This team isn't good enough. Not trying to be poopty after a loss but if you really think objectively, they just aren't strong enough; mentally or physically at times. They still Leaf it up every 3rd or 4th game and in a 7 game series that's not good enough. Hasn't worked for 6 years.
If Dubas were to "swing for the fences" this year, go all in, what would that look like?
1 top 6 LW = ?
1 bottom 6 LW = ?
1 top 4 LD = ?
1 top 6 RD = ?
Back up goalie: ???
The obvious pieces currently on the roster to make deals with or empty up space for better players are:
Defense: Sandin, Holl
Forward: Kerfoot, Engvall, Anderson
Sandin, Holl, Kerfoot, Engvall and Anderson = ~$9.5M + $1.6 avail = ~$11M plus Muzzin $4.6m = $15.6M (I think that's the math but TheLaw could confirm)
What does he do to fill those spots and get this team winning in the playoffs?? Does he fill them all, does he lose those players, does he just tweak?
- underhill14
If you're trying not to be poopty after a loss, you're not trying very hard.
They are a top-5 team in the league. The goalie had an off night and frankly the team didn't execute that well, and certainly made mistakes. Once the Bruins got the lead, the Leafs opened up more and the Bruins exploited it - which they have always been good at.
When the team plays their game, they are absolutely excellent. When they deviate from that they have problems. Yesterday there were a number of problems on the back-end - not only Sammy - caused by lacklustre plays that - while not infrequent - are not that common. The way Rielly approached Pastrnak (on his ensuing breakaway that resulted in an excellent save by Samsonov) was dreadful. The effort by Sandin and Liljegren at times was poor, including their reads, their support, and honestly their compete level for the puck against the wall. There are big guys you'll lose battles to, but some of those battles didn't even take place and that's not acceptable.
The support from up front is also critical in providing stability to the back-end, and both Marner and Nylander were guilty of playing more up than back, and they were the guys we needed more from up front. They really missed Matthews yesterday.
Now, adding a top-6 LW is an obvious requirement - and it would immediately add a bottom-6 LW by dropping Jarnkrok down.
Any team in the league would welcome a franchise defenseman who can shut down the opposition while still remaining fluid in an offensive role. Last time I checked those guys were on the market. Chychrun is not that, for the record, even if his asking price is.
Yesterday, though, I think a game focused met a team that was more focused on their pending vacation. I don't that requires an overhaul.
