Toronto Maple Leafs vs Tampa Bay Lightning Offense/Forwards

[JoVel]

Did you also see that I'm a Sens fan?

I'd still take Matthews or Marner over any Tampa forward.

I feel so sorry for you. I'd probably start losing my mind too if I was a Sens fan.

 

[LightningStorm]

Close but Kucherov puts Tampa over the top.

 

[WJCJ]

Toronto pretty easily. Tampa's forward aren't that good to be honest. They just put up good numbers because they're playing in Tampa.

This doesn't make much sense to me. I mean it's easy to make a valid pro Leaf argument but to say Tampa isn't that good seems ridiculous. I'm sure there is an argument to be made that Tampa has inflated stats for some of their players but that is because they have so many good players that they are facing lesser defensive groups while still putting out top players throughout their lineup. Saying Tampa's forwards "aren't that good" seems to be anything but honest.

 

[Drytoast]

What does it even matter? Neither team made it past round one last year, despite all of the strength at Forward.

The correct answer.

 

[Do Make Say Think]

I feel so sorry for you. I'd probably start losing my mind too if I was a Sens fan.

Hey at least we both know how choking feels.

 

[bobholly39]

Close but Kucherov puts Tampa over the top.

What i figure too.

 

[sparxx87]

I feel so sorry for you. I'd probably start losing my mind too if I was a Sens fan.

Ottawa Senators playoff wins in past 3 years: 11 (2 series’)
Tampa Bay Lightning playoff wins in past 3 years: 11 (2 series’)

You should probably start losing your mind.

 

[missionAvs]

Is this with real life Matthews or imaginary Matthews? Cause imaginary Matthews is friggin amazing.

This is 5v5 g/60 Matthews so the answer to your question is yes.

 

[drktmplr12]

i didn't read the thread.

did someone post unblocked shots 5v5 threat charts yet?

 

[bert]

Tampa because they are harder and deeper. The top end is a wash. Only team with a forward group that might rival either team is Dallas.

 

[bert]

Just the forwards? I take Toronto quite easily. Matthews and Marner are better than any forward Tampa has, Kutcherov being not far behind of course.

Tampa is a much, much better team however.

The argument about being healthy is legit. Some players cant stay healthy like Palat who is a great player but cant get into the lineup.

Dude... Marner over Kucherov? Kucherov outscored him by 34 points last year. I know we get the leafs shoved down our throats in Ottawa but come on.

Kucherov is the best player out of the group and I dont think even the most biased leaf fan would argue that.

This is the order I have it.

Kucherov
Matthews
Point
Marner
Tavares
Stamkos
Nylander
Johnson
Palat
Kapanen
Gourde
Johnsson
Cirelli
Killorn
Joseph
Kerfoot
Maroon
Paquette
Moore
Gauthier
Spezza

 

[Volica]

Tampa.
Better at the top, better at the bottom. Those bottom 4-5 forwards in Toronto are one of the lower end in the league, to be honest.

 

[Kamiccolo]

I mean, they are pretty damn close, and the fact that it has a legit discussion is enough for me. Long ways from having Kessel or Sundin and not much else around them.

 

[Kamiccolo]

Tampa.
Better at the top, better at the bottom. Those bottom 4-5 forwards in Toronto are one of the lower end in the league, to be honest.

Strongly disagree. They have 2 40 point forwards on the 3rd line when healthy. Moore is great but young, a great checker and defensive forward. 4th lines are whatever, but they had a ton of guys in camp and got to pick the best 3/4.

But the reality is, the third line is still a better 3rd line in the league, and the 4th line is there to kill penalties mostly. The top end more than makes up for not having a ton of salary on the 4th line.

 

[Volica]

Strongly disagree. They have 2 40 point forwards on the 3rd line when healthy. Moore is great but young, a great checker and defensive forward. 4th lines are whatever, but they had a ton of guys in camp and got to pick the best 3/4.

