From all those Cup finals they meet in? Yeah, sure, why not.
- Mr_Clean

the Habs? no. from a regional perspective they'll be the two top teams. Tampa as divisional rivals.

Edmonton as the two top teams from either conference. sort of like Boston and Vancouver hating each other.

true I guess. i was just responding to the statement that the battle of Ontario will be meaningful again soon. I think that assumes they'll both remain bubble teams and that, in the opinion of most, isn't the case. the Leafs are on the rise.

I get the feeling the Habs leafs rivalry will be a little more pertinent in the coming years. and maybe a Tampa vs leafs rivalry is in the works. and eventually a leafs vs jets or oilers rivalry.
- prock

If nothing else I admire your never ending optimism.

no. that's the truth.

find any poll, odds, whatever. you'll generally find toronto, Tampa, and to a lesser extent Montreal as the favourites in the atlantic.
- prock

I believe the polls were the same last year and the Sens got to a goal away from the Stanley Cup final. I think Ottawa wasn't even expected to make the playoffs.

The East is a joke outside of Pittsburgh. Anybody can take it. Sens living proof of that last year. It could be the Leafs this year, Rangers, whoever. It's a toss up more or less.

I believe the polls were the same last year and the Sens got to a goal away from the Stanley Cup final. I think Ottawa wasn't even expected to make the playoffs.

The East is a joke outside of Pittsburgh. Anybody can take it. Sens living proof of that last year. It could be the Leafs this year, Rangers, whoever. It's a toss up more or less.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Yeah, whoever's turn it is to get sacrificed to Penguin inevitability

Whatever else happens, it's pretty hard to imagine that I'll ever hate the Leafs more than I hate Pittsburgh...

the Habs? no. from a regional perspective they'll be the two top teams. Tampa as divisional rivals.

Edmonton as the two top teams from either conference. sort of like Boston and Vancouver hating each other.
- prock

You know what I meant. And Boston and Vancouver played 7 contentious games in the Cup final, I doubt any two Western teams will surpass divisional teams, no matter how lopsided the 'rivalry' may get.

...unless you're predicting some sort of Hawks-like Leafs dynasty. Again, sure, why not.

Yeah, whoever's turn it is to get sacrificed to Penguin inevitability

Whatever else happens, it's pretty hard to imagine that I'll ever hate the Leafs more than I hate Pittsburgh...
- Mr_Clean

I think its more the relentless arrogance of the Leafs cult that causes so much friction. It is a large cult too . Probably the most loved and hated team in the nhl

I think its more the relentless arrogance of the Leafs cult that causes so much friction. It is a large cult too . Probably the most loved and hated team in the nhl
- spazzbot

https://www.thebeaverton....nclude-free-leafs-jersey/

This is comedy Gold

https://www.thebeaverton.com/2017/07/ottawa-senators-season-ticket-package-include-free-leafs-jersey/
This is comedy Gold
- Santo_44

This would be funnier If Ottawa didn't have a player right now who is better than Matthews.

I think its more the relentless arrogance of the Leafs cult that causes so much friction. It is a large cult too . Probably the most loved and hated team in the nhl
- spazzbot

Yeah, but better the Leaf cult than the Penguins bandwagon. Toronto's cockiness is funny for now, since it's been basically 13 years since they had a better season than us. Maybe I'll learn to hate again once they actually finish ahead of us in the standings or go further than us in the playoffs.

This would be funnier If Ottawa didn't have a player right now who is better than Matthews.
- forbetterorWORSE

We will come back to this when Matthews is 27...he's 19 and already is a star.

I mean he had a wayyyyy better rookie season then Karlsonn that's for sure.

And no any way you look at it it's hillarious

It's like Wendy's giving up and giving away Big Macs so people buy their baconater

This would be funnier If Ottawa didn't have a player right now who is better than Matthews.
- forbetterorWORSE

rather arguable.

I mean, the guy just figured out there is an entire half of the icevhe has yet to explore this year. lets see if he can ever become better than average at it.

rather arguable.

I mean, the guy just figured out there is an entire half of the icevhe has yet to explore this year. lets see if he can ever become better than average at it.
- prock

No,its not arguable.

No,its not arguable.
- forbetterorWORSE

In a turds fan opinion.

I don't see a championship team being built around a dman like karlson. Always felt that way. He just isn't in the mold of the dmen you see cup winning teams built around. He needs to up his defensive game a whole lot more than he did this year to be anywhere remotely close.

In a turds fan opinion.

I don't see a championship team being built around a dman like karlson. Always felt that way. He just isn't in the mold of the dmen you see cup winning teams built around. He needs to up his defensive game a whole lot more than he did this year to be anywhere remotely close.
- prock

- forbetterorWORSE

Meh, that's my opinion. You're welcome to yours.

But in my opinion, on any team that does not have Crosby and Malkin (so like, any of those Bruins, Kings, or Hawks teams), he doesn't qualify as the number 1 dman, if they want to win those cups.

We'll likely never really find out, because Melnyk will never put a team around him that is even capable of it, so you'll always have that out with him anyway.

In a turds fan opinion.

I don't see a championship team being built around a dman like karlson. Always felt that way. He just isn't in the mold of the dmen you see cup winning teams built around. He needs to up his defensive game a whole lot more than he did this year to be anywhere remotely close.
- prock

- Raven33

Laugh all you want, it's true. I mean, it's nice that he's not astronomically bad in his own zone anymore, but being rather average is not going to cut it either.