Calgary should be heavy favorites I agree.

And Dallas was an underrated team coming into the playoffs. They really came close.
- Scabeh

Oettinger put up Price/Roy levels of playoff heroism in that series. He had a .954% against one of the better offenses in the league.

Edmonton has 40 year old Mike Smith backed up by .903% (which is basically his career average, too) Koskinen. They gave up an average of 35 shots / game to LA. What the Hell will that porous defense translate to against the vastly superior Calgary?

I like McDavid and Draisaitl, but I'm not sure this team stands a chance.

This is one of the deepest, more well rounded teams of the Dubas era for sure.....heck the best in decades (which isnt saying much considering this franchise hasnt had good teams for so long).
This team did show some fight and did show that they dont always give up and can come back. But it wasnt on consistent basis. They had several no show periods, which you cant do in the playoffs, specially for a team that touted how much they had changed, how things were gonna be different, how much they had to prove and how badly the franchise needed a series win.
The problem is they are really tight up against the cap. They need to bring back Laboushe, and Gio and get rid of Mrazek.
I dont think Kase, and Spezza will be back..unless they sign league minimum. Blackwell may be back. Mik will probably go for a bigger payday elsewhere.
The big question is Campbell, how do you access him. Is he a goalie that can take you over the hump, win a cup or even just go on a deep playoff run? If so, how much do you pay him? If not, who is that could be available?
Keep the core 4 together unless they believe someone within the organization can replace the scoring. But I havent seen anyone like that.
I really like Kerfoot and what he brings...but could he be replaced internally? Dunno. But his cap, although justified for what he does, may be too rich for the leafs.
The leafs have missed several opportunities the past several years. Its too bad.
- Fakepartofme

I have so soured on Kerfoot. He makes way too many bonehead plays, is too small and isn't top 6 material.

I see Pittsburgh lost in OT yesterday and lost the series while being up 3-1

How Leafy is was that.?

I have so soured on Kerfoot. He makes way too many bonehead plays, is too small and isn't top 6 material.
- bobbyisno1

The Leafs will need cap room.
Hopefully he is moved for a pick, say to Arizona for one of their 2nd round picks or a good to average prospect

I see Pittsburgh lost in OT yesterday and lost the series while being up 3-1

How Leafy is was that.?
- dmnted

Turns out playing your third goaltender for 6 games, then your injured #1 while also seeing your best player injured and losing your #2 defenseman does hurt your team's chances.

Who knew?

This is one of the deepest, more well rounded teams of the Dubas era for sure.....heck the best in decades (which isnt saying much considering this franchise hasnt had good teams for so long).
This team did show some fight and did show that they dont always give up and can come back. But it wasnt on consistent basis. They had several no show periods, which you cant do in the playoffs, specially for a team that touted how much they had changed, how things were gonna be different, how much they had to prove and how badly the franchise needed a series win.
The problem is they are really tight up against the cap. They need to bring back Laboushe, and Gio and get rid of Mrazek.
I dont think Kase, and Spezza will be back..unless they sign league minimum. Blackwell may be back. Mik will probably go for a bigger payday elsewhere.
The big question is Campbell, how do you access him. Is he a goalie that can take you over the hump, win a cup or even just go on a deep playoff run? If so, how much do you pay him? If not, who is that could be available?
Keep the core 4 together unless they believe someone within the organization can replace the scoring. But I havent seen anyone like that.
I really like Kerfoot and what he brings...but could he be replaced internally? Dunno. But his cap, although justified for what he does, may be too rich for the leafs.
The leafs have missed several opportunities the past several years. Its too bad.
- Fakepartofme

They need an answer to the collapse down low, defend to the death style of adversary they've now faced 3 playoffs in a row: CBJ, MTL, and TBL all were able to keep the Leafs to the outside this way.

This year, playoff style hockey really only surfaced in games 5/6/7, when things tightened up, the refs started calling less (well, against TBL), but regardless, we don't really have an answer for that.

We need some size that can score. I think Dubas knew that going into this season, and unfortunately Ritchie didn't pan out, but he was the right type of player they needed, particularly after Hyman left, who was sorely missed on the forecheck.

I admire the play of everyone: nobody left anything on the table from what I could tell, but size does matters when you're up against a big team like TBL.

Trades for Tavares and Nylander must be deeply explored this off season by a GM other than Dubas.

JT and WN need to go not because they are ineffective but because their cap hits are a roadblock to the Leafs improving in areas that can get them over that hump.
Trades like this are difficult to construct but they do happen.

