2023 - 2024 Toronto Maple Leafs thread

[4wedges]

I do think he put more on it than needed as the coach. He's in charge behind the bench. Which of the core 4 pulled the goalie with three minutes left. He's in the big chair and gets paid bigly so fair or not gets blame. They were able to make 69 almost seem like another fail that this group couldn't pull off imo. That;s hard to do.

I don't think there is any blame needed. He gave the star player a chance for a significant milestone; that's what I would expect him to do since the games meant nothing in the standings.

[WWFS]

Nylander questionable for tonight's game

Bruins starting Ulmark.

Sammy will need to be on his game with this D lineup in front of him

Whether Nylander will show up for any game is always questionable.

[Weirfan]

Whether Nylander will show up for any game is always questionable.

Touche

[cuonthe1t]

Whether Nylander will show up for any game is always questionable.

he certainly showed up for the first 45 games of the season as he was by far the best Leaf on the ice by a long shot

[High cut]

Whether Nylander will show up for any game is always questionable.

[High cut]

he certainly showed up for the first 45 games of the season as he was by far the best Leaf on the ice by a long shot

Contract negotiations do that to Nylanders.....

[High cut]

I understand what you're saying and that would make him part of the problem so I have no qualms putting blame on him when things don't work out. Whenever he comes out and says "well I'm just a patsie behind the bench pretending to be in charge but I'm only there to make sure all of their water bottles are full" maybe I won't blame him for anything ever again.......but probably not........ No I will.

I understand what you are saying as well, and I don't like it either.

That said, you don't sign his paycheck, the owners do and he has to do things the way he is instructed, or he won't have a job. Management up to now has created a structure where a handful of players are in charge, he works under those rules or he doesn't work in the NHL. Most people in life adjust to the rules and working conditions of there employer, regardless if they like them or not. It's just not as public for you and I as it is for him.

His comments this week about injuries were telling "Brad made it clear to me that we will not provide daily injury updates". He is there to do a specific job under specific guidelines, he is not the boss.

[High cut]

Nylander questionable for tonight's game

Bruins starting Ulmark.

Sammy will need to be on his game with this D lineup in front of him

D structure is interesting, better than I feared but I am not a Lily fan. The rest I'm in on.

[Weirfan]

D structure is interesting, better than I feared but I am not a Lily fan. The rest I'm in on.

Lily has been not good. I think there was way too much expected of him which probably creates pressure and disappointment . Leafs maybe should have held onto Sandin but Lily shoots from the side Leafs needed.

he's only played 5 seasons, 3 full ones and is young so there is time for him to develop but right now he is definitely a bottom pairing guy

[WWFS]

he certainly showed up for the first 45 games of the season as he was by far the best Leaf on the ice by a long shot

His offensive output was excellent, and I'll concede that point.

His defensive output was below most forwards on the team (excluding a few of 3rd and 4th line wingers). It was far below the other of the "Core 4" forwards.

During those 1st 45 games he was the only one of the "Core 4" with a minus stat. He actually moved to a season plus stat during his "scoring slump", and finished the season at a +1.

I continue to maintain that Nylander's lack of defensive skills (defensive effort) make him a net liability to the team.

[cuonthe1t]

His offensive output was excellent, and I'll concede that point.

His defensive output was below most forwards on the team (excluding a few of 3rd and 4th line wingers). It was far below the other of the "Core 4" forwards.

During those 1st 45 games he was the only one of the "Core 4" with a minus stat. He actually moved to a season plus stat during his "scoring slump", and finished the season at a +1.

I continue to maintain that Nylander's lack of defensive skills (defensive effort) make him a net liability to the team.

but he plays tougher when it gets that way in the playoffs when the ice gets smaller - MM and AM melt when they get played rougher - they dont like the small areas when they know they are going to get hit all the time - Nylander has been better in the playoffs over the last few years much better than AM and MM - and if the 2 dont improve their play the Leafs wont get out of rd one

[WWFS]

but he plays tougher when it gets that way in the playoffs when the ice gets smaller - MM and AM melt when they get played rougher - they dont like the small areas when they know they are going to get hit all the time - Nylander has been better in the playoffs over the last few years much better than AM and MM - and if the 2 dont improve their play the Leafs wont get out of rd one

From the 2022/23 playoffs:

[cuonthe1t]

From the 2022/23 playoffs:

guess the guys on the various round tables I listen to said and Wendel Clark stated are wrong too then - they all state it is time for the 2 big boys to step up and play tough - play as a team and not as an individual - last 2 games all anyone cared about was getting the puck to Austin to get 70 - who gives a care about individual stats this close to playoffs and for that matter anytime during the season it should always be about the team

[Pingeye2_fan]

From the 2022/23 playoffs:

Around 5 minutes a game less than Marner and 3 minutes less than Matthews, so who knows if the ice time was equal what that would look like in points.

[WWFS]

guess the guys on the various round tables I listen to said and Wendel Clark stated are wrong too then - they all state it is time for the 2 big boys to step up and play tough - play as a team and not as an individual - last 2 games all anyone cared about was getting the puck to Austin to get 70 - who gives a care about individual stats this close to playoffs and for that matter anytime during the season it should always be about the team

I never said that "the 2 big boys" don't need to step up. The whole damn team needs to step up.

I do disagree that Nylander "plays tougher when it gets that way in the playoffs when the ice gets smaller".

I will agree that trying to get Matthews his 70th was a perfect analogue for how the Leafs play when there's something on the line...they just can't step up and make it happen.