Matthews and Marner will explode very soon and put up fantastic numbers. They are not a concern. We all know they will score soon.
Campbell needs more starts and this odd "Live and die with Freddy" attitude like he's Patrick Roy needs to go.
- RogerRoeper

Should’ve traded for Korpisalo
(and Jenner and Savard)😁

I think it's been 2 games. I think the team has 6 new faces playing roles in the lineup and there is an adjustment period that should be allowed.

There was no extended training camp. We're in a pandemic and still figuring things out from that front.

The only part of my satire I actually think has merit is Ander5en who I'm entirely convinced is a legit contending #1 starter. His "slow start" narrative seems more and more a sign that he lacks any kind of true consistency. But... would another goalie in between the Leafs pipes prove to be of much higher quality?

I don't know. I'm willing to give this team 10 games before I start to truly settle in on some concrete answers.
- mjones242

Campbell has shown in his career he can, and deserves more starts.

Smith scratched Colin White, why can't Keefe bench one of Toronto's big names?

Babs used to bump Marner down to the third line, and it worked.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

No it didnt

Also dont compare White to Marner and AM please and thank you.

Should’ve traded for Korpisalo
(and Jenner and Savard)😁
- mr.sir

It was an error given how many goalies were available and how cheap Freddy was (1 milion in cash only). You'll just have to replace him later.
And all of a sudden, him earning 5 milion becomes a cap issue this year.

Well we saw STL lay an egg last night.

We saw the AVS lay an egg their first game.

I think its way too early in this season to be making judgments. Marner has looked like a train wreck and so have a few others. As I watch around the league I see the same thing with other teams.
- Santo_44

So let me say upfront that I didn't watch much of last night's game - the TV was on for the 1st period, but I was doing other things. Didn't see any of the rest.

But reading about the game and comparing it to the opener, my concerns remain the same as last year and the year before that and the 40 years before that:

Blue and White disease seems to have infected the dressing room again. It's Club Maple Leaf. The compete level just isn't there.

These guys seem to think that talent can outperform hard work every night.

I've been watching the Leafs long enough to know that hard work beats talent every time, if the talent is wearing a blue and white shirt.

No it didnt
- Santo_44

He's regressed badly. Ryan Miller started the big regression around the same age.

https://twitter.com/TheOa...tatus/1350323636452929537

Double post.

I need coffee.

He's regressed badly. Ryan Miller started the big regression around the same age.

https://twitter.com/TheOa...tatus/1350323636452929537
- RogerRoeper

Look, if the Leafs played any kind of defence in front of Freddy, no one would be talking about him.

Look at all the goals he's allowed. They're either deflected, or the Sens/Habs players were all alone in front shooting from point blank.

Smith scratched Colin White, why can't Keefe bench one of Toronto's big names?

Babs used to bump Marner down to the third line, and it worked.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

The firstr season and a half of his career when he was 19 and 20 and wasn't proven. After that, he did not.

Keefe has had like 60 games, where he has the 3rd best current winning percentage in the league. He has barely had any time to get going with this team.

Babcock went sour on himself, he did a lot of bad things that outweighed the good after 3 years. The change was needed as DOES any team once a coach goes sour. The Leafs aren't special here, it wasn't to let players off the hook. It was to get a new mind behind the bench to get the best out of the players because Babs wasn't doing it.

Keefe needs time, and the league has been a poop show the first few games and it will be for a while, lets just hope the leafs come out of the first 6 or 7 games at 500. and go from there.

Leafs dont do well without structure and unfortunately that's the story around the league right now, hopefully they can gain structure quick.
- Santo_44

I can allow for all of that, but I am pretty afraid it isn't going to change cause these efforts are way too common.

Look, if the Leafs played any kind of defence in front of Freddy, no one would be talking about him.

Look at all the goals he's allowed. They're either deflected, or the Sens/Habs players were all alone in front shooting from point blank.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Bullpoop. Let's stop this lazy narrative. Freddy had the same issues in Anaheim with a contending team and better D and they traded his ass.

He's one of the worst NHL starters. Fact.

Probably true, but it shouldn't be.

Therein lies the problem. Matthews and Marner haven't won anything either.
- Aetherial

They've won a sense of entitlement.

Freddy has looked bad for 70 straight games now....hard to believe he is turning this around. He could still be an average goalie but JC should get a real opportunity here.
- Santo_44

Absolutely agreed.

Freddie needs to feel the pressure of potentially losing his job. There doesn't appear to be a sense of urgency in his game and I wonder if he has focus issues.

JC should be given a chance and if he blows it, it's time to think about bringing in another face.

The firstr season and a half of his career when he was 19 and 20 and wasn't proven. After that, he did not.
- RogerRoeper

He did it when Mitch wasnt playing well.