Dubas is an inexperienced GM who was given a shot for 5 years. He failed. It is time to bring in another GM with a different vision.

Turns out playing your third goaltender for 6 games, then your injured #1 while also seeing your best player injured and losing your #2 defenseman does hurt your team's chances.

Who knew?
- Scabeh

I took the Rangers in 6 cause of that

To all of you "this feels different....let's just run it back...again...next year" people:

You've accepted a loser's mentality.

I'm not buying it.

They could not step up. Their PP killed them. Again. And they simply could not close.

They lost in the EXACT SAME WAY.
- fifty__missions

Or…. Maybe there’s another interpretation. Maybe this feels different means that this year’s team was significantly better than last year’s team. I guess you can say that they couldn’t close is the only point of comparison but in my mind there are a lot of things that point to improvements.

Losing a tight series to Tampa is nothing to be ashamed of. Losing to Montreal was -sleight intended, Scabeh

Again, the leafs couldnt close out a series.
Vasi didnt play up to usual self the entire series outside of game 7, and leafs just couldnt take advantage and nail the series down.
The leafs were completely healthy, maybe not 100%, but they werent missing any of their star players.
Again, they just couldnt get past the 1st round.
- Fakepartofme

The Leafs found a way to lose. Again.

Five game 7s in round 1.

4 home teams won. Except us.

Expecting something different at this point is insane. Significant change is a MUST.

Trades for Tavares and Nylander must be deeply explored this off season by a GM other than Dubas.

JT and WN need to go not because they are ineffective but because their cap hits are a roadblock to the Leafs improving in areas that can get them over that hump.
Trades like this are difficult to construct but they do happen.

Dubas is an inexperienced GM who was given a shot for 5 years. He failed. It is time to bring in another GM with a different vision.
- Mr_Smokey

JT has 3 years left on his contract with a full nmc. JT isn't going anywhere unless he wants to.

Or…. Maybe there’s another interpretation. Maybe this feels different means that this year’s team was significantly better than last year’s team. I guess you can say that they couldn’t close is the only point of comparison but in my mind there are a lot of things that point to improvements.

Losing a tight series to Tampa is nothing to be ashamed of. Losing to Montreal was -sleight intended, Scabeh
- Canada Cup

Loser's mentality got you.

Trades for Tavares and Nylander must be deeply explored this off season by a GM other than Dubas.

JT and WN need to go not because they are ineffective but because their cap hits are a roadblock to the Leafs improving in areas that can get them over that hump.
Trades like this are difficult to construct but they do happen.

Dubas is an inexperienced GM who was given a shot for 5 years. He failed. It is time to bring in another GM with a different vision.
- Mr_Smokey

to be exact, he has been the GM for 4 seasons.

They need an answer to the collapse down low, defend to the death style of adversary they've now faced 3 playoffs in a row: CBJ, MTL, and TBL all were able to keep the Leafs to the outside this way.

This year, playoff style hockey really only surfaced in games 5/6/7, when things tightened up, the refs started calling less (well, against TBL), but regardless, we don't really have an answer for that.

We need some size that can score. I think Dubas knew that going into this season, and unfortunately Ritchie didn't pan out, but he was the right type of player they needed, particularly after Hyman left, who was sorely missed on the forecheck.

I admire the play of everyone: nobody left anything on the table from what I could tell, but size does matters when you're up against a big team like TBL.
- gravyface

You're not wrong there - ideally you want that guy who plows to the net with the puck and can put in (like Jamie Benn), but those guys are few and far between - but having a guy who can drive to the net and lose the puck in the process, but create room - like Kassian for instance or Maroon or more hurtfully Nick Paul - they will not get the job done most of the time, but they can create a swath of wreckage where skilled guys can possibly clean up the garbage.

Hyman wasn't that guy either. Last year he didn't penetrate the Montreal cross-check storm. The year before he wasn't effective against the Jackets' collapse and hack defense either. In fact this year's 2 goal 2 assist performance in 7 games is his best playoff performance to date. I like Zach Hyman, so there's no disrespect intended, just noting that he's not as much as we wanted him to be, but he was more than we had, so he gets remembered as a bit more.

I don't think Knies would be ready yet, but that's the archetype we need.

Loser's mentality got you.
- fifty__missions

the fans mentality has no impact on anything.
if fans change how the see or feel about the Leafs, that will not do anything.

applied to the players, sure. but what does it have to do with fans?

Or…. Maybe there’s another interpretation. Maybe this feels different means that this year’s team was significantly better than last year’s team. I guess you can say that they couldn’t close is the only point of comparison but in my mind there are a lot of things that point to improvements.

