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

I like this team better than the last few years. They look to have three lines that can help with scoring supported by 5 of their 7 D being puck movers. I think they'll have some issues defensively because their D talent is kind of polarized (ie Gradiner, Franson & Liles either don't PK or have done very little at the pro level). I think the forwards have better PK talent which will help.

I also think the depth with Scrivens, Aulie, Lashoff, Kadri, Boyce, Ziggy, Caputi, etc is as good as they've had in the last few years. They have about six guys on the NHL roster who can play center.

In spite of his preseason numbers, Reimer didn't look too bad to me. How Reimer, Gustavsson (&/or Scrivens) go will be key as many have said.

But this team can really skate. With the crackdown by Shanahan, I think they'll have more room.

A key is Wilson: will he let them run & gun. He stifled them at the outset of last season with defence. They put up good defensive numbers but sacrificed too much scoring to do it. With the players Wilson has selected and the dumping of top 6/bottom 6, my instincts tell me he's learned from his mistakes and he's going to let them go some (as he should in my opinion because that's where their talent lies).

This team reminds me a little of '99 - Sundin, Joseph & a bunch of nonames. Their speed could draw more penalties if they use it. If Reimer can fill in like Cujo, and Wilson let's them go, I think these guys can significantly improve their offence with the improved 1st & 3rd lines and an increase in offensive dmen to feed them and more PP opportunities. The decider will be whether they can keep enough out of their own net.

I don't think they'll finish nearly as high as the '99 team but it won't be as boring to watch as the last few seasons.

Roster Changes
The following players were added after the start of last season:

During last season:
Lupul
Reimer

During off season:
Connolly
Lombardi
Dupuis
Frattin
Liles
Gardiner
Franson
Steckel

That's ten players since the start of last year and most of them seem like improvements to me over what has departed. This is NOT the club that finished out of the playoffs last season.

Leafs fans deserve a decent team as much as any in the league. I hope they get rewarded this season with a good showing. Regardless, I think it's going to be more exciting to watch them this season.
 
cw said:
I like this team better than the last few years. They look to have three lines that can help with scoring supported by 5 of their 7 D being puck movers. I think they'll have some issues defensively because their D talent is kind of polarized (ie Gradiner, Franson & Liles either don't PK or have done very little at the pro level). I think the forwards have better PK talent which will help.

I also think the depth with Scrivens, Aulie, Lashoff, Kadri, Boyce, Ziggy, Caputi, etc is as good as they've had in the last few years. They have about six guys on the NHL roster who can play center.

In spite of his preseason numbers, Reimer didn't look too bad to me. How Reimer, Gustavsson (&/or Scrivens) go will be key as many have said.

But this team can really skate. With the crackdown by Shanahan, I think they'll have more room.

A key is Wilson: will he let them run & gun. He stifled them at the outset of last season with defence. They put up good defensive numbers but sacrificed too much scoring to do it. With the players Wilson has selected and the dumping of top 6/bottom 6, my instincts tell me he's learned from his mistakes and he's going to let them go some (as he should in my opinion because that's where their talent lies).

This team reminds me a little of '99 - Sundin, Joseph & a bunch of nonames. Their speed could draw more penalties if they use it. If Reimer can fill in like Cujo, and Wilson let's them go, I think these guys can significantly improve their offence with the improved 1st & 3rd lines and an increase in offensive dmen to feed them and more PP opportunities. The decider will be whether they can keep enough out of their own net.

I don't think they'll finish nearly as high as the '99 team but it won't be as boring to watch as the last few seasons.

Roster Changes
The following players were added after the start of last season:

During last season:
Lupul
Reimer

During off season:
Connolly
Lombardi
Dupuis
Frattin
Liles
Gardiner
Franson
Steckel

That's ten players since the start of last year and most of them seem like improvements to me over what has departed. This is NOT the club that finished out of the playoffs last season.

Leafs fans deserve a decent team as much as any in the league. I hope they get rewarded this season with a good showing. Regardless, I think it's going to be more exciting to watch them this season.
Click to expand...

Always love your analyses, CW.
 
cw said:
I like this team better than the last few years. They look to have three lines that can help with scoring supported by 5 of their 7 D being puck movers. I think they'll have some issues defensively because their D talent is kind of polarized (ie Gradiner, Franson & Liles either don't PK or have done very little at the pro level). I think the forwards have better PK talent which will help.

I also think the depth with Scrivens, Aulie, Lashoff, Kadri, Boyce, Ziggy, Caputi, etc is as good as they've had in the last few years. They have about six guys on the NHL roster who can play center.

In spite of his preseason numbers, Reimer didn't look too bad to me. How Reimer, Gustavsson (&/or Scrivens) go will be key as many have said.

But this team can really skate. With the crackdown by Shanahan, I think they'll have more room.

