yea, the grit needs to be one of the go to guys to also make the big play. I think maybe ROR might have thought to have been that, but he appears slow. Tkachuk seems to be the top end example, makes the play and has the edge. Mackinnon, even had it last season. Why only one team wins the cup, those players are not easy to find.
- wcorvette

Tkachuk is one guy. The Panthers are not a particularly gritty team.

The reason the series is 3-0 is because of Bob.

Tkachuk is one guy. The Panthers are not a particularly gritty team.

The reason the series is 3-0 is because of Bob.
- Tomahawk

Bennett says hello

Tkachuk is one guy. The Panthers are not a particularly gritty team.

The reason the series is 3-0 is because of Bob.
- Tomahawk

Yea Bob but Tkachuk is part of the reason they are winning, part of the reason they made the playoffs, a big reason they made the playoffs, he leads with his play and grit, big part of the team identity.

Bennett says hello
- ClaudeFather

agree, skill and grit

agree, skill and grit
- wcorvette

Gudas, Montour, verhage, all guys that are pains in the butt to play against

Torts is not involved in the Draft. However, it's pretty likely he'll still be here come 2024-25. Leonard is projected to play one NCAA season then turn pro. And if Torts is here, he will assess and use (or not use) every player by his own assessment -- not Danny's, not Brent's, no one else's. So it behooves the Flyers to draft a player the coach would likely be inclined to take to.
- bmeltzer

This make absolutely zero sense…
If everything outside of the first sentence is true….
Then why WOULDNT the coach be involved in the draft?

Yea Bob but Tkachuk is part of the reason they are winning, part of the reason they made the playoffs, a big reason they made the playoffs, he leads with his play and grit, big part of the team identity.
- wcorvette

It's certainly nice that MT plays that way, but it's not really the deciding factor in these games.

It's certainly nice that MT plays that way, but it's not really the deciding factor in these games.
- Tomahawk

😂 ok Tanner

But you will have everyone involved with the "Flyers roundtable" discussing how it wasn't realistic for the Flyers to do what Chicago did. How that approach is something to be sneered at. Its a belief that's downright cancerous, and held in many parts of this organization.

It's obsolete, and pathetic. Anything to keep the country club members employed though. Don't want to question an ongoing failed strategy.

Already, with all due respect to Bill, we have a team writer stating how it would behoove the team to get a player that fits John Tortorella hockey. In the year 2023.

Its disgusting.
- FlyerFan3260

Exactly. 100% correct. They need to rid all of hart laughts provy tk Hayes sanheim etc etc etc. they have value. Some at least. They need to bottom out.

Exactly. 100% correct. They need to rid all of hart laughts provy tk Hayes sanheim etc etc etc. they have value. Some at least. They need to bottom out.
- SMS4016

This. Load on up picks and bottom out this year and let the draft picks fall where they may moving forward.

The front office should’ve done this years ago but chose not to. They have no one to blame now but themselves.

Same garbage under Hextall
Same garbage under Cuckles
Hak to Gordon to AV to Yeo to the arrogant SOB Torts.

Sorry, I have zero faith in this franchise. They still have Flahr overseeing the scouts. Dave Brown, Kjell Samuelsson and Barry Hanrahan are all still getting paychecks. I liked Briere as a player, but until a lot more heads start to roll and they start operating like a team that is truly rebuilding, I’m not buying it.
- BiggE

I will add he has learned all his NHL experience under one Chuck Fletcher. He has been around the advisors. Been around Lappy. Is this supposed to install confidence in nay fan?

The franchise is tone deaf. A clean 95% sweep was needed. To not even look for a GM and hand it to Danny Boy is a total failure. To not talk to outside candidates is total failure.

I will have a wait and see approach though I have zero faith.

I will add he has learned all his NHL experience under one Chuck Fletcher. He has been around the advisors. Been around Lappy. Is this supposed to install confidence in nay fan?

The franchise is tone deaf. A clean 95% sweep was needed. To not even look for a GM and hand it to Danny Boy is a total failure. To not talk to outside candidates is total failure.

I will have a wait and see approach though I have zero faith.
- hello it's me 2050

It’s kind of astonishing anyone still supports the nonsense to be honest. Who are these bums still buying season tickets?

