Too late, it's been done.

This guy speaks for us all.
- walshyleafsfan

Yes spokesperson of the HB community, I even speak on behalf of "The" John Tavares

He scored 36 goals with only 15 mins of ice time per game. That is good. If it was so easy why arent other "sheltered" players doing it? JVR is not elite in anyway but you can not discount his importance to the team just because he left. People complain about his defence but the defensive responsibility of the wingers is much lower than a centres. Wingers dont need to back check unless the Centre is caught deep. Other than that, you are more or less covering the point man.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Nothing against JVR....he was a very good Leaf for years. However, he isn't really a 36 goal scorer. Yes of course he had that last year, but he had Marner feeding him. All the other years he was a pretty consistent 25-30 goal scorer. Huge in front of the net......he'll be excellent for Philly no doubt. I'm wondering why all the talk of Simmons leaving the team!?

He scored 36 goals with only 15 mins of ice time per game. That is good. If it was so easy why arent other "sheltered" players doing it? JVR is not elite in anyway but you can not discount his importance to the team just because he left. People complain about his defence but the defensive responsibility of the wingers is much lower than a centres. Wingers dont need to back check unless the Centre is caught deep. Other than that, you are more or less covering the point man.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

XShoot, wait till you see him every game. He is going to get his goals, 100%....but you will get frustrated how none existent he is besides standing right in front of the net - he does NOTHING else. Won't go in to corners to battle, besides goals, has no passing game at all, doesn't use his body at all, will watch the game in his own end and offer nothing defensively - literally, NOTHING. When he is on the ice, the team may as well be playing 4 on 5 hockey when they are in the defensive end.
Like I said, enjoy the 35 goals, but you will be frustrated at literally every single other part of his game.

Please don't lump us all in with this window licker!
- .HOHO.

The real window lickers are the ones who can't see the legitimacy of my original comment. Toronto's rise was much faster than Tampa's rise. Tampa's core is plateaued with the exception of maybe Brayden Point and Sergachev. Kucherov is not going to magically be a 120 point player. Stamkos isn't magically going to become an iron man. Hedman is not going to keep getting better with age.

The difference between the two teams is that Toronto just broke a franchise record for points in a season last year. And these kids haven't even hit their prime yet. They are going to get better. Really think about that for a second. Let that sink in. THESE KIDS ARE GOING TO GET BETTER

That's a scary thought if you are any other team in the division and in the conference. They are a tough match up for any team.

Also, someone made the comment about cap space earlier. They have almost 20M remaining in cap space after they move Horton to LTIR. This team who is already better than Tampa is going to get EVEN BETTER. Ignore the fact that I am a Leafs fan for a minute and look at the reality of the situation. The Bolts were the better team last year, i'll give you that. But this is a very different set of circumstances this year.

Nothing against JVR....he was a very good Leaf for years. However, he isn't really a 36 goal scorer. Yes of course he had that last year, but he had Marner feeding him. All the other years he was a pretty consistent 25-30 goal scorer. Huge in front of the net......he'll be excellent for Philly no doubt. I'm wondering why all the talk of Simmons leaving the team!?
- Bullot

Marner wasnt feeding him. Marner spent a lot of time on the 4th line last season, He spent most the season with Bozak and Brown. Also before anyone says his goals were all PP. He had 11 PPG which mean 25 were EV

The ones who are talking the most trash are Flyers, Blackhawks and Canucks fans it seems.

Allow me to jump on the hater bandwagon for a minute.

Flyers = a group of studs who may as well just play an empty net every game.

Blackhawks = an organization who was mediocre for almost as long as the Leafs were before winning a couple of cups and trying to call themselves a dynasty. Wake up. you missed the playoffs last year and your GM is growing senile.

Canucks = .....too easy.


- Snowman X

Pretty sure most Leaf fans would sign up for that over the next decade.

Also, go (frank) your hat.

