I used Kerfoot as an example but that's fine you make a compelling argument that may make sense. I just dislike all the "new shiny toy will make us complete" talk.

11 - 3 - 2. Other top teams in other divisions are doing the same type of domination pretty much. It isn't like the North is the only weak one.
- Aaron_85

I think if we thread through the highs and the lows of all the conversation in here for the past several days, it boils down to this:

We are all happy that the Leafs are winning. We all want to see the Leafs playing more consistently and better. In order to achieve this, we need to see our second line step up and play better. We need our starting goalie to be more consistent - although to be fair to him, outside of the game against Ottawa, he largely has been after a sluggish first couple of games. We need some guys who aren't Spezza to step up and TAKE the role of being a 4th line guy and prove they belong day in and day out.

Bad games are going to happen, and it will always suck - but if those things were happening on a regular basis, I think we could all write it off more easily rather than fear that it's an omen.

I used Kerfoot as an example but that's fine you make a compelling argument that may make sense. I just dislike all the "new shiny toy will make us complete" talk.

11 - 3 - 2. Other top teams in other divisions are doing the same type of domination pretty much. It isn't like the North is the only weak one.
- Aaron_85

Yeah as much as I think the core needs a bit of a shake-up, I don't think lateral trades help much. I am not sure Bennet is actually a diamond in the rough.

I don't have the answer CC. If you do, post it up, otherwise WTF are you stuck on this for.
- Aetherial

Occams’s Razor - sometimes the simplest explanation is the correct one. Maybe Tavares is not playing his best simply because he’s not playing well and not because someone he’s played with before is suddenly making not play well.

I think if we thread through the highs and the lows of all the conversation in here for the past several days, it boils down to this:

We are all happy that the Leafs are winning. We all want to see the Leafs playing more consistently and better. In order to achieve this, we need to see our second line step up and play better. We need our starting goalie to be more consistent - although to be fair to him, outside of the game against Ottawa, he largely has been after a sluggish first couple of games. We need some guys who aren't Spezza to step up and TAKE the role of being a 4th line guy and prove they belong day in and day out.

Bad games are going to happen, and it will always suck - but if those things were happening on a regular basis, I think we could all write it off more easily rather than fear that it's an omen.
- Monkeypunk

Well said.

... except this is more than a bad game. We have seen it before.

In theory there should be no added pressure, but who knows..

Maybe Tavares likes Babcock more than Keefe? Maybe 2 kids is just one too many for him? It could be any number of reasons but something is off with Tavares.
- PatC80

While his play has been below average of late, it was exceptionally poor against Ottawa. Maybe he was actually concussed or hurt worse than thought when Weber bounced his head off the ice last week? Meh. All speculation.

In theory there should be no added pressure, but who knows..

Maybe Tavares likes Babcock more than Keefe? Maybe 2 kids is just one too many for him? It could be any number of reasons but something is off with Tavares.
- PatC80

Buddy of mine used to say. One kid is 1, two is ten. Lol.

Occams’s Razor - sometimes the simplest explanation is the correct one. Maybe Tavares is not playing his best simply because he’s not playing well and not because someone he’s played with before is suddenly making not play well.
- Canada Cup

I dunno man, that kind of stuff usually shows up as a scoring slump. He has been awful out there, like he is out of sync with the play all the time. I am not even sure where he was trying to make a pass sometimes!

Buddy of mine used to say. One kid is 1, two is ten. Lol.
- Woderwick

We have two. There was a family up the street who had only one.

Whenever I'd see them doing things so easily I was reminded of that Simpson's episode when they run into Apu and Manjula after they had octuplets:

Manjula: Oh, look who's here. The family with one baby. How do you manage?
Homer: [ whispering ] Marge, they've turned into jerks.

Well said.

... except this is more than a bad game. We have seen it before.
- Aetherial

Aeth, we don’t follow other teams as closely as we do the Leafs. I hazard a bet that each and every one of them has a couple stinkers or more every season, regardless of how good they are.

I read what happens in here when the Leafs lose a game after winning a bunch straight. Expectations are often beyond reality.
I’m not saying there shouldn’t be expectations placed on effort, but sometimes that effort is hard to come by, for whatever reasons.

