There's no problem. We're going to fire the coach, feed Shanahan and Dubas to the pandas at the Toronto Zoo, and trade Marner for Eichel's surgeon. We'll then get him to fuse Campbell and Mrazek together into one giant mecha-goalie who will stop everything - and potentially kill or maim everything else.

Problem solved.
- Monkeypunk

A+

If they come out of the gates in the same disinterested manner they have the first two games, I think it's a problem that Keefe will have to address immediately.

When the Leafs look interested, as they did in the 3rd period, they show their contender quality. How or why this team can't put together a consistent effort is beyond me.

I wish this team had compete built into its DNA like the Isles. Maybe we can hire Trotz when his term is up in a couple years?
- mjones242

It's the 3rd game of the season. Obviously the slow starts need to be (and certainly are) being addressed.

But losing the third game of the year really doesn't matter. If the Leafs miss the playoffs - no one is going to point to the third game of the year and say "This is where it fell apart".

Matthews shouldnt be paid what mcd is. Hes simply not at his level. His current cap hit would have been great for 8 years, not 5.
Marner is overpaid by 1million, however, his camp wanted to recoup the bonus money Lou screwed him out of. But dubie was expecting the cap to rise so he didnt mind getting bent over.
- Fakepartofme

AM34 has scored more EV goals than any other player in the league since he came into the league.

Any talk of him being overpaid or angst over the term of his deal is pure, unadulterated poppycock.

McJesus is, ironically, underpaid for his contributions. I think he signed his deal because of the "gee whiz, 100M is a swell looking number!" factor. If he was smart he would have maximized his contract the way Matthews did and walked his way into UFA.

So true, its hard to imagine how the Leafs could ever truly recover from starting the season 1-2. They should probably start the trading frenzy.

And people say the Toronto media are ridiculous with their statements.
- Archaic

I was not thinking so much of it being problematic for the team. The fan base is incredibly fragile. A loss Saturday to the young Sens could cause additional stress among the faithful.

would be nice to get Marner in the lineup also
- senstroll

I hear ya, could add a couple/few more to the list of “I haven’t even noticed them on the ice”

Marner should have landed at 9-9.5 at most

so far hes robbed the Leafs, just not doing what an 11 mil player should since he got paid.

without Matthews he looks average
- senstroll

Very true

I was not thinking so much of it being problematic for the team. The fan base is incredibly fragile. A loss Saturday to the young Sens could cause additional stress among the faithful.
- spatso

You're working really hard to try to convince people that the Sens are in some way relevant.

Matthews shouldnt be paid what mcd is. Hes simply not at his level. His current cap hit would have been great for 8 years, not 5.
Marner is overpaid by 1million, however, his camp wanted to recoup the bonus money Lou screwed him out of. But dubie was expecting the cap to rise so he didnt mind getting bent over.
- Fakepartofme

I didn't say he should be paid what McDavid is. I said, "If they had paid Matthews over the full 8 year period, the cap hit would have been between $12.5 - $13m - still lower than McDavid's hit %"

The point is that Matthews wanted into that stratosphere - and he deserves to be up there. He's a consistent play driver, a leader in goals and a leader in Created xGoals an indicator that he makes those around him better as well (other leaders in this category are McDavid, Draisaitl, Marner, Brady Tkachuk - and strangely Toffoli). There is a reasonable argument that McDavid is underpaid.

Everyone has a short memory here, but it was known at the time when people complained about the term that Matthews and his agent (and other agents at the time, for the record) were keeping deals shorter to maximize on the player's value while still in their prime years. They were also counting on the cap not only rising, but rising considerably due to the new TV deal and expansion Kraken revenue.

Look at most longer-term contracts signed on guys exiting ELC - they're typically 5-6 years and buy one year of UFA. This contract follows in that vein.

Just because you wish it was lower doesn't mean it should have been.

Hahaha no surprise. The leafs give up 3 first period goals with their backup (3rd string actually), who had injured himself at some point in net, outshoot the sens badly, shut them out for the final two peruods, and the sens eek out a win off the back of a huge pe4formance by a goalie that may have just played the best game of his life

The sens are crap, will end up at the bottom, and the leafs will get a division seed like usual.

Marner trending on tweeter

Ryan
@ryanfancey
Kinda concerns me how the ice doesn't tilt when Tavares or Marner jump over the boards. 11 million dollar players. Feels like Matthews and Nylander are the only ones that have that kinda pop.

Ah yes, the Leafs.
@LeafsAllDayy
I will stop the Marner slander when he plays like a $11m player. I'd even settle for playing like a $5m player.

