Yup - that's the one. NHL was a complete laughing stock. They'd have to try really hard to mess that up more than they did. It was astounding.

- Nasty_Duck

Sad thing is there will be at least one more horrible mistake by the refs before these Playoffs are over. I just hope it doesn't decide the Stanley Cup. Will Wayne Gretzky have to tell everyone he thought it was a "Good goal" like in 1999? Ok. Well Wayne Gretzky said it was a good goal so therefore it must be a good goal!

Meanwhile the Red Wings had about 40 goals called back that season because Tommy Holmstrom farted from the Blueline.

That's the only reason?
- mjones242

Unless Bogo gogo’s, yes

At least they give themselves a chance and their fans some fun. We can only wish, we might have spent too much on too little.
- Garnie

One wonders if Snakevares wishes he could go back in time and un-snakeify his decision.

Agree. In structured organizations, the strongest players use failure to learn, adapting and by not repeating mistakes. Columbus intimidated the Leafs, as did the Habs.
- winsix

They frustrated the Leafs

One wonders if Snakevares wishes he could go back in time and un-snakeify his decision.
- mjones242

$11m to work less, he’s probably ok with it.

That’s why he faked the playoff injury.

Well no one cared when Detroit was being swept by the Devils in the 95 SCF from water skiing, trapping, holding, punching, etc. So I don't really have any sympathy for so called skill teams losing to the Isles. "It's part of the game" is what I was told."

Same as when the Oilers trapped the Red Wings to death in the 2006 playoffs. It's part of the game. That was 15 years ago. I don't see anything changing. NHL loves parity.
- gergeswillems

I seem to recall a significant amount of angst in the late 90s per the "neutral zone trap" style of hockey. I can't recall '95 though. I assume people had no idea wtf was going on at the time.

The "it's part of the game" mentality seems bonkers to me. The league, to its credit, does seem far more willing to make rules changes than any other professional sports league (maybe also the NBA?) but they can't seem to figure out how to promote their star players worth a damn.

People want to see goals and skill, no? Not this slog where chances are few and far between as team's collapse into impenetrable shells.

Is it possible there's a stubborn refusal by some old men who insist that post-season hockey be as truculent and grinding as possible? Where beards are to be grown and hits shall be multiplied by a factor of at least 3.

Man, it sucks being a Leafs fan.

How do you figure Vegas would be "clear" underdogs? They Beat the other "favourite" to make it this far. They are big enough and fast enough to make life difficult for TB. Whatever Isle are doing to TB, Vegas can do it better.
- Nasty_Duck

Poor wording on my part.

I meant the Islanders would be clear underdogs to VGK if Vegas manages to oust MTL.

Dubas is gonna trade Kerfoot to Colorado for Kadri, isn't he?
- PatC80

but the Avs will retain 50% of his salary and offer up a 3rd round pick as well.
heck it might even be a 2nd round pick just to take Kadri back.

Unless Bogo gogo’s, yes
- Canada Cup

Locking up a stud like Dougie for 7 years and moving on from Rielly seems like a damned good move.

Kessel's 1.2M off the books after next season will make things a bit more comfortable.

Riffing on your gogo's, I'd actually love to see Bogo back -- adds some insurance if Liljegren can't make the NHL transition next season.

Locking up a stud like Dougie for 7 years and moving on from Rielly seems like a damned good move.

Kessel's 1.2M off the books after next season will make things a bit more comfortable.

Riffing on your gogo's, I'd actually love to see Bogo back -- adds some insurance if Liljegren can't make the NHL transition next season.
- mjones242

I would be ok with getting Hamilton, but am doubtful that the Leafs will be able to outbid other teams. He will get $8 - $9 Million a year and Rielly is only at $5 M. To get that other $3 to $4 Million Leafs would have to move a bigger salary in all likelihood. Freddy is off the books, however the Leafs will need a goalie replacement and the last time I checked, none of the good goalies are available at the dollar store. I would be happy to get a d-man that can do the following three things well.

Be really dirty and cross-check with impunity
Clear the garbage out from the front of the net
Have a really good and accurate point shot

Don't care if this is a number one d-man that would automatically win a skating contest. Just do the above really well.

Locking up a stud like Dougie for 7 years and moving on from Rielly seems like a damned good move.

Kessel's 1.2M off the books after next season will make things a bit more comfortable.

Riffing on your gogo's, I'd actually love to see Bogo back -- adds some insurance if Liljegren can't make the NHL transition next season.
- mjones242

Dougie would be nice, Petro would have been nice but we’re a cap strapped team and being constrained from addressing any other issues is not worth it in my opinion.

I’d like to see Bogo back too.

steve simmons
@simmonssteve
Brayden Point has scored 15 goals in his last 18 Stanley Cup playoff games. He signed for $6.75 million 10 days after Mitch Marner was paid $10.9 million by the Leafs.
Marner hasn't scored a goal in his past 18 playoff games.

yeah but how many puck over glass penalties does he have?

yeah but how many puck over glass penalties does he have?
- senstroll

somebody please help me, my bullpen is dying

BlueJays bullpen since May 20.

