Take a deep breath

[The Blueprint]

10 games. We've played 10 games. It's been a tough schedule, the boys look off, we're battling key injuries and still hold a playoff spot.

We had a decent amount of roster turnover this offseason.. it takes time to gel.

Step back from the ledge. Go Leafs Go.

Click to read more...

 

[saffronleaf]

I'm not happy with the start and I don't think we'll be OK until Babs is gone. And we need our players to hustle harder and be better.

That said, I agree. We've got good players. We had bad goaltending for most games so far. Freddy is looking good now.

We'll be ok enough to get to the playoffs, but hopefully we remove Babcock soon. I'm not even hating on him. I respect him and I see where he's coming from and he's made major contributions to this organization. But I don't think he can get us past the 1st round hump.

 

[TopCheese]

We will be fine. The overreactions around here and HFboards in general is crazy sometimes. Tampa has a similar record to us would you say that they are going to struggle to make the playoffs? No. The team just hasent hit its groove yet. I a am seeing some positive signs though. The bottom 6 looks great, as do most the new additions. We just have to wait for the top guys to start producing more, which they will. Agreed that replacing the coach would help though. I think Babcock has run his course. Making keefe the coach would inject some energy into the guys and hopefully wake them up

 

[A1LeafNation]

We've seen this story last year.

 

[IPS]

Leafs are stuck in no man's land.

Not quite bad enough to trigger any real changes but not good enough to go anywhere in the playoffs.

 

[nuck]

The only change this club needs is solid goaltending, Freddie has taken the start of the season off before, he will be back. Rather be in TO than in Tampa right now. Panic at game 30 if you must, but they are 10th overall and it isn't like the Oilers and the Sabres are going to stay ahead of them unless Neal continues to score a goal a game and Hutton maintains a 1.40 GAA. They havent even had a hot streak yet. Seriously way too much drama on this board. There was less negativity here when the club was a punching bag.

 

[kb]

Leafs are stuck in no man's land.

Not quite bad enough to trigger any real changes but not good enough to go anywhere in the playoffs.

I agree. I do think the roster turnover has created some unsettled play so far, and this team is too good to be this average. I usually like to evaluate 20 games in.

But as each game goes by....

 

[Cobra777]

Too many soft players and not enough perseverance keeps rearing its ugly head and will continue. Only skill with softness and 0 grit will not win Stanley Cups, this will be a failed experiment unless someone decides to add some size and sandpaper by trade or any means necessary with guys who want to bite the puck in half who can also make plays. A couple Needed on forward and defense. Muzzin is but his foot speed is just too slow.

 

[Polaris1010]

It has only been around 10 games but there are clear differences to last year's team.

The main point can be summarized as this team comes up short.

Last year going into the 3rd period with a lead it was automatic. This year that lead was blown. Was it blown every single game? Do not remember.

Also in tight games, this version of the Leafs will break and the other team will get that goal.

 

[m1ker]

In hindsight babs been right this whole time. I don’t think he’s the problem.

 

[v4karuna]

There is a reason a lot of people are frustrated, and it's not just because of the play in the 10 games so far, it goes way back.

 

[HandshakeLineRespect]

Somethings off. Some sort of disruption is inevitable, be it a firing or significant trade. Question is what comes first and how soon.

 

[KingJoffrey]

Leafs can't stop the cycle, 11 million guys don't bother to play defense. Depth players are performing, but overrated and overpayed primadonnas aren't. And they don't need to. Media will continue to praise them and they will blame the coach for players short comings. Matthews was rated as 4th best player in the league. Lol. 40 is closer the truth.

You all should blame Dubler Dubas and Toronto media who crowned these pathetic losers as kings and crown princes of Leafs land without any success. This is what happens when you hype the losers who can't win a single round.

 

[18leafsfan18]

10 games. We've played 10 games. It's been a tough schedule, the boys look off, we're battling key injuries and still hold a playoff spot.

We had a decent amount of roster turnover this offseason.. it takes time to gel.

Step back from the ledge. Go Leafs Go.

Doesn't look like anyone took the advice to "take a deep breath".

 

[Gary Nylund]

10 games. We've played 10 games. It's been a tough schedule, the boys look off, we're battling key injuries and still hold a playoff spot.

We had a decent amount of roster turnover this offseason.. it takes time to gel.

Step back from the ledge. Go Leafs Go.

If you ignore games in hand, sure. By PTS% though, we're 11th in the East.

 

[All Mod Cons]

Too many soft players and not enough perseverance keeps rearing its ugly head and will continue. Only skill with softness and 0 grit will not win Stanley Cups, this will be a failed experiment unless someone decides to add some size and sandpaper by trade or any means necessary with guys who want to bite the puck in half who can also make plays. A couple Needed on forward and defense. Muzzin is but his foot speed is just too slow.

Muzzin is starting to look like a more rugged Jake Gardiner. Some of those giveaways.....

 

[Leafsman]

10 games. We've played 10 games. It's been a tough schedule, the boys look off, we're battling key injuries and still hold a playoff spot.

We had a decent amount of roster turnover this offseason.. it takes time to gel.

Step back from the ledge. Go Leafs Go.

If you think the problem is just that this team hasn't geled, you are setting yourself up for some major disappointment. This is a complete systemic breakdown. I'd be fine with a team struggling to find chemistry, I'm more worried that they appear not to even give enough of a shit to struggle to find chemistry.

This team is 5-4-2 and they are damn lucky to be even that, in 11 games I can not even think of one that they clearly deserved to win because of a complete 60 minute effort.

This team is in big trouble!

 

[Suntouchable13]

It's alarming the amount of goals they have given up. To be at the bottom of the league is not a good sign.

 

[Blue Nate]

Blessing in disguise in my opinion. This is better than outscoring their problems which leads to apathy and crashing down to earth.

 

[Nineteen67]

Chaos is fun.

 

[Guided by Veseys]

Marner and surprisingly Rielly being off to start the year is a big factor.
Matthews is hot and cold but he’s kind of always been like that so you just roll with it.
Once Marner and Rielly get their heads in the game we might get better.

 

[Twowingcantfly]

I have seen this story before too. All will be fine once JT returns. Go Leafs Go..

 

[MarnerElite]

Leafs are stuck in no man's land.

Not quite bad enough to trigger any real changes but not good enough to go anywhere in the playoffs.

Pretty much. People who keep saying that we should relax because it's only 10 games have no clue what they're talking about. This isn't about the 10 games, it's more about the fact this team has been playing exactly the same shitty style for the past few seasons. We are constantly running around in our own end, giving up good to great chances to the opponent, give up as many goals as we score...yes it's only been 10 games..Jesus..
'

 

[ShaneFalco]

I have seen this story before too. All will be fine once JT returns. Go Leafs Go..

What is fine though?

 

[1specter]

The systemic issues are still very much the same, I wouldn't fully blame Babcock because you see success with players like Trevor Moore, Alex Kerfoot, Hyman etc who execute on his coaching and don't cheat effort and they look very good. But Matthews, Marner, Nylander etc these guys take too many nights off, and that's inexcusable especially in Matthews' case as he's basically the highest paid player when you look at term to dollar ratio. You can't just score some goals every few games and do f*** all otherwise and get paid like you're the best player in the world. I don't know what the solution is here, but he doesn't seem to respect Babcock so unfortunately for Babs he may have to take the fall for this one.