Simmons: Raptors are everything the Leafs are not

[Badonkadonk]

The leafs also did what everything you could ask for. Bring in new, brightminded, up and coming leaders like Shanahan, hire a reputable coach with a competent scouting staff who draft the best players. They definitely drafted the best players you can ask for, they attracted a major free agent, and they locked in everyone for the forseeable future. They did everything right...

Despite all of that, they **** suck. The core of Matthews, Nylander, Tavares, Marner is skilled but extremely soft. The only toughness in this team is provided by Gauthier. They really should've kept Kadri. The return was good at the time, but I feel that Kerfoot and Barrie have been meh at best.

The GM doesn't seem too bright. Analytics this, analytics that. give whatever that's asked for in contract negotiations.

Lou Lamirello was running this team properly. You can say the Leafs are the New York Knicks of the league.

I like what Simmons is doing. Stir that pot, make these fans wake up, spending almost vacation money at the ACC for a weekday **** game. people need to stop watching until they start winning, leaf fans have proven to be pretty loyal.

Dubas also has made the same mistake Colangelo did when he first took over the Raptors and that's build a team
all about offense and have no regard for defense. But I agree with you that Dubas has built the softest hockey team
I've ever seen in my entire life at any level both physically and mentally this is the biggest collection of wimps ever
assembled.

It's amazing the decades go by and the players and coaches and management change but the Leafs always remain
the same embarrassment.

If I was MLSE I'd probably pay Ujiri and Nurse to give Shanahan, Dubas and Babcock seminars on how to win in
sports. I'd also get the Raptors scouts to teach the Blue Jay scouts how to scout properly.

The Blue Jays scout just fine and have a great development system. The issue was Alex trading so much of it away. The Jays are a homegrown 2021 team.

Alex ended trading away trash for the most part. He was a strong deal maker. That JD trade will be hard to top in the future.

The current FO has been absolute garbage outside of the Stroman deal and their "High Performance" team has had spotty results (and been criticized by ex-players). That said, ownership is the biggest problem with the Jays; they're the only Toronto team that spends like small market outfit.

[LLJ]

Steve Simmons sucks.

But the Leafs need a change for sure. They're plateaued in their development as a team. Maybe they have to move the coach.

[fbalmeida]

I actually think they're at the very beginning of their ascension to dominance. I mean... Marner, Nylander, and Matthews are 22, 23, and 22, respectively. That's an outrageously young core of talent to build around long term. And they will be improving their games year after year.

I'm just not entirely convinced Babs is the guy to take them to the promised land during that process.

[will]

Leafs playing soft.

[Harcore Fenton Mun]

Dog whistle for puck heads.

[MixxSRC]

why Raps always gotta be compared to Leafs. Raps can't just be successful without people wondering why Leafs are not.

[artsncrafts]

Blame Dubis.
I was good with Tavares signing.
But he needed to draw a line in the sand, and say no one gets more then Tavares period.
And hell no to Nylander

Nylander contract is much better than Marner contract.

[tecumseh18]

Fodder for another thread, but I'd submit that to have an understanding of how curses and karma work, they would first have to be real things.

Bill Barilko disappeared that summer
He was on a fishing trip
The last goal he ever scored
Won the Leafs the cup
They didn't win another 'til nineteen-sixty-two
The year he was discovered ...

Proof enough for you, James Randi?

[fbalmeida]

Fodder for another thread, but I'd submit that to have an understanding of how curses and karma work, they would first have to be real things.

Bill Barilko disappeared that summer
He was on a fishing trip
The last goal he ever scored
Won the Leafs the cup
They didn't win another 'til nineteen-sixty-two
The year he was discovered ...

Proof enough for you, James Randi?

The Leafs won the cup in April. Barilko wasn't found until June.
But even if the dates were reversed, it would still be a load of hokey.

[WildWolfdog]

Blame Dubis.
I was good with Tavares signing.
But he needed to draw a line in the sand, and say no one gets more then Tavares period.
And hell no to Nylander

Why?

