yave1964 Posted June 2, 2019 Share Posted June 2, 2019 PRESEASON EXPECTATIONS Very high is putting it mildly. Tavares became arguably the biggest free agent signing in NHL history joining a stacked group of forwards with the hopes high that they would finally get past Rask and Boston and make a deep run in the playoffs. FINAL RECORD 46-28-8 100 points, 3rd in division lost in first round to the Bruins. AGAIN. HIGH POINT OF THE YEAR Dont get me wrong, they managed 100 points, good for 7th best record in the NHL which was a hell of a year but I submit to you that they had no true high point. Matthews had a hot streak or two, Andersen a good winning streak or two but the fact is they knew from pretty much November that it was inevitable that they would be facing Boston in the first round and they slid along all year on a kind of Bataan death march towards the inevitable. LOW POINT OF THE YEAR Kadri getting suspended. Again. In the playoffs against Boston. AGAIN. Losing game seven. Again To Boston AGAIN. WHAT WENT RIGHT Lots really. Matthews was arguably the teams third best forward and had 73 points in only 67 games, Marner was arguably the games best winger Tavares was absolutely as good as advertised. In spite of this the teams MVP may have been d-man Morgan Reilly who was nearly a point a game player Kapane, Johnsson and Hyman all had 20 or more goals, Jake Muzzin had 16 points in only 30 games in Toronto and a plus 11 stabilizing the defense. In net Andersen was brilliant at times. WHAT WENT WRONG Nylander held out for half a season and only managed 7 goals and looked pathetically lost most of the year. Kadri saw his goals drop in half. Marleau looked old and slow because he is. Gardiner took astep back. Garret Sparks was kept as the backup and while he wasn't bad was not exactly good either. FREE AGENTS Gardiner is going to be very difficult to keep financially, Hainsey who has been a solid penalty killer is aging and a free agent and likely wont be back. Ennis will be looking for work elsewhere. The huge problem is not the UFAs but the RFA's as Marner will want big money for big term, Johnsson as well and so will Kapanen. Even if they lose Gardiner (likely) the odds are they will not be able to keep all three forwards. Someone will have to go. OFFSEASON QUESTIONS What now? Everything went right and they still lost to Boston. Rumors are that Kadri will be shopped for a replacement for Gardiner, the one most in vogue right now is he may be dealt to Calgary for Brodie. If so where do they get a 3rd center? Gautheir looks like a bust, Will the real Wee Willie Nylander please stand up? Is he a 60 point 2nd liner or an overpriced 40 point soft 3rd liner? The big one is Marner, can they keep him? The rumor is he is going to take his time and visit multiple teams before presenting an offer to Toronto. This may be a very bad situation. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OccamsRazor Posted June 2, 2019 Share Posted June 2, 2019 45 minutes ago, yave1964 said: Will the real Wee Willie Should have dealt him last summer while they still had some good leverage and they could have avoided some of this stink that's about to go down this offseason. Oh well that will be a hot mess next and now Zaitsev has demanded a trade outa Tronno. Could have picked a worse time.... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WordsOfWisdom Posted June 11, 2019 Share Posted June 11, 2019 On 6/2/2019 at 6:08 PM, yave1964 said: PRESEASON EXPECTATIONS Very high is putting it mildly. Tavares became arguably the biggest free agent signing in NHL history joining a stacked group of forwards with the hopes high that they would finally get past Rask and Boston and make a deep run in the playoffs. On 6/2/2019 at 6:08 PM, yave1964 said: FINAL RECORD 46-28-8 100 points, 3rd in division lost in first round to the Bruins. AGAIN. On 6/2/2019 at 6:08 PM, yave1964 said: HIGH POINT OF THE YEAR Dont get me wrong, they managed 100 points, good for 7th best record in the NHL which was a hell of a year but I submit to you that they had no true high point. Matthews had a hot streak or two, Andersen a good winning streak or two but the fact is they knew from pretty much November that it was inevitable that they would be facing Boston in the first round and they slid along all year on a kind of Bataan death march towards the inevitable. On 6/2/2019 at 6:08 PM, yave1964 said: LOW POINT OF THE YEAR Kadri getting suspended. Again. In the playoffs against Boston. AGAIN. Losing game seven. Again To Boston AGAIN. On 6/2/2019 at 6:08 PM, yave1964 said: WHAT WENT RIGHT Lots really. Matthews was arguably the teams third best forward and had 73 points in only 67 games, Marner was arguably the games best winger Tavares was absolutely as good as advertised. In spite of this the teams MVP may have been d-man Morgan Reilly who was nearly a point a game player Kapane, Johnsson and Hyman all had 20 or more goals, Jake Muzzin had 16 points in only 30 games in Toronto and a plus 11 stabilizing the defense. In net Andersen was brilliant at times. On 6/2/2019 at 6:08 PM, yave1964 said: WHAT WENT WRONG Nylander held out for half a season and only managed 7 goals and looked pathetically lost most of the year. Kadri saw his goals drop in half. Marleau looked old and slow because he is. Gardiner took astep back. Garret Sparks was kept as the backup and while he wasn't bad was not exactly good either. On 6/2/2019 at 6:08 PM, yave1964 said: FREE AGENTS Gardiner is going to be very difficult to keep financially, Hainsey who has been a solid penalty killer is aging and a free agent and likely wont be back. Ennis will be looking for work elsewhere. The huge problem is not the UFAs but the RFA's as Marner will want big money for big term, Johnsson as well and so will Kapanen. Even if they lose Gardiner (likely) the odds are they will not be able to keep all three forwards. Someone will have to go. OFFSEASON QUESTIONS What now? Everything went right and they still lost to Boston. Rumors are that Kadri will be shopped for a replacement for Gardiner, the one most in vogue right now is he may be dealt to Calgary for Brodie. If so where do they get a 3rd center? Gautheir looks like a bust, Will the real Wee Willie Nylander please stand up? Is he a 60 point 2nd liner or an overpriced 40 point soft 3rd liner? The big one is Marner, can they keep him? The rumor is he is going to take his time and visit multiple teams before presenting an offer to Toronto. This may be a very bad situation. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WordsOfWisdom Posted June 19, 2019 Share Posted June 19, 2019 (edited) A glimpse into what the Leafs might have enjoyed right now if they had exorcized their playoff demons: Edited June 19, 2019 by WordsOfWisdom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluPuk Posted July 31, 2019 Share Posted July 31, 2019 The Leafs need a personality transplant. The team has no identity - at least not one that will result in more wins and mastery over the hated Broons. They are not a hitting team, but they are not a non-hitting team either. They have no power play and no PK either. The leafs team needs a big injection of character. Nylander has to go - he is a locker room poison IMHO and a deadweight around the team neck. Matthews stunk last year IMHO. That has to change. I'm getting depressed writing this........ Heading out for eighteen holes........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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