Is The League Trending in the Wrong Direction (AGAIN) for Our Team?

[GlitchMarner]

Before the Maple Leafs started their rebuild, they had guys like Phaneuf, Fraser, Orr, McLaren, Clarkson etc and there was talk that they needed more pure skill. It seemed that the game was changing and skilled/skating teams were taking over.

2014: The Kings (known for being a defensive team that could play heavy) won the Cup and the Bruins won the President's Trophy, but the Habs (a skating team) knocked BOS out of the playoffs and the Rangers (team similar to MTL) reached the SCF. TOR drafts William Nylander.

2015: Both the Kings and Bruins missed the playoffs. The Rangers won the President's Trophy and almost returned to the SCF. The Habs and Lightning each put up 108 points or more in the season. CHI wins the SC. TOR drafts Mitch Marner.

2016: The Pittsburgh Penguins use speed and skill to dominate in the playoffs and they take the Cup. TOR picks Matthews first overall.

At this point, it seemed TOR should be set up well in the coming years.

Then in 2017 the Leafs put up a surprisingly good fight against WSH in round one and it seemed it was just a matter of time until the team had playoff success.

However, since then the Bruins have really returned to being a formidable team, the Lightning (built similar to TOR albeit a better team) have had struggles against heavier and more physical teams in the playoffs, the Cup has been won by a more physical version of the Capitals than versions of that team that couldn't win it and St. Louis won it all last year without a ton of pure skill or speed.

You can't help but feel this franchise is cursed and that 2014-2017 would have been a better period for TOR to try to challenge for a Cup than right now.

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[Merrrlin]

The NHL definitely favours low event, low chances and generally less entertaining hockey right now. It's certainly an easier way to win.

I think Toronto's problems go further than that, though, so I wouldn't say they are cursed.

It was painful that a period of RFA empowerment happened as they were signing their stars, only to have a pandemic lock the cap up. That's for management to figure out, we will see if they are capable.

 

[Faltorvo]

Before the Maple Leafs started their rebuild, they had guys like Phaneuf, Fraser, Orr, McLaren, Clarkson etc and there was talk that they needed more pure skill. It seemed that the game was changing and skilled/skating teams were taking over.

2014: The Kings (known for being a defensive team that could play heavy) won the Cup and the Bruins won the President's Trophy, but the Habs (a skating team) knocked BOS out of the playoffs and the Rangers (team similar to MTL) reached the SCF. TOR drafts William Nylander.

2015: Both the Kings and Bruins missed the playoffs. The Rangers won the President's Trophy and almost returned to the SCF. The Habs and Lightning each put up 108 points or more in the season. CHI wins the SC. TOR drafts Mitch Marner.

2016: The Pittsburgh Penguins use speed and skill to dominate in the playoffs and they take the Cup. TOR picks Matthews first overall.

At this point, it seemed TOR should be set up well in the coming years.

Then in 2017 the Leafs put up a surprisingly good fight against WSH in round one and it seemed it was just a matter of time until the team had playoff success.

However, since then the Bruins have really returned to being a formidable team, the Lightning (built similar to TOR albeit a better team) have had struggles against heavier and more physical teams in the playoffs, the Cup has been won by a more physical version of the Capitals than versions of that team that couldn't win it and St. Louis won it all last year without a ton of pure skill or speed.

You can't help but feel this franchise is cursed and that 2014-2017 would have been a better period for TOR to try to challenge for a Cup than right now.

it never trended away from playing tough and defensive conscious hockey

2 things this roster knows nothing about

 

[Canadian Finn]

it never trended away from playing tough and defensive conscious hockey

2 things this roster knows nothing about

there is a lust from a subset of the fanbase who wants speedy, fast, high scoring, less physical hockey. thought our team was going to lead the way in this "new NHL". dubas was going to be the leader.

pay for potential. pay for the future.

problem is, the world doesn't always work the way you want it to.

 

[Faltorvo]

there is a lust from a subset of the fanbase who wants speedy, fast, high scoring, less physical hockey. thought our team was going to lead the way in this "new NHL". dubas was going to be the leader.

pay for potential. pay for the future.

problem is, the world doesn't always work the way you want it to.

brother,,, i'm not sure it's accurate to call them a subset

i can't say more, i will get banned.

in time they will see how stupid it is.

 

[GlitchMarner]

it never trended away from playing tough and defensive conscious hockey

2 things this roster knows nothing about

The Penguins in 2017 weren't anything special defensively or very physical. Their advanced metrics in those playoffs were really bad, but they could put the puck in the net.

