Speculation: Could the Leafs be legitimate contenders?

[GalacticaActual]

Projected lineups:

JVR-Bozak-Kessel
Lupul-Kadri-Clarkson
Komarov-Holland-Frattin
Bodie-Kontiala-Santorelli
Orr

Phaneuf-Polak
Gardiner-Robidas
Rielly-Granberg
Franson

Bernier
Brodeur

I can easily see that lineup going deep into the playoffs.

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[The Hockey Life]

Projected lineups:

JVR-Bozak-Kessel
Lupul-Kadri-Clarkson
Komarov-Holland-Frattin
Bodie-Kontiala-Santorelli
Orr

Phaneuf-Polak
Gardiner-Robidas
Rielly-Granberg
Franson

Bernier
Brodeur

I can easily see that lineup going deep into the playoffs.

I'd check out other teams rosters before thinking that. I think this will be a season about learning and development. Sad news for us Leaf fans but if this team can make the playoffs don't expect much out of them.

 

[SprDaVE]

Siiiiiiiigh

 

[Dangles McGavin]

If Kadri can manage to not be crap, Gardiner and Rielly take leaps that I think they will, Bernier doesn’t get injured, Komarov pisses people off, Dion plays less minutes and doesn’t gas towards the end of the season, and Lupul doesn’t suck, this team isn’t horrible. Lots of ifs

All that being said, Carlyle is still the coach so I’d expect us to miss the playoffs.

 

[Suntouchable13]

With those centres this team is going nowhere. We are weak up the middle. Sorry Bozak and Kadri lovers

 

[Teeder9]

We are slightly better than last season. Players still have to play better to be better

 

[Mystifo]

Projected lineups:

JVR-Bozak-Kessel
Lupul-Kadri-Clarkson
Komarov-Holland-Frattin
Bodie-Kontiala-Santorelli
Orr

Phaneuf-Polak
Gardiner-Robidas
Rielly-Granberg
Franson

Bernier
Brodeur

I can easily see that lineup going deep into the playoffs.

Polak is NOT A TOP PAIRING DEFENDER!!!

Alright???


They have already said he is going to be a 4 to 5 guy.


If anything they traded Gunnar to open up a spot on the top pairing for Gards or Rielly and figured they would get a bigger body for the bottom pairing.

 

[Territory]

It will be really tough to tell how good this lineup is until after the first 10-20 games. I'm optimistic, but cautiously so.

 

[Rielly4Captain]

Projected lineups:

JVR-Bozak-Kessel
Lupul-Kadri-Clarkson
Komarov-Holland-Frattin
Bodie-Kontiala-Santorelli
Orr

Phaneuf-Polak
Gardiner-Robidas
Rielly-Granberg
Franson

Bernier
Brodeur

I can easily see that lineup going deep into the playoffs.

I would swap Clarkson and Frattin. I also don't think Brodeur will play anywhere that isn't New Jersey, I think he would retire before that. That's all i would change from your lineup.

 

[richardn]

Projected lineups:

JVR-Bozak-Kessel
Lupul-Kadri-Clarkson
Komarov-Holland-Frattin
Bodie-Kontiala-Santorelli
Orr

Phaneuf-Polak
Gardiner-Robidas
Rielly-Granberg
Franson

Bernier
Brodeur

I can easily see that lineup going deep into the playoffs.

LMAO this is a lineup for tanking

 

[Cor]

This is nice. Things are insane still, but it seems to have went to the other end of the scale with insane positivity.

Keep believing OP, don't let anyone bring ya down

 

[Mystifo]

LMAO this is a lineup for tanking

As long as you have a goalie like Bernier and he plays like we know he can you wont tank.

 

[Commander Clueless]

What, like next season?


I like your optimism, friend, but no.

 

[Rielly4Captain]

Polak is NOT A TOP PAIRING DEFENDER!!!

Alright???


They have already said he is going to be a 4 to 5 guy.


If anything they traded Gunnar to open up a spot on the top pairing for Gards or Rielly and figured they would get a bigger body for the bottom pairing.

You make a good point. It would be nice to see Rielly or Gardiner up there on the top, while Polak moves slightly lower

 

[Teeder9]

It will be really tough to tell how good this lineup is until after the first 10-20 games. I'm optimistic, but cautiously so.

Don't you mean 82? We thought we knew last year at the 60 game mark

 

[CalgaryLeaf*]

If this team can tighten up their defense and keep the shots down they can compete for a playoff spot in the East...The Eastern conference is the weak sister to the Western Conf.

Hopefully Bernier repeats his strong play from last year or even <gasp> improves!...Strong goaltending goes a long LONG way.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Contenders? Likely not ... Should be a competitive team though and that should take them further than where a lot of naysayers will believe

 

[Territory]

We will make the playoffs unless someone makes a thread like...

"It will take a massive choke to not make the playoffs" or something like that.

 

[Quarter]

When did Brodeur sign?

 

[Schenn]

I like how polarized leaf nation is. It's either bottom of the barrel or cream of the crop for you people.

 

[CaymanIslands]

If Bernier or Kessel go down were in bottom 5 for certain

 

[Kelly]

Everything needs to go right.

Bernier needs to do what he did last year.
Kadri needs to take the next step defensively, and in the dot.
Rielly and Gardiner need to play outstanding.
Phaneuf needs to be consistent
Kessel/JVR/Bozak need to be consistent as well.
Depth scorers need to bring consistent secondary production.
Clarkson needs to bounce back.

I can see us contending for the playoffs... but for the cup? Doubtful. Even if the horse shoe up our ass carried us to the finals, we'd get eaten alive by the big 5 in the WC.

So no.

 

[Stats01]

LOL...that's all.

 

[Ricky Bobby]

Absolutely not! But with the East so wide open maybe we get lucky and pull a Rangers/Devils run off but the same could be said about teams like the Islanders, Blue Jackets.

 

[pspot]

essentially the same roster as the team that finished 8th worst in the league with the addition of some depth players, a 37 year old dman and the same coach?
no they are not legitimate contenders....unless you mean for 8th spot