I did not know that...I certainly am not pleased to hear about that.
- spatso

you can always go back to quoting Pierre Mcguire

I don't know if he is...just a joke but I had the same reaction when you told me he said a team that hasn't made the playoffs in 5 years has a better chance to win the cup than a team that has.
- Santo_44

I think his point was that the Sens were putting equal emphasis on size and grit in balance with speed and skill.

I think his point was that the Sens were putting equal emphasis on size and grit in balance with speed and skill.
- spatso

Yeah a lot of teams have done that and failed too.

I think the problem is you putting too much emphasis on how to win.

God dammit I can't wait for the hockey season to end so I can stop the Jeckyl and Hyde games my brain and my heart are playing.

Every time I see the Habs get a step closer to the finals my heart hurts because all I can think of is the Leafs were up 3 games to 1 and lost in OT twice and felt like the better team. Then I think if that's the case the Leafs would have beat the Jets, and be a win away from the finals.

Then my brain says 'hold on moron that's not right at all and here is why':

The Leafs don't have a Philip Daneault who essentially made Matthews invisible all series.

Corey (frank)ing Perry (who sucked ass for the most part in the regular season and nobody wanted) was (and continues to be) 5-10 times the playoff performer that Jumbo Joe and Wayne Train combined were.

The Habs "young stars players" made and continue to make a huge difference while the Leafs essentially poop the bed (minus Willy). Do you remember when Toronto had the incredible, young kids who were the talk of the NHL? Now that's the Habs and the Leafs have the "no longer kids who haven't got it done still" guys. The Habs young players are hungry and tenacious,the Leafs big guns not so much - they give off an aura of "I'm so skilled I can coast until it's time to turn it on". Much like the big fat guy in a beer league who played Jr hockey or somewhere and often does this - but it doesn't always work and it didn't. I suppose players on ELC being more hungry than those on huge 2nd contracts makes sense......

And then we have Shea Weber. The "I can punch guys in the back of the head, cross check guys to the point where they likely suffer a broken spine with no penalties - ever". He is the new Chara in the playoffs.....the Leafs desperately need one or more of these.

And last but not least the final 10M player in the playoffs - Carey "Jesus" Price. JC was good in the playoffs (couple goals that really hurt but his play was way more value for $ when you look at what he is paid) but he is nowhere near "Playoff Price" good - who is? When you look at some of the saves Price made vs Toronto, Winnipeg and is still making vs Vegas you have to know Campbell isn't making many if any of those.

Leafs have work to do if they want to be successful post season and reshuffling deck chairs on the Titanic aren't going to do it in my opinion.

To me this is some of what needs to happen:

Your not finding a Carey Price but they need a 1B for sure because Campbell has seemed injury prone when a heavy workload is put onto him and he has shown that he might be mentally fragile if they go on a bit of a slide.

The 3rd line is way too soft and skilled - dump it and maybe keep some of the parts if they can fit on the top 6 (assuming Hyman is gone) but the 3rd line needs to be what someone in here has called a sledgehammer line. Hard, mean, fast(ish), nasty and cheap with a bit of skill. Don't look at them for goals, look at them to kill the clock, wear down opponents and keep people who want to run your star players on the top 6 honest.

4 line of Vintage with some cheap, fast, up and coming skilled kids - maybe this is where Robertson starts off?

On D- more "Weber-ish" needed and that might mean moving Mo and I'm fine with that. They need a true #1 Dman if they can get one but at the very least they need a legit scoring threat from a bomb of a shot on the PP.

Move Marner to play with JT again and Willy up with AM & if possible give the JT/Mitch line a guy who will shoot on the other wing. The reality is Hyman isn't a shooter so if I"m coaching against the Leafs I'm saying "just don't let Matthews have a clear shot - let Marner shoot all day if need be".

And I agree with whomever said load up pp1 and WGAF about pp2, the concept of spreading out the skill on 2 power plays is overemphasized in my opinion.

Side note - if it's a Habs/Islands final I do not even care who wins and instead will cheer more for the earth to open up and swallow both teams whole never to be heard from again.

Then we will never have to hear about how the Islanders don't need JT or how much better the Habs are since the games were televised in colour.

Interesting to see that we are getting into the happy space of hockey summer talk. Tells me some of you are starting to get over the hurt of this year's playoff exit. When you are hurt, angry, upset you say rash things.

This is a very good Leaf team.

Part of the problem may be the exact opposite of what you might think. The Leafs rebuild was text book, they drafted exceptionally well and built a core of elite players very quickly. Fans were impressed they made the playoffs so quickly after beginning their rebuild. But it accelerated expectations and the hope and excitement of the early years of rebuild were replaced by exaggerated hope.

