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

[Kaberle15]

As much as I don't think the Sens are for real you can't lie with the standings.  I'm kind of hoping the Leafs can climb up to the 4 seed and the Sens can grab the 5 seed so we can renew our playoff rivalries and continue our undefeated playoff record in the Battle of Ontario.

And we all know that is a free pass to the next round when the Leafs x Sens in the playoffs...

oh its good to be in january and talk playoffs not draft!

 

[Erndog]

Ottawa seems to be chugging along, but are they deep enough if they run into injuries and how long is their goalie tandem able to keep up with their weak defence. I know they can score from the blue line but they let in alot of goals. I don't follow the sens so I really don't know what kind of depth they have. McLean really has them believing right now.

Ottawa seems like a confident team right now, but, they've been pretty streaky so far this season. They're a hard team to judge. I do get the feeling that they're due for another losing streak/rough stretch.

At the same time the Leafs aren't exactly world beaters. They're playing well right now but we're in nearly the same boat as Ottawa.

I think the Leafs are actually a rung or two above Ottawa on the "fast track rebuild" ladder.

You can't be serious Red?

The only thing I'm going to say is that Ottawa still has plenty of veterans providing a lot of help.

Alfreddson, Spezza, Michalek, Phillips, Gonchar, Kuba, Neil, Anderson, etc.  The youngest guy there is Michalek at 27... in 2-3 years when Alffy, Gonchar, Phillips, Kuba, etc have moved on and Spezza is 31 the Sens might be in a similar spot to where they are now.

The Leafs' oldest player last night was Connolly at 30.  Everyone else is basically 20-27.

Yeah you're right but the other side of that is how much we're getting from our younger players too - Karlsson obviously, Cowan, Condra, Smith, Greening, Daugavins - they may not be putting up big numbers but their contributions have been important.

At the end of the day both of us might be watching some playoff games this year and maybe we get a new chapter of the BOO wriiten and that's really all that matters. Neither team sucks anymore! High five!

I know.

We talked about it at work today, it's entirely possible we finish 4-5 (all it would take is an injury to Giroux or something).  Then again, it's entirely possible we both miss. 

I agree with Busta though, we both still "suck" but we aren't the "suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked" anymore.  We half-suck now, which is a lot better than the full blown suckage we've both experienced the last little while.

Teh suck Ernie, teh suck.

Pardon my french.

You going to be taking in any of the ASG festivities?

That's actually still up in the air.  I may have tickets to the game, but I'll know friday.

Not to sound  8) but I called in a work favour.  I'll know then.  You?

I'm going to the Leaf-Sens game Feb 4 though.

 

[Redleaf]

Ottawa seems to be chugging along, but are they deep enough if they run into injuries and how long is their goalie tandem able to keep up with their weak defence. I know they can score from the blue line but they let in alot of goals. I don't follow the sens so I really don't know what kind of depth they have. McLean really has them believing right now.

Ottawa seems like a confident team right now, but, they've been pretty streaky so far this season. They're a hard team to judge. I do get the feeling that they're due for another losing streak/rough stretch.

At the same time the Leafs aren't exactly world beaters. They're playing well right now but we're in nearly the same boat as Ottawa.

I think the Leafs are actually a rung or two above Ottawa on the "fast track rebuild" ladder.

You can't be serious Red?

In what sense of the word serious do you mean?

 

[Madferret]

Ottawa seems to be chugging along, but are they deep enough if they run into injuries and how long is their goalie tandem able to keep up with their weak defence. I know they can score from the blue line but they let in alot of goals. I don't follow the sens so I really don't know what kind of depth they have. McLean really has them believing right now.

Ottawa seems like a confident team right now, but, they've been pretty streaky so far this season. They're a hard team to judge. I do get the feeling that they're due for another losing streak/rough stretch.

At the same time the Leafs aren't exactly world beaters. They're playing well right now but we're in nearly the same boat as Ottawa.

I think the Leafs are actually a rung or two above Ottawa on the "fast track rebuild" ladder.

You can't be serious Red?

The only thing I'm going to say is that Ottawa still has plenty of veterans providing a lot of help.

