Canadiens @ Leafs - May 31st, 7:00pm - CBC, Fan 590

[Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate]

As for changes ... What are we gonna do?  Matthews is a superstar.  I do regret buying a Marner jersey this year that's all I can say

Marner will take all kinds of deserved heat but Matthews has to bear just as much, even if he was dinged.

[Nik]

On the plus side, you have to like how being a Leafs fan has a certain consistency to it.

[Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate]

The JVR/Bozak moves definitely still reverberate.  But my God, this team should have won this series no matter what.

[Gerald The Duck]

Even if blowing up the core isn't feasible (e.g. trading Marner) do nothing to augment them like this season.

Stockpile picks and prospects, give as many opportunities (and extended ones at that) to youth as possible. Trade expiring contracts at the deadline when possible.

[Chris]

As for changes ... What are we gonna do?  Matthews is a superstar.  I do regret buying a Marner jersey this year that's all I can say

Can't move JT (no move clause, right)? Not gonna move Matthews. Nylander is probably the best contract. So that leaves one if they want to go that route.

I think you have to solicit offers and if it makes sense you do it. Replace $11 mil with 2 $5.5 mil players, balance out the offense, replace the aging/slow/non contributors and see what happens.

[Significantly Insignificant]

The problem is that psychologically this has crept into the team.  I think you may have to go big at this point.  What did the Red Wings do back in the day?  Is that even possible in a cap system?

[azzurri63]

The 180 I have taken on this team is pretty hairpin.    I thought this core was awesome.  I want it broken up.  The effort is just absolutely garbage in a Game 7. 

Injuries, sure.  This team isn’t good.  They can’t win important games.  I genuinely dislike this team.  But hey at least we can have one of the most expensive cores without a playoff series win

That's the problem. All the money spent on 4 forwards and no supporting case that is any kind of threat. So if you shut down the top line you beat the Leafs.

Something needs to change. Keefe maybe. Marner maybe. Rielly? Maybe. Regular season heros, playoff zeros.

And the crazy thing is you literally can start tracing this back from when they didn't offload JVR and Bozak in favour of long term thinking. Now they're so top heavy they can't add depth. One of the top 2 centres goes and the house of cards collapses.

I said that all along. Why lose those players for nothing? Recoup whatever You can. Picks, young players, something that one day can step in. Ridiculous.

[Derk]

For me, this is the most humiliating playoff loss I have experienced as a Leafs fan. Boston was brutal and yes, disappointing. But losing this series when up 3-1 against a team that was so far behind in the standings, and the Habs to boot (the team I have always disliked the most), well, that takes the cake for me. I feel completely frustrated and dejected at the same time.

I don't know what else to say.

Derek my sentiments exactly.

Thanks. Nice to see you again after I have been away from the forums for so long.

[Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate]

The other issue is goaltending.  I have no idea in the world what to do about that.  They are very good and putting guys in there who are pretty decent but end up outplayed by literally every other goalie they face.

[Derk]

On the plus side, you have to like how being a Leafs fan has a certain consistency to it.

This made me smile.

[4EVRLEAFAN]

The JVR/Bozak moves definitely still reverberate.  But my God, this team should have won this series no matter what.

This. Montreal was a team we had to beat period, I don't have any answers but changes must be made, we are not a playoff team.

[Strangelove]

Just dropped by to say that this series was about as Leafy as it gets. I genuinely didn't think it was possible for them to lose this series but I should have known better. You know things aren't going well when Marner seems to be spending the better part of each game fighting back tears in the middle of the play.

Have a good summer, everyone.

[Heroic Shrimp]

The 180 I have taken on this team is pretty hairpin.    I thought this core was awesome.  I want it broken up.  The effort is just absolutely garbage in a Game 7. 

Injuries, sure.  This team isn’t good.  They can’t win important games.  I genuinely dislike this team.  But hey at least we can have one of the most expensive cores without a playoff series win

For what it's worth.....

Don't forget the Tampa experience from 2019. Absolutely ran away with the President's Trophy. Core with Hart winner Kucherov, Stamkos, Point, Hedman, Vasilevskiy. Three 40 goal scorers.

Forget losing the last 3 of 7, they were swept in 4. Not a single player scored more than once. Kucherov and Stamkos had 2 points each, Point had 1.

The reactions to their sweep are pretty brutal, and justifiably so:

https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/04/tampa-bay-lightning-swept-nhl-playoffs-roasted-by-fans

And they won the Cup the next year.

[Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate]

The problem is that psychologically this has crept into the team.  I think you may have to go big at this point.  What did the Red Wings do back in the day?  Is that even possible in a cap system?

Maybe we can re-hire Babcock?  Who BTW is probably got a world-beating smirk on his face right about now.

[Guilt Trip]

Eh, I'm disappointed like always but there's always the mystery of what they need to do to finally get past this crap.

Dubas:
* Got a decent b/u who turned out to be a starter when he had to be
* Added two veteran d-men who made our defense much, much better
* Added what looked like valuable grit/stability with Foligno

I've been a Dubas critic in the past but this past season I can't fault his moves.  What we can fault him on are some of the contracts, and no I'm not talking about Nylander who earned his dough this series.

I guess all that's left is to try to change the core.

I actually think they won't change the core. I think it's time for the young guys to fill in. Spezza will probably be the only old guy back. Don't see Thornton or Simmonds coming back.
This isn't on Dubas. This team should have done better.
Leafs need a goalie because Jack isn't good enough.