Are the Leafs Tough Enough for Playoffs

[howkie]

Is this 2014 still? Even then, Chicago almost had a dynasty and was soft. So what?

Chicago had a gameplan against Boston to hit Chara everytime he had the puck, and in the end it worked. Leaf last season ran away when Chara came...

 

[member 151739]

I thought the Hawks and Penguins dispelled this myth years ago. Did I time travel?

 

[crackdown44]

Is it currently the 1980s? If not, yes

 

[The Podium]

There is always something to complain about

I rather a team built for the new NHL than the Brian Burke model. Toughness is overrated.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Is Tampa? Was Pittsburgh?

10 years ago I say no. Today, I’d say they are fine.

Tampa is a pretty tough team. They are built for the playoffs. Toronto is going to be praying for PPs. Don't worry, the Bruins will be too.

 

[Brock Radunske]

Leafs need Lucic.

The AHL needs Lucic.

If the Leafs want a guy with some grit and can still play in a top-6 roll, a guy like Josh Anderson would be ideal.

 

[Albus Dumbledore]

Tampa is a pretty tough team. They are built for the playoffs. Toronto is going to be praying for PPs. Don't worry, the Bruins will be too.

maybe but leafs are last in pps this year and are doing fine..

 

[TheCLAM]

We're not even halfway through the season.. we're talking about playoffs?? PLAYOFFS?

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

maybe but leafs are last in pps this year and are doing fine..

In the playoffs.

 

[ffh]

Nope.

 

[crazyhawk]

The Hawks were pretty much outhit every game they played. In particular the 2015 series against the Ducks where they kept on hitting the Hawk D over and over again to the point of " how are these guys still standing? "The Leafs are a somewhat similar team to the Hawks of that era ( 2010 - 2015 )

 

[bigdog16]

Its a different era, but the playoffs are still substantially more physical than the regular season. Every check is finished. Leafs will probably be fine but it could come back to bite them

 

[David Suzuki]

The real concern should be metan fragility. Two years in a row they choke during winnable playoff series.

 

[Matty Sundin]

For the leaf sakes this isnt 2007 when the Ducks bullied the whole league to the cup

 

[Mickey Marner]

Toronto Maple Leafs
Hits per game season: 22.3
Hits per game playoffs: 36.3

Auston Matthews
Hits per game season: 0.26
Hits per game playoffs: 1.77

I'm sure Matthews and co. will be fine. It's not like were going to play someone more physical than Boston or Washington were and we've upped the physical play ourselves.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Toronto Maple Leafs
Hits per game season: 22.3
Hits per game playoffs: 36.3

Auston Matthews
Hits per game season: 0.26
Hits per game playoffs: 1.77

I'm sure Matthews and co. will be fine. It's not like were going to play someone more physical than Boston or Washington were and we've upped the physical play ourselves.

Last year it felt like the Leafs couldn't get out of the way of hits fast enough. Also is that home team stats boosting? How were the home vs away numbers?

 

[BostonBruins11]

They need better D not toughness

 

[Albus Dumbledore]

In the playoffs.

OK but ur assuming they rely on the pp which they don't.

 

[Mickey Marner]

Last year it felt like the Leafs couldn't get out of the way of hits fast enough. Also is that home team stats boosting? How were the home vs away numbers?

Road hits per game: 35.6
Home hits per game: 37.1

Negligible difference.

 

[weinsink]

Good hit so stop whinning,hitting is part of the game and it's open season on anybody.

 

[CupsOverCash]

Depends on who they play. Playoffs are a different animal and if you cant match up physically with a team or have your speed taken away because of that, you will see a different game than you are used to seeing in the regular season. However there are only a few teams who can match them offensively so that could be their way out of that as that will always give them a chance.

 

[The Flying Octopus]

Dead Last in the league with 1 fighting major this season. ONE.

Franchise player Mathews gets pummeled to the boards by Kronwall tonight and the reaction was just a face wash. Nobody even challenges Kronwall or any other Red Wing the rest of the game.


Leafs no doubt are one of the most skilled teams in the league but we all know when it comes playoff time, players will be bullying and targeting their stars. Theyve moved on from Martin who has led the team in fighting by a country mile over the last few seasons.


So are they tough enough ? Who's gonna stand up to someome like Tom Wilson?

Leafs are also bottom 5 in Hits given and contending teams like Vegas Pitt and Tbay are top 5.

NHL.com - Stats
Its open season on these stars.

Sorry but Matthews wasn't "pummeled," and clearly lost an edge while not protecting himself for what was going to be a very clean, everyday type hit you see most NHL players dish out in the corners. I get it though. It was Matthews and he should get the LeBron treatment.

 

[PhoenyX]

I vote no

Boston always pushes them around in the playoffs

 

[Drytoast]

Yeah they just need to stop being shocked they got hit.

 

[Hunter368]

Yeah they just need to stop being shocked they got hit.

Agreed

I’ll add that when the playoffs start every team targets the other teams best players more then ever. So Leafs need to accept that and just play through it and not let it affect their play negatively or take any incredibly dumb penalties (Kadri).