Alfreddson, Spezza, Michalek, Phillips, Gonchar, Kuba, Neil, Anderson, etc.  The youngest guy there is Michalek at 27... in 2-3 years when Alffy, Gonchar, Phillips, Kuba, etc have moved on and Spezza is 31 the Sens might be in a similar spot to where they are now.

The Leafs' oldest player last night was Connolly at 30.  Everyone else is basically 20-27.

Yeah you're right but the other side of that is how much we're getting from our younger players too - Karlsson obviously, Cowan, Condra, Smith, Greening, Daugavins - they may not be putting up big numbers but their contributions have been important.

At the end of the day both of us might be watching some playoff games this year and maybe we get a new chapter of the BOO wriiten and that's really all that matters. Neither team sucks anymore! High five!

I know.

We talked about it at work today, it's entirely possible we finish 4-5 (all it would take is an injury to Giroux or something).  Then again, it's entirely possible we both miss. 

I agree with Busta though, we both still "suck" but we aren't the "suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked" anymore.  We half-suck now, which is a lot better than the full blown suckage we've both experienced the last little while.

Teh suck Ernie, teh suck.

Pardon my french.

You going to be taking in any of the ASG festivities?

That's actually still up in the air.  I may have tickets to the game, but I'll know friday.

Not to sound  8) but I called in a work favour.  I'll know then.  You?

I'm going to the Leaf-Sens game Feb 4 though.

8) is good! I might get press passes to the whole shebang <draft at the casino / skills comp / game>...if I don't I'll just hit the pubs with the fellas. I'm anxious to see what they do on the canal.

Nice - I have two games left to attend, the Jets one next Monday then Hawks game March 2nd.

 

[The Red Polar Bear]

So, what you're saying is, Alfie doesn't get booed at home, its just people expressing their interest in seeing the next edition of the Battle of Ontario by yelling BOO.

I propose that those in attendance at Sens games continue this tradition even when not playing the Leafs. The more you yell BOO at your team, the more they will want to see another Toronto-Ottawa playoff series.

Also, I'll be at the game on Tuesday. I'll be sure to support the BOO then as well.

 

[Madferret]

Ottawa seems to be chugging along, but are they deep enough if they run into injuries and how long is their goalie tandem able to keep up with their weak defence. I know they can score from the blue line but they let in alot of goals. I don't follow the sens so I really don't know what kind of depth they have. McLean really has them believing right now.

Ottawa seems like a confident team right now, but, they've been pretty streaky so far this season. They're a hard team to judge. I do get the feeling that they're due for another losing streak/rough stretch.

At the same time the Leafs aren't exactly world beaters. They're playing well right now but we're in nearly the same boat as Ottawa.

I think the Leafs are actually a rung or two above Ottawa on the "fast track rebuild" ladder.

You can't be serious Red?

In what sense of the word serious do you mean?

As in you seriously need to change your name to GreenLeaf.

 

[Madferret]

So, what you're saying is, Alfie doesn't get booed at home, its just people expressing their interest in seeing the next edition of the Battle of Ontario by yelling BOO.

I propose that those in attendance at Sens games continue this tradition even when not playing the Leafs. The more you yell BOO at your team, the more they will want to see another Toronto-Ottawa playoff series.

Also, I'll be at the game on Tuesday. I'll be sure to support the BOO then as well.

Ugh yeah - something like that

 

[Redleaf]

Ottawa seems to be chugging along, but are they deep enough if they run into injuries and how long is their goalie tandem able to keep up with their weak defence. I know they can score from the blue line but they let in alot of goals. I don't follow the sens so I really don't know what kind of depth they have. McLean really has them believing right now.

Ottawa seems like a confident team right now, but, they've been pretty streaky so far this season. They're a hard team to judge. I do get the feeling that they're due for another losing streak/rough stretch.

At the same time the Leafs aren't exactly world beaters. They're playing well right now but we're in nearly the same boat as Ottawa.

I think the Leafs are actually a rung or two above Ottawa on the "fast track rebuild" ladder.

You can't be serious Red?

In what sense of the word serious do you mean?

As in you seriously need to change your name to GreenLeaf.

You've used that one before. Its getting old. I said the two teams were close. Ottawa is by no means ahead of Toronto in their rebuild. Toronto is farther along.

