If we add patches we may not have an issue taking on either team.
- 123Kid

Good chance they wouldn't anyway.

Does Tyler Enos or Anthony Duclair play on the D? How can you compare 2 F against a Dman?

Now if you want to put forward a cheap Dman option over Johnson I understand, but you can't compare forwards with defenders in this arguement.

Cullen versus Duclair & Enis ok, but as was stated, the Pens were in on Duclair so he obviously chose another team which JR has zero control over.

I'm not anointing the Leafs the new team to beat just yet. Unless scoring was their issue last season, they haven't done much to upgrade their D & goalie which was the thing that let them down last season. How did their goalie go In the playoffs?

Leafs are gonna kill it this year. There defense is no where near as bad as ppl think. There team defense was weak but now with Tavares, Matthews, Kadri and Lindholm all strong 2 way players. As well there non stop never surrender wingers Hyman, Brown, Kappanen, Marleau .Then Nylander, Marner , Andreas Johnson are getting to be elite 2 way players as well especially in the wing position . Everyone mentioned can kill penalties , play on powerplay, score and are fast as lightning. Leafs are elite have the perfect blend of young and veteran mixture. They got depth all 4 lines are fast , impossible to contain . They have 2 50+ defense man . Solid potential top 3 to 4 with Dermott and Carrick and a Healthy Zaitsev and a mean new back end blast with Ozighanov. And plenty of depth in case if injuries like Holl, Maricin and future top pair dman Lilghren. Goaltenders are not that bad either I'd say. Yes Tampa is still looking good so are the pens but do not over look the leafs . No guarantees in Hockey ask Las Vegas, Chicago or LA but damn these leafs are looking fine
- Marcelus

Tavares strong two way player? Oh boy

Injuries can happen ppl can have bad seasons, Matthews can look less dominant. Tavares can choke under the pressure if playing at home. Anything can happen. But it seems more likely that Matthews gets 50 + goals with Marleau and Nylander all year if he stays healthy and gets more powerplay time. Tavares can eclipse 40+ with an elite play maker like Marner and bulldog like Hyman. Kadri can get another 32+ maybe even 40+ playing 3rd lines instead of shut down 1St line roles . More more stupid line matching which is the MAIN reason we lost to Boston. Coach didn't trust JVR or Bozak had to protect em in turn caused so many too many men penalties and frustrated the young team. Gotta imagine Marner hits 90+ points on a line with 38 goal Tavares 27 goal Marleau. Forget on paper the leafs look like they will be dominant
- Marcelus

(frank) me homer, youre drunk again. Scoring wasn't the issue last season was it? So along with all these young prodigies the old guy Marleau is going to have a great season as well?

I'm more intrigued with the Babcock Matthews issue that is festering, & will only get worse now Tavares is getting some love. 50+ goals for Matthews? I'll be very surprised if he gets there especially when Babs cuts his ice time in favour of Tavares.

Tavares strong two way player? Oh boy
- Cptmjl

Aside from last season (-3 at 5v5), he was a positive on the 5v5 goal differential all the way back to 2011-12. I would consider that a solid two-way player, especially with the TOI he gets.

Tavares strong two way player? Oh boy
- Cptmjl

Well he's in Toronto now team mates with Miss Nylander & All that hair - it's only normal he will be going both ways now.

Aside from last season (-3 at 5v5), he was a positive on the 5v5 goal differential all the way back to 2011-12. I would consider that a solid two-way player, especially with the TOI he gets.
- j.boyd919

They threw him on the pk the last couple years which didnt work and they kept doing it. Our coaching was terrible as you most likely know between capuano and weight. It was painful to watch I'm sure he hated it also. I know that doesn't define a player defensively by any means BUT the guy can't hustle he doesn't have the foot speed for it. With that said tavares is definitely not a two way player by any means. That's not sour grapes believe me thats the biggest knock on his game besides his skating which is also a factor with that. The Leafs like you guys have some great center depth now which wins championships but theyshouldn't be expecting some back checking from the guy that's not his game unless he takes on something new. Believe me the press will be highlighting it constantly. Maybe he'll be a different player under babcock who knows? I do know he has never had a decent coach since coming to the nhl

