definitely a combination of both - substandard goaltending and substandard play in front of the goalie.

hopefully the GM doesn't escape some blame here.. I know I know GM WonderBoy.. can do no wrong.

truth is

1) Dubas didn't manage the CAP well enough to leave himself room to acquire a decent back (and some other areas of need)
2) Hutchinson didn't do enough earn an elongated shot
3) team has sucked in many first periods or at least at the beginning of the game

hope

that the team isn't let off the hook "because Hutchinson sucked"... 'cause that narrative is exactly how the Leafs overspent to acquire Nelson Bernier.... blaming Reimer for the 2013 Game 7 collapse - just like then - the team in front of the goalie bares plenty of responsibility
- BorjeFan4Ever

The key difference there is that the Leafs were searching for a starter. This time they will be looking for a backup. That should curtail the cost. Now, Andersen will be a UFA going into the Seattle draft, so whoever they acquire could be protected if they got someone worthwhile. Also potentially Woll or Scott would be ready to be backups in 2 years anyway.

So our focus would be a guy for maybe 2 years who has a manageable cap hit.

I'm not going to defend Dubas on the backup. He did a lot of good things and creative things this off-season - a lot of things I didn't think he could do. Not getting a viable backup was a significant hole. Finding an extra $800k could have helped with the issue.

He was not horrible last night.
- Hockey_Reverend

Yeah he was.

It’s not hard to see that.

The goalie and the defence can play bad at the same time. A perfect example of that is Hutchinson last night.

The chrome was thick. The women were women. And hockey was hockey...



But seriously, Quinn would straighten this group out RIP
- Hockey_Reverend

quiet Boomer

Dubas felt that this Leafs defense was really good - and better than last year.
Fact is that Ceci sucks, and Barrie is just not the profile Leafs are looking for (already have Rielly who is better).

Dubas felt as well that Hutchinson was good enough to be his backup - inspite of clear evidence that Hutchinson was never going to be that decent backup NHL goalie you can rely on (as a backup and in case of injury).

Seems Dubas has 0 idea on goalies (remember - Lou got us Andersen) - undervalued McSavey, hugely overvalued Sparks and again overvalued Hutchinson.
With so many good young wingers on this team, the top priority should have been to get a solid backup that can be a starter.

Let's hope Leafs can get Georgiev, but now it will cost them way more...
Maybe a bigger trade involving Kreider + Georgiev can be made. Leafs could really use Kreider on Matthews' line.

There is not a lot of other good options available - might even be better to just get Woll as a backup instead of some very bad NHL backup. (please, NO Domingue!!)
- MaximusAurelius

It seems like the more experienced the goalie is, the better he performs in TO.

I love the name Georgiev, but maybe they could get someone who’s more experienced. Bring Lu out of retirement

The chrome was thick. The women were women. And hockey was hockey...



But seriously, Quinn would straighten this group out RIP
- Hockey_Reverend

things weren't always better before.
Humans are wired to mostly hold on to positive memories.

Ah the Good ol days, everything was better back in my day

Holy (frank) man.

The majority of us agree the leafs haven’t played will in front of him.

But Hutch has been horrible as well.

Which is all people are saying. Quit finding excuses to go on endless rants on here.
- Santo_44

Dude..

Do you really not see it??

You’re always looking for someone to crucify. Everything is black and white to you.

If you don’t agree with someone, it’s fine. You can just agree to disagree, instead of accusing others of debating in bad faith.

the only other goalie apart from Georgiev that makes sense would be Scott Darling.
that's would be a high-risk, high-reward bet..
(not sure whether he's mentally recuperated from a very bad season last year..)
- MaximusAurelius

Apparently they reached out to Darling but he chose to sigh in Austiria to try and find his groove.

capfriendly has marner on ltir?

looks like dubas fell ass backwards into a a pot of gold for the next 4 weeks....~$11M in cap space until marner is healthy again.

Dubas has aquired Muzzin, Ceci, Barrie and do we give him Holl?

Out with Gardiner, Hainsey and Zeitsev

Are they better?

feels like a wash really

Dubas has aquired Muzzin, Ceci, Barrie and do we give him Holl?

Out with Gardiner, Hainsey and Zeitsev

Are they better?

feels like a wash really
- senstroll

barrie hasn't worked out .... long-term not a fit or still adjusting?

