I'm not so sure I want Marner, Matthews or Willy running in with "flying fists"
There were a few very positive things in that game that in the long term were worth more than the loss of a single point against the top team in the NHL.

1 - Samsonov played one of his best games as a Leaf.
2 - Leafs came back from down 2-0 againsts arguably the best defensive team and a very good goalie in a tough building.

A couple of very predictable, consistent trends continued

1 - Wes McCauley - a ref with documented hatred for Keefe and the Leafs missed a call on the dirtiest play of the year. Can-Opener and Slew foot on the same play resulting in a serious injury. Five and a game by any reasonable standard

2 - Parros will not suspend a player that injures a Leaf.

I hope, but I am not holding my breath, that Leafs make sure Marchand pays a price every shift he plays next time Bruins play the Leafs.
- winsix

Yeah, I mean, I cringe when I see Point or Stamkos drop the mitts and risk damaging their priceless hands. But, it also sends a message when your captain or skilled game-breakers are not afraid to fight or get involved in scrums. It doesn't mean JT has to break his hand on somebody's helmet, but he should be ready to do that at any moment and demonstrate that willingness to his teammates and the fans.

Even a "soft" guy like Nylander is a professional athlete. Nylander is listed at 6' tall and 200 pounds. It wouldn't kill him to fly up into a scrum and attempt to beat the tar out of somebody. The shock value of him doing something like that would probably go viral.

When teammates are bonded like that, it becomes a band of brothers and you need that to win championships. Otherwise, you just have a loose collection of workers punching the clock.

Sammy or Woll... inquiring minds want... Need to know...

Sammy or Woll... inquiring minds want... Need to know...
- dozerD10

Lundestrom and Helleson

Robertson + Kant

Yeah, I mean, I cringe when I see Point or Stamkos drop the mitts and risk damaging their priceless hands. But, it also sends a message when your captain or skilled game-breakers are not afraid to fight or get involved in scrums. It doesn't mean JT has to break his hand on somebody's helmet, but he should be ready to do that at any moment and demonstrate that willingness to his teammates and the fans.

Even a "soft" guy like Nylander is a professional athlete. Nylander is listed at 6' tall and 200 pounds. It wouldn't kill him to fly up into a scrum and attempt to beat the tar out of somebody. The shock value of him doing something like that would probably go viral.

When teammates are bonded like that, it becomes a band of brothers and you need that to win championships. Otherwise, you just have a loose collection of workers punching the clock.
- GalacticStone

The team is soft up and down the lineup with Reaves seemingly muzzled.

This is not Sparta.

https://twitter.com/sdpns...tatus/1720600527338185176

He's right. Can't really say that all too often with Dangle.

https://twitter.com/Toron...tatus/1720609040315674823

Would very much like to see him called up soon.

Are the teams that are going to Sweden allowed to bring extra players, just in case? If so, I assume Robertson will be among them.

Lundestrom and Helleson

Robertson + Kant
- mr.sir

I do think Lundy could be tradable with the emergence of both Leo in Anaheim and the beast Gaucher in San Diego...

And with Minty a lock for the next 15 yrs and LaCombe not going anywhere either along Urho and with Hinds, Luneau and baby Z in SD also..

Helleson def could be included.

1 - Wes McCauley - a ref with documented hatred for Keefe and the Leafs missed a call on the dirtiest play of the year. Can-Opener and Slew foot on the same play resulting in a serious injury. Five and a game by any reasonable standard

2 - Parros will not suspend a player that injures a Leaf.
- winsix

"It's a dirty play that has absolutely no place in our game, but it's also not one of the dirty plays that we'll actually punish. Even though one of the dirtiest players this game has seen in the last 30 years was once again at the centre of it.

And since it is another Leaf getting hurt on this incredibly dirty play, we still don't care."- Parros, probably

JT is the captain, fighting isn’t his thing but sometimes he needs to do it anyways, that’s simply part of being the damn captain.
- Dozzer

Agreed.
Even if he didn't fight, show some emotion.
I would have rather the team united, stood up for lili, take few penalties and lost in regulation then did what they did.
And doing anything the next time they meet the bruins doesnt cut it, they missed a big opportunity, the rest of the league now knows who they are.
Ah well, they will light up November and December...maybe even the rest of the season and people will be tricked again.

Still early though

I do think Lundy could be tradable with the emergence of both Leo in Anaheim and the beast Gaucher in San Diego...

And with Minty a lock for the next 15 yrs and LaCombe not going anywhere either along Urho and with Hinds, Luneau and baby Z in SD also..

Helleson def could be included.
- dozerD10

👍

Do the 🦆 prefer Kant or Yawncock?

JT is the captain, fighting isn’t his thing but sometimes he needs to do it anyways, that’s simply part of being the damn captain.
- Dozzer

ie Jerome Iginla, Stamkos, Getzlaf, etc etc

Yeah, I mean, I cringe when I see Point or Stamkos drop the mitts and risk damaging their priceless hands. But, it also sends a message when your captain or skilled game-breakers are not afraid to fight or get involved in scrums. It doesn't mean JT has to break his hand on somebody's helmet, but he should be ready to do that at any moment and demonstrate that willingness to his teammates and the fans.

Even a "soft" guy like Nylander is a professional athlete. Nylander is listed at 6' tall and 200 pounds. It wouldn't kill him to fly up into a scrum and attempt to beat the tar out of somebody. The shock value of him doing something like that would probably go viral.

When teammates are bonded like that, it becomes a band of brothers and you need that to win championships. Otherwise, you just have a loose collection of workers punching the clock.
- GalacticStone

Never gonna happen. These guys are here to play hockey and collect their millions, they aren’t warriors and never will be.

Agreed.
Even if he didn't fight, show some emotion.
I would have rather the team united, stood up for lili, take few penalties and lost in regulation then did what they did.
And doing anything the next time they meet the bruins doesnt cut it, they missed a big opportunity, the rest of the league now knows who they are.
Ah well, they will light up November and December...maybe even the rest of the season and people will be tricked again.

Still early though
- Fakepartofme

Yup, even if all it is turns out to be grabbing the jersey and tossing him down fine just do something “captain”.

Still liking JT’s skill set but I won’t lie, that left a bad taste in my mouth when it comes to him being a captain.

It’s early but poor Gio is already a second pairing guy.

ie Jerome Iginla, Stamkos, Getzlaf, etc etc
- Bullot

Exactly, not a fighter but still will do so when necessary

👍

Do the 🦆 prefer Kant or Yawncock?
- mr.sir

Bergeron, Crosby, Gretzky, Lemieux

Yeah, I mean, I cringe when I see Point or Stamkos drop the mitts and risk damaging their priceless hands. But, it also sends a message when your captain or skilled game-breakers are not afraid to fight or get involved in scrums. It doesn't mean JT has to break his hand on somebody's helmet, but he should be ready to do that at any moment and demonstrate that willingness to his teammates and the fans.

Even a "soft" guy like Nylander is a professional athlete. Nylander is listed at 6' tall and 200 pounds. It wouldn't kill him to fly up into a scrum and attempt to beat the tar out of somebody. The shock value of him doing something like that would probably go viral.

When teammates are bonded like that, it becomes a band of brothers and you need that to win championships. Otherwise, you just have a loose collection of workers punching the clock.
- GalacticStone[/quote]

the truth spoken!

[quote=GalacticStone]Yeah, I mean, I cringe when I see Point or Stamkos drop the mitts and risk damaging their priceless hands. But, it also sends a message when your captain or skilled game-breakers are not afraid to fight or get involved in scrums. It doesn't mean JT has to break his hand on somebody's helmet, but he should be ready to do that at any moment and demonstrate that willingness to his teammates and the fans.

Even a "soft" guy like Nylander is a professional athlete. Nylander is listed at 6' tall and 200 pounds. It wouldn't kill him to fly up into a scrum and attempt to beat the tar out of somebody. The shock value of him doing something like that would probably go viral.

