I feel like the guys you hate the most on these message boards are the guys who say exactly this.

The wives, dubasites, Nylanderthals have always been wrong about everything. But now the light is starting to shine through, even the softest of the zoomer fan base are waking up.
- Horsey Sauce

Not sure who "I hate" on these boards....a couple of annoying fu3kers roll through here and I'll growl at them, but if they're posting about softness, I agree and always have.

Never been a fan of soft hockey. But, equally not a fan of dirty hockey, especially when it comes with bad officiating.

So it's a fine line of frustration for me being a Leafs fan.

Not sure who "I hate" on these boards....a couple of annoying fu3kers roll through here and I'll growl at them, but if they're posting about softness, I agree and always have.

Never been a fan of soft hockey. But, equally not a fan of dirty hockey, especially when it comes with bad officiating.

So it's a fine line of frustration for me being a Leafs fan.
- underhill14

Ok my bad, maybe not you personally..

But in general there’s been this doctrine here that you must follow that says hockey is becoming more of a skilled game and that the old way of mucking it up and being physical isn’t how you build a team anymore.

Not every player needs to hit. Kessel has two Cups and should've won the Conn Smythe that one year. Nylander was very effective in the playoffs.

Not every player needs to hit. Kessel has two Cups and should've won the Conn Smythe that one year. Nylander was very effective in the playoffs.
- Zezel

Who said every player needs to hit?

And it’s not really about hitting, it’s about imposing your will on the other team. It’s about asserting dominance.

You can do that by scoring like Kariya, Kessel, Kane etc.. but you have to be able to take a beating. And you need your teammates reciprocating the physicality.

Who said every player needs to hit?

And it’s not really about hitting, it’s about imposing your will on the other team. It’s about asserting dominance.

You can do that by scoring like Kariya, Kessel, Kane etc.. but you have to be able to take a beating. And you need your teammates reciprocating the physicality.
- Horsey Sauce

Get a life AA

I feel like the guys you hate the most on these message boards are the guys who say exactly this.

The wives, dubasites, Nylanderthals have always been wrong about everything. But now the light is starting to shine through, even the softest of the zoomer fan base are waking up.
- Horsey Sauce

"Everyone is wrong but meeee"

Totally not AA.

Looking forward to the future where you and Joel argue about who is more triggered for 10 pages.

"Everyone is wrong but meeee"

Totally not AA.

Looking forward to the future where you and Joel argue about who is more triggered for 10 pages.
- Leafs43

Lol

Ok my bad, maybe not you personally..

But in general there’s been this doctrine here that you must follow that says hockey is becoming more of a skilled game and that the old way of mucking it up and being physical isn’t how you build a team anymore.
- Horsey Sauce

I don't mind physical hockey or "mucking it up". What I detest is the two sets of rule books that hockey insists on running out each year between the regular and post-season.

Having said that, the Leafs will need to shift their strategy if they ever expect to achieve post-season success. As absurd as it may seem, the "soft" and "skilled" route will never translate to a Stanley Cup.

Anderson
10 hits

Nylander season
51 games
12 hits
- mr.sir

Willie did have 5 hits in 7 games in the playoffs.

Willie did have 5 hits in 7 games in the playoffs.
- mjones242

all of them thunderous and nasty

all of them thunderous and nasty
- 21peter

Get a life AA
- Santo_44

Dont feed the trolls

- Steven_Seagull

hate to say it reminded me of these bad mothers...

I don't mind physical hockey or "mucking it up". What I detest is the two sets of rule books that hockey insists on running out each year between the regular and post-season.

Having said that, the Leafs will need to shift their strategy if they ever expect to achieve post-season success. As absurd as it may seem, the "soft" and "skilled" route will never translate to a Stanley Cup.
- mjones242

Love is all you need

“eNgVaLl”

- Garnie. Probably
- Steven_Seagull

Good idea, the HEM line shut down McDavid for a few nights in a row.

Leafs fans want Nash there though. 🥴

Good idea, the HEM line shut down McDavid for a few nights in a row.

Leafs fans want Nash there though. 🥴
- Garnie

HEM, KEM or FEM are all good options
The least of our problems……

hate to say it reminded me of these bad mothers...

- 21peter

Oh boy, he’s a power forward Pierre McGuire monster now. 🤥

I don't mind physical hockey or "mucking it up". What I detest is the two sets of rule books that hockey insists on running out each year between the regular and post-season.

Having said that, the Leafs will need to shift their strategy if they ever expect to achieve post-season success. As absurd as it may seem, the "soft" and "skilled" route will never translate to a Stanley Cup.
- mjones242

On that front, I'd take Cole Caufield over Mitch Marner everyday of the week to be on my team. Caufield goes to the front of the net every shift it seems, and all the tough areas. Marner skates around like a waterbug avoiding hits looking to make a pass. Not a scratch on that guy Marner.

