It's simple.

Matthews should be captain. At the end of the day Matthews would take this team to the Cup, not JT. He's a (frank)ing mook. Bland. Boring. Quiet leader bullpoop ain't cutting it.

Marner or JT should be traded. I prefer JT but I'm fine with Marner too.

Fix the D and G.

Grab a couple more no quit wingers who want to work for their money, not I "gots mines" types. Those types will go the (frank) to work.

Then this team would be unstoppable.

Too many chefs in the kitchen...meaning too much "elite" talent with "elite" egos.

PP1 doesn't work because of this exact problem. Put a few bangers on PP1 and a bit of talent on PP2. A perfect microcosm of this teams issues is staring you all in face with the power play woes.
- Barb34

Cannot have 2 guys on PP that cannot shoot!

I get your point about patience... but the issue for these Leafs is that behaviors and results from - for example the powerplay look an awful lot like the garbage they were pitching the entire 2nd half of last season... so it isn't just the "new season" sample size.

not picking only on Marner - 'cause he certainly isn't the singular issue - but he was pretty invisible during the playoffs and he looks like the same lost scared puppy out there.

the Leafs are getting second scoring, with the exception of tonight they have had VERY good goaltending- still not dominating and actually nothing close to it.
- BorjeFan4Ever

John Tavares' game has not fallen off a cliff. He's 31. So far he's not consistent.

Marner hasn't forgotten how to hockey. He's sucking at the moment - probably because he sucked in the playoffs and has seen social media and is putting a lot of pressure on himself and he has to settle down, smarten up and react to the game instead of trying to force the game. When Marner is good, he's instinctive. When Marner is bad, he's trying to force the play.

Ritchie will find his role. Either on the top line, or in a checking capacity. He'll fit in fine - eventually.

In fact the only Leaf I have honest concerns with is Muzzin. He's 32 . . .wasn't it his groin that he pulled in last year's playoffs? I worry that the physical nature of his game will erode his body faster than you'd expect. I don't know if he's just off to a slow start, or if we're witnessing something we don't want to see.

I still think that the worst case scenario is that Muzzin has to start learning to make adjustments in his style of play to continue to be effective.

I think a lot of us are frustrated with this team's lack of consistency - so being a .500 after 5 games where they have played the winless Habs, the lotttery-Senators twice, a tired Sharks team and the non-playoff Rangers is disappointing for sure. This team could be 5-0, and certainly should be 3-2 at the least.

They've yet to play a full game - so the frustration that we ALL feel is there.

It's leading to - maybe not from you, but from a lot of people - some more radical suggestions that are just wildly unrealistic.
- Monkeypunk

Radical changes cannot and will not be afforded during this season. The off-season - and assuming that the Leafs lack of playoff success continues - will surely see something seismic occur.

Having said that, I'm starting to wonder if the Leafs ability to put forth a full game effort is positively systemic. Not sure why this is the case - coaching, roster, the terribly Leafy simulation we're living in, or a combination of sorts but it would be nice to see this team resolve to play "faster and with more intensity".

remember when Hutchinson first played for the Leafs last year I believe - and he looked really shakey and sucked.

remember when Bozak used to always try and find Kessel and force passes into him.

well Hutchinson was pretty much that same guy, replace Bozak with Marner and Kessel with Matthews.

then add in Sandin being out of position defensively about 10 times in the first and second period but Dermott bails him out.

sort of like that
- BorjeFan4Ever

Glad to hear my boy Cornrow had another good game

Radical changes cannot and will not be afforded during this season. The off-season - and assuming that the Leafs lack of playoff success continues - will surely see something seismic occur.

Having said that, I'm starting to wonder if the Leafs ability to put forth a full game effort is positively systemic. Not sure why this is the case - coaching, roster, the terribly Leafy simulation we're living in, or a combination of sorts but it would be nice to see this team resolve to play "faster and with more intensity".
- mjones242

All of the Leafs who spoke in the post game press conference - Matthews, Spezza, Rielly - spoke about how well SJ clogged up the middle of the ice. This is what Montreal did too. IMO, this group is simply unwilling to do what needs to be done to break that type of game plan - go to dirty areas and risk physical contact. They are quite content, frankly, to play perimeter, fancy, puck possession hockey. Because they had the puck a lot does not mean they "worked hard". They were outworked tonight by a team playing a back to back and 3 in 4.

