Which team is currently the Leafs biggest rival?

[Peiskos]

This has been touched on briefly in the Pre-Game Talk - Leafs vs Habs thread so I thought it would be a good discussion moving forward into the new era.

Historically it can be said its the Habs, relatively recent playoff history says its the Senators, but regards to present day and moving forward is it the Boston Bruins?

Then of course there is the Sabres, where do they all rank and which teams do you think will emerge as our main rivals in the Matthews/Shanahan era.

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[Nithoniniel]

To be honest, I don't really think we have a current rivalry, just a few historical ones. It wouldn't surprise me if something started up with Boston going forward.

 

[Stephen]

Right now it's Boston. For the past ten years a sense of ill will has developed between the two teams, or at least from a Toronto perspective where it seems like Bruins success has occurred at the expense of the Leafs in some ways: 1) Rask for Raycroft set them up for 10 years and debilitated Toronto for 10 years. Humiliating trade. 2) Kessel trade set them up for their cup run and extended contention. 3) Chara's been rag dolling the Leafs ever since Bryan McCabe. 4) the horrible collapse in 2013. For some reason the Bruins hate us too.

With Montreal, it's just historic looking laundry. Maybe the rivalry will intensify with Tampa.

 

[IPS]

Really looked like Buffalo was our arch rival in the making what with our mirroring rebuilds but god damn they look horrible.

 

[Liminality]

I think playoffs build rivalries. Boston's the most recent one in our division so I guess I'd go with them.
Will we face Buffalo, Ottawa or Montreal anytime soon in the playoffs?

 

[LeafsNation75]

Based on recent history only it's Boston.

 

[Walshy7]

Boston, but its not necessarily mutual though. I imagine no matter what habs/bruins is bigger to a bruin fan

 

[leaffaninvancouver]

To be honest, I don't really think we have a current rivalry, just a few historical ones. It wouldn't surprise me if something started up with Boston going forward.

One playoff series with Montréal would fix that, completely agree though.

 

[Buds17]

There's the provincial rivalry with Ottawa and the longstanding Original Six rivalry with Montreal. Whatever rivalries exist nowadays are formed in the playoffs IMO, so that's looking to be Boston.

 

[54thecup]

Boston is our current biggest rival but it will become TB shortly. The Bruins vets will run out of gas in the next 2-3 years but Tampa Bay has staying power for several seasons. With current playoff format (which I am fine with), TB is the enemy of the next 5 years!

 

[member 300185]

Winnipeg and Vancouver should be on the list.

 

[garce]

It’s always Habs and Ottawa for me. Whichever is doing better at any time. This year is delightful. Bruins are the only other on the radar, although Buffalo and Detroit are only a playoff series away from hatred,

 

[Judas Tavares]

Habs

 

[Maplebeasts]

I would say if we're not talking the Habs, it would be the Bruins. If Buffalo can get their act together they'll be near the top.

 

[socko]

It will always be the Red Wings for me. I don't even like Shanahan because he's one of them.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

it has to be Boston by default. I don't really care about beating any of those other bottom feeders

 

[Brobust]

Winnipeg/Edmonton until Ottawa/Montreal get gud.

Leafs get a lot of hate from both those fanbases.

 

[GardinerTheForward]

1A. Hughson
1B. Simpson

 

[Daisy Jane]

what rivalry do we have with Winnipeg?


I'd say... well Boston or Tampa, i guess.
idon't think w have one though to be honest.

 

[Liminality]

We'd need to play Winnipeg more than twice a year for it to become a rivalry imo.

 

[White Shadow]

I don't think we have one atm. We just don't have enough recent success.

Is there a team that would call us their biggest rival? Outside of Buffalo, I can't think of any.

 

[as Pure as Evil]

its gotta be boston. we have beat them what 7 out of the last 8 times we faced them and 90% of leaf fans are scared shitless of playing them in the playoffs. one lost game tho we were thoroughly beat doesn't erase the fact we have owned them for the last 2 years. but hindsight makes this really the only active rival at the moment. there is still actual hate every time we play

 

[diceman934]

Habs...always has been and always will be. They are the only team in the league that I hate...the rest i dislike.

 

[Tall Morty]

Feels like Boston right now, but I'm always extra excited to play the Habs.

 

[BTP]

If Buffalo was any good, it would EASILY be them.

But they are trash.

Naz and Risto genuinely dislike eachother. Theyre the only team where I can see the dislike between teams on the ice.