In terms of its elite players, this is still a very young team. There is still a huge space for improvement.

I think his point was that the Sens were putting equal emphasis on size and grit in balance with speed and skill.
- spatso

Because skill is a generic term and building around the Sens’ skill base and the Leafs’ skill base is the same.

Interesting to see that we are getting into the happy space of hockey summer talk. Tells me some of you are starting to get over the hurt of this year's playoff exit. When you are hurt, angry, upset you say rash things.

This is a very good Leaf team.

Part of the problem may be the exact opposite of what you might think. The Leafs rebuild was text book, they drafted exceptionally well and built a core of elite players very quickly. Fans were impressed they made the playoffs so quickly after beginning their rebuild. But it accelerated expectations and the hope and excitement of the early years of rebuild were replaced by exaggerated hope.

In terms of its elite players, this is still a very young team. There is still a huge space for improvement.
- spatso

No I think you are just one of a few running jokes around here.

But no worries, we forgive you for the misinterpretation.

Interesting to see that we are getting into the happy space of hockey summer talk. Tells me some of you are starting to get over the hurt of this year's playoff exit. When you are hurt, angry, upset you say rash things.

This is a very good Leaf team.

Part of the problem may be the exact opposite of what you might think. The Leafs rebuild was text book, they drafted exceptionally well and built a core of elite players very quickly. Fans were impressed they made the playoffs so quickly after beginning their rebuild. But it accelerated expectations and the hope and excitement of the early years of rebuild were replaced by exaggerated hope.

In terms of its elite players, this is still a very young team. There is still a huge space for improvement.
- spatso

No I think you are just one of a few running jokes around here.

But no worries, we forgive you for the misinterpretation.

I know it sounds shallow. But the entire purpose of the Montreal game plan was to keep 3 guys to the outside and off the scoreboard. Everything was planned and structured around that singular purpose. Except for Spezza, who stepped up to fill in the gaps?
- spatso

Once Tavares was hurt in the first 10 mins of game 1, mtl just had to stop the Matthews line and they did.

If Tavares plays all 7 games things might be looking differently but Montreal’s path was a lot easier once they only had to focus on 1 line.

God dammit I can't wait for the hockey season to end so I can stop the Jeckyl and Hyde games my brain and my heart are playing.

Every time I see the Habs get a step closer to the finals my heart hurts because all I can think of is the Leafs were up 3 games to 1 and lost in OT twice and felt like the better team. Then I think if that's the case the Leafs would have beat the Jets, and be a win away from the finals.

Then my brain says 'hold on moron that's not right at all and here is why':

The Leafs don't have a Philip Daneault who essentially made Matthews invisible all series.

Corey (frank)ing Perry (who sucked ass for the most part in the regular season and nobody wanted) was (and continues to be) 5-10 times the playoff performer that Jumbo Joe and Wayne Train combined were.

The Habs "young stars players" made and continue to make a huge difference while the Leafs essentially poop the bed (minus Willy). Do you remember when Toronto had the incredible, young kids who were the talk of the NHL? Now that's the Habs and the Leafs have the "no longer kids who haven't got it done still" guys. The Habs young players are hungry and tenacious,the Leafs big guns not so much - they give off an aura of "I'm so skilled I can coast until it's time to turn it on". Much like the big fat guy in a beer league who played Jr hockey or somewhere and often does this - but it doesn't always work and it didn't. I suppose players on ELC being more hungry than those on huge 2nd contracts makes sense......

And then we have Shea Weber. The "I can punch guys in the back of the head, cross check guys to the point where they likely suffer a broken spine with no penalties - ever". He is the new Chara in the playoffs.....the Leafs desperately need one or more of these.

And last but not least the final 10M player in the playoffs - Carey "Jesus" Price. JC was good in the playoffs (couple goals that really hurt but his play was way more value for $ when you look at what he is paid) but he is nowhere near "Playoff Price" good - who is? When you look at some of the saves Price made vs Toronto, Winnipeg and is still making vs Vegas you have to know Campbell isn't making many if any of those.

Leafs have work to do if they want to be successful post season and reshuffling deck chairs on the Titanic aren't going to do it in my opinion.

To me this is some of what needs to happen:

Your not finding a Carey Price but they need a 1B for sure because Campbell has seemed injury prone when a heavy workload is put onto him and he has shown that he might be mentally fragile if they go on a bit of a slide.