A key is Wilson: will he let them run & gun. He stifled them at the outset of last season with defence. They put up good defensive numbers but sacrificed too much scoring to do it. With the players Wilson has selected and the dumping of top 6/bottom 6, my instincts tell me he's learned from his mistakes and he's going to let them go some (as he should in my opinion because that's where their talent lies).

This team reminds me a little of '99 - Sundin, Joseph & a bunch of nonames. Their speed could draw more penalties if they use it. If Reimer can fill in like Cujo, and Wilson let's them go, I think these guys can significantly improve their offence with the improved 1st & 3rd lines and an increase in offensive dmen to feed them and more PP opportunities. The decider will be whether they can keep enough out of their own net.

I don't think they'll finish nearly as high as the '99 team but it won't be as boring to watch as the last few seasons.

Roster Changes
The following players were added after the start of last season:

During last season:
Lupul
Reimer

During off season:
Connolly
Lombardi
Dupuis
Frattin
Liles
Gardiner
Franson
Steckel

That's ten players since the start of last year and most of them seem like improvements to me over what has departed. This is NOT the club that finished out of the playoffs last season.

Leafs fans deserve a decent team as much as any in the league. I hope they get rewarded this season with a good showing. Regardless, I think it's going to be more exciting to watch them this season.
Click to expand...


May i add the fact that the team that played the last quarter of the season was much better then the team that played the first three, now add in the off season moves and imo you have a very improved team, over the one that started last season.

i would say with out a doubt that this team is better than any thing i have seen since 93, maybe it will even prove to be much better than that crew. i believe this team barring no crazy injury attack, will make the playoffs. most that say they will be in say it wil be a fight for 8th, i am aiming for the 6th.
 
Too many better teams than the Leafs in the East, and I am still not crazy over their defensive style, even though they have 5 or 6 very solid d-men.  If the Leafs are not able to counter-act against other team's forechecking, it could be a very long season.
 
Last year they were 5-4-1 after 10 games.
This year they are 6-2-1 after 10 games.

Kessel - last year after 10 games - 7 goals 2 assists
Kessel - this year after 10 games - 10 goals 8 assists

The special teams concern me a great deal, but there are a lot of things about this team that are better than last year - here are some things (or players) that strike me as upgrades from a year ago:

- goaltending
-Phaneuf - improved
- Lupul - new
- Steckel - new
- faceoffs
- Gardiner - new

 
Fanatic said:
upgrades from a year ago:

- goaltending
-Phaneuf - improved
- Lupul - new
- Steckel - new
- faceoffs
- Gardiner - new
Click to expand...

There's also Connolly.  Only 2 games with him so far but he looks good.  With him and Lupul gelling with Kessel we have a top line that looks legit for the first time in years.
Gunnarsson has also really stepped up his game this year.
Lombardi is still getting warmed up but has already chipped in a couple of goals.
 
Potvin29 said:
Just to nikpick - their record is 7-2-1, forgot to add tonight's win as yours only adds up to 9 GP.
Click to expand...

Are we calling nitpicking "nikpicking' now, because that's....... well.........that's just fantastic.
 
Yeah things are looking up but it's early. Connolly's and Lombardi's injury histories still concern me. Kessel is hotter than he's ever been right now but the question is how will the Leafs fair when he struggles for a few games?  Reimer needs to get back healthy as well.

All that being said we're in a great position right now and the next 3 games are all potential wins. We need to lock up these points.
 
If we lose every remaining game in OT, we'll finish with 87 points. Not quite there (probably need closer to 90 points) but damn close. 
 
Floyd said:
If we lose every remaining game in OT, we'll finish with 87 points. Not quite there (probably need closer to 90 points) but damn close.
Click to expand...

96 points is a virtual guarantee.
94 points is likely safe.
91 points is likely out.
88 points is almost certainly out.
 
Fanatic said:
Potvin29 said:
Just to nikpick - their record is 7-2-1, forgot to add tonight's win as yours only adds up to 9 GP.
Click to expand...

You're right. And I am happy to be corrected.
Click to expand...

There's too many variables this early to be absolutely confident, but I'l say this: if they can somehow manage to repeat this over the next 10-game span (14-4-2), that would be .750 over a quarter of the season ... and would be enough of a cushion to almost ensure that they'll be competing for a playoff spot.
 
princedpw said:
Floyd said:
If we lose every remaining game in OT, we'll finish with 87 points. Not quite there (probably need closer to 90 points) but damn close.
Click to expand...

96 points is a virtual guarantee.
94 points is likely safe.
91 points is likely out.
88 points is almost certainly out.
Click to expand...

I've had 90 pts as 8th (probably because its a nice round number) but it very could be more then that. 
 
7-2-1 is 4 critical points better than 5-4-1. It is just too tempting to go back and compare to last years October/November/December

Here  is something else to think about. Last years team had to go 18 games to get their 7th win (7-8-3). So the next 8 games is a chance to really differentiate themselves from last years record..... which I think they are already doing.

 
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