Maple Leafs must add proven defenders, move on from all-offence identity - Sportsnet.ca

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During the regular season, the MapleLeafs have been one of the most dangerous clubs that money can buy. But the post-season is a different beast, one that's gnawed on this core for four years in a row. The solution is clear, writes lukefoxjukebox.

need defencemen. Plural. And, God bless Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren, but they need some defencemen who are proven.

The Nazem Kadri trade, though explainable at the time, was a whiff. When push came to shove, rookie coach Sheldon Keefe took Tyson Barrie off the No. 1 power-play unit and replaced him with Morgan Rielly. Alexander Kerfoot’s third line wasn’t awful, but he and Kasperi Kapanen were both handed nice raises last summer. Neither scored a playoff goal, despite Keefe’s proclamation that he expected production throughout the lineup.

• Matthews, Marner and Tavares bent over their sticks, gasping for breath after playing 21-plus minutes apiece and still failing to score a• A dour Matthews — arguably the series MVP in a losing cause — politely saying he didn’t want to explain the trend he saw in the core’s 0-for-4 performance in playoff series.

For the most part, it worked. The Leafs did a decent job keeping Columbus out of the danger areas and shut the Jackets out in Game 2. Yet it came at the expense of their identity, their strength.The Leafs will pack their Louis bags and carry a 5-on-5 goal drought of 182:46 in game clock into 2020-21.

 

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lukefoxjukebox All these dumb media and the broadcasters lol. Don’t you think all the leafs fans including myself know this kyledubas believes in skill and analytics. Having a team full of grit and good defensemen as well as a playoff proven winning goalie is a foreign language he doesn’t get

lukefoxjukebox Yeah but, can they kneel ? True US pro sports players really like being on their knees like the cheap alleyway prostitutes they actually are. NHL NFL MLB Yankees

lukefoxjukebox Just over the moon that they are OUT again

lukefoxjukebox How many more stupid articles are we going to have to put up with about the laffs lose? I just want to know how long I should unfollow. When you spend half your cap on guys who can’t score in an elimination game you’ve got problems that even defence can’t fix.

lukefoxjukebox Not even sure they’ve been dangerous during the regular season. Two consecutive years of worse regular season records shows their regression.

lukefoxjukebox Dangerous? Not exactly. They had a mediocre at best regular season and were barely in a playoff position at the pause. Offence wasn’t on fire, PP struggled. Team regressed to start the season and never recovered. Leafs

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox You can’t win with no Defence or Heart ❤️ and Soul. Time to fire Betman he wants 🇺🇸 to win. Canada 🇨🇦 need to leave the NHL and form their Own Canadian 🇨🇦 hockey franchise. Players should get Fined 💰 for not performing. They get too much money For media Hype!

lukefoxjukebox Dubas shouldn’t be given the chance.

lukefoxjukebox Step one has to be Fire Dubas & bring in a more experienced GM to build a team of 'playoff' performers.

lukefoxjukebox They were barely in a playoff spot when the season halted and the way they were playing likely would have missed the playoffs anyways. Dangerous to whom? Themselves? Their fans?

KennethHowardC3 lukefoxjukebox “Matthews, Marner and Tavares bent over their sticks, gasping for breath after playing 21-plus minutes apiece and still failing to score a fourth even-strength goal for Toronto over five games.” So tell me again how this team’s problem is defense?

lukefoxjukebox They need a GM, I mean they had one, but fubar’d that. Now when you need to make tough decisions, you gotta rely on DoubleSoyLatte. Not a great outlook for the Leafs.

lukefoxjukebox Bring in Tallon to run this team. This Fantasy Hockey experiment Dubas is running on his laptop clearly doesn't work in real life.

lukefoxjukebox The finished 8th out of 16 teams in the East in the regular season (from a Leafs fan) 🤔

lukefoxjukebox toronto needs a goon who can play, like Shea Weber

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox Defence and great goaltending wins Stanley Cups. Not whatever the Leafs are.

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox Technically speaking the leafs did not make the playoffs this year! They missed that opportunity losing to Columbus

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox Get rid of Tavares he isn’t worth his money. Gautier, Envall and Clifford are useless and Marincin and Justin Holl are not NHL defensemen. Checking enter and stay home and defend defenders are needed.Dermott has regressed.

