Yeah 4th lines win cups…
- TurdFergeson

You need everything to win a cup.

Your star players must play like star players.

And your depth players must find a way to be a hero when it's needed.

5 game 7's in the first round this year.

4 home teams win.

Leafs find a way to lose.

Regular season heroes.

Killer instinct AWOL.

You need everything to win a cup.

Your star players must play like star players.

And your depth players must find a way to be a hero when it's needed.
- Scabeh

Depth is important. But isn’t going to win cups. Your top players have to be your top players. How many 4th line Conn Smythe winners have there been.?

5 game 7's in the first round this year.

4 home teams win.

Leafs find a way to lose.

Regular season heroes.

Killer instinct AWOL.
- fifty__missions

horrible playoffs draw for the Leafs with Tampa but that's probably where you want to play them, with a healthy Leafs team.

Depth is important. But isn’t going to win cups. Your top players have to be your top players. How many 4th line Conn Smythe winners have there been.?
- TurdFergeson

If you ask Pierre, all of them.

Depth is important. But isn’t going to win cups. Your top players have to be your top players. How many 4th line Conn Smythe winners have there been.?
- TurdFergeson

The Tampa bottom six was a HUGE reason why they won this series.

I don't get how people continually diminish how significant bottom six forwards are in the playoffs.

I wonder some if you couldn't pry Driedger out of Seattle in a multi player deal involving Nylander. Least he would be in the other conference, Seattle did a bit of a job on Driedger and he was not that bad despite having little offensive support and some seriously lousy structure in front of him.

I like Soup, but is he at a level and consistent enough to carry this team? To me he ain't no Belfour or Cujo, more Kenny Wregget. If he wants a payday let him get it elsewhere.

The Tampa bottom six was a HUGE reason why they won this series.

I don't get how people continually dismiss how significant bottom six forwards are in the playoffs.
- fifty__missions

THIS. Look at the numbers even on Tampa's top guys. Goal or assist here or there, odd game they come up big. Same as our guys but it's the 3rd and 4th lines that grind and need to produce in the post season that make the difference. Ask Tampa if they would love Goodrow-Gourde-Coleman back. That line utterly carried them through to a second cup.

We got next to nothing out of a bottom that just consisted of inconsistent younger guys, and old tired vets. And that isn't even considering the guys who were not doing much in the top 6 either.

Depth is important. But isn’t going to win cups. Your top players have to be your top players. How many 4th line Conn Smythe winners have there been.?
- TurdFergeson

You need both.

How many top players performed admirably but lost the series because they didn't get that timely goal from the third line?

THIS. Look at the numbers even on Tampa's top guys. Goal or assist here or there, odd game they come up big. Same as our guys but it's the 3rd and 4th lines that grind and need to produce in the post season that make the difference. Ask Tampa if they would love Goodrow-Gourde-Coleman back. That line utterly carried them through to a second cup.

We got next to nothing out of a bottom that just consisted of inconsistent younger guys, and old tired vets. And that isn't even considering the guys who were not doing much in the top 6 either.
- Roadrunner75

The funny part is a lot of people in this blog considered Mickey and Engvall good enough to replace second line guys like Nylander with long term big contracts. They didn't really show up in this series to solidify that. Mickey is going to free agency so meh, no big loss.

You need both.

How many top players performed admirably but lost the series because they didn't get that timely goal from the third line?
- Scabeh

like Nick Paul did in game 7?

The funny part is a lot of people in this blog considered Mickey and Engvall good enough to replace second line guys like Nylander with long term big contracts. They didn't really show up in this series to solidify that. Mickey is going to free agency so meh, no big loss.
- Aaron_85

Who?

I haven't watched much of Alex Chiasson, but man was he ever hyped up when he was drafted. ERIC LINDROS 2.0!

How's his game now?

The Tampa bottom six was a HUGE reason why they won this series.

I don't get how people continually diminish how significant bottom six forwards are in the playoffs.
- fifty__missions

Matthews had 9 points, Marner had 8, Nylander had 7.. Tavares and Rielly both had 6 points in 7 games.. Leafs top guys matched Tampa's big guys...

Their 4th line scored 4 goals in the 7 games.. The Leafs 4th line, scored once in 7 games.

