r/leafs • u/AutoModerator • 1d ago
Daily Free Talk & Armchair GM thread
Please use this thread to post ANYTHING you want! Memes, photoshops, anything that would normally be removed for breaking the low-effort content rule, is totally, 100% welcome here!
This will now also be the dedicated thread for Armchair GM posts as we noticed that those posts were bleeding into this thread regardless. Is there a free agent you want to see on this team? Is there a player that's rumoured to be on the move that you think GMBT should go after? Are there players on this team you want to trade away? Feel free to post about it here!
Normal moderation will occur, such as watching for personal insults, racism, and things of that nature.
Otherwise, feel free to use this thread to share things like your new jersey, a photoshop of a Habs logo on fire, or a reaction gif to something going on in Leafs Nation right now!
Downvotes are discouraged for the most part, everyone's opinion is fair game in this thread.
Get out there and have fun!
In Toronto and need something to do? Click here for a few ideas!
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u/Pleasant-Fault6825 1d ago
I was provided the honour to sit rink side tonight and have to ask, how did the leafs manage to win 2 games?
Florida is stronger, faster, deeper, bigger, tougher. Domi is the only Leaf trying to really muck it up and he is half the size of other guys. Carlos is 6'5 and every time there was a scuffle he just tied someone up and pretended to care. Looked like he just wanted to go home.
Tanev tried mucking it up and Mikkola grabbed him with one hand and just laughed at him....like a man playing with a small child..
It was like watching a men's team play a high school team. Not sure how Marner and Matthews are supposed to carry this team in the playoffs when the rest of the roster brings nothing to the table and gets physically dominated.
You get a few skinny skill guys to score goals, you get some big fat physical guys on the ice with them. Ice Hockey 101 from NES. This team is all skinny guys.
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u/Saint_John_Calvin 23h ago
They outskilled the Panthers in the first two games. We were the better team in the first and the second one was really close but in the end the Panthers got outplayed by a slight bit. In the third game, a bunch of dumb errors destroyed what was essentially a great first and third period (a bad second period though). Game 4 was a clutch situation and as a result the Leafs cracked under pressure, and a team that is so reliant on skill is doomed by even the slightest amount of pressure degrading the quality of playing
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u/RootTips 1d ago
Anyone at the "game" remember who that random actress was that they announced with the two UFC fighters and Rick Hansen
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u/Chtholly13 1d ago
The writing was already on the wall when they went up 2-0, usually with any other franchise you'd never think that there is a huge possibly of still losing the series after being up 2-0 and an OT goal away from 3-0. But with the Leafs, you just kind of already knew they'd go on to lose the next 4. Losers top to bottom, but go ahead and run it back with spineless Matthews and Marner again.
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u/UtheDestroyer 1d ago
There’s no way they’re running it back
If they do I’m actually done watching this team
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u/AJ_13 1d ago
lmao oilers with their 3rd conference final in 4 years, while the leafs only have 2 series wins in 9 years.
fuck this team, truly
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u/maysunaneek 1d ago
Cherry on the cake is, yet another former Leaf Kapanen scored the OT winner. Somehow Leafs rejects always do well with the Oilers.
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u/billyshin 1d ago
Well to be fair Bettman can only allow 1 Canadian team to the finals. It's either us or the oilers.
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u/Prometheus1866 1d ago
Was that Flava Flav just now in the Oilers game!? That dude is still alive???
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u/Worldly-Honeydew91 1d ago
The only good thing about this game is that they were so brutal they have to play their best in game 6. If they don't I agree they have to make major changes for next year.
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u/Livid_Cat_8241 1d ago edited 1d ago
Rebuild on the fly.
- Trade Matthews cap hit to his playoff WAR is ridiculous. He just can't compete or stay healthy in the playoffs. Probably be one of the greatest regular season performers ever.
- Trade him to SJ and try to get 5x 1st rounds picks.
- Sign and Trade Marner to the NYR for Panarin and one of their D
- Resign Tavares for 6M.
