Quarter Season Update...Rank the Canadian Teams

[blankall]

How in the **** does him having a slow start somehow equal to the Leafs missing a top line winger and a franchise center? I'm actually curious about this to hear how you somehow think a guy playing the games but sucking is equal to missing TWO guys (one of which is vastly better than Laine on his best day)

The slow start was from the player leading the league in goals. Having Laine going from being invisible to scoring at full speed is a major difference.

 

[Kamiccolo]

The slow start was from the player leading the league in goals. Having Laine going from being invisible to scoring at full speed is a major difference.

And Matthews was leading in goals and right there with points when he was injured. That doesn't include his overall impact to the game either and we haven't even mentioned Nylander yet.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

That's not completely relevant though. If we're all agreeing that Toronto and Winnipeg are at worst...close..then head to head is the natural tie breaker is it not?

They also beat Boston last season in regular season.

 

[Paris in Flames]

They also beat Boston last season in regular season.

Incredibly relevant in this here quarter season Canadian team ranking debate.

Head to head is a very common tie breaker so pardon me for suggesting it as an option in the Toronto/Winnipeg debate. My apologies HF.

 

[blankall]

And Matthews was leading in goals and right there with points when he was injured. That doesn't include his overall impact to the game either and we haven't even mentioned Nylander yet.

The whole Toronto team has slowed down since those first 10 games or so. Matthews, before being injured was pointless in 4 games.

 

[KPower]

The whole Toronto team has slowed down since those first 10 games or so. Matthews, before being injured was pointless in 4 games.

And he would have continued to be pointless in the next 12 games also, correct?

 

[Kamiccolo]

The whole Toronto team has slowed down since those first 10 games or so. Matthews, before being injured was pointless in 4 games.

And you assume he would slow down? He finished 2nd in rocket scoring as a rookie. He would have been right there based on his pace last year.

The point is that the loss of Matthews is more than Laine slumping. Even outside of points Matthews brings a lot away from the puck and they miss his his game breaking ability.

And again, this doesn't even get into Nylander.

 

[PsYcNeT]

How can you even get into Nylander? The Leafs bear at least some responsibility for him not being on the roster/traded for additional depth, so Nylander not playing is already part of the equation.

 

[triggrman]

Right now, top 3 are
Toronto
Winnipeg
Calgary

but Calgary is closing in fast... They're looking legit...

 

[Finn16]

The slow start was from the player leading the league in goals. Having Laine going from being invisible to scoring at full speed is a major difference.

He's on a insane tear right now but he's also scoring the majority of his goals on very bad and poor defensive teams 14 of his 19 goals come against Blues,Canucks,Panthers...all those teams are the ones his hatricks came from. It's still very impressive but also not surprising to see as it seems to be a fairly common trend for him to feast on weak teams.

 

[tony d]

1. Toronto
2. Calgary
3. Winnipeg
4. Montreal
5. Edmonton
6. Vancouver
7. Ottawa

 

[krutovsdonut]

jets/flames/leafs are contenders.

the rest are not. habs have an outside chance of catching fire with weber back. the rest should be developing players and making moves for next year.

 

[Isaac Nootin]

Consider the fact that the leafs got kicked out in the first round and Winnipeg made the conference finals while also beating Nashville it should be obvious who is better.

Yeah, it's not like Toronto added the biggest free agent in years this offseason.

But, but, but last year!

 

[Saidin]

Yeah, it's not like Toronto added the biggest free agent in years this offseason.

But, but, but last year!

WTF? The biggest add was Alzner...

 

[Wayne Primeau]

Calgary is really the only other Canadian team who's got a shot at the playoffs this year IMO.

"a shot"? They lead the division!

 

[Three On Zero]

Toronto / Winnipeg (Tied)


Calgary
Montreal

Vancouver (Bad luck with injuries but better depth than Edmonton when healthy)
Edmonton

Ottawa

 

[flamesforcup]

Yeah, it's not like Toronto added the biggest free agent in years this offseason.

But, but, but last year!

They also lost a bunch of key pieces and their defense other than Rielly has been bad.

 

[winnipegger]

Calgary ahead of Winnipeg? The Jets were 3 wins from the cup final ffs. Such foolishness. Calgary still lacks a reliable goaltender.

 

[Nizdizzle]

They also lost a bunch of key pieces and their defense other than Rielly has been bad.

How often do you watch Leafs games? Our defense has been fairly strong this year, outside of a couple of bad games. Zaitsev seems be turning around, Gardiner has been solid. Hainsey has looked a bit lost sometimes, but thats hardly sinking the ship.

 

[Volica]

Right now, top 3 are
Toronto
Winnipeg
Calgary

but Calgary is closing in fast... They're looking legit...

Crazy what non-league-worst goaltending can do for a team, eh?

FWIW, I still have
Toronto/Winnipeg are kind of the 1A/1B type thing; both teams are high in the standings; and have pedigree of being really good from last season.

Calgary is the third team in there. I'd say they've been just as impressive as the other two teams, but submarined by some horrid goaltending; in terms of the three teams, this one in all honesty, has been the most game dominant of the three. That all being said, last year they were a non-playoff team, and I need more than 20 games to crown anyone.

 

[Bando]

Winnipeg
Calgary
Toronto

The rest with ottawa/edmonton at the bottom.

 

[blankall]

He's on a insane tear right now but he's also scoring the majority of his goals on very bad and poor defensive teams 14 of his 19 goals come against Blues,Canucks,Panthers...all those teams are the ones his hatricks came from. It's still very impressive but also not surprising to see as it seems to be a fairly common trend for him to feast on weak teams.

And Toronto's last loses were to:

Columbus, Boston, Dallas, Carolina, and Calgary, who are mostly higher standing playoff teams. Since edging out Winnipeg on Nov 27, Toronto's only win against a team that was in the playoffs were Columbus, SJ, and Montreal (in OT).

Toronto has had a very easy schedule thus far and have yet to face the top 2 teams in the East, Tampa and Buffalo, or the top 3 teams in the West, Minnesota, Nashville, and Colorado. Toronto lost both of its games against the #4 seeds in each conference, Boston and Calgary....so if you really want to break things down, Toronto hasn't really been tested yet.

News flash, it's easier to play well against worse teams.

 

[Bond]

As much as I hate to say it I have.

Toronto
Winnipeg
Flames

Then the rest with Montreal on top.

Flames need to continue too see Lindholm, Tkachuk, and Rittich step up their games before I say they are close to Winnipeg.
Flames hockey has been way more fun to watch this season though.

 

[MNRube]

Leafs have better record but I can’t imagine there is a team in the NHL that rather play Winnipeg in the playoffs.

 

[Nizdizzle]

And Toronto's last loses were to:

Columbus, Boston, Dallas, Carolina, and Calgary, who are mostly higher standing playoff teams. Since edging out Winnipeg on Nov 27, Toronto's only win against a team that was in the playoffs were Columbus, SJ, and Montreal (in OT).

Toronto has had a very easy schedule thus far and have yet to face the top 2 teams in the East, Tampa and Buffalo, or the top 3 teams in the West, Minnesota, Nashville, and Colorado. Toronto lost both of its games against the #4 seeds in each conference, Boston and Calgary....so if you really want to break things down, Toronto hasn't really been tested yet.

News flash, it's easier to play well against worse teams.

Exactly, like when Toronto beat Winnipeg both times.