Yes spokesperson of the HB community, I even speak on behalf of "The" John Tavares
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

No one speaks on behalf of John Tavares. We witnessed that when he wouldn't tell the Islanders they were having a laugh when they thought they could re-sign him

XShoot, wait till you see him every game. He is going to get his goals, 100%....but you will get frustrated how none existent he is besides standing right in front of the net - he does NOTHING else. Won't go in to corners to battle, besides goals, has no passing game at all, doesn't use his body at all, will watch the game in his own end and offer nothing defensively - literally, NOTHING. When he is on the ice, the team may as well be playing 4 on 5 hockey when they are in the defensive end.
Like I said, enjoy the 35 goals, but you will be frustrated at literally every single other part of his game.
- Cooshie

JVR got 36 goals because Majic Mitch was feeding him all year, he's not going to have that in Philly. I agree with your assessment, JVR is what he is......not knocking him, every team needs goals, and he absolutely helps the power play. His downside, like you mention, is that he doesn't drive play.

Marner wasnt feeding him. Marner spent a lot of time on the 4th line last season, He spent most the season with Bozak and Brown. Also before anyone says his goals were all PP. He had 11 PPG which mean 25 were EV
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Marner's stint on the 4th line was not long. And Marner was probably the most electric and productive player in the entire NHL after Christmas. At least one of the top 5. Anyone who says Marner's play didn't make JVR look better than he was is insane.

The real window lickers are the ones who can't see the legitimacy of my original comment. Toronto's rise was much faster than Tampa's rise. Tampa's core is plateaued with the exception of maybe Brayden Point and Sergachev. Kucherov is not going to magically be a 120 point player. Stamkos isn't magically going to become an iron man. Hedman is not going to keep getting better with age.

The difference between the two teams is that Toronto just broke a franchise record for points in a season last year. And these kids haven't even hit their prime yet. They are going to get better. Really think about that for a second. Let that sink in. THESE KIDS ARE GOING TO GET BETTER

That's a scary thought if you are any other team in the division and in the conference. They are a tough match up for any team.

Also, someone made the comment about cap space earlier. They have almost 20M remaining in cap space after they move Horton to LTIR. This team who is already better than Tampa is going to get EVEN BETTER. Ignore the fact that I am a Leafs fan for a minute and look at the reality of the situation. The Bolts were the better team last year, i'll give you that. But this is a very different set of circumstances this year.
- Snowman X

You do realize that Toronto's defense is pretty darn bad, right?? Does this mean Toronto has no chance, no it doesn't. TB has no weakness - Very Good Offense, Unreal Defense and Very Good Goaltending.
Toronto did great last season but Freddie had to stand on his head to make that happen. He will have to do it again unless the Leafs address their defensive issues.
Someone said, and it is exactly true, Toronto's margin for error is MUCH greater than TB's, therefore they should be more favored to win as they teams sit right now.

Pretty sure most Leaf fans would sign up for that over the next decade.

Also, go (frank) your hat.
- poopstash

Of course the Leafs would...the guy is just a nut job.
Shouldn't be representative of all leaf fans.

Marner wasnt feeding him. Marner spent a lot of time on the 4th line last season, He spent most the season with Bozak and Brown. Also before anyone says his goals were all PP. He had 11 PPG which mean 25 were EV
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Marner spent, some, time on the 4th line. JVR had 11ppg and Marner assisted on 7 of them. I watched every game last year.....there are even March articles talking about how JVR has benefited from the Marner assist machine. There's no doubt that contributed big to his success this year, not to mention a contract year.

JVR got 36 goals because Majic Mitch was feeding him all year, he's not going to have that in Philly. I agree with your assessment, JVR is what he is......not knocking him, every team needs goals, and he absolutely helps the power play. His downside, like you mention, is that he doesn't drive play.
- Bullot

Will depend on who he is playing with. He can't create anything for himself so he will need good linemates. If they play him with Patrick and Konecny, he will get his goals.

Marner wasnt feeding him. Marner spent a lot of time on the 4th line last season, He spent most the season with Bozak and Brown. Also before anyone says his goals were all PP. He had 11 PPG which mean 25 were EV
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Untrue, Marner played the majority of last year with Marner. The 4th line duties was brief, very brief. Similar to what Babcock did with Nylander the previous season.
As long as JVR has someone feeding him the pucks and stays healthy, 30+ goals is a lock for him.