They threw him on the pk the last couple years which didnt work and they kept doing it. Our coaching was terrible as you most likely know between capuano and weight. It was painful to watch I'm sure he hated it also. I know that doesn't define a player defensively by any means BUT the guy can't hustle he doesn't have the foot speed for it. With that said tavares is definitely not a two way player by any means. That's not sour grapes believe me thats the biggest knock on his game besides his skating which is also a factor with that. The Leafs like you guys have some great center depth now which wins championships but theyshouldn't be expecting some back checking from the guy that's not his game unless he takes on something new.
- Cptmjl

I'm not saying he's not a good player, but there's nothing I remember about any games where the reports have said how he took over a game, or dominated a game. You would know better than me, but for me he's player with a lot of hype but no actual big influence on games. And I'll stand corrected if that's wrong. In saying that, if he can't control games & take them over or turn a losing game into a victory, I can see more friction between Babcock & Matthews. It won't be long before Tavares becomes Toronto public enemy #1. (especially in here )

I'm not saying he's not a good player, but there's nothing I remember about any games where the reports have said how he took over a game, or dominated a game. You would know better than me, but for me he's player with a lot of hype but no actual big influence on games. And I'll stand corrected if that's wrong. In saying that, if he can't control games & take them over or turn a losing game into a victory, I can see more friction between Babcock & Matthews. It won't be long before Tavares becomes Toronto public enemy #1. (especially in here )
- Aussiepenguin

Tavares is a very good player but hes not an awesome player. I've said that for years and been attacked on my thread for it. Dont get me wrong I loved the guy but yeah he was overrated by our fanbase. When I heard we offered him 11 million my head exploded as any one of my fellow islander fans on here can attest to. He's not that guy that takes over games save for a few instances here and there over the course of his career with us most of the time they were games that had zero bearing on anything. That's also a product of playing for a crappy team we play more meaningless games but when were pushing for the playoffs the guy would completely disappear at times.

Believe me I got blasted for thinking that and I'll say I was in the minority thinking that way but to me he failed when we needed him the most multiple times save for the Panthers series a couple years ago. He was an absolute machine in that series but other than that nah not really he wasn't that guy. He may be that player for the Leafs who knows? My prediction is either he's going to absolutely kick arse or completely implode from the pressure in Toronto. The guy is a complete introvert which is why I was kind of shocked he went there.

Tavares is a very good player but hes not an awesome player. I've said that for years and been attacked on my thread for it. Dont get me wrong I loved the guy but yeah he was overrated by our fanbase. When I heard we offered him 11 million my head exploded as anyone of my fellow islander fans on here can attest to. He's not that guy that takes over games save for a few instances here and there over the course of his career with us most of the time they were games that had zero bearing on anything. That's also a product of playing for a crappy team we play more meaningless games but when were pushing for the playoffs the guy would completely disappear at times.

Believe me I got blasted for thinking that and I'll say I was in the minority thinking that way but to me he failed when we needed him the most multiple times save for the Panthers series a couple years ago. He was an absolute machine in that series but other than that nah not really he wasn't that guy. He may be that guy for the Leafs who knows? My prediction is either hes going to absolutely kick arse or completely implode from the pressure in Toronto. The guy is a complete introvert which is why I was kind of shocked he went there.
- Cptmjl

This seems pretty accurate from my limited perspective. I can't say I've watched the Isle regularly, but I've seen several where JT seemed to be MIA.

First! Swedes are dominating everywhere!
- sicknature71

oh no not another swede...

oh no not another swede...
- martox

You dominate me my little Swedish raspberry jam puff pastry....with cream.

How the (frank) are ya Marty? What's the goss with Horny?

I’m just going to come out and say it, I think Johnson is going to be good one the pens .

