2019-2020 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion
- Thread starter herman
- Start date
Bill_Berg said:
Fan version of load management.
That first year was exciting. They overachieved and made us believe there was greatness on the horizon, possibly including a Cup. Now, though, they seem to have settled into a rut marked by long periods of lazy/indifferent play, too much time in the defensive zone, over-reliance on Andersen. Dare I say, the play often looks like it did during the Carlyle era (I'm sure I'll get flak for that comment, but that's how things look to me). I mentioned on the GDT thread that I sometimes feel like I'm still watching Kessel and JVR float around out there, waving their sticks as opponents skate by them. I'm holding out hope that at some point it clicks and there is still plenty of time. Perhaps it will require another first round loss and a coaching change to light a fire under these guys.Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate said:
At least the bottom 6 have been working hard and fun to watch.
azzurri63
Active member
I just got back home from Toronto visiting for a week and was able to go to the last 2 games at home Saturday and Monday.
I know I get a lot of flack on here as I come across harsh and constantly complaining about the coach, the system, the effort on a nightly basis, the lack of grit and intensity and I could go on.
Truth of the matter is it's true. I have repeatedly bitc**d about Babcock and his coaching and where this team has gone since he took over and I will continue to say it. team is not going anywhere.
The stars are coasting out there and it's BS. I don't know if they've had enough of Babcock or what but they need to bring it every night which they don't.
As much as I'm not a fan of Button he's absolutely right about this team not being a contender and Matthews and Marner making roughly $22 million per ( Thanks Dubas) needing to start playing like it.
They can be a lot better especially Mitch.
Some have stated we have new players and may need some time to gel. Some say when we get Dermott and Hyman back then things will change.
I'll say it now and I'll say it again I don't think so because the same things that have plagued this team since day 1 of Babcocks tenure are the same things plaguing us now.
I just don't see it improving. Andersen is the sole reason we have been where we have in the standings the last 2-3 years. He's won us a lot of regular reason games on his own. The team is astonishingly horrible defensively for the last 3 years. That and being soft makes this team easy to play against. Personally I think Dubas failed to address that on this team. We have too many players who aren't willing to go into the dirty areas and a lot of the times will shy away from it. Far too often live and on tv there is opportunity to rub a guy out and we skate by. Man we don't need to kill people just rub them out but we don't. Some on here say you don't need that. Well I think you do. They have the puck we can't score .
I have been a fan of this team for 40+ years and would want nothing more than them to succeed. Truthfully I don't see this bunch doing it not with Babcock. management needs to get him out of here. Keefe will get more out of this bunch with a better system and compete level and the $40 million dollar boys need to get their heads out of their as**s and start playing like it.
I know I get a lot of flack on here as I come across harsh and constantly complaining about the coach, the system, the effort on a nightly basis, the lack of grit and intensity and I could go on.
Truth of the matter is it's true. I have repeatedly bitc**d about Babcock and his coaching and where this team has gone since he took over and I will continue to say it. team is not going anywhere.
The stars are coasting out there and it's BS. I don't know if they've had enough of Babcock or what but they need to bring it every night which they don't.
As much as I'm not a fan of Button he's absolutely right about this team not being a contender and Matthews and Marner making roughly $22 million per ( Thanks Dubas) needing to start playing like it.
They can be a lot better especially Mitch.
Some have stated we have new players and may need some time to gel. Some say when we get Dermott and Hyman back then things will change.
I'll say it now and I'll say it again I don't think so because the same things that have plagued this team since day 1 of Babcocks tenure are the same things plaguing us now.
I just don't see it improving. Andersen is the sole reason we have been where we have in the standings the last 2-3 years. He's won us a lot of regular reason games on his own. The team is astonishingly horrible defensively for the last 3 years. That and being soft makes this team easy to play against. Personally I think Dubas failed to address that on this team. We have too many players who aren't willing to go into the dirty areas and a lot of the times will shy away from it. Far too often live and on tv there is opportunity to rub a guy out and we skate by. Man we don't need to kill people just rub them out but we don't. Some on here say you don't need that. Well I think you do. They have the puck we can't score .
I have been a fan of this team for 40+ years and would want nothing more than them to succeed. Truthfully I don't see this bunch doing it not with Babcock. management needs to get him out of here. Keefe will get more out of this bunch with a better system and compete level and the $40 million dollar boys need to get their heads out of their as**s and start playing like it.
Which is kind of funny since the new players (Kerfoot, Mikheyev, Timashov in particular) have looked great.azzurri63 said:
I think Hyman will be a welcome shot in the arm but it might take him a while to get up to speed. Dermott, not so sure about him. He looked impressive when he first came up but seems to have stagnated a bit. Maybe it's the system (or lack thereof), maybe he needs more responsibility. We'll see I guess.azzurri63 said:
azzurri63
Active member
Nik Bethune said:
So what's your take on this team?
Are you one of the ones who think mediocrity is ok? I'm not.
This team has so much more talent than 90% of this league yet we struggle and have committed the same errors for eternity.
And as Chris has stated the guys he's mentioned who are new to the team, who make for the most part minimum salary have been some of our better players on a nightly basis.
Can't say that about the overpaid 3. I'll leave Tavares out of it because he's earned his salary but the other 3 should be ashamed of the way they play.
Kin
New member
azzurri63 said:
That they've gotten off to a bad start. Whether it's a temporary thing or indicative of a larger problem remains to be seen but teams usually play up to or down to their talent level.
I also know that in my however many years of being a Leafs fan every single time the team has been slumping people have blamed "the system" and said the players weren't working hard enough without actually having any actual specific remedies for motivating players or what changes to the system would make the club more effective. Almost like fans like saying things that superficially make them sound like they know what they're talking about but without making any concrete assertions that they could be judged against.
Guilt Trip
Active member
I knew Marner's 5 v 5 points totals weren't good but 2 in 11 games is horrible and sums up why his line, no matter who he plays with, is struggling.
Guilt Trip
Active member
Don't waste the energy. They will get it together eventually, hopefully lol. This team isn't a Hyman or Dermott away from getting their crap together. They will help tho.sickbeast said: