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No Excuses No Limits! The mother fucking goddamn season thread

MindzEye said:
Yes

I figure we're going to get burnt at least once in a Kampf defensive zone start against the Pastrnak line.
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Don't worry, it'll only be late in a game where we're leading by one goal with 11 seconds left and just need a faceoff win, with Tavares on the bench.
 
i

A3. Toronto Maple Leafs​

Record: 46-26-10, 102 points

Case for a Stanley Cup run:Toronto took its time finding a sweet spot, where all the elements from consistent scoring to stable goaltending to solid defense came together and steered the Leafs closer to their full potential. That it happened late in the year, right before the playoffs? Well, that just might be Toronto's secret sauce.

Unlike seasons past, when the Leafs could coast at times on the goal-scoring prowess of Auston Matthews or the playmaking magic of Mitch Marner, the Leafs have successfully weathered adversity to emerge as perhaps the strongest collective version of themselves. Sure, GM Brad Treliving actively added some sandpaper to the lineup with Ryan Reaves and a big-bodied defenseman in Joel Edmundson, but it's the overall grit Toronto has earned throughout the year that should help in the postseason.

Another Leafs edge? Their first line -- helmed by Hart Trophy contender Matthews -- has finally found its rhythm. After months of tinkering, Tyler Bertuzzi and Max Domi have combined with Matthews to make their unit elite. That has given coach Sheldon Keefe the opportunity to spread out some of the other top skaters -- such as Marner and William Nylander -- so Toronto isn't as vulnerable to the ebbs and flows of its star performers. Nicholas Robertsonhas been improving up front lately, and so has Matthew Knies. The Leafs were felled by a lack of postseason scoring in the past, and if they've got that covered now, it could carry them well beyond one round.

Biggest flaws: Toronto has question marks on defense -- including who, exactly, will actually be in the six-man rotation come playoffs. TJ Brodie, once a top-pairing staple, has slipped down the depth chart, and Keefe's been regularly reworking his back end to see what sticks. The Leafs have averaged 3.13 goals against this season and nearly 30 shots against while struggling to defend off the rush. In a tight-checking postseason contest when desperation is at its peak, Toronto's defense could be exposed if it can't find the right mix of players to handle the job ahead.


Player to watch: Ilya Samsonov. Toronto's starter has been through the wringer and came out the other side playing some of his best hockey. The Leafs can only hope Samsonov stays on that path when the playoffs begin. He projects to be their starter in the first round, with rookie Joseph Woll looking over his shoulder, ready to take over.

Bold prediction: Toronto will escape the first round and then explode with a second-round sweep. The Leafs will reach their first Stanley Cup Final since 1967 and finally win it all in a dramatic Game 7 victory.


ESPN’s take. 😮
 
LeafOfFaith said:
i

A3. Toronto Maple Leafs​

Record: 46-26-10, 102 points

Case for a Stanley Cup run:Toronto took its time finding a sweet spot, where all the elements from consistent scoring to stable goaltending to solid defense came together and steered the Leafs closer to their full potential. That it happened late in the year, right before the playoffs? Well, that just might be Toronto's secret sauce.

Unlike seasons past, when the Leafs could coast at times on the goal-scoring prowess of Auston Matthews or the playmaking magic of Mitch Marner, the Leafs have successfully weathered adversity to emerge as perhaps the strongest collective version of themselves. Sure, GM Brad Treliving actively added some sandpaper to the lineup with Ryan Reaves and a big-bodied defenseman in Joel Edmundson, but it's the overall grit Toronto has earned throughout the year that should help in the postseason.

Another Leafs edge? Their first line -- helmed by Hart Trophy contender Matthews -- has finally found its rhythm. After months of tinkering, Tyler Bertuzzi and Max Domi have combined with Matthews to make their unit elite. That has given coach Sheldon Keefe the opportunity to spread out some of the other top skaters -- such as Marner and William Nylander -- so Toronto isn't as vulnerable to the ebbs and flows of its star performers. Nicholas Robertsonhas been improving up front lately, and so has Matthew Knies. The Leafs were felled by a lack of postseason scoring in the past, and if they've got that covered now, it could carry them well beyond one round.

Biggest flaws: Toronto has question marks on defense -- including who, exactly, will actually be in the six-man rotation come playoffs. TJ Brodie, once a top-pairing staple, has slipped down the depth chart, and Keefe's been regularly reworking his back end to see what sticks. The Leafs have averaged 3.13 goals against this season and nearly 30 shots against while struggling to defend off the rush. In a tight-checking postseason contest when desperation is at its peak, Toronto's defense could be exposed if it can't find the right mix of players to handle the job ahead.


Player to watch: Ilya Samsonov. Toronto's starter has been through the wringer and came out the other side playing some of his best hockey. The Leafs can only hope Samsonov stays on that path when the playoffs begin. He projects to be their starter in the first round, with rookie Joseph Woll looking over his shoulder, ready to take over.