Will depend with who he is playing with. He can't create anything for himself so he will need good linemates. If they play him Patrick and Konecny, he will get his goals.
- Cooshie

I would think he would play with Patrick and Voracek. I'd like Konecny to play with Giroux and Couturier.

I would think he would play with Patrick and Voracek. I'd like Konecny to play with Giroux and Couturier.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Any of those top 6, JVR is getting his 30+ goals (if he stays healthy).

Untrue, Marner played the majority of last year with Marner. The 4th line duties was brief, very brief. Similar to what Babcock did with Nylander the previous season.
As long as JVR has someone feeding him the pucks and stays healthy, 30+ goals is a lock for him.
- Cooshie

Longest lineup stint for JVR was with Bozak (10.6%) and Brown according to Left Wing Locks Line combination for last season.

I enjoyed this blog, made me smile.

I think the better teams to compare is Toronto and Philadelphia. You really can't get a more on the spot comparison than those two.

Forwards: Even at best
Toronto has an edge down the center with Matthews and Tavares, but Flyers easily take the edge down the wings and depth throughout their top 9.

Defense: Flyers have the edge
Toronto has some weapons on the back end that can move the puck out and generate shots on net, but so do the Flyers. The difference between the two is the depth and in their own zone. Both can be terrible at times, but the Flyers edge is with better consistency.

Goaltending: Toronto has the edge
Both starters are above average, Flyers have an edge with their backup in Neuvirth and depth call-ups. The deciding factor is staying healthy and injuries. Elliott was very solid for most of last season, and has proved it wasn't a fluke with past numbers in St. Louis, but he was never able to recover quick enough from the core injury he had near the end of the year. Neuvirth when on his game is also above average, but just can not stop getting injured which is a huge factor. Lyon looked very solid at times and Stolarz looked solid the previous year, but again was injured for the entire year. The common factor is health for the Flyers, not performance.

Coaching: Toronto has the edge
Babcock, enough said. One of the better coaches in the league. Hakstol has made some nice changes in his few years in the NHL, but some of his in game decisions can be head scratchers that have made differences in game.

Front office: Flyers have the edge
Let's get real, it's not tough to draft a Matthews by tanking multiple years or signing someone by giving them lots of money. Hextall has completely overhauled the Flyers cap situation with his short time as GM, that's even with some hefty 8M+ contracts on the team and space to burn. Then add the fact they are once again considered top 2 with their prospect pool with depth at ALL positions. The scouting staff should be given just as much credit.

Fans: Even
Do I really have to give details?

Team performance: Even
Last year both teams finished 3rd in their respective divisions and were both eliminated by better teams in the 1st round. Both teams had the same amount of loses in the regular season with 26. The difference between the two came to the Flyers inability to get more OT/SO points, 14 to 7. Toronto had an edge in goal scoring with 277 to 251 and gave up a few less than the Flyers with 232 to 243. Regular season match-up between the two teams Flyers edged out with a 2-0-1 record (4-2 W, 4-2 W and 3-2 (OT) W).

You really can't get any closer of a match-up then that.

Haha the rampant idiocy of the patrons of this forum is almost too much to handle. As if I'm being almost unanimously dismissed as some kind of a nut job.. It's somewhat baffling to me if I'm being honest that the collective, save a few, seem to have almost no common sense and are displaying biases and lumping all Leafs fans together. Just because some clown 5 years ago thought the Leafs should plan the parade doesn't mean he was right. It also doesn't mean that everyone who makes a similar comment years later is also wrong. Do none of you pay attention to the great hockey minds who feel the Leafs are doing all the right things and building a killer franchise? Do any of you actually WATCH Maple Leafs games? Have any of you seen a 20 year old Mitch Marner make NHL stars look amateur? Have any of you seen Auston Matthews make ERIK KARLSSON look amateur in his FIRST NHL GAME EVER? Have any of you paid attention to the fact that the Caps, who took the Leafs out last year in the first round said that this Leafs team is going to be one of the leagues absolute BEST teams for years to come? Do you also remember the Bruins saying the same after their series? Are you all really so tainted by your hate for this team to acknowledge the scary amounts of skill this team has? Potential? Wayne Gretzky praises this team. Lindros praises this team. Jesus... I can't be alone in understanding what a threat this team is... Name one team that matches up against Toronto who is favored to win. Honestly. A team that has ALL 3 top 3 C's at over 30 goals each... Toronto LED THE NHL last year in scoring chances. Do you think that's going to be any different this year with these kids getting BETTER? With adding a leader like JT? Good Lord... please tell me not everyone is as ignorant as they seem here... I can't be the only one who sees how good this team really is.. even with their defensive woes...

