Each Loss Isn’t a Referendum on the Toronto Maple Leafs
By James Tanner
The Toronto Maple Leafs can’t win for losing.
When the Toronto Maple Leafs were on fire, it was “the regular season doesn’t matter” but when they were struggling, it was “this team better shape up.”
To be honest, it’s pretty annoying, but without any forward progress (at least the visible kind) it’s pretty hard to avoid.
It is no longer about the future, and its no longer just good enough to have a great team (even though six straight trips to the playoffs, and the accumulation of experience deserve more love).
But realizing this, it’s still silly to get bent out of shape about their record against bad teams.
It’s partly a fluke, and it’s partly because it’s a long season and the playoffs have been decided since November.
To be honest with you, losing by one goal to the Blue Jackets when Auston Matthews and Ilya Samsonov aren’t playing doesn’t matter. Tampa lost 7-1 to Florida last week then followed it up by losing to the Sharks. I’m sure they’re fine.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Blue Jackets
It wasn’t a good game. The Leafs were better in two of three periods, but there isn’t a lot you can say about how bad they were in the second.
Overall, they ended up the loss because their goalie was terrible and their two most important players weren’t in the lineup. They should have won anyway, but they didn’t. Oh well.
Elvis Merzlikens – who otherwise isn’t very good – always does amazing against the Toronto Maple Leafs for reasons no one knows or really, even cares about. That’s just the way it is.
The coach was the biggest problem in my opinion. Liljegren has been the Leafs most effective defenseman for two years now, and I’m not sure what it’s going to take for Keefe to realize that playing a top pairing of Rielly-Brodie isn’t the best iteration of this lineup. (naturalstatrick.com).
The Leafs blue-line is the most interesting thing about the trade deadline in my opinion. On one hand, Justin Holl is the obvious place to upgrade. On the other, he’s also their only physical player on the blue-line, they play him a ton, and he’s one of two righties on the roster.
The contracts of Rielly and Giordano make them unmovable for different reasons.
That leaves only Liljegren, Sandin and Brodie. Two of whom are the team’s best defenseman, and one of whom is 33 this year with a limited NTC.
Next. Three Leafs Who Will Probably Be Traded. dark
It will be interesting to see what happens. A lot more interesting than last night’s game.