2025-26 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion

[ZBBM]

This is an interesting discussion about playstyle but it's all academic unless Matthews can — somehow — get back to pre-2024/25 form. We are a month in and he has, what, one 5 on 5 goal? I've missed most of the games but in those I've seen he's mostly been on the same level as last year: good, responsible, but not changing the event.

We are a month into things, and there is no real sign that he is "over" whatever the hell his problem is. It's too early to say for sure, but we have to entertain the possibility that we've seen Peak Matthews. If that's so, then the team has already squandered its best chances for a Cup.

 

[cabber24]

This is an interesting discussion about playstyle but it's all academic unless Matthews can — somehow — get back to pre-2024/25 form. We are a month in and he has, what, one 5 on 5 goal? I've missed most of the games but in those I've seen he's mostly been on the same level as last year: good, responsible, but not changing the event.

We are a month into things, and there is no real sign that he is "over" whatever the hell his problem is. It's too early to say for sure, but we have to entertain the possibility that we've seen Peak Matthews. If that's so, then the team has already squandered its best chances for a Cup.

A short-term contract may have been a mistake.

 

[Arn]

The Dom article quoted is racially agreeing with what I said a few days ago, but with more evidence.

I also agree that Matthews isnt where he was.

I wonder how much of that might also be the play style and the players he’s now surrounded with.

Not saying the play style is the difference between 70 goals and 35, but could it be the difference between 35 and 45 goals?

But yeah, I’m basically out on Berube (and Treliving) as being the right options. As with Herman I’m not averse to the theory of what he wants to do. But I don’t think he’s also taking what the players do have onto account to mould his system around what they can do.

I’ve been taking a lot of time to watch a lot of other NHL, mostly in highlight form but other full games too. There are a lot of teams who are playing exciting winning hockey. Many of them without the high end individuals available to Toronto.

There’s some very young teams who are going to be making waves and pushing some older teams out of playoff qualification contention a lot sooner than maybe we’d like.

 

[Chris]

Wouldn't it be something if the Leafs were to can Berube around mid-season and then the new coach helped propel them to a Cup. Kind of the reverse-Berube effect.

I suspect the Leafs will pull themselves out of it enough to make the playoffs and keep Berube's job safe for now. I still think they could do damage in the playoffs (IF they make it) if one or both of the goalies get hot, Tanev returns to form, Matthews starts impacting games and everyone gets on the same page system-wise. Hmm, that's a lot of ifs...

 

[Arn]

Wouldn't it be something if the Leafs were to can Berube around mid-season and then the new coach helped propel them to a Cup. Kind of the reverse-Berube effect.

I suspect the Leafs will pull themselves out of it enough to make the playoffs and keep Berube's job safe for now. I still think they could do damage in the playoffs (IF they make it) if one or both of the goalies get hot, Tanev returns to form, Matthews starts impacting games and everyone gets on the same page system-wise. Hmm, that's a lot of ifs...

I know if your granny had balls she’d be your grandad and all that, but, imagine one of the Keefe coached sides got the goaltending stats that Berube got last year.

Keefe’s teams never really got anything like that and went out of the playoffs early cos they didn’t score enough to overcome that, so almost any goals conceded were backbreakers. But at least they generally scored a lot and had the potential to score and they were fun to watch during the regular season. With skilled players doing fun things.

This Leafs team looks like it also won’t score. It’s not actually defending any better. But its deficiencies were hidden last season by the goaltending bailing them out. All they’ve really done is make it worse. And they’ve killed that offensive side completely.