Eklund: Who is for REAL and Who is Primed to Get Knocked Out in Round 1?

We're for real.

Anaheim is ready to get knocked out the first round.

We're for real.
- Rocktane

Real poopty.

We're for real.
- Rocktane

You guys are are where you belong!

Anaheim is ready to get knocked out the first round.
- StayTunedMTC

I think so

I see the Leafs fans flooded the poll

You're most likely playing the Bruins and I would be shocked if it goes 6 games

FOR REAL:
Piitsburgh and Montreal in the East.

Chicago and Los Angeles in the West.

Darkhorse: Washington/Ottawa

PRETENDERS:

NYI and NYR in the East.

Anaheim and Vancouver in the West.

Darkhorse: St. Louis

LEAFZIZDABEST!

I see the Leafs fans flooded the poll

You're most likely playing the Bruins and I would be shocked if it goes 6 games
- fudd1689

Trap series

I see the Leafs fans flooded the poll

You're most likely playing the Bruins and I would be shocked if it goes 6 games
- fudd1689

get ready to hear nothing but "kessel vs seguin" "the trade 4 years later"
blah blah. Don Cherry's erection for the leafs is going to explode.
The team he coached, or the team that he loves dearly.

Toronto media is going to eat it up like crazy.

Eklund: Who is for REAL and Who is Primed to Get Knocked Out in Round 1?
- Eklund

Why isn't Toronto an option for who will be out in round 1?

They don't have a chance.

Trap series
- Zezel

I doubt it. The Bruins will be healthy heading into the playoffs. Both Marchand and Bergeron will be ready to go, they're both real close now. Adding Soderberg to the mix is only going to better the Bruins chances.

I see the Leafs fans flooded the poll

You're most likely playing the Bruins and I would be shocked if it goes 6 games
- fudd1689

You shouldn't be shocked if it goes 6 games. Don't so chronically underestimate the Leafs... I think they could go 7 with any team in the conference except maybe a fully healthy Pittsburgh.

Am I the only one who thinks the Leafs can still win the NE? They will own the tiebreak if they end up tied with either Boston or Montreal (unless they go on a ridiculous SO win streak).

I see the Leafs fans flooded the poll

You're most likely playing the Bruins and I would be shocked if it goes 6 games
- fudd1689

If we play the Bruins, I would be surprised if it went 5 games. If we end up playing the Habs, it could get very interesting.

FOR REAL:
Piitsburgh and Montreal in the East.

Chicago and Los Angeles in the West.

Darkhorse: Washington/Ottawa

PRETENDERS:

NYI and NYR in the East.

Anaheim and Vancouver in the West.

Darkhorse: St. Louis
- PAY-DIRT

So the Leafs are pretenders too, right?

FOR REAL:
Piitsburgh and Montreal in the East.

Chicago and Los Angeles in the West.

Darkhorse: Washington/Ottawa

PRETENDERS:

NYI and NYR in the East.

Anaheim and Vancouver in the West.

Darkhorse: St. Louis
- PAY-DIRT

Bottom seeded teams getting eliminated early aren't considered pretenders. That is considered right where they should be. Teams in the top four or five in each conference, getting smoked in the first round, are considered pretenders.

Case in point your Leafs, have pretender written all over it.

You shouldn't be shocked if it goes 6 games. Don't so chronically underestimate the Leafs... I think they could go 7 with any team in the conference except maybe a fully healthy Pittsburgh.
- Mr_Clean

Given the Bruins track record in recent years against the Leafs, I am not worried about the Leafs. I'm actually rooting for a Bos/Tor 1st round would be a great series.

Why isn't Toronto an option for who will be out in round 1?

They don't have a chance.
- Iggysbff

Based on what? The match ups haven't even been set yet. They could be playing any one of BOS, MON or OTT. Boston has obviously had their number for a few years now but MON or OTT is a coin flip.

Really, the question is premature. Let's see it again in 2 weeks. A lot can happen between now and then.

Bottom seeded teams getting eliminated early aren't considered pretenders. That is considered right where they should be. Teams in the top four or five in each conference, getting smoked in the first round, are considered pretenders.

Case in point your Leafs, have pretender written all over it.
- MidnightMarauder

I don't think any of the teams 5-through-8 in the Eastern Conference are really much better or worse than each other... After all, the Leafs are just as close to 8th as they are to 4th.

Really, then, this should be about the top-4 and the top-4 alone (in the East at least)

Based on what? The match ups haven't even been set yet. They could be playing any one of BOS, MON or OTT. Boston has obviously had their number for a few years now but MON or OTT is a coin flip.

Really, the question is premature. Let's see it again in 2 weeks. A lot can happen between now and then.
- BlueBallz

How would they possibly end up playing Ottawa? I'd be thrilled but it's virtually impossible from what I can tell.

Leafs are a very different team this year, and if they get Lupul back strong going into the playoffs they won't be an easy beat in the first round for anyone

All the matchups will be close though, hopefully we see a lot of game 7s in the first round, should be a good one

Given the Bruins track record in recent years against the Leafs, I am not worried about the Leafs. I'm actually rooting for a Bos/Tor 1st round would be a great series.
- fudd1689

That's why I'm rooting for Bruins/Rangers or Bruins/Capitals series

Bottom seeded teams getting eliminated early aren't considered pretenders. That is considered right where they should be. Teams in the top four or five in each conference, getting smoked in the first round, are considered pretenders.

Case in point your Leafs, have pretender written all over it.
- MidnightMarauder

The Leafs may or may not win a round.

Money $$$ on the Rangers doing nothing.