 

[Madferret]

Ottawa seems to be chugging along, but are they deep enough if they run into injuries and how long is their goalie tandem able to keep up with their weak defence. I know they can score from the blue line but they let in alot of goals. I don't follow the sens so I really don't know what kind of depth they have. McLean really has them believing right now.

Ottawa seems like a confident team right now, but, they've been pretty streaky so far this season. They're a hard team to judge. I do get the feeling that they're due for another losing streak/rough stretch.

At the same time the Leafs aren't exactly world beaters. They're playing well right now but we're in nearly the same boat as Ottawa.

I think the Leafs are actually a rung or two above Ottawa on the "fast track rebuild" ladder.

You can't be serious Red?

In what sense of the word serious do you mean?

As in you seriously need to change your name to GreenLeaf.

You've used that one before. Its getting old. I said the two teams were close. Ottawa is by no means ahead of Toronto in their rebuild. Toronto is farther along.

And I'll probably keep using it until you embrace it - you're out to lunch

 

[maplesyrup]

I actually think we're close... A lot of similarities.

* Michalek/Spezza vs. Lupul/Kessel - Fairly close talent wise.

* A few nice young pieces on defense (I still maintain I like the Leaf group better but the Sens have Karlsson and he's well, just stupid good.)

* Both teams have streaky/questionable goaltending.

I could probably find more examples but those are the ones that stand out to me most.

 

[Corn Flake]

Ottawa is by no means ahead of Toronto in their rebuild. Toronto is farther along.

I'm not really sure Ottawa had as far to climb to become a better team though.  I think we are seeing what finally getting a good coach has done for them - one that comes from a winning background and knows how to win.  Maybe we are just seeing what was a pile of underachieving assets just coming together. 

I'm not saying they are done rebuilding and I think McLellan is squeezing every drop out of what he has, but they are nowhere near as bad as the Leafs were 2 or 3 years ago so I think they have less of a climb and we are seeing evidence of that right now.

 

[Madferret]

Ottawa is by no means ahead of Toronto in their rebuild. Toronto is farther along.

I'm not really sure Ottawa had as far to climb to become a better team though.  I think we are seeing what finally getting a good coach has done for them - one that comes from a winning background and knows how to win.  Maybe we are just seeing what was a pile of underachieving assets just coming together. 

I'm not saying they are done rebuilding and I think McLellan is squeezing every drop out of what he has, but they are nowhere near as bad as the Leafs were 2 or 3 years ago so I think they have less of a climb and we are seeing evidence of that right now.

MacLean!

 

[Corn Flake]

Ottawa is by no means ahead of Toronto in their rebuild. Toronto is farther along.

I'm not really sure Ottawa had as far to climb to become a better team though.  I think we are seeing what finally getting a good coach has done for them - one that comes from a winning background and knows how to win.  Maybe we are just seeing what was a pile of underachieving assets just coming together. 

I'm not saying they are done rebuilding and I think McLellan is squeezing every drop out of what he has, but they are nowhere near as bad as the Leafs were 2 or 3 years ago so I think they have less of a climb and we are seeing evidence of that right now.

MacLean!

Wilfrid Brimley!

 

[Redleaf]

Ottawa seems to be chugging along, but are they deep enough if they run into injuries and how long is their goalie tandem able to keep up with their weak defence. I know they can score from the blue line but they let in alot of goals. I don't follow the sens so I really don't know what kind of depth they have. McLean really has them believing right now.

Ottawa seems like a confident team right now, but, they've been pretty streaky so far this season. They're a hard team to judge. I do get the feeling that they're due for another losing streak/rough stretch.

At the same time the Leafs aren't exactly world beaters. They're playing well right now but we're in nearly the same boat as Ottawa.

I think the Leafs are actually a rung or two above Ottawa on the "fast track rebuild" ladder.

You can't be serious Red?

In what sense of the word serious do you mean?

As in you seriously need to change your name to GreenLeaf.

You've used that one before. Its getting old. I said the two teams were close. Ottawa is by no means ahead of Toronto in their rebuild. Toronto is farther along.

And I'll probably keep using it until you embrace it - you're out to lunch

Instead of just taking jabs at a fellow poster, why don't you tell us how much better in your opinion the Sens are right now? Save us the guess work ferret.

 

[Redleaf]

Ottawa is by no means ahead of Toronto in their rebuild. Toronto is farther along.

