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Originally Posted by megadude
It's hard to win in the NHL with the salary cap and parity. And so many teams. So I'll give the Leafs that. But they should have gone in a different direction two years ago at least in terms of the HC. They needed to see if a new coach could have changed their style or at least their intensity in the playoffs. Keefe is not exactly an intense guy. Mike Keenan or Torts is not needed to win, but someone closer to that end of the spectrum might help. I mean, Jon Cooper is definitely not one of those guys and he's won plenty, so a hard ass can be avoided.
Anyway, I'm sick and tired of management not having the balls to fire the coach. He seems like a good, likeable guy that I'd want to be friends with. But it's sports. People get fired all the time and they are well compensated for it.
Every team with high end talent has a window of opportunity to win. I hate to see it being wasted. It's exactly what's happening here. Should have gone a different direction with the coach 2-3 years ago and see how that worked out. If that didn't work out then do it again. At least you tried.
I mean, the lack of goals makes it pretty obvious that something isn't working and they needed to try something else. But what do I know, I'm just a casual fan. Then again, I know not to make the dumb decisions that hockey lifers in the old boys club make when it comes to hiring/firing and trades/contracts. So yeah, it makes it frustrating when any one of us here could do better as GM or at least no worse.
EDM has the right idea. I know they play in an easier division, but they don't seem stale to me and the Leafs very much do. As exciting as the Leafs are to watch, with their offensive stars, the team feels stale because it's the same HC. For God's sake, try something different! Grow a pair!
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I agree with the sports writers who have been saying a management clear-out is in the offing if TML fails early in the playoffs.
This was year 10 of the "ShanaPlan" and it's time for a new one under different leadership. The team is a lot better than it was before 2014, but apparently it's just good enough to break the hearts of its fanbase.
I don't think a massive salary dump is needed either. But some of those high-priced players can go, to help draft new talent - Marner should command a good return in trade, and I'd probably get rid of Tavares too though his value may be higher at next year's trade deadline. Better defence and a consistent winner between the pipes would really help. I'm not sure I'd want to trade Nylander, and to me Matthews is untouchable.