O-Dog on Leafs: ‘The biggest percentage of the blame pie, it’s that D-core’
Bryan Hayes, Jeff O’Neill and Jamie McLennan discuss why the Maple Leafs defence is the most to blame for their struggles this season and whether Toronto can turn it around and be a playoff team.
Matthews being injured is on Matthews. He said he was healthy. 100%. That was bs! Wtv it is, it seems like he's blocking surgery. Not to mention, he's not been capitain material at all. He looked uninterested in training camp. Contimued to play like that when the season started. The rest of the team followed his lead.. It's also on Berube. His dump and change system doesn't work. And he hired the defensive coach which has clearly changed something that has completely screwed us. Rielly is the third to blame. Enough is enough with him. Love him. Love that his dad is a huge Leafs fan. We will remember him fondly. Leafs legend. But time to move on. If he says no.. Force him!
Diehard 49 year old Leafs fan.. I want them to tank and keep our 1st round pick. I cannot handle Boston taking a top 20 pick off us for Carlo. I can't handle it.
The D-Core seems to be trying to use a different breakout plan and it doesn’t work. Look at Benoit. Last season he was good at breakouts by passing from the left side to a breakout centre or right wing. But this season 95% of the time he’s sending the puck up the left boards to the point — mostly as a turnover since there is never a Leaf there. Why is he doing that? I think it’s the North/South directive that takes away the east/west that he used last season. Just 1 observation but something seems to stink this season!!
I love the crash out in Toronto. Been since 67 but the last 10 years of Matthews Marner hockey and all the heartbreak makes me so happy as a habs fan. The core 4 is now the par 3 (Tavares is 36 😆) and let the rebuild begin 😅
Must be the D-core (joke), it definitely can't be their PP: 2024/25 PP at 25% ranked 9th 2025/26 PP at 15.5% ranked 25th These three do not want to talk about that because they would have to admit their team quarter back left this past summer. Not only their team quarterback their best defensive forward! These 3 were as culpable as anyone in chasing Marner out of town and are now left wondering what happened to their team.
O-Dog’s claim about the Leafs is interesting although I do blame the lack of defensive awareness for where the Maple Laughs find themselves: dead last in their own conference and in a battle with the Canucks and Flames for the lowest-ranked Canadian NHL team.
I'm a Habs fan. But, since Matthews was drafted, I feel I've been more supportive of Matthews and Marner than Leafs fans. Notably in the playoffs. Their issue was never the coach, top line, or grit for that matter (the common refrain). It was always the lack of an elite mobile D core and huge saves in the biggest moments. Also losing JT to a Corey Perry knee in 2021 was a killer, mindful that Price did make those huge saves. Booing Marner out of town was insane. He has some of the best advanced stats on the other side of the puck in the NHL. And how do you dish your multiple 60 goal scorer's set-tup man, without replacing him with at least a Robert Thomas? You dump him. What was expected? Expect a full reboot, or at minimum am immediate-term battle to even make the playoffs.
– Timmins $1.1M to Penguins. , alone is rated higher than Carlo in NHL Fantasy! – Dewar $1M to Penguins. – Minten $900k (1st pk) to Bruins. – 1st pk to Bruins. – Reaves $1.35M waived …
= Carlo $3.5M Trade 5 PLAYERS FOR CARLO ! This is all on Carlo ! 🙂
The only guy who I truly believe has a true grasp of the severity of this situation is O'Neil. Noodles gets it to a point because he played but he seems to always direct the narrative towards a glass is full evaluation and prediction. IMO, if we are still talking like this at Christmas, the Maple Leafs have no hope of playing in the playoffs!
Tampa has 6 regulars out of their lineup including 4 on defense, they’ve had to use call ups. And they’re winning. The Bolts built while trading away picks. The Leafs issue is depth in their system.
Not just D-core (although it’s pathetic how they let opponents walk into the hash marks), but also too many bad trades and acquisitions. Giving up Minten and a first for Carlo last year was insane – that’s on Treliving. I know they were “going for it” , but that price was WAY too high, and Boston is laughing their head off.