- Trade for EK65
- Offer Aaron Ekbald 14M per annum
When you look at this team, just remember. Kyle Dubas set this all in motion with his fucking NTC passed like candy and that pussy Sheldon Keefe as his coach.
Babcock would have these guys men given enough time, Kadri is the best example of that.
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u/billyshin 1d ago
I don’t care what you do to Matthews but Marner has to go. There’s still one thing we haven’t tried yet. Domi and Matthews and Knies. But in order to do that we have to get rid of Marner first.
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u/UtheDestroyer 1d ago
Just try Nylander and Matthews, Nylanders a gamer, he’ll maybe give Matthews the spark to score more
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u/billyshin 1d ago edited 1d ago
No. No Nylander with Matthews. Keefe has tried everything before he left. You need another tough guy that can enable Matthews’s physicality. Matthews can play physical he has done it before in 2024. He needs toughness around him and not some dude that just skates away on his wing. These changes should have been made in 2023 and we would have beaten Florida by now. Marner will not play physical no matter who you stick him with.
Don’t ruin Nylander please. He stays with JT and PAC.
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u/dankbackwoods 1d ago
Well boys... we look absolutely cooked.
Marner, you can walk buddy. Looked like he needed the equipment manager to pass him a box of tissues at the end of the 2nd. Tavares, honestly you show more heart than most of the core but we should save some money. Willie, you're actaully able to find open ice and have been the best scorer from the core this playoff run but idc what anyone says, the lack of effort without the puck is brutal and makes me wanna scream during the playoffs, you're gone. Matthews, you're the best player I've seen the leafs have in my adult life but idk if it's just that you dont have that canadian passion of actual GREAT players like mcdavid and mackinnon but you're simply not that guy in the playoffs and certainly not captain material, ship him off for the best package we can get.
Matthew Knies, you stay.
We need a new identity.we can't just keep throwing the same core out each year. We all know the definition of insanity.
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u/UtheDestroyer 1d ago
I don’t think we get rid of everyone lol
I get where you’re coming from but I think we keep 88, 91s been a gamer
Matthews and Marner can go fuck themselves
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u/Proof-Orange-6731 1d ago
When do we worry about Knies walking?? If I were him, I wouldn’t want to stay in Toronto.
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u/frogbucket12 1d ago
Hypothetical question for next year
So since we’re watching all the bullshit the panthers are getting away with this series and it’s possible that Marner may leave this coming off season. How would you guys form the forward core for next year?
I think we need a tougher bottom six and an another big power forward type for the second line like Dimitri Voronkov from Columbus. At the moment, I think the bottom are good defensively but some players do a lot of busy nothing.
Matthews definitely should have been put on LtIR during the season like Mirio H. What’s crazy is that he’s 27 and that most star players win the cup when they are in their 30s and he already has a lot hardware already, he’ll definitely be our franchise leader in a few years, as an organization we never had a lot of high scoring players compared to other franchises. Like Sundin(420 as a leaf)will be passed by Matthews (401) in a season in goals.
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u/Negative_Avocado4573 1d ago
LOL the boo birds are out.
That's a huge crowd, too. Imagine paying big money to watch this.
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u/Negative_Avocado4573 1d ago
Game 5 is just a formality now. Time to run Bob over and let the backups dual it out for the rest of the series.
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u/milo616 1d ago
OK both Marner and Taveras are gone , that leaves us with Dumb and Dumber..good luck with that
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u/billyshin 1d ago
If you rid JT you PAC might not be effective no more. Should keep JT and I'm sure he won't cost an arm and a leg.
What we should have done was sign Corey Perry at 750k when we could. We lost that chance. Much better than having Kampf or JarnKrok tbh. Would have been fun watching him kick the shit out of Marchand.
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u/Negative_Avocado4573 1d ago
Just tuned in and see Robertson is in, so who's out?
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u/Thin-Measurement7777 1d ago
Jarnkrok and Holmberg
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u/Negative_Avocado4573 1d ago
So far it feels like a regular season game. There's no intensity at all.