But the reality is, the third line is still a better 3rd line in the league, and the 4th line is there to kill penalties mostly. The top end more than makes up for not having a ton of salary on the 4th line.

Isn't the bottom 6, as of right now:

Mikheyev - Kerfoot - Moore
Timashov - Gauthier - Shore

With Hyman out? With him back it bumps one of Kapanen/Johnsson/Hyman down to the third line?
With one of those guys on the third line, it doesn't make them a 40 point forwards on their own. If you slide them beside Tavares or Matthews for 80 games, they're 40 point forwards. It'd also be hard pressed to see Kerfoot snag 11 GF on the PP without Nathan MacKinnon.

As of right now. Not great man.

 

[M2Beezy]

LOL wow, hows this still open, this is Tampa and AINEC

 

[Merrrlin]

TBL put Toronto shouldn't feel too bad, they are 1 and 2 IMO.

 

[BruinsBtn]

Isn't the bottom 6, as of right now:

Mikheyev - Kerfoot - Moore
Timashov - Gauthier - Shore

With Hyman out? With him back it bumps one of Kapanen/Johnsson/Hyman down to the third line?
With one of those guys on the third line, it doesn't make them a 40 point forwards on their own. If you slide them beside Tavares or Matthews for 80 games, they're 40 point forwards. It'd also be hard pressed to see Kerfoot snag 11 GF on the PP without Nathan MacKinnon.

As of right now. Not great man.

That's legit the worst in the league.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Isn't the bottom 6, as of right now:

Mikheyev - Kerfoot - Moore
Timashov - Gauthier - Shore

With Hyman out? With him back it bumps one of Kapanen/Johnsson/Hyman down to the third line?
With one of those guys on the third line, it doesn't make them a 40 point forwards on their own. If you slide them beside Tavares or Matthews for 80 games, they're 40 point forwards. It'd also be hard pressed to see Kerfoot snag 11 GF on the PP without Nathan MacKinnon.

As of right now. Not great man.

Did Spezza get cut?

 

[Kamiccolo]

That's legit the worst in the league.

Bruh. Come on now. Just because you don't recognize the names doesn't make them bad. How about we give them 10 games at least before you try saying that? Besides, with the Leafs top 6, they just need the bottom 6 to kill penalites and not get scored on.

 

[Holymakinaw]

Bruh. Come on now. Just because you don't recognize the names doesn't make them bad. How about we give them 10 games at least before you try saying that? Besides, with the Leafs top 6, they just need the bottom 6 to kill penalites and not get scored on.

Plus Kapanen and Spezza are really part of it, once Hyman is back in a month.

Easily better than Boston's bottom 6, anyway.

 

[Kamiccolo]

Plus Kapanen and Spezza are really part of it, once Hyman is back in a month.

Easily better than Boston's bottom 6, anyway.

I am just saying easily best in the league is extreme hyperbole. Leafs are held to such high standards on here compared to a lot of teams, they need a team Canada roster just to be called decent.

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

Not even sure what that means, lol.

I take the Lightning by a bit. Slightly better top end talent and slightly better depth IMO.

Only the Shadow knows...

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

All comes down to the power play.

Leafs scored just as many even strength goals as Tampa last year, and that's with missing Matthews and Nylander for huge chunks of the season.

They might actually have scored more goals if Nylander had missed the entire season...

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

I am just saying easily best in the league is extreme hyperbole. Leafs are held to such high standards on here compared to a lot of teams, they need a team Canada roster just to be called decent.

The standard for this thread is "best in the league". If one wants his team to be considered best in the league at something, then of course the standard is very best. Otherwise, why would the Leafs even be in the conversation of this thread topic if they're simply good?

That's the thing. You (and I'm talking the collective "you", not you specifically) can't tout your team as the best at something (in this case offensively), and then also complain that everyone holds them to an unfair standard that they don't hold other teams to. Because those other teams aren't being hailed as "the best offense in the league".