its pretty clear that the inmates are running the Asylum... but at very least Keefe cannot simply run that same completely ineffective powerplay out on the ice - on the powerplay they have to simplify. Get Simmonds/Ritchie in front of the net, put which ever defenseman not name Rielly or Sandin on the ice who can take a slap shot and pound away.
- BorjeFan4Ever

I thought he tried that a little yesterday.. Spezza was on PP1 for several seconds..

Hey all you leafs fans that are also parents.
Are you raising your children to be leafs fans?
Or should I just get my 6 month old a kraken jersey, I'd hate to throw him into the life of being a leaf fan. By next season he will be ready to start watching hockey, and I don't see this team ever figuring poop out. It's a real pickle, to encourage or to dissuade from being a Leafs fan.

- TonkaPhaneuf

Neither of my boys like the Leafs

Habs fan

Pens fan

1 guy in the top 6 last night that doesn’t mind going into the corners ands he’s 5’11 196lbs…and Matthews I guess.


Pretty easy to play defense when the other team prefers no contact. 🤷🏻‍♂️

And then we’ve got Ritchie who looks lost out there.

Neither of my boys like the Leafs

Habs fan

Pens fan


- Garnie

A few years ago my kid and I bought each other Leaf’s jerseys for Christmas. I got him Sundin and he got me Marner. I don’t want to put any more pressure on Mitch but the kid is on the verge of getting booted out of the will. That’s right, all the Zappa vinyl.

A few years ago my kid and I bought each other Leaf’s jerseys for Christmas. I got him Sundin and he got me Marner. I don’t want to put any more pressure on Mitch but the kid is on the verge of getting booted out of the will. That’s right, all the Zappa vinyl.
- Canada Cup

Neither of my boys like the Leafs

Habs fan

Pens fan


- Garnie

When did they make the "switch"?

I mean, as kids they probably went to Leafs games, watched leafs games, heard about the Leafs.

I'm just curious how someone ends up cheering for another team than the one where he comes from?

it is a challenge, if he benches one or both then he needs to know how to deal with the mental/emotional side of it. More and more it sounds to be Marner needs to be managed sensitively..

I don't think this is a coaching or GM issue.. I get that it's easier to blame 1 person than it is to blame 22 players, but I don't buy that Keefe is coaching, or teaching these guys to start slow, or to play uninspired hockey.

It's on the players to get excited to play in the National Hockey League..
- PatC80

Again I respectfully disagree. I will say that we sometimes give too much credit and too much blame to coaches for wins and losses. That said, a coach has two main functions IMO. First to set up a gameplan that can be executed and repeated. Second to motivate (cheerleading function and discipline - think Al Pacino) He has other duties like filling out the lineup and determining icetime as well, but the plan and the motivation are the major ones for me. Has Keefe done this well?

When did they make the "switch"?

I mean, as kids they probably went to Leafs games, watched leafs games, heard about the Leafs.

I'm just curious how someone ends up cheering for another team than the one where he comes from?
- Scabeh

FIL is a Habs fan

They’ve never been to a Leafs game, Sens game or 2…they both play a lot of hockey but they don’t really like watching it….probably a good thing.

I wonder if Ayres still works for MLSE, and if so, did he have their blessing to do this?

Yeah, I'm a grumpy old man wearing a cardigan yelling at the neighbourhood kids, but I think the Hurricanes have gone from funny and lighthearted to downright classless.
- Atomic Wedgie

They have to compete with NASCAR so subtle just ain’t gonna cut it

When did they make the "switch"?

I mean, as kids they probably went to Leafs games, watched leafs games, heard about the Leafs.

I'm just curious how someone ends up cheering for another team than the one where he comes from?
- Scabeh

1975 for the Habs fan 1987 for the Pens.

FIL is a Habs fan

They’ve never been to a Leafs game, Sens game or 2…they both play a lot of hockey but they don’t really like watching it….probably a good thing.


- Garnie

A great man no doubt.

- TurdFergeson

i went to the all star game in raleigh like that🤣

people lost their minds lmfaooooooooo 🤣

When did they make the "switch"?

I mean, as kids they probably went to Leafs games, watched leafs games, heard about the Leafs.

I'm just curious how someone ends up cheering for another team than the one where he comes from?
- Scabeh

I mentioned before I grew up in Ottawa, pre Sens and the games we got were Habs. I grew up a Montreal fan. It didn’t hurt that they were great teams.

Whem I moved back to Canada from the States, I moved to Toronto. My soul was already crushed by Reagan so Leafdom came easily

oy-vey


- dmnted

Yes its a Nazi symbol for sure

I wonder if Ayres still works for MLSE, and if so, did he have their blessing to do this?

Yeah, I'm a grumpy old man wearing a cardigan yelling at the neighbourhood kids, but I think the Hurricanes have gone from funny and lighthearted to downright classless.
- Atomic Wedgie

As long as they can take it when its their turn.

