The Sheet with Jeff Marek - On the Sheet: Nick Alberga on the Leafs Early Struggles

Starting point is 00:00:00 Let's get right to Nick Alberga. The host of Leif's Morning Take, who I'm sure we're keeping off bridges today is Nick Alberga who joins me now on the sheet. First of all, great picture over your left shoulder. Great duster as well. You can't spell class without ass. Ladies and gentlemen, here without Annette,

Starting point is 00:00:20 the one and only, Nick Elberga. And nice blue mic sock, too. Don't think that's lost on me. Nice blue mic sock. Nobody's brought it up. it's been a thing for a month but I don't want you to bury the lead watching that Carolina clip

Starting point is 00:00:35 there's somebody who stood out for me from a Maple East perspective who is allergic to playing important games and that's Freddie Anderson I think if anything it proved to me Carolina's not winning the cup with that goaltending if they get you see Sarah's different story

Starting point is 00:00:48 he's got the um when he's playing like when he's on first of all look at the flop too when he gets the pooh oh snipers it's every goal grassy knoll but then look how quick he popped pops up. It's like right away with the quick sell job, then it's like, yeah, no one's

Starting point is 00:01:04 buying this. I'm going to get up, right? This is like, you know, the president's been shot in Dealey Plaza. First of all, how you doing, pal? You good? I know last night was, I'm good. You know who last night was good for? Philly. Last night was good for Zach Phillips because it was a big audience for Leaves After Dark. They raised a lot of money on the super chat as well. But outside of Philly, I can't think of if you're a Maple Leafs fan or someone that as a team, they take anything really positive at all out of last night's loss. The score was kind to the actual game itself. I don't know.

Starting point is 00:01:38 I'll surrender to the floor to you, Nick. What did you make a last night? I think Zach set the record for longest show in the history of the Least Nation's YouTube channel. Two hours and six minutes, to be precise. I'm surprised he's here today. I had to talk him off the ledge a couple of times. Maybe it's the dinosaur in me. I'm like, you got to save some room from game 47 when they lose.

Starting point is 00:01:59 six one not game 17 but good point um yeah they're a tire fire right now america i mean there's no sugar coding this uh it's disastrous uh it reminds me of like the latter days of sheldon keef as the head coach of this maple east team and we saw it so many times in that era in the babcock era like this is 17 different coaches now and it's the same core year after year after year and they just have these lifeless efforts where you're like is there anything cooking in there like how are these guys paid this much money and that's what they contribute i i thought they were flat um we were looking for a response after the two games on home mice one of which included hall of famer after hall of fame or after hall of famer in the building and they didn't show up which

Starting point is 00:02:41 is kind of scary so we're looking for that response it doesn't come first 10 minutes of that game three minor penalties they surrender a goal and then on top of that like the goaltender gets hurt. Austin Matthews gets hurt. It was pretty much the worst night imaginable for the Toronto Maple Leafs. And it happened in Boston. And that is not lost on anybody. That is the House of Horrors for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Are we celebrating 400 goals now? Like, are we just like that that was the cherry on top to that game as a least fan? So we're clearing the benches now for 400 goals. I had to look this up 110 different players. I've hit 400 goals in their careers. And how many times the bench is cleared? No, I don't know. You tell me.

Starting point is 00:03:21 me like I can understand like I can understand I can understand I can understand 900 for Ovechkin like okay like no one's ever you know tickled that number before so you get it you're not going to do it at 901 well I mean it's had an empty net or so they didn't weren't well they're in Carolina last night but like you're not going to do it for 902 and 903 and 900 like okay we get it 400 and by the just so everybody knows like you have to get you have to get special agreement from the NHL that allows you to do that. Like the NHL has to sign off on like, okay, yeah, when Pastor Nat gets 400, you're allowed to empty the bench to do the celebration. That's not something that a team can freestyle. So that is, by the way, for everyone to be curious, that's fine.