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox Good thing Toronto is a basketball town because the MapleLeafs are an absolute disgrace. Ownership, GM and unfortunately the players lack what it takes to win. This city deserves better and should be furious at the historical disrespect ownership(s) have shown for this fan base.

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox They didn't make the playoffs? How is this a dangerous regular season team?

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox How about scoring a goal in the big games?

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox They need to send this guy back hogwarts..

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox They finished the season 8th in the east. What the fuck are you talking about?

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox I'm sorry but when? Does everyone forget the start they had? They had like a 5 game stretch where they were above average. They were not dangerous at any point this season.

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox Why was SoupMan playing on Tavares top line for 3 games and did nothing? Keefe was outcoached

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox Every team wants to add “proven defenceman” ... good luck finding one! You draft and develop them...how’s your prospect pool looking?

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox Matthews was more concerned about putting Steve Simmons in his place than he was about winning games. And Leaf fans cheered it on.

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox Leafs suck. Rebuild.

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox If they were one of the most dangerous, they would have been in the qualifying round robin not the playoff qualifier ...nice try , nice spin , co-owners...

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox If the Leafs win 1 pick, they could always trade the pick to Matheson & Ekblad. As a Panthers fan, I’d like this scenario. 🤣

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox trouble with media news networks writes 8th and ninth same point what does it take, reality check junky news networks stay o the drugs black life matters idiot candy cannabis Canada king pins. On golden pond rasa raga regimes. rasism ragism oh sports I guess. etymology

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox Money doesn't buy heart.

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox Blah blah blah blah. Nothing worth reading here.

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox Stop this. Leafs are pathetic. Montreal was out of the playoff picture and still defeated Pittsburgh without Domi. Dubas and Shanny are a joke. Made zero quality moves at the deadline

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox The Leafs are Cursed period every dam year same results I🙏4 them

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox Except they were/are an average team this past season which is why they needed to be in the qualifiers to begin with. The big 4 were not able to produce when it mattered most.

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox OnE oF tHe MoSt DaNgErOuS cLuBs!! They're so dangerous they haven't won a cup in 50+ years when there was only 6 other teams in the league. They're so dangerous they haven't a Art Ross, James Norris or Maurice Richard trophy winner in their 100+ year existence.

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox All offense? They couldn't score. Goals against in the series wasn't bad. Freddy had a 1.78 GAA and .941 save %. They need defense and scoring depth, both of those.

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox There just is no GRIT on this team...can't survive in the playoffs when everyone is fighting for their life...playoffs are the war of sports, and you need to bring the grit, the toughness...fancy will only get you so far...

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox Dubas needs to go. He is just not able to build a team that can play playoff hockey. He keeps drafting small players and is incapable of signing players without overpaying them. Get rid of Marner and or Nylander too. They should be embarrassed that Jason Spezza fought for them

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox The biggest loss of money in professional sport in the world´s history. Scale back and bring honor and history back into the organization. Now it is all about headlines and big $.

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox Fuck Dubas⚡️ This is unacceptable ⚡️ LeafNation Shanahan too👈🏼

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox Yeah, One of the most dangerous regular season clubs... yet couldn’t beat a zamboni driver! Who writes this shit? Honestly

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox We always see that there is the regular season and the playoffs. Pure talent will get you in the playoffs. Structure, courage, tenacity, defence will win you series

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox the must move on from Kyle Dubas. He is not ready to learn - he just want his young lads next to him like Mitch Marner who is a complete playoff loser. You will never win something with guys like him. Tell me one team please

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox You kidding me They were mediocre at best this season.. Mitch Marnie only shows up for the regular season apparently.. The D sucked all year.. Lost to a Zamboni Driver.. This season is one to forget for a long time

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox It’s just ceci. Why you think Ottawa got rid of him. I’ve watched him for years and he doesn’t have what it takes. Good luck next year, Sheldon

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox Haven't been one of the most dangerous teams in the regular season either though..

MapleLeafs lukefoxjukebox The Leafs are built for pond hockey. We wouldn’t be here if Shanahan picked Hunter.

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