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

[Tigger]

I think it's safe to assume all of the other teams will improve, while the Leafs will not.  New Jersey? They will build off last year's 2nd half.  Toronto?  MIRAGE.

:-\

In fairness, Jersey did what they did without their best player.

Oh, a Parise versus Kovalchuk thread? Could be fun.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I think it's safe to assume all of the other teams will improve, while the Leafs will not.  New Jersey? They will build off last year's 2nd half.  Toronto?  MIRAGE.

:-\

In fairness, Jersey did what they did without their best player.

The Leafs did what they did with Tyler Bozak.

 

[Kin]

The Leafs did what they did with Tyler Bozak.

Who very well could be the Reading Royals best player..

 

[Tigger]

The Leafs did what they did with Tyler Bozak.

Who very well could be the Reading Royals best player..

The 'de Bono' in me has to ask if that's a plus, minus or interesting point?...

 

[nutman]

I think we will be somewhere in the 5-8 spot for most of the season. i think if  Reimer brings his game were in. i also thing we see some teams fall from grace this year.

 

[riff raff]

I have an optimistic sense of anticipation for the coming hockey season...even though the rational side of my brain tells me I'm probably doomed to disappointment.

 

[nutman]

I have an optimistic sense of anticipation for the coming hockey season...even though the rational side of my brain tells me I'm probably doomed to disappointment.

i think we should all have a good feeling this up comming season. this team has taken a big step, and i think will take yet another this season.

 

[dappleganger]

I don't think it would be a stretch to say that Washington, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Boston, Tampa Bay, Rangers, Buffalo, Montreal and New Jersey are all ahead of the Leafs at this point.

That's 9 teams that appear to be better than the Leafs. It will be a struggle to make the playoffs.

I'd say anywhere from 6th to 12th.

 

[Corn Flake]

I don't think it would be a stretch to say that Washington, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Boston, Tampa Bay, Rangers, Buffalo, Montreal and New Jersey are all ahead of the Leafs at this point.

That's 9 teams that appear to be better than the Leafs. It will be a struggle to make the playoffs.

I'd say anywhere from 6th to 12th.

I think one could argue that the Leafs from a team/depth perspective are at least close to on par with the bottom four teams on your list.  The interesting thing is that 3 of those 4 teams successfully relied on stellar goaltending to get it done and the one team that didn't get it (NJ) plummeted to the NHL basement.  Always seems to come down to goaltending for middling teams.  Will be the case again for the Leafs and those 4 teams. 

 

[bustaheims]

I don't think it would be a stretch to say that Washington, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Boston, Tampa Bay, Rangers, Buffalo, Montreal and New Jersey are all ahead of the Leafs at this point.

That's 9 teams that appear to be better than the Leafs. It will be a struggle to make the playoffs.

I'd say anywhere from 6th to 12th.

I'd say it's very much debatable that Buffalo, Montreal, New Jersey, Tampa Bay and maybe even the Rangers are better than the Leafs. In fact, I'd say all those teams are on a similar level when it comes to the overall talent level of their roster. And, as for the Flyers, they're very much an enigma right now - with the number of major changes they've made this off-season, I really don't know what to think of them. They could be very good, they could really struggle. They're the biggest wildcard in the East right now.

 

[cw]

Barring injury issues, on paper, I think the Leafs are measurably behind Boston, Washington, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Buffalo NHL rosters. If the Rangers sign their RFAs and shore up their D (there are still UFAs who can help them there), I'd probably put them there as well. They all have good forwards, good D (pending Rangers) and good goaltending.

I think Tampa is iffy with their UFA losses, older D and very aged Roloson.

I'm not sure what to think of the Devils - in the latter half they were great but at the start horrible. They're replacing the coach who was a catalyst for their improvement. Brodeur isn't getting any younger, etc.

I'm also on the fence with Montreal - in part because I just need more time to digest the changes they've experienced. Ditto for the Canes who one can never count out as being unable to sneak in - they won't be bad, Rutherford is too shrewd.

I'm not expecting lots from the Islanders (can Montoya carry on?), Ottawa (Anderson should help them be more competitive) or Winnipeg but I haven't looked at where they are with changes very closely. I also don't know what to make of Florida's changes who went through some massive overpayment on the UFA market though they probably don't have the goaltending.

From that, I'd guess the Leafs currently might have a crack at 6th or 7th in something close to the best case and maybe 12th or 13th in the worst case. If I had to bet on whether the Leafs would make the playoffs based on what I know right now, I would not bet that the Leafs would make the playoffs.

