Post-Game Talk: STAYING ALIVE Leafs Win 2-1

[therealkoho]

Both Holl and Brodie were positioned poorly on that play.

It's no use bro Justin has the target tattooed on him these days. Being on for 1 goal when the rest of his game was solid rock only means he was on for the goal and must be to blame. It's now his burden to carry in LeaFland

 

[JT AM da real deal]

I am just sick an tired of Bettman race to help da bottom feeders .. he is a socialist lawyer hired by da gang .. i hate socialists .. and Jacobs who is a cheap youknowwhat..you can't say what i am thinking on here anymore but you know -- takes advantage with massive dividends for himself .. i have nothing against him enriching himself but not by ripping off da players which he has done forever back to Orr days what a *** .. it truly is a sh*t show since he and ballard came along

and that dog wirtz in chicago .. another gang member .. funny how he got da 1st pick in a generational year omg .. oh yeah he won the ball drop HAHAHAHAHA

 

[KPower]

Finally played a playoff style game leading in hits and blocks.

Keep it up and make this series interesting.

 

[therealkoho]

You don't think the guys on the bench know their teammate?
He stopped Tkachuk from going in and suckering others, his teammates would be happy to see him hanging in there.

He didn't get bullied. He did his job and Tkachuk did his job.

I like the new narrative that Mitch is "scared" it will be fun to see how long it lasts.

 

[Darcy Tucker]

I am just sick an tired of Bettman race to help da bottom feeders .. he is a socialist lawyer hired by da gang .. i hate socialists .. and Jacobs who is a cheap youknowwhat..you can't say what i am thinking on here anymore but you know -- takes advantage with massive dividends for himself .. i have nothing against him enriching himself but not by ripping off da players which he has done forever back to Orr days what a *** .. it truly is a sh*t show since he and ballard came along

I get what you're putting out there but it's just a lot to consider turning the sport of Hockey on its side and changing everything.

Right now in terms of growing the game and having a good culture going forward not sure taking apart the NHL as it is will make things better. The NHL is hockey. It's a bit ugly right now as it's orchestrated but you're taking about major political overhauls. Not sure it will ever happen.

 

[egd27]

And I think the cure for it was part of Lou Lamoriello brought in his non-negotiable structure. I think that's EXACTLY what this club needs, not so much for the personalities of players, but because the culture of the club's identity requires filtering in a systematic fashion.

I think Toronto is the perfect NHL franchise to affect a kind of necessary elitism. We should have codes up and down the organization that almost make us look like a throwback to the 60s.

This is so lost on Mr. Dubas and his legion of supporters.

IMO, The two things that are holding this team back from amazing success are structure and discipline. But that means interfering with letting them "express their personalities"

They continue to beat themselves by failing to execute the basic fundamentals of the game.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Can anyone explain why the coach would make an adjustment to the league's #2 ranked power play, knowing full well that PP opportunities are scarce once the playoffs start?

I mean if you're only getting 1 or 2 chances a game, do you really need a more effective 2nd unit?

JT was struggling with PP faceoffs, so Keefe put ROR in to help, which meant dropping someone to the second unit.

I would have preferred JT be moved, but I have to admit that WIlly makes the second unit much better, while I don't think JT would.

Also, Willy coming on part way through the penalty while most of the first unit is still on gives them a very different look, which may help too.

 

[Darcy Tucker]

and that dog wirtz in chicago .. another gang member .. funny how he got da 1st pick in a generational year omg .. oh yeah he won the ball drop HAHAHAHAHA

One of the fishiest things ever for sure.

 

[NMacrules]

Keefe needs to call up Simmonds and Clifford. Panthers punching our stars in the face and laughing about it. Simmonds needs to beat the daylights out of Bennett the dirty POS! It angered me watching our guys like Marner getting punched then laughing at him. Win or lose, I hope Keefe and Dubas are gone.

 

[LaPlante94]

I just came to post that David Kampf is a playoff warrior. Dubas 5 stars for bringing this player to Toronto.

Thank you.

He wasn't the greatest round 1 imo but the last 3 games he's been doing what we need him to do, especially in the faceoff dot. 26-4 in the dot the last 3 games. He was very average on the draw round 1 and the 1st 2 games of this series but he's been helping us get possession and the 4th line has been benefitting greatly from it now too.

