Hurricanes @ Leafs - Feb. 22nd, 7:00pm - CBC, Fan 590

[rdowdall]

So from now on, we have to use the correct logo in the game day thread.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Leafs really didn't look good the whole game. It was only close in the 2nd because of Freddie.

I don't know. It feels like tonight we saw both good and bad Freddie and it feels like we see a lot of games where he really keeps the team in it during a bad period and then he has a stretch where he looks like he's swimming all over the place and lets in 3 goals and the post game match analysis is "Well, you can't say the goaltending was bad because he was so great until he wasn't".

Meanwhile we'd eat any forward/defenseman alive if he was good in the first and then ate it in the 2nd.

Don't agree. Freddie was fine. Made a lot of big saves. Leafs gave up what, 3 breakaways on the PP? Another big save on a 2 on 1 on a Leafs PP. This team gives up a lot of grade a chances.

 

[Guilt Trip]

So from now on, we have to use the correct logo in the game day thread.

That's what did it! Jinx!

 

[rdowdall]

They've still won more 60 minute hockey games than the Hurricanes this season and there's just no way that could be true if tonight was anything more than a particularly bad aberration.

I think unfortunately the leafs' record with Reilly/Ceci out is more representative of what to expect for the rest of the way. The leafs banked a fair number of wins with a middling defense, not the tire fire that remains.

That's probably a fair analysis and, while I'm not including you in this group, it says to me that the answer isn't quite so dramatic as "Burn this down, trade everyone".

To me it says, you know, "get better at defense, make a key trade or two".

 

[Kin]

Don't agree. Freddie was fine. Made a lot of big saves. Leafs gave up what, 3 breakaways on the PP? Another big save on a 2 on 1 on a Leafs PP. This team gives up a lot of grade a chances.

All of those things can be true and a goalie can still look not very good on the goals they let in.

 

[Phileas Fogg]

19 games to go. They need something, just not sure what lol. Maybe we'll have Dumba or Manson by Tuesday's game.

I think Dubas is in a pretty risky situation; he's really given a haircut to the team's prospects and picks in the short term, and with the results of late, he's hardly negotiating from a position of strength -  and on top of that, our forward depth, with Mikeyev and Johnsson out, isn't quite as deep as it looked awhile back if you're moving a roster player.

I dunno. Considering how far out the team appears to be from contending, they should really be taking an offseason approach to acquisitions. 

 

[ZBBM]

Somebody said earlier that it makes you wonder whether Dubas's big plans are going to work at this level.  Yes, Carolina is a better than average defensive team but lesser teams have defeated the possession game if they play tenaciously enough. 

Somewhere Mike Babcock is having a real nice schadenfreude.

 

[BermudaBudsFan]

I don?t think it?s too early to wonder whether this will be the great lost opportunity for the franchise.  All the skill up front, players who appeared at one time to be a championship core squandered.  Whether due to their individual flaws as players, overspending on the core, poor defensemen, bad defensively generally or a combination of the above.  I once thought these players would certainly bring a championship.  I no longer believe they are capable of so doing.

 

[ZBBM]

So, did Keefe even dare show his face afterwards?  If so, what did he say?

Nevermind, I just read his bland-ish comments on MLHS.  "The game was the same" ? yeah, no shit Sherlock.

I think this team needs a John Tortorella.

 

[Kin]

Somebody said earlier that it makes you wonder whether Dubas's big plans are going to work at this level.  Yes, Carolina is a better than average defensive team but lesser teams have defeated the possession game if they play tenaciously enough. 

Somewhere Mike Babcock is having a real nice schadenfreude.

The Leafs literally beat the Canes earlier this year. They scored 8 on them.

 

[L K]

I think for me this is just one too many blowout losses.  They talked about effort and managed to pull out one game before reverting to a mess again.  The number of complete games they have played is minuscule and the flaws of the team aren?t insignificant.  Getting Rielly back doesn?t fix this team.  They are several players away from being a contender and they don?t have the cap space to get the overhaul on the defense to make that happen. 