When teammates are bonded like that, it becomes a band of brothers and you need that to win championships. Otherwise, you just have a loose collection of workers punching the clock.
- 21peter[/quote]

the truth spoken!

Nidermeyer, Lidstrom, Andreychuk, Sakic

👍

Do the 🦆 prefer Kant or Yawncock?
- mr.sir

Yawncock for sure...

Nidermeyer, Lidstrom, Andreychuk, Sakic
- jribout

You’re just listing guys who had coaches who would put the necessary guys on the ice to do the scrapping if necessary. Hell, my cousin who was nothing but a scrapper was deliberately put on Gretzky’s line in the 93’ playoffs to fight anyone who tried to touch him let alone do a dirty hit/trip.

So yes, those captains existed but they had the teammates who cared and the coaches that would use them as needed.

ie Jerome Iginla, Stamkos, Getzlaf, etc etc
- Bullot

Getz fought a ton with both the Hitmen and when he 1st came up... and for years after... and was a good fighter. More than could hold his own... and stuck up for teammates a ton...

Leafers need a guy on the backend that played for both of us ...Beauchemin.. hammer and tough as granite.

You’re just listing guys who had coaches who would put the necessary guys on the ice to do the scrapping if necessary. Hell, my cousin who was nothing but a scrapper was deliberately put on Gretzky’s line in the 93’ playoffs to fight anyone who tried to touch him let alone do a dirty hit/trip.

So yes, those captains existed but they had the teammates who cared and the coaches that would use them as needed.
- Dozzer

I'm not saying it's an absolute necessity to fire Keefe (I do think it should be done and should've been done in the off-season), but there is a coach out there that's available right now that wouldn't put up with all the nonsense that this team currently does.

Gallant is a no nonsense guy. And the team would 100% be tougher and retaliate more.

Not saying that Matthews (who should never ever fight), Marner, or Nylander would. But the team as a whole would. And Reaves would be used as he should be.

I'm not so sure I want Marner, Matthews or Willy running in with "flying fists"
There were a few very positive things in that game that in the long term were worth more than the loss of a single point against the top team in the NHL.

1 - Samsonov played one of his best games as a Leaf.
2 - Leafs came back from down 2-0 againsts arguably the best defensive team and a very good goalie in a tough building.

A couple of very predictable, consistent trends continued

1 - Wes McCauley - a ref with documented hatred for Keefe and the Leafs missed a call on the dirtiest play of the year. Can-Opener and Slew foot on the same play resulting in a serious injury. Five and a game by any reasonable standard

2 - Parros will not suspend a player that injures a Leaf.

I hope, but I am not holding my breath, that Leafs make sure Marchand pays a price every shift he plays next time Bruins play the Leafs.
- winsix

What would be worth more than any of that including the point they got, would be to show some goddam pride in their teammates and jersey.

Getz fought a ton with both the Hitmen and when he 1st came up... and for years after... and was a good fighter. More than could hold his own... and stuck up for teammates a ton...

Leafers need a guy on the backend that played for both of us ...Beauchemin.. hammer and tough as granite.
- dozerD10

Getzlaf is one of my top 5 favourite players ever. Loved the way he played.

Shane Doan is #1. I'm hoping, since he's in the organisation now, that he'll go down and impart some wisdom.

I'm not saying it's an absolute necessity to fire Keefe (I do think it should be done and should've been done in the off-season), but there is a coach out there that's available right now that wouldn't put up with all the nonsense that this team currently does.

Gallant is a no nonsense guy. And the team would 100% be tougher and retaliate more.

Not saying that Matthews (who should never ever fight), Marner, or Nylander would. But the team as a whole would. And Reaves would be used as he should be.
- GreatGigInTheSky

Gallant would Def be a shock to the system for guys who have never played for him....


Just ask Laf or Kakko....

I just heard Dahlin not gonna play...

Leafers better jump these guys early and often..

Needs to be along the lines of the Nucks / Sharks game score.