BA against: .224 (13th)
ERA: 5.38 (26th)
SIERA: 4.35 (27th)
Blown saves: 6 (29th)
BB/9: 5.4 (30th, by a lot)
WAR: -1.1 (30th, by a lot)

somebody please help me, my bullpen is dying
- senstroll

I’m asleep by the time the bullpen comes in, i got nothing.

They cup is all that matters. Bragging over 'Most rounds won" without a single finals appearance is silly,
- RogerRoeper

I betcha if the shoe was on the other foot...you'd be going nuts with the fact that the leafs had won 6 playoff rounds with JT.

You know you would...so dont lie

somebody please help me, my bullpen is dying
- senstroll

How is Chatwood still in the majors. Blowing a save is one thing, unable or unwilling to throw a strike to 5 batters in game that is well in hand is about as disgusting a performance as I can recall. He's been pure sh!t lately and should be in the minors. Also why is Telez in this lineup, he stinks at hitting and is way below average as a first baseman.

I betcha if the shoe was on the other foot...you'd be going nuts with the fact that the leafs had won 6 playoff rounds with JT.

You know you would...so dont lie
- Fakepartofme

He comes in, he scrambles for new ways to pretend Da Leafs da best and then he disappears for a couple weeks. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Today TB is the best in the league, 2 weeks ago they weren’t making it out of the 1st round. You can’t make this stuff up.

Dougie would be nice, Petro would have been nice but we’re a cap strapped team and being constrained from addressing any other issues is not worth it in my opinion.

I’d like to see Bogo back too.
- Canada Cup

A lot of teams are in cap hell. That doesn't mean the Leafs can extricate themselves out of it with some savvy moves.

Next year's batch of UFA d-men looks very wide open (Jones, Rielly, Lindholm, Pulock, etc.) so it could actually actively work against Hamilton this year. e.g. Why not wait another season if Dougie is asking for 9M?

Are we so sure a guy who has never won a Cup and has never been a Top 5 Norris candidate is going to make serious bank in this climate?

Not so sure.

yeah but how many puck over glass penalties does he have?
- senstroll

so point at under 7
Marner at over 10

the dubas affect

I would be ok with getting Hamilton, but am doubtful that the Leafs will be able to outbid other teams. He will get $8 - $9 Million a year and Rielly is only at $5 M. To get that other $3 to $4 Million Leafs would have to move a bigger salary in all likelihood. Freddy is off the books, however the Leafs will need a goalie replacement and the last time I checked, none of the good goalies are available at the dollar store. I would be happy to get a d-man that can do the following three things well.

Be really dirty and cross-check with impunity
Clear the garbage out from the front of the net
Have a really good and accurate point shot

Don't care if this is a number one d-man that would automatically win a skating contest. Just do the above really well.


- winsix

Who meets those requirements and how much will they cost? Sounds expensive.

I understand how everyone likes to rag on the Leafs and make jokes about their horrible post season collapses. But, I think this year is different. If nothing else, Leaf fans know hockey. So, this year, it is very noticeable that there is not the same crying and pulling of hair over the loss to Montreal and another first round exit.

Overall, I think the reaction of most Leaf fans to the loss
][-0 has been fairly subdued. But, people should not mistake this for mere acceptance of what happened. Leaf fans are expecting changes, however, it is unclear if there is any consensus in what changes would be the most effective in righting the wrongs of the past season.

I think they should just play 82 games and then have the 4 most popular players' (as voted on twitter and tik-tok) teams be in the Conference Semi-Finals and let those losers play to reach them.
- AdamFrench

Sounds a helluva lot more interesting than NHL playoff hockey's grindfest.

I understand how everyone likes to rag on the Leafs and make jokes about their horrible post season collapses. But, I think this year is different. If nothing else, Leaf fans know hockey. So, this year, it is very noticeable that there is not the same crying and pulling of hair over the loss to Montreal and another first round exit.

Overall, I think the reaction of most Leaf fans to the loss has been fairly subdued. But, people should not mistake this for mere acceptance of what happened. Leaf fans are expecting changes, however, it is unclear if there is any consensus in what changes would be the most effective in righting the wrongs of the past season.
- spatso

It is interesting how many Leafs fans here were adamant that this team would absolutely make it to at least the second round and, more than likely, the Conference Finals.

I remember a lot of angst and gnashing of teeth on this site during the season when some dared to question whether this team was built for a playoff run.

I find it amusing that those people who kept harping on how the Leafs were clear favourites and that "this is the best opportunity they've had in decades" have now changed their tunes to: yeah, the Leafs needed to change the way they fundamentally play hockey cuz the post-season is totally different.

This team was expected to steamroll to the Conference Finals and now there are questions about the foundation of the team?

so point at under 7
Marner at over 10

the dubas affect
- Fakepartofme

Dubas definitely caved hard to Marner.