Maple Leafs are better, but are they a playoff team?

[cw]

I can't believe Buffalo is higher than the Rangers.

I buy it. Considering what we just saw the Bruins do I think Buffalo is a better bet to fluke out a cup on the basis of a hot goalie/solid D than the Ranger's mix of good forwards/so-so defense and a good goalie. I think it may be a weird situation where the Rangers are a better team but the Sabres have a better chance at a cup.

Right now, I think the Rangers look thin on their young yet talented D. But I don't expect it to remain that way all season. They'll probably move one of their extra centers or Wolski and get a dman to help their PP.

The Sabres were a playoff club who played great down the stretch, didn't lose a lot of talent and added some good talent. So their position makes some sense to me.

Tampa's odds surprised me some in spite of their results last year. They lost Gagne and Bergenheim. And Roloson, who was a significant difference maker last season, turns 42 in October. A chunk of their D is 32-34 yrs old so they're more injury prone. I wouldn't "bet" on them with those odds.

 

[maplesyrup]

Foe anyone who cares, The Hockey News has started doing their regualar season predictions.

"Starting Monday, we?ll unveil our predictions for the 15th-ranked teams in each conference, as well as short explanations of our rationale for the decision. Each day thereafter ? excluding weekends ? the next two teams will be posted online, until we get to Friday, Sept. 2nd, when the top two from each conference are announced."

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/41527-The-Hockey-News-201112-NHL-regular-season-predictions-No-14.html

So here's the first (or, I guess last) two from each conference.

Eastern

15. Ottawa
14. Florida

Western

15. Edmonton
14. Phoenix

 

[ZBBM]

Foe anyone who cares, The Hockey News has started doing their regualar season predictions.

"Starting Monday, we?ll unveil our predictions for the 15th-ranked teams in each conference, as well as short explanations of our rationale for the decision. Each day thereafter ? excluding weekends ? the next two teams will be posted online, until we get to Friday, Sept. 2nd, when the top two from each conference are announced."

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/41527-The-Hockey-News-201112-NHL-regular-season-predictions-No-14.html

So here's the first (or, I guess last) two from each conference.

Eastern

15. Ottawa
14. Florida

Western

15. Edmonton
14. Phoenix

You have to be skeptical of any organization that is down to Ken Campbell as its lead writer.

 

[maplesyrup]

Still worth noting I think though.

 

[maplesyrup]

Foe anyone who cares, The Hockey News has started doing their regualar season predictions.

"Starting Monday, we?ll unveil our predictions for the 15th-ranked teams in each conference, as well as short explanations of our rationale for the decision. Each day thereafter ? excluding weekends ? the next two teams will be posted online, until we get to Friday, Sept. 2nd, when the top two from each conference are announced."

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/41527-The-Hockey-News-201112-NHL-regular-season-predictions-No-14.html

So here's the first (or, I guess last) two from each conference.

Eastern

15. Ottawa
14. Florida

Western

15. Edmonton
14. Phoenix

Next update...

Eastern

15. Ottawa
14. Florida
13. Winnipeg

Western

15. Edmonton
14. Phoenix
13. Dallas

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Islanders next @ #12 followed by our Leafs @ #11.

 

[maplesyrup]

Next update...

Eastern

15. Ottawa
14. Florida
13. Winnipeg
12. New York Islanders

Western

15. Edmonton
14. Phoenix
13. Dallas
12. Columbus

 

[Deebo]

I would have thought Columbus would be ahead of at Colorado and maybe Minnesota.

 

[louisstamos]

I would have thought Columbus would be ahead of at Colorado and maybe Minnesota.

Agreed.  I wouldn't even put them last in the division.  I think they're slightly ahead of St. Louis now (but still miles away from Detroit, Chicago & Nashville)

 

[maplesyrup]

I would have thought Columbus would be ahead of at Colorado and maybe Minnesota.

Perhaps. Though I'm not as down on Colorado as most. I really like that young group there... and I might have gone with Landerskog first overall if given the choice. Playoff team this year? I'm not so sure but they will be a force again soon I think.

Edit: and perhaps they are factoring that Columbus will be without Huselius who like him or not, is a significant part of their offence?

 

[Bender]

I would have thought Columbus would be ahead of at Colorado and maybe Minnesota.

Perhaps. Though I'm not as down on Colorado as most. I really like that young group there... and I might have gone with Landerskog first overall if given the choice. Playoff team this year? I'm not so sure but they will be a force again soon I think.

Edit: and perhaps they are factoring that Columbus will be without Huselius who like him or not, is a significant part of their offence?

It depends which Steve Mason shows up.

 

[moon111]

They're more a playoff team then a regular season team.  Or is the question are they a playoff-bound team?

 

[pnjunction]

We'll probably see the safe bet on the Leafs at 9th.  You can't go wrong betting on maximum Leaf fan heartache.

 

[WAYNEINIONA]

I figure we'll be lucky to get ranked 10th. The only believers out there are Leaf fans.

 

[Bender]

I figure we'll be lucky to get ranked 10th. The only believers out there are Leaf fans.

Lucky to be ranked 10th as opposed to 11th?

 

[Corn Flake]

I figure we'll be lucky to get ranked 10th. The only believers out there are Leaf fans.

Most of what I have read seems to be more optimistic about them than in past years.  Usually off season predictions changes are based on teams who make the most moves or sexiest acquisitions.  I see some rating Florida as "a team to watch" because of the moves they made, ignoring the fact most of the players they brought in are secondary support guys and are basically filler on a team trying to make the cap floor.  These predictions often ignore teams who made more subtle changes or simply kept a growing core together.

I think we all know the key to the Leafs having a shot is Reimer playing 100% as good as he did last year.  The rest is... well, pretty much filler.

 

[louisstamos]

Devils as 11th in the East, Wild in the West.
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/41527-The-Hockey-News-201112-NHL-regular-season-predictions-No-14.html

I'm starting to think pnjunction is right...they might rank Leafs at 9th.

 

[freer]

I dont know how anyone can make predictions on where a team will finish, prior to the first game of pre-season. If thats the way it goes, imo CLB is going to win their division with the new talent they aquired. Just saying these, prediction cant be taken seriously at this time

 

[maplesyrup]

Next update...

Eastern

15. Ottawa
14. Florida
13. Winnipeg
12. New York Islanders
11. New Jersey

Western

15. Edmonton
14. Phoenix
13. Dallas
12. Columbus
11. Minnesota

I can see us beating out NJ but we just have to be #10, no?

 

[Corn Flake]

Next update...

Eastern

15. Ottawa
14. Florida
13. Winnipeg
12. New York Islanders
11. New Jersey

Western

15. Edmonton
14. Phoenix
13. Dallas
12. Columbus
11. Minnesota

I can see us beating out NJ but we just have to be #10, no?

It will be the Leafs or Carolina at #10 and #9, I would think.  Not that these ratings really mean anything.

 

[maplesyrup]

I know they don't mean much... It is afterall, late summer though. I figure it's as good to discuss as anything Leaf realted these days.