Haha the rampant idiocy of the patrons of this forum is almost too much to handle. As if I'm being almost unanimously dismissed as some kind of a nut job.. It's somewhat baffling to me if I'm being honest that the collective, save a few, seem to have almost no common sense and are displaying biases and lumping all Leafs fans together. Just because some clown 5 years ago thought the Leafs should plan the parade doesn't mean he was right. It also doesn't mean that everyone who makes a similar comment years later is also wrong. Do none of you pay attention to the great hockey minds who feel the Leafs are doing all the right things and building a killer franchise? Do any of you actually WATCH Maple Leafs games? Have any of you seen a 20 year old Mitch Marner make NHL stars look amateur? Have any of you seen Auston Matthews make ERIK KARLSSON look amateur in his FIRST NHL GAME EVER? Have any of you paid attention to the fact that the Caps, who took the Leafs out last year in the first round said that this Leafs team is going to be one of the leagues absolute BEST teams for years to come? Do you also remember the Bruins saying the same after their series? Are you all really so tainted by your hate for this team to acknowledge the scary amounts of skill this team has? Potential? Wayne Gretzky praises this team. Lindros praises this team. Jesus... I can't be alone in understanding what a threat this team is... Name one team that matches up against Toronto who is favored to win. Honestly. A team that has ALL 3 top 3 C's at over 30 goals each... Toronto LED THE NHL last year in scoring chances. Do you think that's going to be any different this year with these kids getting BETTER? With adding a leader like JT? Good Lord... please tell me not everyone is as ignorant as they seem here... I can't be the only one who sees how good this team really is.. even with their defensive woes...
- Snowman X

Not as if, you are being dismissed as a nutjob. Even Leafs fans are saying so.
Your parents did you wrong in raising you. Failure is on them....

Haha the rampant idiocy of the patrons of this forum is almost too much to handle. As if I'm being almost unanimously dismissed as some kind of a nut job.. It's somewhat baffling to me if I'm being honest that the collective, save a few, seem to have almost no common sense and are displaying biases and lumping all Leafs fans together. Just because some clown 5 years ago thought the Leafs should plan the parade doesn't mean he was right. It also doesn't mean that everyone who makes a similar comment years later is also wrong. Do none of you pay attention to the great hockey minds who feel the Leafs are doing all the right things and building a killer franchise? Do any of you actually WATCH Maple Leafs games? Have any of you seen a 20 year old Mitch Marner make NHL stars look amateur? Have any of you seen Auston Matthews make ERIK KARLSSON look amateur in his FIRST NHL GAME EVER? Have any of you paid attention to the fact that the Caps, who took the Leafs out last year in the first round said that this Leafs team is going to be one of the leagues absolute BEST teams for years to come? Do you also remember the Bruins saying the same after their series? Are you all really so tainted by your hate for this team to acknowledge the scary amounts of skill this team has? Potential? Wayne Gretzky praises this team. Lindros praises this team. Jesus... I can't be alone in understanding what a threat this team is... Name one team that matches up against Toronto who is favored to win. Honestly. A team that has ALL 3 top 3 C's at over 30 goals each... Toronto LED THE NHL last year in scoring chances. Do you think that's going to be any different this year with these kids getting BETTER? With adding a leader like JT? Good Lord... please tell me not everyone is as ignorant as they seem here... I can't be the only one who sees how good this team really is.. even with their defensive woes...
- Snowman X

Bushkorn... Is that you?

Not as if, you are being dismissed as a nutjob. Even Leafs fans are saying so.
Your parents did you wrong in raising you. Failure is on them....
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

You're probably right. It can't possibly be that this forum is filled with high school drop outs who spend way too much time playing NHL 18 in their parent's basement and eating Doritos in their underwear at 11am.. It has to be that I am a nut job. Well played.

