Unpopular Opinions: Leafs Edition

[Morbo]

He is way too young. I didn't like the way he carried himself at the introductory press conference. He wore a jacket and tie to be part of the establishment. He appeared to be a kiss ass. He didn't immediately say the beard ban is gone. I am totally unimpressed with him. I think he will be an abysmal failure. That, of course, is my opinion.

...

Is this serious?

okay, I think we're done here.

 

[killer1980]

That's the way I see it. See you March 1st!

 

[drewjenks]

Don't see that at all. I'd think most of Gardiner's strengths would disappear if played on the wing. He is not necessarily a rushing d-man, he uses his skating mainly to create room for his passing. He's better in open ice than along the boards. His shot has some power but not great accuracy.

Mark Stone gets twice as many assists as goals.....Kadri, Brown, Kapanen, Nylander & Marleau all need a playmaker on their line......and all we have is Marner at the moment......

 

[drewjenks]

People use to say this with Kaberle. Just because you are a good skater at D doesn't mean you should go to the wing.

Well it doesn't mean you shouldn't.......

And being a bad defender definitely doesn't mean you should play defense.

 

[Boutette]

Mark Stone gets twice as many assists as goals.....Kadri, Brown, Kapanen, Nylander & Marleau all need a playmaker on their line......and all we have is Marner at the moment......

Nylander has twice as many assists as goal. that gives us 2 elite playmakers (Bracco will make 3 when he is promoted). Brown is a 50/50 payer. Kapanen is also a 50/50 percent goals/assists player, but he was saddled most of tenure so far with the Leafs who were fighting to win the 2018 TML 'stone hands' award for goal scoring incapability. th.

 

[Hockeyholic]

Morgan Rielly isn't a legit # 1 Defenceman in the NHL.

Matthews will never be as good as McDavid

Mike Babcock won't win a cup with this team.

 

[FlyingLeafus]

Leaf fans on this site have an obsessive persecution complex.

 

[Daisy Jane]

Morgan Rielly isn't a legit # 1 Defenceman in the NHL.

Matthews will never be as good as McDavid

Mike Babcock won't win a cup with this team.

1: as he is in the NHL, and plays for the team in the NHL, he is by defacto - a legitimate #1 defenseman in the NHL.

2: so?

 

[LeafSteel]

Tavares will resign in New York.

Doughty will resign in L.A.

 

[SHANNYPLAN]

1. Auston Matthews named Captain at Christmas
2. William Nylander plays centre on the 3rd line
3. Matt Martin makes his return to the lineup
4. Connor Brown gets traded for a defenceman
5. Josh Leivo is finally traded
6. Leo Komarov is extended for one more season
7. Add a power forward to the top 9

 

[Allhailtheleafs]

He is way too young. I didn't like the way he carried himself at the introductory press conference. He wore a jacket and tie to be part of the establishment. He appeared to be a kiss ass. He didn't immediately say the beard ban is gone. I am totally unimpressed with him. I think he will be an abysmal failure. That, of course, is my opinion.

He excelled in the ohl, and AHL....he made non cpetitive teams, champions. (Go marlies go) Notice the trend

 

[Hockeyholic]

1: as he is in the NHL, and plays for the team in the NHL, he is by defacto - a legitimate #1 defenseman in the NHL.

2: so?

1. Until they get a star level D, in addition to physicality, they won't go far in the postseason.

2. There's been certain posters who've suggested Matthews can be as good as McDavid.

 

[Kelly]

Morgan Rielly isn't a legit # 1 Defenceman in the NHL.

Matthews will never be as good as McDavid

Mike Babcock won't win a cup with this team.

Morgan Rielly is already a #1 defenseman.

That's fine, Matthews will still be a great player.

Maybe, seems like an odd prediction for a leaf fan..... or are you one?

 

[slozo]

Hmm...try try to stick with "unpopular".

I think Rielly is the #1 d-man we've always yearned for, it just takes time to grow these guys.

I think Zaitsev will have a big bounce back, and he'll suddenly become "a good deal".

Connor Brown will score 25+ goals next season, and many will again start singing his praises.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Rush sucks

 

[Daisy Jane]

1. Until they get a star level D, in addition to physicality, they won't go far in the postseason.

2. There's been certain posters who've suggested Matthews can be as good as McDavid.

so in regarding the 1st, that's what you should have said,
and regarding the 2nd, again. so? like. who cares if he's not good as McDavid.

 

[Mess]

With Dubas taking over as the GM the Leafs will take a step back in the standings this upcoming season as Leafs will not adequately replace their pending UFA departures.

Less that 105 points will be the outcome with the 36 goals of JVR missed the most, particularly on the PP.

Once the 3 amigos all have their new contracts Leafs depth will be tested.

 

[Brobust]

Leafs fans are too attached to Gardiner. He's one season away from UFA and based on comparables, it looks like he'll be earning around $7 million on his next contract. That's not an efficient way to allocate your cap space long term when you already have Rielly and Dermott on the team.

But to even speculate about a Gardiner trade is some kind of great insult to some of the leafs fans on here.

 

[luvdahattymatty]

Leafs should get even more regular season points next season by getting rid of a 3rd line that was worst defensive line in nhl and adding marlies who are more responsible and who will add more goals than they give up
But they will make another first round exit as they have a bottom 5 defence

 

[rent free]

Morgan Rielly isn't a legit # 1 Defenceman in the NHL.

Matthews will never be as good as McDavid

Mike Babcock won't win a cup with this team.

All of these are correct.

 

[Liminality]

All of these are correct.

I think the word you're looking for is "agree"

 

[Daisy Jane]

With Dubas taking over as the GM the Leafs will take a step back in the standings this upcoming season as Leafs will not adequately replace their pending UFA departures.

Less that 105 points will be the outcome with the 36 goals of JVR missed the most, particularly on the PP.

Once the 3 amigos all have their new contracts Leafs depth will be tested.

this would have been an issue regardless of who the GM was.

 

[LeafFever]

With Dubas taking over as the GM the Leafs will take a step back in the standings this upcoming season as Leafs will not adequately replace their pending UFA departures.

Less that 105 points will be the outcome with the 36 goals of JVR missed the most, particularly on the PP.

Once the 3 amigos all have their new contracts Leafs depth will be tested.

Leo is addition by subtraction. JVR's 36 goals without a doubt in my mind get replaced by Kapanen and Johnsson's production.
IMo, they get more than 105 points because Matthews/Marner/Nylander all have their best seasons yet,

 

[firstemperor]

Morgan Rielly isn't a legit # 1 Defenceman in the NHL.

Matthews will never be as good as McDavid

1- Can't say I disagree enough. Not only is he the #1 defenseman for a ~top 7 team in the NHL but he answered the bell physically for me in the Bruins series. One of the only D's that didn't back down from guys like Backes running guys or engaging guys after the whistle. I thought Zaitsev was impressive in this regard as well.

2- That much is obvious, and there's nothing wrong with that.

 

[killer1980]

Morgan Rielly isn't a legit # 1 Defenceman in the NHL.

Matthews will never be as good as McDavid

Mike Babcock won't win a cup with this team.

And Dubas will be left holding the bag.