Leafs Extend Engvall...1 Year 2.25M

[CarltonTheBear]

Point totals should level off some (I don't think they'll be as much separation between the playoff and non-playoff teams), but the Leafs should be able to roughly maintain their position in the standings.

For all the doom & gloom I don't think it's crazy to project the Leafs as a top-5 team again next season. The teams below them in the top-10: Minnesota, Calgary, Tampa, St. Louis, and Boston, all had as big if not bigger losses than the Leafs did this offseason (Fiala, Gaudreau, McDonagh/Palat, Husso, Boston's injuries). The Rangers are probably mostly a wash swapping Strome for Trocheck, but they also lost all the depth pieces that they picked up at the deadline who really gave them a big boost late in the season.

Above them it'll be interesting to see if Florida can maintain their pace last season with a (probably) much worse head coach. They've also lost Marchment of course who really carried their bottom-6 play. If they for some reason trade Weegar away that'll be the bigger loss. Carolina I thought did well to maintain status quo, if not actually improve with the two big trades that they made. Colorado's losing one of the top goalies in the league last season, and possibly Kadri. Although as I said in the other thread there's probably an ok chance Kadri returns next season (maybe not the 100-point pace version of him). I think you'll probably see those 3 teams return to the top-5 again though next season.

 

[Deebo]

Florida's OT/SO record will be tough to repeat as well.

 

[bustaheims]

For all the doom & gloom I don't think it's crazy to project the Leafs as a top-5 team again next season. The teams below them in the top-10: Minnesota, Calgary, Tampa, St. Louis, and Boston, all had as big if not bigger losses than the Leafs did this offseason (Fiala, Gaudreau, McDonagh/Palat, Husso, Boston's injuries).

Above them it'll be interesting to see if Florida can maintain their pace last season with a (probably) much worse head coach. They've also lost Marchment of course who really carried their bottom-6 play. If they for some reason trade Weegar away that'll be the bigger loss. Carolina I thought did well to maintain status quo, if not actually improve with the two big trades that they made. Colorado's losing one of the top goalies in the league last season, and possibly Kadri. Although as I said in the other thread there's probably an ok chance Kadri returns next season (maybe not the 100-point pace version of him). I think you'll probably see those 3 teams return to the top-5 again though next season.

Yup. The Leafs lost secondary and tertiary pieces. A lot of the other top 10 teams lost key pieces. And, while a lot of the teams below the Leafs have closed the gap some, I'm not convinced many (if any) have improved to the point that I'd be confident in saying they'll finish ahead of Toronto - especially the teams in the division. Ottawa made the biggest gains, but not enough to make up a 40 point gap. Same with Detroit. Buffalo improved around the edges, but their core is still weaksauce. Montreal is still very much a bottom 10 team.

 

[Frank E]

Point totals should level off some (I don't think they'll be as much separation between the playoff and non-playoff teams), but the Leafs should be able to roughly maintain their position in the standings.

For all the doom & gloom I don't think it's crazy to project the Leafs as a top-5 team again next season. The teams below them in the top-10: Minnesota, Calgary, Tampa, St. Louis, and Boston, all had as big if not bigger losses than the Leafs did this offseason (Fiala, Gaudreau, McDonagh/Palat, Husso, Boston's injuries). The Rangers are probably mostly a wash swapping Strome for Trocheck, but they also lost all the depth pieces that they picked up at the deadline who really gave them a big boost late in the season.

Above them it'll be interesting to see if Florida can maintain their pace last season with a (probably) much worse head coach. They've also lost Marchment of course who really carried their bottom-6 play. If they for some reason trade Weegar away that'll be the bigger loss. Carolina I thought did well to maintain status quo, if not actually improve with the two big trades that they made. Colorado's losing one of the top goalies in the league last season, and possibly Kadri. Although as I said in the other thread there's probably an ok chance Kadri returns next season (maybe not the 100-point pace version of him). I think you'll probably see those 3 teams return to the top-5 again though next season.

We think Maurice is a bad coach?

 

[bustaheims]

We think Maurice is a bad coach?

24 seasons behind the bench, 8 playoff series won, missed the playoffs in 15 (12 times when he completed the season + 3 more seasons where he was fired/resigned).

Overall record: 775 W-681 L-99 T-130 OTL (.528 Pt%)

He's a good coach for a rebuilding/young team, but not for one with Cup aspirations. Exceptional junior coach, though.

 

[Frank E]

We think Maurice is a bad coach?

24 seasons behind the bench, 8 playoff series won, missed the playoffs in 15 (12 times when he completed the season + 3 more seasons where he was fired/resigned).

Overall record: 775 W-681 L-99 T-130 OTL (.528 Pt%)

He's a good coach for a rebuilding/young team, but not for one with Cup aspirations. Exceptional junior coach, though.

Yeah, but Winnipeg though right?

 

[bustaheims]

We think Maurice is a bad coach?

24 seasons behind the bench, 8 playoff series won, missed the playoffs in 15 (12 times when he completed the season + 3 more seasons where he was fired/resigned).

Overall record: 775 W-681 L-99 T-130 OTL (.528 Pt%)

He's a good coach for a rebuilding/young team, but not for one with Cup aspirations. Exceptional junior coach, though.

Yeah, but Winnipeg though right?

Many years of disappointment, yeah.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

The Rangers are probably mostly a wash swapping Strome for Trocheck, but they also lost all the depth pieces that they picked up at the deadline who really gave them a big boost late in the season.

I think Kreider will be hard pressed to keep up his pace from this past season as well. He played well above his skill grade.