Not sure about the "flaming out". They lost last year in 7 games to the two time Cup winner in a game which featured the only time I have seen in 50 years that a goal was called back on a "pick". They've been more unlucky than anything, eg. - being in a division that features three of the best teams in the league,  two egregious giveaways in the Montreal series that led to winning goals, Kadri being suspended in two different years. The Columbus series was the only "flame out"- bad goaltending, lack of scoring.

Perhaps the wrong choice of wording.  Pushing to make the playoffs that first season against the Caps hasn't created this battle hardened winning machine.  It's lead to a team that has gone to an elimination game in the first round of the playoffs for 5 straight years, and lost all 5. 

If the Leafs had made the decision to focus on stocking the cupboard some more and then trying to make the playoffs, the Leafs may be further along now with some sacrificing back then.

I wonder what this does to the prices for other players.  Deal is pretty underwhelming.

We can make demands while also being calm, the question is can we be calm if TO loses in the 1st round again this year after Dubie does nothing to significantly improve a roster that absolutely requires a massive infusion of talent and character.

I've lived thru the years since TO's last Cup, I don't know if I will be able to survive another rebuild that might give TO another truly competitive team. TO isn't truly competitive now but can be with some of the pieces already here.

Sometimes Dubie reminds me of supervisors, they can move pieces/employees around just to make it look like they're doing something while also carrying a clip board. Placing Hunt on Waivers, is good, but he should also place Jarnkrok, ZAR, Kerfoot, Kampf and Brodie on waivers, that could potentially clear 13 mil. in Cap space and then use any extra Cap dollars on players that can help instead of just treading water. Rielly should simply be traded because maybe some other team will see some value in him, his greatest value, I'm told, is on the PP, that's why TO was trying, going with 5 forwards and I don't doubt that Timmins could more than adequately replace him in every way.

 
 

Listen to what you're saying. I understand not liking the construction of the team but waiving a significant portion of the roster simply isn't an option.

Of course what I'm saying isn't possible but that doesn't mean it isn't needed. The alternative is watching history repeat itself.

I keep reading articles from the media about who TO should trade like Engval and Holl, I figure these are 2 of TO's true value players, they're not overpaid like Kampf, Jarnkrok and others I've mentioned, their contributions to the team dwarfs their compensation. I figure if Engval was promoted like Jarkrok his offensive stats would skyrocket but because he drives the 3rd line like no other bottom 6er, TO can't afford to elevate him.

I wonder what impact Kessel might have provided TO in the first 3 years of the Marner/Mathews years when those two were on ELCs, in the right scenario like he was placed in by the Penguins he might have been the added spark to enable TO to go much further in the playoffs or...

Nylander, Mitch, Matthews, JVR, Bozak, Kadri, Brown, Leo, Johnsson, Hyman, Kapanen and Kessel, wow, that's 4 lines that nobody could've matched, well, thank God TO removed Kessel for Marleau and gave away Phanny? Thank you Shanny!?

If the Leafs kept Kessel, chances are they don't get Matthews.  Also, I would say that I was more upset that they didn't move more of the roster.  JVR and Bozak could have been moved for more young assets that would have set the team up to be in a better situation today.  The idea that the Leafs needed to make the playoffs to "learn how to win" hasn't played out.  The Leafs learned how to make the playoffs and flame out in the first round rather than showing progress.

Awesome! Glad it's fixed.

Where are we on the issue Nik reported.  I've seen that one too.

Samsonov
HM Liljegren

+1

So what can we do to get Karlsson then?

The Leafs could just buy the Sharks organization.

[Oct-Dec. 6]

Been noticing a distinct lack of Engvall on the penalty kill recently, wonder what's up with that. Last season he was 6th among Leafs forwards in PK ice-time with 0:57 a game. Figured that number would have gone up with guys like Mikheyev and Kase leaving but he's down to averaging just 0:32 this season.

It also looks like there was a point a few months into the season where the team decided to go from using 6 forwards in their rotation to just 5:

Oct-Dec. 6	Dec. 8th-Jan
Kampf 2:54 Marner 2:27 Kerfoot 1:54 Jarnkrok 1:35 ZAR 1:05 Engvall 0:46	Kampf 2:46 Marner 2:32 Kerfoot 1:35 Jarnkrok 1:33 ZAR 0:55 Engvall 0:11

In 15 of the 20 games in that second chunk Engvall hasn't even stepped on the ice while shorthanded, including in 7 straight games now.

This only felt noteworthy to me because Engvall is a really, really good penalty killer. Like the guys playing ahead of him aren't bad but statistically Engvall is on a whole other level:

CA/60 is 60 while everyone else ranges from 95-102
SA/60 is 30 while everyone else ranges from 47-56
xGA/60 is 3.6 while everyone else ranges from 5.5-7.6

Granted, that's in more limited minutes and guys like Kampf and Marner especially are the ones taking the brunt of the opposing PP1 minutes and obviously have their spots solidified. But it's still very surprising to me that somebody as good as him shorthanded is not only not getting PK2 minutes, but often not playing on the PK at all.

Could it be tied to trying to keep the value of Kerfoot up for a trade?

Hmmm.  The man of the match is so hard.  If only there was a player that pretty much single handedly won the game by himself by getting 4 points in the second period. Oh Well.  Guess I'll vote Nylander for MotM.  He needs some good vibes.

HM goes to Justin Holl, who always has good games against the Islanders.

Kind of feels like the Raps should really start thinking about blowing this team up and trying to rebuild something around Scottie. If Siakam or FVV aren't going to be the kind of players you can build a championship contender around, and it really doesn't look like they are, now is probably the time to move on. The good thing is that you would almost certainly get a huge haul for Siakam and OG that could almost immediately turn this team into a pretty fun young team to watch.

It sounds like they want to keep Siakam, OG and Precious, along with Scottie, and move FVV and Trent Jr.  The issue there is that FVV and Trent Jr. don't really bring back enough to allow you to get better, and Saikam, OG, and Barnes mean that you are probably good enough to not be last, but not good enough to make the playoffs, so they are stuck in purgatory.

No Folignos.

Def not...rentals are fine, just not for anything substantial, especially a high pick.

I was scrolling down and thinking "No Folignos."  And then you said it, Berg.

I mean Marcus Foligno would look good on the third line.  Unless of course you meant you can't trade for two of them, which if that was the case I would agree.

I'm less shocked that Provonov didn't wear the jersey, and more shocked that D'Angelo did.

So this might not be the craziest story I've ever read but it's up there:

https://sinbin.vegas/robin-lehner-files-for-bankruptcy-due-to-ownership-of-exotic-snake-farm/

There was a story about how Stone had a team party at his house, and Lehner spent the party clearing out snake holes in Stones backyard.

Lehner seems to be a different cat that really likes snakes, but at least it doesn't involve sexual assault.

Nick Robertson can't buy a break.

Actually he has gotten several breaks for free.  He doesn't need to buy them.

Murray
Engvall

Can we take a point away from Rielly?

I mean, say what you will about 80's cartoons, but Skeletor never won.