Quote:
Originally Posted by Erick Estrada
Eh. It's not a well built team. They don't have any difference makers on defense or in the net. The core four is been an abysmal failure in the playoffs because they don't have any difference makers outside of those four players. They really need an elite defenseman like Josi, Hughes, Makar, etc.
|
I don't agree with this personally, aside from that first sentence. You don't think Reilly is generally a difference maker? He's a number 1 on many teams. He hasn't let them down this playoffs much. The core two have mostly been tame. Matthews doesn't make others around him better, he's a pure goalscorer who will not get his hands dirty in the corners aside from using his stick. Marner is timid and does not want to be hit. Tavares can be aggressive in the sense of taking it down the middle, but his age means limited speed. He also won't hit. Nylander was injured. Domi is perfect for what he brings for the team, Knies is perfect on the second line. Reeves and Bertuzzi are inflated nothings. Jarnkrok and Kampf aren't a problem for where they are though not great (but you don't expect great from fourth line guys). Anyway, they lost because their top two didn't perform, not because of their bottom two lines didn't perform. Their back end aside from Reilly and McCabe, is mediocre, and their goaltending didn't steal one. But their true reason for losing really lies on their top guys not getting dirty and scoring. In the playoffs everyone has to push hard and do things outside their comfort zone. Matthews and Marner, specifically, for all they're getting paid do not do anything outside their comfort. As "leaders" it's pathetic.