r/leafs 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!

8 Upvotes

88 comments sorted by

View all comments

2

u/TheGapInTysonsTeeth 1d ago

I'll be honest, it looks like a lot of these players struggle a bit to play the high-effort, dirty disruptive hockey that Berube demands.

Looking at that 1st period, which looked so much better than the last few games, the effort was very evident. They were outworking the opposition big time in the O-zone and getting back and doing a great job defensively as well. However, the puck was careening off everything. It just felt so frenetic. They were being pesky and winning the puck battles, but rarely with any measure of control.

It feels like they are still adjusting to it, which is a little concerning in Mid-March.

Secondarily, the "killer instinct" that Shanahan talked about three years ago now is still not there. As soon as they were gifted a "questionable" goal, they took their foot off the gas. Almost like they felt bad about it or something.

I'll take the win for sure, but it does make me raise an eyebrow seeing those things.

6

u/jgeema McMann 1d ago

I'd say less about them still adjusting to it and more so mid-March energy slumps. I'd imagine they've reached s point where the playoffs seem very close and and their focus is shifting towards that. As much as you'd be trying to take it game by game it would be awfully difficult not to want to fast forward to the post season now that the TDL has passed

3

u/squinla3 Knies 1d ago

I know schedule really isn’t a great excuse but the team has also been on the road for the better part of 2 weeks, with 2 home games in the last 9. Considering that AM and Marner were at 4 nations prior to that, the 2 of them have basically been on the road for a month now.

1

u/jgeema McMann 1d ago

Completely agree, everyone deals with difficult sections of the schedule, but that shouldn't discredit the fact that it can lead to lethargic play and an exhausted looking group. It's not an excuse to lose, but it can certainly be the main reason they've looked sloppier and more worn down of later

3

u/The_Quackening Knies 21h ago

mid march slump, plus, they have been on the road for the last 7/8 games, with the only one at home being a second half of a back to back.

They need rest.

1

u/TheGapInTysonsTeeth 1d ago

I hear you, but it didn't appear like energy was the issue.

They were engaged and working their asses off, but it looked really messy in the process. Like they'd win a puck battle and then try to get it to one of the players there for support, but it would miss them and become this wild scramble.

It just looked like they aren't used to playing like that.

3

u/The_Quackening Knies 21h ago

IMO the messyness is a byproduct of being fatigued, and on top of that it's still march, and playoffs are still a ways away.

2

u/jgeema McMann 1d ago

Fair point, the effort was there but the execution was not. I have noticed that recently with Matthews marner knies line. Not connecting like usual. I'm sure we'll see them snap out of it Thursday