 

[Brobust]

No, I don't think there's one way to win or be successful in the NHL.

I just think that team management has tunnel vision in regards to their vision.

As an example, this is an incredible offensive team. Capable to beating teams up just with the PP. But they can't draw penalties. Why? Not because of bad refereeing and we like to complain, but because our forwards outside of Tavares and Matthews are just afraid of ever initiating contact. Look at the Penguins, they are specifically trained to draw penalties or they go out and get guys who will do that. When Jake Guentzel/Bryan Rust drive down the ice and realize that there is no play to be made, they're not always going to curl away. They're going to go into the defenceman one in a while just to get tangled up and just to get stick between they're legs or a glove on they're arm. And when that happens they goes flying.

 

[dubplatepressure]

there is a lust from a subset of the fanbase who wants speedy, fast, high scoring, less physical hockey. thought our team was going to lead the way in this "new NHL". dubas was going to be the leader.

pay for potential. pay for the future.

problem is, the world doesn't always work the way you want it to.

The real problem is that the hockey is different in the post season plain and simple. We have to find a way to either skate through the roughness or not be bothered by it. We can't score our way out of the tighter brand of hockey that the post season is, and the assumption is currently that we can. We'll see.

 

[Faltorvo]

The Penguins in 2017 weren't anything special defensively or very physical. Their advanced metrics in those playoffs were really bad, but they could put the puck in the net.

ummm wut?????

they finished the POs with a 2.28 GAG ,,,,,,,2nd best for teams that made it past the 2nd round,,so ummmmm

and i remember that series clearly,,your "or very physical" would be seen as gary roberts on bad steroids with this roster.

 

[Menzinger]

I dont think so.

Scoring is still up league wide. And the defensively strong Bruins also lost their opening game.

 

[Canadian Finn]

The real problem is that the hockey is different in the post season plain and simple. We have to find a way to either skate through the roughness or not be bothered by it. We can't score our way out of the tighter brand of hockey that the post season is, and the assumption is currently that we can. We'll see.

of course you are correct.

but instead we'll complain why our soft hockey isn't generating penalties so we can flourish on the PP. It's the leagues fault. It's the reffs fault.

But it isn't our fault.

 

[Menzinger]

there is a lust from a subset of the fanbase who wants speedy, fast, high scoring, less physical hockey. thought our team was going to lead the way in this "new NHL". dubas was going to be the leader.

pay for potential. pay for the future.

problem is, the world doesn't always work the way you want it to.

The skilled and speedy Leafs also limited the opposition to just a single goal last night prior to pulling the goalie. Cant really expect much more out of a teams D and goaltending

 

[Canadian Finn]

if that is what you take away from last night's performance, you reap what you sow.

 

[Mickey Marner]

No, you've always needed both skill and grit in order to win the cup. Our management taking skill at the expense of grit (and previously the opposite) to its precipice is the issue.

 

[CelticDruid]

I dont think so.

Scoring is still up league wide. And the defensively strong Bruins also lost their opening game.

Most of the other games going on right now have a large element of physicality which the Leafs have failed to exhibit.

The Caps vs Lightning game was a blend of everything you could and want in a playoff style game.

Skill, speed and physicality-we would be bossed into submission playing most of the upper echelon teams that rely on that style.

 

[Buds17]

There isn't really a specific blueprint or template to follow in order to win, in my opinion. The mix has to be right and they have to emerge as the best team. It's never entirely about skill or grit or household names. Perhaps how the rest of the brackets play out could be a factor if one believes a team can fare better against some teams more than they can against others?

In any case, I'm not expecting a Cup win at this point. That could eventually require anything from time to major changes. Getting out of the first round though hopefully seems to be more reasonable.

 

[Nineteen67]

The Leafs are one of the most boring teams in the league to watch play. I’ve watched every game and you can see passion, determination and desire in the other gams. But that’s nothing new and is the reason we love this game.
You can have a few guys that won’t mix it up but you need guys to keep the other team honest.

 

[Havoc]

For me it's IQ.

Smart teams win.

Our D is dumb

 

[stickty111]

There are different ways to win. The common thing those winning teams had was they were mentally focused, and had a mindset. Our team doesn't have that yet. Everybody gets it at different times. We might get it as soon as next game, next season or after that. Sadly you can't fast track it.

 

[Stephen]

This type of low event/heavy/attrition/non skill/grit playoff hockey never went away.

