Lightning @ Maple Leafs - Dec. 20th, 7:00pm - TSN4, Fan 590

[L K]

I know coaches like Cooper and Sutter just say weird things because they can but some of the Toronto takes lately have been really bizarre.

[Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate]

Cooper is irritating but I kind of hatelove hom because he does generate some fun quotes.

[herman]

I can't speak for Cooper's motivations, but that's just how he talks after games; it's almost never crediting the other team, but more what his team did or didn't do. I would probably do the same in his shoes. Players have to believe they can impact the game and have control through their efforts and structure. Sure, opponents can make great plays, but the player's job is to either prevent the possibility of great plays impacting the scoresheet, or to produce their own great plays given the situation through skill and gumption and collaboration. Given how many times they've hit the finals by ramping up their play at the right time of the season or series, hard to argue with his process here.

We as fans should recognize that luck plays a role in the results (someone scored a goal by firing it Ceci-wide but into the jock of a blocking skater, bounced off the ice and over the goalie), but players need to focus on their process and intention somewhat agnostic to the results when luck occurs -- i.e. good players make their own luck.

[Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate]

What I and I guess LK/Bill Berg are reacting to is Cooper's insinuation that somehow Toronto is a sirensong town where virulent young males will be led astray by ... whatever.  Which is no doubt true as far as it goes, but it also goes for practically every other city in the NHL.  Just a strange thing to say.

[Nik]

It doesn't strike me as terribly controversial to suggest that Hockey players in Toronto might be treated like celebrities in a way they wouldn't elsewhere and that might lead to some off-ice distractions.

[Rob]

That's just Cooper crapping his pants knowing the Leafs will smoke them in the playoffs. 

[Bullfrog]

I would pay a lot of money to have Cooper as our coach

[Bill_Berg_is_less_sad]

It doesn't strike me as terribly controversial to suggest that Hockey players in Toronto might be treated like celebrities in a way they wouldn't elsewhere and that might lead to some off-ice distractions.

Who the hell is treating these guys like that in Toronto? I want names. Although now that you say that, maybe the opposite was true. For three days they had to eat food with spit in it, small children were peeing on their legs, dogs howled all night keeping them awake, and so on.

[bustaheims]

It doesn't strike me as terribly controversial to suggest that Hockey players in Toronto might be treated like celebrities in a way they wouldn't elsewhere and that might lead to some off-ice distractions.

Who the hell is treating these guys like that in Toronto? I want names. Although now that you say that, maybe the opposite was true. For three days they had to eat food with spit in it, small children were peeing on their legs, dogs howled all night keeping them awake, and so on.

I thought maybe it had something to do with spending too much time out and about with friends they grew up with, etc., but they only have 4 guys from the GTA (5 in total from Southern Ontario) and one of them is their backup goalie.

[Nik]

Who the hell is treating these guys like that in Toronto? I want names. Although now that you say that, maybe the opposite was true. For three days they had to eat food with spit in it, small children were peeing on their legs, dogs howled all night keeping them awake, and so on.

I am deeply touched by your belief in the fidelity to the Blue and White among the Toronto Insta-Thot community.

[herman]

https://twitter.com/itsnothardev/status/1605762574993211395
Doop de doop

[Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate]

https://twitter.com/itsnothardev/status/1605762574993211395
Doop de doop

Cooper postgame: "Note to self: don't spend any time, for any reason, in Detroit."

[Significantly Insignificant]

https://twitter.com/itsnothardev/status/1605762574993211395
Doop de doop

Cooper postgame: "Note to self: don't spend any time, for any reason, in Detroit."

"Look, the guys just don't like snowstorms.  It's something we have to deal with in the room.  Know what doesn't happen during the playoffs?  Snowstorms.  Next question."