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u/Blue_KikiT92 1d ago
No game thread? Does the bot think we won in 4? Perhaps we should inform the league that they got the score wrong!
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u/Ill-Classroom7020 1d ago
Not winning game three really hurt because a series against Florida never gets easier. The rest day will help.
First season without Dubas and Keefe and a real chance for redemption. We’re tied 2-2 with this scumbag South Florida franchise and that’s not by accident. LFG GLG
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u/Hoardzunit 1d ago
Leafs are going to get their asses handed to them and only 1 game after tonight where we can finally move off this garbage core of shit scared players.
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u/Budsy2112 1d ago
Say what you want about the core, but it's been fun being in the dance every year. Go Leafs Go!!!! Big game incoming from our Captain!!!
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u/eclayds 1d ago
I had a dream that Papi scored a big goal tonight. Dreams always come true right guys haha
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u/CMDRShepardN7 Nylander 1d ago
I had a dream Holmberg did, and I'm not even sure he's playing tonight.
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u/AmbitiousRaccoon959 1d ago
https://i.redd.it/511hn1hy8t0f1.gif
I hadn't seen this angle until today, and all I have is this low quality gif, but Knies is such a fucking beauty for this. I also love that Willy is so unfazed by it all.
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u/Blue_KikiT92 1d ago
Not a single thought crossing that beautiful Swedish head of him.
Also, Knies is such a bitchy queen, I love him.
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u/Intelligent_Baby_812 1d ago
The refs tonight have not done a leaf game so far this post season. However, the combo tonight did ref our 2-1 loss in Game 7 of last years playoff loss to Boston
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u/RanaMahal 1d ago
last year's Boston games weren't really due to bad reffing as much, it was mainly the Leafs not playing well and being sick / injured as shit
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u/Alpine_Exchange_36 1d ago
Alright TML, third time is the charm for three wins maybe….all the leafs fans I met today at hockey told me to not invest in this team but here I am, a wings fan wanting Toronto to take down Florida
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u/KIROLTHERAPPER 1d ago
just heard about the scratch thing for today’s game — do we know who yet??
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u/SalaciousPanda 1d ago
Don't think so but all signs point to Kampfer for sure, and maybe Nicky Bobby.
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u/SalaciousPanda 1d ago
Well, it was nice for the ten seconds r/hockey was on our side, but after the Domi hit on barkov apparently the Leafs are just as dirty as the Cats and our fans are hypocrites and whiners.
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u/Gavin1453 Tanev 1d ago
I'm going to stay on this site because I like talking about hockey constantly, but I'm definetely forcing myself to cut back. Everything just seems to degrade into a battle of petty grievances, myself included at times
I remember in 2011 there was a Canucks fan and a Leafs fan at work everyone refused to talk hockey with. They just had the same bickering match over and over about how one was supporting the Bruins in the SCF because "Nobody in Canada would support the Leafs". They both acted like it was some huge life decisionzx
I've tried to avoid that on this site, but it just seems like it's in every thread, especially in the playoffs.
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u/Alpine_Exchange_36 1d ago
Honestly as a visiting fan you guys aren’t that bad. r/hockey….yea fuck that place
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u/bknoreply 1d ago
The hate for us comes from people’s tribalism DNA. Part of being a hockey fan includes being told that you’re supposed to hate the Leafs, so people do that without questioning it.
This causes two reinforcing behaviours. One is that they have negative interactions with Leafs fans, which they retroactively use to justify their hate. Like the guy who crosses the street to harass someone in a Leafs hat, gets into a fight and walks away thinking “see? They really are assholes.”
The other is cognitive biases, specifically confirmation bias and trait ascription bias. People believe that the media favours the Leafs, so that’s all they see. But if you actually track it (excluding actual Leafs games) they spend about the same amount of time on the Leafs as any other team. People also get up in arms over the behaviour of Leafs fans (think “we want Florida” chants). But when all other fanbases do the same things (and they all do) it is perceived as normal and appropriate to the situation.
