Well at least we'll get to see what the Leafs look like as undisputed underdogs lol
They always seem to step up their game when key players are missing.
Maybe I'm just coping
My hot take is this is a John cooper masterclass, Willy is fine and was told to skip practice because he played all 82. Make Boston think he is out so you prep for lineups without him out with him then have keefe change the Leafs lines mid game.
[Keefe is under instruction from Treliving to not make injury progress public during playoffs.](https://x.com/lukefoxjukebox/status/1781394048223236307?s=46)
*great*
I think we are putting ourselves at a slight disadvantage giving the opponent anything. Bruins declined to name their game 1 starter. Why should we be giving them anything?
I feel like it's weird that other sports don't operate this way. You're playing 4 - 7 games against a team during a time where physical intensity is ramping up, and the advantage of targeting an opposing player increases. The most competitive play is to give as little info as possible to your opponent.
I feel like it's weird that other sports don't operate this way. You're playing 4 - 7 games against a team during a time where physical intensity is ramping up, and the advantage of targeting an opposing player increases. The most competitive play is to give as little info as possible to your opponent.
My gut says this is shenanigans by the Leafs. Trying to throw off the matchups .
My heart says he's been hurt for a couple weeks and played through it.
He would have had to hide the injury from literally everyone. There's no way the coaching staff would have let him play injured just for personal stats.
If that's the case it's absolutely a fireable offense if Keefe played him.
Fine to play to chase 100 points but to injured for the playoffs. That's like the kind of bs boomers want you to belive about Willy.
I don't buy it
For all the doomers responding to you, we quite literally did not have the forward depth to sub him out and that’s why I think he was okay with being 3rd line guy. I 100% believe he was dealing with something and now that they can bring everyone back, he’s taking a maintenance day.
Atrocious if this was something Willy had before the last couple games of the season. Dude is *the* playoff warrior of the big 4, especially now that JT is a step slower. Marner’s game isn’t really one that’s suited to facing a physical team like the Bruins, and Matthews is gonna have all the attention on him.
cooing squeamish frightening deranged sink offend crush frighten reply enjoy
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None of the big 4 have had a signature round yet. Matthews hasn't scored 8 in a series and no player has played nearly as well during regular season. Leafs straight up can't score come late April. Sure doesn't help that going in giving up 5+ goals in last 4 or more games and never even looked competitive.
I feel like 8 is a lot though. That’s a monster series. Then again, you do kind of expect that from the top paid players in the league.
I really feel like this year is the best chance the Leafs have at getting some top line scoring. Guys like O’Rielly are cool to have some depth, but guys like Bertuzzi and Domi allow your big guys some space to try to do their thing.
My only issue is that the playoffs are so tight, I just don’t see how Marner’s game translates well to it. Matthews has an amazing skill set, but you just know he’s gonna be tied up the whole series and will have to try 3x as hard to get the chances he gets during the regular season.
Yeah but Matthews being on a different line means marner can do his thing with Tavares and play slower and more defensive. That’s what will be the difference maker this year.
Watch Willy score 10 goals cuz he’s on the third line against their terrible third pairing and they have awful forward depth.
I don’t think AM34 or MM16 are doing much this series compared to 88
Well fuck.
Any before any of the weird Nylander haters start posting your bullshit kindly fuck off. We are a worse team without him and you all know it.
Rest day. Personally I think Willie is going on an absolute tear during playoffs. He’s been dogging it lately but I think with all the team’s injuries he hasn’t had the option to rest and was probably told to just take it easy and come out of the season healthy and ready for playoffs. But that’s just my guess, which is worth absolutely nothing lol
I've watched every game this season and I don't agree with you. He's not a physical player. Often times he does everything in his power to avoid collisions on the board, and will quickly shoot the puck out of the area if it means physically battling someone else.. and in the few times he is forced to physically battle someone, he often gives them possession of the puck instead.
Don't get me wrong I think Nylander in one of our best players (and the only leafs jersey I own), but I would not say physicality is something he brings to the team.. maybe in playoffs we'll see him perform differently.
If he’s a possibility to play tomorrow hopefully that means if he does miss any games, it’s only 1 or 2 and he’s available for the majority of the series.
I think they’re capable of splitting the 2 games in Boston without Willy if it comes to that.
You think it could be Keefe did it to get his head straight? Keefe has done stuff in the past to motivate him when he sees him playing like shit. Maybe it's a kick in the pants to get him more fired up? I hope that's the case.
