Speculation: What do you think this team needs to win the cup?

[EK392000]

This might be the best Leafs team I’ve seen in the Matthews era. My skepticism about the goaltending tandem is fading away, the team is playing well defensively, and the big four are producing. I feel this team is more well rounded that last years team.

That being said, the roster isn’t perfect. What additions would you like to see heading into the playoffs?

I’d like to see ROR, but I wouldn’t mind a Nick Paul type of add either. A player who plays a simple game, and will play that game whether they’re up 10 goals or down 10 goals. All they do is take the puck to the net. Adding that to the second line would make this team much better imo.

What say you?

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[TheGreatOne11]

We need to win a game 7, that would be a nice start.

 

[ACC1224]

Desire.

 

[centipede2233]

it doesn’t matter as this team is not winning the cup with Taveras at an $11 mil caphit…

Name me one player on any cup winning team in the cap era that had even a slightest overpaid $6 mil per caphit on it, I’ll wait…

 

[All Mod Cons]

A miracle.

To be honest, I really can't picture us going through Tampa and then Boston and then maybe the Hurricanes and then whoever in the final.

We've never been the luckiest of franchises and playoffs require some luck along the way.

Unfortunately I see a 1st round exit again, but would absolutely love to see them advance.

 

[OVO16]

More compete. More passion. With more compete comes more grit.

 

[PromisedLand]

1) Most important!
A winning mindset and attitude. Absolutely hate to lose. Either you have it or you don't!
Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Less lip service and more "go out and do it" persona. There is "no savior" coming to help; you have to help yourself. Get off of your ass and go do it! Period!


2) No to be outcoached/outsmarted by opposition coach

3) A GM that can acknowledge their mistake and change/adapt strategy as the situation changes (pandemic, cap space, available options in coaching, player personnel, etc.)

4) Engage teams physically, start scrums, and make other teams uncomfortable when offense isn't coming.

5) Puck management -> DO NOT make fancy plays when time/space not available. Go to the net ffs; or shoot the puck and look for rebounds

6) Do not rely on perimeter hockey, it won't work. Has never worked for any team in NHL history

7) Accountability!!! -> when someone Fs up bench them; start now do not wait till the playoffs. it will show that everyone is working towards a "TEAM" goal not individual goals.

8) No more coddling. When going gets tough, the tough get going.

9) Win 50-50 puck battles. Skate, Skate, Skate to get to the puck first. Win those 50-50 puck battles and board battles.

10) Learn to take a hit to make plays. Simply put: grow some balls

 

[Buds17]

Winning a round could go a long way in that regard (in both a literal and figurative sense).

 

[LeafalCrusader]

Culture change. They collapse in the big moments and fold when the other team up the physicality and pressure.

 

[LeafGrief]

Roster is good enough, they need to get over the mental hurdle.

 

[Canadian Finn]

a money incentive.

that's what our pukes care about. that's what apparently motivates them. give them all big bonuses if they win the first round. Let them post on social media with their stacks.

follow by giving them a red carpet entrance into every arena. Live stream it. Have our "fans" vote on their outfits. That'll give them some motivation.

At the raptors game last night, I noticed fans were able to vote on the "fits" of the various raptors, I can see that's what motivates the kids these days. "Fits". pathetic.

offer mitchy an oversized stuffed toy mouse if he scores in the playoffs.

our fanbase deserves this team. the current leafs embody our fanbase perfectly.

 

[OVO16]

Culture change. They collapse in the big moments and fold when the other team up the physicality and pressure.

Our top players have never matched that. Our core players are just too scared to compete and get dirty.

 

[SprDaVE]

More goals than the other team.

 

[keonsbitterness]

More cowbell.

 

[Budz22]

A Time Machine to go back and not sign Tavares.

 

[Gabriel426]

Patty Kane playing with AM and Bunting and let Willie runs the 3rd line with Holmberg and Engvall to create the Swedish express.
Then Patty Kane will score those OT and Series Clinching goals. Leafs win the Cup and Kane signs with Sabres in the off season and score on us till he retires, lol.

 

[Dekes For Days]

More goals than the other team.

Saddest part is we did that the past two playoffs and still lost - something that only happened 1 other time in the 28 other series those 2 years.

 

[Canadian Finn]

what we need more of, is advanced analytics.

 

[Dekes For Days]

The most important thing we (and any cup winner) needs is good - or absent that, clutch - goaltending. We have a good chance of winning any series where we get better or equal goaltending than our opponent. Unfortunately, our 1st round opponent has the best playoff goalie of the generation, and our likely 2nd round opponent has the Vezina frontrunner (yay playoff system), but hopefully the difference from past years is that we also finally have a goalie who has proven themselves before in critical playoff moments. At this point you just have to make the rest of the team as good as possible. There isn't really a specific need so much as there's just some places where we could really supercharge the team.

 

[Gilmour1996]

Leafs are being run by a corporation that cares more about "how things look" than winning. Until that changes, "no cup for you!".

 

[HockeyVirus]

This board after a loss and a complete meltdown, name a more iconic duo

 

[AllHeartNoSkill]

Leafs are being run by a corporation that cares more about "how things look" than winning. Until that changes, "no cup for you!".

It should come as a surprise to NOBODY that a team run by Bell and Rogers would care more about the branding than the quality of the their product.

 

[TMLife17]

"You play like you practice and you practice how you play."

Sure it's just a game here and there in the regular season but you don't just flip a switch when the playoffs come and expect your skills to keep up with a new mentality.

 

[ACC1224]

Leafs are being run by a corporation that cares more about "how things look" than winning. Until that changes, "no cup for you!".

It should come as a surprise to NOBODY that a team run by Bell and Rogers would care more about the branding than the quality of the their product.

What?

 

[kb]

Leafs are being run by a corporation that cares more about "how things look" than winning. Until that changes, "no cup for you!".

Riiiight