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

[moon111]

I think all the teams are allot closer now.  I don't see any reason the Leafs can't finish 4th or 8th.  Of course Burke has built one of the biggest house of cards I've seen with this club so who knows?  I'm excited about seeing this years team, but not drinking the Kool-Aid just yet.

 

[cw]

The Devils had a huge deficiency on offense -- they were as far from a well-rounded team as you could get.

I'm thinking pretty specifically of the '01 cup finalists, a team that had Elias(3rd in the league in scoring), Mogilny(15th in scoring in only 75 games), Sykora(19th), Scott Gomez, Jason Arnott(55 points in 54 games) and then some terrific defensive forwards in John Madden and Bobby Holik. Those Devils were #1 in the league in goals for and #6 in goals against. The Cup winners the year before were also #2 in the league in offense.

That was about as well-rounded a team as you could get.

Edit: Much to my surprise those late 90's Devils teams were actually very good offensively year in and out. From 98-2001 they ranked , #9, #2, #2 and #1 in goals for.

Quit screwing with my stereotypes.  I use them a lot and don't want to replace them.

In '95 and '03, when they won a Cup, they were middle of the pack in goals for per game (if that helps  ). Compared to other past Cup winners, that was an unusual characteristic - to be so low in team offence during the season.

 

[anton girdeaux]

I think all the teams are allot closer now.  I don't see any reason the Leafs can't finish 4th or 8th.  Of course Burke has built one of the biggest house of cards I've seen with this club so who knows?  I'm excited about seeing this years team, but not drinking the Kool-Aid just yet.

I think if Connolly stays healthy and reimer plays as he did last season, the Leafs might be a surprise package this year. I'm optimistic, as I generally am, but it wouldn't surprise me if the season becomes a train wreck.

 

[Bender]

I think all the teams are allot closer now.  I don't see any reason the Leafs can't finish 4th or 8th.  Of course Burke has built one of the biggest house of cards I've seen with this club so who knows?  I'm excited about seeing this years team, but not drinking the Kool-Aid just yet.

I think if Connolly stays healthy and reimer plays as he did last season, the Leafs might be a surprise package this year. I'm optimistic, as I generally am, but it wouldn't surprise me if the season becomes a train wreck.

I honestly can't imagine it being a worse season than last year. It seemed like last year everything went wrong until Reimer got here. Even if Connolly has a big injury or Armstrong gets hit we'll at worst be par with last year's team.

At least we have our picks as a fallback (come onnnn Yakupov!)

 

[Ken]

I think the Leafs have done enough to make the playoffs this year.

Firing the coaches. Special teams addressed. I especially like Scott Gordon. Looking forward to agressive pressure in the offensive zone.
Connolly. Like him or not, he pushes the entire center ice down a notch, and gives the Leafs a one-two punch of Lupul/Connolly/Kessel - MacArthur/Grabovski/Kulemin
Armstrong. The stats with him in the lineup speak for himself. Here's hoping he can avoid another freak injury.
Liles. Leafs needed another shooter on the PP. They got one.
Franson. Will he push Komisarek to the PB if Mike can't get his game together?

Leafs have done some things right, and I'm not as bent on needing a miracle from Reimer to pull it off.  Better coaching, improved special teams, and depth in scoring all fall on the forwards. 

This will be a better year, IMO.

 

[Bender]

I think the Leafs have done enough to make the playoffs this year.

Firing the coaches. Special teams addressed. I especially like Scott Gordon. Looking forward to agressive pressure in the offensive zone.
Connolly. Like him or not, he pushes the entire center ice down a notch, and gives the Leafs a one-two punch of Lupul/Connolly/Kessel - MacArthur/Grabovski/Kulemin
Armstrong. The stats with him in the lineup speak for himself. Here's hoping he can avoid another freak injury.
Liles. Leafs needed another shooter on the PP. They got one.
Franson. Will he push Komisarek to the PB if Mike can't get his game together?

Leafs have done some things right, and I'm not as bent on needing a miracle from Reimer to pull it off.  Better coaching, improved special teams, and depth in scoring all fall on the forwards. 

This will be a better year, IMO.

Also, this is somewhat an afterthought it seems, but what about Dion?

The Leafs went on their worst skid when he cut his leg. His game visibly improved after the New Year. I think Dion still has the ability to bounce back.

 

[maplesyrup]

I'm expecting a big year from Phaneuf.... I'm also bracing for disappoinment. - If that makes any sense.

 

[Ken]

I'm expecting a big year from Phaneuf.... I'm also bracing for disappoinment. - If that makes any sense.

Makes total sense. We're Leafs fans.

 

[nutman]

I think the Leafs have done enough to make the playoffs this year.

Firing the coaches. Special teams addressed. I especially like Scott Gordon. Looking forward to agressive pressure in the offensive zone.
Connolly. Like him or not, he pushes the entire center ice down a notch, and gives the Leafs a one-two punch of Lupul/Connolly/Kessel - MacArthur/Grabovski/Kulemin
Armstrong. The stats with him in the lineup speak for himself. Here's hoping he can avoid another freak injury.
Liles. Leafs needed another shooter on the PP. They got one.
Franson. Will he push Komisarek to the PB if Mike can't get his game together?