 

[Jozay]

Keefe needs to call up Simmonds and Clifford. Panthers punching our stars in the face and laughing about it. Simmonds needs to beat the daylights out of Bennett the dirty POS! It angered me watching our guys like Marner getting punched then laughing at him. Win or lose, I hope Keefe and Dubas are gone.

I mean yeah, that was a pathetic display by Marner, but no need to go off the edge because of it

 

[geo25]

I am just sick an tired of Bettman race to help da bottom feeders .. he is a socialist lawyer hired by da gang .. i hate socialists .. and Jacobs who is a cheap youknowwhat..you can't say what i am thinking on here anymore but you know -- takes advantage with massive dividends for himself .. i have nothing against him enriching himself but not by ripping off da players which he has done forever back to Orr days what a *** .. it truly is a sh*t show since he and ballard came along

In Bettman's attempt to 'grow the game' in the US where it lags behind Tractor Pulling in terms of viewers he has watered down what was once a great sport and has rigged the results through the referees. He also hates Canadian teams and would get rid of them if posdible. That sob has done more harm to the game than anyone else in my lifetime...

 

[Mr_Fun]

Agreed. I almost never complain about the refs, just not my thing. But I just can't wrap my head around Gudas getting away with this, what a disgrace. Keefe and Dubas and Shanahan should all be yelling about this today until they're all paying hundreds of thousands in fines.

In every world, that's at the bare minimum, an even up call. Kudos to our players for not losing their minds and putting us down 2 men. All we can do is hope the refs have a better grasp for next game.

 

[MilkofthePoppy]

This is so lost on Mr. Dubas and his legion of supporters.

IMO, The two things that are holding this team back from amazing success are structure and discipline. But that means interfering with letting them "express their personalities"

They continue to beat themselves by failing to execute the basic fundamentals of the game.

They never learn. They expect it to come easy. The Leafs had a rich and storied history before the Ballard era of blue collar players that bled for the jersey. The current roster is much like the city it represents, soft and entitled.

They have a chance here. This is a great opportunity.

 

[Kyle Broflovski]

Thank God, well done guys.
Man, Hope to kick Floridas a** the next Game as well

 

[Superstar]

Regular season success tease notwithstanding, there is a team within our group, but their motivational selectivity is absolutely systemic.

We looked sensational when Reilly was out. Whatever that is that pulls out the best of support players when primary players are out is a real thing. Its no different than what Cherry used to repeatedly point out about having a Alpha Dog in the room and the confusion that arises when you don't have the right mix of support players who may be Alphas in their own right.

Funny enough, Cam Neely in a recent end of season presser just cited a suspicion that one of the things that got to the Boston room was the idea repeated and repeated that a President's Trophy winner can't win the Stanley Cup.

Consider for a moment the disparity between Boston's (certainly robust) coverage vs Toronto's...So if its credible coming from Cam Neely and a very successful Boston Bruins club that is absolutely one of the best run organizations in the NHL, then...I think we have to continue to identify that perhaps this organization's culture is too enmeshed with the city's emotional disposition (fans and media alike) in order to consistently play a defensively responsible brand of hockey.

And I think the cure for it was part of Lou Lamoriello brought in his non-negotiable structure. I think that's EXACTLY what this club needs, not so much for the personalities of players, but because the culture of the club's identity requires filtering in a systematic fashion.

I think Toronto is the perfect NHL franchise to affect a kind of necessary elitism. We should have codes up and down the organization that almost make us look like a throwback to the 60s.

That's difficult to do when the foundation of the club is young, like we were six seven years ago. I think now that this club is teetering, years on with an inevitably maturing group, adopting a stricter approach all around is the next step in changing our culture for the better and one I'd argue, that if its strong enough from within, will be supported by the fans in spite of the media, from without.

Great post, and I agree...what's your idea of a stricter and more disciplined approach? Fortnite Friday Nights with Cheetos and Pepsi for the team?