The 3rd line is way too soft and skilled - dump it and maybe keep some of the parts if they can fit on the top 6 (assuming Hyman is gone) but the 3rd line needs to be what someone in here has called a sledgehammer line. Hard, mean, fast(ish), nasty and cheap with a bit of skill. Don't look at them for goals, look at them to kill the clock, wear down opponents and keep people who want to run your star players on the top 6 honest.

4 line of Vintage with some cheap, fast, up and coming skilled kids - maybe this is where Robertson starts off?

On D- more "Weber-ish" needed and that might mean moving Mo and I'm fine with that. They need a true #1 Dman if they can get one but at the very least they need a legit scoring threat from a bomb of a shot on the PP.

Move Marner to play with JT again and Willy up with AM & if possible give the JT/Mitch line a guy who will shoot on the other wing. The reality is Hyman isn't a shooter so if I"m coaching against the Leafs I'm saying "just don't let Matthews have a clear shot - let Marner shoot all day if need be".

And I agree with whomever said load up pp1 and WGAF about pp2, the concept of spreading out the skill on 2 power plays is overemphasized in my opinion.

Side note - if it's a Habs/Islands final I do not even care who wins and instead will cheer more for the earth to open up and swallow both teams whole never to be heard from again.

Then we will never have to hear about how the Islanders don't need JT or how much better the Habs are since the games were televised in colour.
- Cush29

I think there’s about 100 or so days till the season starts again. If you write a different variation of this every day between now and then, everything will be fine. Remember, nothing bad happened in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, nothing bad at all.

Did we hire a leafs blog life coach?

Leafs suck

God dammit I can't wait for the hockey season to end so I can stop the Jeckyl and Hyde games my brain and my heart are playing.

Every time I see the Habs get a step closer to the finals my heart hurts because all I can think of is the Leafs were up 3 games to 1 and lost in OT twice and felt like the better team. Then I think if that's the case the Leafs would have beat the Jets, and be a win away from the finals.

Then my brain says 'hold on moron that's not right at all and here is why':

The Leafs don't have a Philip Daneault who essentially made Matthews invisible all series.

Corey (frank)ing Perry (who sucked ass for the most part in the regular season and nobody wanted) was (and continues to be) 5-10 times the playoff performer that Jumbo Joe and Wayne Train combined were.

The Habs "young stars players" made and continue to make a huge difference while the Leafs essentially poop the bed (minus Willy). Do you remember when Toronto had the incredible, young kids who were the talk of the NHL? Now that's the Habs and the Leafs have the "no longer kids who haven't got it done still" guys. The Habs young players are hungry and tenacious,the Leafs big guns not so much - they give off an aura of "I'm so skilled I can coast until it's time to turn it on". Much like the big fat guy in a beer league who played Jr hockey or somewhere and often does this - but it doesn't always work and it didn't. I suppose players on ELC being more hungry than those on huge 2nd contracts makes sense......

And then we have Shea Weber. The "I can punch guys in the back of the head, cross check guys to the point where they likely suffer a broken spine with no penalties - ever". He is the new Chara in the playoffs.....the Leafs desperately need one or more of these.

And last but not least the final 10M player in the playoffs - Carey "Jesus" Price. JC was good in the playoffs (couple goals that really hurt but his play was way more value for $ when you look at what he is paid) but he is nowhere near "Playoff Price" good - who is? When you look at some of the saves Price made vs Toronto, Winnipeg and is still making vs Vegas you have to know Campbell isn't making many if any of those.

Leafs have work to do if they want to be successful post season and reshuffling deck chairs on the Titanic aren't going to do it in my opinion.

To me this is some of what needs to happen:

Your not finding a Carey Price but they need a 1B for sure because Campbell has seemed injury prone when a heavy workload is put onto him and he has shown that he might be mentally fragile if they go on a bit of a slide.

The 3rd line is way too soft and skilled - dump it and maybe keep some of the parts if they can fit on the top 6 (assuming Hyman is gone) but the 3rd line needs to be what someone in here has called a sledgehammer line. Hard, mean, fast(ish), nasty and cheap with a bit of skill. Don't look at them for goals, look at them to kill the clock, wear down opponents and keep people who want to run your star players on the top 6 honest.

4 line of Vintage with some cheap, fast, up and coming skilled kids - maybe this is where Robertson starts off?

On D- more "Weber-ish" needed and that might mean moving Mo and I'm fine with that. They need a true #1 Dman if they can get one but at the very least they need a legit scoring threat from a bomb of a shot on the PP.

Move Marner to play with JT again and Willy up with AM & if possible give the JT/Mitch line a guy who will shoot on the other wing. The reality is Hyman isn't a shooter so if I"m coaching against the Leafs I'm saying "just don't let Matthews have a clear shot - let Marner shoot all day if need be".