Leafs have done some things right, and I'm not as bent on needing a miracle from Reimer to pull it off.  Better coaching, improved special teams, and depth in scoring all fall on the forwards. 

This will be a better year, IMO.

well put Ken, and its nice to see someone post somthing other then the doom and gloom plain jane crap. i think this years team will be much improved, and even better then the second half team we saw last season. i'll bet they open some eyes up.

 

[Ronco]

Here's hoping that the Leafs have cleared the decks for success.
All they have to do is play consistently and have some good goaltending.
I like Connelly, but he's a target so i hope he can stay outta the cross hairs of the punks on the other teams.
There are some players like Brown who need to step it up. I think Grabovski had better be more consistent as well.
The back end is pretty good defense wise. Komiserek is a loose cannon though. He needs to stick with keeping the puck outta our net, and quit with the rough stuff enough to clear the friggin crease once in awhile.

 

[maplesyrup]

Here's hoping that the Leafs have cleared the decks for success.
All they have to do is play consistently and have some good goaltending.
I like Connelly, but he's a target so i hope he can stay outta the cross hairs of the punks on the other teams.There are some players like Brown who need to step it up. I think Grabovski had better be more consistent as well.
The back end is pretty good defense wise. Komiserek is a loose cannon though. He needs to stick with keeping the puck outta our net, and quit with the rough stuff enough to clear the friggin crease once in awhile.

Actually, that's a really great point. The more targets the better. - Frees up Kessel who was on every team's hit list.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

I thought Grabbo was pretty consistent last season, but I guess that's me...

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I thought Grabbo was pretty consistent last season, but I guess that's me...

Agreed. I'm not really sure how Brown needs to step it up either. As far as 4th liners goes, he did pretty much everything he could last season.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

I thought Grabbo was pretty consistent last season, but I guess that's me...

Agreed. I'm not really sure how Brown needs to step it up either. As far as 4th liners goes, he did pretty much everything he could last season.

Getting hurt was his only downfall and that was because he was saving the goalie from a shot, by blocking one. I thought he more than earned that 3 year extension. Burke said we were going to like him and he was right IMO.

 

[Kin]

I thought Grabbo was pretty consistent last season, but I guess that's me...

Agreed. I'm not really sure how Brown needs to step it up either. As far as 4th liners goes, he did pretty much everything he could last season.

I don't know if this is the idea but if Orr is still a question mark than Brown may have to "step it up" in the sense of handling all of the scrapping responsibilities rather than let guys get run by heavyweights.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I thought Grabbo was pretty consistent last season, but I guess that's me...

Agreed. I'm not really sure how Brown needs to step it up either. As far as 4th liners goes, he did pretty much everything he could last season.

I don't know if this is the idea but if Orr is still a question mark than Brown may have to "step it up" in the sense of handling all of the scrapping responsibilities rather than let guys get run by heavyweights.

Yeah, I suppose that makes sense. Although I'm not so sure I want Brown going toe-to-toe with heavyweights on a regular basis. If Orr is still a question mark and Wilson feels like a heavyweight is needed in the lineup, I'd rather have Rosehill take Orr's spot to handle those duties.

 

[cw]

I thought Grabbo was pretty consistent last season, but I guess that's me...

Agreed. I'm not really sure how Brown needs to step it up either. As far as 4th liners goes, he did pretty much everything he could last season.

I don't know if this is the idea but if Orr is still a question mark than Brown may have to "step it up" in the sense of handling all of the scrapping responsibilities rather than let guys get run by heavyweights.

Yeah, I suppose that makes sense. Although I'm not so sure I want Brown going toe-to-toe with heavyweights on a regular basis. If Orr is still a question mark and Wilson feels like a heavyweight is needed in the lineup, I'd rather have Rosehill take Orr's spot to handle those duties.

Me too.

 

[Kin]

Don't get me wrong, I don't want that either. I was just thinking that Orr's absence might mean that, night in and night out, Brown may be the only fighter in the line-up. If the "need", and I use that word as loosely as possible, for a fight comes up it may fall squarely on Brown's shoulders.

 

[cw]

Don't get me wrong, I don't want that either. I was just thinking that Orr's absence might mean that, night in and night out, Brown may be the only fighter in the line-up. If the "need", and I use that word as loosely as possible, for a fight comes up it may fall squarely on Brown's shoulders.

I've posted before that I thought having Orr in the lineup for every game was a waste when the opponent isn't dressing a heavyweight. Brown is perfect for those type of games. I hope that's what transpires this season.

When there's no opponent heavyweight, they can put in a shootout, PP or PK specialist or go with 7 dmen. Nearly any other skater they've got can bring more than Orr in those circumstances in my opinion. He only played 5 mins/game so they don't have him there to play much hockey.

The object for Wilson has to be to get the most out of the 23 players on his roster - not merely the most out of his top 20 somehow "entitled" players. Doing something like that might snag Wilson a few points he wouldn't otherwise get that he desperately needs and I sincerely doubt it would cost them much.

 

[AvroArrow]

I thought Grabbo was pretty consistent last season, but I guess that's me...

After a quick look at his game-by-game stats, it looks like he cooled down in the last 13 games (5 pts).  Beyond that, the numbers look pretty good.  I only see 2 other spots where he went 4 games without a point.  I'd agree that's pretty good consistency.