At least the Sens have proven something. They've proven how a team can (frank) up in the most spectacular ways. Enjoy your #1 overall pick, you've earned it!
- TrashPanda

Correct. 100%
- kaptaan

The Kraptain approval post solidifies it, that it is an incredibly terrible take.

dumbas and babschlong butting heads. cap hell coming soon for a team that has proven nothing. enjoy another 1st round bounce.
- sensmelon

Where do I start with this from a Sens fan? You're 31st overall and don't have your first rounder

Babs hinted multiple times that toughness and a RHD was needed but in the end it wasn't provided. Any coach would be a little pissed for a bit. Its not just a Babs thing. But in all honesty its good Dubas didn't blow his load and go overboard. This team is still young and is still in a learning curve. Give them one more playoff atmosphere and see what they can do. If they do great then sweet. If they get crushed and look like they can't handle it. You address the probs in the off season and move forward.
- Buck Norris

That's the thing, if there's atop 4 RHD on this team, Kapanen is gone.

Enjoy your 1st overall!
- Feeling Glucky?

I know, right? Of any fans that shouldn't be trying to trash talk someone else, it's a freaking Sens fan...

The Athletic is awesome.

The in depth analysis is great. And they love advanced stats and the models the make but they aren’t afraid to admit the numbers lie sometimes.
- Santo_44

Agreed. I signed up right when they first launched (admittedly, because I saw that Sean Fitz-Gerald was gonna be there, and he's a great writer and all-round top class guy ) - have definitely not been disappointed!

I suppose it's not expensive if you go annually. I think it said it's $3.75/mo if you sign up for annual payments? 25% off right now... Tempting.

You guys obviously think it's worth it, huh? Maybe I'll sign up after I do some binge watching of Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
- Thecakeisalie

And yeah, do it. Do it now.

I grew up with Ballard as owner. I always have issues understanding why people are so miserable with a 4th overall team.
- RogerRoeper

Me too. This team doesn't have "it" though...doesn't mean this core won't, but there's a missing ingredient on the '18/'19 squad. Fun to watch, hopefully they can win a round...part of the evolution, but this roster needs some surgery.

Me too. This team doesn't have "it" though...doesn't mean this core won't, but there's a missing ingredient on the '18/'19 squad. Fun to watch, hopefully they can win a round...part of the evolution, but this roster needs some surgery.
- Deeps27

I still think talent-wise they are second best in the NHL.

Me too. This team doesn't have "it" though...doesn't mean this core won't, but there's a missing ingredient on the '18/'19 squad. Fun to watch, hopefully they can win a round...part of the evolution, but this roster needs some surgery.
- Deeps27

Oh?

I still think talent-wise they are second best in the NHL.
- RogerRoeper

Never seen more skill on a Leafs team in my 40 years - give me a Rouse/Lefebvre pairing (or a Yuskevich/Markov) and a little more size with skill up front - not face punchers - guys that can win a corner battle and muscle it to the net. Not paramount, but a C would be nice too...great to have a good leadership group, but there's only one coach, not a committe. One GM. Company's have a CEO, not 4-5 guys that lead by example. The incredible skill needs to find some intangibles.

Oh?
- GreatGigInTheSky

I mean, they're a really talented team. But they need to prove themselves.

Come through a few rounds in the Atlantic and nobody will doubt them


(Also, Deeps is one of the folks who actually played a high level of hockey when they were awake, unlike some that just taught hockey skoal school in their sleep... )

Oh?
- GreatGigInTheSky

Yes. Instead of being a smartass, tell me what leads you to believe this is a team capable of going on a run when teams play tight and hard - aka playoff hockey. Islanders games? Nashville? Boston? It's okay to love the Leafs and be objective too. Physical structured teams are the Leafs kryptonite, and that's the hockey played April-June.

I mean, they're a really talented team. But they need to prove themselves.

Come through a few rounds in the Atlantic and nobody will doubt them


(Also, Deeps is one of the folks who actually played a high level of hockey when they were awake, unlike some that just taught hockey skoal school in their sleep... )
- lumlums

Mmmmm....cherry Skoal!
Thanks for the shoutout Lums - I’ve seen a lot of high level hockey from “centre bench” LOL

Yes. Instead of being a smartass, tell me what leads you to believe this is a team capable of going on a run when teams play tight and hard - aka playoff hockey. Islanders games? Nashville? Boston? It's okay to love the Leafs and be objective too. Physical structured teams are the Leafs kryptonite, and that's the hockey played April-June.
- Deeps27

So I guess we'll just wait until they win a few rounds this year, then get back to you.