And I agree with whomever said load up pp1 and WGAF about pp2, the concept of spreading out the skill on 2 power plays is overemphasized in my opinion.

Side note - if it's a Habs/Islands final I do not even care who wins and instead will cheer more for the earth to open up and swallow both teams whole never to be heard from again.

Then we will never have to hear about how the Islanders don't need JT or how much better the Habs are since the games were televised in colour.
- Cush29

A++

Now take a deep breath and enjoy your summer.

You are 100% correct. This is a very good Leaf team.

Adjustments need to be made...but, don't mutilate the core.

I think there’s about 100 or so days till the season starts again. If you write a different variation of this every day between now and then, everything will be fine. Remember, nothing bad happened in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, nothing bad at all.
- Canada Cup

You know that the entire story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is Robert Louis Stevenson's personal struggles with alcoholism. I suspect it is a powerful metaphor for many Leaf fans after their 1st round loss to the Canadiens.

Maybe Eugene hasn’t pulled the Brown for Marner deal off the table.

#hopes

The nhl is 1 game away from a horrible habs v isles Cup Final.
- Fakepartofme

Dont call penalties and allow clutching and interference. It's the 90s NJD all over again. Yay.

Maybe Eugene hasn’t pulled the Brown for Marner deal off the table.

#hopes
- Garnie

Yes we all know this is the key to playoff success, I heard the sticking point was Eugene wanting a sweetener from Toronto to make it happen and he said it had to be either Rick Vaive or Wendel Clark.

Marc 38 total playoff games is going to explain to me what it takes to win a Cup. I see...

I think there’s about 100 or so days till the season starts again. If you write a different variation of this every day between now and then, everything will be fine. Remember, nothing bad happened in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, nothing bad at all.
- Canada Cup

Na, I'm sticking to this as what I want to see happen. I'm sure I'll be disappointed but I'll be ready for it because...... I'm a Leafs fan.

I'm at the point where as long as they make the playoffs I'm going to try and look a the regular season as just an extended pre-season. I mean it's not like regular season and playoffs are remotely close to the same thing anyway.

Maybe Eugene hasn’t pulled the Brown for Marner deal off the table.

#hopes
- Garnie

I really like Marner and it would be foolish for the Leafs to trade him.

But, Connor Brown and a 2nd pick would work really well for the Leafs. Brown is a very good player, he scored more goals than Marner and he has the speed and defensive chops that would fit well with Matthews.

More important the 2nd pick could be flipped for the negotiation rights for Dougie Hamilton and the $7m saving (From Marner to Brown) means the Leafs could sign Hamilton and likely retain Rielly next year.

Now, I think the Leafs should just keep Marner. But, if the crazy folks have their way and push him out the door you might as well send him to Melnyk who is crazier than everyone.

Dont call penalties and allow clutching and interference. It's the 90s NJD all over again. Yay.
- Nasty_Duck

But But But it's "Playoff hockey", "Hudson Bay Rules" so on and so forth and as such the NHL has decided you will take it and like it and eventually love it just the way it is.

I really like Marner and it would be foolish for the Leafs to trade him.

But, Connor Brown and a 2nd pick would work really well for the Leafs. Brown is a very good player, he scored more goals than Marner and he has the speed and defensive chops that would fit well with Matthews.

More important the 2nd pick could be flipped for the negotiation rights for Dougie Hamilton and the $7m saving (From Marner to Brown) means the Leafs could sign Hamilton and likely retain Rielly next year.

Now, I think the Leafs should just keep Marner. But, if the crazy folks have their way and push him out the door you might as well send him to Melnyk who is crazier than everyone.
- spatso

You need to get off this idea, it's never happening.

You need to get off this idea, it's never happening.
- Cush29

Did you not know that all of the best ideas ever discussed on this thread never happened?

Once Tavares was hurt in the first 10 mins of game 1, mtl just had to stop the Matthews line and they did.

If Tavares plays all 7 games things might be looking differently but Montreal’s path was a lot easier once they only had to focus on 1 line.
- bryant

its just the way it goes with the Leafs, if something can go wrong it will.

its a curse, i dont believe in curses, but its a curse

Did you not know that all of the best ideas ever discussed on this thread never happened?
- spatso

Did you not know that none of them came from you?

Dont call penalties and allow clutching and interference. It's the 90s NJD all over again. Yay.
- Nasty_Duck

The NHL is the only league that doesn't like to showcase it's all stars when the more important games are played.. Pre-season is where they are allowed to shine.