I think Shanahan brought some of that collective organizational respect to the team with Legends Row and retiring jerseys for past Leaf icons, but Dubas is not like Lou, and seems too easy going and friendly with the players...he oozes a sense of coddling players, and I'm not sure that helps in some ways.

 

[tmlms13]

Keefe needs to call up Simmonds and Clifford. Panthers punching our stars in the face and laughing about it. Simmonds needs to beat the daylights out of Bennett the dirty POS! It angered me watching our guys like Marner getting punched then laughing at him. Win or lose, I hope Keefe and Dubas are gone.

And Florida will say thank you for all the 1 minute shifts in your zone. Any time those guys are on the ice it will be Harlem globetrotters for the Panthers.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Regular season success tease notwithstanding, there is a team within our group, but their motivational selectivity is absolutely systemic.

We looked sensational when Reilly was out. Whatever that is that pulls out the best of support players when primary players are out is a real thing. Its no different than what Cherry used to repeatedly point out about having a Alpha Dog in the room and the confusion that arises when you don't have the right mix of support players who may be Alphas in their own right.

Funny enough, Cam Neely in a recent end of season presser just cited a suspicion that one of the things that got to the Boston room was the idea repeated and repeated that a President's Trophy winner can't win the Stanley Cup.

Consider for a moment the disparity between Boston's (certainly robust) coverage vs Toronto's...So if its credible coming from Cam Neely and a very successful Boston Bruins club that is absolutely one of the best run organizations in the NHL, then...I think we have to continue to identify that perhaps this organization's culture is too enmeshed with the city's emotional disposition (fans and media alike) in order to consistently play a defensively responsible brand of hockey.

And I think the cure for it was part of Lou Lamoriello brought in his non-negotiable structure. I think that's EXACTLY what this club needs, not so much for the personalities of players, but because the culture of the club's identity requires filtering in a systematic fashion.

I think Toronto is the perfect NHL franchise to affect a kind of necessary elitism. We should have codes up and down the organization that almost make us look like a throwback to the 60s.

That's difficult to do when the foundation of the club is young, like we were six seven years ago. I think now that this club is teetering, years on with an inevitably maturing group, adopting a stricter approach all around is the next step in changing our culture for the better and one I'd argue, that if its strong enough from within, will be supported by the fans in spite of the media, from without.

It sounds like you are discussing the culture and identity of a hockey team, specifically the Toronto Maple Leafs. You suggest that the team's success may be hindered by a lack of structure and a tendency to prioritize individual performance over team success.

You also mention the importance of having a strong leader, or "Alpha Dog," in the room to create a sense of direction and cohesion within the team. Additionally, you suggest that the media and fan culture in Toronto may contribute to the team's struggles.

You propose that the team needs a stricter approach to filtering and adopting codes to create a more systematic approach to playing hockey. You believe that this kind of elitism is necessary for the team to consistently play a defensively responsible brand of hockey and ultimately achieve success.

It's important to note that while a strict approach may be beneficial in some cases, it's also important to balance this with fostering a positive and supportive team culture. Success in sports is often a delicate balance between structure and flexibility, and finding the right approach will vary from team to team.

Ultimately, creating a winning culture takes time and effort from everyone involved in the organization, from players and coaches to management and ownership. It will be interesting to see how the Toronto Maple Leafs continue to evolve and adapt in their pursuit of success.

 

[mcleex]

Leafs lose in 4. Classic Leafs.
Leafs win a game to extend the series. Classic Leafs.
Leafs play bad for 3 games, then win 4 in a row. Classic Leafs.

Leafs are always in a lose-lose situation.

The last one is a reach but I'll take it

 

[NMacrules]

And Florida will say thank you for all the 1 minute shifts in your zone. Any time those guys are on the ice it will be Harlem globetrotters for the Panthers.

Sure, just let the panthers continue to pound the stars. And, next game is in Toronto with home ice advantage so can control the lines better.

 

[thewave]

Beastlander and Woll are going to carry us.

 

[seventieslord]

How is Holl still playing in this lineup? Mind blowing. God, I hope they don’t resign him. I think he could have success somewhere with lower pressure (maybe) but for the leafs, he’s a liability every time he steps on the ice.