There's just a type of fan who has been pushing a Progressive Hockey Narrative without being a student of the game and learning about the stories of how real championship runs are put together, which is always a recipe of skill meets balance meets grit meets intangibles. All that ugly Mike Babcock type stuff.

 

[Canadian Finn]

This type of low event/heavy/attrition/non skill/grit playoff hockey never went away.

There's just a type of fan who has been pushing a Progressive Hockey Narrative without being a student of the game and learning about the stories of how real championship runs are put together, which is always a recipe of skill meets balance meets grit meets intangibles. All that ugly Mike Babcock type stuff.

The only real question is, are those fans learning anything?

 

[Trapper]

there is a lust from a subset of the fanbase who wants speedy, fast, high scoring, less physical hockey. thought our team was going to lead the way in this "new NHL". dubas was going to be the leader.

pay for potential. pay for the future.

problem is, the world doesn't always work the way you want it to.

Probably why it’s best to build a balanced team. Forwards and D. You want skill but you need to have edge.
In order to win the Cup, you need to go through 4 randomly built teams. They could have different styles. If you can’t handle 3 out of 4 possible combinations, most likely game over.
You need skill, forecheck, heavy when needed, slick when needed. The NHL is still very much (and mostly has been) a North/South game. It’s great when you can skills competition a team but in the playoffs many times you gotta get strong in behind.

 

[Byron Bitz]

The NHL definitely favours low event, low chances and generally less entertaining hockey right now. It's certainly an easier way to win.

I think Toronto's problems go further than that, though, so I wouldn't say they are cursed.

It was painful that a period of RFA empowerment happened as they were signing their stars, only to have a pandemic lock the cap up. That's for management to figure out, we will see if they are capable.

For some reason it seems like only Toronto players were able to take advantage of that period of RFA empowerment.

 

[Nineteen67]

Watch all the scrums after the whistle in the other games. If Malkin can show a little gumption there’s no reason any Leafs can’t. None.

 

[Leafsfan74]

Before the Maple Leafs started their rebuild, they had guys like Phaneuf, Fraser, Orr, McLaren, Clarkson etc and there was talk that they needed more pure skill. It seemed that the game was changing and skilled/skating teams were taking over.

2014: The Kings (known for being a defensive team that could play heavy) won the Cup and the Bruins won the President's Trophy, but the Habs (a skating team) knocked BOS out of the playoffs and the Rangers (team similar to MTL) reached the SCF. TOR drafts William Nylander.

2015: Both the Kings and Bruins missed the playoffs. The Rangers won the President's Trophy and almost returned to the SCF. The Habs and Lightning each put up 108 points or more in the season. CHI wins the SC. TOR drafts Mitch Marner.

2016: The Pittsburgh Penguins use speed and skill to dominate in the playoffs and they take the Cup. TOR picks Matthews first overall.

At this point, it seemed TOR should be set up well in the coming years.

Then in 2017 the Leafs put up a surprisingly good fight against WSH in round one and it seemed it was just a matter of time until the team had playoff success.

However, since then the Bruins have really returned to being a formidable team, the Lightning (built similar to TOR albeit a better team) have had struggles against heavier and more physical teams in the playoffs, the Cup has been won by a more physical version of the Capitals than versions of that team that couldn't win it and St. Louis won it all last year without a ton of pure skill or speed.

You can't help but feel this franchise is cursed and that 2014-2017 would have been a better period for TOR to try to challenge for a Cup than right now.

It's tough to say, but if I threw out some thoughts:

I've been ranting for MLSE to push hard for the league to call penalties to the letter. Eliminate interference if you don't have the puck etc. I imagine other owners who don't have deep pockets like this grinding hockey because it leaves salaries lower when they don't have to overpay the most talented. You can stack a team up with depth, the depth, all built for "put the whistle away playoffs". Big talent takes big contracts, and more risk if they don't pan out.

It's not as bad as it used to be, that's for sure, but the tight, boring hockey is creeping back. In a highly competitive sports market it won't help their product. The only sport in the world that seems to undermine, sometimes even fail to protect their top talent.

Ultimately, it creates more parity, but, doesn't allow the sport to have it's best talent showcased, nor the beauty of the game. I think it was 2005 or so when they called everything, it had an immediate effect of getting rid of slower, older players. It seems, the sport is creeping back to less flash, more grind. Though, puck battles have always been a part of NHL playoffs, moreso than regular season. You have to want it more I suppose. The refs and league never seem interested in ensuring a tightly called, focus-on-talent game though. It's quite unusual.

Go to espn website and see where NHL is located on their sports search. It's still well behind the rest.