Just a thought, but it could legitimately be the contract. The kid obviously cares about being a Leaf. He is known to have been on the social media and that stuff (early on at least) and probably felt that extra pressure. Pro players put pressure on themselves as it is, but being a Toronto area kid making that cash caring about being a leaf that much = mental exhaustion.
He is very skilled (damn TBay just win game…are you kidding) but may need a different scene if he doesn’t pull out of it sooner rather than later. Who knows. I do think though that Matthews has the ability to drag him out of this to be honest. So patience….Still overpaying him though.
- Big23Questions

He’s a top 5 point producer in the league so his 10.9million price doesn’t bug me too much.

Also I get what you’re saying but I don’t as well, he played for the London knights in junior and won the OHL championship back in 2015-2016 and even tho London isn’t Toronto and not the NHL the games still get broadcast, tons of attention to the team, and the arena was packed with 9100 people every game. So if he was able to deal with that as a teenager I’d hope he could handle the attention he gets now even tho he’s still in his mid-20s

Well they've got until the playoffs at end of year - certainly not making major changes before then.

But if Leafs bow out early once again Dubas is probably gone. Then anything can happen as new management puts their stamp on things.
- Nasty_Duck

I’m still thinking he has two more years success or not but we’ll see

Engvall can’t play two good games in a row. Marner and Tavares have been terrible. Muzzin-Holl are drunk or injured.


Nylander is by far the best Leaf skater these two games. Sandin will be ready for top-4 minutes next season, maybe even this year. Spezza is 28 points from 1000. Jack. (frank)ing. Campbell.

Its clear this team needs matthews.
Theyll be locking him up for sure
- Fakepartofme

He hasn’t played a second and he’s been one of the best Leafs.

Garnie: Can’t see Engvall being put on the 4th line anytime soon.

Engvall: hold my beer

Just finished the game.

Nylander was the best player by a mile

Spezza second best

Holl…wtf

Holl and dermott together…wtf x5

Sandin had a good game

Rielly that was rough

Mrazek gets a pass. Tough breaks but also gave up a bunch of rebounds and didn’t look comfortable in the 1st but settled down in GE second.

Marner..garbage. If your going to shoot get something on net. He’s still in his own head and it shows on the ice. He’s lost atm

Bunting. He was a little female dog all night in a good way.

Envgall. Horrible pass in the first.

Ritchie had a terrible turnover on the pp in the 3rd that lead to the penalty on a stick check from envgall

Didn’t notice anyone else.

Garnie: Can’t see Engvall being put on the 4th line anytime soon.

Engvall: hold my beer
- Garnie

And after that performance in Game 1.

And after that performance in Game 1.
- Steven_Seagull

He had a good start too, then the pass. Holl just watched it go by….which was funny also…not excusing Engvall.

He had a good start too, then the pass. Holl just watched it go by….which was funny also…not excusing Engvall.
- Garnie

He was able to draw a penalty tho…. Unfortunately the PP didn’t make use of it

If I recall correctly we started the abbreviated season like this. We always have a hard time with Ottawa.

If I recall correctly we started the abbreviated season like this. We always have a hard time with Ottawa.
- shack67

Same start, so assume the same finish.

Same start, so assume the same finish.
- Steven_Seagull

I remember having one foot out on the ledge after Ottawa beat us but we didn’t lose many more after that. Not counting the playoffs of course.

He’s a top 5 point producer in the league so his 10.9million price doesn’t bug me too much.

Also I get what you’re saying but I don’t as well, he played for the London knights in junior and won the OHL championship back in 2015-2016 and even tho London isn’t Toronto and not the NHL the games still get broadcast, tons of attention to the team, and the arena was packed with 9100 people every game. So if he was able to deal with that as a teenager I’d hope he could handle the attention he gets now even tho he’s still in his mid-20s
- Dozzer

It’s not the tv and fans in the stands I don’t think. It’s more the pressure of playing for the Leafs in Toronto when it means so much to him and he now has the target because of the contract and holding his breath until he got it.
Jr hockey is so much different than Pro. From the pressure and expectations to the game itself. It’s completely different worlds. Plus in Jr he dominated each game so he was top of the world and everyone was happy because his game was absolutely dominating against that level of detail in terms of structure of play. Different story in Pro. Expectations are so much greater.

