Is the Honeymoon over?

[Dekes For Days]

What other team would ever experience the insanely toxic contract negotiations that the Leafs went through with Marner?

The only thing all that toxic was the media attention around it. Pretty much every team with a major RFA went through the same thing last year.

What other team would experience having an RFA go on a record-long holdout?

Holdouts like that are rare, but have happened before.

What other team would have a #1 overall / potential top-5 player in the league sign a 5-year deal with a NTC taking them to UFA?

Crosby - 5 year deal - had a NMC
Malkin - 5 year deal - had a NMC
Stamkos - 5 year deal - had a NMC
Kane - 5 year deal - had a NMC
Toews - 5 year deal - had a NMC
Kessel - 5 year deal - had a NMC

All re-signed with their team.

 

[Bluelines]

Good morning peeps.. how are we feeling today... .. still newly weds?

 

[Stephen]

No, that is not even close to the philosophy. You picking out any smallish forward, regardless of how they play, that has any remote connection to the Leaf organization in the past 2 years (almost all of which don't play for the Leafs - many of which are good prospects), while ignoring all that counter your claim, doesn't change that fact.

Exhibit A, Saturday Night.

 

[Stephen]

Good morning peeps.. how are we feeling today... .. still newly weds?

I think the lawyers are drafting up the divorce papers as we speak...

 

[Dekes For Days]

Exhibit A, Saturday Night.

Last night isn't proof of anything you claimed about Dubas' philosophy.

Also,

What's the saying, small sample size?

 

[BLONG7]

Love the team but the honeymoon was over when the greedy 3 chose $$$ over the team. After the Caps series I thought these guys wanted to win but since then talk is cheap and their actions speak volumes.

The Bruins seem to be the ONLY team who can pull the discount stuff off. No one else can, especially one of the riches teams in the league. They gave a boatload of money to a coach, so there was no way the kids were going to take discounts...

 

[Lemontree]

Loved the team lead by Clark and Gilmour.
Loved the teams led by Sundin, Cujo, Roberts, Tucker, Domi.

Watched every season knowing exactly what to expect between Sundin leaving era and getting to draft Matthews era.

Team full of young Leaf grown players the past 3 seasons although difficult at times, mainly last 2 playoff exits. It was easier to understand that those were stepping stones and young stars still taking their lumps and learning how to win in the playoffs.

This season has been a major disappointment to say the least, there is nothing to rationalize with this group. They are not good enough, don’t seem to care enough and the young guys haven’t learned anything other than Wealth Management is important.

 

[Stephen]

Last night isn't proof of anything you claimed about Dubas' philosophy.

Also,

At this point, the term “philosophy” seems too grandiose a term to be applied to whatever Dubas is doing.

 

[PromisedLand]

When did the honeymoon even start?

Leafs Nation went down on one knee and asked: "Will you please play well and compete so that we can be proud"

Leafs declined that proposal.

#Dejected_and_Feel_Rejected_As_a_Fan

 

[HolyCrap]

Honeymoon? I’m getting ready for the funeral.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Wait til Matthews goes to Zona after his short deal

 

[Mess]

Were moving away from he honeymoon phase and towards the divorce phase.

This marriage may not last long term.