one half season doesn't earn you the benefit of the doubt that your a team is one that " finds a way"
- Talkshowhost

In fairness, saying this current roster is unable to find a way as the roster from 3 years ago doesn't make much sense either. Completely different coach, GM and team.

Reality is, this team found a way to win as much or more often than some of the teams ahead of them in these predictions.

Maybe, but it definitely doesn't count them out.
- willschulme

Well I'll agree there, they certainly did run a team that was unconvential compared to some of the better teams last year.

In fairness, saying this current roster is unable to find a way as the roster from 3 years ago doesn't make much sense either. Completely different coach, GM and team.
- Gunslinger

That's a good point as well, it's not like there have been a constant core of players like Detriot.

Horton is hurt and CBJ is going to find out how tough the metro is. Switch Isles with devils
- mighty13duck

Did you watch any Western Conference hockey last year, let alone any Columbus games from your East Coast ivory tower?

Give your head a shake Cordell. The Devils are not making the playoffs period. For them to make it, the rest of the NHL will have to be stymied by the Devils goaltending because I don't see them scoring more than 2 goals a game that often.

The Leafs on the other hand got better up the middle by adding veteran leadership, faceoff winners, and Stanley Cup Championship experience. Not only that, but their defence is better even without Franson who I believe will be signed eventually. Gunnarsson is healthier this year, Gardiner is coming into his own, and who knows if Rielly sticks, but if he does..he's a great young option. Paul Ranger gives them a little more stability back there than a guy like Mike Kostka or Korbinian Holzer did last year (when the Leafs made the playoffs)

Then you add Jonathan Bernier who is arguably better than Reimer in net. He handles the puck better, makes saves in traffic better, and he has a better glove hand. He may not be as experienced, but he is positionally far superior than Reimer.

I can't honestly believe you'd put the Habs, Sens, and Devils ahead of the Leafs. It's laughable.

Did you watch any Western Conference hockey last year, let alone any Columbus games from your East Coast ivory tower?
- MartiniMan

That's a double edged sword you're swinging. One could easily wonder if you watched any Eastern Conference hockey last year, let alone any Islander games from your West Coast bathwater cesspool?

Excuse me, sir. How close were they to beating the team that went to the Stanley Cup?
- willschulme

You could say the exact same thing about the Panthers from 2 years ago. How did that go down?

Give your head a shake Cordell. The Devils are not making the playoffs period. For them to make it, the rest of the NHL will have to be stymied by the Devils goaltending because I don't see them scoring more than 2 goals a game that often.

The Leafs on the other hand got better up the middle by adding veteran leadership, faceoff winners, and Stanley Cup Championship experience. Not only that, but their defence is better even without Franson who I believe will be signed eventually. Gunnarsson is healthier this year, Gardiner is coming into his own, and who knows if Rielly sticks, but if he does..he's a great young option. Paul Ranger gives them a little more stability back there than a guy like Mike Kostka or Korbinian Holzer did last year (when the Leafs made the playoffs)

Then you add Jonathan Bernier who is arguably better than Reimer in net. He handles the puck better, makes saves in traffic better, and he has a better glove hand. He may not be as experienced, but he is positionally far superior than Reimer.

I can't honestly believe you'd put the Habs, Sens, and Devils ahead of the Leafs. It's laughable.
- TheWad87

LMFAO

Give your head a shake Cordell. The Devils are not making the playoffs period. For them to make it, the rest of the NHL will have to be stymied by the Devils goaltending because I don't see them scoring more than 2 goals a game that often.

The Leafs on the other hand got better up the middle by adding veteran leadership, faceoff winners, and Stanley Cup Championship experience. Not only that, but their defence is better even without Franson who I believe will be signed eventually. Gunnarsson is healthier this year, Gardiner is coming into his own, and who knows if Rielly sticks, but if he does..he's a great young option. Paul Ranger gives them a little more stability back there than a guy like Mike Kostka or Korbinian Holzer did last year (when the Leafs made the playoffs)

Then you add Jonathan Bernier who is arguably better than Reimer in net. He handles the puck better, makes saves in traffic better, and he has a better glove hand. he may not be as experienced, but he is positionally far superior than Reimer.

I can't honestly believe you'd put the Habs, Sens, and Devils ahead of the Leafs. It's laughable.
- TheWad87

The other day they scored three with half a team, so don't be so quick to make judgments.

You could say the exact same thing about the Panthers from 2 years ago. How did that go down?
- bobert836

The Devils themselves had an unexpected year too. They haven't been near as good as Boston these past few seasons. I would think battling the Bruins a much harder task than the Devils team of two years ago. In fact they missed the playoffs the season before, and after that playoff run.

Give your head a shake Cordell. The Devils are not making the playoffs period. For them to make it, the rest of the NHL will have to be stymied by the Devils goaltending because I don't see them scoring more than 2 goals a game that often.

The Leafs on the other hand got better up the middle by adding veteran leadership, faceoff winners, and Stanley Cup Championship experience. Not only that, but their defence is better even without Franson who I believe will be signed eventually. Gunnarsson is healthier this year, Gardiner is coming into his own, and who knows if Rielly sticks, but if he does..he's a great young option. Paul Ranger gives them a little more stability back there than a guy like Mike Kostka or Korbinian Holzer did last year (when the Leafs made the playoffs)

Then you add Jonathan Bernier who is arguably better than Reimer in net. He handles the puck better, makes saves in traffic better, and he has a better glove hand. He may not be as experienced, but he is positionally far superior than Reimer.