 

[maplesyrup]

Yeah, I'm with you cw. We're better but on paper, so are a lot of other teams too. As the roster stands now, I say we're on the outside looking in. Like I said though, its all going to come down to three things. 1. Goaltending. 2. Goaltending. and 3. Goaltending.

 

[Erndog]

Barring injury issues, on paper, I think the Leafs are measurably behind Boston, Washington, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Buffalo NHL rosters. If the Rangers sign their RFAs and shore up their D (there are still UFAs who can help them there), I'd probably put them there as well. They all have good forwards, good D (pending Rangers) and good goaltending.

I think Tampa is iffy with their UFA losses, older D and very aged Roloson.

I'm not sure what to think of the Devils - in the latter half they were great but at the start horrible. They're replacing the coach who was a catalyst for their improvement. Brodeur isn't getting any younger, etc.

I'm also on the fence with Montreal - in part because I just need more time to digest the changes they've experienced. Ditto for the Canes who one can never count out as being unable to sneak in - they won't be bad, Rutherford is too shrewd.

I'm not expecting lots from the Islanders (can Montoya carry on?), Ottawa (Anderson should help them be more competitive) or Winnipeg but I haven't looked at where they are with changes at very closely. I also don't know what to make of Florida who went through some massive overpayment on the UFA market though they probably don't have the goaltending.

From that, I'd guess the Leafs currently might have a crack at 6th or 7th in something close to the best case and maybe 12th or 13th in the worst case. If I had to bet on whether the Leafs would make the playoffs based on what I know right now, I would not bet that the Leafs would make the playoffs.

You've basically taken the words right out of my mouth.  That is exactly how I feel to a tee.  I would add though, that NJ has Parise returning so they have made a significant upgrade to their roster from where it stood last year.

 

[dappleganger]

I don't think it would be a stretch to say that Washington, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Boston, Tampa Bay, Rangers, Buffalo, Montreal and New Jersey are all ahead of the Leafs at this point.

That's 9 teams that appear to be better than the Leafs. It will be a struggle to make the playoffs.

I'd say anywhere from 6th to 12th.

I'd say it's very much debatable that Buffalo, Montreal, New Jersey, Tampa Bay and maybe even the Rangers are better than the Leafs. In fact, I'd say all those teams are on a similar level when it comes to the overall talent level of their roster. And, as for the Flyers, they're very much an enigma right now - with the number of major changes they've made this off-season, I really don't know what to think of them. They could be very good, they could really struggle. They're the biggest wildcard in the East right now.

With the moves Buffalo made and the Rangers picking up Richards, I'd say they are better this year than last and they both made the playoffs last year.

I think the Leafs are on par with Montreal but the Canadiens didn't exactly get worse in the offseason and they made the playoffs last year. I give them the edge.

As for Tampa and New Jersey, I would take tampa's players over the Leaf's players everyday of the week. The Devils showed definite improvement (like the Leafs) over the back half of last year. If Marty in anyway resembles himself and with the return of Parise the Devils should be decent, especially if Marty can do what he's capable of doing.

I think the Leafs are right there with the Rangers and Montreal and I'd throw Carolina in there too, but it's going to be an uphill battle.

Anywhere from 6th-12th 

 

[Omallley]

Barring injury issues, on paper, I think the Leafs are measurably behind Boston, Washington, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Buffalo NHL rosters. If the Rangers sign their RFAs and shore up their D (there are still UFAs who can help them there), I'd probably put them there as well. They all have good forwards, good D (pending Rangers) and good goaltending.

I think Tampa is iffy with their UFA losses, older D and very aged Roloson.

I'm not sure what to think of the Devils - in the latter half they were great but at the start horrible. They're replacing the coach who was a catalyst for their improvement. Brodeur isn't getting any younger, etc.

I'm also on the fence with Montreal - in part because I just need more time to digest the changes they've experienced. Ditto for the Canes who one can never count out as being unable to sneak in - they won't be bad, Rutherford is too shrewd.

I'm not expecting lots from the Islanders (can Montoya carry on?), Ottawa (Anderson should help them be more competitive) or Winnipeg but I haven't looked at where they are with changes at very closely. I also don't know what to make of Florida who went through some massive overpayment on the UFA market though they probably don't have the goaltending.

From that, I'd guess the Leafs currently might have a crack at 6th or 7th in something close to the best case and maybe 12th or 13th in the worst case. If I had to bet on whether the Leafs would make the playoffs based on what I know right now, I would not bet that the Leafs would make the playoffs.

You've basically taken the words right out of my mouth.  That is exactly how I feel to a tee.  I would add though, that NJ has Parise returning so they have made a significant upgrade to their roster from where it stood last year.

Yup, Parise should be a huge boost for the Devils.