All of the Leafs who spoke in the post game press conference - Matthews, Spezza, Rielly - spoke about how well SJ clogged up the middle of the ice. This is what Montreal did too. IMO, this group is simply unwilling to do what needs to be done to break that type of game plan. They are quite content, frankly, to play perimeter, fancy, puck possession hockey. Because they had the puck a lot does not mean they "worked hard". They were outworked tonight by a team playing a back to back and 3 in 4.
- fifty__missions

100% agreed.

I'd like to know what team records are per the back end of back to back games.
- mjones242

A Google search has a league average of 0.04 pts per game less on no days rest as of 2016/17.

So San Jose wasn't at much of a disadvantage. 5% less win probability according to the article nhltips

Fire Dubas

Trade Marner

2 years ago

Had family over tonight so I was in and out of the game, but ooof didn’t like hutch and from what I saw (not the whole game) Matthews and marner need to be better…..


Hopefully tomorrow is a better day.

It's simple.

Matthews should be captain. At the end of the day Matthews would take this team to the Cup, not JT. He's a (frank)ing mook. Bland. Boring. Quiet leader bullpoop ain't cutting it.

Marner or JT should be traded. I prefer JT but I'm fine with Marner too.

Fix the D and G.

Grab a couple more no quit wingers who want to work for their money, not I "gots mines" types. Those types will go the (frank) to work.

Then this team would be unstoppable.

Too many chefs in the kitchen...meaning too much "elite" talent with "elite" egos.

PP1 doesn't work because of this exact problem. Put a few bangers on PP1 and a bit of talent on PP2. A perfect microcosm of this teams issues is staring you all in face with the power play woes.
- Barb34

I agree with your points (or paragraphs?…not an English major!) 2, 3, 4 (trade, d&g, wingers).

The Captain thing doesn’t work like that in a room. Plenty of guys are vocal and emotional on bench or in room or in private. It’s important in Toronto to have a Captain that carries themselves in a conservative manner because of the scrutiny of media and fans. You need someone who will remain calm, boring, bland and oatmeal. Every room is leadership by committee in hockey. Also, Matthews has the ability to lead a team to the Cup but putting the C on his sweater and removing it from someone else’s doesn’t do the job.

It’s pro sports. Ego is necessary and is everywhere. It’s having the right personal to control that matters. This is where some fans don’t get the importance of the ‘he’s a good guy to have in the room thing’ or some argue ‘why have him on the team he’s old and unproductive on our 4th line, bring up a young guy’ type thing.

The PP I think is just too predictable. I don’t think its that it’s loaded up or anything like that. It’s the same passes from Marner, same shot areas for Matthews, same wrister from point occasionally. It’s just the same old thing every time. Their pick retrieval on the PP is fine and their opportunities are there. It’s the plays they make when they get control and shots they take I think.

Fire Dubas

Trade Marner

2 years ago
- walshyleafsfan

Kyle wasn’t ready. Dropped the ball with the contracts and his goaltending evaluation and retention have been awful.

He can’t, and he won’t.

Nobody told me Ritchie got benched
0 pts in 5 games

Mikheyev Matthews Marner not looking so bad now…….🤔

Nobody told me Ritchie got benched
0 pts in 5 games

Mikheyev Matthews Marner not looking so bad now…….🤔
- mr.sir

I can understand that it may take him a while to get adjusted to new team, line mates, system amd literally only playing 2 games with actual line - but I think maybe the effort and compete level is what got him sitting mid bench. I was wondering about him being physical. I thought he hit and roughed it up more. If you’re that big and can muck it up like that and your not scoring - hit.

I can understand that it may take him a while to get adjusted to new team, line mates, system amd literally only playing 2 games with actual line - but I think maybe the effort and compete level is what got him sitting mid bench. I was wondering about him being physical. I thought he hit and roughed it up more. If you’re that big and can muck it up like that and your not scoring - hit.
- Big23Questions

Ritchie has been terrible. No sugar coating it.

But Zach Hyman has 5 goals fwiw.

Oh, and Andersen has 3 wins.

Thank God Dubas had the foresight, and impeccable vision to move on from those lousy players, and get absolutely nothing for them.

Apparently there was a jersey tossed on the ice tonight.

Maybe that will wake up some of the guys.


lol jk. They don’t care. Trade Marner.

Apparently there was a jersey tossed on the ice tonight.

Maybe that will wake up some of the guys.


lol jk. They don’t care. Trade Marner.
- Steven_Seagull

Trade Marner for what?