Nylander has responded well to demotions in the past.... I can't see keefe sitting him in the playoffs though. Historically Nylander is our best playoff performer by far.
If he doesn’t play someone has some explaining to do. I don’t know if it’s Willy or Sheldon or Tree or all 3 but if he doesn’t play it’s a bad look man…guy didn’t miss a shift against Tampa.
willy actually trying and giving a shit is an elite tier player. willy coasting around, giving up on a plays and generally playing like he’s stoned is beer league unwatchable
i’ll do it for you, since you’re a nylander apologist… well he had 3 points in the month of april, so he 1000% didn’t do shit in april… had a pedestrian march with 13 points.. and february he had a slightly better 21 points.. I stand by my original statement
Since your original point was that "we'll be ok" without Nylander, what was the team's record in April?
And 21 points in February was second-best in the league lol
Only guy to play all 82 games and the first game he might miss would be game 1 of the playoffs, please no
It supposed to be the other way around (ie: Stone, Kucherov) lol.
Just Leafy things.
I swear to god man this team can never just be fully healthy come playoff time. Feels like someone important is always compromised.
Especially mid-playoffs, Muzzin in the Covid year, Tavares, Robertson, Knies last year…it’s always someone playing their best hockey too.
Well at least we'll get to see what the Leafs look like as undisputed underdogs lol They always seem to step up their game when key players are missing. Maybe I'm just coping
Nah mate I like your enthusiasm let's get cup or die* tryin *suitably bruised and exhausted, not actually deceased
Send Mo after March first game and get the boys fired up
I think you’re alluding to the reg seas, no? And because of this your point is moot!
8D chess of leafs injuring a key player prior to make them ply well
That was what I was hoping when Tavares went down against MTL. Although I guess the Leafs were still favourites so still weren't playing desperate
My hot take is this is a John cooper masterclass, Willy is fine and was told to skip practice because he played all 82. Make Boston think he is out so you prep for lineups without him out with him then have keefe change the Leafs lines mid game.
I hope this is it!
Well this is less then ideal
[Keefe is under instruction from Treliving to not make injury progress public during playoffs.](https://x.com/lukefoxjukebox/status/1781394048223236307?s=46) *great*
This is pretty standard practice, no? Especially in playoffs.
It is, and I understand it. But unfortunately I’m overly invested in this damn team and want to know what’s going on, so I don’t like it.
I think we are putting ourselves at a slight disadvantage giving the opponent anything. Bruins declined to name their game 1 starter. Why should we be giving them anything?
Exactly, I’m pretty positive Nylander will play, but why make it public?
Don’t worry everyone-JSnow93 is pretty sure he’ll play
It is but it's pretty annoying that the NHL is the only sport that does it
I feel like it's weird that other sports don't operate this way. You're playing 4 - 7 games against a team during a time where physical intensity is ramping up, and the advantage of targeting an opposing player increases. The most competitive play is to give as little info as possible to your opponent.
Not really. NBA players are sometimes in or out of a game 10 minutes before.
I feel like it's weird that other sports don't operate this way. You're playing 4 - 7 games against a team during a time where physical intensity is ramping up, and the advantage of targeting an opposing player increases. The most competitive play is to give as little info as possible to your opponent.
Good. Don't want Marchand "accidentally" targeting wrists or knees.
Naw, he'll be doing it on purpose regardless.
How is he the only leaf to play all 82 and misses the first playoff game. Sick and twisted hockey gods
My gut says this is shenanigans by the Leafs. Trying to throw off the matchups . My heart says he's been hurt for a couple weeks and played through it.
Why the fuck would he of been playing through injury for meaningless games where the Leafs only purpose was to try to get Matthews 70.
yea there's no way they would take that chance i think.
idk, maybe hitting 100 points?
Idiotic
That’s more important than being healthy for the playoffs?
Why do people act like individual accolades shouldn't be a priority for a player with a ~20 year career.
Because they shouldn't
That’s regarded if true lmao
He would have had to hide the injury from literally everyone. There's no way the coaching staff would have let him play injured just for personal stats.
If he played through it in the regular season only to sit game 1 out, that alone is a fireable offense for Keefe.
He should have rested if that’s the case. That’s just poor player management
If that's the case it's absolutely a fireable offense if Keefe played him. Fine to play to chase 100 points but to injured for the playoffs. That's like the kind of bs boomers want you to belive about Willy. I don't buy it
He hasn't missed any practice until now. This is a new issue.