I am optimistic that the Leafs are better, but it isn't going to be easy, and the range that cw gives is one I agree with: 6-12th isn't unrealistic.

 

[Erndog]

Barring injury issues, on paper, I think the Leafs are measurably behind Boston, Washington, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Buffalo NHL rosters. If the Rangers sign their RFAs and shore up their D (there are still UFAs who can help them there), I'd probably put them there as well. They all have good forwards, good D (pending Rangers) and good goaltending.

I think Tampa is iffy with their UFA losses, older D and very aged Roloson.

I'm not sure what to think of the Devils - in the latter half they were great but at the start horrible. They're replacing the coach who was a catalyst for their improvement. Brodeur isn't getting any younger, etc.

I'm also on the fence with Montreal - in part because I just need more time to digest the changes they've experienced. Ditto for the Canes who one can never count out as being unable to sneak in - they won't be bad, Rutherford is too shrewd.

I'm not expecting lots from the Islanders (can Montoya carry on?), Ottawa (Anderson should help them be more competitive) or Winnipeg but I haven't looked at where they are with changes at very closely. I also don't know what to make of Florida who went through some massive overpayment on the UFA market though they probably don't have the goaltending.

From that, I'd guess the Leafs currently might have a crack at 6th or 7th in something close to the best case and maybe 12th or 13th in the worst case. If I had to bet on whether the Leafs would make the playoffs based on what I know right now, I would not bet that the Leafs would make the playoffs.

You've basically taken the words right out of my mouth.  That is exactly how I feel to a tee.  I would add though, that NJ has Parise returning so they have made a significant upgrade to their roster from where it stood last year.

Yup, Parise should be a huge boost for the Devils.

I am optimistic that the Leafs are better, but it isn't going to be easy, and the range that cw gives is one I agree with: 6-12th isn't unrealistic.

I think there are 4 locks one way or another:  Bruins, Capitals, Penguins, and Flyers

Then there are a few that I think are fairly safe bets:  Rangers, Sabres, and Lightning

So, basically, we have 1 spot for the Habs, Hurricanes, Leafs and Devils. 

Of course a team like the Lightning or even Sabres may fall back, but that only opens up an extra spot for the 4 aforementioned teams who are fighting.  I wouldn't be all that surprised if Winnipeg has a PHX like year where they surprise the East based on their momentum from the move.

I'm anxious for the new season but if I had to put some money down on the Leafs making the playoffs, I wouldn't.

 

[AvroArrow]

I don't think the Flyers are as much of a lock as most here do.  They made some significant changes, losing 2 first line players.  Plus, Bryz was just paid big-time.  We've seen time and time again a guy get paid, then take a year off.

I think they could quite easily bomb the season.  I do think they'll be in the dance (or at least in a fight for it), but not as a lock.

 

[bustaheims]

I don't think the Flyers are as much of a lock as most here do.  They made some significant changes, losing 2 first line players.  Plus, Bryz was just paid big-time.  We've seen time and time again a guy get paid, then take a year off.

I think they could quite easily bomb the season.  I do think they'll be in the dance (or at least in a fight for it), but not as a lock.

I'm with you. While I think they probably make the playoffs, with the amount of turnover they've experienced this summer - losing arguably their 2 top players, as well as a fair amount of depth, and, in doing so, leaving themselves with a largely undefined identity - I'd say they're far from being a lock. There's a lot of chemistry that will need to be developed on that roster and, as we've seen in years past, when that happens, it's no unusual for a team to really disappoint in comparison to the talent level of their roster.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

I'm with you. While I think they probably make the playoffs, with the amount of turnover they've experienced this summer - losing arguably their 2 top players, as well as a fair amount of depth, and, in doing so, leaving themselves with a largely undefined identity - I'd say they're far from being a lock. There's a lot of chemistry that will need to be developed on that roster and, as we've seen in years past, when that happens, it's no unusual for a team to really disappoint in comparison to the talent level of their roster.

Make that 3 of us. I think the chemistry will take half the season to even set in there.

 

[bustaheims]

I'm also going to go on record and say that the Sabres will be the real disappointment this season. Sure, they added some recognizable names, but, they're still going to live and die my Miller. I mean, let's really look at what they've done - they downgraded Connolly to Leino, lost Niedermayer and Grier replacing them with Kotalik, and upgraded their defence from Butler and Montador to Ehrhoff and Regehr. On top of that, with their cap situation, they're risking losing Sekera or Gragnani. I think people are focusing too much on the names they added without really looking at what those moves meant to how the team is built. I'm not convinced they're a markedly better team after this offseason and I think they're going to struggle against the raised expectations of their fans, management and ownership. They barely snuck into the playoffs last season - I can very easily see them missing out this season.