Pokecheque wrote:
For a "gritty" team, they sure are getting pushed around by the Leafs. Andrew Berkshire has been absolutely ROASTING Chiarot, who doesn't look terrible from what I've seen, but he's also not doing a ton to slow down the Leafs attack. Also, Bergevin stressed that he went out and got guys who are supposed to fight through the clutching and grabbing that takes place in the postseason, but they're not doing that.
There's depth, there's talent, but there's just no gamebreaking superstar here. If we could turn the clock back in net about 7-10 years, that would be Price, but he's well into his thirties and he ain't really the guy anymore. Suzuki absolutely would be that guy if he were a little bigger and/or a little faster. This is the problem with spending the last seven years not tanking but not going for it either. This team is merely...good.
I don't get what Bergevin is trying to do. I kinda see it but if he was gonna go FULL GRIT, you would think he would've added a ton of size up front. There's a lot of little guys running around amongst the forwards, and a big, slow defense behind them. I feel like that's the worst possible combination in today's NHL.
Can't remember if I posted this but someone online kinda nailed it--Bergevin is too in love with defensemen who played like him and Luke Richardson did back in the day.
100%. And this is why, even though I think Bergevin has done some good moves and is by no means a bad GM, he has some fatal flaws in his thinking that will forever prevent this team from moving forward under his stewardship. The defence is of a bygone era. They're caught in between young and old, fast and slow. Leafs are playing at half speed and smoking them. It's embarrassing to watch.