Better forward group: Tampa, Toronto or Other?

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Good god, enough with the victim complex.

If you aren't a Tampa fan you have to be anti Leaf not to vote for them, nobody else has 3 30 goal centers

 

[JoVel]

[

Andersen is > Vasilevskiy

You have weird opinions. Gourde is better than Marner but Andersen better than Vasy?

 

[JoVel]

If you aren't a Tampa fan you have to be anti Leaf not to vote for them, nobody else has 3 30 goal centers

Three 30 goal centers is impressive but last time I checked, teams usually ice 12 forwards, not 3.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Three 30 goal centers is impressive but last time I checked, teams usually ice 12 forwards, not 3.

They have incredible depth on the wing too but it's the 3 30 goal centers that puts their forward group over the top, although I could make a strong case they have the best winger depth too

 

[Atomos2]

Are you disputing TBL defense is much better than ours? Come on now...

Tampa bay’s defence is overrated. Should they have the better defence? Certainly. Do they have the better defence? We’ll see, but if last year was any indication, I’d lean towards no.

 

[Liminality]

I think Tampa's offense is in their prime and ready to contend while Toronto's has the higher potential. I'd probably take Tampa's forward group for next season. Kucherov and Stamkos is one of the best 1st line pairings in the NHL and the rest is not too shabby either.

After next season? I think I'd take Toronto's group. I'm just trying to imagine Matthews, Nylander and Marner a couple of years older and fully ready to compete. Not saying that Tampa's group is old or anything I just think Toronto's group could reach their potential by then and overtake them.

 

[gamer1035]

Three 30 goal centers is impressive but last time I checked, teams usually ice 12 forwards, not 3.

Marner, Nylander, Marleau on the wings as well. Also got up and comers kapanen and Johnson.

 

[Raymoondo]

Other - Winnipeg

 

[LordZapp]

But Tavares is.

Toronto’s centers are better, not close.

Neither is Tavares. Only leaf fans think that.

 

[VoluntaryDom]

Tampa just has a horde of strong two way wingers. Gourde Palat Killorn are all phenomenal two way players. Outside of the top 2 wingers in Toronto i would take these guys over any leafs winger for this upcoming season (and Gourde debatable with marner). Not to mention having Miller who while not great defensively in NY showed signs in TB. Oh and Kucherov exists. And Johnson plays wing for us too. Tampa’s winger group in the top-9 is ridiculously deep.

 

[Advanced stats]

Centers: edge goes to Toronto.
Wingers: edge goes to Tampa.

Pick your poison.

 

[A1LeafNation]

Are you disputing TBL defense is much better than ours? Come on now...

I’m saying pick one or the other because it can’t be both.

 

[loyaltotheend]

I’m saying pick one or the other because it can’t be both.

You're talking about 230 vs 234 GA. Easily within range that variation year-to-year changes it. Not something to crow about like some indisputable gotcha! TBL easily have the better D-group.

The goalies put up similar svpct, all numbers favor Vasilevskiy to one degree or another. He's better but it's not a huge gap.

 

[loyaltotheend]

Tampa bay’s defence is overrated. Should they have the better defence? Certainly. Do they have the better defence? We’ll see, but if last year was any indication, I’d lean towards no.

I'd say Toronto is more underrated... Leafs D not the garbage it's portrayed as on HF, but Tampa are definitely better

 

[DomBarr]

Went Tampa, Toronto has the center depth but once wingers are included Tampa just has more firepower throughout their forward ranks.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

I mean the anti Leaf will say Tampa but 3 30 goal centers says it's Toronto

It isn't anti Leaf to be right.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

I’m saying pick one or the other because it can’t be both.

It is both.

Tampa has the better goalie AND defense and I even think their offense is better.

It is a loaded roster until the cap crushes them in a few seasons.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

It isn't anti Leaf to be right.

If you aren't a Tampa fan then not voting Leafs is choosing to allow your hate to make yo chooses wrong

 

[Volica]

Tampa Bay > Winnipeg > Pens > Toronto

 

[dukeofjive]

Winnipeg, tampa, toronto in that order.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

If you aren't a Tampa fan then not voting Leafs is choosing to allow your hate to make yo chooses wrong

The Leafs aren't the Habs. I really don't hate the Leafs.

If anything I would vote against Tampa after the last playoff series.

 

[StoneHands]

They have incredible depth on the wing too but it's the 3 30 goal centers that puts their forward group over the top, although I could make a strong case they have the best winger depth too

I'm curious to hear what your argument is that Toronto's wingers are better than Tampa, Philly, or Winnipeg for this upcoming season. I can see the argument for 2-3 years down the line but for this season I don't think they're better than any of these 3. After Marner and Nylander it's really not very impressive.

Toronto
Marner, Nylander, Marleau, Hyman, Brown, Kapanen

Tampa
Kucherov, Gourde, Miller, Palat, Killorn, Callahan

Philly
Giroux, Voracek, Konecny, JvR, Simmonds, Lindblom

Winnipeg
Wheeler, Laine, Ehlers, Connor, Perreault, Lowry

 

[VoluntaryDom]

Andersen is better than Vasilevskiy. Tampa’s defense is better than Toronto’s.

 

[Beauner]

I'd still take Pittsburgh over any team. Crosby, Malkin, Kessel, Guentzel, Brassard, Hornqvist, Rust, Hagelin. I just don't see a team with that combination of top end talent and depth. Tampa has the top end talent but not the depth. Toronto and Winnipeg have the depth but not top end talent. Crosby/Malkin/Kessel/Guentzel > Tavares/Matthews/Marner/Nylander

 

[Midnight Judges]

The Capitals' forwards outplayed Pittsburgh's and Tampa's in the playoffs on their way to winning the Stanley Cup.

Has something drastically changed since then?