How many defensemen are signed for next season? Plus everyone wants to keep schenn. Holl ain't coming back.

 

[seventieslord]

Schenn resign today perfect partner for Mo
ORielly resign he was the instigator in the last 7 minutes and Acciari to keep the puck in there end.
Acciari resign dogged on the puck
Woll you are getting half of the games next yr. Sammy the other half
Murray bye
Liljegren perfect partner for McCabe
Lafferty really like his game

Seriously though, assuming we do want to keep this entire lineup together, can we even do that? This is a playoff lineup full of salaries we added with just 25% of the season left.

 

[ITM]

Great post, and I agree...what's your idea of a stricter and more disciplined approach? Fortnite Friday Nights with Cheetos and Pepsi for the team?

I think Shanahan brought some of that collective organizational respect to the team with Legends Row and retiring jerseys for past Leaf icons, but Dubas is not like Lou, and seems too easy going and friendly with the players...he oozes a sense of coddling players, and I'm not sure that helps in some ways.

Detroit like Toronto lost its sense of continuity as mediocrity became commonplace. Once success returned to Detroit, the bridge linking their decorated past to their successful (then) present was a natural process and in turn, exorcised the dash between the two eras.

What Shanahan did was take the initial steps to reconnect this same sense of heritage, which as we all know, was very successful, but just as important, full of integrity and clear purpose. Sounds saccharine to say given that it should be clear to a hockey player in the NHL that their purpose is to compete and contend for the Stanley Cup.

But what this club has been through post-1967 has been a clear cycle of forced instability. Say what anyone will about Shanahan's loyalty to Dubas, I'd wager the primary building block under the Shanahan -- if it had a name inscribed on it -- is Stability. I wouldn't be surprised if Shanahan looked at David Poile and Lou Lamoriello as examples and determined that come what may, the first step in establishing a new culture is to ensure as little change as is needed. To repeat: Come what may.

I think he's been right for the most part. But I think he's reached his limit with this season. I don't think it's a coincidence that his absence is noticeable. I think the distance is measured in anticipation of difficult change. And I think having experienced Scotty Bowman and Lou Lamoriello and having invested in Dubas, I believe that Dubas has changed and will continue to past this season.

It's interesting that Maloney (Calgary) cited a shift in culture in moving out Sutter, somewhat alluding to the difference in players "these days". Maybe I'm reading things incorrectly, but I think there's a different sea change that's going to happen in Toronto.

The logic lays out that our management adapted to players "these days" very early in routing out Babcock and deferring to Dubas as a novice with novel ideas and relationship dynamics. We can hardly move laterally and expect a different result. Now this is all predicated on the presumption that we're a hockey club. If we're simply the NHL's underwriters then I don't expect a thing to change.

But it's apparent to any billion dollar enterprise paying attention to its fans there is only one meaningful direction to take this club, and that's back on the path Shanahan envisioned with heritage, a taskmaster like Lou Lamoriello and perhaps as much of an anonymity as the Leafs could ever muster in order to continue to change a culture that seems defined by its reliance to hold on to cross-purposes like no other sports culture.

As far as approach in implementing a more disciplined approach....Dividends from the league's highest paid sports psychology/amateur scouting departments is a good first step. Maybe its already incoming.

But we all know the next steps on the pro-side. Easier said then done. My repeated proposal is to negotiate with Nylander first, make his contract the bar, and negotiate with the others from there. If they accept the model, great, if they don't, depth comes in, our cap space increases and we operate as though it is no longer possible to hold our management hostage to imprudent decisions.

Can't really comment on hobbies bleeding into the job, but as noted, if our scouts can confirm that there are other prospects in the system that see hockey as the hobby, then that should be an easy filter.

That and perhaps a bi-weekly visit to Sick Kids to put things in perspective.

 

[seventieslord]

Dress Simmonds and just have him be a pos every shift. Smash everyone. Start shit after the whistle. Be a dirty f***. Don’t care if he takes a stupid penalty.

He literally tried this exact thing last year's playoffs, and every time he started shit after the whistle he took a penalty and they scored both times. It's not tough or courageous or a deterrent for the opposition. I would suggest it encourages the opposition. He's not a smart intimidator whatsoever.