It seems to be a yearly occasion, after Christmas every year the wheels just fall off in Toronto. Their glowing season suddenly went south. But what are the real reasons ? It was simple, other teams were starting to play harder in the tough second half of the East. Other good coaches were able to put together a team plan to pick apart Babcock's predictable lines. The truth was the only truly reliable defenseman Toronto had was Morgan Reilly. Ron Hainsey, who has huge miles now was pushing 38, not a good age for a guy who never was a top 2 defenseman ever before.The Leaf fans fresh off the seven game collapse against Boston in the playoffs were on Gardiner's case again, Dermott was young, Russian Ozhiganoz was a rookie, Zaitsev had regressed and that left Morgan Reilly as their defense. Goalie Freddie Andersen was injured exposing a truly horrible defense. All stretch passes that no longer worked, precious little physical acumen. Teams had figured out to pressure Jake Gardiner who was already dreaming off his big, fat $7M payday this summer. The teams balance of all skill, scared to go in the corners forwards was coming unglued and Leaf fans had every reason to question whether Mathews was really worth as much as say Connor Mcdavid who gets $12 Million/ yr. If Mathew's agent thought that he may have to think again.
But there was now more to the story. William Nylander had demanded the big bucks before he had ever delivered and ever since his return Toronto has neither looked good or even close to how they had played in the easy part of the schedule. A Pieterangelo and his grandiose, team killing $9M a year demands would never , ever fix this. That is a pipe dream. This team is misbuilt for playoff success now and the foreseable future. Another first round exit would not and will not do. Don't lie to yourself and pretend there wouldn't be some serious fallout if Dubas listened to the media pundits and screwed up with a dumb trade right now. Every year a team needs to get rid of a player and starts dumb rumours hoping to pick the Leaf's pockets again.To land say a Rask, a Courtnall, Scott Niedermayer or a nice top 3 pick to take a Luongo or perhaps even a nice Kessel in his prime. The problem was because of the stupidity of the media in Toronto, other GM's thought they didn't have to pay and so the stupid rumours began.They grew a life of their own as it were. This year they try and rush to the defense of Gardiner who many fans can clearly see as not good enough, nor is the team's effort that great. There was no beef in the line up and it was clearly evident. People can say trade Nylander but are you sure other GM"s are calling right now for a guy who is clearly not producing and is no longer cheap. A guy who since his return the whole team has tanked?
Dubas is now in a pressure point. The fans are booing as the yearly debacle begins. The Leafs look awful as the coach admits he "doesn't have enough heavy skaters." and newly signed Center John Tavares pipes up and states, a brutally obvious " We have no grit." All of a sudden Burke was in there going " Aha!"
The news is now out, this lineup in it's current form not only will not win a cup, it never will. The chemistry was wrong and an experienced GM would see that.Dubas could now risk a trade but would need to get the right piece or two. This team had now become "break upable" because it wasn't working and hadn't been working for a quite a while. No Andersen means no defense anymore. In the East unless you had proven mega stars in their prime(Crosby, Malkin,Kessel) you must have defense. You will not outscore Tampa Bay, Washington or even a Boston. In short Toronto was not built to grind it out over 7 games with a bigger and meaner team and so they would lose. It is now official. Unless this team adds at least 2 pretty serious pieces and removes any cancer that may be building in the dressing room they will lose in the first round this year and Kyle Dubas' theories on relativity would be busted. Not one of the ever patient Leaf fans would buy it, the media would jump him(Dubas) and like it or not, someone's head would likely roll.
Let us hope Kyle Dubas is half as smart as they say he is because his moment of truth, just arrived.There was good news, there was hope. The reason? The trade deadline was at hand and many teams were in worse shape than Toronto, there was no denying that. These GM's might not have the option to miss the playoffs this year and next as well.They needed what Dubas had, young offense. Dubas has the pieces while not needing to overpay. Leaf fans must be patient and stay the course. Our days of way overpaying for other teams problems were over. St Louis had the problem with a rofl $9M Pieterangelo, not Dubas. You see, all Dubas has to do is wait till TD ,if needed and make a couple of cheaper rentals and the fans would at least acknowledge it. The only mistake Dubas could make is do nothing while bleating on about make believe trends in the NHL. An aging Bettman could be gone tommorrow, then who is next and what is their trend ? The current trend is the Washington Capitals finally won the cup and they are a big , mean, hard playing team that would crush a small, weak team like Toronto.