Makes me wonder if Hab fans went off the rails when they lost each one of the 8 total games they lost in ‘76/‘77. I could see Leaf fans losing their poop after each loss.

While his play has been below average of late, it was exceptionally poor against Ottawa. Maybe he was actually concussed or hurt worse than thought when Weber bounced his head off the ice last week? Meh. All speculation.
- Monkeypunk

You mean when Tavares purposely slid into Weber's elbow?

We have two. There was a family up the street who had only one.

Whenever I'd see them doing things so easily I was reminded of that Simpson's episode when they run into Apu and Manjula after they had octuplets:

Manjula: Oh, look who's here. The family with one baby. How do you manage?
Homer:
- Monkeypunk[ whispering ] Marge, they've turned into jerks.

We have 3.

First was hard but it’s your first kid so your figuring stuff out.

Second was tough because our daughter was 22 months, so we weren’t getting a lot of sleep and hands were always full with one kid.

Thirds a breeze.

Buddy of mine used to say. One kid is 1, two is ten. Lol.
- Woderwick

new blog everyone

The Nylander scapegoating is the funniest.

Imagine not being able to remember that this same conversation happens every year when they are going well but the warning signs are clear.

Oh well, the inevitable failure in the playoffs will be all forgotten next November when they are on a winning streak.
- Aetherial

for some but all

what are these warning signs you mentioned?

We have two. There was a family up the street who had only one.

Whenever I'd see them doing things so easily I was reminded of that Simpson's episode when they run into Apu and Manjula after they had octuplets:

Manjula: Oh, look who's here. The family with one baby. How do you manage?
Homer:
- Monkeypunk[ whispering ] Marge, they've turned into jerks.

Lol

imagine wandering into another teams thread and seeing them rant and cry about the team thats 11-3-2


sports makes you kookoo
- senstroll

11-3-2 doesn't quite tell the tale though, does it?

The Leafs have been outplayed for a large part of those games and this squad does not look like a team that can withstand the playoff grind. You know, those games where you have to constantly give your best effort?

Ranting and crying? Nah. Wondering if the record is smoke and mirrors? Yeah.

As long as the OHL isn't playing it appears he can stay and play in the AHL....

https://theleafsnation.co...e-american-hockey-league/

Clip from article: So there may be a loophole here. As long as an OHL season is not being played, the NHL-CHL agreement will not be enforced, allowing previously-ineligible sub-20 year olds to play in the AHL until their specific league starts up
- Cush29

Awesome - thanks for that link!

I agree that consistent effort has been a problem in the past and showed it’s ugly head in the third period the other day. There are times, like at the beginning of the game against the Sens (but against other teams as well) where they look dominant. I’ve been impressed by how they’ve held one goal leads for the most part this season.

But

There are times when guys take shifts off - not just Nylander but Marner and others too. Except for last game you haven’t seen the whole team do it like you did last year.

I don’t think truculence solves this. This is a learned, individual response and IMO will be the biggest determinant of how they do this year.
- Canada Cup

Recency bias must be blinding you because this team hasn't been able to have many games this year where they worked hard for 3 straight periods.

The OTT game the other night was simply the nadir of a team that takes long swaths of games to float and try to finesse their way out of jams.

Are they improved from last year? Sure. They have somehow been able to win some 1-goal games -- I look to Brodie, Bogo, and Holl for making the right side of our D pretty great. But the nagging listless shifts and lack of hustle has been noticeable and continues to be this team's Achilles heel.

In the playoffs you cannot let off the gas. Imagine the Leafs had the same compete level as the Isles?

I think truculence can solve this. Injecting this team with players who are assertive and physical can have a profound effect on teammates. How are you going to possibly take a shift off after seeing Martin-Cizikas-Clutterbuck making things positively miserable for the other team?

If the Leafs want to keep taking shifts off and hope to out-skill other teams they're going to be 1st round exits once again. Frankly, I'm astonished that many here seem to think this team is in good shape because of their inflated 11-3-2 record.