They're a bottom 5 team with a top 5 offence statistically as of last week. Gotta agree with o-dog. And yeah Berube isn’t showing to be much of a coach right now but what could he even do with this? A new coach is a waste of time. The Blues were in the basement before Binnington caught fire and won them a cup. Leafs players gotta do the same to make anything happen.
Injuries are a fact of life. This is why you have to build your AHL affiliate with solid players who can come to five or six games for you without looking like a bunch of ass clowns.
The Leafs wanted the big bruising guys, so they went out and traded for Carlo last year for a high price. They got what they wanted, so they don't get to complain…
Insanely stupid organization. Imagine knowing Matthews back is done. Sending him to Germany and all that and then deciding to strip JT of the c in the most embarrassing fashion to build around a guy who will never play a full season ever again. Just a dumb land everywhere. Nylander gets the A for stick swinging and coughing it up at the blue lines all the time. Oh but he has points. How many goals against does he cause vs his points? He tips it in his own net last game with his stick waving and the MSM makes no mention of it, not even the broadcast! We could see it! Same exact culture. Nothing has changed at all. It wasn’t Marner. It was the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Noodles….where is this optimism coming from. This team sucks and its always gonna suck until they dismantle this clusterfunk from management to all players besides 23 and 53.
Blame the D-core okay, but it's the same group as last year. The difference is they don't have Marner being a 3rd defenseman backing them up every time he's on the ice. Which is 25 mins out of 60.
36 Comments
The leafs are who we thought they were
This is the road trip when the coach will have to step take the bus home.
ya show me on video where these guys got hurt! sorry but i suspect ppl are faking cause times are tough right now!
Matthews being injured is on Matthews. He said he was healthy. 100%. That was bs! Wtv it is, it seems like he's blocking surgery. Not to mention, he's not been capitain material at all. He looked uninterested in training camp. Contimued to play like that when the season started. The rest of the team followed his lead.. It's also on Berube. His dump and change system doesn't work. And he hired the defensive coach which has clearly changed something that has completely screwed us. Rielly is the third to blame. Enough is enough with him. Love him. Love that his dad is a huge Leafs fan. We will remember him fondly. Leafs legend. But time to move on. If he says no.. Force him!
Diehard 49 year old Leafs fan.. I want them to tank and keep our 1st round pick. I cannot handle Boston taking a top 20 pick off us for Carlo. I can't handle it.
The D-Core seems to be trying to use a different breakout plan and it doesn’t work. Look at Benoit. Last season he was good at breakouts by passing from the left side to a breakout centre or right wing. But this season 95% of the time he’s sending the puck up the left boards to the point — mostly as a turnover since there is never a Leaf there. Why is he doing that? I think it’s the North/South directive that takes away the east/west that he used last season. Just 1 observation but something seems to stink this season!!
I love the crash out in Toronto.
Been since 67 but the last 10 years of Matthews Marner hockey and all the heartbreak makes me so happy as a habs fan.
The core 4 is now the par 3 (Tavares is 36 😆) and let the rebuild begin 😅
Must be the D-core (joke), it definitely can't be their PP:
2024/25 PP at 25% ranked 9th
2025/26 PP at 15.5% ranked 25th
These three do not want to talk about that because they would have to admit their team quarter back left this past summer. Not only their team quarterback their best defensive forward! These 3 were as culpable as anyone in chasing Marner out of town and are now left wondering what happened to their team.
😂its u guys they win its all good they lose its the end of the world bunch of meat heads 😂😂 time to tank u have no frist round picks 😂😂
O-Dog’s claim about the Leafs is interesting although I do blame the lack of defensive awareness for where the Maple Laughs find themselves: dead last in their own conference and in a battle with the Canucks and Flames for the lowest-ranked Canadian NHL team.