He was able to draw a penalty tho…. Unfortunately the PP didn’t make use of it
- Dozzer

He had some moments, good and bad.

It’s not the tv and fans in the stands I don’t think. It’s more the pressure of playing for the Leafs in Toronto when it means so much to him and he now has the target because of the contract and holding his breath until he got it.
Jr hockey is so much different than Pro. From the pressure and expectations to the game itself. It’s completely different worlds. Plus in Jr he dominated each game so he was top of the world and everyone was happy because his game was absolutely dominating against that level of detail in terms of structure of play. Different story in Pro. Expectations are so much greater.
- Big23Questions

I get what you’re saying it’s just that I want to believe that maybe just maybe he needs to be a bit older to handle the stress adequately. Toronto needs to figure out a way to teach young players how to deal with this level of media attention.

My point is he’s proven he can handle the stress of the game itself, but I agree with you, the media and fanbase attention may be an issue. As I said I hope it’s something he can overcome.

He had some moments, good and bad.
- Garnie

Typical bottom 6 player.

I think some people’s expectations of his game are a tad high tbh

Typical bottom 6 player.

I think some people’s expectations of his game are a tad high tbh
- Dozzer

About right

Mike Augello: Campbell, newcomers strong in opening win; Leafs vs. Sens
- mikeinbuffalo

Impartial viewer, but the reffing on this game was soooo soft. I though it was evenly bad for both teams, but it turns a hockey game into both teams raising their arms up and yelling at the refs at every single altercation. This was not hockey and the pace of the game was ruined from such soft officiating. Both teams had a guy penalized for a stick lift. Turns the entire game into whining debauchery

Impartial viewer, but the reffing on this game was soooo soft. I though it was evenly bad for both teams, but it turns a hockey game into both teams raising their arms up and yelling at the refs at every single altercation. This was not hockey and the pace of the game was ruined from such soft officiating. Both teams had a guy penalized for a stick lift. Turns the entire game into whining debauchery
- bikeguy99

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.

Its clear this team needs matthews.
Theyll be locking him up for sure
- Fakepartofme

You hope. He's UFA at the end of his deal. Matthews got his term, Marner got his $, and Dubas got absolutely taken to the woodshed by both of them.

He’s a top 5 point producer in the league so his 10.9million price doesn’t bug me too much.

Also I get what you’re saying but I don’t as well, he played for the London knights in junior and won the OHL championship back in 2015-2016 and even tho London isn’t Toronto and not the NHL the games still get broadcast, tons of attention to the team, and the arena was packed with 9100 people every game. So if he was able to deal with that as a teenager I’d hope he could handle the attention he gets now even tho he’s still in his mid-20s
- Dozzer

In London he was making 300 bucks a week The difference is he's making 11M now, a contract he absolutely WENT TO THE WALL for.
The kid hung a millstone around his own neck, and put a target on his back.

He was terrible tonight. I agree he's not a shooter, so make a play and deke around the goalie. He can be a goal scorer without having a shot like Nylander. The skill is there, he's not the guy they need to rifle it from the slot.
- winsix

Yeah, he was awful. He wasn't much better against Montreal.

Impartial viewer, but the reffing on this game was soooo soft. I though it was evenly bad for both teams, but it turns a hockey game into both teams raising their arms up and yelling at the refs at every single altercation. This was not hockey and the pace of the game was ruined from such soft officiating. Both teams had a guy penalized for a stick lift. Turns the entire game into whining debauchery
- bikeguy99

Some teams automatically get a late game PP when down by one.

Some teams do not.

Some teams don't "earn" their calls, whatever the F that is supposed to mean.

Long drive home last night

Long drive home last night
- AdamFrench

I was thinking that the Leafs looked pretty fragile in their first two games. I love Jason Spezza but when he is your best player and he has the most zip of any Leaf...you begin to wonder about the heart of this team.

Could the Leafs experience a huge stumble this year?

Have to love these Sens. They are very young, big and play at a wicked pace. They will get harder to play against as the season continues forward.