Speculation: Eastern Conference is a Beast-Should we be sellers

[Funk21]

Looking at the trades that Florida, Boston and TB just made without us throwing the kitchen sink, the living room and the dining room into the pot I don’t think we have much of a chance.

Personally I would rather us trade some expiring contracts and load up for next year because IMO we are gonna get smoked. We could trade:

Lyubushkin
Holl
Dermott
Mikheyev
Mrazek-although I don’t think anybody I’ll be interested

There is talk the NYR would be willing to trade LaFrenier, Nylander would come to mind. Would could grab some prospects and free up cap space to drastically alter our team. I know this is super unpopular opinion but I just don’t think we have the personnel to win the SC.

Thought?

Click to read more...

 

[Apotheosis]

I honestly agree. Unless they find a way to improve the D/Kallgren being the real deal, no chance we make it through the Eastern gauntlet. The team is flawed.

 

[7even]

Bit of a loser mentality there eh

The team's not near perfect but Matthews is 24 going on 25. Statistically, his best season is either this one, or in the past. When you have the chance to kick the can you kick the f***in can

 

[Dekes For Days]

The 5th best team in the league is not selling. Give your head a shake.

We have just as good a chance as any of these teams, even with their additions.

 

[Funk21]

Bit of a loser mentality there eh

The team's not near perfect but Matthews is 24 going on 25. Statistically, his best season is either this one, or in the past. When you have the chance to kick the can you kick the f***in can

No just realistic, with all the question marks in net and how crazy every team is this year I really have to question if it’s not better to take a step back and potentially reload like the Avs did a few years ago.

 

[Morgs]

We're as good or better than all three of these teams. Hagel is a borderline top-6 F with a high oiSH% and meh impacts. Lindholm hasn't been great in years and besides McAvoy, Boston's defense pale in comparison to ours (but they play good team defense), and Florida is even more an offensive juggernaut who's lacking any semblance of defensive play or defenseman outside their elite top-pair.

It's insane to me that because we've had bad goaltending you guys are willing to pack up the season and go home. This is the best Leafs team in 20+ years with scoring talent, defensive depth, and actual depth. It's just lacking a goalie, and hopefully Jack comes back and plays like he did before Foligno tried to end his career.

 

[Menzinger]

The team is on pace to finish with a franchise record in terms of the regular season. They're not going to sell.

If anything the last couple playoffs should tell us nothing is predetermined. Just because a team loads up doesn't mean they won't lose in the first round.

 

[Leafsfan74]

They are playoff hardened at this point, playing 5 straight years against tough physical opponents,.it is never going for to be different in any year in the NHL. There is no easy path to the Cup. Ever

No selling. Buy at the right price. Build a team that is happy to play hard, compete and fight for the W.

Unlike last years unique situation where I thought it was the right opportunity, I would say don''t overpay too much.

To sell though? No way you sell when you are doing well even without your meanest defenseman in the lineup. Any team in the dance can win it all. Put your best team together.

 

[Dave92]

It's amazing how after 3 years Dubas has arguably the worst defense AND the worst goaltending in the conference going in to the playoffs.

 

[LeafsOHLRangers98]

It's amazing how after 3 years Dubas has arguably the worst defense AND the worst goaltending in the conference going in to the playoffs.

The defense has been great for the most part. Maybe not as good as Bostons, but better than most in the conference actually.

The goaltending was horrendous for a long period.

 

[Dekes For Days]

It's amazing how after 3 years Dubas has arguably the worst defense AND the worst goaltending in the conference going in to the playoffs.

Except neither of those things are even remotely close to true.

 

[Dave92]

The defense has been great for the most part. Maybe not as good as Bostons, but better than most in the conference actually.

The goaltending was horrendous for a long period.

That's true defense hasn't been as much of a problem. Still doesn't feel like a strength when you compare to Tampa, Carolina, Boston. Florida i'm not sure about. Pit and Washington i'd probably favor our D.

 

[Dave92]

Except neither of those things are even remotely close to true.

They've had the worst goaltending in the league for almost 3 months now.

 

[Gary Nylund]

We're as good or better than all three of these teams. Hagel is a borderline top-6 F with a high oiSH% and meh impacts. Lindholm hasn't been great in years and besides McAvoy, Boston's defense pale in comparison to ours (but they play good team defense), and Florida is even more an offensive juggernaut who's lacking any semblance of defensive play or defenseman outside their elite top-pair.

It's insane to me that because we've had bad goaltending you guys are willing to pack up the season and go home. This is the best Leafs team in 20+ years with scoring talent, defensive depth, and actual depth. It's just lacking a goalie, and hopefully Jack comes back and plays like he did before Foligno tried to end his career.

I've heard this "best Leafs team in 20+ years" stuff for several years now. It doesn't mean anything, that much should be clear to everyone by now.

Saying this team is "just" lacking a goalie is like saying an NFL team "just" lacks a QB.

 

[Maplebeasts]

Seriously?

 

[Morbo]

you're not getting anything for substance for any of those guys.

 

[kevsh]

It's insane to me that because we've had bad goaltending you guys are willing to pack up the season and go home.

First, I don't agree the Leafs should be sellers but there's a lot more holes in this team than bad goaltending. No use spelling it all out again, it's been debated to death for months, but right now Muzzin is a question mark which leaves the blueline suspect and unless Campbell comes back and regains his early season form, I don't see a realistic path for a deep playoff run.

 

[Advanced stats]

We're 1-0 against Boston.

We've 1-1 against Tampa

We haven't played against Florida, and they just lost their best defenseman.

We're 5th in the league and rising.

Knock it off with this bullshit loser mentality

 

[str8kila]

When do u propose we compete?

 

[Menzinger]

We're 1-0 against Boston.

We've 1-1 against Tampa

We haven't played against Florida, and they just lost their best defenseman.

We're 5th in the league and rising.

Knock it off with this bullshit loser mentality

This is also the worst Boston team they've had in years. And Florida has as much playoff success (or lack there if) as the Leafs in recent years.

Nothing in this league is a lock to happen

 

[ACC1224]

Lol they aren’t going be sellers.

 

[TorMapleJays]

Sounds like my kids hockey coach "That team is too good to be playing in our division, they should be a level up"

In other words, you are not good enough. Terrible loser mentality..

 

[saffronleaf]

depending on the goaltending situation may be better to sell a bit and retool but yea also happy to just go for it

 

[2 Slick]

I think they should stand pat, nothing they get at the deadline is going to put them over the top. They don’t have the goaltending, defence or ability to get over that first round slump. This team is going to get annihilated.

 

[saffronleaf]

They've had the worst goaltending in the league for almost 3 months now.

and what has the team done to address that?