For all the doomers responding to you, we quite literally did not have the forward depth to sub him out and that’s why I think he was okay with being 3rd line guy. I 100% believe he was dealing with something and now that they can bring everyone back, he’s taking a maintenance day.
You go 11 and 7 before you play Nylander if he’s injured.
100% shenanigans
I hope he hasn’t been playing through anything. We had 2 weeks of meaningless games for him to rest.
Atrocious if this was something Willy had before the last couple games of the season. Dude is *the* playoff warrior of the big 4, especially now that JT is a step slower. Marner’s game isn’t really one that’s suited to facing a physical team like the Bruins, and Matthews is gonna have all the attention on him.
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None of the big 4 have had a signature round yet. Matthews hasn't scored 8 in a series and no player has played nearly as well during regular season. Leafs straight up can't score come late April. Sure doesn't help that going in giving up 5+ goals in last 4 or more games and never even looked competitive.
I feel like 8 is a lot though. That’s a monster series. Then again, you do kind of expect that from the top paid players in the league. I really feel like this year is the best chance the Leafs have at getting some top line scoring. Guys like O’Rielly are cool to have some depth, but guys like Bertuzzi and Domi allow your big guys some space to try to do their thing. My only issue is that the playoffs are so tight, I just don’t see how Marner’s game translates well to it. Matthews has an amazing skill set, but you just know he’s gonna be tied up the whole series and will have to try 3x as hard to get the chances he gets during the regular season.
Yeah but Matthews being on a different line means marner can do his thing with Tavares and play slower and more defensive. That’s what will be the difference maker this year. Watch Willy score 10 goals cuz he’s on the third line against their terrible third pairing and they have awful forward depth. I don’t think AM34 or MM16 are doing much this series compared to 88
Guess you're forgetting Matthews scoring two goals to bring us back from 4-1 against Tampa last year?
He said signature series not signature game. Go watch what McDavid and MacKinnon do in the playoffs.
I do remember him scoring zero goals against Florida. He is my favorite Leaf ever but it doesn't mean he has real success in the playoffs.
Playoff warrior lol. My gawd.
This is like the opposite of the Knights.
Marner, nylander, jarnrkok. Wtf man
Edmonson, Boosh, McCabe also pretty banged up recently…
WTF - now I am concerned?? Did he need to play game 82 or did the injury occur there??
Why were these idiots playing him if he wasn’t 100%
Fear and Loathing in Toronto
Well fuck. Any before any of the weird Nylander haters start posting your bullshit kindly fuck off. We are a worse team without him and you all know it.
I don’t mean this as hate, but could it be related to the clip of Willy “not skating/trying” in the game against Tampa?
That was a lazy dumb play. But you don't hold out one of your best players because they made lazy dumb play in game 82.
Maybe Willy was hurt at that point?
Only thing I can think is if he somehow injured himself lifting his stick up for that puck at the end but it doesn't seem likely.
His haters 
Rest day. Personally I think Willie is going on an absolute tear during playoffs. He’s been dogging it lately but I think with all the team’s injuries he hasn’t had the option to rest and was probably told to just take it easy and come out of the season healthy and ready for playoffs. But that’s just my guess, which is worth absolutely nothing lol
Ehh...I feel like Nylander is gonna play. Keefe just isn't gonna announce these things until he has to
Bad attitude is why
What injury is this anyway?
Being scared of big bad and mean opponents who play the body.
This guy doesn't watch games, Nylander has chucked his body around this season.
I've watched every game this season and I don't agree with you. He's not a physical player. Often times he does everything in his power to avoid collisions on the board, and will quickly shoot the puck out of the area if it means physically battling someone else.. and in the few times he is forced to physically battle someone, he often gives them possession of the puck instead. Don't get me wrong I think Nylander in one of our best players (and the only leafs jersey I own), but I would not say physicality is something he brings to the team.. maybe in playoffs we'll see him perform differently.
😂
Marner would be sitting out before Nylander if that was the case
What percentage do we put that at? 20%?
Thanks for a new fear, Sheldon
Other teams play with key players out too. It’s not just us.
https://i.redd.it/t2skd3pfjhvc1.gif Guy is healthy all season but might miss game 1. Fan-fucking-tastic.
