Just take a look at the other current teams in playoff positions in the east..Bruins, Blue Jackets, Flyers, Devils, Penguins, Capitals and Lightning.
I feel the Leafs have good chances against all of those teams quite frankly, and only 3 of those teams have more points and a better goal differential than the Leafs. (Lighting, Capitals, Bruins)
We're sitting 4th in the east and 8th in the league. We're a really good team and as weird and that sounds coming out of everyones mouths its true. Its unlikely but this team can go to the conference finals if things go their way. My expectations for this season were 2nd round, I think most would agree that 2nd round is a realistic expectation.
I disagree with his 3rd reason, while experience is nice I think youthful exuberance is under rated.
Pitts. proved that not having a true or proper #1 or #2 d-man isn't a barrier that automatically excludes teams from winning the Cup. The ability to score in pressure situations trumps good/great d, all teams must score to win, must, being sound defensively is only paramount if you can't score. Edmonton won many Cups without being sound or exceptional defensively. Do we need a better RHD sure, is it essential, no.
I think Bozak would be a fine defensive center for the 3rd line but having him and JVR on the same line is just nonsense, a nonsense that's been going on for far too many years. Babs has just now started to experiment, he needs to do far more.
Kadri's line is getting outplayed at home thru most of this year but is far superior on the road because Babs insists on playing Kadri's line against the opposition's best at home. Kadri's line at home is a possession nightmare and why Babs doesn't do something about it is beyond me.
I'd like to see the lines even further mixed up:
JVR/Matthews/Hyman
Kadri/Nylander/Brown
Marleau/Bozak/Marner
Johnsson/Leo/Kappy
I still don't see why TO continues to use Kadri as a center, I don't think he makes his linemates better but I think he would be golden as a LW, both offensively and defensively.
TO's 3 weakest d forwards need to be spread around, JVR, Nylander and Marner need players that can and will defend on their lines so that eventually peer pressure might induce them to improve defensively.
I love Leo on the 4th line, he's perfect there.
The d could use some changes, love Polak but he's best suited to a different NHL and should only be used as insurance/depth which is the same way I view Hainsey. The d needs to be able to move the puck not just defend and having a puck mover with some stay at home d-man is nonsensical, all the d-men should be mobile.
The d pairings I see for now:
Gardiner/Rielly
Dermott/Zaitsev
Borgman/Carrick
Half these d-men need experience and their talent justifies them warranting it. TO is comfortably in a playoff position and can afford to lose some games because of inexperience, the long range game plan should be to allow these d-men to learn now for future benefit, if not this year then next.
The extra d-men I would prefer are Holl, Hainsey and Polak, in that order.