The Leafs will be the team that ends Canada’s cup drought.

[Iggys Dome]

DISCLAIMER: I am NOT a Leafs fan by any stretch of the imagination. I do like their team though, and despite an annoying as hell fan base online they are quite loyal and are a grade A organization. Okay, yuck, moving on.

This team is trending in the right direction, and yes they have next to no defensive depth but barring injuries this team has what it takes to go all the way in the East this year. The Jets, Flames,Oilers, Habs, Canucks and Sens are not going to do it anytime soon. And the Leafs are Canada’s best bet at ending this drought, and I wager it’ll happen either this year or next.

Let’s take a look at the key pieces on their roster:
Matthews- elite #1C
Tavares- elite #1C
Marner- elite #1RW
Reilly- Bonafide #1D
Andersen- elite #1G
Nylander- bonafide top 6 player with PPG potential.

Key depth pieces:
Kapanen, Johnsson,Barrie, Muzzin, Kerfoot are all nice complimentary pieces. IMO they need a big deadline deal if possible to solidify a deep run as a legitimate threat. Something like Gaborik to the Kings in 2014, or in the Leafs case a gritty d-man to round out their top 6.

Barring injuries, the pieces are all there for a deep cup run within the next few years during their window. I think if they get past Boston the past couple years ( AKA Kadri doesn’t self destruct) they have at least a ECF appearance by now.

That team has a hell of a core, and again, if they all stay healthy they’re probably going to be the ones to end Canada’s drought.

EDIT: I almost forgot to mention Sheldon Keene as COACH. This guy has won literally everywhere he has coached, not a guaranteed success but he’s done really well there so far.

Click to read more...

 

[WestCoastFinnie]

Sens.

 

[Commander Clueless]

Some people just want to watch the world burn....

 

[dubey]

Yes indeedy

 

[Retire91]

Trust the Shanaplan

 

[Clint Eastwood]

I just ate popcorn a half hour ago. Now you're gonna make me get another batch?

This thread should be fun.

 

[Iggys Dome]

Trust the Shanaplan

Hiring him was the best thing that organization has ever done.

 

[Devonator]

Oh brother.....frankly I don't see any Canadian team that is going to end Canada's drought for the foreseeable future....

 

[nturn06]

I guess it is that time of the year again......

 

[Metroid]

Stop trying the ol' hf jinx.
only works if you're a fan of the team and trying to jinx it.

 

[Albus Dumbledore]

Its possible.

 

[Iggys Dome]

Ridiculous HC record

 

[razor8]

Maybe, but will a Canadian team win it in the 2020's or not is the real question.

 

[Hunter368]

1 in 7 chance of being the first Canadian team to be the first at some point.

 

[JaegerDice]

Sure, why not?

They have as good a chance to be the team to end the drought as the Canucks did at the start of last decade.

 

[Bounces R Way]

They have a good team, maybe even a great one. Lots of teams are good when things are going their way. It's the truly great ones that are good even when things aren't. Will be paying attention closely when they hit the inevitable rough patch on how they respond to it.

 

[jetsforever]

Could be

 

[MoreMogilny]

As good of a chance as any I suppose. Certainly more likely than some of the rebuilding teams.

In a 31 team league there are no guarantees. The Leafs could be called a contender for the next several years but still get beaten by better teams and miss their window.

You could also say a team like Vancouver who has key pieces in place and a much more flexible cap situation as another Canadian team that looks to be a threat, but maybe a little further behind.

 

[DopeyFish]

the thing that makes it a decent possibility in the next few years is the prospects

sandin, liljegren and robertson have been trending very very high... all positions of need for the team

 

[Bizzare]

And the Leafs are Canada’s best bet at ending this drought, and I wager it’ll happen either this year or next.

What do you want to wager?

 

[MarkusKetterer]

Not gonna quote you because that’s too much to delete to get to your edit, but Keefe has only won on two levels. And I don’t put any stock in to junior B championships. If he’s learned anything since junior A (aka coaching the Greyhounds) then great. Leafs have a chance. However all of his teams have been uber-skilled and he hasn’t had a chance to do his coaching skills at the highest level until this year.

Also let’s all practice Santeria so the Leafs never win. This place will be insufferable then.

 

[Kelly]

DISCLAIMER: I am NOT a Leafs fan by any stretch of the imagination. I do like their team though, and despite an annoying as hell fan base online they are quite loyal and are a grade A organization. Okay, yuck, moving on.

This team is trending in the right direction, and yes they have next to no defensive depth but barring injuries this team has what it takes to go all the way in the East this year. The Jets, Flames,Oilers, Habs, Canucks and Sens are not going to do it anytime soon. And the Leafs are Canada’s best bet at ending this drought, and I wager it’ll happen either this year or next.

Let’s take a look at the key pieces on their roster:
Matthews- elite #1C
Tavares- elite #1C
Marner- elite #1RW
Reilly- Bonafide #1D
Andersen- elite #1G
Nylander- bonafide top 6 player with PPG potential.

Key depth pieces:
Kapanen, Johnsson,Barrie, Muzzin, Kerfoot are all nice complimentary pieces. IMO they need a big deadline deal if possible to solidify a deep run as a legitimate threat. Something like Gaborik to the Kings in 2014, or in the Leafs case a gritty d-man to round out their top 6.

Barring injuries, the pieces are all there for a deep cup run within the next few years during their window. I think if they get past Boston the past couple years ( AKA Kadri doesn’t self destruct) they have at least a ECF appearance by now.

That team has a hell of a core, and again, if they all stay healthy they’re probably going to be the ones to end Canada’s drought.

EDIT: I almost forgot to mention Sheldon Keene as COACH. This guy has won literally everywhere he has coached, not a guaranteed success but he’s done really well there so far.

 

[DownIsTheNewUp]

I swear 80% of HFboard posters don't have memory longer than 2 weeks. A few weeks ago everyone said they needed to blow it up. Now they're a dynasty in the making. In a couple more weeks they'll have a 3 game losing streak and everyone will be jumping ship again.

 

[coo1beans]

Firing babcock was the best thing to happen to the leafs

 

[GoJetsGo55]

The Leafs are a fantastic team that has all the pieces but the playoffs is a completely different animal.

Keefe has done wonderful things with the team so far but it all comes down to how they play when the game gives you zero room to operate.