Bunting for calder
@jihad_raya_
Y'all ever notice how nylander's game has improved under Keefe, and marner's has gone backwards

Buds All Day Podcast
@BudsAllDayCast
Brady Tkachuk: 0.63 PPG, 7x$8.2M

William Nylander: 0.73 PPG, 6x$6.9M

Mitch Marner: 0.93 PPG, 6x$10.93M

I know which 2 contracts I'm taking..

Hahaha no surprise. The leafs give up 3 first period goals with their backup (3rd string actually), who had injured himself at some point in net, outshoot the sens badly, shut them out for the final two peruods, and the sens eek out a win off the back of a huge pe4formance by a goalie that may have just played the best game of his life

The sens are crap, will end up at the bottom, and the leafs will get a division seed like usual.
- prock

So, you are not concerned. Perhaps you are right.

Leafs did have a good third period, most likely the result of score effect.

But, let's see what happens Saturday. I am surprised by how much the confidence of the Leaf fan base has been impacted. They desperately need a convincing win. Maybe Saturday they will look better.

Marner trending on tweeter
- senstroll

He’s not wrong…. AT ALL

If we were able to compare each penalty in terms of the nature and degree of infraction and if we are able to make a comprehensive statistical analysis over an extended period of time, I am certain we would find that officiating has been heavily weighted against the Leafs.

There are multiple reasons for this bias. First, the national corporate media, especially in Canada, is perceived as having an institutional bias in favour of the Leafs. Therefore, the league and individual officials do not want to be perceived as being influenced by this bias. So, there is a reaction formation in the league's and individual perception of the Leafs. Simply put, they tend to hold Leaf players to a higher standard when calling penalties. No malice intended, they are excessively concerned wth not appearing to be biased in favour of the Leafs.

The second reason for anti-Leaf bias is the direct result of the NHL becoming more comfortable with their association with the gaming industry. It is no secret that the Leafs are a powerful wager magnet. Many Leaf supporters play the numbers with their heart rather than their head. For example, I think to play last night's game you had to give up a goal and a half to bet the Leafs. Based on the history of these two teams that is a ludicrous weighting of odds. Yet we know the money count in big and small bets is still taking the Leafs. It is a safe assumption that when the Leafs are losing, the book is winning. And, there should be no doubt, the gaming industry has a loud, well positioned voice that will overwhelmingly insist that the Leafs never be given an unfair advantage. Most folks would say that nobody should have an unfair advantage. But, the rule is applied against the Leafs in a way that always seems to work against them. Officials must never be perceived as doing anything that would help the Leafs to win.

The last reason for negative Leaf bias is the most obscure but the most important. The Leafs are simultaneously the most liked and most disliked team in the NHL. It is well understood that many fans watch Leaf games simply to cheer against them. So, last night, some fans were cheering for the Leafs, some fans were cheering for the Sens and a very large number were only cheering against the Leafs. A majority of fans want to believe that the Leafs get special treatment. They delight when the Leafs lose, especially when they are expected to win. This brings a special kind of pressure on the league to ensure that the Leafs are never given any advantage. Despite what might be popular opinion, the Leafs losing is always popular and good for business. So, when Leaf fans complain about the officiating (like last night) it merely confirms in the mind of a majority of fans that the Leafs are looking for advantage or privilege in how the game is called. How ironic? The more Leaf fans complain, the more convincing it is for a majority of all the other fans to believe that the game was probably called fairly.
- spatso

Didn’t read but did he mention the Masons?

Marner should have landed at 9-9.5 at most

so far hes robbed the Leafs, just not doing what an 11 mil player should since he got paid.

without Matthews he looks average
- senstroll

I'm wondering if he wasn't somewhat injured or something from that collision with Simmonds. I'm not exactly making excuses for him - but he looked spectacular with any linemate during the preseason. Every time he was on the ice, he controlled the puck and the play. In the past two games he has been very much the opposite.

I know the preseason is different - slower and weaker competition - but his play was clearly that of a dominant NHL player, and so far he has been anything but.

It's the 3rd game of the season. Obviously the slow starts need to be (and certainly are) being addressed.

But losing the third game of the year really doesn't matter. If the Leafs miss the playoffs - no one is going to point to the third game of the year and say "This is where it fell apart".
- Leafs43

True, but it'll be another example out of the dozens of occasions over the last 4 years of the Leafs playing down to their competition.