 

[dekedastardly]

So, did Keefe even dare show his face afterwards?  If so, what did he say?

Imagine what Tortorella would say

 

[Phileas Fogg]

I once thought these players would certainly bring a championship.  I no longer believe they are capable of so doing.

I'm not sure I'd go that far. I've always been a bit skeptical of Dubas' approach, particularly in the Barrie acquisition and the prioritization of cap forwards over defence, but Matthews, Marner and Tavares are terrific players, and when the team gets balanced out regarding supporting line roles and talent on the back end, they'll be as good a core as anything out there in the league. They've got lots of time in these contracts to improve around them.

 

[ZBBM]

Somebody said earlier that it makes you wonder whether Dubas's big plans are going to work at this level.  Yes, Carolina is a better than average defensive team but lesser teams have defeated the possession game if they play tenaciously enough. 

Somewhere Mike Babcock is having a real nice schadenfreude.

The Leafs literally beat the Canes earlier this year. They scored 8 on them.

So, do you think Dubas's system is going to work?  That's the ultimate question.  After a sugar high the first few weeks of Keefe it's back to whether they can out-possess their own defense.  Obviously when they play like dysentery, like tonight, they can't.

 

[ZBBM]

So, did Keefe even dare show his face afterwards?  If so, what did he say?

Imagine what Tortorella would say

Ha, you missed the addition I made to my post.

 

[Kin]

I don't know if Dubas' system will work but I believe a smart executive, which Dubas has shown flashes of being, can adapt their system if they think it needs to be done.

I know we don't like to hear it but it is the same team we saw on Thirsday. Are they more tonight than Thursday? Eh. Somewhere in the middle.

 

[BermudaBudsFan]

I once thought these players would certainly bring a championship.  I no longer believe they are capable of so doing.

I hope you are right.  I still think the world of Matthews.  Tavares hasn?t been very good this year.  Marner is a bit of a mess.

I'm not sure I'd go that far. I've always been a bit skeptical of Dubas' approach, particularly in the Barrie acquisition and the prioritization of cap forwards over defence, but Matthews, Marner and Tavares are terrific players, and when the team gets balanced out regarding supporting line roles and talent on the back end, they'll be as good a core as anything out there in the league. They've got lots of time in these contracts to improve around them.

 

[ZBBM]

I don't know if Dubas' system will work but I believe a smart executive, which Dubas has shown flashes of being, can adapt their system if they think it needs to be done.

I know we don't like to hear it but it is the same team we saw on Thirsday. Are they more tonight than Thursday? Eh. Somewhere in the middle.

The first thing Dubas needs to do to prove he is willing to adapt is to admit he made a bad trade and move Barrie tomorrow or Monday.  If he can't/won't do that then I don't think he's got what it takes.

He can't fix this team in the next two days and he shouldn't do anything stupid but he can do that at least.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

https://twitter.com/SammyHudes/status/1231420723383521280

 

[Guilt Trip]

I don?t think it?s too early to wonder whether this will be the great lost opportunity for the franchise.  All the skill up front, players who appeared at one time to be a championship core squandered.  Whether due to their individual flaws as players, overspending on the core, poor defensemen, bad defensively generally or a combination of the above.  I once thought these players would certainly bring a championship.  I no longer believe they are capable of so doing.

Every losing season is a loss. Let's not forget that most people here thought the Leafs would take a step back this year. It's happened. I still think Dubas' plan is to build the D next. They have the forward core signed, Rielly and Muzz signed. Sandin appears on his way and now we need a top end RHD to play with Rielly. I think this has always been the plan. He tried to help it out by getting Barrie but remember that was his second choice because Kadri nixed the deal to Calgary. We would have had Brodie I believe. I think he's better defensively. Let's see what Dubas can do by Monday and over the summer. I haven't lost faith in Dubas yet.