Matthews had 9 points, Marner had 8, Nylander had 7.. Tavares and Rielly both had 6 points in 7 games.. Leafs top guys matched Tampa's big guys...

Their 4th line scored 4 goals in the 7 games.. The Leafs 4th line, scored once in 7 games.
- PatC80

There were no huge reasons in a series this close where Toronto outscored Tampa by a goal and which could have gone either way. For lots of people though, the outcome was never in doubt and only proved what they believed was wrong with the team all along.

THIS. Look at the numbers even on Tampa's top guys. Goal or assist here or there, odd game they come up big. Same as our guys but it's the 3rd and 4th lines that grind and need to produce in the post season that make the difference. Ask Tampa if they would love Goodrow-Gourde-Coleman back. That line utterly carried them through to a second cup.

We got next to nothing out of a bottom that just consisted of inconsistent younger guys, and old tired vets. And that isn't even considering the guys who were not doing much in the top 6 either.
- Roadrunner75

I think Tampa would prefer a 100% healthy Point and Kucherov...the guys with 30+ (frank)ing points and near historic performances...

I think Tampa would prefer a 100% healthy Point and Kucherov...the guys with 30+ (frank)ing points and near historic performances...
- AdamFrench

No its the 4th line grinders that win cups.

Hockey narratives are fun.

There were no huge reasons in a series this close where Toronto outscored Tampa by a goal and which could have gone either way. For lots of people though, the outcome was never in doubt and only proved what they believed was wrong with the team all along.
- Canada Cup

I agree, I don't think the Leafs lost because they didn't try or care or just folded.. To me, the only real difference was the play of the 4th lines (And Nick Paul getting lucky twice in Game 7)

I agree, I don't think the Leafs lost because they didn't try or care or just folded.. To me, the only real difference was the play of the 4th lines (And Nick Paul getting lucky twice in Game 7)
- PatC80

Well you’re entitled to your opinion.

How much of a raise are sandin and lily really getting? Realistically, what kind of raise do they actually deserve? Neither stood out as anything special, honestly. Even healthy, sandin stays next to lily in the press box. But I have no doubt Dubas finds a way to overpay to ensure he receives Christmas cards from his players…

I agree, I don't think the Leafs lost because they didn't try or care or just folded.. To me, the only real difference was the play of the 4th lines (And Nick Paul getting lucky twice in Game 7)
- PatC80

There were a million little things. Leafs now have to improve to the point to make those less relevant or make them that much better than whoever they play in the first round next year.

No point in complaining about poopty playoff structure - we’re going to get someone tough, or refs - they suck.

I’d like to see the guy we all hoped but never really believed Ritchie would be on the wing with Matthews and Marner. If they can find a new winger for the second line, great. There are third and fourth line guys I like. The only one I really, really want them to keep is Kampf. Find $ wherever you can with the rest, starting with the $3.? guy.

D seems to be sorting itself out. I think Lilli is ready to take Holl’s spot.

We saw mirage Jack for a while this year and a Jack that played worse than he really is. But I think he hit his ceiling in the playoffs - good, but quite enough. I sure hope they have somebody in mind if they let him go because good might look great if we end up with someone poopty.

There were no huge reasons in a series this close where Toronto outscored Tampa by a goal and which could have gone either way. For lots of people though, the outcome was never in doubt and only proved what they believed was wrong with the team all along.
- Canada Cup

No. There ARE reasons.

It was the Leafs who confirmed their own weaknesses and shortcomings.

Quit making this about fans who see the Leafs for what they are.

No. There ARE reasons.

It was the Leafs who confirmed their own weaknesses and shortcomings.

Quit making this about fans who see the Leafs for what they are.
- fifty__missions

That’s not what I said. Losing a close series to a very good team does not necessarily mean you are deeply flawed. There are things to improve. Do so.

I disagree in that sense.. Their 4th line Perry-Bellemare-Maroon was better than the Leafs 4th line.. That to me was still the biggest difference.

The Leafs 4th line was always changing..
- PatC80

What did this line doin the last 4-5 games. Wonder what their ice time was?

That’s not what I said. Losing a close series to a very good team does not necessarily mean you are deeply flawed. There are things to improve. Do so.
- Canada Cup