Starting point is 00:04:06 The NHL is fine with that. The NHL is cool with it. 400 is a nice big number. But to me, like, once upon time in the dead puck era of the NHL, you can make the argument that 400 was like a Hall of Fame barrier. That you get to 400, like, wow, That's a big number. That'll get you in the hall because it's a two to one league or a three to two league.

Starting point is 00:04:26 It's not that anymore. And it hasn't been that for a while. I can see it for 500. I can see it for 900, obviously. But I don't know. Maybe you and I are just nitpicking, but I don't know. 400 feels weird. I'm old school like you.

Starting point is 00:04:44 I'm a dinosaur at 36. And I thought it was a perfect opportunity for somebody on the Maple Leafs to jump in there and start the melee of the century. but the lasting image for me is Dennis Hildebee just sitting back in the net. Nothing to see here. It's not Pasternak for the $1 billion time against the Maple Leafs and T.D. Garden, whatever. Go celebrate.

Starting point is 00:05:04 It's a 4-1 hockey game. Let's do this thing. So I wasn't shocked at the reaction. But something tells me the Leafs had to know that was coming, right? Well, yeah. And listen, I was having a conversation with, like, let's just get right to the Craig Barubi part of the conversation here. So having a conversation with someone this morning who brought up an interesting point. I thought.

Starting point is 00:05:22 And you could remember when Craig Barubi was hired, there was one of the, like, from pretty much to a person. Maple Leafs, fans all celebrated this move. And not just because he's, I don't think it's just because he has a Stanley Cup background winning in 2019 with the St. Louis Blues. But this person,

Starting point is 00:05:41 this person who's a really close observer says, the reason they loved Barubi is because this is a fan base that wanted to scroo. scream at their team. And what does Craig Barubi do? He screams at teams. He said, don't discount that that was part of the initial charm, is that someone was going to come in and yell at these guys.

Starting point is 00:06:05 And they could, at Leaves fans could live vicariously through Craig Barubi because they knew when the door closed, he was screaming at them like they want to scream at them. Do you believe that? I do. I think I remember back when they signed Craig Ruby, accountability was a big word, but I think if there's one thing I took from the demented legacy of Mike Babcock, the guy was right. I mean, you look at the body of work from the beginning to now as like, has anything changed? I mean, the one constant has been the core and they're just, in general, there's just no reaction to the tongue lashing. And that's why I even wondered, you know, I know it's 2025 and how emotional people are and how different. there it is like when Anthony Stollars called out the team I was in the scrum and I'm like oh shit I love this this is the goaltender this is very run Hextall but the thing that concerned me is like whose feelings are we hurting and clearly some feelings have been hurt on top of that

Starting point is 00:07:05 they're not getting safe from the guy who called out the team so yeah it's a disaster I mean getting back to your question about Craig Berube there is only so much a coach can do I'm a strong believer in that. I think unfortunately they take the sword more times than not. And I think if this continues, Ruby's going to take it for the team. I think this is firmly on the players. This is not a Bradtree living thing. This is not a Derek Lal thing. We're now blaming assistant coaches in Toronto, by the way. That's a new wave this week. It's not on Van Rine. Savard. This is firmly on the players. They look genuinely disinterested in playing hockey. Again, a sport. They get a lot of money to play. And unfortunately, we all know, even us in the media watching the Maples on a daily

Starting point is 00:07:50 basis, how they want to play under Craig Bruby, what he's instilling in terms of messaging. They're not executing. And unfortunately, and you could probably agree with this, they're making mistakes that a seven-year-old and timid hockey would make. And that's the concerning part about me. And the only thing I would add, too, like, I was alarmed hearing John Tavares talk about immaturity. Last time I checked, there was veteran after veteran after veteran on this Maple Leafs roster. that night, but, like, I'm still stunned at how quickly this team got slow. From last year to this year, they got slow.

