It seems most of you still haven't noticed that having a good team is better than having great individual players.

Vegas is the best example: they did a great job by picking the players with the right attitude/character in expansion draft that would jointly form a great team (ready to be bottom feeders for 2-3 seasons) -- by having such a great team spirit, they constructed a Stanley Cup contender from scratch.

Then added a few other character players (Stone as the primary example there) and again might reach the next round after defeating one two top favourite teams to win it all.

hockey isn't basketball.
- MaximusAurelius

Please break down the character flaws and strengths of the Av’s and Golden Knights, with sources

And don’t let the knuckleheads start running out he’s not been as great as he was… Dude literally had to pitch a shutout to get wins…. That’s how anemic our offense was and is presently….

He lead the league and was top 4 or 5 for 3 yrs just yesterday in GSAa% with a insane #

With the way Leafs can score he might literally never lose.

And I get to watch Willy play with Comtois & bury sweet apples from Z for the next decade on a legit 1st line.
- dozerD10

his stats are underwhelming.
sv% , GSAA, quality starts all down and falling. his last 3 seasons combined are below average.

Gibson feel like buying on the bad side of his career. even at only 27.
6.4 mil for another half dozen years feel like a very high risk

pass

Please break down the character flaws and strengths of the Av’s and Golden Knights, with sources
- Canada Cup

I can tell you about a 'superstar scoring center' that drunkenly harassed a security guard...

I can tell you about a 'superstar scoring center' that drunkenly harassed a security guard...
- MaximusAurelius

You are that one fan that cares way too much about things they don't know about

his stats are underwhelming.
sv% , GSAA, quality starts all down and falling. his last 3 seasons combined are below average.

Gibson feel like buying on the bad side of his career. even at only 27.
6.4 mil for another half dozen years feel like a very high risk

pass
- senstroll

Gibson, Price and Vasilevsky are the three best goalies in NHL currently.
No need to try and pitch Gibson as a subpar goalie -- of course you have barely seen him play based on your comments (and reference to 'stats').

You are that one fan that cares way too much about things they don't know about
- Santo_44

stop babbling and get your soy-milkshake.

stop babbling and get your soy-milkshake.
- MaximusAurelius

I can tell you about a 'superstar scoring center' that drunkenly harassed a security guard...
- MaximusAurelius

Didn’t ask about that. You were going to handicap the Av’s-Knights series on the basis of character. I’m curious in your analysis

What the hell is wrong with soy milk?

- Scabeh

Light soy sauce, non dairy ice cream and almond milk is another option

I can tell you about a 'superstar scoring center' that drunkenly harassed a security guard...
- MaximusAurelius

Matthews? oh...it was a young woman, not a security guard

What the hell is wrong with soy milk?
- Scabeh

the word soy

the word soy
- Symba007

The plot thickens.

Didn’t ask about that. You were going to handicap the Av’s-Knights series on the basis of character. I’m curious in your analysis
- Canada Cup

read again.
i was indicating how knights created a competitive team through picking non top players from other teams in the league.
i was using the vegas team as an example of how important it is that the team mindset is ok, much more important than individual qualities.
i was comparing vegas team with toronto team - and just pointed out that with this approach, vegas team might even beat one of 2 top favorites this year. (vegas being successful in first year wasnt some sort of fluke).

corrected that for you

- MaximusAurelius

QFT.

According to Sharks fans Barabanov looked like a star in his 10 game stint with them.

Small sample size but goes to show you some players just need ice time to show they can be good.

Gibson, Price and Vasilevsky are the three best goalies in NHL currently.
No need to try and pitch Gibson as a subpar goalie -- of course you have barely seen him play based on your comments (and reference to 'stats').
- MaximusAurelius

lol
k max

he was good in 2019

maybe he returns to that..but you cant take a chance on a goalie with that cap and term

pass

read again.
i was indicating how knights created a competitive team through picking non top players from other teams in the league.
i was using the vegas team as an example of how important it is that the team mindset is ok, much more important than individual qualities.
i was comparing vegas team with toronto team - and just pointed out that with this approach, vegas team might even beat one of 2 top favorites this year. (vegas being successful in first year wasnt some sort of fluke).
- MaximusAurelius

The Leafs have gone all-in on building a core of four they feel they can rotate complementary/supporting players around.

Unfortunately, those four players make up half of the team's salary cap with no raise in the cap in sight (which, to be fair, isn't entirely their fault). Doubly unfortunate: those players don't appear to know how to adjust to playoff hockey or, to be charitable, don't know how to turn it on all at the same time.

One can only surmise that Dubas is not willing to deviate from the Core 4 philosophy. If he decided to break with the philosophy that would be a tectonic shift that would cast doubt on his decision making up to this point. He has to tread carefully into the next season and try to make some big moves that won't affect those four.

I'm afraid it ain't going to work. I suspect he knows the writing is on the wall. Tough place to be in.

read again.
i was indicating how knights created a competitive team through picking non top players from other teams in the league.
i was using the vegas team as an example of how important it is that the team mindset is ok, much more important than individual qualities.
i was comparing vegas team with toronto team - and just pointed out that with this approach, vegas team might even beat one of 2 top favorites this year. (vegas being successful in first year wasnt some sort of fluke).
- MaximusAurelius

You’re so full of poop. You literally said two pages ago Vegas picked good character players. Why are they better character players than the Av’s?

The Leafs have gone all-in on building a core of four they feel they can rotate complementary/supporting players around.

Unfortunately, those four players make up half of the team's salary cap with no raise in the cap in sight (which, to be fair, isn't entirely their fault). Doubly unfortunate: those players don't appear to know how to adjust to playoff hockey or, to be charitable, don't know how to turn it on all at the same time.

One can only surmise that Dubas is not willing to deviate from the Core 4 philosophy. If he decided to break with the philosophy that would be a tectonic shift that would cast doubt on his decision making up to this point. He has to tread carefully into the next season and try to make some big moves that won't affect those four.

I'm afraid it ain't going to work. I suspect he knows the writing is on the wall. Tough place to be in.
- mjones242

If Dubas is willing to die on that hill, and it continually fails (another 1st rd exit next year) then yeah, I think he'll be let go...

With that said, I could see Dubas moving someone like Rielly and letting Hyman and Andersen walk

If Dubas is willing to die on that hill, and it continually fails (another 1st rd exit next year) then yeah, I think he'll be let go...

With that said, I could see Dubas moving someone like Rielly and letting Hyman and Andersen walk
- PatC80

Yeah that's what I see happening.

Replacing Hyman with a forward.

Andersen with a cheaper goalie.

Rielly with a cheaper D and going a little younger on the back end with Sandin and Lil.

Would allow the Leafs to replace Hyman with a bigger name and would allow the Leafs to spend to upgrade the 3rd line in FA.

Yeah that's what I see happening.

Replacing Hyman with a forward.

Andersen with a cheaper goalie.

Rielly with a cheaper D and going a little younger on the back end with Sandin and Lil.

Would allow the Leafs to replace Hyman with a bigger name and would allow the Leafs to spend to upgrade the 3rd line in FA.
- Santo_44

It would be the easiest way to manufacture cap space without moving one of the big 4.

The easiest way would be to trade #16, but I don't see that happening

You’re so full of poop. You literally said two pages ago Vegas picked good character players. Why are they better character players than the Av’s?
- Canada Cup

i never compared Vegas team character with Avs team character

i never compared Vegas team character with Avs team character
- MaximusAurelius

Only to the Leafs, because you hate the Leafs.. Did I get that right?