James Mirtle, Senior Managing Editor of The Athletic, chats with JD Bunkis about the case for changing the NHL playoff format, the Leafs’ lack of cohesive lines, the team’s defensive core, and the ongoing battle between Ilya Samsonov and Joseph Woll.
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#NHL #Hockey #MapleLeafs
28 Comments
Well this is a new excuse for the leafs 😂
Classic clown takes here from JD
The playoff format 100% needs to get scrapped. It needs to be 1 vs 8. I remember becoming a hardcore hockey fan when I was in high-school and in that last month of the regular season the narrative would change every other day. One team loses 2 in a row and drops a spots in the standings and another team wins 3 straight and they jump ahead to the top 4 to be in a position to have home ice in the playoffs. The last month or so was always the most exciting part of the season and now it is the polar opposite.
1 vs 8 there is no better method. This needed to be the main conversation at this week's GM meetings
The Bruins or Florida earned thru their good regular season records – the privilege to play the weak Leaf playoff team this spring. Just because the Leafs have zero playoff runs in 20 years – doesn’t mean the playoff system is broken.
The Fans deserve better.😀 The Core 4 is the common denominator for all these Leaf disappointments.😀
Done and gone in first round. Keefe gets fired some time after in summer. Tre gets some bigger D. Then Marner gets 12.5M…. this team will never go anywhere.
Definitely 1 vs 8 format is better since the playoff matches are getting set 20 games plus, before the playoffs. 1 vs 8 can have positions juggled till the end of season, makings things more interesting for the fans and the players have more to play for rather then the last 20 games dont matter, since you can't move up or down in the standings unless a huge winning streak or a huge losing streak.
Good show guys
Calling Philly trash after the leafs lost to them? I sensed a little stank on that when you said it JD lol
This is the time to prepare for the playoffs and get healthy. Good teams have earned the right to play lesser players, try new lineups, and rest people who need it.
How can people listen to this garbage? lol❄❄❄
🤡🤡🤡
If you want a better matchup, go win the division like you’re supposed to
Tampa likes it, Boston likes it, Florida likes it……..Who doesn't like it?
Sounds like the Leafs shouldn't be in the NHL…is there a softer league they can play in, that might suit them better?
Maybe hockey isn't for you?? Season too long, hockey is boring
Format 1vs16 i like this one better
Remember you had the all Canadian division, which you loved because you thought it favored you, how did that work!? I think you won't get the advantage you are looking for!
The Leafs had TWO premium opportunities against true bottom feeders in the Blue Jackets and Canadiens and BLEW IT. 😂
The amount of disrespect that Leafs fans and Toronto press has for other teams is amazing. Calling any team below them as weak or garbage is mind boggling. First, the Leafs are not sure to be in the playoffs. Second, they could be a wild card team any day now.
The fact that they "think" that they know which two teams they will meet in the playoffs does not make the format meaningless. They are probably the only team not fighting for something. Not the case of the other teams. This year is a pretty good year in terms of end of season drama.
I am old enough that I can remember that every format has been tried and every time people complain. The current format is fine.
They’ll never pick their opponent as long as Bettman is involved. All the owners are buddy buddy behind the scenes. Nobody wants to ruffle anyone’s feathers.
Two things can be true at the same time. The playoff format, as it is, does suck because the regular season is devalued by front loading the playoff match-ups. The teams with the the #2 and #4 best conference records should not be playing in the first round, simply because they're in the same position. What's the point of finishing with that good of a record if your reward is another top team? Thus, the match-ups get less intriguing the further playoffs go.
That being said, if the Leafs are supposed to be so good, they should find the motivation to play better so that they can be ready once the playoffs start. Trying to blame their locked-in playoff positioning for the reason the team has no motivation to perform st their best is a cop out. Rather it be pre-season, early season, late season or the playoffs, the common denominator is this team is soft and they have poor defensive structure. And it starts with tje highest-paid players who are suppoded to be the leaders.
That’s a leaf’s problem bro 😂 team has to do a better job to stay committed. It’s the NHL 🤡
1 – 8 is the best playoff format, Leaf's aren't doing anything in the playoffs this year, its not their year. Also I will be happy once they fire Keefe, he's not the guy, If he hasn't figured it out yet then he never will in Toronto….
Beautiful a new excuse for the laffs suckiing but the referees is still my favorite 😂 32:04
They have to go back to 3-2-1 in addition to your observations
Sounds like the Leafs think they just deserve a cup for existing. A format change isn’t going to change the culture problems Toronto has.
Anyone enjoying the exciting race in the Central?…..let's end that because…Toronto needs more help