Are the Leafs really that good?

[LeafFever]

They have....issues but at the same time, they could win the conference. The first bonus is that the East is open because both the Caps and the Pens (who I thought were the only good teams in it last season) are both weaker. The Bolts are probably the only notably improved team.

Their three issues for me are:

-Really bad at limiting zone entries. I haven't checked the stats on this but it just looks like the neutral zone is wide open for the other team to walk through, they aren't trapping well and it's letting teams like Mtl counter or a team like Wsh use their speed. Their breakout from the defence hasn't been that great but when you have guys like Nylander/Matthews/Kadri, you can just get them to carry the puck in at times.
-Offensive black-holes. Komarov seems to have lost his offensive touch, Martin is a waste of minutes since he doesn't even seem to be hitting or fighting much, Hyman might forecheck but so does Brown and Hyman doesn't make plays, and one of JVR/Bozak will have a good game but the other one will suck in that game. Their PP's numbers are good but it's because of the kids, the dmen really struggle on it.
-Babcock's team selection....this is his one weakness as a coach imo, he's too rigid in his lineups and with giving young players a chance unless they're other-worldly or out of necessity. There's guys not in the lineup that are better than some of what is in the lineup and he's also very slow to adjust lines.

The last team you have to worry about that is the Leafs. Their forward group is so deep and the best in the NHL.

 

[DanM]

They’re number 1, man... Haven’t you seen the power rankings?

Not real..... lol

 

[member 290103]

I don't think there is any question that they are the favorites to come out of the East. They should compete for the cup annually now for the next decade. I think if we look back 10 years from now and the Leafs don't have at least 4 cups, we'll have to rate it as disappointing.

 

[sparxx87]

Not real..... lol

I don’t agree, but with all the animosity, it’s too good not to keep floating it out there.

 

[zeke]

Is the consensus the Leafs are a top 10 team in the NHL this year?

by some important measures they were a top 10 team last year.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

As a Caps fan, I'll confirm that they're excellent. They were already tough to handle last year in the playoffs, but now they're truly dominant. The Caps were hanging on for their lives the entire first period. This could easily have ended with a 3 or 4 goal lead for the Leafs, but Holtby was on his game tonight.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

I don't think there is any question that they are the favorites to come out of the East. They should compete for the cup annually now for the next decade. I think if we look back 10 years from now and the Leafs don't have at least 4 cups, we'll have to rate it as disappointing.

Don't get ahead of yourselves just yet. Being the best team in the regular season doesn't always imply playoff success. I have high hopes for the Leafs, but pump the brakes a little bit until you see it unfold in the playoffs.

As a Caps fan, we got ahead of ourselves far too many times, crowning ourselves as the favourites to come out of the East, but it never happened. Temper your expectations, and hope for the best.

It could save you a lot of heartbreak if things don't turn out well

 

[shaner8989]

Yep, they are

 

[LeafFever]

Signing one of the best UFAs in the last few years has helped.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Don't get ahead of yourselves just yet. Being the best team in the regular season doesn't always imply playoff success. I have high hopes for the Leafs, but pump the brakes a little bit until you see it unfold in the playoffs.

As a Caps fan, we got ahead of ourselves far too many times, crowning ourselves as the favourites to come out of the East, but it never happened. Temper your expectations, and hope for the best.

It could save you a lot of heartbreak if things don't turn out well

he's a guy who likes using hyperbole to troll

 

[member 290103]

Don't get ahead of yourselves just yet. Being the best team in the regular season doesn't always imply playoff success. I have high hopes for the Leafs, but pump the brakes a little bit until you see it unfold in the playoffs.

As a Caps fan, we got ahead of ourselves far too many times, crowning ourselves as the favourites to come out of the East, but it never happened. Temper your expectations, and hope for the best.