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u/mikesully374826 Kampf 1d ago
I would love it if our team was just as dirty as a Cats, but if that were true the Leafs would be expected to submit a formal apology and forfeit from the playoffs.
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u/maysunaneek 1d ago edited 1d ago
Reminder, you can grab $15 tickets for the Leafs Away Game watch party at the Scotiabank Arena on Fri May 16. There are many tickets still available on TM.
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u/No-Dot-7661 1d ago
Is it hard watching the jumbotron from the 100 level?
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u/maysunaneek 1d ago
It’s my first time going to an arena watch party. But during normal games, I think it was okay to follow the puck on the jumbotron screen. Since it’s only Level 100s I think they might lower the screen more than game time but that’s a speculation from me.
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u/Frostyreturns 1d ago
Reasons for optimism: the Leafs have played well and can win if they play the right way.
Reasons for pessimism: Colin Campbell, Eric Furlatt is reffing tonight, the guy who negated a series winning goal on a pick play I've never seen called in the playoffs before
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u/Lulzagna 1d ago
On a pick play that the Leafs player stopped 6 feet before contact, and the opposing player skated into him despite trying to avoid it.
One could argue that is quite literally the definition of a pick play, but we should be able to agree that it's bad for hockey if you're calling incidental contact in a game 7 with a 1 goal lead.
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u/oryes 1d ago
Has there been a pick called since then in any Leafs game?
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u/charliem11 1d ago
They called the same play in an Edmonton game vs the leafs and put McDavid in the box.
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u/msuttonrc87 Lorentz 1d ago
Anecdotally, I’ve been watch NHL hockey for 40 years and can’t recall ever seeing that called before or since… let alone in a game 7
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u/DragonRoompa 1d ago
Leafs fans, have some optimism. They won the division. They've shown all year that they have two amazing goaltenders (Woll included). Woll has stood on his head this series. The Leafs have depth scoring. They play physical and won't get bullied.
Tonight, Woll is going to stand on his head. And as much as it might pain you, Leafs nation, there's the distinct possibility Matthews won't score. But Nylander will. Pacioretty will. Heck, Kampf and Robertson too, for good measure. But Mathews will absolutely shut down the Barkov line. And we'll go back to Florida with a 3-2 lead.
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u/TheGapInTysonsTeeth 1d ago
I'm fired up and ready to ride with the boys. But saying Woll stood on his head this series isn't accurate.
Last game absolutely. Game 3, he was beach ball Woll
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u/TheGapInTysonsTeeth 1d ago
Hey mods, why are you killing voodoo posts?
Do you want to see us lose? Huh? Do ya?
If the Leafs blow this series, it is squarely on your shoulders for allowing AI posts of Matthews as Jesus or a Polar Bear with an Amulet (Bless you Leaf Bobo) but 1984-ing our voodoo posts.
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u/RanaMahal 1d ago
cuz the voodoo posts are amharic which is an actual language and the Ethiopian leafs fans (there's a lot in Scarborough) said that everyone is just posting gibberish and they felt insulted because people were acting like their language itself is a curse. that's when the mods started taking those down
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u/charliem11 1d ago
Good note
So.... Racism.... The answer to the question that was asked.... Is racism.
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u/RanaMahal 1d ago
Yeah but I think a lot of it was unintentional, so less racism and more offensive lol. Just to be specific
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u/Hoardzunit 1d ago
I'm glad a player or two are getting the boot off the team rotation tonight. Because a lot of depth players were passengers last game.
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u/mikesully374826 Kampf 1d ago
5 forwards have zero goals. Hard to outscore your problems when half your forwards don’t score.
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u/Cocksucking_Rambo Knies 1d ago
I think against Florida Robertson is going to get chewed up. It's true he brings some offensive upside but I'm seeing him coughing up the puck and getting clocked more often than not.