Mitch isnt playing well, Keefe can do it for a game to send a msg.

So let me say upfront that I didn't watch much of last night's game - the TV was on for the 1st period, but I was doing other things. Didn't see any of the rest.

But reading about the game and comparing it to the opener, my concerns remain the same as last year and the year before that and the 40 years before that:

Blue and White disease seems to have infected the dressing room again. It's Club Maple Leaf. The compete level just isn't there.

These guys seem to think that talent can outperform hard work every night.

I've been watching the Leafs long enough to know that hard work beats talent every time, if the talent is wearing a blue and white shirt.
- Atomic Wedgie

This is just a made up thing in our head.

The same sort of stuff happens around the league, the league has been a poop show for every team the first few games so far and that was expected.

So let me say upfront that I didn't watch much of last night's game - the TV was on for the 1st period, but I was doing other things. Didn't see any of the rest.

But reading about the game and comparing it to the opener, my concerns remain the same as last year and the year before that and the 40 years before that:

Blue and White disease seems to have infected the dressing room again. It's Club Maple Leaf. The compete level just isn't there.

These guys seem to think that talent can outperform hard work every night.

I've been watching the Leafs long enough to know that hard work beats talent every time, if the talent is wearing a blue and white shirt.
- Atomic Wedgie

Yup, this post, and rSole's post can probably replace most of the entire discussion.

I used the term "Blue and White" disease this morning talking to my wife.

Absolutely agreed.

Freddie needs to feel the pressure of potentially losing his job. There doesn't appear to be a sense of urgency in his game and I wonder if he has focus issues.

JC should be given a chance and if he blows it, it's time to think about bringing in another face.
- mjones242

I'm very critical of the attitude that he's some goaltending legend in Toronto that can't sit. Great example is in the qualifying round, when the suggestion of Campbell playing a game came up people said you live and die with Freddy. he's your guy. Pittsburgh that same series pulled their starter who won them 2 cups immediately for a young, unproven goalie who was playing better.

I am struggling to see what Freddy has accomplished here that we wouldn't want to risk upsetting his ego.

Bullpoop. Let's stop this lazy narrative. Freddy had the same issues in Anaheim with a contending team and better D and they traded his ass.

He's one of the worst NHL starters. Fact.
- RogerRoeper

Wrong.

But i see no daylight here.

Ever wonder why the goalies with the best stats ALWAYS have awesome defence in front of them?

Absolutely agreed.

Freddie needs to feel the pressure of potentially losing his job. There doesn't appear to be a sense of urgency in his game and I wonder if he has focus issues.

JC should be given a chance and if he blows it, it's time to think about bringing in another face.
- mjones242

I wanted the Leafs to go hard after one last offseason...hoping it was because they wanted to give JC a chance and go after Binnington in FA.

Binnington is a Toronto boy and its not hard to see that if he wants to be a Leaf he will be a Leaf this summer and he will get a starting position.

Yup, this post, and rSole's post can probably replace most of the entire discussion.

I used the term "Blue and White" disease this morning talking to my wife.
- Aetherial

No you're wrong.

Just a made up thing in your head.

This is just a made up thing in our head.

The same sort of stuff happens around the league, the league has been a poop show for every team the first few games so far and that was expected.
- Santo_44

I'm not talking about the first two games of this season, though.

Look at the stats: the Leafs have an uncanny ability to give up the first goal - and early. That's not observation bias - there are stats and everything.

Hell, Torts was up front about it last year in the playoffs - he told everyone willing to listen that Columbus was going to win because they were going to work harder.

Torts was right.

Wrong.

But i see no daylight here.

Ever wonder why the goalies with the best stats ALWAYS have awesome defence in front of them?
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Similar numbers, same playoff struggles. He peaked at .919 on both teams. And that's him when he was in his prime. Now he looks worse than ever.

And BTW, your comment on goalies having best stats with best D infront is nonsense,
Please se here: Many on terrible teams with far better numbers:


https://twitter.com/TheOa...50323636452929537/photo/1

This is just a made up thing in our head.

The same sort of stuff happens around the league, the league has been a poop show for every team the first few games so far and that was expected.
- Santo_44

There is something to be said about being loaded with exceptional talent. Sometimes talent coasts while blue collar types never take a shift off.

As much as I make fun of the Islanders, boy I think this Leafs club is forced to step up their compete level if they had a 4th line of hustlers like Martin-Cizikas-Clutterbuck.

Look, if the Leafs played any kind of defence in front of Freddy, no one would be talking about him.

Look at all the goals he's allowed. They're either deflected, or the Sens/Habs players were all alone in front shooting from point blank.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

He is Bernier all over again.

Let in a couple softies, usually early. Make some great saves later so that his supporters believe this isn't his fault.

He is not good.