Losing a tight series to Tampa is nothing to be ashamed of. Losing to Montreal was -sleight intended, Scabeh
- Canada Cup

the fans mentality has no impact on anything.
if fans change how the see or feel about the Leafs, that will not do anything.

applied to the players, sure. but what does it have to do with fans?
- senstroll

Dubas' has a loser's mentality. Fans have bought into it. Some fans anyway.

He's no Masai Ujiri.

That guy would trade his mother to win.

Loser's mentality got you.
- fifty__missions

Please stop calling anyone who disagrees with your blow it up / scorched earth approach a loser in a backhanded way, it's unnecessary.

It is possible that the team has improved and the situation is not the same simply because they didn't make it past the first round again.

It's not like they played the same team every time they missed and made no changes to their team or played differently from one playoff to the next.

Dubas' has a loser's mentality. Fans have bought into it. Some fans anyway.

He's no Masai Ujiri.

That guy would trade his mother to win.
- fifty__missions

making a major trade in Basketball is a very different thing than Hockey. 1 of 5 players that plays 90% of the game can absolutely change fortunes.

Simply having Mcdavid or Matthews does not guarantee any success.

Again, the leafs couldnt close out a series.
Vasi didnt play up to usual self the entire series outside of game 7, and leafs just couldnt take advantage and nail the series down.
The leafs were completely healthy, maybe not 100%, but they werent missing any of their star players.
Again, they just couldnt get past the 1st round.
- Fakepartofme

As for me and I think more than a few Leafer fans... it's the inconsistency that is maddening...

After playing a Perfect game 3 .. Perfect, dominant road win.. to gain home ice back.. they come out with that Turd in game 4 with a chance to put the hammer down in game 5 at home..

The attitude we got a split in Tampa that's good enough. Instead of getting greedy and building off game 3 they mailed in 4... That lack of killer instinct ... so frustrating.

Jori Negin-Shecter
@jorins_
· 56m
More Friedman: Don't expect a long term deal with Sandin or Liljegren, thinks both end up with short term deals in that ~$2m range.

Also doesn't sound like Campbell is back. Friedge says Leafs opened with ~$2.75m initial offer, which was far below Campbell's.



Wow. Would not super surprised if JC did not return.

Great guy, good goalie…but it’s fair to not be confident in having him as your starter for a deep run. And I’m not giving him much higher than Driegers 3.5M cap hit.

Jori Negin-Shecter
@jorins_
· 1h
Friedman on 590 says that he thinks the Leafs will make some changes, particularly says that they'll be looking for more tenacity in their top-6. Also has some questions for where Tavares plays in the lineup next season, either the center or wing.

As for me and I think more than a few Leafer fans... it's the inconsistency that is maddening...

After playing a Perfect game 3 .. Perfect, dominant road win.. to gain home ice back.. they come out with that Turd in game 4 with a chance to put the hammer down in game 5 at home..

The attitude we got a split in Tampa that's good enough. Instead of getting greedy and building off game 3 they mailed in 4... That lack of killer instinct ... so frustrating.

- dozerD10

Sure or maybe the back to back champs were unhappy with how THEY played in game 3 and decided to change how they would play in game 4. Teams adapt during a series and both Tampa and the Leafs did, that's why until game 7 no team won 2 in a row and why it went 7 games.

Frustrating - 100% but it's what good teams can do and do, let's not pretend this is the same and blowing a 3-1 series lead or some of the other post season failures. To me this year was totally different and I really do think if they had drawn someone other than Tampa they are in the 2nd round. Just my opinion.

Jori Negin-Shecter
@jorins_
· 56m
More Friedman: Don't expect a long term deal with Sandin or Liljegren, thinks both end up with short term deals in that ~$2m range.

Also doesn't sound like Campbell is back. Friedge says Leafs opened with ~$2.75m initial offer, which was far below Campbell's.



Wow. Would not super surprised if JC did not return.

Great guy, good goalie…but it’s fair to not be confident in having him as your starter for a deep run.
- Santo_44

Aren't Sandin and Liljegren both RFA with out arbitration rights?
So they either accept the 10% increase ish or sit. I don't think they will sit a way for a better contract.

Whoever" The Law" is in here. You are a piece of Sh!t bringing what happened at TOPS into a Hockey Blog. You People want to ban me Fine, but "The Law" you can go F@ck Yourself. And to cush and the other ban hammer. You delete post from Sabres fans just joking with you guys over here, and then leave something like that up. Disgusting!!
- Buff36

Some good ole' Canadian boys in here eh?