It could save you a lot of heartbreak if things don't turn out well

I hear you, but this Leafs team is a special group. The Caps never had a player like Matthews. Their talent was never really made for the playoffs. Relying on a player like Ovechkin is never really going to amount to a great deal of post season success.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

I hear you, but this Leafs team is a special group. The Caps never had a player like Matthews. Their talent was never really made for the playoffs. Relying on a player like Ovechkin is never really going to amount to a great deal of post season success.

Well, I hope the Leafs succeed where the Caps failed.

 

[LeafFever]

Leaf fans are use to heartbreak. We can take it. I am old enough to have lived through the Ballard years. Ya kids should look him up.

 

[joe dirte]

he's a guy who likes using hyperbole to troll

he's a canucks fan. not difficult to see where the bitterness comes from.

 

[Dustin]

Don't get ahead of yourselves just yet. Being the best team in the regular season doesn't always imply playoff success. I have high hopes for the Leafs, but pump the brakes a little bit until you see it unfold in the playoffs.

As a Caps fan, we got ahead of ourselves far too many times, crowning ourselves as the favourites to come out of the East, but it never happened. Temper your expectations, and hope for the best.

It could save you a lot of heartbreak if things don't turn out well

Great post.

Most of the celebrating is coming from a place of retribution. Many Leaf fans remember how we were treated when the team was not very good. It's certainly hard for some to temper their excitement in the presence of many who gleefully trashed the Leafs not so long ago.

 

[Dustin]

Leaf fans are use to heartbreak. We can take it. I am old enough to have lived through the Ballard years. Ya kids should look him up.

Can we say the B word around here? I thought it was forbidden?

 

[Willchel Marlynder]

And people had the nerve to call us a bubble team before the season. I think we're an odds on favorite to finish first in the East. We're on another level than most teams.

We need to chill a bit. It's been 6 games..... All it takes is a 5 game losing streak and we're a .500 team.

 

[Pyrophorus]

We'll find out if the Leafs are consistent tomorrow, Detroit is a trap game, good teams get those two points.

Detroit has played well.
McEhinney is starting, so we shall see,

 

[LeafFever]

Can we say the B word around here? I thought it was forbidden?

I can't believe he turned up the heat for that Beatles concert in July and tripled the price of drinks.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

Great post.

Most of the celebrating is coming from a place of retribution. Many Leaf fans remember how we were treated when the team was not very good. It's certainly hard for some to temper their excitement in the presence of many who gleefully trashed the Leafs not so long ago.

I understand this feeling. I have this same feeling when people trash Ovechkin and he inevitably "roars back" to win the scoring race, and all the critics go silent (at least for the duration of his hot streaks). Retribution or vengeance feels great.

The Leafs were hated when they were a bad team, but be prepared to receive even more hate when they establish themselves as one of the best teams.

Look, everyone was hating on Pittsburgh (especially me ). But before that, everybody was hating on Chicago.

 

[member 290103]

he's a guy who likes using hyperbole to troll

I am not trolling. I believe in these Leafs. My Canucks are nothing to cheer about this year, but the Leafs are really, truly something special.

 

[Dustin]

I can't believe he turned up the heat for that Beatles concert in July and tripled the price of drinks.

I can. Ballard was a piece of shit and is the reason why most older Leaf fans carry no hope anymore.

 

[Pyrophorus]

I can't believe he turned up the heat for that Beatles concert in July and tripled the price of drinks.

Far, far down the list of his crimes....

 

[Pyrophorus]

I am not trolling. I believe in these Leafs. My Canucks are nothing to cheer about this year, but the Leafs are really, truly something special.

I cheered for them tonight-Well done.

 

[Dustin]

I understand this feeling. I have this same feeling when people trash Ovechkin and he inevitably "roars back" to win the scoring race, and all the critics go silent (at least for the duration of his hot streaks). Retribution or vengeance feels great.

The Leafs were hated when they were a bad team, but be prepared to receive even more hate when they establish themselves as one of the best teams.

Look, everyone was hating on Pittsburgh (especially me ). But before that, everybody was hating on Chicago.

Oh I can tell you right now, the hate if the Leafs win will be the most delicious thing I have ever tasted.