I can't honestly believe you'd put the Habs, Sens, and Devils ahead of the Leafs. It's laughable.
- TheWad87

The devils is a new one, but a lot of people are picking the Sens and Habs ahead of the leafs. I'd still put them in the playoffs though

The devils is a new one, but a lot of people are picking the Sens and Habs ahead of the leafs. I'd still put them in the playoffs though
- david22

I think this was just a "cloutier" move to generate hits, nothing more. For the sake of the blogger, I hope, cause that's a lot of respect lost when it comes to hockey credibility and insight/knowledge.

That's a double edged sword you're swinging. One could easily wonder if you watched any Eastern Conference hockey last year, let alone any Islander games from your West Coast bathwater cesspool?
- Gunslinger

Classy.

The Devils themselves had an unexpected year too. They haven't been near as good as Boston these past few seasons. I would think battling the Bruins a much harder task than the Devils team of two years ago. In fact they missed the playoffs the season before, and after that playoff run.
- Gunslinger

Besides the point. Saying that would be like saying the leafs are far better than the pens just because they gave the Bruins more trouble. Playoffs are just as much about matchups as they are about how good a team actually is

Classy.
- MartiniMan

You came dressed for the occasion.

Besides the point. Saying that would be like saying the leafs are far better than the pens just because they gave the Bruins more trouble. Playoffs are just as much about matchups as they are about how good a team actually is
- bobert836

The point was to not compare this team to the Panthers, and if you do, then understand the comparison you just made and how it doesn't relate and amount to the same thing.

I really don't care what the Panthers did two seasons ago, but you brought it up, and now you don't like the way that comparison is being used.

Can't see New Jersey beating out the Islanders for the 8th playoff spot. They were a horrific offensive team last year, and that's before replacing Kovalchuk and Clarkson with Ryder and Clowe. The Devils are not a playoff team this year.

Besides the point. Saying that would be like saying the leafs are far better than the pens just because they gave the Bruins more trouble. Playoffs are just as much about matchups as they are about how good a team actually is
- bobert836

This is not my opinion, but here is a point that could be made: Is that not true? The Penguins have great players, but their goal tending is a massive problem. On the other hand, the Leafs are a balanced team with no holes as big as the Penguins'. The Penguins will most likely do better, but if they were to play each other in the playoffs, are you sure the Pens would win?

This is not my opinion, but here is a point that could be made: Is that not true? The Penguins have great players, but their goal tending is a massive problem. On the other hand, the Leafs are a balanced team with no holes as big as the Penguins'. The Penguins will most likely do better, but if they were to play each other in the playoffs, are you sure the Pens would win?
- willschulme

Didn't the Pens have a tough time with the Islanders? The Pens goaltending is so bad in the playoffs, it's not hard to imagine any team having a chance at least. I would still put my money on the Pens, obviously, but I wouldnt be 100% confident.

The point was to not compare this team to the Panthers, and if you do, then understand the comparison you just made and how it doesn't relate and amount to the same thing.

I really don't care what the Panthers did two seasons ago, but you brought it up, and now you don't like the way that comparison is being used.
- Gunslinger

I'm not comparing the teams, I'm comparing the situation. Just because the Leafs went 7 games with the Bruins in the first round, doesn't mean they are suddenly amazing

Can't see New Jersey beating out the Islanders for the 8th playoff spot. They were a horrific offensive team last year, and that's before replacing Kovalchuk and Clarkson with Ryder and Clowe. The Devils are not a playoff team this year.
- isles10289

Can't say I disagree with the Isles being better, but the Devils are better then they were last year. Ryder, Clowe, Olesz, Jagr, Brunner, and Schneider are major improvements.

I'm not comparing the teams, I'm comparing the situation. Just because the Leafs went 7 games with the Bruins in the first round, doesn't mean they are suddenly amazing
- bobert836

It also doesn't mean that they will miss the playoffs just because the Panthers had a good first round two seasons ago, and flopped the following year. I don't think they will be amazing either, nor do most Leaf fans Ive spoken to, but it's a more than fair to expect them to compete this year and make the playoffs, after their made over roster produced results.

It also doesn't mean that they will miss the playoffs just because the Panthers had a good first round two seasons ago. I don't think they will be amazing either, nor do most Leaf fans Ive spoken to, but it's a more than fair to expect them to compete this year and make the playoffs, after their made over roster produced results.
- Gunslinger

They were also one of the luckiest teams in the league. While the Devils were one of the unluckiest teams. A 48 game season and a 82 game season a completely different animals, so teams that did well last year may not be able to hold it for as long

Give your head a shake Cordell. The Devils are not making the playoffs period. For them to make it, the rest of the NHL will have to be stymied by the Devils goaltending because I don't see them scoring more than 2 goals a game that often.

The Leafs on the other hand got better up the middle by adding veteran leadership, faceoff winners, and Stanley Cup Championship experience. Not only that, but their defence is better even without Franson who I believe will be signed eventually. Gunnarsson is healthier this year, Gardiner is coming into his own, and who knows if Rielly sticks, but if he does..he's a great young option. Paul Ranger gives them a little more stability back there than a guy like Mike Kostka or Korbinian Holzer did last year (when the Leafs made the playoffs)

Then you add Jonathan Bernier who is arguably better than Reimer in net. He handles the puck better, makes saves in traffic better, and he has a better glove hand. He may not be as experienced, but he is positionally far superior than Reimer.

I can't honestly believe you'd put the Habs, Sens, and Devils ahead of the Leafs. It's laughable.
- TheWad87

please tell us more

They were also one of the luckiest teams in the league. While the Devils were one of the unluckiest teams. A 48 game season and a 82 game season a completely different animals, so teams that did well last year may not be able to hold it for as long
- bobert836

Okay...this is just silly. They played the same amount of games as every other team, and it's not like they snuck in 8th place. The Leafs team is young and improved, they should be fine.