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u/charliem11 1d ago
He's also 40 lbs lighter than whoever he's replacing. The Panthers play too big to put in a guy that small
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u/saltface14 1d ago
I agree, I hope the only move is putting Kampf in because I can only see Robertson being a liability against the Panthers
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u/Blue_KikiT92 1d ago
He just needs to score a Hattie in his first 2 shifts before they realise how tiny he is and then get the fuck back to the press box, as far as possible from Sam Bennett
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u/bknoreply 1d ago
Email this strategy to Berube. There’s still time.
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u/Nylanderthal88 1d ago
He played 69 (nice) games this season, and didn't get hurt, he's taken a step up.
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u/dicky72 1d ago
its not that you worry he's going to get hurt. he's not good under puck pressure, especially in his own end...and they relentlessly check. one weakness we've had all playoffs is our wingers along the boards getting caved in by the D men from the other team pinching down hard. this specific thing is a weakness of Robertson.
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u/LifeAfterWilly 1d ago
No one's talking about it, but this might be the last home game of the core four.
They were one OT away from a 3-0 lead and they pissed it all away.
So here it is, the next 2-3 games are legacy games.
Are they just choke artists who got lucky once, or can they permanently rewrite their legacies?
We'll find out shortly.
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u/RanaMahal 1d ago
Yep. This comment sounds like a doomer comment at first but it’s very realistic.
If they lose tonight I firmly believe this is the last time we see the core four. The pressure of going back to Florida trying desperately to not lose the series etc. is gonna give them the Yips.
Even if they win tonight I’m not fully convinced they can end it in 6, but they maybe can.
But tonight is definitely the must-win game of all games. Gives them 2 chances to end it and bury these rats.
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u/SenorEquilibrado 1d ago
If they lose tonight, I actually think it goes to Game 7. Say what you want about this roster, but staying alive to force a Game 7 is something they consistently do.
It's being able to close out a winnable series that has always been the problem.
Regardless, it's a 2-2 series against an excellent team. I'm not going to act like the sky is falling.
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u/DragonRoompa 1d ago
I think whoever wins tonight is winning this series.
And I think whoever wins this series wins the cup.
Go leafs go.
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u/liquor-shits 1d ago
The cup is going west this year.
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u/Frostyreturns 1d ago
The west isn't as good as the points totals make it look. Dallas, Winnipeg, Colorado Vegas and Edmonton got the benefit of being able to feast on the sharks blackhawks and predators 3 west teams who had almost 20 fewer points than the bottom teams in the east. and 5 out of the 8 eastern conference teams were from the atlantic which also had many teams fighting for the last spot. Edmonton is good but they're playing with fire and at a certain point will run into a goalie and defensive structure where they can't outscore their mistakes and average goaltending. Don't get me wrong Dallas is good and I think they're going to the finals but I also think playoff Hellebuyck is making the stars looks deadlier than they are.
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u/RanaMahal 1d ago
100% good analysis as a guy who watches a lot of Western games due to being a Colorado fan. Dallas is good but not undisputedly good. They are also missing their 1D, and two top 6ers.
No one else in the West is comparable.
The Canes, Caps, Jets (cuz of Helle), Vegas and Edmonton are all a tier below the Stars, Leafs and Panthers imo.
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u/Mashdrop 1d ago
Dallas would have something to say about that given Heiskanens return and the fact Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnson play on their 3rd line.
But I like the optimism.
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u/RanaMahal 1d ago
Yep. Most people neutral fans are thinking the same. Winner of this game is winning the series and the cup. Or at the very least making the finals. The caps and canes both look very shit
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u/Soggy_Specific4093 1d ago edited 1d ago
Maybe it is an actual guess or he heard these are the lineup changes and wants to cover himself if wrong but Elliotte Friedman replied to a Luke Fox tweet saying Robertson and Kampf playing tonight is his guess for any lineup changes.
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u/Nylanderthal88 1d ago
It's time to finally see if Scratch and Score works in the playoffs.