Marner should have landed at 9-9.5 at most

so far hes robbed the Leafs, just not doing what an 11 mil player should since he got paid.

without Matthews he looks average
- senstroll

Hes played without Matthews before and was fine.
Hes put up two 90+pt seasons (on pace) since signing so not really "robbed" the leafs. But he was able to walk all over dubas in contract negotiations.

I was not thinking so much of it being problematic for the team. The fan base is incredibly fragile. A loss Saturday to the young Sens could cause additional stress among the faithful.
- spatso

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight this plus the "Sens are a fun team to watch" and "Sens will surprise people" and "Hard not to like these young Sens" are just some super hot takes.

If you think the Leafs fan base is fragile what is the Sens fan base considered besides the much much smaller little brother of the Leafs fan base?

Sens won their first game of the year, at home, well rested against a Leafs team who was on the back end of a back to back on the road. A game the Sens won on a couple of fluky, deflected goals and had to hang on for dear life along with getting some very fortuitous officiating with a goalie who played at a level he won't every play at again.

Leafs showed up for 20 minutes and nearly came all the way back from 3-0 to win.

Sens have proven they lack the ability to play a full 60, have any defensive structure or any real offensive threat and rely on luck to score. Perhaps the wart on the Sens the entire league saw last night and most importantly is that they are clearly mentally fragile when leading and will have the propensity to blow multi goal late game leads DESPITE getting the goaltending performance they did.

A loss to the Leafs on Saturday could start the tailspin of 9 straight losses or more, just like last year.

The Sens are the same fragile, under skilled and overhyped team they were last year. They will cling to the "tough to play against" and "young and fast/hungry" label all season while sitting at or near the bottom of the division.

Again.

Can we all please just calm down and discuss the Canadiens?

How 'bout those habs. 5-1 loss to the Sabres missing their (now) top line centre. Ouch

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight this plus the "Sens are a fun team to watch" and "Sens will surprise people" and "Hard not to like these young Sens" are just some super hot takes.

If you think the Leafs fan base is fragile what is the Sens fan base considered besides the much much smaller little brother of the Leafs fan base?

Sens won their first game of the year, at home, well rested against a Leafs team who was on the back end of a back to back on the road. A game the Sens won on a couple of fluky, deflected goals and had to hang on for dear life along with getting some very fortuitous officiating with a goalie who played at a level he won't every play at again.

Leafs showed up for 20 minutes and nearly came all the way back from 3-0 to win.

Sens have proven they lack the ability to play a full 60, have any defensive structure or any real offensive threat and rely on luck to score. Perhaps the wart on the Sens the entire league saw last night and most importantly is that they are clearly mentally fragile when leading and will have the propensity to blow multi goal late game leads DESPITE getting the goaltending performance they did.

A loss to the Leafs on Saturday could start the tailspin of 9 straight losses or more, just like last year.

The Sens are the same fragile, under skilled and overhyped team they were last year. They will cling to the "tough to play against" and "young and fast/hungry" label all season while sitting at or near the bottom of the division.

Again.
- Cush29

Nearly non-existent.

Marner trending on tweeter
- senstroll

So a bunch of nobody's whining on Twitter is post worthy?
Ya weve seen this with willie and any leafs player not living up to someone's expectations over the years.

Hes played without Matthews before and was fine.
Hes put up two 90+pt seasons (on pace) since signing so not really "robbed" the leafs. But he was able to walk all over dubas in contract negotiations.
- Fakepartofme

mitch is that you?

Can we all please just calm down and discuss the Canadiens?

How 'bout those habs. 5-1 loss to the Sabres missing their (now) top line centre. Ouch
- TheMussel

Or tampas come from behind 7-6 win.
Wow.

mitch is that you?
- senstroll

Roger is that you?

I was not thinking so much of it being problematic for the team. The fan base is incredibly fragile. A loss Saturday to the young Sens could cause additional stress among the faithful.
- spatso

So Saturday’s game is critical for the fan base? Sorry bud, but if you’ve read these threads instead of just posting pseudo intellectual poop you’d know the fan base is certifiably psychotic at the best if times. Who the (frank) cares what impact Saturday’s game has in the fan base? Some people might decide they don’t like Marner? There could be disagreement about Engvall’s place in the lineup?

The horror, the horror!

Can we all please just calm down and discuss the Canadiens?

How 'bout those habs. 5-1 loss to the Sabres missing their (now) top line centre. Ouch
- TheMussel

I actually think the are going to be better this year. I really like Cozens. I will hold out hope that Owen Power stays in NCAA until the end, and becomes a UFA still however.