Starting point is 00:08:51 And part of me wonders, like, I know that this is a copycat league and whatever is successful. I'll go back to, like, the first year after the lockout, the Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup, and it became all about footspeed. Footspeed, footspeed, foot speed, foot speed, foot speed. The next year, the Anaheim Ducks win the Stanley Cup and it all becomes nuclear missiles, nuclear missiles, nuclear missiles, got to be tough, burkey hockey. And every year when someone wins a Stanley Cup, everybody tries to ape that. And listen, the Maple Leafs, as you all know, were right there with the Florida Panthers

Starting point is 00:09:23 and couldn't get the ball over the goal line. And it seems as if move after move in the offseason from Bradshaw Living, it seemed like the Maple Leafs, instead of leaning into what their strength was, they went through a process of trying to out panther the panther. Panthers. Try to bring in players that can play Florida's style of game.

Starting point is 00:09:48 There's like a couple of other teams around the NHL that can play the Florida Panthers game. The other one is in the same state as them. And that's it. Like you can't out panther the Panthers. I wonder if, you know, ultimately no matter where this season ends,

Starting point is 00:10:03 if it ends with the Maple Leafs outside of the playoffs or flaming out in the first round as well, I wonder how much. we look back at the summer and say, why do they try to out Panther the Panthers instead of leaning into their strengths? Yeah, I understand where you're coming from.

Starting point is 00:10:18 I think, you know, to counter that, the goaltending was much different last year. And then you start to wonder and get a bigger realization, like did it mask what the team actually was? Like they got all-star level net mining last year, specifically from Anthony Solaris, where we had legitimate conversations about a Vezna trophy. To now he's providing, like,

Starting point is 00:10:38 Coast League goaltending. Like there is such a vast difference in goaltending and I think that adds so much flavor to a team when you're getting saves. I think on top of that, like to your point about playing you know, with speed, a lot of that is about passing the puck

Starting point is 00:10:54 and moving the puck. Like it's not just about foot speed. And I think what the Leafs are not doing very well right now is moving out of their own zone, playing as a cohesive unit, getting in positions, routes to get that puck back and to play more direct. Like again, we all know how Craig Ruby wants his team to play.

Starting point is 00:11:10 But I think it's the little things, like not being able to connect on a three-foot pass or not being able to get a puck in deep or being trying to be too pretty and do a tow drag at your D-Zone blue line. Like all that is contributing to the mistakes because I just don't understand how you can go from a decor that was widely regarded as one of the best period last year to this type of decor where it's turnover after turnover after turnover and it looks like a grenade on their stick. Like there's got to be a healthy medium, I think. So let me swing back to the coaching conversation right now

Starting point is 00:11:41 And I'm with you Like this one's on the players But this is a team where I don't think I've mentioned this to you before We've had this conversation You know one of the one person told me At the beginning of this season It's always better for a team to have one

Starting point is 00:11:56 Or maybe two key players on expiring contracts Motivation You know, playing for a contract next year Like history just shows It's better I know it can be awkward for fans. Oh, we're going to lose this player. But if you're looking for performance, there is nothing like a player in a walkaway year.

Starting point is 00:12:15 There is nothing like that whatsoever. And we talk about, oh, timing, timing, timing is everything. So these guys aren't going to hang for it. If there's going to be something that shocks the room, it might just be a coaching change here. Craig Ruby won the Stanley Cup in 2019. There's only been three coaches in the history of the NHL, Tommy Gorman, Dick Irvin, Senior, and Scotty Bowman. that have won the Stanley Cup as a coach with two different teams. Scotty won it with three.

Starting point is 00:12:42 History says you can't do it with someone who's already won the Stanley Cup. Someone has been close a number of times, who is currently, although still under contract with the Dallas Stars, but very much out there was just in Kitchener being elevated to the level of legacy by the Kitchener Rangers is Peter DeBore. How close are we seeing to seeing Peter DeBore's name trend on social media when the Maple Leafs go down a puck or maybe two. Oh, you didn't know, Zach fired Craig Ruby last night and after dark.