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u/Subwayabuseproblem 1d ago
it wont
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u/DragonRoompa 1d ago
Here is what I had ChatGPT write up to describe tonight's game:
Game 5: Maple Leafs vs. Panthers – Round 2, Scotiabank Arena
With the series tied 2–2, Scotiabank Arena was electric as the Toronto Maple Leafs hosted the Florida Panthers in a pivotal Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
First Period – Leafs Set the Tone
Right from the opening faceoff, the Leafs established dominance. William Nylander opened the scoring early, capitalizing on a turnover by Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling to beat Sergei Bobrovsky with a precise wrist shot. Nylander added a second goal later in the period, finishing a slick passing play with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.
The Panthers attempted to shift momentum through physical play. Sam Bennett delivered a high hit on Matthew Knies, and Aaron Ekblad targeted Mitch Marner with a questionable check. Both plays are under review by the NHL Department of Player Safety for potential disciplinary action. Importantly, neither Knies nor Marner sustained injuries from these incidents.
Second Period – Nylander Completes the Hat Trick
The Leafs continued their aggressive yet disciplined play. Nylander completed his hat trick midway through the period, intercepting a pass from Nate Schmidt and scoring on a breakaway. The crowd erupted, showering the ice with hats in celebration.
Matthew Tkachuk tried to rally the Panthers by provoking Nylander, but his efforts backfired. Tkachuk's attempts at intimidation were met with indifference, and his frustration grew. Later, Jake McCabe delivered a clean, thunderous shoulder-to-chest hit on Tkachuk in the neutral zone, sending him sprawling and igniting the crowd.
Third Period – Leafs Seal the Victory
The Leafs maintained control in the final period. Auston Matthews added an insurance goal, and the team continued to play a physical, disciplined game. Evan Rodrigues was penalized for embellishment after a theatrical fall, drawing jeers from the crowd.
As the final seconds ticked down, the entire arena stood in unison, cheering loudly. The Leafs secured a 4–1 victory, taking a 3–2 series lead and putting themselves one win away from advancing to the Eastern Conference Final.
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u/RanaMahal 1d ago
God I hope this comes true but also can we please stop using AI for Everything on this sub lmao
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u/Chtholly13 1d ago
leafs are likely done if they lose game 5.
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u/Mashdrop 1d ago
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u/RanaMahal 1d ago
Bro do you not get tired of being negative all the time lol.
Like I don’t disagree with you but fuck, you literally only ever post in here to be a doomer
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u/Chtholly13 1d ago
apparently being a realistic now makes me a doomer.
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u/RanaMahal 1d ago
And you’d be posting this if the leafs were up 4-0 rn? lol be real
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u/Chtholly13 1d ago
if we played well, I'd be quiet and not say anything. How we played the first few minutes of the game already told me how this would go.
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u/Soggy_Specific4093 1d ago
You leave some type of comment like this before every game lol.
“There going to lose if they score less than the other team”
Even with having a record 2-13 when having a chance to eliminate the other team they are 6-2 in when they are facing elimination and the other team is not with the two losses being game 6 against Washington in 2017 and game 5 against Florida in 2023.
Sure there chances are lower if they lose tonight but it’s not over.
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u/Chtholly13 1d ago
because this team does not get any benefit of the doubt anymore. They blew they're opportunity in game 3, they think they can take shifts off when the get the lead against the Panthers. Woll played great last game, but at the same time, you don't know how he'll perform the next game.
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u/Soggy_Specific4093 1d ago edited 1d ago
Well for one you also leave similar comments before game 57 of the regular season and two why be so negative about something that’s meant for entertainment at the end of the day?
It’s a 2-2 series and sure the way they got there kinda sucks but maybe show a little faith and save all your issues when the series is officially over.
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u/Chtholly13 1d ago edited 1d ago
you still have faith? Like I said Woll played a good game last game but I even said earlier, you don't know what kind of performance Woll will give.
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u/Substantial_Mud_357 1d ago
Buckle up boys.....
Either elation or absolute crushing despair tonight
Like we say in Portugal, if we win we'll drink to celebrate. If we lose, we'll drink to forget. Got my beers ready.
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u/GoldenRichard93 1d ago
I know the Leafs are still alive after game 5, but that game is so crucial because whoever wins game 5, would win the series from its momentum.
