Mailbag: Why did the Leafs suck?

Then go up against the Jets, who take themselves out (Dylan DeMelo, Mark Scheifele) one by one by injury or suspension.

All the while, the Canadiens younger players (Nick Suzuki, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Cole Caufield) gain the kind of experience that Matthews and Marner can only wish for.

While the veterans GM Mark Bergevin brought in for the playoffs (Erik Staal, Corey Perry, Joel Edmunston) thrive at the time of year they were built for. (Remember, Perry was on waivers at one point.)

If the Canadiens get through to the semifinals, the tell-tale sign of their destiny would lie in the continued healthy of, say, Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, Mikko Rantanen, Cale Makar and Phillip Grubauer. If there are suddenly a lot of pulled groins, oh my.

To the Mailbag, where I mostly let you rant. I’ll sit back and listen. Keeping this mostly to Leafs. Though that asked about TV contracts and LTIR, we’ll get to those next week. If you have a question, email me at askkevinmcgran@gmail.com and I’ll answer it next time.

QUESTION: Hello again. In a word I would have to describe this year’s version of the Maple Leafs as fragile: not unlike a beautiful but flawed piece of stained glass that shatters at the slightest unfortunate touch.

One of the more interesting (unverified) tidbits I heard on local sports radio post-Game 7 was that, of the 17 highest-salaried players in the NHL, only 1, Carey Price, is still in the playoffs. It certainly appears that spending $40 million on four players left the Leafs without even three, let alone four, productive lines when it counted. (Or in the case of the last three games, no productive lines at all.) My question: Do you think a healthy John Tavares might have made a difference in Round 1?

David K

ANSWER: A healthy Tavares would have made all the difference. Not easily replaced. They probably win Game 1. They were rattled after that hit. We’re probably having a different conversation.

QUESTION: Hi Kevin. What do you think is the cause of Matthews’ and Marner’s lack of production in the playoffs?

Sure, they will be seeing even more defensive coverage and constant shadowing compared to what they’re used to during the regular season but top players find a way around that.

One or two games and maybe I’d say it’s an aberration. That can happen. But six games this year combined with last year’s lack of results makes me wonder what’s going on. If this were their first ever playoff series perhaps age and experience could be an excuse. But it’s not. They’ve each had a good taste as to what playoff hockey is all about during the last few years.

Maybe Keefe is being out-coached? Maybe Matthews and Marner had hockey success come so easily when they were younger that they don’t know how to react or create that extra gear when faced with adversity? I don’t know.

And the defensive argument that they’re not being scored upon while on the ice is kind of irrelevant to me — these are the two guys who are supposed to make sure the goal light behind Carey Price gets lit.

I’m not questioning their desire and no doubt they’re frustrated too but what we’re seeing is perplexing.

Todd C

ANSWER: Interesting that their playoff numbers under Mike Babcock were fine. Matthews had 10 goals over his first 20 playoff game under Babcock, three in 12 under Keefe. (He did get five points in seven games). Ditto Marner, 17 points (including five goals) in 20 Babcock playoffs. No goals, eight assists in 12 Keefe playoffs. Remember when Babcock got fired and everyone was finally happy Matthews and Marner would play together? Maybe Babcock was on to something.

QUESTION: Hey Kevin. I finished watching the post-game interviews. As imagined the Leafs answers were predictably scripted and canned, but surprisingly, the questions being asked by reporters were non-challenging and generic as well. Why baby these guys? This collapse was a disaster! As a fan, I want to see the players being held more accountable here.

There is another issue that I have - The majority of stories I read after Game 5 were overconfident that the Leafs were going to close out the series without a problem. Throwing praise at the players, coaches and management. At the time it seemed manipulative and at the least, premature and irresponsible towards the reader. Hadn’t they ever heard of comebacks and choke-jobs? Sooooo, my second question is, how dare they throw low-ball questions during the final post game interview of the season? Lol, is everyone scared?

Thanks Kevin!

Cheers, Stacey M

ANSWER: Thanks Stacey. First off, reporters are not fans. We’re not kicking and screaming in anger at the TV. We each have our own agenda, our own stories to write and need answers to fill those particular themes, and our own deadlines. Though it might make fans feel better to hear it, a reporter would never ask: “How come you suck?” It’s not our job to make them accountable. It’s their job to be accountable to each other and to their fans. Morgan Rielly was particularly accountable, so was Jack Campbell. Auston Matthews offered up cliches (a “game of inches”), Mitch Marner seemed petulant. They showed themselves in their answers without reporters asking incendiary questions.

QUESTION: Hi Kevin. After the implosion in yet another Game 7, I say don’t jettison the core: they need more time. I remember how for YEARS, it seemed like everyone criticized Alex Ovechkin: choker; no killer-instinct; only wants money; Sidney Crosby is in his head; Russians can’t play team games, etc.. In the Olympics or other international hockey, the Russians with Ovechkin would get booted out in the first round or so and the same intense criticism started all over again. Eventually, the Capitals got the job done. So patience. I think the extended, multi-year criticism levelled at Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom (fancy but soft) is similar to what is being levelled at Matthews and Marner now. These guys did well when they were kids and winning was easier, but maybe now (I hope) they realize how hard it is to win in the NHL and push themselves to the next level.

