This team is NOT built for playoff success.

[lovemyleafs]

dumbest thread of the year congrats man

 

[zeke]

they lost in the 3rd periods of 2 game 7s against 2 elite veteran higher seeded teams.

they actually did better than most underdogs do.

leaf fans are cray.

 

[Spirit of 67]

We were dead last two and a half years ago. We're miles ahead of where people thought we'd be.

Time to enjoy the ride.

 

[The Man with a Plan]

This is literally the best Leafs team we’ve seen in like a couple decades and folks want to blow up 70% of it?

I’m at a loss right now for words

HFB is the best example of common sense not being common.

One of the top teams in the league with a top Management team and it seems like people who have 0 experience always seem to know better. Smdh

 

[Whaleafs]

This is literally the best Leafs team we’ve seen in like a couple decades and folks want to blow up 70% of it?

I’m at a loss right now for words

Adding like 3 guys is not 70%

 

[Nineteen67]

they lost in the 3rd periods of 2 game 7s against 2 elite veteran higher seeded teams.

they actually did better than most underdogs do.

leaf fans are cray.

Who did?

 

[The Man with a Plan]

They are not the best team to watch though. I can’t remember the last time I’ve switch from a Leaf game to another game when the Leafs were a legit playoff team. I’ve done it several times this year.

Well just because YOU do it doesn't mean you are being rational.

If anything this team this year has proven that you should never give up on them and change the channel.

 

[Muston Atthews]

I love a good fight once in a while, but my God is this toughness issue overblown.

Who was the Penguins toughest player on their back to back Cup winning teams?

Hornqvist? Kunitz?

So dramatic.

Pitts had a lot of gritty players on those team including Crosby and Malkin. They had skilled gritty guys. We have skilled guys. Gritty skilled guys> skilled guys.

 

[thewave]

This team has no backup that can potentially win. Sparks is not good enough for that
This team has no defenders that are even at all NHL level right now in the event someone important goes down
This team has a very small 4th line with little experience.
This team has no real forwards that can fill in at this point whom have experience.

If the 4th line has a 3rd bad game in a row tonight, it will confirm to me Lindy and Brown are not very good. Ennis is just too small. I don't like our 4th line or our defense and tender reserves. Very thin now.

 

[thewave]

Pitts had a lot of gritty players on those team including Crosby and Malkin. They had skilled gritty guys. We have skilled guys. Gritty skilled guys> skilled guys.

Matthews gets in there this year. He took a big step in playing more like Crosby which is nice.

 

[Muston Atthews]

We need at least one skilled gritty guy (Simmonds, Anderson) in our group to replace one or two of Ennis/Brown who are absolutely redundant on this team and we need a tough, no nonsense crease clearer who can skate and make an outlet pass (or that can get the puck to one of Rielly/Dermott/Gardiner)

 

[zeke]

This team has no backup that can potentially win. Sparks is not good enough for that
This team has no defenders that are even at all NHL level right now in the event someone important goes down
This team has a very small 4th line with little experience.
This team has no real forwards that can fill in at this point whom have experience.

If the 4th line has a 3rd bad game in a row tonight, it will confirm to me Lindy and Brown are not very good. Ennis is just too small. I don't like our 4th line or our defense and tender reserves. Very thin now.

Sparks has been one of the better backups in the league so far.

This team is loaded with fill in defenders, from two solid fill ins in Marincin and Holl, to kids like Sandin, Liljegren, Rosen, Borgman playing very well in the AHL.

 

[LeafsLegendAkiBerg]

But has anyone considered that the leafs need more toughness?

 

[Nineteen67]

Well just because YOU do it doesn't mean you are being rational.

If anything this team this year has proven that you should never give up on them and change the channel.

I don’t give up, sometimes their games are boring

 

[thewave]

Sparks has been one of the better backups in the league so far.

This team is loaded with fill in defenders, from two solid fill ins in Marincin and Holl, to kids like Sandin, Liljegren, Rosen, Borgman playing very well in the AHL.

It's not a good backup, it's a good team. The goalie sucks. Sparks is a nightmare, technically terrible.

 

[zeke]

technically terrible.

like mcbackup.

 

[mallory67]

This thread is not built for HFBoards success.

 

[Slyfox]

This team has no backup that can potentially win. Sparks is not good enough for that
This team has no defenders that are even at all NHL level right now in the event someone important goes down
This team has a very small 4th line with little experience.
This team has no real forwards that can fill in at this point whom have experience.

If the 4th line has a 3rd bad game in a row tonight, it will confirm to me Lindy and Brown are not very good. Ennis is just too small. I don't like our 4th line or our defense and tender reserves. Very thin now.

Our 4th line was one of the best before trading Leivo away.

I believe our team can win. I just don't think we are gonna win just throwing hail marys aka stretch passes to exit our zone in the playoffs. Its not worked the past two series and against good teams in the regular season as well. I prefer short passes and zone entries but Babcock wants chip and chase and stretch passes. Blame Gardiner all you want but he is following the instructions to stretch pass everything

 

[Menzinger]

Adding like 3 guys is not 70%

The OP suggested keeping just 5 forwards and 2 D men from the current lineup....

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Leafs need some Power Plays in the playoffs.
Andersen needs to steal a few games.

And our 2 Cs need to outperform their top 2 lines.

Boston's top line totally neutralized Matthews / Nylander last year.
If that is the matchup, Tavares needs to step up.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Hyman watching in the press box.
I bet Babcock keeps looking up to see him.

You OK boy ?

 

[Whaleafs]

The OP suggested keeping just 5 forwards and 2 D men from the current lineup....

Well that’s absurd. Glad I didn’t waste my time reading most of it.

 

[RubberHead]

The Leafs may have lost the game in Boston but they won on character. I was quite happy to see them sticking up for each other, letting the bear know that they would stand up to them.
I don't want them making a trade for a tough cement foot player. The toughness will come with time. Character builds toughness. These guys are young and with Nylander just jumping aboard, he will be a boat anchor to the team for a while, but come playoff time these guys might just be skilled and nasty. Championship teams are skilled and nasty.

 

[DarkKnight]

Sparks has been one of the better backups in the league so far.

Man. Do you watch hockey or just study numbers? He's two starts away from waivers if he keeps it up. Feel free to save this post. I still remember all your steamy Reimer as good as Freddie posts, again MAN.

 

[Menzinger]

Man. Do you watch hockey or just study numbers? He's two starts away from waivers if he keeps it up. Feel free to save this post. I still remember all your steamy Reimer as good as Freddie posts, again MAN.

Though if we want to go the eyetest road McBackup LOOKS terrible too, even in games he plays well in.