Toronto’s in town and it’s a 7pm start? Is this the twilight zone?
Toronto’s in town and it’s a 7pm start? Is this the twilight zone?
I do find it interesting that the Leafs seem to be trending downwards as an organization
How do you figure?
Not sure that they can’t turn it around but their points total has gone down the last two years to the point they were a playoff bubble team last year and look to be worse this year.How do you figure?
1) an inappropriately high percentage of their cap allocated towards their top players (compare this over-allocation of their cap towards their top players to the Stanley cup winners over these past 10 years). Depth + cost controlled elite talent = championships. That has been the recipe.
2) the likely (inevitable?) departure of some of their top players in this coming off season.
due to the way their cap structured, it’s highly unlikely that the Leafs will be able to create the necessary depth needed to be a cup winner. They’ll still be a good to very good team during this Matthews-lead core, but they won’t be a great one. They will be the Pittsburgh Penguins of 2010-2015.
I do find it interesting that the Leafs seem to be trending downwards as an organization while the Canucks are clearly trending upwards. It’s funny to me because I was told that the Leafs had rebuilt their team “the correct way,” while the Canucks and their management had done everything wrong. The Leafs have been the poster boy for how to rebuild the “correct way,” and not only have they not won a single playoff round since 2002, but their self-inflicted cap problems seems like it will likely prevent them from being anything more than a 2nd round team.....maybe a one-off 3rd round appearance.
meanwhile, the Canucks look poised and ready to go deep in 2021-2022. Mark that year on your calendar folks. You heard it here first.
Two teams with high octane offenses and questionable defenses. On paper it should be a barn burner. Hopefully our fourth line was just rusty last game.
Not sure that they can’t turn it around but their points total has gone down the last two years to the point they were a playoff bubble team last year and look to be worse this year.
That team two years ago looked like it was set up to be a top contender as early as one year ago.
Having four forwards take up such a high percentage of the cap when they haven’t really proven anything doesn’t seem like a good long term structure. Having said that they could trade one of them for defensive help and turn things around quickly.
Lol! I was thinking the same thing.Wouldnt surprise me to see a 0-0 tie because that's hockey.
Their problem is that Cody Ceci is their shutdown guy and average over 20 mins a gameThey have all their top players locked up at least through next season. I don't know that Barrie was ever a long term option for them and when he walks they have Sandin and Liljegren to come up.
Yeah their cap situation isn't ideal but it's not like they don't have options. None of their young 3 forwards have trade protection if they decided to go that route. The Leafs trouble and demise is greatly exaggerated. With Pridham and Gilman in the front office they'll massage the cap somehow.