Team Canada? The Captain. Where have you been?
- Gunslinger

For all the credit Lou gets for being so smart that was a seriously dumb move. I'm gonna keep this 29th pick just in case we win the cup next year and have to pick 30th.
- golfingsince

Lou probably thought that he wouldn't be around, to miss that pick that he had to forfeit to the league in the Kovalchuk debacle.

For all the credit Lou gets for being so smart that was a seriously dumb move. I'm gonna keep this 29th pick just in case we win the cup next year and have to pick 30th.
- golfingsince

Yeah...he's not been at his best the last few years.

I like your predictions.

As expected though, the comments section degenerates into Leafs fans getting defensive because their team is likely going to regress a little bit, and not wanting to face reality. And of course, the target for their anger becomes the Senators, because everyone knows that the Senators aren't allowed to be better than the Leafs.

Here's the roster facts:

Ottawa has the best goaltending tandem in the Eastern Conference. They are the only team in the east that could play either guy with confidence. They both have the stats to back this up.

Toronto's best defender would be #3 on the Senators. Karlsson-Methot is infinitely better than anything Toronto can roll out.

If Ottawa goes into the season with Spezza-Turris-Zibanejad-Pageau down the middle, well. Bozak would be in competition with Zibanejad for the 3rd line spot, and he'd probably lose out. So Toronto's #1 guy would be Ottawa's #4.

Wingers....I'd give Toronto an edge on their top two lines, and Ottawa an edge on the bottom two lines BUT if Michalek and Ryan work out with Spezza, then that's likely to be one of the most productive lines in the east.

Coaching....no contest. MacLean is superior to every coach in the league at the moment and he's got the hardware to back it up.

Toronto can roll out their mouthbreathing knuckledraggers all season and get in a bunch of fights, blah, blah, blah, but teams won't be intimidated by that once they realize that McLaren and Orr can't actually play hockey, so they simply need to skate away.

Do I think Ottawa will win the conference? I think it's down to them, Pittsburgh, and Boston.

Do I think Toronto will miss the playoffs? No, they'll probably finish between 5 and 7.

But call this what it is. Organizationally, Ottawa is LIGHT YEARS ahead of Toronto.
- the_terror

LIGHT YEARS! That's a lot, huh?

Why must people always use the word "Luck" when the Leafs are involved? There was no luck in making the playoffs.

Grabovski gave the Leafs zero skill last season. He was terrible.

I can't see the Habs making if this season personally. I predicted them last year corrrectly to rebound and make the playoffs. They did virtually nothing in the offseason.

LIGHT YEARS! That's a lot, huh?
- Zezel

Why did the Leafs finish ahead of them in the standings if they're "Light Years" behind Ottawa?

LIGHT YEARS! That's a lot, huh?
- Zezel

I thought they played only 400km away from each other?

Why must people always use the word "Luck" when the Leafs are involved? There was no luck in making the playoffs.

Grabovski gave the Leafs zero skill last season. He was terrible.

I can't see the Habs making if this season personally. I predicted them last year corrrectly to rebound and make the playoffs. They did virtually nothing in the offseason.
- RogerRoeper

Well that's just plain wrong.

Yeah...he's not been at his best the last few years.
- djamon

That's why I'm not convinced giving up the 9th overall for Schneider was the right move for that team. Don't get me wrong, I think Schneids is a great goalie but it's a high pick in a deep draft. I guess we'll have to see how that plays out before passing judgement.

Well that's just plain wrong.
- Talkshowhost

I agree.

To be fair, there is an element of luck in every organization - some greater than others.

Ottawa fans should be careful assuming Anderson maintains anything near his performance from last year. He was awesome...but his career has been so inconsistent. The year before last year he was pretty average.

And Lehner doesn't scare anyone.

That's why I'm not convinced giving up the 9th overall for Schneider was the right move for that team. Don't get me wrong, I think Schneids is a great goalie but it's a high pick in a deep draft. I guess we'll have to see how that plays out before passing judgement.
- golfingsince

You've been eating your wheaties!

Why must people always use the word "Luck" when the Leafs are involved? There was no luck in making the playoffs.

Grabovski gave the Leafs zero skill last season. He was terrible.

I can't see the Habs making if this season personally. I predicted them last year corrrectly to rebound and make the playoffs. They did virtually nothing in the offseason.
- RogerRoeper

Becuase there's no other way to explain why they think they'll suck. Clueless

I've never seen so much acclaim for Grabovski as I have since he got bought-out. No way would people be singing his praises if he was still on the Leafs making 5.5 million after that terrible performance last season.

I love when people talk about how the Leafs were lucky because they had bad shot differential and possession numbers. How could they make the playoffs with some of the worst stats? Because they also had some of the best stats - top ten sv%, top three PK, first in hits, first in blocks. You have to be good to be lucky.

I love when people talk about how the Leafs were lucky because they had bad shot differential and possession numbers. How could they make the playoffs with some of the worst stats? Because they also had some of the best stats - top ten sv%, top three PK, first in hits, first in blocks. You have to be good to be lucky.
- Zezel

The Leafs made the playoffs because of goaltending. No one wants to point that out because it looks even better now.

The Leafs were literally 30th every year in goaltending until last season, where they had some of the best statistically. Yet no one mentions that.

I agree.

To be fair, there is an element of luck in every organization - some greater than others.
- A_Tree

Hockey is a game that is heavily influenced by "luck"

That's why I'm not convinced giving up the 9th overall for Schneider was the right move for that team. Don't get me wrong, I think Schneids is a great goalie but it's a high pick in a deep draft. I guess we'll have to see how that plays out before passing judgement.
- golfingsince

Very few people agree with him keeping the pick, but there is sound logic for why he did keep it. Something we have explained far too many times

Well that's just plain wrong.
- Talkshowhost

Bad luck?

That's why I'm not convinced giving up the 9th overall for Schneider was the right move for that team. Don't get me wrong, I think Schneids is a great goalie but it's a high pick in a deep draft. I guess we'll have to see how that plays out before passing judgement.
- golfingsince

yup

That's why I'm not convinced giving up the 9th overall for Schneider was the right move for that team. Don't get me wrong, I think Schneids is a great goalie but it's a high pick in a deep draft. I guess we'll have to see how that plays out before passing judgement.
- golfingsince

It was risky...but they needed to address their goaltending pretty damn quickly and Schneider is ready to roll. I thought Marty was done 2 years ago. His reflexes are shot now...it's all brains and anticipation now.

Ottawa's goaltending will be worse this season. Think Anderson will get a .941 save% again? No chance.

Becuase there's no other way to explain why they think they'll suck. Clueless
- burn

Relax. They made the playoffs by 2 pts just like a bunch of other teams did. It's far from certain they'll be back this year. I could easily see them finishing 9th. I think there's much more of a possibility of that then there is them winning their division.

I love when people talk about how the Leafs were lucky because they had bad shot differential and possession numbers. How could they make the playoffs with some of the worst stats? Because they also had some of the best stats - top ten sv%, top three PK, first in hits, first in blocks. You have to be good to be lucky.
- Zezel

Boom.

Very few people agree with him keeping the pick, but there is sound logic for why he did keep it. Something we have explained far too many times
- bobert836

Lol...there's zero logic behind it. Just rationalization.