I think one of the problems with our lineup is we have so many skilled guys, who have dominated at other levels with skill that they sometimes try and 'skill' their way out of trouble instead of 'willing' it.
Lots of young guys come in the league after having dominated junior or overseas, and it takes time for them to adjust to a league where everyone has similar skill. Watching Marner last night, he tried to toe drag and do cute little plays which sometimes work, but in a game like there where your getting forechecked to heck and facing a solid blue line playing a full colapse style, you need more Hymans and less Kerfoots (just examples, not picking on anyone)
Most teams with skill have their skill guys, and their will guys. Young players need to learn that, usually through failure or adversity. Up until now Matthews, Nylander, Marner etc havent had all that much adversity. They came into the league, all put up good point and or goal totals, made the playoffs every year and lost "honorably" to the "better" team. If in Matthews rookie year we were told as fans we would get 3 straight playoff appearances, a rookie of the year award, bring in Tavares, 100 point season, we would have been extatic. As a team, this is the first year that just being good young players wasnt going to be good enough. They got paid, and with that came expectations that they were going to dominate and be a top 5 team (which I would argue they are when they are clicking).
This year might end up being a learning one, where the team gets a bunch of key injuries and guys dont respond well. Because we are the biggest fanbase, we loudly demand year over year improvement which just doesnt happen in sports. Teams get better, and sometimes take a step back before taking a leap forward. I think people excuse the past if it ends up in a payoff, like with Ovie. For the first decade of his career almost he was spoken of as selfish, bad teammate, someone you couldnt win it all with, streaky. He had a bad year and people were talking about the need to 'blow up' Washington. Same thing in most sports, once you 'win it all' your past failures are forgiven.
My hope is this year and whatever adversity is attached to it (legitimate or not) battle hardens the guys and shows them just having the best hands or shot doesnt mean much if the other team outworks you, or if your being lazy, or trying to only play in half the ice. Im still very positive that this is the best core the Leafs have had in generations, one that needs either some guys on the back end to take a leap forward (Liljgren, Sandin, Rielly) or one good move to help balance the power. If Rielly has a good defensive partner, one who can let him be himself a bit more (a much improved Hainsey) that takes a ton of pressure off the Muzzin pairing, gives the young guys time to get acclimated on the 3rd pair and learn to dominate.
Will we see it in the next 21h? Maybe, maybe not. But we know the team knows where they are lacking, the GM knows where they are lacking, and they have excess forwards up front who can be packaged to find the right piece.
Have faith all!