Starting point is 00:13:15 So Pete DeBoer, already the head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Like the names are going to hear, DeBoer, Peter Lavio led. I think it would be hilarious. See John Tortorella in Toronto would last about 16 games, but I think it would be funny. Maybe it's somebody outside the box. But to your point, like, I think if your management, there's only so many bullets in chamber and unfortunately I hate it like I always talk to coaches and this is why they get some clarity on their deals and say hey we're taking three four five year deals because we know we're

Starting point is 00:13:45 not going to see the end of those deals but like it's on the players and I just think from the message standpoint it's just not getting through and if this just continues for three four or five more games then I think they have to seriously consider making a change but I'll call a spade a spade I mean how many different coaches are they going to go through in this market and say it's the coach or like at the end of the day I rather you know call me crazy I rather just pack it up call it a day rebuild and wait for McDavid or wait for free agency in three years like find a way to reimagine the roster you know call it a loss for this year maybe they'd never subscribe to that wood management but I think we're at a point we've seen this nucleus long enough merrick

Starting point is 00:14:27 where it's we're getting to a point where these guys ain't 18 anymore man they're 28 30 you know they're approaching that middle part of their careers here. So that then leads to the next question. I'll close on this one, Nick. Did they miss their window? Did the Maple Leafs miss their window? Like, I know it sounds like an excuse and everybody went through it, but when you look at timing,

Starting point is 00:14:50 the Maple Leafs were one of the teams really got scotched by COVID and the flat cap. Like all those contracts were predicated on a rising cap. I get it. All teams deal with it. But that was like the plan of how things were going to work out. the deals were going to look bad early but would normalize by the time they're at the final few years of their contracts. That didn't happen. And so the question becomes, did they just miss it? And if so, what do you do about it now? Hindsight's 2020, of course. I think the year

Starting point is 00:15:20 they missed it was the opportunity to trade Mitch Marner and they didn't. They let that trade again. I understand that. Dubus left. Tree comes in. You got like seven minutes to decide what you're going to do and then on top of that chanahan's like you're not trading anybody so that was your decision it's been mistake after mistake after mistake i mean there is no logical way to fix this um i think you have to reimagine your roster i think you have to admit defeat sometimes having said that again i'm mr glass half empty half full um i'm never a positive pete but i think the one thing i've learned in my career covering this league for 15 years merrick it's game 17 man how many times is the least

Starting point is 00:16:01 dragged their fans back into it. It happened hell last year against Florida, where they were pumped in game five, and what do they do? They go on the road in game six and win a gutsy, gutsy game on the road. So would I be shocked that they come out against L.A. without Matthews, without Stolars, and win six nothing?

Starting point is 00:16:16 Probably not. So never say never. I don't think this conversation is done by any stretch. People are talking about people already, you know, trying to compare the second deal back in the day to the Minton deal, the Kessel deal. like we're throwing every conversation into the fire these days. People got to pump the brakes.

Starting point is 00:16:34 This is what this team does. Never forget that. They're going to be back in it by the weekend, I think. We shall see, my friend, and you'll be there to document all of it as we'll Philly on After Dark. Thanks, pal. You'd be good. My pleasure.

Starting point is 00:16:46 I just wanted to add. I love Thomas Cabralet's remedy today on Leafs, Swoney Take. He thinks that he needs to hit the road and get drunk. They need to get drunk. So there's the answer. You know, I'll tell you what, just we pause for one second. You know what is a long tradition in the end?

Starting point is 00:16:59 NHL that is really waned. Ask some of the old timers. There is nothing like playing guilty. Uh-huh. There's nothing. There's a lot. And listen, he was on a team.

Starting point is 00:17:10 There are a lot of guys on that Maple Leaf team that were not shy about playing guilty. So that, oh, by the way, I thought of you yesterday watching OEL, go to, who was, to VAL, turn around, let me see, who are you?

Starting point is 00:17:25 Turn around. Let me see your nameplate there. I thought of you knowing how much you liked all of I do. It's my guy. Thanks for having me, bud. All right. Be good. against those men that's pretty new it's me

Starting point is 00:18:03 myself and how this going to be fixing my mind I didn't want to back it I turned on the music I do want to back you

Starting point is 00:18:16 turn it on the music that you turn up up and out that you're sometimes losing have been on the days that we're wrong In the dead dark night

The Sheet with Jeff Marek - On the Sheet: Nick Alberga on the Leafs Early Struggles

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