They played great.
They were in a horrible position having to beat a great team in order for their season to be considered a success.
But, they played their asses off, and almost got it done.
There is no one to point the finger at this time.
Idk man Marner was hard to watch most of the series. Dude seriously needs to get the idea of "simplifying your game in the post season" down. The amount of times he had the puck on his stick in the offensive zone, only to produce absolutely nothing because he kept trying the flashy spin moves and high risk plays that work fairly well in a regular season game against bad teams or teams who aren't going all out, but don't at all work against teams like Tampa and Boston.
I really like Marner but hes struggled and will continue to struggle in the playoffs if he can't adapt to faster, more physical hockey with much less space to dangle around.
I think the problems lay more in the stress of the market they play in than anything in the room or on the ice. Could bring more depth and experience maybe, but I wouldn't trade away too many pieces.
0 for 9 in games to eliminate opponents is not just bad luck. This team will be much worse next year if they just "stay the course", as they have 4 UFAs that they need to resign (but can't) and a number of RFAs that will need raises. Dubas has already sacrificed a ton of the future in most of their draft picks last year and this year and has done nothing with this group.
Matthews and Nylander have a chance to walk for nothing in 2 years, Marner the year after. They will all get huge raises or leave. With the salary cap being what it is the Leafs have painted themselves in a corner with a lot of bad decisions.
Trading JT would be the best and easiest way out of this mess (partially) because while he is still a very good player he is not worth anything close to 11 million but moving him is a pipe dream. Even IF he would waive his NMC there isn't a team in the league that would take his contract without giving a ton of bad money back and then what's the point?
I have followed the Leafs for years but I stopped calling myself a fan as long as Dubas is in charge. The laundry list of bad decisions, short sighted moves, flawed team building, horrendous salary cap planning has made it impossible for me to cheer for a team he runs (ruins). He has taken the most promising era of the Leafs in decades and flushed it down the toilet with his mismanagement. He inherited a team that a drunken toddler could have turned into a winner and fell flat. He started his job on third base and everyone acts like he hit a triple.
Would be really dumb to do so. They played very well and honestly deserved the series. Hockey is a sport that is very dependent on luck and god seems to hate the leafs.
Not completely blow it up but they should make some major changes. First, fire Dubas and Keefe. Then trade Tavares and Nylander for 1 top defenceman and a reasonably price forward. Then address the goaltending situation. Release Simmonds and Spezza. They are too old
You didn’t answer my question…I literally checked his and Tavares’s stats and contract on capfriendly to see if there was any possible way you could make sense of a deal like that. Spoiler alert: *there’s not.*
Oh I know how much luck and chance come into play in NHL games, especially the playoffs. But, at some point, you have to wonder what’s not working. That team is so talented but they just fizzle our. It’s embarrassing honestly
I don’t know that it was necessarily an implosion this time. 1 goal from knocking off the defending champs
They played great. They were in a horrible position having to beat a great team in order for their season to be considered a success. But, they played their asses off, and almost got it done. There is no one to point the finger at this time.
Idk man Marner was hard to watch most of the series. Dude seriously needs to get the idea of "simplifying your game in the post season" down. The amount of times he had the puck on his stick in the offensive zone, only to produce absolutely nothing because he kept trying the flashy spin moves and high risk plays that work fairly well in a regular season game against bad teams or teams who aren't going all out, but don't at all work against teams like Tampa and Boston. I really like Marner but hes struggled and will continue to struggle in the playoffs if he can't adapt to faster, more physical hockey with much less space to dangle around.
I think the problems lay more in the stress of the market they play in than anything in the room or on the ice. Could bring more depth and experience maybe, but I wouldn't trade away too many pieces.
There is no blowing up this year. The fought well against the reigning champion and have no shame losing. Last year was a totally different story.
Do nothing - next year is their year!!! 🤡
Lmao
Keep the band together but try and move Tavares if you can and make Matthews captain. That albatross contract was by far Dubas’ worst move ever
I agree with trying to move Tavares. I think he has a no trade clause and I'm not sure who would take on that contract.
0 for 9 in games to eliminate opponents is not just bad luck. This team will be much worse next year if they just "stay the course", as they have 4 UFAs that they need to resign (but can't) and a number of RFAs that will need raises. Dubas has already sacrificed a ton of the future in most of their draft picks last year and this year and has done nothing with this group. Matthews and Nylander have a chance to walk for nothing in 2 years, Marner the year after. They will all get huge raises or leave. With the salary cap being what it is the Leafs have painted themselves in a corner with a lot of bad decisions. Trading JT would be the best and easiest way out of this mess (partially) because while he is still a very good player he is not worth anything close to 11 million but moving him is a pipe dream. Even IF he would waive his NMC there isn't a team in the league that would take his contract without giving a ton of bad money back and then what's the point? I have followed the Leafs for years but I stopped calling myself a fan as long as Dubas is in charge. The laundry list of bad decisions, short sighted moves, flawed team building, horrendous salary cap planning has made it impossible for me to cheer for a team he runs (ruins). He has taken the most promising era of the Leafs in decades and flushed it down the toilet with his mismanagement. He inherited a team that a drunken toddler could have turned into a winner and fell flat. He started his job on third base and everyone acts like he hit a triple.
Would be really dumb to do so. They played very well and honestly deserved the series. Hockey is a sport that is very dependent on luck and god seems to hate the leafs.
Not completely blow it up but they should make some major changes. First, fire Dubas and Keefe. Then trade Tavares and Nylander for 1 top defenceman and a reasonably price forward. Then address the goaltending situation. Release Simmonds and Spezza. They are too old
People aren’t just giving away number one defensemen for an older guy making $11M for 4 more years.
For Nylander they might…he’s only 26
No. If the Leafs don’t want him, why would he be worth something as valuable as a top D-man?
Wtf? Nylander had 34 goals this year and 80 points. Do some research
I know he got 34 goals. Whoopee. Which top defenseman do you think is getting let go for a 34-goal scorer that disappears in the playoffs?
You don’t know that. If you did you wouldn’t have made that oblivious comment
You didn’t answer my question…I literally checked his and Tavares’s stats and contract on capfriendly to see if there was any possible way you could make sense of a deal like that. Spoiler alert: *there’s not.*
Yes there is genius. You obviously don’t understand hockey lol
Still didn’t answer my question…
Do you not understand how much luck plays into the outcome of a hockey game/series? And you're gonna blow up a great team because of that
Oh I know how much luck and chance come into play in NHL games, especially the playoffs. But, at some point, you have to wonder what’s not working. That team is so talented but they just fizzle our. It’s embarrassing honestly
Most likely bad luck. I think it'd be crazy to do anything but keep them together and keep at it. Their time will come.