Around the NHL: The 2024 NHL Playoff Thread

[OkimLom]

The Leafs have the same roster problems every postseason with the big four:
-At least one of them is out hurt or playing injured
-Marner generally sucks ass in the more physical, tighter-checking game environments
-Their salary structure is so top heavy that they can't afford good scoring depth, so if their top guys aren't doing anything, they're scratching and clawing just to pot 2 per game

There's no way they extend Mitch...but would they be ok with letting him walk for nothing and just looking at it as cap space gained if they can't trade him? It's clear they need to try something different, not sure if they have the appetite for it

They will be able to trade Marner with no issue. It may not be for a package that they probably would get with longer term attached. I expect them to trade Mitch at the draft.

Also, your list started to quickly sound like the issues the Sabres have, only instead of Marner being a focus, we have an assortment of guys that suck ass in the physical/tighter checking games.

 

[joshjull]

Auston Matthews?

 

[Ace]

They were fine signing Tavares. It's that they waited too long to address many other aspects of their team via free agency/drafting that comes down to the small details of playing the game that are not expensive moves that soon turn into expensive moves because now you are left panicking and trying to go for the leftover parts or by trading away assets.

Their coaching staff also went to the same well too many times in hopes of getting production during the regular season, instead of taking moments in the season to find out what combinations give you certain results. If a line is pretty good at producing only offense, but are pretty shaky/inexperienced defending leads, it may be a line you may not want to run with in the playoffs for long stretches.

Every single year we watch the same top heavy team have their stars disappear in the postseason without the money to have secondary depth scoring to cover them. They already had Matthews, Marner and Nylander. Eleven million dollars a year for Tavares was a brutal, brutal mistake. You could have added three good pieces every single season instead. An entire line to roll out instead of Tavares. To have a team…not a regular season all star top 4 and a bunch of nothing.

It is the #1 reason for all of their problems.

 

[joshjull]

 

[joshjull]

What a weird thing to say about your own team. As if you have no say on how to deal with that.

 

[Beerz]

Auston Matthews?

What a joke.

 

[Chainshot]

And Leafs blaming Samsonov for game seven loss. They score one goal.

It seems to be part of hockey fandom. We have somebody who seems to hate Eric Comrie on a personal level because he doesn’t stop all shots and also he doesn’t score a goal for himself too.

 

[sabremike]

Guys, heard a hot rumor going around that the Leafs are working on a trade that would send Tavares to the Buffalo...













Bandits.

 

[joshjull]

Guys, heard a hot rumor going around that the Leafs are working on a trade that would send Tavares to the Buffalo...













Bandits.

 

[joshjull]

This one is for @sabremike

 

[MarkusKetterer]

It seems to be part of hockey fandom. We have somebody who seems to hate Eric Comrie on a personal level because he doesn’t stop all shots and also he doesn’t score a goal for himself too.

I personally hate all goalies who don’t score a hat trick every game.

 

[Old Navy Goat]

It's an entertaining game, definitely worse things to watch at 4am

 

[Old Navy Goat]

Looked like Rod was about to blow a gasket with the Kuzmenko penalty, especially after the Rangers scored. Straight crosscheck to the face in front of the ref is stupid

 

[Der Jaeger]

And Leafs blaming Samsonov for game seven loss. They score one goal.

That’s another old school Canadian view.

Puck goes in the net. It’s the goalie’s fault no matter what. Then it’s the defense’s fault.

Forwards not playing defense is never the issue.

 

[Beerz]

That’s another old school Canadian view.

Puck goes in the net. It’s the goalie’s fault no matter what. Then it’s the defense’s fault.

Forwards not playing defense is never the issue.

Well you can't blame a Selke Finalist

 

[DapperCam]

They will be able to trade Marner with no issue. It may not be for a package that they probably would get with longer term attached. I expect them to trade Mitch at the draft.

Also, your list started to quickly sound like the issues the Sabres have, only instead of Marner being a focus, we have an assortment of guys that suck ass in the physical/tighter checking games.

Marner has a full NMC, they are likely stuck with him for another year.

 

[Old Navy Goat]

Marner has a full NMC, they are likely stuck with him for another year.

I hope he's petty, invokes his NMC then leaves after the season meaning the Leafs get zilch, zip, nada for him. The salty fans tears would be especially sweet

 

[Beerz]

I only tuned in halfway thru the 2nd period but this doesn't seem like a playoff game to me.

Both teams look really slow and uninterested

 

[Dingo44]

Crazy the Rangers have Vesey out there to defend their lead.

 

[Chainshot]

Crazy the Rangers have Vesey out there to defend their lead.

He's a good defensive player. *shrug*

 

[Old Navy Goat]

Trochek has been such an underrated acquisition for the Rangers the last 2 seasons

 

[Chainshot]

Trochek has been such an underrated acquisition for the Rangers the last 2 seasons

I wish Krebs would play more like Trochek and less like, well, Krebs.

 

[Old Navy Goat]

I wish Krebs would play more like Trochek and less like, well, Krebs.

He'd be a core player if he did. Trochek was always a nice player but this year he went into overdrive

 

[Old Navy Goat]

Dallas - Vegas should be a big boys pads type of game

 

[Mattilaus]

Part of the issues the leafs have is timing. They signed Tavares to a bad contract, but it became so much worse when covid hit and resulted in a flat cap for years. If the cap had continued increasing they would have had extra money to sign some better depth pieces. It was a bad decision combined with bad luck.