I don't want any changes whatsoever in my classic Pat-Fido if-you-say-white-black-if-you-say-black-white discussions. It's becoming an important tradition to me.

I don't want any changes whatsoever in my classic Pat-Fido if-you-say-white-black-if-you-say-black-white discussions. It's becoming an important tradition to me.
- Réal_Ruelle

caliss

yeah, not sure where you read "make absolutely no changes whatsoever", that's not what I'm saying... and it wouldn't have necessarily been a walk in the park against other teams, but Vasilevskiy is definitely the best goalie in the East, you have to think the laffs' forwards would've been a tad more effective against other goaltenders.
- Pat1993

Dubas said last year he'd keep his big 4, that they would deliver. that failed again. so unless you fire him... same results have to be expected. replacing Simmons by a better 4th liner won't change a thing. not that I care, they're fun to watch. but if they want to win they'll have to fire him. or he'll have to come back on his word.

I don't want any changes whatsoever in my classic Pat-Fido if-you-say-white-black-if-you-say-black-white discussions. It's becoming an important tradition to me.
- Réal_Ruelle

not much to talk about till the draft lol

not much to talk about till the draft lol
- fidopro

je sais bin, je cabotinais juste un brin. je vous aime bin les deux. ça fait des bonnes discussions hockey, ça permet de voir les deux bords d'la médaille!

Dubas said last year he'd keep his big 4, that they would deliver. that failed again. so unless you fire him... same results have to be expected. replacing Simmons by a better 4th liner won't change a thing. not that I care, they're fun to watch. but if they want to win they'll have to fire him. or he'll have to come back on his word.
- fidopro

Chus d'accord que l'équipe est pas mauvaise en soi, mais pour avoir du succès dans des guerres de tranchées, tu dois arriver à reproduire ce qui fait ton succès en saison, et si c'est de marquer 6 gôles par game, tu dois continuer à le faire. Mais même Floride a pas réussi à conserver la même domination offensive. Le fait que les rèfes câlent pus les accrochages, ça nuit quand même aux joueurs créatifs. Je pense que Dubas doit investir en défense.

Dubas said last year he'd keep his big 4, that they would deliver. that failed again. so unless you fire him... same results have to be expected. replacing Simmons by a better 4th liner won't change a thing. not that I care, they're fun to watch. but if they want to win they'll have to fire him. or he'll have to come back on his word.
- fidopro

Defence and goaltending need to be better. Tavares’ contract is already starting to stink and Willy is a floater that can occasionally turn it up. They need more than a couple tweaks imo.

Chus d'accord que l'équipe est pas mauvaise en soi, mais pour avoir du succès dans des guerres de tranchées, tu dois arriver à reproduire ce qui fait ton succès en saison, et si c'est de marquer 6 gôles par game, tu dois continuer à le faire. Mais même Floride a pas réussi à conserver la même domination offensive. Le fait que les rèfes câlent pus les accrochages, ça nuit quand même aux joueurs créatifs. Je pense que Dubas doit investir en défense.
- Réal_Ruelle

refs never called so many penalties than they did this year. that should have helped the Leafs.
and yes, did you see how TB was able to defend as a team in the 3rd last night? a beauty. until Leafs can do the same... they won't win.

Dubas said last year he'd keep his big 4, that they would deliver. that failed again. so unless you fire him... same results have to be expected. replacing Simmons by a better 4th liner won't change a thing. not that I care, they're fun to watch. but if they want to win they'll have to fire him. or he'll have to come back on his word.
- fidopro

I guess the main issue with the "big 4" is their combined salary cap hit, not the players themselves. not sure if leafs fans feel the same but to me the team did seem to have more drive and more confidence in their play compared to last year against the habs, so yes technically the results were the same since they lost, but there was a certain improvement that's been made, and firing the staff might not be what finally brings them to the next level.

I guess the main issue with the "big 4" is their combined salary cap, not the players themselves. not sure if leafs fans feel the same but to me the team did seem to have more drive and more confidence in their play compared to last year against the habs, so yes technically the results were the same since they lost, but there was a certain improvement that's been made, and firing the staff might not be what finally brings them to the next level.
- Pat1993

Besides game 4 this was the best the leafs could play and still lost.

Tampa basically underwhelming for most of the series where vasy, kuch, Stamkos and Hedman were at 75٪ and still one.

Toronto's top 6 were fine, but the bottom were putrid, while TB's B6 picked up the slack like last night.