Bold prediction: Toronto will escape the first round and then explode with a second-round sweep. The Leafs will reach their first Stanley Cup Final since 1967 and finally win it all in a dramatic Game 7 victory.


ESPN’s take. 😮
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Somebody has got some really fucking good dope.
 
100% on point.

As much as I dump on Matthews, and deservedly so, Mitch Marner is far and away the most entitled, self-important, half-assing little bitch in pro sports right now. It's no wonder he got carjacked. He should have the word "PUSSY" tattooed on his forehead.

He's not a man. He should be hanging out on a BMX bike outside a subway station with a baby pacifier on a gold chain around his neck. He's a punk ass bitch. No team can win with clowns like Marner.
 
Lol Marner needs to be better (though I thought he was the only guy who showed up last night) but that’s over the top.

The problem with Marner isn’t what rose hill is saying. It’s that jay rose hill will say that shit and Marner doesn’t have the ability to channel that into his game. Like, time to prove em wrong Mitch but hell melt instead.
 
they have no goaltending or D.

How the fuck are you going to win with 880 goaltending, no dependable shutdown d and only one defenseman who can create offense?

Also it’s amazing how much better Boston’s lugs are than ours. Carlo is the same player as edmunston and Benoit but never seems to get caught out of position or trying to do too much. Which frankly, I think is all coaching.
 
mbow30 said:
they have no goaltending or D.

How the fuck are you going to win with 880 goaltending, no dependable shutdown d and only one defenseman who can create offense?

Also it’s amazing how much better Boston’s lugs are than ours. Carlo is the same player as edmunston and Benoit but never seems to get caught out of position or trying to do too much. Which frankly, I think is all coaching.
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Maybe we have to stop trading for bad Ds on terrible teams.
 
JackBurton said:
It's talked about so much that people just accept it. They see the no PP goals and simply ignore it and the answer is "Grit".
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To score powerplay goals in the playoffs requires guys to go into the dirty areas and put up with being cross checked across the back of the neck and punched in the face without the expectation of drawing a penalty call in return. Every time Marner gets touched he's got his arms in the air looking at the ref like a pussy. It never occurs to him to return the favor and whack an opponent. This is the 2011 final all over again when the Bruins used the Sedin's heads like speedbags, daring them to do something about it.

Winning in the playoffs requires toughness and the Leafs haven't got much. The two most pugnacious players they have are Reaves, a brain-dead slug who plays 10 minutes or less but still finds time to cause costly turnovers, and Domi, who can always be counted on to take a stupid penalty, because he is also a brainless idiot. Marchand is tough but he's smart. He's running roughshod over the Leafs while also not taking penalties.

As the old saying goes, "Life is hard. It's harder when you're stupid." The Leafs are not a smart hockey team and they are not led by a smart coach. That lack of gray matter is why they're losing and why they're looking so inept doing it.
 
WeHaveMoreCupsThanYou said:
To score powerplay goals in the playoffs requires guys to go into the dirty areas and put up with being cross checked across the back of the neck and punched in the face without the expectation of drawing a penalty call in return. Every time Marner gets touched he's got his arms in the air looking at the ref like a pussy. It never occurs to him to return the favor and whack an opponent. This is the 2011 final all over again when the Bruins used the Sedin's heads like speedbags, daring them to do something about it.

Winning in the playoffs requires toughness and the Leafs haven't got much. The two most pugnacious players they have are Reaves, a brain-dead slug who plays 10 minutes or less but still finds time to cause costly turnovers, and Domi, who can always be counted on to take a stupid penalty, because he is also a brainless idiot. Marchand is tough but he's smart. He's running roughshod over the Leafs while also not taking penalties.

As the old saying goes, "Life is hard. It's harder when you're stupid." The Leafs are not a smart hockey team and they are not led by a smart coach. That lack of gray matter is why they're losing and why they're looking so inept doing it.
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I really don't find playoffs different in PPs to regular season.
 
JackBurton said:
I really don't find playoffs different in PPs to regular season.
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imo the big difference is that you're only playing one team, so in theory get to key in PK adjustments to address their PP's tendencies. It's not like refs are quick to give away 5-3's in the regular season either, I don't think the lack of whistle during PP's is a big adjustment at all. It's the increased importance in coaching adjustments that is the main difference. You're not changing your PK system in the regular season just because you play the Leafs on Tuesday. But know that you're playing them 7 times in a row? You're immediately dusting off every pro scouting report from the season and all of your footage and looking for things to alter. We have a super, super predictable PP that just happens to have a few guys who are fucking weapons on it.
 
Not enough skill on the back-end (by design no less), bottom-end goaltending (maybe bad luck, especially with Woll injury), powerplay the coldest it's ever been, at the worst possible time.

The lack of interviews for the GM position starting to make me wonder if ownership got involved and asked for short-term solutions until the new CEO got on board. Would frame a lot of moves differently if that's the case (short-term deals in UFA, minor moves at the deadline).
 
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