All supplemental pieces, the guys brining you into the fight need to be the ones with some bite. Look at Crosby, mackinnon, those guys aren’t ever considered soft. Matthews and Marner have no fight in their game, great players, very good defensively, but they have no bite in their game.
- ClaudeFather

The big four haven’t been able to elevate their game.

The big four haven’t been able to elevate their game.
- Minnyhock

Yup, when the game gets tight and you need to create some room, they’ve been quiet. Marner a shell of his regular season

Bennett says hello
- ClaudeFather

depends on how we are classifying grit as well. reinhart gets to the tough area. gudas, smith i would say are tough. barkov and ekblad battle hard. montour throws some good checks and battles. they have a good mix imo.

Bennett says hello
- ClaudeFather

And Montour, Reinhart, Barkov, Ekblad, and the superstar in the shadows Verhaeghe!

That’s a terrible take on how to select a draft pick. Torts won’t be here past 2025 but the 7OA pick in a deep draft should be here for a decade or more. You take BPA with that pick, period. The coach is irrelevant.
- BiggE

My take is ALWAYS BPA but my point is that they will likely deem the best all-around available player as BPA. Leonard is a good all-around prospect. Torts may or may not be here for the duration of his contract. But a player who could gain Tortorella's approval as a potential 19-year-old NHL player would do fine under any coach.

depends on how we are classifying grit as well. reinhart gets to the tough area. gudas, smith i would say are tough. barkov and ekblad battle hard. montour throws some good checks and battles. they have a good mix imo.
- Peter Richards

Toronto has a decent mix of physical, gritty, self-sacrificing players as well.

It's certainly nice that MT plays that way, but it's not really the deciding factor in these games.
- Tomahawk

I don't any one factor is the deciding factor, but if you look at the top 3 MT is in the top 3. Teams follow leadership MT has that IT factor. Of course so is the lack of goals from the Leaf's big 4.

I don't any one factor is the deciding factor, but if you look at the top 3 MT is in the top 3. Teams follow leadership MT has that IT factor. Of course so is the lack of goals from the Leaf's big 4.
- wcorvette

The SV% difference between the two teams is nearly 60 points. .938 vs .883.

THAT's been the difference so far in a series where two out of three games have been decided by a single goal. Not the same tired argument about how the Leafs are a bunch of figure skaters.

I see Danny Boy making a trade to get Ross Coltons rights then a long term contract.

The SV% difference between the two teams is nearly 60 points. .938 vs .883.

THAT's been the difference so far in a series where two out of three games have been decided by a single goal. Not the same tired argument about how the Leafs are a bunch of figure skaters.
- Tomahawk

I agree, never thought they were figure skaters, in that save % is grit however, the big 4 needed to find a way to manufacture a goal, sure say it is Bob but it is them too, just not good enough. When MT set up the OT goal, you could believe he would be involved, me and my son discussed as OT started, you could feel he would go find a way. Is that grit, to some no, to me, yea, it is not just laying the hit or mixing it up, it is grinding to find a way to score.

I agree, never thought they were figure skaters, in that save % is grit however, the big 4 needed to find a way to manufacture a goal, sure say it is Bob but it is them too, just not good enough. When MT set up the OT goal, you could believe he would be involved, me and my son discussed as OT started, you could feel he would go find a way. Is that grit, to some no, to me, yea, it is not just laying the hit or mixing it up, it is grinding to find a way to score.
- wcorvette

yup, go get a greasy one, find a way. What is it for this group, 6 first round exits and then a pathetic round 2 performance? Just facts

I agree, never thought they were figure skaters, in that save % is grit however, the big 4 needed to find a way to manufacture a goal, sure say it is Bob but it is them too, just not good enough. When MT set up the OT goal, you could believe he would be involved, me and my son discussed as OT started, you could feel he would go find a way. Is that grit, to some no, to me, yea, it is not just laying the hit or mixing it up, it is grinding to find a way to score.
- wcorvette

Interesting to note that Tkachuk has the same number of goals in the series as Marner and Matthews.

And don't forget the Leafs gritted out all those OT goals in the Tampa series.

yup, go get a greasy one, find a way. What is it for this group, 6 first round exits and then a pathetic round 2 performance? Just facts
- ClaudeFather

wonder where little Napoleon leaf's fan has been?

on paper they made good moves. They don't seem to have that "clutch" guy up front. To put a team on his back when needed.