When there was no cap the above issues would hurt a team's playoff chances too.
Not nearly to the same extent though (was more of a have/have not league)and I regret actually throwing that in now as it's not the key point. A lot of things have to have to go right for a team too. Things not coming together for teams can lead to the unfair and contagious perceived notions that players are "playoff losers". HOF players like Yzerman (carried this stigma for like a decade and insanely left off Team Canada in 87 and 91 for this type of thinking) and Ovi come to mind here. Tampa's financial attractiveness to players gave them a superteam of sorts but they still have to get the breaks to win.
I like to use Tampa as an example of comparison as they are winners and it's good to emulate them. They pulled a reverse of what happened to us and actually got the eventual MVP back into their lineup for the playoffs and beat the Cats in the first round (in a tough series). But would they have even beaten them if they had the injury issues the Leafs had?
Just doing some obvious comparisons(trying to be fair here), If Point(Matthews) was playing with a bad wrist that needed to be surgically repaired, Stamkos(Tavares) got knocked out in the first period of the series, McDonagh(Muzzin) got knocked out of the series and Gourde?(Trying to figure out our big deadline pickup Folignos heathy value equivalent on the Bolts) was playing injured and only played half the games, do you think that series goes the other way? I'm not sure but I am pretty sure 99% of folks would be saying "damn, injuries really made the huge difference in that series" but I think the years of futility have made ANY excuse seem illegitimate.....and that was only one way the dice rolled against us last playoff.
Tampa won 2 cups not just because they have a solid core but because they were relatively healthy, their depth players played well and they always had an advantage in net. Almost the exact same President trophy core with the same coach got swept in the first round before the cups because just a couple things went the wrong way but it all came together the last couple of years. I'm just hoping the Leafs can manage a playoff round without losing a key piece and/or have an advantage in net. We havnt seen that yet.
The Leafs are probably going to be a good team this year again (The 5th best record in hockey the last 4 years with this core) and we have to hope it really does come together for them in the playoffs. Are the new depth players going to make the difference this year or are they going to throw pizzas to the other team to blow games in the playoffs? How will Mrazek perform? Will they be healthy?
I cant wait to find out. Sure beats that decade of hoping they could be a bubble team.
