its going to be genuinely interesting to see how Marner responds to the media and social media pressure that will correctly and appropriately be directed at him....

all this nonsense of attacking Matthews is just that nonsense... while he did not score he wasn't or shouldn't be considered as underachieving to the degree that Marner did. Literally every play where the puck go to Marner offensively died on his stick or he just turned it over... this was a repeated/consistent theme visible most notably on the powerplay.

Keefe's inability or lack of willingness to change the powerplay in any significant way during the last two months of the regular season should have been a clear indicator that he isn't capable of managing those two.

What's the path to correcting this?

Admission on the part of Dubas that the Marner contract was a mistake - and addressing that. Attempting to get some value out of a Marner trade is their only meaningful option... standing pat with the "Core 4" is going to see an absolute repeat in 2022
- BorjeFan4Ever

The team played great defensively and was god up until game 5...with how they played for the entire season and first 5 games they had is thinking they had a legit shot at a cup.

At the end of the day if Marner wasn’t so abysmal we win that series.

The model proved correct...but poor execution when it matters AGAIN. To me that’s just a collection of players who can’t handle the pressure.

Matthews is one of the best in the world and he didn’t look bad, just not as dangerous as he should.

Marner was awful, like awful. The first step for me is insetting a new star for Marner. You have to change up the mix of feelings there.

none of this would have happened if they had traded for Eric Staal instead.

This is pretty false

You should be surprised
- Santo_44

Of course there were a thousand things that could have turned the series in a different direction. The fact that this team with that talent couldn’t overcome is surprising and not. They should have been able to and they didn’t, again.

It has nothing to do with “playoff hockey” but something about the core is off. Dubas put the team together and they couldn’t get it done and it needs to change.

It's just weird how so many fans from teams that stink are in here trolling a team that just finished a 7-game series.

It's one thing to talk smack when your team is playing that team.

It's another thing when your team is golfing and never participated. It's ... pathetic.
- Nasty_Duck

The entire concept of trolling is foreign to me.

I really don't get any joy out of other teams failing. But some people hate the Leafs more than they like their own team.

You guys can leave Marner exposed for the expansion draft if you want.

It's just weird how so many fans from teams that stink are in here trolling a team that just finished a 7-game series.

It's one thing to talk smack when your team is playing that team.

It's another thing when your team is golfing and never participated. It's ... pathetic.
- Nasty_Duck

The only guy I want to troll is Roger because well frankly he deserves it.

none of this would have happened if they had traded for Eric Staal instead.
- BINGO!

For all the hate he got during the season.

Staal did good in this series.

Lowkey ended last game with 2 assists.

Do you even watch the games?


- Nasty_Duck

No, he doesn't.

The only guy I want to troll is Roger because well frankly he deserves it.
- golfingsince

He's a (frank)ing curse.

Just can't wait until they actually win a series before running his mouth.

This.

It's not normal that no one in Montreal was even worried about Marner all series long.

He looked completely crushed by the pressure. Making nervous plays and bad decisions.
- Scabeh

Yeah. There was very little compete in him at all.

Not to lay it all at his feet, because like, the Leafs were losing battles all over the ice for most of the game, but Mitch not showing up in important games or the team just wilting against pressure has been a pretty consistent problem for a few years now.

Of course there were a thousand things that could have turned the series in a different direction. The fact that this team with that talent couldn’t overcome is surprising and not. They should have been able to and they didn’t, again.

It has nothing to do with “playoff hockey” but something about the core is off. Dubas put the team together and they couldn’t get it done and it needs to change.
- Canada Cup

I agree, they didn’t get it done again.

Some bad luck too, even the most pessimistic fans should see this.

JT almost dying and Muzzin out for game 7...what other team does this happen to considering everything that has happened to date?

jones and jenner/laine for marner
over jones a 6 yr 6.5~7 mil contract
- zazzle

Would rather go hard on Hamilton in the open market, don't have to give up an asset to do that. Trade Marner for a winger and goalie or something.

Trade him to Florida for Huberdeau and Weegar. Sign Driedger. Trade Rielly for whatever the (frank) else.

Brodie/Hamilton
Muzzin/Weegar
Sandin/Bogosian

I'll be here all weekend, don't forget to try the fish.

For all the hate he got during the season.

Staal did good in this series.

Lowkey ended last game with 2 assists.

- Scabeh

Won the puck battle off the face-off to get it out of the zone and up to TT for the empty netter.

He's slow as hell now, but he's still pretty strong and can hold onto the puck when you need him to.

The only guy I want to troll is Roger because well frankly he deserves it.
- golfingsince

He is a (frank)ing pharaoh consistently begging the God's to plague us. 🤦🏻‍♂️

He's a (frank)ing curse.

Just can't wait until they actually win a series before running his mouth.
- Leafs43

And of course, he is nowhere to be found this morning.

He is a (frank)ing pharaoh consistently begging the God's to plague us. 🤦🏻‍♂️
- joel878

He's a (frank)ing curse.

Just can't wait until they actually win a series before running his mouth.
- Leafs43

Every single year.

It's actually quite comedic. I'm sure he'll do it again next year.

The GTA needs another Nhl team, something to bring hope that a cup one day may arrive

And of course, he is nowhere to be found this morning.
- MynameisJeff

It usually takes him at least one to two weeks to recover from a Leafs elimination.

- Pecafan Fan

Fair

- Pecafan Fan

OMG!

The team played great defensively and was god up until game 5...with how they played for the entire season and first 5 games they had is thinking they had a legit shot at a cup.

At the end of the day if Marner wasn’t so abysmal we win that series.

The model proved correct...but poor execution when it matters AGAIN. To me that’s just a collection of players who can’t handle the pressure.

Matthews is one of the best in the world and he didn’t look bad, just not as dangerous as he should.

Marner was awful, like awful. The first step for me is insetting a new star for Marner. You have to change up the mix of feelings there.
- Santo_44

Too easy.

How many goals did the best goal scorer in the league get? Neither one of them got the job done. Matthews may have been better but you don’t get away with saying one guy lost this series.

With JT and Muzzin down, it came to two guys to make the difference and they didn’t.

I do think Marner needs to go because somebody does and you’re sure as hell not moving Matthews unless your Mac which kind of proves the point.

Fine marner for jones and laine
Lol

Just kidding, laine would get killed here
- Fakepartofme

I'd flip Laine

OMG!

- Scabeh

Where’s GG Idiot?