"The leafs have a deep lineup"



Tanner gonna Tanner
- SENS 613

They really do. You might consider that I am almost always right, just ahead of the curve.

Tessier is the only one with a brain it seems.
- Snots33_77

No offense to him, but he thinks Ottawa will make the Playoffs, so no.

They really do. You might consider that I am almost always right, just ahead of the curve.
- James_Tanner

A couple years ahead of the curve?

Tanner - what do you have such a hate for the Canucks??? To say that they have one of the worst rosters in hockey is laughable. Sure it's a mix of vets and youth, but its talented.

Edmonton has great forwards but their D is awful and goaltending suspect at best.
- deuce22

Jeez. the Canucks are not talented at all. the tiny speck of talent on that roster is buried in players that get off the ice and get to the dressing room with a walker.

IMO Montreal has the best chance providing Price has a health season, I think he can get them in by himself....he's that good!

Calgary and Winnipeg are the only other realistic possibilities.

Toronto, Edmonton & Vancouver should all slightly improve but there's not a snowballs chance in hell they improve by 20+ points in one year!!

In the west:
Winnipeg will squeak by for a wild card spot. (on the bubble)
Calgary and Edmonton will battle for the other WC spot. (both on the bubble)
My gut says Calgary are in & Edmonton are out. (better D on Cal)
Vancouver is out, (last in the conf).

In the east:
Montreal are in (2nd or 3rd in the div).
Ottawa... I just don't know, my gut says no... (on the bubble)
Toronto are out, but will battle to the last game (probably finish 10th in the conf)

In what world does the smoldering garbage pile that is the Ottawa Senators make the playoffs?

Yikes... Did Wendy the slow adult write this?
- Brandon

Yeees

Nice to see another Howard fan!

In what world does the smoldering garbage pile that is the Ottawa Senators make the playoffs?
- BINGO!

The Atlantic division is probably the worst in the NHL.

i think most people are banking on Price getting injured or flaring up the previous injury again, which would be the main issue for montreal.


in the end it doesnt matter as all canadian teams will get destroyed in the first round, assuming any make it.
- Buggy166

agree, i don't see Montreal winning more than a round in the playoffs as currently constructed. the offence just isn't there.

The Atlantic division is probably the worst in the NHL.
- BINGO!

The Pacific is on equal footing.

They really do. You might consider that I am almost always right, just ahead of the curve.
- James_Tanner

might wanna check that, I've yet to see you predict anything that actually happened.

Subban is a polarizing figure. 6 months ago, it would have been pretty split, on whether it would make the Habs better or not. Most also thought Weber had lost a bit of a step, even 6 months ago. 100% thought his contract was a problem though.

I think there are a lot (me included) that think Montreal may be a better team for a year or two, although it's close. it's the long term, and that contract, that is a nightmare for the Habs.

Weber isn't "washed up", he's still a top dman, but he's slowed down a little. Many considered him arguably the best dman in the league 3 or 4 years ago, but you probably haven't heard that in a few years, right?
- prock

there's no question this deal will haunt Montreal in a few years. but i am holding out hope that in the short term it does make them a better team. i know the numbers say it won't but i'm also holding out hope that there is still more to this game than spredsheets. this is going to be a great case study.

IMO Montreal has the best chance providing Price has a health season, I think he can get them in by himself....he's that good!

Calgary and Winnipeg are the only other realistic possibilities.

Toronto, Edmonton & Vancouver should all slightly improve but there's not a snowballs chance in hell they improve by 20+ points in one year!!
- LeftCoaster

Edmonton has a pretty good shot at the playoffs. I think they make it, Toronto is funny cause honestly I don't see Toronto fans saying they're going to make the playoffs very often but I see fans of other random teams saying they will. Toronto will be bottom 10 this season, Vancouver I can't see being very good, only people I see thinking highly of Vancouver is like half the fan base no one outside Vancouver thinks they're in a good situation this year.

The Pacific is on equal footing.
- Rinosaur

I dunno. They've got more elite talent and L.A., San Jose...

The Atlantic has Tampa, a promising young Florida, and a bunch of Also Ran's.

there's no question this deal will haunt Montreal in a few years. but i am holding out hope that in the short term it does make them a better team. i know the numbers say it won't but i'm also holding out hope that there is still more to this game than spredsheets. this is going to be a great case study.
- DoubleDown

It very well could. I think it will. by a little, not a lot.

Just about everyone I see post says Montreal will make the playoffs, with the qualifier "if Price is healthy". Almost everyone. I'd say that's pretty fair.

So try not to play the "why is everyone picking on the Habs" game.

DD you bow to your Subban posters in your bedroom every morning...stop pretending like you don't think Subban is top 5-10 D in the league.

The Pacific is on equal footing.
- Rinosaur

honestly i just think it's that the league has hit a patch in the last year or so where there are very few great teams and very few terrible teams... most of the league is in that mushy middle which wasn't the case a few years back. we had a firm list of contenders/elite teams. personally now once i get past the first 2-3 teams i have no idea how to rank them.

DD you bow to your Subban posters in your bedroom every morning...stop pretending like you don't think Subban is top 5-10 D in the league.
- Garnie

top 5? no. top 10? yes. i never changed my opinion of him after the trade. the rest of you on the other hand...

Toronto and Edmonton are garbage teams. Canucks will be ahead of both of them in the standings. Flames will be in the playoffs.

It very well could. I think it will. by a little, not a lot.

Just about everyone I see post says Montreal will make the playoffs, with the qualifier "if Price is healthy". Almost everyone. I'd say that's pretty fair.

So try not to play the "why is everyone picking on the Habs" game.
- prock

im referring to the hot stoves on this site. i haven't seen any predictions by the publications yet. it's also not a question of picking on anyone. i'm just not seeing the rationale behind it.

top 5? no. top 10? yes. i never changed my opinion of him after the trade. the rest of you on the other hand...
- DoubleDown

I like the trade, never liked the Subban act....but that's just me...I love the people thinking TO is making the playoffs, their D are nowhere near ready.

Edmonton has a pretty good shot at the playoffs. I think they make it, Toronto is funny cause honestly I don't see Toronto fans saying they're going to make the playoffs very often but I see fans of other random teams saying they will. Toronto will be bottom 10 this season, Vancouver I can't see being very good, only people I see thinking highly of Vancouver is like half the fan base no one outside Vancouver thinks they're in a good situation this year.
- ClarksonDavid

I think the Oilers improve but they've gotta be so much better defensively! I don't care if McDavid scores 120 points, they've gotta be better in the GA. Crosby had 102 points as a rookie and the Pens finished second last. Scoring isn't the issue.

Anyone who thinks the Leafs get into a playoff race after a 29 win season is out to lunch...seriously!

I think the Oilers improve but they've gotta be so much better defensively! I don't care if McDavid scores 120 points, they've gotta be better in the GA. Crosby had 102 points as a rookie and the Pens finished second last. Scoring isn't the issue.

Anyone who thinks the Leafs get into a playoff race after a 29 win season is out to lunch...seriously!
- LeftCoaster

It's not impossible but as Garnie commented above is exactly what I mean, people who are leafs fans for the most part don't expect playoffs. Just improvement. I also think there's no chance they're the worst team in the league I think they will be drafting like 6th to 10th also a full season of Klefbom Larsson will be huge for Oilers. Terrible trade for Larsson but he does improve their D alot.

They really do. You might consider that I am almost always right, just ahead of the curve.
- James_Tanner

What are you talking about? You are never franking right. How is Taylor Hall doing?