This will either be Dubas' finest hour or his complete undoing. The ever patient Leaf fans no longer have the patience for excuses, champions don't make them. Losers do.
Wow ! Odd twist of fate. : The former GM of Toronto and his NY Islanders, John Tavares ex team were just 2 pts. back of the Leafs who now face major cap pressure this summer. Boston is right back on our tail.
But there was now more to the story. William Nylander had demanded the big bucks before he had ever delivered and ever since his return Toronto has neither looked good or even close to how they had played in the easy part of the schedule. A Pieterangelo and his grandiose, team killing $9M a year demands would never , ever fix this. That is a pipe dream. This team is misbuilt for playoff success now and the foreseable future. Another first round exit would not and will not do. Don't lie to yourself and pretend there wouldn't be some serious fallout if Dubas listened to the media pundits and screwed up with a dumb trade right now. Every year a team needs to get rid of a player and starts dumb rumours hoping to pick the Leaf's pockets again.To land say a Rask, a Courtnall, Scott Niedermayer or a nice top 3 pick to take a Luongo or perhaps even a nice Kessel in his prime. The problem was because of the stupidity of the media in Toronto, other GM's thought they didn't have to pay and so the stupid rumours began.They grew a life of their own as it were. This year they try and rush to the defense of Gardiner who many fans can clearly see as not good enough, nor is the team's effort that great. There was no beef in the line up and it was clearly evident. People can say trade Nylander but are you sure other GM"s are calling right now for a guy who is clearly not producing and is no longer cheap. A guy who since his return the whole team has tanked?
Dubas is now in a pressure point. The fans are booing as the yearly debacle begins. The Leafs look awful as the coach admits he "doesn't have enough heavy skaters." and newly signed Center John Tavares pipes up and states, a brutally obvious " We have no grit." All of a sudden Burke was in there going " Aha!"
The news is now out, this lineup in it's current form not only will not win a cup, it never will. The chemistry was wrong and an experienced GM would see that.Dubas could now risk a trade but would need to get the right piece or two. This team had now become "break upable" because it wasn't working and hadn't been working for a quite a while. No Andersen means no defense anymore. In the East unless you had proven mega stars in their prime(Crosby, Malkin,Kessel) you must have defense. You will not outscore Tampa Bay, Washington or even a Boston. In short Toronto was not built to grind it out over 7 games with a bigger and meaner team and so they would lose. It is now official. Unless this team adds at least 2 pretty serious pieces and removes any cancer that may be building in the dressing room they will lose in the first round this year and Kyle Dubas' theories on relativity would be busted. Not one of the ever patient Leaf fans would buy it, the media would jump him(Dubas) and like it or not, someone's head would likely roll.
Let us hope Kyle Dubas is half as smart as they say he is because his moment of truth, just arrived.There was good news, there was hope. The reason? The trade deadline was at hand and many teams were in worse shape than Toronto, there was no denying that. These GM's might not have the option to miss the playoffs this year and next as well.They needed what Dubas had, young offense. Dubas has the pieces while not needing to overpay. Leaf fans must be patient and stay the course. Our days of way overpaying for other teams problems were over. St Louis had the problem with a rofl $9M Pieterangelo, not Dubas. You see, all Dubas has to do is wait till TD ,if needed and make a couple of cheaper rentals and the fans would at least acknowledge it. The only mistake Dubas could make is do nothing while bleating on about make believe trends in the NHL. An aging Bettman could be gone tommorrow, then who is next and what is their trend ? The current trend is the Washington Capitals finally won the cup and they are a big , mean, hard playing team that would crush a small, weak team like Toronto.
This will either be Dubas' finest hour or his complete undoing. The ever patient Leaf fans no longer have the patience for excuses, champions don't make them. Losers do.
Wow ! Odd twist of fate. : The former GM of Toronto and his NY Islanders, John Tavares ex team were just 2 pts. back of the Leafs who now face major cap pressure this summer. Boston is right back on our tail.
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