Do the Leafs overcome their first round demons next year?

[Varan]

Simple question. Do the Leafs finally break through and make it to the second round next season? Or does the same song play again next year?

If they do not, do you see mass changes coming such as breaking the core up?

Feel free to say whatever

Click to read more...

 

[Skolman]

This is just a guessing game, obviously. I'll take history though, until we see otherwise.

 

[leafsfan5]

The last time they passed the first round I was 3 years old, I'm now almost finished university

Please for the love of God do it next season

 

[780il]

The last time they passed the first round I was 3 years old, I'm now almost finished university

Please for the love of God do it next season

Oilers have made the playoffs 3 times in my lifetime. 2 of those appearances being when I was 1 and 4.

Pain.

 

[HarryLime]

prob not tbh

 

[canuckking1]

We do this Rodeo every year.

 

[TomasHertlsRooster]

Only 8 teams make the 2nd round every year; that’s only about a quarter of the league’s teams. If all else was equal, they’d have 25.8% odds at making the playoffs.

Now, I don’t think all else is equal, because I think they’re an above average team, but I don’t think they’re far enough above average to bring the probability of winning a round over 50%. So, I’ll go with the odds and say no, but anything can happen and it wouldn’t shock me if they did.

 

[jcs0218]

The last time they passed the first round I was 3 years old, I'm now almost finished university

Please for the love of God do it next season

The last time the Leafs won a 1st round series, I was finishing up my 1st year of university.

 

[Varan]

The last time they passed the first round I was 3 years old, I'm now almost finished university

Please for the love of God do it next season

I was 6. I'm in law school now LOL

 

[jcs0218]

I am going to come out and say that the Leafs will make the 3rd round next season.

They are talented. And the likely Canadian Division is going to help them get to this point.

If a Canadian Division follows the same playoff format as the current divisional structure does, then I don't see any Canadian team beating them in a best-of-7 playoff series.

They will run into Tampa Bay in the 3rd round, and that is where things will get difficult.

 

[Tripod]

Impossible to guess without knowing who they play. If they play TB or Boston, it will be another tough go but can still beat them.

I believe once they get past 1 round, they will get past the 2nd one as well.

 

[EdJovanovski]

Nope

 

[93gilmour93]

To much talent to not eventually break through. I say they at least play in the 2nd round next year

 

[Randy Randerson]

Gonna say yes, law of averages. I think they're too good to be a wise bet to miss the playoffs, and at that point each series becomes something in the realm of a coin flip for odds so unless curses actually exist it has to happen at some point

 

[Byron Bitz]

Ask me again when we know who they are playing. Every series this core has played in has been razor close. Joe Thornton knows more than I do and he signed with them because he believes they are cup contenders.

 

[Mickey Marner]

If there's an all-Canadian division, yes.

 

[Oilers Propagandist]

Not if there's an all canadian division.

 

[JTToilinginToronto]

No.

 

[GretzkytoKurri9917]

Simple question. Do the Leafs finally break through and make it to the second round next season? Or does the same song play again next year?

If they do not, do you see mass changes coming such as breaking the core up?

Feel free to say whatever

Surely you jest!

 

[BB06]

Leafs=Dallas cowboys of the NHL

 

[SheldonJPlankton]

Nope.

They're a mediocre team not built for playoff success who got a lot older this season. They picked up a sub .500. backup goalie, made lateral moves replacing Barrie and Ceci and replaced Johnsson and Kapanen with a collection of has-been's, wanna-be's, and never-been's at the same time when teams like Buffalo and Montreal actually improved their rosters.

I expect the usual. A bubble team that slides into a bottom 4 playoff berth who gets exposed as playoff pretender...just like in previous years.

 

[Devonator]

It all depends who they face.....I don't think they are a much improved team....however they could still make some trades to upgrade their squad....but at this point I don't think they are likely to win in the first round...

 

[Varan]

Nope.

They're a mediocre team not built for playoff success who got a lot older this season. They picked up a sub .500. backup goalie, made lateral moves replacing Barrie and Ceci and replaced Johnsson and Kapanen with a collection of has-been's, wanna-be's, and never-been's at the same time when teams like Buffalo and Montreal actually improved their rosters.

I expect the usual. A bubble team that slides into a bottom 4 playoff berth who gets exposed as playoff pretender...just like in previous years.

You could argue that their core minus Tavares is hitting their prime. However I do agree on their lack of defence and virtually zero effort being put into having a competent d-core. I honestly do not remember the last time they had a good, solid defence.

 

[GretzkytoKurri9917]

Leafs=Dallas cowboys of the NHL

Leafs=Denver Broncos

 

[Karl Eriksson]

I think they will improve over last year and actually make the playoffs, but I think they’ll get bounced in round one again.