As for the rest of the team, not sure what the expansion will bring/take-away. But for next year I think the Leafs need a SOLID third-line centre. And I wonder about goaltending. Freddie Andersen is likely gone. Jack Campbell seems very hard on himself. Do you know if it is because he is nice and doesn’t want to blame his teammates? Or is he susceptible to a mood disorder? Both? Are Joseph Woll or Ian Scott anywhere close to being ready to be rotated into the lineup to backup (presumably) Campbell next year?

Chris in Markham

ANSWER: Ovie’s Capitals at least used to win a round or two. But yes, more time is always a safe answers. They’ll have some money for a 1B, maybe Mike Smith. I don’t think Woll or Scott are anywhere close. They brought in European free agent goalie Erik Kallgren, 24, who put up some decent numbers in the Swedish league. He’s a former Coyotes draft pick.

QUESTION: Well. On the plus side, we get to go back to the regular division format and face Boston or Tampa Bay in round one and face a team we are supposed to lose to. Oops – let me rethink that.

Seriously, Kevin – where does this organization go from here? Seems to me that no matter how many gritty, ‘character, good in the locker room’ guys you add if your $22M top two forwards score four less goals than the defence core over a seven game span, the playoff season is going to be nasty, brutish and short. But as much as I’d like to blow up this roster, send Marner to Edmonton or Columbus, I can’t help but think of all the years Washington flamed out in the first or second round before winning the Cup. Admittedly, they’re back to the early round flame out thing, but at least they won one. From my perspective, I’d take it. What’s your take? A young friend of mine suggested swapping Marner for the negotiating rights for Seth Jones, something to tremble the foundations: Think early 90s Blue Jays – Tony Fernandez and Fred McGriff for Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter. Big changes coming, or more tinkering with the status quo?

Sad to see another season end, and hope you will keep us in the loop over the summer.

Allan H

ANSWER: Thanks Allan. I like the Blue Jays analogy. You may see me use it. Gotta admit I hated seeing Fernandez and McGriff go, until I saw how good Alomar was. (At least as a baseball player.) I don’t get the sense the Leafs possess any such imagination.

QUESTION: Hi Kevin,

I just stumbled upon your article These Maple Leafs are different  and I was wondering what exactly is so different about the Leafs this year?

Carlos R

ANSWER: Nothing, it turns out.

QUESTION: Hello Kevin. Here we are again with no Leafs’ hockey, just what ifs and what nows and what the heck just happened? Oh, and your mailbag, think goodness.

I miss Uncle Leo. I think the Leafs do too.

My question: How good is Kyle Dubas at assessing secondary talent (and how other teams rate such players)? Players including Travis Boyd, Jimmy Vesey got snapped up when Leafs put them on waivers. Connor Brown had a darn good year. In these playoffs, Pierre Engvall and Ilya Mikheyev skated. Aside from needing an adjusted game plan after Game 5, the Leafs needed some guys who could cope with heavy traffic and score.

Thanks for your great work on hockey and virus topics.

Greg in Peterborough

ANSWER: I think Dubas is a superior talent in assessing players. Boyd and Vesey were grabbed by a team struggling for wins. They were ultimately replaced by better players. Alex Galchenyuk, for example, and Nick Foligno. Waivers this year were trickier than most, a calculated risk on a team strapped to the limit by the cap. They had no manoeuvrability. That teams couldn’t wait for the Leafs to put a team on waivers speaks to how well the Leafs are at attracting players. If you’re suggesting teams would take Engvall or Mikheyev on waivers, you’re wrong.

As for Brown, I sigh every time I see him. Brown was the carrot the Senators needed to take on so much salary from the Leafs. The Leafs biggest mistake in my mind was signing Patrick Marleau to a three-years, $18 million. Brown lost his job to Marleau, ultimately making him expendable. Then Marleau even had to be traded along with a first-round pick to get out from under that contract.

QUESTION: Hi Kevin. Sorry to hit you twice in one week with emails, but, when, oh, when are we going to see this kind of crap taken out of the game? Wonder what Paul Maurice would have to say if it was Jake Evans that hit Scheifele in the same manner? I’m guessing ‘dirty and disgusting’, might be in there. Mario Lemieux’s ‘garage league’ rules. Will George Parros give Evans a couple of games for not expecting to get mugged? Thanks for letting me get that off my chest!

Allan H

ANSWER: I think the Parros got it right this time. I was expecting two or three games. I’ve got my own thoughts on why the Mark Scheifele hits happen: Because the refs let the game get out of hand. Basically star players are mugged repeatedly in the playoffs with no calls. Everyone calls it “big boy” hockey. See any stars in the playoffs? If the refs can’t muster up the courage to call an infraction, then call off-setting minors and let’s watch some 4-on-4. Then let’s see some talent play without the muggings.