I'm a Habs fan. But, since Matthews was drafted, I feel I've been more supportive of Matthews and Marner than Leafs fans. Notably in the playoffs. Their issue was never the coach, top line, or grit for that matter (the common refrain). It was always the lack of an elite mobile D core and huge saves in the biggest moments. Also losing JT to a Corey Perry knee in 2021 was a killer, mindful that Price did make those huge saves. Booing Marner out of town was insane. He has some of the best advanced stats on the other side of the puck in the NHL. And how do you dish your multiple 60 goal scorer's set-tup man, without replacing him with at least a Robert Thomas? You dump him. What was expected? Expect a full reboot, or at minimum am immediate-term battle to even make the playoffs.
Defensive coach Lalonde needs to de gone.
– Timmins $1.1M to Penguins. , alone is rated higher than Carlo in NHL Fantasy!
– Dewar $1M to Penguins.
– Minten $900k (1st pk) to Bruins.
– 1st pk to Bruins.
– Reaves $1.35M waived …
= Carlo $3.5M Trade
5 PLAYERS FOR CARLO ! This is all on Carlo ! 🙂
The other Canadian teams are also sucking.
The only guy who I truly believe has a true grasp of the severity of this situation is O'Neil. Noodles gets it to a point because he played but he seems to always direct the narrative towards a glass is full evaluation and prediction. IMO, if we are still talking like this at Christmas, the Maple Leafs have no hope of playing in the playoffs!
Canada’s team will turn it around. Have faith and beleaf.
Tampa has 6 regulars out of their lineup including 4 on defense, they’ve had to use call ups. And they’re winning. The Bolts built while trading away picks. The Leafs issue is depth in their system.
The Leafs have played the least amount of road games in the league thus far.
Not just D-core (although it’s pathetic how they let opponents walk into the hash marks), but also too many bad trades and acquisitions. Giving up Minten and a first for Carlo last year was insane – that’s on Treliving. I know they were “going for it” , but that price was WAY too high, and Boston is laughing their head off.
Its the GM
They're a bottom 5 team with a top 5 offence statistically as of last week. Gotta agree with o-dog. And yeah Berube isn’t showing to be much of a coach right now but what could he even do with this? A new coach is a waste of time. The Blues were in the basement before Binnington caught fire and won them a cup. Leafs players gotta do the same to make anything happen.
Tavares to the Oilers ❤
Having Berube as a coach clearly shows every mistep that Treliving has made since arrival
Injuries are a fact of life. This is why you have to build your AHL affiliate with solid players who can come to five or six games for you without looking like a bunch of ass clowns.
The Leafs wanted the big bruising guys, so they went out and traded for Carlo last year for a high price. They got what they wanted, so they don't get to complain…
Insanely stupid organization. Imagine knowing Matthews back is done. Sending him to Germany and all that and then deciding to strip JT of the c in the most embarrassing fashion to build around a guy who will never play a full season ever again. Just a dumb land everywhere. Nylander gets the A for stick swinging and coughing it up at the blue lines all the time. Oh but he has points. How many goals against does he cause vs his points? He tips it in his own net last game with his stick waving and the MSM makes no mention of it, not even the broadcast! We could see it! Same exact culture. Nothing has changed at all. It wasn’t Marner. It was the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Start the rebuild. Another team ruined by Treliving
O is bulking up again…eatin' too much pie…tarp off…ya knew it couldn't last
How about the OD trio doing a tarps off show
Noodles….where is this optimism coming from. This team sucks and its always gonna suck until they dismantle this clusterfunk from management to all players besides 23 and 53.
They have no Identity!!!
Who are the Toronto Maple Leafs?
That’s the real question.
Bust before the end of November 🤬 Just wait till Christmas to see how far behind they are.🤬🤬
Blame the D-core okay, but it's the same group as last year. The difference is they don't have Marner being a 3rd defenseman backing them up every time he's on the ice. Which is 25 mins out of 60.
Bad gm. Bad coach. Lost marner. Goalies suck.
Who else is loving this?
Its simple , paid to much to care . No repercussions for shitty play.