I guess the main issue with the "big 4" is their combined salary cap, not the players themselves. not sure if leafs fans feel the same but to me the team did seem to have more drive and more confidence in their play compared to last year against the habs, so yes technically the results were the same since they lost, but there was a certain improvement that's been made, and firing the staff might not be what finally brings them to the next level.
- Pat1993

imho, Dubas and Keefe need to go.
you keep Matthews because he's the best, and you keep Tavares because... well because he's untradable.
you trade Marner and Nylander and re-allocate that 18M wisely to build a contender. a goalie, a stud dman, depth up front.. you find wingers for your 2 centers, which should not be difficult. wingers are easy to find.

imho, Dubas and Keefe need to go.
you keep Matthews because he's the best, and you keep Tavares because... well because he's untradable.
you trade Marner and Nylander and re-allocate that 18M wisely to build a contender. a goalie, a stud dman, depth up front.. you find wingers for your 2 centers, which should not be difficult. wingers are easy to find.
- fidopro

Shanaplan should go.
I’d keep Marner because he makes Matthews better. Willy should be traded. Tavares is untradable like you said.

Shanaplan should go.
I’d keep Marner because he makes Matthews better. Willy should be traded. Tavares is untradable like you said.
- TurdFergeson

Nylander alone wouldn't free enough cap space to really build a winner imo

Nylander alone wouldn't bring enough cap space to really build a winner imo
- fidopro

Matthews is a great goal scorer but he needs Marner. They need a bit of muscle and grit on that line though. Tavares’ contract is going to haunt them for a while.

imho, Dubas and Keefe need to go.
you keep Matthews because he's the best, and you keep Tavares because... well because he's untradable.
you trade Marner and Nylander and re-allocate that 18M wisely to build a contender. a goalie, a stud dman, depth up front.. you find wingers for your 2 centers, which should not be difficult. wingers are easy to find.
- fidopro

I guess they're gonna have to move a big contract or 2 if they want to make significant additions like getting an elite #1 goalie and a stud dman as you're suggesting, but you won't be making huge steps forward either if you end up substantially weakening the team's offensive talent. in terms of priority they should probably focus on acquiring a dman, Campbell did a pretty good job overall, and they can probably win with him in net if they make a few improvements in front of him.

I guess they're gonna have to move a big contract or 2 if they want to make significant additions like getting an elite #1 goalie and a stud dman as you're suggesting, but you won't be making huge steps forward either if you end up substantially weakening the team's offensive talent. in terms of priority they should probably focus on acquiring a dman, Campbell did a pretty good job overall, and they can probably win with him in net if they make a few improvements in front of him.
- Pat1993

absolutely, Campbell is due for a new contract and they can't even afford him.

Matthews is a great goal scorer but he needs Marner. They need a bit of muscle and grit on that line though. Tavares’ contract is going to haunt them for a while.
- TurdFergeson

if your 11M player needs another 11M player to be good.... you're in trouble

Besides game 4 this was the best the leafs could play and still lost.

Tampa basically underwhelming for most of the series where vasy, kuch, Stamkos and Hedman were at 75٪ and still one.

Toronto's top 6 were fine, but the bottom were putrid, while TB's B6 picked up the slack like last night.
- mr.peanut

also, the hat could only do so much.

absolutely, Campbell is due for a new contract and they can't even afford him.
- fidopro

he was currently on a 2-year, 1.7M per contract, how much is he gonna be asking?

he was currently on a 2-year, 1.7M per contract, how much is he gonna be asking?
- Pat1993

nothing less than 5M imo

also, the hat could only do so much.
- kicksave856

did you do the rotation thing like you were saying, or did you end up pooping in both hats, like a true champion?

nothing less than 5M imo
- fidopro

yeah, that's a pretty good pay raise lol

Shanaplan should go.
I’d keep Marner because he makes Matthews better. Willy should be traded. Tavares is untradable like you said.
- TurdFergeson

Marner is obvliously a really talented playmaker. But I like Nylander's game too, he's fast, he drives the play by himself, he can shoot, and for the price/talent ratio, I think Nylander brings something. Toronto would have absolutely no problem finding him a new home.

if your 11M player needs another 11M player to be good.... you're in trouble
- fidopro

I wouldn’t say need. But most top superstars over the years have also had an elite partner with them. Ovi/Backstrom, Matthews/Marner, McD/Drai, McKinnon/Rantanen.
I think it can be done but that second line is going to take a big hit without Willy and a noticeably slowing and aging Tavares.

I wouldn’t say need. But most top superstars over the years have also had an elite partner with them. Ovi/Backstrom, Matthews/Marner, McD/Drai, McKinnon/Rantanen.
I think it can be done but that second line is going to take a big hit without Willy and a noticeably slowing and aging Tavares.
- TurdFergeson

but Backtrom doesn't make 11M. same thing with MacKinnon and Rantanen.
McDavid and Draistal sometimes play together but mostly not. they each enter their own line with wingers paid much less. that's what Matthews and Tavares should be doing. like Crosby and Malkin btw.