80’s music




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg9aQvjMS60
- Ratsreign

We went to see Maiden a couple of years ago at the Ampitheatre in Toronto and my wife just sat there singing out every word to every song. I had a guy walk up to me and say, "My brother wants to know where you meet a girl like that?"

In the 90s, dude; that's where.

P.S. In terms of just music, Tears for Fears tops this list. Then the Eurythmics, then everyone else much further below.
- Atomic Wedgie

(frank) that ...Sonic Youth helped me survive Harold Ballard. That is a legacy!

I think this sums up how I generally feel about Marner in the playoffs:



In general his play doesn't alter that much - he continues to generate slot passes and plays that generate offense. His personal scoring chances do go down but not by as much as everyone thinks.

But what is the consistent issue? If slot passes and offense generating plays are basically static why are his points so much lower? Where are the guys he is generating this offense with? I've said it before and I'll say it again - look at last year's team: whether it was Bertuzzi or Domi or Matthews or Tavares, or even on the Power play - the Leafs are too passive in the O-Zone and no one is TAKING the danger areas and making it theirs. Knies had a pretty good series as I recall but much of what he did that was successful was more off the rush than establishing position. I recall the two best chances that Marner setup were because Edmundson was the only guy willing to jump into the slot - Edmundson! If we'd just had some of our prime shooters willing to do what they are paid to do, then the setup guys like Marner and Domi would have been making those plays.

So we do go back and forth on this and I say that players like Marner need a supporting cast to excel because they are the puck movers, but the other players on the team need a player like Marner because they require puck movers. Imagine the Canada game if McDavid, instead of sliding back 3 feet to create a clean lane between he and Marner, had drifted back to the top of the faceoff circle. The Leafs need more shooters willing to be uncomfortable in the playoffs.

Nothing excludes Marner from criticism here, but the rest of the team has to step up as well and actually play like they want to win.
- Monkeypunk

I saw this chart (his stats are generally all good with the exception of execution (pts)) and I thought - it needs to have Matthews beside chart beside it (with shooting%).

Is 34 also generating but just not finishing in the post season?

Also - chart doesn't say - is that 5v5 or all situations?

The Leafs 5v5 in the playoffs hasn't been terrible ...it's been down (like most teams) but pretty average relative to the other teams.

The biggest drop in production has been the PP.

I don't mind Duran Duran or Depeche Mode or most of the 80's new wave music. I was really into metal and hard rock at the time, but it kinda grew on me over time and now I will listen to it in the truck if it comes on the radio. I was just being a Richard to the political troll with the screen name.

We went to see Maiden a couple of years ago at the Ampitheatre in Toronto and my wife just sat there singing out every word to every song. I had a guy walk up to me and say, "My brother wants to know where you meet a girl like that?"

In the 90s, dude; that's where.
- Monkeypunk

Like who? What #1 D is available via trade?
- Symba007

Ekblad is an interesting FA

I think he might be a player that has a sooner than normal decline

I saw this chart (his stats are generally all good with the exception of execution (pts)) and I thought - it needs to have Matthews beside chart beside it (with shooting%).

Is 34 also generating but just not finishing in the post season?

Also - chart doesn't say - is that 5v5 or all situations?

The Leafs 5v5 in the playoffs hasn't been terrible ...it's been down (like most teams) but pretty average relative to the other teams.

The biggest drop in production has been the PP.
- The Law

I think another thing that has been shown is how the Leafs' shooters all play further back in the playoffs - like 8-10 feet. Teams will setup a hard box (insert euphemism here if that's not good enough on its own) on the PK and the Leaf shooters will respond by playing outside of it. Similarly at 5 on 5, they let the defense give them their pockets, rather than going in and making their opportunities. They need to realize that the defense is giving you that space because you stop being as dangerous there. One of the world's best goal scorers is far less effective from 10 feet further back. They've known that that since hockey started before numbers were even invented yet.

We went to see Maiden a couple of years ago at the Ampitheatre in Toronto and my wife just sat there singing out every word to every song. I had a guy walk up to me and say, "My brother wants to know where you meet a girl like that?"