[ATLTimekeeper]

I actually think they're at the very beginning of their ascension to dominance. I mean... Marner, Nylander, and Matthews are 22, 23, and 22, respectively. That's an outrageously young core of talent to build around long term. And they will be improving their games year after year.

I'm just not entirely convinced Babs is the guy to take them to the promised land during that process.

This is the reality. They have several years to mess this up. It's easy to complain that they're not ascending, but it's not even a league where regular season success means all that much.

[Detective]

Haven't watched a Leafs game, full or otherwise, since around 2005 or so. Ed Belfour was the goalie back then, iirc.

Don't regret it at all.

[KL78192020]

Jeez they got wrecked tonight.

[WuTang_CMB]

Dubas also has made the same mistake Colangelo did when he first took over the Raptors and that's build a team
all about offense and have no regard for defense. But I agree with you that Dubas has built the softest hockey team
I've ever seen in my entire life at any level both physically and mentally this is the biggest collection of wimps ever
assembled.

It's amazing the decades go by and the players and coaches and management change but the Leafs always remain
the same embarrassment.

If I was MLSE I'd probably pay Ujiri and Nurse to give Shanahan, Dubas and Babcock seminars on how to win in
sports. I'd also get the Raptors scouts to teach the Blue Jay scouts how to scout properly.

The Blue Jays scout just fine and have a great development system. The issue was Alex trading so much of it away. The Jays are a homegrown 2021 team.

Alex ended trading away trash for the most part. He was a strong deal maker. That JD trade will be hard to top in the future.

The current FO has been absolute garbage outside of the Stroman deal and their "High Performance" team has had spotty results (and been criticized by ex-players). That said, ownership is the biggest problem with the Jays; they're the only Toronto team that spends like small market outfit.

he's a putz

[mrsocko]

The Blue Jays scout just fine and have a great development system. The issue was Alex trading so much of it away. The Jays are a homegrown 2021 team.

Alex ended trading away trash for the most part. He was a strong deal maker. That JD trade will be hard to top in the future.

The current FO has been absolute garbage outside of the Stroman deal and their "High Performance" team has had spotty results (and been criticized by ex-players). That said, ownership is the biggest problem with the Jays; they're the only Toronto team that spends like small market outfit.

he's a putz

Why’s she wearing the drapes.

[omar36]

seems like a simple fix. either fire babcock and get a HC who can utlize these type of palyers not force them to play a style they just arent good at or trade them for players more suited for babcocks old school style of playing heavy and grinding.

this idea of grit is dumb, skill should overpower teams. warriors outsdie of green were pretty soft (kd/steph/klay0 but it didnt matter bc their skill just destroys anyone. leafs need to ply to their strengths and they cant do that when babcock is leading.

he is their mark jackson. when hes gone, they will be fine.

[Westside Gunn]

seems like a simple fix. either fire babcock and get a HC who can utlize these type of palyers not force them to play a style they just arent good at or trade them for players more suited for babcocks old school style of playing heavy and grinding.

this idea of grit is dumb, skill should overpower teams. warriors outsdie of green were pretty soft (kd/steph/klay0 but it didnt matter bc their skill just destroys anyone. leafs need to ply to their strengths and they cant do that when babcock is leading.

he is their mark jackson. when hes gone, they will be fine.

you cannot get past boston without some toughness. its a full contact sport

[fbalmeida]

Babcock is really asking for that severance pay.

[dublo7]

Basically, though in a way magical - the Leafs need a hockey Masai Ujiri. Does such a hockey person exist, and would they want to take on the hockey version of the NY Knicks? I'm a fan of leafs and raptors but, unfortunately since Ive been out of toronto, I almost never see the leafs win and am tired of weak recent playoff success. the buds are a turnstile that makes so much money in a place that just loves hockey no matter how good the team is. One day the leafs will be playoff contenders, but I m pretty sure it won't be during this raptor dynasty. I hope I'm wrong.

[RaptorMan33]

I like this statement:

"But you look at the Raptors today and love who they are and what they are. You can’t help it.
Then you look at the Leafs and wonder what the hell has gone wrong with this team."

Like how people love Daniel Bryan, even though Vince shoves Roman Reigns down our throats.

Wrestling is fake.