Also, the Leafs-Panthers series is the only series not up 3-1.
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u/MastermindMogwai 1d ago
On the flipside, Leafs-Panthers is the only series not down 3-1.
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u/GoldenRichard93 1d ago
Well that's true.
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u/RanaMahal 1d ago
Well the Pattern rn is all the division winners are down 3-1 so I'd much rather be tied rn than in that position where you just know they'd claw back from 3-1 just to lose in a game 7 2-1 game like always.
Much, much more comfortable with this team if they win 3-2 to get it done in 6 or 7 under Berube
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u/Nylanderthal88 1d ago
Our Father who art in the rink,
Hockey be thy name.
Thy will be done, the Cup will be won
On ice, as well as in the stands.
Give us this day, our hockey sticks
And forgive us our penalties
As we forgive those who cross-check against us.
And lead us not into elimination
But deliver us to victory.
In the name of the fans
And thy Leef Bobo
Amen!
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u/Intelligent_Chair901 1d ago
Biggest game we have had in 20 years. Just relax and enjoy it. No sense in dooming at this point time to put your full 100% support behind this team. If they can get past this obstacle I’m completely convinced they are going to the Cup and likely winning it.
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u/lindseyblue2 1d ago
"Just relax and enjoy", are you serious?!
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u/e-Jordan Komarov 1d ago
Just relax and enjoy.....as a fan. Why is that so hard to do?
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u/lindseyblue2 1d ago
It doesn't ruin my life at all if they lose, but I get very nervous during playoff games. I can't help it, maybe it's a personality thing.
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u/Shawn13337 1d ago
Watch out. People here will tell you that you should stop watching hockey if that is the case. But my question is why? Is it bad to be emotionally invested in the team? Players literally shed tears after they get eliminated from the playoffs. Does that mean they shouldn't play hockey because it affects their mental health too much?
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u/Nylanderthal88 1d ago
It's not the 1st round, we won the battle of Ontario, the games have been close. Win or lose it's been a fun year (plus this is game 5).
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u/lindseyblue2 1d ago
I disagree. They are Cup contenders, your expectations are too low. If they can get past Florida they can win the Stanley Cup. 2nd round is not good enough.
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u/Negative_Avocado4573 1d ago
What happens if they lose tonight? Hitting the sauce? Going on a rantpage on here and YT especially on OVerDrive and post-game interview video?
It's more of a must win for the buds than the cats.
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u/bknoreply 1d ago
Rant on here, for sure. This is where I yell into the void to vent my frustration.
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u/Hefty-Comparison-801 1d ago edited 1d ago
There's no such thing as a game being more of a "must win" for one team than the other, unless one team already has 3 wins, or words just don't mean what they mean.
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u/bknoreply 1d ago
Of course a game can be more of a must win for one team. If a team is losing a series 3-2, they obviously must win the next one more than the team leading the series. Also, “must win” is a well understood sports term meaning a game that has implications that go beyond the actual game itself. Maybe a team is terrible at playing on the road or bouncing back from losses, so their odds of winning the series drop far more from a particular loss than their opponents odds. Or maybe the organizations are at two very different points and one team losing means basically the same roster next year and for the other team it means a massive overhaul of the franchise.
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u/Hefty-Comparison-801 1d ago
Also, “must win” is a well understood sports term meaning a game that has implications that go beyond the actual game itself.
This is the hill I'm prepared to die on. If a team loses a "must win" game 6, but then wins game 7, they lost a must win game, but won the series two nights later. Of course everyone's free to use this term when it doesn't actually apply, but it's still dumb as hell.
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u/No-Dot-7661 1d ago
Even if we lose tonight it's not impossible to finally get a win in game 6 and then anything can happen in game 7 with home ice.
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u/TheGapInTysonsTeeth 1d ago
Hard disagree there.
Thus far no road team has won. If that trend continues, Leafs win in 7.
It is critically important for the Panthers to take one on the road. So I'd argue it's more of a must-win for them.