I'm not really sure Ottawa had as far to climb to become a better team though.  I think we are seeing what finally getting a good coach has done for them - one that comes from a winning background and knows how to win.  Maybe we are just seeing what was a pile of underachieving assets just coming together. 

I'm not saying they are done rebuilding and I think McLellan is squeezing every drop out of what he has, but they are nowhere near as bad as the Leafs were 2 or 3 years ago so I think they have less of a climb and we are seeing evidence of that right now.

Agreed.

 

[Madferret]

Ottawa seems to be chugging along, but are they deep enough if they run into injuries and how long is their goalie tandem able to keep up with their weak defence. I know they can score from the blue line but they let in alot of goals. I don't follow the sens so I really don't know what kind of depth they have. McLean really has them believing right now.

Ottawa seems like a confident team right now, but, they've been pretty streaky so far this season. They're a hard team to judge. I do get the feeling that they're due for another losing streak/rough stretch.

At the same time the Leafs aren't exactly world beaters. They're playing well right now but we're in nearly the same boat as Ottawa.

I think the Leafs are actually a rung or two above Ottawa on the "fast track rebuild" ladder.

You can't be serious Red?

In what sense of the word serious do you mean?

As in you seriously need to change your name to GreenLeaf.

You've used that one before. Its getting old. I said the two teams were close. Ottawa is by no means ahead of Toronto in their rebuild. Toronto is farther along.

And I'll probably keep using it until you embrace it - you're out to lunch

Instead of just taking jabs at a fellow poster, why don't you tell us how much better in your opinion the Sens are right now? Save us the guess work ferret.

You are right - I apologize.

Here's my beef - it's easy to spend to the cap / trade away draft picks and then say you're rebuilding when you miss the playoffs.

 

[crazyperfectdevil]

You are right - I apologize.

Here's my beef - it's easy to spend to the cap / trade away draft picks and then say you're rebuilding when you miss the playoffs.

are you suggesting that's what the leafs are doing?  because i guess i find it hard to call this anything other than a rebuild when you look at the overhaul of personal over the last few years..i think schenn has been on the team the longest?  so while there can be some debate over whether this is the traditional "rebuild" or was an attempt at a rebuild on the fly ...i don't think it can be argued that it's a rebuild of some sort..the team was completely gutted ..pretty much top to bottom ...i guess i don't have another term for that

 

[TML fan]

If you're going to talk about trading away draft picks, you shouldn't exclude the draft picks that have been acquired.

 

[Redleaf]

You are right - I apologize.

Here's my beef - it's easy to spend to the cap / trade away draft picks and then say you're rebuilding when you miss the playoffs.

are you suggesting that's what the leafs are doing?  because i guess i find it hard to call this anything other than a rebuild when you look at the overhaul of personal over the last few years..i think schenn has been on the team the longest?  so while there can be some debate over whether this is the traditional "rebuild" or was an attempt at a rebuild on the fly ...i don't think it can be argued that it's a rebuild of some sort..the team was completely gutted ..pretty much top to bottom ...i guess i don't have another term for that

Agreed. This has been more like a complete re-haul. The entire line-up is completely different than the one just a few short years ago.

I can't really buy your argument here ferret, but I except your apology nonetheless.

 

[Madferret]

You are right - I apologize.

Here's my beef - it's easy to spend to the cap / trade away draft picks and then say you're rebuilding when you miss the playoffs.

are you suggesting that's what the leafs are doing?  because i guess i find it hard to call this anything other than a rebuild when you look at the overhaul of personal over the last few years..i think schenn has been on the team the longest?  so while there can be some debate over whether this is the traditional "rebuild" or was an attempt at a rebuild on the fly ...i don't think it can be argued that it's a rebuild of some sort..the team was completely gutted ..pretty much top to bottom ...i guess i don't have another term for that

Agreed. This has been more like a complete re-haul. The entire line-up is completely different than the one just a few short years ago.

I can't really buy your argument here ferret, but I except your apology nonetheless.

Re-haul is the perfect word for what the Leafs did / are doing and rebuilding is what Ottawa is doing. So you can't really compare the two organizations in terms of where they are on any kind of ladder -  both clubs are ultimately trying to achieve the same thing but both are going about it in different ways. Is this fair?