Do we really care who we play in the first round? What's better, a well-oiled FLA machine team in the 2nd/3rd round or first round? We have to beat these teams to get anywhere, unless we're calling the 2nd round our Stanley Cup.
- gravyface

We lost to Columbus and Montreal and beat Tampa.

An unexpected Battle of Ontario wouls be a tasty, tasty crack rock dropped into the great hockey crackpipe.

Biased about what...? Two posts to get to unnecessary insults...
- Rare_Jewel

Fine. Sit Marner too then.

Unless they do that (frank) your dumb opinion about sitting the second highest goal scorer in the league.

They need 1 point in 2 games against two bad teams.
- Rare_Jewel

And until they get it nobody sits

Lebrun has it right:
Pierre LeBrun
@PierreVLeBrun
·
5h
If I could convince the NHL and NHLPA:
Start the regular season around Sept. 22, start Stanley Cup playoffs first week of April, award Stanley Cup by early June, hold draft around June 20, open free agency June 25-26.
You're welcome, everyone.
- gravyface

I'd go even further. Start the season 1st weekend of Sept. Playoffs are done by the end of May.

Fine. Sit Marner too then.

Unless they do that (frank) your dumb opinion about sitting the second highest goal scorer in the league.
- Dozzer

If they get 1 point against Buffalo, absolutely, sit Marner vs. Detroit.

(frank) the dumb opinion of letting the Leafs best players risk injuries to repeat the same garbage they had last year.

If they get 1 point against Buffalo, absolutely, sit Marner vs. Detroit.

(frank) the dumb opinion of letting the Leafs best players risk injuries to repeat the same garbage they had last year.
- Rare_Jewel

If you were a coach, a lot of players wouldn’t resign in Toronto.

What players want matters too, and if the coach doesn’t care, the players wave bye, and free agents wouldn’t be willing to sign here either.

Stop thinking everything is about the game.

If you were a coach, a lot of players wouldn’t resign in Toronto.

What players want matters too, and if the coach doesn’t care, the players wave bye, and free agents wouldn’t be willing to sign here either.

Stop thinking everything is about the game.
- Dozzer

Yeah, that's a BS statement.

If the coach is making decisions to help the strength of the team for the playoffs, the players won't care.

Any player worth his salt cares about the playoffs, nothing else.

Stop thinking this is a video game where players give a damn about their personal stats over the teams playoff chances.

NOT TALKING POLITICALLY AT ALL HERE but man do I love advance voting vs waiting until election day.

Ran out at noon and got in and out in 5 minutes!
- Cush29

The same, we did it on Saturday and it was very fast.

Should probably sit Nylander and avoid the potential for the dreaded headache syndrome.
- Rare_Jewel

You should insert your favorite meme here about how idiotic a thing to say this is.

Washington dropping too many games lately, interesting to see how much they will be ready for playoffs.

Until they lock up 1st in the division none of the big guns should be sitting unless they are hurt.

Until they lock up 1st in the division none of the big guns should be sitting unless they are hurt.
- Cush29

Matthews has been hurt since Oct.

Nylander takes games off all the time on his own accord.

Matthews has been hurt since Oct.

Nylander takes games off all the time on his own accord.
- Rare_Jewel

And butthurt since 2021.

Zing!

Washington dropping too many games lately, interesting to see how much they will be ready for playoffs.
- alex.TML

They have that 895 hangover. That was their Stanley Cup this season. Don't think they lose in the 1st round but they aren't going far after that.

And butthurt since 2021.

Zing!
- Scabeh

You checked?

You checked?
- Canada Cup

The man simply cannot keep his trousers on. What can I say.

Matthews has been hurt since Oct.

Nylander takes games off all the time on his own accord.
- Rare_Jewel

2nd most goals in the league this year - what a bum!

They have that 895 hangover. That was their Stanley Cup this season. Don't think they lose in the 1st round but they aren't going far after that.
- Rare_Jewel

Yes, the party still going on apparently. I will not surprised if they will be taken down in the first round.

Matthews has been hurt since Oct.

Nylander takes games off all the time on his own accord.
- Rare_Jewel

Clearly the team is operating of the mindset that sitting one game fixes that.

2nd most goals in the league this year - what a bum!
- Cush29

Not saying he's a bum but you'd have to be blind not to see his effort isn't 100%, every single game.

If the coach won't rest him, he'll rest himself. He's taken 6 of the last 7 games off from scoring goals and the Leafs still have 6 wins out of 7.

Yes, the party still going on apparently. I will not surprised if they will be taken down in the first round.
- alex.TML

Don't think Montreal is actually that good especially without Price to replicate their previous miracle run.

But if they knock out Washington, that would be fine by me. Just doubt it.

Washington dropping too many games lately, interesting to see how much they will be ready for playoffs.
- alex.TML

They haven't had Protas or their starting goalie and have been resting players. I wouldn't be too worried if I were them.

They haven't had Protas or their starting goalie and have been resting players. I wouldn't be too worried if I were them.
- AdamFrench

Aliaksei Protas was such a steal for them. He looks like an absolute monster this year.

Aliaksei Protas was such a steal for them. He looks like an absolute monster this year.
- Rare_Jewel

His equally disgusting Chernobyl freak brother is on his way too.

I think its simple.
Everyone plays until they clinch their division....if they do.

If they clinch tomorrow, then if a core player isnt 100% and they want to rest for the final game....let them.
If they dont clinch tomorrow, I would expect everyone to play.
If they dont clinch tomorrow and any of the core players arent 100% and want to rest. Let them.
But i doubt they would want to rest at that point.
Or im wrong....either way. Whatever works.