Yup.
- Marwood

Gotta wait until the off season now.
Its one loss out of how many games?
- Fakepartofme

everyone said they would be judged on their playoffs performance (unless they found a way to miss the playoffs). Jury is still out....we will see in April/May.

I look at this roster and I feel confident in the individual pieces, for the most part. It's not perfect, but there is skill at every position and depth at forward. It's a better roster, on paper, than many/most.

So, by process of elimination, it's apparent where the lingering issue is - culture and coaching. Both are tied together and deeply related. You can't change the first quickly, but you can change the second one pretty damn fast once you decide to.

I think the culture part could be hammered into shape without too much issue, IF you have the right coach on the bench. Queefe has proven again and again that he is not that guy.

What worries me most about a deep run is not the Core 4 or the supporting cast like Domi and TrueBlood, it's the coaching. It's not even the goaltending or defense. It's the friggin predictable coaching that opposing coaches can read like an open book.

I know, it's a broken record, but that's my two cents. Actual worth may vary.

Apparently AGM Hardy has been watching some Habs games of late

Last Saturday most recently
- Santo_44

David Savard or Kovacevic, one of those two RHD

I love how Keefe told the players at the beginning of the season to go out and put up points, chase individual stats etc. Clearly Marner never stops playing defence, that’s why he was a step behind at the start.

But game 60 or whatever game it is Keefes benching the usual guys, trying to get them to play better defence. Maybe start with that at the beginning of the season, Sheldon?

That’s why the Leafs looked so bad lastnight. They were told to play a certain way, and they’re not used to playing like that. It’s playoff hockey. And Woll wasn’t great.

So don’t go blaming Liljegren or Marner who you always try to crucify. It’s coaching. Keefe left it too long to get them playing the right way.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Why not? Cause their your little darlings? The whole team is up to be cretized

Liljegren lost the puck in his skates in front of the net where the Bruins scored
Marner look scared and was easy to move of the puck ....

everyone said they would be judged on their playoffs performance (unless they found a way to miss the playoffs). Jury is still out....we will see in April/May.
- Symba007

Pretty much.
But unless they make it to the cup finals, i think its time for a new voice/ideas anyway.

David Savard or Kovacevic, one of those two RHD
- Symba007

All in on Pearson Airport

I'm not against packaging up Lilly if it means landing us a top 4 RHD.

He's right on the edge of games played where D either make or break it, but I don't know if that's going to happen here. He gets caved in against a hard forecheck, not sure how you fix that.

On the positive side...Boosh has been great in the 1.5 games so far.

All in on Pearson Airport
- AdamFrench

solid choice but his cap hit makes him...hmmmm....untradeable to a team close to the cap. Habs would get more by retaining salary as a 3rd wheel in a trade then move the airport while retaining salary

solid choice but his cap hit makes him...hmmmm....untradeable to a team close to the cap. Habs would get more by retaining salary as a 3rd wheel in a trade then move the airport while retaining salary

- Symba007

That and he sucks...so like Daniel Winnik...two seconds!

everyone said they would be judged on their playoffs performance (unless they found a way to miss the playoffs). Jury is still out....we will see in April/May.
- Symba007

I feel like its way past..lets wait and see. hope for the best.

or 8th times a charm

I just want Auston to reach 65-70 goals this season. I don't think I give a (frank) about anything else at this point. 🤷🏻

Gravy's Hot Take:

I think swapping Nylander and Marner might be a good look to shore up L2's defensive play. 34/16 has been great, but they've slowed down a bit the last couple of games.

Knies Matthews Nylander - should be able to compete against any line.
Bertuzzi Domi Marner - lacks some finish, but should be able to control play more often than not

I just want Auston to reach 65-70 goals this season. I don't think I give a (frank) about anything else at this point. 🤷🏻
- mjones242

I'd like a 2nd round+ victory, but yes, that would be really cool.

I just want Auston to reach 65-70 goals this season. I don't think I give a (frank) about anything else at this point. 🤷🏻
- mjones242

Meh, reg season individual stats mean nothing to me in the long run and its not something i remember from a season (maybe in the short term)
Id prefer a visit to the 3rd round at least.
Playoff runs are much more fun imo.
But hell, id take both.

Sweet play Barkov
https://www.sportsnet.ca/...et-up-unbelievable-goal/?

Gravy's Hot Take:

I think swapping Nylander and Marner might be a good look to shore up L2's defensive play. 34/16 has been great, but they've slowed down a bit the last couple of games.

Knies Matthews Nylander - should be able to compete against any line.
Bertuzzi Domi Marner - lacks some finish, but should be able to control play more often than not
- gravyface

Not against the idea.
But every line and player has ebbs and flows, they wont be "on" or hot every game.
A bert, Domi, marner line may be better defensively, no harm in trying it.

Sweet play Barkov
https://www.sportsnet.ca/...et-up-unbelievable-goal/?
- mr.sir

Barkov is pretty darn good.

Why not? Cause their your little darlings? The whole team is up to be cretized

Liljegren lost the puck in his skates in front of the net where the Bruins scored
Marner look scared and was easy to move of the puck ....
- dmnted

Liljegren sucks poop and i don’t want him.

So idk wtf you’re rambling on about.

Goddamn flakes.

David Savard or Kovacevic, one of those two RHD
- Symba007

I don’t know anything about Kovacevic.

Savard would have to have a chunk of cap retained.

Could Evans be a part of a trade? He seems like a 4th liner though.

I love how Keefe told the players at the beginning of the season to go out and put up points, chase individual stats etc. Clearly Marner never stops playing defence, that’s why he was a step behind at the start.

But game 60 or whatever game it is Keefes benching the usual guys, trying to get them to play better defence. Maybe start with that at the beginning of the season, Sheldon?

That’s why the Leafs looked so bad lastnight. They were told to play a certain way, and they’re not used to playing like that. It’s playoff hockey. And Woll wasn’t great.

So don’t go blaming Liljegren or Marner who you always try to crucify. It’s coaching. Keefe left it too long to get them playing the right way.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

cool that you are in the dressing room

I just want Auston to reach 65-70 goals this season. I don't think I give a (frank) about anything else at this point. 🤷🏻
- mjones242

Id rather he get 5 and the team have success

Pretty much.
But unless they make it to the cup finals, i think its time for a new voice/ideas anyway.
- Fakepartofme

It was time for a change, years ago.

Lars Eller as a possible 3rd line checking C option.Maybe Duby wants some of his old prospects back

https://theathletic.com/5...source=emp-shared-article

So add Eller and Chickrun ..done (Ransmuss andersson preferred but not likley)

I don’t know anything about Kovacevic.

Savard would have to have a chunk of cap retained.

Could Evans be a part of a trade? He seems like a 4th liner though.
- Santo_44

That trade is not happening, Hughes is in no rush to trade him.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/...red-into-dropping-prices/