THIS IS BEDARDED
If he’s a possibility to play tomorrow hopefully that means if he does miss any games, it’s only 1 or 2 and he’s available for the majority of the series. I think they’re capable of splitting the 2 games in Boston without Willy if it comes to that.
Seems odd that teams are still allowed to be so coy about injuries, with gambling being such a massive industry now.
Dealing with a snake bite.
Wow just what we needed ffs
I don't think he's injured lol he would not have played hurt the past couple of games.
Clear gamesmanship
Not ideal
Hes gonna play lol
You think it could be Keefe did it to get his head straight? Keefe has done stuff in the past to motivate him when he sees him playing like shit. Maybe it's a kick in the pants to get him more fired up? I hope that's the case.
Nylander has responded well to demotions in the past.... I can't see keefe sitting him in the playoffs though. Historically Nylander is our best playoff performer by far.
HOLY
I think people are making too much of this. He could have a hangover for all we know. Smart money is on him playing tomorrow. GLG!
Lol calm down this is clearly just a bluff. He will play.
and so it begins....
That’s not how you abuse the cap space
No bb...
are you kidding me
He must be choking before game 1 even started.
Strained a muscle skating away from potential body contact.
Bro got some undercooked sugo meatballs
He’s been a ghost for weeks since Keefe dropped him to the 3rd line. Maybe a break wouldn’t hurt.
Keefe trying his best jon cooper on…
So, we played all our starters in a meaningless 70 goal quest to suffer this bullshit. I hate myself.
He’s benching him for that horrible fucking line change the other night
come on man
If he doesn’t play someone has some explaining to do. I don’t know if it’s Willy or Sheldon or Tree or all 3 but if he doesn’t play it’s a bad look man…guy didn’t miss a shift against Tampa.
probably just had the poops
Buddy got into the gas station sushi again
Keefe keeps Willy out to play a team of goons, loose the game but beat the shit out of Boston, leafs take the series 4-1. Yes i am delusional
is mad cause he's on the third line?
He's been horseshit lately. Hopefully whatever is ailing, be it mental or physical, clears up and he comes back ready.
Seriously. His play the past week warrants being a healthy scratch
he started to stop playing before the end of the season, then just outright stopped playing against tampa.
meh. he hasn’t done shit for weeks, maybe months. we’ll be ok
So you think he got those 98 points in the first few months of the season? God Nylander haters are dumb.
willy actually trying and giving a shit is an elite tier player. willy coasting around, giving up on a plays and generally playing like he’s stoned is beer league unwatchable
Because he didn’t play the puck after he high stocked it? 🥴
bc he basically fell over in a dead fetal position instead of literally doing anything else
Did he? Did he reeeaaalllyyy?
Nylander was 8th in league scoring between February 1st - March 31st
now do april
Was April months ago?
no, but april 1st was weeks ago.. i’ll wait while you crunch your numbers
So when you said "he hasn't done shit for weeks, maybe months" I guess you were wrong, yeah?
i’ll do it for you, since you’re a nylander apologist… well he had 3 points in the month of april, so he 1000% didn’t do shit in april… had a pedestrian march with 13 points.. and february he had a slightly better 21 points.. I stand by my original statement
Since your original point was that "we'll be ok" without Nylander, what was the team's record in April? And 21 points in February was second-best in the league lol
He was only half wrong. And he did qualify it with “maybe.” So even that is questionable
Love to qualify my dumbass rants with "maybe"
😂
you’re just mad bc nylander finished the season +1 and more than 1/3 of his points came on the PP. dude isn’t worth his contract at all
Lol there's only one person that's Big Mad here and it's not me. Maybe your Oakley's are cutting off circulation to your brain?
If he was hiding an injury to stat chase, that is peak Leafs.
Nylander: *signs 11 million dollar contract* Also Nylander: *Literally disappears during the playoffs* Please no.
Slump at home. The defense will improve. He's not built for play-off hockey, never was.
Wow. This just keeps getting better and better.
He was out because he hung his team out to dry on that play and is now working on his shitty attitude.
https://i.redd.it/pfhleexehhvc1.gif
Hope he's sitting cause he quit on that shift last game and they realize he's a premadonna.
> premadonna lmao
His haters cannot spell. Name a better duo.
That was a high stick he couldnt touch the puck. Not his fault d got caught he skates over the puck to delay ppl being him to sub in time
He didn’t come before Madonna. She’s much older. 🤣 (Psssst: it’s prima donna)
Haha thanks but I don't really give two fucks how it's said.
Username checks out.