No team has operated like this...it will come back to bite them and as long as they don't get cranky when it happens they can do what they want

Again I respectfully disagree. I will say that we sometimes give too much credit and too much blame to coaches for wins and losses. That said, a coach has two main functions IMO. First to set up a gameplan that can be executed and repeated. Second to motivate (cheerleading function and discipline - think Al Pacino) He has other duties like filling out the lineup and determining icetime as well, but the plan and the motivation are the major ones for me. Has Keefe done this well?
- winsix

Wins and losses shouldn't be the way to define if Keefe is any good at motivating players..

Using the All or Nothing docu-series example, during the Habs series... Keefe gave a speech to the players about this being their moment, to erase everything in the past.. To be known as a great team and be known as great players..
It seemed like a good speech and it got me amped up.. Leafs go on to lose the game, so is that on him or the players?

Wins and losses shouldn't be the way to define if Keefe is any good at motivating players..

Using the All or Nothing docu-series example, during the Habs series... Keefe gave a speech to the players about this being their moment, to erase everything in the past.. To be known as a great team and be known as great players..
It seemed like a good speech and it got me amped up.. Leafs go on to lose the game, so is that on him or the players?
- PatC80

Keefe is doing a good job, people are getting angry at his post game comments lately...but its pretty obvious to me he is deflecting pressure from Marner.

He isn't handling this well and Keefe is doing what he can to deflect some of it...not an easy job in Toronto.

I wonder if Ayres still works for MLSE, and if so, did he have their blessing to do this?

Yeah, I'm a grumpy old man wearing a cardigan yelling at the neighbourhood kids, but I think the Hurricanes have gone from funny and lighthearted to downright classless.
- Atomic Wedgie

yeah he retired.

As far as the classless stuff goes, they had a pretty good article with the marketing directors about this stuff the other day.

Basically the philosophy is that they're there to entertain Hurricanes fans, not worry about how the fans or staff of other teams are feeling. General approach is that "We don't throw the first punch, but we'll throw the second and we're going to try to make it a KO."

I watch sports for entertainment, I watch (mostly listen to) sports shows to learn stuff about sports. Overdrive seems like drivel to me. They seem to run through the same lame routines and I don’t find their interviews particularly interesting. I have to admit I haven’t listened to more than 10 minutes at a time in a while. Most TSN intermission segments have kind of become the same. CBC stuff tries way too hard to make me love Canada.

But yeah I’d rather listen to a good interview on the Atlanta Braves or the national soccer team than dumb poop on the Leafs. I can get that here.
- Canada Cup

Podcasts are the new age.

Talk radio is irrelevant, they just get angry and try to grab as many angry listeners as possible.

Keefe is doing a good job, people are getting angry at his post game comments lately...but its pretty obvious to me he is deflecting pressure from Marner.

He isn't handling this well and Keefe is doing what he can to deflect some of it...not an easy job in Toronto.
- Santo_44

I agree.. I think Keefe is doing a good job..
I'm not upset with him or Dubas, this is on the players for not showing well, anything, really.

We were so excited this past off-season with the moves made(except for the McCann one, I wish the Leafs protected him). 7 games in and they are playing poorly, it's on the guys on this ice and not the guys that still need to wear suits

They have to compete with NASCAR so subtle just ain’t gonna cut it
- Canada Cup

Basketball.

You've got UNC, NC State, Duke, Wake Forest... all in the same small-ish city. Lots of options for people to spend those dollars on.

I agree.. I think Keefe is doing a good job..
I'm not upset with him or Dubas, this is on the players for not showing well, anything, really.

We were so excited this past off-season with the moves made(except for the McCann one, I wish the Leafs protected him). 7 games in and they are playing poorly, it's on the guys on this ice and not the guys that still need to wear suits
- PatC80

They need a string of dominant games where they win 5-1 and score a few PP goals.

Detroit and Chicago are two teams if they are on their games they can do it.

Bag skate is always the right answer.

I though he retired. Well that what read.
- dmnted

yeah, mostly. He gets a cut from the shirts with his name on them, and the rest goes to the Kidney Foundation of Canada.

Wins and losses shouldn't be the way to define if Keefe is any good at motivating players..

Using the All or Nothing docu-series example, during the Habs series... Keefe gave a speech to the players about this being their moment, to erase everything in the past.. To be known as a great team and be known as great players..
It seemed like a good speech and it got me amped up.. Leafs go on to lose the game, so is that on him or the players?
- PatC80

I've thought about "the speech" for some time now and I actually think it was the right tone but the wrong message to send.

The "this is your chance to prove you're great" + "now is the time" message sounds neat but it's coming from a critical stand point: prove your quality, prove your worth, prove in this moment you can win this.

(frank) that.

You tell the team: WE ARE (frank)ING GREAT. WE ARE GOING TO WIN. LET'S GO KICK THESE LUCKY (frank)'S ASSES.

Kelly Hrudey, someone I don't always agree with, made this point the other day and I think he was spot on. It really got me thinking from a sports psychology standpoint.

I don't want an instant of creeping doubt asking my team to prove their quality. They ARE quality and there is NO doubt.

This team is mired in self-doubt and are questioning their ability to win. It's completely in between the ears.