In the 90s, dude; that's where.
- Monkeypunk

Or in the smoking area at high school in the 80s. Those places were thiccc with girls like your wife. 😉

I think another thing that has been shown is how the Leafs' shooters all play further back in the playoffs - like 8-10 feet. Teams will setup a hard box (insert euphemism here if that's not good enough on its own) on the PK and the Leaf shooters will respond by playing outside of it. Similarly at 5 on 5, they let the defense give them their pockets, rather than going in and making their opportunities. They need to realize that the defense is giving you that space because you stop being as dangerous there. One of the world's best goal scorers is far less effective from 10 feet further back. They've known that that since hockey started before numbers were even invented yet.
- Monkeypunk

Agreed. The more playoffs I watch, the more baffled I get from the Leafs vs any other bloody team. They don't generate the chances or get the "lucky" breaks.

P.S. In terms of just music, Tears for Fears tops this list. Then the Eurythmics, then everyone else much further below.
- Atomic Wedgie

My 80s list:

The Smiths
New Order
REM
Echo and The Bunneymen
The Cure

Or in the smoking area at high school in the 80s. Those places were thiccc with girls like your wife. 😉
- fifty__missions

That's not possible,

'cause everybody knows that smokin' ain't allowed in school.

I don't mind Duran Duran or Depeche Mode or most of the 80's new wave music. I was really into metal and hard rock at the time, but it kinda grew on me over time and now I will listen to it in the truck if it comes on the radio. I was just being a Richard to the political troll with the screen name.
- GalacticStone

80’s Galactic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJgv-qBBT3Y

I think another thing that has been shown is how the Leafs' shooters all play further back in the playoffs - like 8-10 feet. Teams will setup a hard box (insert euphemism here if that's not good enough on its own) on the PK and the Leaf shooters will respond by playing outside of it. Similarly at 5 on 5, they let the defense give them their pockets, rather than going in and making their opportunities. They need to realize that the defense is giving you that space because you stop being as dangerous there. One of the world's best goal scorers is far less effective from 10 feet further back. They've known that that since hockey started before numbers were even invented yet.
- Monkeypunk

100% here. Part of it is an over reliance on pure elite skill over gritty greasy hockey. Ideally you need both elements of skill and piss. The Leafs as a whole lack piss, and when they had it they weren't smart about it (Kadri).

Pretty tic tac toe goals are nice, but I wanna see a storm of blue and white in front of the crease fighting for position on rebounds.

I think this sums up how I generally feel about Marner in the playoffs:



In general his play doesn't alter that much - he continues to generate slot passes and plays that generate offense. His personal scoring chances do go down but not by as much as everyone thinks.

But what is the consistent issue? If slot passes and offense generating plays are basically static why are his points so much lower? Where are the guys he is generating this offense with? I've said it before and I'll say it again - look at last year's team: whether it was Bertuzzi or Domi or Matthews or Tavares, or even on the Power play - the Leafs are too passive in the O-Zone and no one is TAKING the danger areas and making it theirs. Knies had a pretty good series as I recall but much of what he did that was successful was more off the rush than establishing position. I recall the two best chances that Marner setup were because Edmundson was the only guy willing to jump into the slot - Edmundson! If we'd just had some of our prime shooters willing to do what they are paid to do, then the setup guys like Marner and Domi would have been making those plays.

So we do go back and forth on this and I say that players like Marner need a supporting cast to excel because they are the puck movers, but the other players on the team need a player like Marner because they require puck movers. Imagine the Canada game if McDavid, instead of sliding back 3 feet to create a clean lane between he and Marner, had drifted back to the top of the faceoff circle. The Leafs need more shooters willing to be uncomfortable in the playoffs.

Nothing excludes Marner from criticism here, but the rest of the team has to step up as well and actually play like they want to win.
- Monkeypunk

We've had this debate before.

A drop from 1.13 to .88 PPG IMO IS substantial when games are super low scoring & this guy is supposed to be the elite playmaker.

And as I said before my opinion is it's not on the rest of the team to make Marner better at over 10M and looking for what 13+? If he can do it during the regular season he needs to figure out how to adjust and do it come playoffs.

Saying the team isn't structured right around Marner doesn't hold water for me, adapt or die - this is applicable to all the core. Figure out how to do what you do all season long come playoffs and stop blaming everyone else.