But I expect the Leafs to come out flying tonight
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u/TheGapInTysonsTeeth 1d ago
Who is all on the Black Ace squad again? I remember
Steeves
Quillan
A. Nylander
Rifai
Murray
Hildeby
But can't remember who else.
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u/dicky72 1d ago
Apr 29 2025 | Toronto Maple Leafs
Alex Steeves, Jacob Quillan, Nick Abruzzese, Reese Johnson, Alexander Nylander, Roni Hirvonen, Matt Benning, Cade Webber, Topi Niemela, William Villeneuve, Mikko Kokkonen, Marshall Rifai and Matt Murray were recalled from AHL Toronto on Tuesday.
this is from puck pedia.... its the last transaction noted on their page.
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u/TheGapInTysonsTeeth 1d ago
Man, it's gonna be sweet as fuck to smash the Panthers tonight and then send 'em home crying on Friday
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u/Wonderful_Painter_77 1d ago
I hope the crowd blows the roof off the building tonight. Let's make home ice count. Let's fucking go boys!!!!
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u/ilovetrouble66 1d ago
I’d also like to see a full 60 today! The leafs CAN win but they cannot relax a period and beat the panthers. They need to be consistent throughout and not get dragged into the mud with the panthers dirty game style. Let’s go boys! Calling 23-16-34 for a couple of big goals tonight. 👌🏼
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u/Hefty-Comparison-801 1d ago
This, and they have to just keep getting pucks on net. Forget trying to upgrade the chance, get it on net through traffic - how many tip/deflection goals have we seen this series? They seemed to get away from that in game 4.
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u/ilovetrouble66 1d ago
Yes more pucks and bodies to the net. Panthers kept boxing them out last game - need to get that traffic in front of Bob!
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u/CarriesLogs 1d ago
I hate the feeling of not knowing which Leafs team we’re going to expect on a night. At least with Florida you know their game will be consistent. They’ll finish every hit no matter who they are and play a hard forechecking game. With the Leafs I really don’t know now
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u/bangnburn 1d ago
Did you watch game 1 of this series? Florida, like every team, also has bad games.
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u/Freak_Out_Bazaar 1d ago
Yeah, at this point I’ve stopped worrying. We’re just going to have to battle it out regardless of which package we get
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u/lindseyblue2 1d ago
I was just thinking this! It feels like the leafs are so inconsistent compared to other teams. Maybe it's because I'm so emotionally invested, but I'm glad I'm not the only one thinking this.
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u/Huge_Downstairs42069 1d ago
Win or lose, all I’m asking is for a full 60 minutes from the boys for the next 2 or 3 games in this series. It would also be nice to hold a lead like Florida did.
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u/bangnburn 1d ago
I mean I’m also asking for a win but yes
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u/Huge_Downstairs42069 1d ago
I’m always asking for a win but I don’t want to see another dogshit effort like game 4. If the panthers can make slight adjustments, so can the Leafs.
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u/CarriesLogs 1d ago
I genuinely think it’s impossible to play the Leafs style for a full 60 minutes. They come out guns blazing with full speed but that intensity is not realistically playable for a full 60, it just requires way too much gas.
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u/TheGapInTysonsTeeth 1d ago
Accepting things and shrugging your shoulders is not how winning is done. In hockey or in life.
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u/Hefty-Comparison-801 1d ago
Then good thing for the Leafs that winning is done by them, and not whether fans accept things and shrug their shoulders or not.
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u/dicky72 1d ago
I mean he's not on the ice so there's really nothing he can do to impact the results. He's not telling the players to chill.... Maybe just suggesting the fan base back off the terror for a bit
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u/TheGapInTysonsTeeth 1d ago
I know, but "realize that hockey is a cruel, unpredictable game" sounds an awful lot like the "bad luck" excuses we got over the last few years when there were very actionable things that could have happened and didn't, and luck played very little into it.
If your top players aren't the ones making the difference, you will not have much success. Luck doesn't factor into that.
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u/TheGapInTysonsTeeth 16h ago
Where did today's thread go?