Trade Marner for what?
- Tanooki

1st + 2nd + top prospect + young roster player

1st + 2nd + top prospect + young roster player
- Steven_Seagull

Dubas has traded away more than that just to get rid of Marleau and Kadri.

Woulda been nice if he didn’t give away all our… “stuff”… for nothing, huh?

This team NEEDS a shakeup. Personally I wouldn’t trade Marner, but someone close to him, to send a message. And I wouldn’t have SSM’s finest being the one working the phones.

Ritchie has been terrible. No sugar coating it.

But Zach Hyman has 5 goals fwiw.

Oh, and Andersen has 3 wins.

Thank God Dubas had the foresight, and impeccable vision to move on from those lousy players, and get absolutely nothing for them.
- Tanooki

LOL

Trade Marner for what?
- Tanooki

Absolute best we could do is Myers one for one. Kyle would have to do a lot of retaining though.

I forgot about Kadri. What a putrid trade. Heart and soul of the team traded for Penis on the dollar.

Absolute best we could do is Myers one for one. Kyle would have to do a lot of retaining though.

I forgot about Kadri. What a putrid trade. Heart and soul of the team traded for Penis on the dollar.
- DrunkenCanuck

Lol..

Leafs don’t need to trade Marner, and if they do without getting a 1RW back, Matthews would say (frank) it and leave.

Dubas has a putrid track record of evaluating talent, and even worse record of keeping it.

Leafs fans never learn. They are so delusional that they think Nylander is going to score 40 goals and be this incredible player when in reality he’s half the player Marner is, and is beginning to cool off already. He was supposed to kill penalties, it’s game 5 and that’s a big nope. A couple of the goals tonight were a direct result of him playing poor defence.

Leafs only hope is to move Nylander, and try to get someone in return who’ll change the culture.

Nylander, Dermott, 2nd for Giroux and Tyson Foerester.

Or Nylander, Robertson, 3rd for Faksa, a 1st, and Klingberg

Lol..

Leafs don’t need to trade Marner, and if they do without getting a 1RW back, Matthews would say (frank) it and leave.

Dubas has a putrid track record of evaluating talent, and even worse record of keeping it.

Leafs fans never learn. They are so delusional that they think Nylander is going to score 40 goals and be this incredible player when in reality he’s half the player Marner is, and is beginning to cool off already. He was supposed to kill penalties, it’s game 5 and that’s a big nope. A couple of the goals tonight were a direct result of him playing poor defence.

Leafs only hope is to move Nylander, and try to get someone in return who’ll change the culture.

Nylander, Dermott, 2nd for Giroux and Tyson Foerester.

Or Nylander, Robertson, 3rd for Faksa, a 1st, and Klingberg
- Tanooki

Dude. You’re on Hockeybuzz, what’s with the viable trade proposals.

Marner will come out of it. Just a typical Toronto Yahoo reaction to his slump.

Oh lets please not do the Marner trades 5 games into the season.

He needs to preform yes...but come on, give the guy some games first before riddling this thread with Marner trades.

Some of you are getting to the point that you'd be angry if Marner started to rack up points.

It's simple.

Matthews should be captain. At the end of the day Matthews would take this team to the Cup, not JT. He's a (frank)ing mook. Bland. Boring. Quiet leader bullpoop ain't cutting it.

Marner or JT should be traded. I prefer JT but I'm fine with Marner too.

Fix the D and G.

Grab a couple more no quit wingers who want to work for their money, not I "gots mines" types. Those types will go the (frank) to work.

Then this team would be unstoppable.

Too many chefs in the kitchen...meaning too much "elite" talent with "elite" egos.

PP1 doesn't work because of this exact problem. Put a few bangers on PP1 and a bit of talent on PP2. A perfect microcosm of this teams issues is staring you all in face with the power play woes.
- Barb34

I still think they should have a stronger PP1 than PP2.

Matthews can go back to his offside half wall, Spezza on the other(this guy is ridiculously underrated on the PP) and we are at the point where Willy can go anywhere so have him in the bumper.

Have Marner and Rielly jump down to the PP2 because Sandin and Spezza are just better on the PP right now. Doesn't have to be forever but

Nylander-JT-Spezza
Matthews-Sandin

Ritchie-Bunting-Marner
Kase-Rielly

Oh lets please not do the Marner trades 5 games into the season.

He needs to preform yes...but come on, give the guy some games first before riddling this thread with Marner trades.

Some of you are getting to the point that you'd be angry if Marner started to rack up points.
- Santo_44

I would love it if he started to put up points. It increases his trade value.