what is needed. Nothing would send a more clear message, because they don't appear to be getting it right now.

I’m just stating how bad they have been.

Like when the leafs had a bad 3 months last season. Jan-March. People were writing them off.

Panthers get a free pass for being bad I guess.
- Santo_44

I don't give the Panthers a free pass.

Both teams are pretty much in the same boat; playing like crap with the season on the line.

The difference is that the Leafs were supposed to be contenders. Honestly, with as bad as the rest of the Atlantic has been, the Leafs should have 3rd place on lockdown. This season has been a huge disappointment so far.

The season has ups and downs.

Just can't be down for too long like they were with Babs.
- Santo_44

Agreed. That is my concern. Since before Christmas we have looked bad. one good game, 2 bad games. Some games we are great. Others we disappear. You just cant tell what is going on with this team. Tonight they could come out flying and win and we will drink the Kool-aid. The next game they will shrink and shrivel.

The one thing I do know from watching the last month and a half is you can't say this about Matthews. He has been a beast. Scoring, fore cheking, hitting, stealing pucks, back cheking, on and on. He is clearly in another strata of play compared to the rest of our team. Without his play I am not sure we would be in a playoff spot currently...

On the contrary, I think that is exactly what is needed. Nothing would send a more clear message, because they don't appear to be getting it right now.
- Aetherial

When the Blues “gave up” on the season in 2017, they traded pending UFA Shattenkirk.

Two years later they win the Stanley Cup.


Trade Tyson Barrie, please.

I don't give the Panthers a free pass.

Both teams are pretty much in the same boat; playing like crap with the season on the line.

The difference is that the Leafs were supposed to be contenders. Honestly, with as bad as the rest of the Atlantic has been, the Leafs should have 3rd place on lockdown. This season has been a huge disappointment so far.
- Aetherial

Adjust your expectations and its not so bad.

Adjust your expectations and its not so bad.
- senstroll

We’re a team.

We’re a team.
- Steven_Seagull

Let now get ahead of things, have you heard Dubas come out and say that?

We’re a team.
- Steven_Seagull

Let now get ahead of things, have you heard Dubas come out and say that?
- senstroll

Since the start of January we have 9 wins and 10 losses including a few big game...

Is it time to start panicking? Yes guy!




- Hockey_Reverend

It isn't just the wins and losses. They consistently play down to the level of their opponents.

When the Blues “gave up” on the season in 2017, they traded pending UFA Shattenkirk.

Two years later they win the Stanley Cup.


Trade Tyson Barrie, please.
- Steven_Seagull

I would consider trading any expiring contract. Even Muzzin. I love Muzz, but if you have to overpay him, trade him for an asset. Hopefully Muzz and Dubas have talked and Muzz is being reasonable so we will resign him...

You have to manage assets in a cap world. We have done a bad job of that over the last few seasons, wrongly thinking we were a contendor... we could have got good assets back for guys like JVR, Bozak, etc. These asset loses are already starting to affect us. We don't have many good depth options left in the AHL and the ones we have called up are meh. (Goat etc)

I don't give the Panthers a free pass.

Both teams are pretty much in the same boat; playing like crap with the season on the line.

The difference is that the Leafs were supposed to be contenders. Honestly, with as bad as the rest of the Atlantic has been, the Leafs should have 3rd place on lockdown. This season has been a huge disappointment so far.
- Aetherial

I see a pretty large gap in how these teams have performed overall in their past 40. The Panthers have been right on par with the Sabres while the Leafs have been on par with Boston and CBJ.

While I agree it has been disappointing some things are overblown. The top 4 guys have been pretty damn productive since Keefe. Nylander and JT a PPG, Marner on pace for 100 points and Matthews on pace for 65 goals.

Andersen and Hutch have been a punch to the gut. The bottom 6 has been meh and they got pretty unlucky in getting hit really hard with injuries.

Injuries you can't control so (frank) it poop happens. Freddy's play pisses me off and the fact we had Hutch in net pisses me off even more.

I hope Freddy can turn it around because right now he looks like Holtby lite...A goalie declining way too early in his career and about to get overpaid regardless.

It isn't just the wins and losses. They consistently play down to the level of their opponents.
- Aetherial

Agreed

When the Blues “gave up” on the season in 2017, they traded pending UFA Shattenkirk.

Two years later they win the Stanley Cup.


Trade Tyson Barrie, please.
- Steven_Seagull

Good point bird.

It isn't just the wins and losses. They consistently play down to the level of their opponents.
- Aetherial

The Bruins almost got swept my Detroit this season.

You have to not let things get overblown and it does way too much in this media.

The Bruins almost got swept my Detroit this season.

You have to not let things get overblown and it does way too much in this media.
- Santo_44

Wanting the Leafs to play consistent winning-style hockey isn't overblowing anything IMO.

I see a pretty large gap in how these teams have performed overall in their past 40. The Panthers have been right on par with the Sabres while the Leafs have been on par with Boston and CBJ.

While I agree it has been disappointing some things are overblown. The top 4 guys have been pretty damn productive since Keefe. Nylander and JT a PPG, Marner on pace for 100 points and Matthews on pace for 65 goals.

Andersen and Hutch have been a punch to the gut. The bottom 6 has been meh and they got pretty unlucky in getting hit really hard with injuries.

Injuries you can't control so (frank) it poop happens. Freddy's play pisses me off and the fact we had Hutch in net pisses me off even more.

I hope Freddy can turn it around because right now he looks like Holtby lite...A goalie declining way too early in his career and about to get overpaid regardless.
- Santo_44

Freddy getting overpaid is the scariest part of what may happen in the next couple years.

Remember that Phaneuf contract, because we didn't have anything better? In a cap world, especially with the way the team has structured their salaries, they absolutely cannot afford to overpay Ander5en.

The Bruins almost got swept my Detroit this season.

You have to not let things get overblown and it does way too much in this media.
- Santo_44

Naw, I don't think it is overblown. I think there is cause for concern. They should be better and I don't believe the reason is talent. (except the goaltending problem)

I am just curious where all the 'Andersen is a top5 goalie in NHL' people are at now...

I am just curious where all the 'Andersen is a top5 goalie in NHL' people are at now...
- MaximusAurelius

Why is that?

Wanting the Leafs to play consistent winning-style hockey isn't overblowing anything IMO.
- TheMussel

Everything is overblown in this market.

People saying it is a lost season because they think the Leafs lose too much to bad teams is stupid. Because I also hear the Leafs win too much against bad teams and not enough against good teams.

I just don't buy in to a lot of the crap that gets spewed by the media. Overall since Keefe was hired I am content...not satisfied but I realize the Leafs have work to do and most of it will happen internally.

Freddy getting overpaid is the scariest part of what may happen in the next couple years.

Remember that Phaneuf contract, because we didn't have anything better? In a cap world, especially with the way the team has structured their salaries, they absolutely cannot afford to overpay Ander5en.
- Aetherial

I doubt they will...They have Campbell. Sounds like that KHL goalie is highly considering TO. They are preparing for life without Freddy.