Babcock was trying to toughen him up. But obviously didn't work. I think Babcock had the right idea about Marner.

Who said every player needs to hit?

And it’s not really about hitting, it’s about imposing your will on the other team. It’s about asserting dominance.

You can do that by scoring like Kariya, Kessel, Kane etc.. but you have to be able to take a beating. And you need your teammates reciprocating the physicality.
- Horsey Sauce

You are correct. Your analysis is spot on.

You are correct. Your analysis is spot on.
- MisterBrown

hate to say it reminded me of these bad mothers...

- 21peter

Love me some Monty Python.

On that front, I'd take Cole Caufield over Mitch Marner everyday of the week to be on my team. Caufield goes to the front of the net every shift it seems, and all the tough areas. Marner skates around like a waterbug avoiding hits looking to make a pass. Not a scratch on that guy Marner.

Babcock was trying to toughen him up. But obviously didn't work. I think Babcock had the right idea about Marner.
- MisterBrown

The only reason I'd take Cole Caufield at this point is that he has an ELC and we could spend the other 10M on players who can play in the regular and post-season.

The more I watch these playoffs, the more I’m convinced we’re not winning with how we’re built.


Oh well, individual regular season point totals.
- Steven_Seagull

People have been saying this for a couple of years now.
The Leafs homers did not appreciate those takes.....I see now they're changing their tune.

On that front, I'd take Cole Caufield over Mitch Marner everyday of the week to be on my team. Caufield goes to the front of the net every shift it seems, and all the tough areas. Marner skates around like a waterbug avoiding hits looking to make a pass. Not a scratch on that guy Marner.

Babcock was trying to toughen him up. But obviously didn't work. I think Babcock had the right idea about Marner.
- MisterBrown

Oh man...

You are correct. Your analysis is spot on.
- MisterBrown

So you,Horse face and AA are all the same people right?

Just cruised the Habs blog & comments and shockingly there is some outrage about the officiating from the game last night. I will say it was terrible but it was terrible both ways - the Habs got away with just as much BS as the Habs did - maybe more.

The blog author actually whines about the lack of a boarding call Weber (Ok fair it was an uncalled penalty) but then proceeds to complain poor Suzuki was 'punched right in the face with no call'. Someone else posts the GIF of the swipe and poke at Suzuki with outrage at no call. I watched the game and can only say - Give me a (frank)ing break.

Weber got boarded - fine 2 minutes they didn't call.
He proceeded to get up, absolutely drill the Knights player with a full on Bertuzzi on Moore style punch to the back of the head - no call.
The one who can do no wrong apparently in the Habs jersey then drills the Kight player with a cross check to the back, then in the scrum rips his helmet off - all with no call.

Habs got the better end of that exchange.

And as far as poor old Suzuki - I watched the whole play + replay. Maybe if Suzuki didn't try to hold onto the Knights player's stick the whole time and prevent him from rejoining the play and also didn't start the post whistle altercation he wouldn't have got the boop.

The refereeing was terrible no doubt, but it was equally terrible both ways at best, I would have said the Habs (especially Weber as usual) got away with A LOT more but of course the Habs lost so it's the ref's fault.

And people say Leaf's fans complain and come up with any reason other than the team wasn't good enough. The Habs blog basically says "Habs were better all game long and only lost because of the referees & Robin Lehner". I watched the game and didn't see it being as one sided as that. Certainly not nearly as one sided as the prior game was for Vegas and MAF handed the Habs the tie and hope going into OT.

If Seth Jones doesn't want to sign an extension I don't want him in Toronto. Even if they do get him it shouldn't be unless they can get him in a swap with Reilly where the dollars equal out as Jones is getting 5.4 vs Reilly's 5 next season (but I still say no). Why trade for a rental for a season who has to learn your system, players etc. and have someone who already knows all that walk away? Jones isn't THAT much better than Reilly is he? Jones was a -18 this year on a team built on (from everything I hear and read) playing a stingy, defensive style. Reilly was a +11 on a team that played run and gun as much as they played '"defensive" hockey.

I still want to see Robertson on L2 with JT at Centre and Mitch on RW and then Willy up on L1 with AM and a 'new Hyman' but a bigger, stronger, more snarl type of body there. I'd even try Foligno up there to start the year if they can get him to resign on the cheap.

Then as others have mentioned a sledgehammer line for L3 would be a welcome addition and line 4 / pop corn munchers can be a mix of Spezza + others who can provide some clock killers, scoring punch (if your playing "soft" teams) or more hulk smash type of play if your playing teams that you need that against.

I still want Jamie Oleski in the blue and white also.

Should be interesting to see what Shanny and Kyle do, there is no way they can not make some medium level changes at least here if they expect different results than this year.