Are the Toronto Maple Leafs Stanley Cup contenders?

[MetalheadPenguinsFan]

Pretenders as usual

 

[johnnyonthspot]

Definitely contenders
The Panthers are in free fall
The Bruins get half their point in ot losses
The Rangers are simply regular season warriors
The Canes do not have the tending
That leaves the Leafs to go all the way!

 

[Kevinsane]

This will never not crack me up.

 

[Bizz]

The Sharks are closer to winning a Cup than the Leafs are.

 

[Divine]

The Sharks are closer to winning a Cup than the Leafs are.

They didn't draft the fighting Will Smith.

 

[Bouboumaster]

Hopefully they go out in the first round

 

[Maple Leaf]

This will never not crack me up.

It is a true statement

 

[Clint Eastwood]

I look at their D and I have a question. Who's moving the puck? Not trying to be a sarcastic jerk either. They have Morgan Rielly who excels at it of course, and Liljigren seems to be solid at it. I feel like Toronto's transition offense with the talent they have should be some of the best in the league if they had dmen more capable of moving the puck quick.

Of course, please let me know if I'm off base and I'm looking at a problem that's not there.

 

[Divine]

I look at their D and I have a question. Who's moving the puck? Not trying to be a sarcastic jerk either. They have Morgan Rielly who excels at it of course, and Liljigren seems to be solid at it. I feel like Toronto's transition offense with the talent they have should be some of the best in the league if they had dmen more capable of moving the puck quick.

Of course, please let me know if I'm off base and I'm looking at a problem that's not there.

Usually it's the opposite problem.

They're not strong enough in front of their net. The defence gets pushed around and the whistles go away in the playoffs (at least in Toronto's history).

Ideally, they'd add defencemen who can both move the puck and be physical but that's an extremely rare breed. Usually puck moving defencemen aren't physical - so it's pick your poison.

 

[Goose]

Then you can say the same thing for all 16 teams.

Exactly. If there’s any league where the bottom seeds always have some degree of shot, it’s the NHL.

 

[johnnyonthspot]

The Sharks are closer to winning a Cup than the Leafs are.

That is just wrong! Cmon with the Woll in net and automatic austin this playoff run will be inspiring

 

[Peltz]

Of course they are contenders. Don’t let their history and insufferable fan base cloud your judgment. They have a lot of skill.

 

[blue]

Of course they are contenders. Don’t let their history and insufferable fan base cloud your judgment. They have a lot of skill.

Look at how much their top 4 are getting paid. More money = better players! The Leafs are buying a stairway to heaven...

 

[Golden_Jet]

My point was WC1 might be ideal because it can go through the Metro.

WC1 can go through the Metro.
Atlantic 3 can not.

I don't get what part of that is confusing. There's currently a 3 point difference between the 2 teams. At the time I made the post, there was a 1 point difference.

Looks like WC1 is going through the Atlantic, doesn’t look like that will change.

It is a true statement

It’s say 2018 , plan the parade, doesn’t look like it was true.

 

[AvroArrow]

This will never not crack me up.

You're right, their careers are over, no chance for them to ever win a cup. If they can't win in their first 8 years they will never win, it's over.

As for this year, no they're not contenders, in 2 years when Tavares' deal is expired they will be. Leafs just need to focus on getting better as individuals and as a team, find a way to keep Domi/Bert, and in 2 years go all in. Use that 16M from JT and Brodie and fix the blue line + cap rising, add a couple solid players and go for it.

 

[jiitu]

You're right, their careers are over, no chance for them to ever win a cup. If they can't win in their first 8 years they will never win, it's over.

As for this year, no they're not contenders, in 2 years when Tavares' deal is expired they will be. Leafs just need to focus on getting better as individuals and as a team, find a way to keep Domi/Bert, and in 2 years go all in. Use that 16M from JT and Brodie and fix the blue line + cap rising, add a couple solid players and go for it.

Nothing gives reason to believ that the core would be ready for paycheck of their real worth.

= there will never be a team that could win. With luck, its possible to win a series, with huge luck even two in row. Other than that, it would require miracle.

So no, thwy are not.

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

You don’t call a sure thing a contender.

See you guys at the parade.

Written with .

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

It is a true statement

Meanwhile, six years later...

Usually it's the opposite problem.

They're not strong enough in front of their net. The defence gets pushed around and the whistles go away in the playoffs (at least in Toronto's history).

Ideally, they'd add defencemen who can both move the puck and be physical but that's an extremely rare breed. Usually puck moving defencemen aren't physical - so it's pick your poison.

They did add Klingberg last summer...

 

[SheldonJPlankton]

This be the Leafs.

 

[Korpse]

It is a true statement

"It's only a matter of when and how many"

 

[MakeTheGoalsLarger]

I feel like their players aren't cut out for the playoffs. But they did win a series last year, so they qualify as a dark horse.

 

[Leafidelity]

Ofcourse they are

This be the Leafs.

You unironically listen to Ice Spice. Nothing else needs to be said

 

[Dubi Doo]

Nah. Theyre a tier below. A team that would need a lot to go right for them to win it all. I actually thought last year's team was close a contender after their deadline acquisitions. I feel like this year's team is a fair bit worse.

 

[v00d00daddy]

I look at their D and I have a question. Who's moving the puck? Not trying to be a sarcastic jerk either. They have Morgan Rielly who excels at it of course, and Liljigren seems to be solid at it. I feel like Toronto's transition offense with the talent they have should be some of the best in the league if they had dmen more capable of moving the puck quick.

Of course, please let me know if I'm off base and I'm looking at a problem that's not there.

I think it is an issue now. But that’s because they seem to have tried to fill a different defensive gap. They went out and got dmen that can win more 50/50 battles in the corners and in front of the net. That came at the expense of moving the puck.

Simply…they have no chance at being really good at either. Will trying to even it out help? Not sure.

 

[pb1300]

You're right, their careers are over, no chance for them to ever win a cup. If they can't win in their first 8 years they will never win, it's over.

As for this year, no they're not contenders, in 2 years when Tavares' deal is expired they will be. Leafs just need to focus on getting better as individuals and as a team, find a way to keep Domi/Bert, and in 2 years go all in. Use that 16M from JT and Brodie and fix the blue line + cap rising, add a couple solid players and go for it.

Now it’s 2 years? What happens when it doesn’t happen then? Another 2 years?

Their core 4 will not get it done unless they change the way they play in the playoffs. They are soft as charmin, and will not do what it takes to win multiple series.

Just body them up again this playoffs, and they will fold again.