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
- ClarksonDavid

Yep..Matthews/Marner will make us a little more improved....but our D didnt get a lot better IMO, we'll see how Z is back there...but another offensive D doesnt help our goals against. IMO.

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

You are a legend....in your own mind.

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.
- DoubleDown

But just about EVERYone says "if price is healthy they're in".

I just actually looked in the article, the only one I see saying otherwise is Tanner, and he will probably reference and misuse some stupid obscure advanced stat. It doesn't really mean anything.

The Tessier guy said they'd be in, and the other guy just seemed to not even mention them. Not sure what that means.

But just about EVERYone says "if price is healthy they're in".

I just actually looked in the article, the only one I see saying otherwise is Tanner, and he will probably reference and misuse some stupid obscure advanced stat. It doesn't really mean anything.
- prock

HAHA, yeah the guy is a bone head.

Yep..Matthews/Marner will make us a little more improved....but our D didnt get a lot better IMO, we'll see how Z is back there...but another offensive D doesnt help our goals against. IMO.
- Garnie

Anderson fingers crossed helps out big time and is the real deal. They're just not their yet. Matthews Marner Nylander will help and be exciting but they're going to go through slumps and what not. 6th to 10th overall pick next draft, possibly package it for a Dman if there's a move to be made but we will see.

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.
- ClarksonDavid

Nothing's impossible, but much like the Canucks getting in, it's highly highly unlikely!!!

IMO the Leafs and Canucks will both be in a bottom five draft position, and from a Canuck draftist, I'm perfectly fine with that!

Yep..Matthews/Marner will make us a little more improved....but our D didnt get a lot better IMO, we'll see how Z is back there...but another offensive D doesnt help our goals against. IMO.
- Garnie

If Zaitsev is the real deal, and it is reaaaaaallllly starting to look like he is, the D is not only improved, but improved by quite a bit.

I still think it'll be another year before the Leafs are a bubble team, but I'm near certainly they'll be significantly improved. I'd say it's 100% for sure.

Nothing's impossible, but much like the Canucks getting in, it's highly highly unlikely!!!

IMO the Leafs and Canucks will both be in a bottom five draft position, and from a Canuck draftist, I'm perfectly fine with that!
- LeftCoaster

Yeah I wouldn't be surprised to see leafs that low either. I honestly don't know what to expect this year but I'm ready for anything won't be upset with a bottom 5 finish, they're young and new but I really don't think they will be that low.. everything went wrong to go along with a terrible team last year that is much better and still improved last year from the year before.. Vancouver could be better to who knows, Sedins are great players still, should be interesting to see how Erickson does. I honestly think Gudbranson wasn't a good addition at all, Markstrom is a decent goalie, not outstanding but maybe he stands on his head but didn't they say Miller is going to start more? That's a bad decision imo. I think Tanev is great and is truly a good defensive dman. Anything can happen in the NHL

You can have baseball, I'm your stereotypical Yankee fan that doesn't give a crap about baseball until they make the playoffs, but at least I'm honest about it.
- eichiefs9

Well igot into baseball in the bottom of the 11th of the playoff game now I'm a die hard fan

1, maybe. CGY

Yeah I wouldn't be surprised to see leafs that low either. I honestly don't know what to expect this year but I'm ready for anything won't be upset with a bottom 5 finish, they're young and new but I really don't think they will be that low.. everything went wrong to go along with a terrible team last year that is much better and still improved last year from the year before.. Vancouver could be better to who knows, Sedins are great players still, should be interesting to see how Erickson does. I honestly think Gudbranson wasn't a good addition at all, Markstrom is a decent goalie, not outstanding but maybe he stands on his head but didn't they say Miller is going to start more? That's a bad decision imo. I think Tanev is great and is truly a good defensive dman. Anything can happen in the NHL
- ClarksonDavid

Too many unknowns for educated opinions on what'll happen!

Here's the thing with the Leafs. Last December/January, they were very close to a playoff position, then JVR got hurt, Lupul and Bozak, and at the trade deadline they got rid of the veterans. So they essentially not only pick up Zaitsev, Matthews, Marner, Martin and Andersen.........but also JVR and Bozak. Couple that with the fact that Matthews and Marner make everyone better, especially Nylander who was average last year. Also, with guys like Brown and Reichel coming up, etc etc. Very deep should injuries come this year. If they get solid goaltending they will make a sizeable leap this year and will challenge for a playoff spot.

I can't wait to watch the Leafs play this year. However; I don't see them going from last place to a playoff spot this year.

The Toronto comments must be click bait. They are early in the rebuild and will take time, if that line up was on any other team no one would be picking them to make the playoffs this year - gheez.
Most to least likely:
Montreal
Calgary
Winnipeg
Edmonton
Ottawa
Vancouver
Toronto

Zero.

Hockey is America's game.
- eichiefs9

That's right, just ask this guy.

The Toronto comments must be click bait. They are early in the rebuild and will take time, if that line up was on any other team no one would be picking them to make the playoffs this year - gheez.
Most to least likely:
Montreal
Calgary
Winnipeg
Edmonton
Ottawa
Vancouver
Toronto
- CaliNewf

Agreed. Leafs will be a force but still too green to make the playoffs just yet. I like Calgary to make it, depends which Elliot will show up.