I think he's not a fit...

Dude..

Do you really not see it??

You’re always looking for someone to crucify. Everything is black and white to you.

If you don’t agree with someone, it’s fine. You can just agree to disagree, instead of accusing others of debating in bad faith.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

You don’t have to read.

Read something else.

Dubas has aquired Muzzin, Ceci, Barrie and do we give him Holl?

Out with Gardiner, Hainsey and Zeitsev

Are they better?

feels like a wash really
- senstroll

The defence needs the fwds to help out, too.

Our best defensive fwd was traded for the wosrt defensive Dman in the league. Lol..

Apparently they reached out to Darling but he chose to sigh in Austiria to try and find his groove.
- Santo_44

Did they?
I hadn't heard this.
Before this season started I had suggested that he would be an interesting backup option.
I just checked and indeed see him on an Austrian team, but no games played it seems. Do you know when he joined them?

You don’t have to read.

Read something else.
- Santo_44

Another thing, stop with the “everyone knows - people are saying” schtick..

It’s very Trumpian..

Another thing, stop with the “everyone knows - people are saying” schtick..

It’s very Trumpian..
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Again.

You don’t have to read.

If I really make you this angry then the best thing is to not respond. Carry on with your life.

#FlyFreaky4LeafsBackup

Did they?
I hadn't heard this.
Before this season started I had suggested that he would be an interesting backup option.
I just checked and indeed see him on an Austrian team, but no games played it seems. Do you know when he joined them?
- MaximusAurelius

A week ago.

But it was reported 30 mins ago by the fourthperiod they reached out to him before he signed.

But like every human being I doubt he is going to hop on a plane and move to Austria the day after he signs. I assume he has a family and stuff.

The defence needs the fwds to help out, too.

Our best defensive fwd was traded for the wosrt defensive Dman in the league. Lol..
- Arctic_AARDVARK

ah the good ol days like last season when the Leafs were good defensivley...

Again.

You don’t have to read.

If I really make you this angry then the best thing is to not respond. Carry on with your life.
- Santo_44

You let little things upset you and you start slinging mud..

I’m just trying to help.

ah the good ol days like last season when the Leafs were good defensivley...
- senstroll

They were down the stretch 🤷‍♂️

It’s true tho, the fwds need to help out more.. And Naz was responsible that way.

You let little things upset you and you start slinging mud..

I’m just trying to help.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Cool

ah the good ol days like last season when the Leafs were good defensivley...
- senstroll

yes.

i remember those times, when andersen's numbers were so much the same.

those were good times.

ah the good ol days like last season when the Leafs were good defensivley...
- senstroll

When the (frank) was Kadri could defensively ?

This isn’t directed towards you I am just actually wondering.

barrie hasn't worked out .... long-term not a fit or still adjusting?

I think he's not a fit...
- Tumbleweed

I think still adjusting, Babs isn't using him correctly.

Barrie needs to be given a more offensive role to excel, he's an offensive d-man that is being asked to be more defensively responsible. Didn't have that in Colorado..

It's like giving Marincin PP1 time and then wondering why we'd lead the league in short handed goals against.

I just listened to the interview, I didn’t him say that. And if he’s not an NHL goalie, that has nothing to do with the atrocious defensive play.

You’re desperately trying to cover-up the fact that they can’t play defence.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Whats funny is that this was known from even b4 the season started. Its been known for years that the leafs d is poop. Yet Babcock, TSN/CBC and all the "inofrmed insiders" proclaimed this the leafs year. The contender year!

The PR has not only made people look silly, its created a divisive situation between the fans that believe everything they see on tv because it was said by bob mckenzie or the guys from 1050... like the O-dog... vs the fans that have watched them play and can filter through the BS being said and see the team for what it really is.

The one guy whos called it like it is has been Craig Button. The best thing he did was call out the PR machine for giving false hope...

i dont think the personnel can change much due to cap issues or unless some team wants to help the leafs.... the biggest change has to be babcock and his team. They need to reinvent their break out structures and the way they play d, so that it fits the players weve got... the team doesnt fit the mould hes trying to create. A change in systems can do wonders. Julien did it with the habs and it fits the guys so much more. Babcock has been the biggest excuse maker since the start, perhaps a kick in the ego and back to the drawing board is whats needed.

The system we saw in philly, thats the way the leafs have to play.