Is this the turning point???
- Thread starter nutman
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bustaheims
Active member
As I (and others) have said repeatedly, it's a short season, and that means strange things can happen. So, really, regardless of how the team does this year, I wouldn't read too much into it. That being said, if Reimer and/or Scrivens can provide solid goaltending, I don't see any reason why this team doesn't have a shot at making the playoffs. Barring a miracle, they're no Cup contender, sure, but, there's enough talent on the roster to be in the playoff hunt this year. I'm not sure I'd call it a turning point, because I don't think it necessarily indicates any real change - if the team received solid goaltending last season, they probably could have made the playoffs as well - but, it's something.
Kin
New member
bustaheims said:
I replied to this elsewhere but if you look at 94-95, I mean, it wasn't that strange. It wasn't like terrible teams won their division or great teams fell apart. There were unexpected things that happened, the Nordiques emerging as a top team or the Rangers regressing, but those things held true the next year too.
48 games will allow for some randomness but we won't be wearing shoes on our hands and hamburgers won't be eating people.
bustaheims said:
We get the patented Grabbo slump we're screwed.
We get the Hot-Shot-Dangling-Around-Chara-Grabbo and we have a chance too.
I agree with exactly what you just said. Strange things can happen. A couple injuries, or a couple guys (a line) get superhot and things change.
Redleaf
Active member
Goaltending will ultimately dictate the direction the team takes this season. I dont think we lack goalscoring up front (unless Carlyle's defensive systems dries up production), but without a true number one between the pipes (Whether that person is someone we already have, or someone that joins the team later) we don't move forward this year. I really hope Riemer can find his form of 2 seasons ago!
bustaheims
Active member
Nik Pollock said:
Well, obviously there's a limit on the strangeness, but, all it might take for the Leafs to get into the playoff is Reimer or Scrivens going on a hot streak for a 10-12 game stretch and the team playing ~.500 hockey the rest of the way. When I say strange things, I mean more like bottom 10 type teams keeping their heads above water long enough to snag a playoff spot. There won't be as big a gap between the teams that end up finishing ~12th in the conference and the teams that end up in the last couple playoff spots, and that means a little more of a window for teams like the Leafs to sneak in.
Kin
New member
Erndog said:
Just for some specific reference, in 94-95, 14 of the 16 teams who'd made the playoffs the year before made the playoffs again. Then, in 95-96, 12 of the teams who'd made the playoffs in the shortened season made the playoffs again, and that number is artificially low because of the Nordiques switching conferences.
So, for the most part, it was business as usual. That said, there's more parity these days and as we saw last year, anything can happen in the playoffs, 82 games or not.
GhostofPotvin29
New member
Teams also had full training camps before the lockout in 94-95, so they were likely a bit more prepared than teams this season in terms of getting their rosters set, etc.
bustaheims
Active member
Potvin29 said:
On top of that, there were less opportunities for points then. I mean, how might those standings have changed if there were 30 teams, shootouts and OT loss points back then?
With Lombarti traded away it seems they are getting rid of some dead wood, and I hope this means room for marlies players. maybe they are turning the corner, because I am seeing a no coasting or your gone thing happining at training camp. its about time the leafs up the anti on the players to step it up. I like this no free ride thing.
Zee said:Leafs have to have a turning point at some time, why not now? If we keep saying it every season, maybe it'll eventually happen.
This season I can see a higher demand on players, and the talent reguardless of what most say is there. yes we do need the top line center to take us from being 10th in goals for to top five,but maybe we already have that guy, and he just need to prove it. but putting on that new path will be the diff we all see in defence, Carlyle will turn that page for us, this you can take to the bank. my only slight worry is can the kids in net do the job, only time will tell. again yup I think we are turning the corner to respectablity, and to becoming a team that will make the top 16.
Zee
Active member
nutman said:Zee said:Leafs have to have a turning point at some time, why not now? If we keep saying it every season, maybe it'll eventually happen.
This season I can see a higher demand on players, and the talent reguardless of what most say is there. yes we do need the top line center to take us from being 10th in goals for to top five,but maybe we already have that guy, and he just need to prove it. but putting on that new path will be the diff we all see in defence, Carlyle will turn that page for us, this you can take to the bank. my only slight worry is can the kids in net do the job, only time will tell. again yup I think we are turning the corner to respectablity, and to becoming a team that will make the top 16.
Sure we were top 10 in goals, but in order to stay that way or better, Kessel and Lupul have to maintain what they did last season. They were both on CAREER years for them. If they drop from that pace, the overall goal scoring can go down. Guys like Kulemin need to bounce back, he was awful goal scoring wise last season. Tough to say what will happen, hopefully Carlyle's system can take hold, and this team shores up the defense.
Champ Kind
New member
Bender said:
Sorry, Grabovski is way better than Reichel. And I think Grabo is turning into an ideal second line centreman, regardless of which team he'd play on.