Puck nowhere even remotely close to Vatrano and McAvoy (frank)ing destroyed him. No penalty, of course.

Mmmmm....cherry Skoal!
Thanks for the shoutout Lums - I’ve seen a lot of high level hockey from “centre bench” LOL
- Deeps27

I guess by that measure, I've seen Nobel prizes from the cheap seats

Puck nowhere even remotely close to Vatrano and McAvoy (frank)ing destroyed him. No penalty, of course.
- GreatGigInTheSky

Maybe Vatrano didn't pay his share during the Rookie dinners when he was in Boston...?

dumbas and babschlong butting heads. cap hell coming soon for a team that has proven nothing. enjoy another 1st round bounce.
- sensmelon

Ok we will, as long as you enjoy your Melnyk.

It's always easier for naysayers to look smart while they go on about how a team is missing something or doesn't have what it takes before the team proves itself. Recognizing when they have what it takes it the hard part. Especially since only one team can win, there are usually many good teams, and luck plays a part.

It's easy after a team has already proven itself or won a cup to then use hindsight and say, "Yeah, adding player X is what really put them over the top", or "Player Y and player Z really are true leaders cause they carried their team all the way to a cup".

Before this people can go on about how so and so isn't a true leader cause they have no achievements under their belt, which works great, until they finally do succeed, then the tune gets changed...

So I guess we'll just wait until they win a few rounds this year, then get back to you.
- Thecakeisalie

No one hopes I’m wrong more than me!

Yes. Instead of being a smartass, tell me what leads you to believe this is a team capable of going on a run when teams play tight and hard - aka playoff hockey. Islanders games? Nashville? Boston? It's okay to love the Leafs and be objective too. Physical structured teams are the Leafs kryptonite, and that's the hockey played April-June.
- Deeps27

The Leafs lost to Boston in the 3rd period of game 7. Subpar goaltending, Kadri suspended, inexplicably, for 3 games, Matthews and Bill Ny playing well below their level of play, and officiating so bad that multiple fans from every other team on this site came into the Leafs thread to talk about how much of a joke it was. Do you think all of that will happen again? Oh, and the Leafs added John (frank)ing Tavares to the team.

They have a Veznia candidate goalie and the Norris favourite on the team. I think a better question would be, what don't you see in this team that makes you think that they don't have what it takes?

Am I saying they're absolutely gonna succeed? No, I'm not. But they've a great shot at "it".

It's always easier for naysayers to look smart while they go on about how a team is missing something or doesn't have what it takes before the team proves itself. Recognizing when they have what it takes it the hard part. Especially since only one team can win, there are usually many good teams, and luck plays a part.

It's easy after a team has already proven itself or won a cup to then use hindsight and say, "Yeah, adding player X is what really put them over the top", or "Player Y and player Z really are true leaders cause they carried their team all the way to a cup".

Before this people can go on about how so and so isn't a true leader cause they have no achievements under their belt, which works great, until they finally do succeed, then the tune gets changed...
- Thecakeisalie

If I was trying to look smart having the same Hockeybuzz account since 2007 is a dead giveaway I’m not.

It’s my opinion of this years team - hope I’m wrong; don’t think I am though.

No one has a clue what the Leafs are capable of this coming playoffs.
They have no idea how far they can raise their game.
How committed and determined they will be.
How relentless they will be.
How smart they will play.
How fast they will play.
How tough they will play.

No one...not even the Leafs themselves.

I think they have another gear or two, easy.

Bring it on mofo's...bring...it ...on.

No one has a clue what the Leafs are capable of this coming playoffs.
They have no idea how far they can raise their game.
How committed and determined they will be.
How relentless they will be.
How smart they will play.
How fast they will play.
How tough they will play.

No one...not even the Leafs themselves.

I think they have another gear or two, easy.

Bring it on mofo's...bring...it ...on.
- Woderwick

100%