I’m just going to come out and say it, I think Johnson is going to be good one the pens .
- kadathTheninja_

I'll say Johnson will play more games than De Haan.

Leafs are gonna kill it this year. There defense is no where near as bad as ppl think. There team defense was weak but now with Tavares, Matthews, Kadri and Lindholm all strong 2 way players. As well there non stop never surrender wingers Hyman, Brown, Kappanen, Marleau .Then Nylander, Marner , Andreas Johnson are getting to be elite 2 way players as well especially in the wing position . Everyone mentioned can kill penalties , play on powerplay, score and are fast as lightning. Leafs are elite have the perfect blend of young and veteran mixture. They got depth all 4 lines are fast , impossible to contain . They have 2 50+ defense man . Solid potential top 3 to 4 with Dermott and Carrick and a Healthy Zaitsev and a mean new back end blast with Ozighanov. And plenty of depth in case if injuries like Holl, Maricin and future top pair dman Lilghren. Goaltenders are not that bad either I'd say. Yes Tampa is still looking good so are the pens but do not over look the leafs . No guarantees in Hockey ask Las Vegas, Chicago or LA but damn these leafs are looking fine
- Marcelus

Connor Brown will be better than Tavares. Bold prediction.

I think Toronto's D can move the puck. Stopping the other team from moving the puck will be their issue.
- jmatchett383

Honestly, Toronto and Pittsburgh will have the same issues. Both teams can score tons. Both teams have defensive breakdowns. I'd go with pens due to just how good and experienced they are in the playoffs....(plus Crosby and Malkin) but, they are really similar.

Tampa? Great team, but to get EK they'll be giving up some good players. I still think they're a step down from pens too. (Barely though)

Tavares is a very good player but hes not an awesome player. I've said that for years and been attacked on my thread for it. Dont get me wrong I loved the guy but yeah he was overrated by our fanbase. When I heard we offered him 11 million my head exploded as any one of my fellow islander fans on here can attest to. He's not that guy that takes over games save for a few instances here and there over the course of his career with us most of the time they were games that had zero bearing on anything. That's also a product of playing for a crappy team we play more meaningless games but when were pushing for the playoffs the guy would completely disappear at times.

Believe me I got blasted for thinking that and I'll say I was in the minority thinking that way but to me he failed when we needed him the most multiple times save for the Panthers series a couple years ago. He was an absolute machine in that series but other than that nah not really he wasn't that guy. He may be that player for the Leafs who knows? My prediction is either he's going to absolutely kick arse or completely implode from the pressure in Toronto. The guy is a complete introvert which is why I was kind of shocked he went there.
- Cptmjl

I'm with you, and others, in regards to JT. I do love the player, but Toronto didn't just pick up Stamkos. JT is a great player, but he's not the generational talent that he was advertised to be. I mean, I'd love him on the Pens, but not sure at what price. And, I don't think that he just automatically put the Leafs over the top.

I'm with you, and others, in regards to JT. I do love the player, but Toronto didn't just pick up Stamkos. JT is a great player, but he's not the generational talent that he was advertised to be. I mean, I'd love him on the Pens, but not sure at what price. And, I don't think that he just automatically put the Leafs over the top.
- cranktheradio

If they had got Doughty instead of Tavares in the same circumstances (FA), I'd say that puts them right up there. The holes in Toronto aren't really scoring, it's more stopping the goals against. Tavares doesn't help that - & before anyone says that having the puck scoring keeps the GA down, that's great in theory but that didn't happen for the Islanders. They need a better back up as well, maybe a 1A 1B circumstance, I'm not sold on Andersen.

I'm with you, and others, in regards to JT. I do love the player, but Toronto didn't just pick up Stamkos. JT is a great player, but he's not the generational talent that he was advertised to be. I mean, I'd love him on the Pens, but not sure at what price. And, I don't think that he just automatically put the Leafs over the top.
- cranktheradio

Tavares is better than Stamkos lol