I enjoyed this blog, made me smile.

I think the better teams to compare is Toronto and Philadelphia. You really can't get a more on the spot comparison than those two.

Forwards: Even at best
Toronto has an edge down the center with Matthews and Tavares, but Flyers easily take the edge down the wings and depth throughout their top 9.

Defense: Flyers have the edge
Toronto has some weapons on the back end that can move the puck out and generate shots on net, but so do the Flyers. The difference between the two is the depth and in their own zone. Both can be terrible at times, but the Flyers edge is with better consistency.

Goaltending: Toronto has the edge
Both starters are above average, Flyers have an edge with their backup in Neuvirth and depth call-ups. The deciding factor is staying healthy and injuries. Elliott was very solid for most of last season, and has proved it wasn't a fluke with past numbers in St. Louis, but he was never able to recover quick enough from the core injury he had near the end of the year. Neuvirth when on his game is also above average, but just can not stop getting injured which is a huge factor. Lyon looked very solid at times and Stolarz looked solid the previous year, but again was injured for the entire year. The common factor is health for the Flyers, not performance.

Coaching: Toronto has the edge
Babcock, enough said. One of the better coaches in the league. Hakstol has made some nice changes in his few years in the NHL, but some of his in game decisions can be head scratchers that have made differences in game.

Front office: Flyers have the edge
Let's get real, it's not tough to draft a Matthews by tanking multiple years or signing someone by giving them lots of money. Hextall has completely overhauled the Flyers cap situation with his short time as GM, that's even with some hefty 8M+ contracts on the team and space to burn. Then add the fact they are once again considered top 2 with their prospect pool with depth at ALL positions. The scouting staff should be given just as much credit.

Fans: Even
Do I really have to give details?

Team performance: Even
Last year both teams finished 3rd in their respective divisions and were both eliminated by better teams in the 1st round. Both teams had the same amount of loses in the regular season with 26. The difference between the two came to the Flyers inability to get more OT/SO points, 14 to 7. Toronto had an edge in goal scoring with 277 to 251 and gave up a few less than the Flyers with 232 to 243. Regular season match-up between the two teams Flyers edged out with a 2-0-1 record (4-2 W, 4-2 W and 3-2 (OT) W).

You really can't get any closer of a match-up then that.
- Glak18

Tampa sucks.
Irrelevant franchise.
The locker room is a disaster - should be glad if they make the playoffs.

cheers

Haha the rampant idiocy of the patrons of this forum is almost too much to handle. As if I'm being almost unanimously dismissed as some kind of a nut job.. It's somewhat baffling to me if I'm being honest that the collective, save a few, seem to have almost no common sense and are displaying biases and lumping all Leafs fans together. Just because some clown 5 years ago thought the Leafs should plan the parade doesn't mean he was right. It also doesn't mean that everyone who makes a similar comment years later is also wrong. Do none of you pay attention to the great hockey minds who feel the Leafs are doing all the right things and building a killer franchise? Do any of you actually WATCH Maple Leafs games? Have any of you seen a 20 year old Mitch Marner make NHL stars look amateur? Have any of you seen Auston Matthews make ERIK KARLSSON look amateur in his FIRST NHL GAME EVER? Have any of you paid attention to the fact that the Caps, who took the Leafs out last year in the first round said that this Leafs team is going to be one of the leagues absolute BEST teams for years to come? Do you also remember the Bruins saying the same after their series? Are you all really so tainted by your hate for this team to acknowledge the scary amounts of skill this team has? Potential? Wayne Gretzky praises this team. Lindros praises this team. Jesus... I can't be alone in understanding what a threat this team is... Name one team that matches up against Toronto who is favored to win. Honestly. A team that has ALL 3 top 3 C's at over 30 goals each... Toronto LED THE NHL last year in scoring chances. Do you think that's going to be any different this year with these kids getting BETTER? With adding a leader like JT? Good Lord... please tell me not everyone is as ignorant as they seem here... I can't be the only one who sees how good this team really is.. even with their defensive woes...
- Snowman X