If they fail again clearly they need to look at changing the pieces and approach IMO.

Tavares still hasn't told his kids that Minten was traded

Tre should keep low balling him, he is going to accept any contract.

80’s music




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg9aQvjMS60
- Ratsreign

To quote sum 41: maiden and Priest was how we were raised!

Maiden still puts on a good show.

These days it’s more metal core and symphonic metal though.

Went to see the Epica symphonic synergy concert with a full symphony orchestra in Mexico City in December. Then Dream theatre the night after. Awesome trip!
https://youtu.be/7xXPyAhHhXc?feature=shared

I saw this chart (his stats are generally all good with the exception of execution (pts)) and I thought - it needs to have Matthews beside chart beside it (with shooting%).

Is 34 also generating but just not finishing in the post season?

Also - chart doesn't say - is that 5v5 or all situations?

The Leafs 5v5 in the playoffs hasn't been terrible ...it's been down (like most teams) but pretty average relative to the other teams.

The biggest drop in production has been the PP.
- The Law

Which really supports the Marner falters when the big games happen because he SHOULD have more room and space 5 on 4 to set up plays. And yes it also supports the WTF is Matthews doing on the PP come playoffs complaint because to your point he's disappeared also.

In watching the games though I don't see Marner playing the same way in the games 5-7 (nor Matthews) so i don't subscribe to the 'it's not Mitch it's the others around him that are the issue' theory.

Feels / has looked to me like Willy is the only one who seems to consistently show up and at times elevate his game in games 5-7. Points don't tell the entire story either IMO.

I want nothing more than to see Marner go on a tear this year (along with Matthews, Willy and any and everyone else in a Leafs jersey) in games that are not early, mid series and prove he/they can do it!

This wish exists despite knowing it will be insufferable to some degree in here due to a specific poster who seems to think everyone hates Marner except him and he has to insult others every time Marner does something good to great (or even when he does nothing of note) to try and stir up poop.

Forgotten (?) from the 80’s
The Smithereens

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqML7WbOun8

I saw this chart (his stats are generally all good with the exception of execution (pts)) and I thought - it needs to have Matthews beside chart beside it (with shooting%).

Is 34 also generating but just not finishing in the post season?

Also - chart doesn't say - is that 5v5 or all situations?

The Leafs 5v5 in the playoffs hasn't been terrible ...it's been down (like most teams) but pretty average relative to the other teams.

The biggest drop in production has been the PP.
- The Law

At least we won’t have to worry about a Matthews scoring slump starting in the playoffs this year.

Agreed. The more playoffs I watch, the more baffled I get from the Leafs vs any other bloody team. They don't generate the chances or get the "lucky" breaks.
- AdamFrench

I'm hoping come playoffs Knies will get into the dirty areas like we've seen him do this year and look for those deflections and cheap rebound goals and create luck, perimeter shooting in the playoffs is a waste of time if you can't get the shot through AND have bodies in front to tip, deflect or bang in rebounds.

Guys have to pay the price to be there and we haven't seen guys really do that in past years IMO.

I dont think the Leafs go far in the Playoffs unless both Tanev/Mccabe play every game.

goalies can steal games, but the playoff grind is tough without a top Pair.

we know they dont score, so have to stop the other team from doing it

At least we won’t have to worry about a Matthews scoring slump starting in the playoffs this year.
- Canada Cup

Are you suggesting the leafs aren’t making the playoffs??

I dont think the Leafs go far in the Playoffs unless both Tanev/Mccabe play every game.

goalies can steal games, but the playoff grind is tough without a top Pair.

we know they dont score, so have to stop the other team from doing it
- senstroll

I think Carlo is a nice addition for the playoffs, too. We all want a larger D, and this year we got it, (no surgery required).

Are you suggesting the leafs aren’t making the playoffs??
- TurdFergeson

I think he's suggesting that Matthews can't START a scoring slump in the playoffs because he's already in one.

At least we won’t have to worry about a Matthews scoring slump starting in the playoffs this year.
- Canada Cup

I mean no concussion in the 2nd last game of the season trying to chase 70 goals and Nylander not having leafy Migranes would be a start