If Zaitsev is the real deal, and it is reaaaaaallllly starting to look like he is, the D is not only improved, but improved by quite a bit.

I still think it'll be another year before the Leafs are a bubble team, but I'm near certainly they'll be significantly improved. I'd say it's 100% for sure.
- prock

Offensively I think he's ready...but this is the NHL...he's going to go through ups and downs on the defensive side. IMO

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

I think short term it will work out very well.

Sidenote, There will come a time down the road when ottawa trades for Weber so they can hit the cap floor and only pay him the far lower real time salary.

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

Glad to see you at least woke up with a sense of humor today.

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

Nah man, this is the year Sam Gagner scores 70 points

Good to see diverging opinions, they keep minds fresh and sharp tongues. I have to admit that however thinks Toronto has a slight chance of making playoffs over a offensively and defensively more skilled Senators has to quit smoking hooch.

I like Toronto's development, but that's just guessing by emotion rather than looking at a teams roster talent. Also, coach Babcock says that the world cup is indication of what's coming to toronto is mega doosh, which is why I would rank toronto in the bottom 10 in the entire league. Tanner, stop smoking grass

Come on, this is ludicrous.

'The Leafs have a deep lineup'....

They currently have 3 NHL caliber defenders on their roster, and a lot of AHL place holders. They've got a few solid players up front, but let's be real here, they're starting the season with three rookies up front. Good rookies, great rookies, they're still rookies, and rookies don't carry teams to the playoffs. They won't be a last place team this year, and Leafs fans should be happy with the progress they've made, but this is not a playoff team.

Edmonton has the guns up front to score a ton of goals, but even with Larsson, that blueline is pathetic. It's a mishmash of prospects and moving parts, and Talbot is not a good enough goalie to protect the team from the grade A scoring chances that they'll be serving up every night. Mayyyybe the scoring is enough to have them squeak in, McDavid is the right guy to do it, but it's hard to win games 6-5 every night.

I'd call Toronto and Edmonton longshots, major longshots. Vancouver may as well not even show up this year.

I figure that Montreal is a lock for the playoffs if Price stays healthy. I like Winnipeg, especially because I think the power in their division is starting to shift away from Chicago and St Louis. I like Calgary too, although I think I'd feel more comfortable picking them if Gaudreau was signed and in camp. Still, I think they've got the pieces to make it. And Ottawa, their top end talent is there, but the depth is questionable, very questionable. If their big guns stay healthy, then they're as much of a lock for the playoffs as Montreal is, especially when you consider the massive step back that Detroit is about to take. If a couple of their top end players go down for extended periods of time, then yeah they're probably cooked. But a healthy Senators team is a playoff team.

So, the correct answer is four. Montreal, Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa.

Good to see diverging opinions, they keep minds fresh and sharp tongues. I have to admit that however thinks Toronto has a slight chance of making playoffs over a offensively and defensively more skilled Senators has to quit smoking hooch.

I like Toronto's development, but that's just guessing by emotion rather than looking at a teams roster talent. Also, coach Babcock says that the world cup is indication of what's coming to toronto is mega doosh, which is why I would rank toronto in the bottom 10 in the entire league. Tanner, stop smoking grass
- PtotheY

said nobody ever

Come on, this is ludicrous.

'The Leafs have a deep lineup'....

They currently have 3 NHL caliber defenders on their roster, and a lot of AHL place holders. They've got a few solid players up front, but let's be real here, they're starting the season with three rookies up front. Good rookies, great rookies, they're still rookies, and rookies don't carry teams to the playoffs. They won't be a last place team this year, and Leafs fans should be happy with the progress they've made, but this is not a playoff team.

Edmonton has the guns up front to score a ton of goals, but even with Larsson, that blueline is pathetic. It's a mishmash of prospects and moving parts, and Talbot is not a good enough goalie to protect the team from the grade A scoring chances that they'll be serving up every night. Mayyyybe the scoring is enough to have them squeak in, McDavid is the right guy to do it, but it's hard to win games 6-5 every night.

I'd call Toronto and Edmonton longshots, major longshots. Vancouver may as well not even show up this year.

I figure that Montreal is a lock for the playoffs if Price stays healthy. I like Winnipeg, especially because I think the power in their division is starting to shift away from Chicago and St Louis. I like Calgary too, although I think I'd feel more comfortable picking them if Gaudreau was signed and in camp. Still, I think they've got the pieces to make it. And Ottawa, their top end talent is there, but the depth is questionable, very questionable. If their big guns stay healthy, then they're as much of a lock for the playoffs as Montreal is, especially when you consider the massive step back that Detroit is about to take. If a couple of their top end players go down for extended periods of time, then yeah they're probably cooked. But a healthy Senators team is a playoff team.

So, the correct answer is four. Montreal, Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa.
- the_terror

I agree with this list.

What kind of person hates a hockey team? I have nothing against the Canucks, they just have a garbage team. Someone has to finish 30th and it isn't always going to be a team I hate.
- James_Tanner