PIT vs MON - Stupid

Winner of TOR vs CBJ plays BOS - Stupid, unfair for both teams

Chicago and Arizona don't belong in the playoff picture whatsoever.

Winner of CGY vs. WPG plays STL - Stupid, unfair for both teams.

They have gone over dozens of ideas and they're going with one of the worst ones. Typical NHL. They got the same people who implemented shootouts working on this.

May as well call it the COVID Cup.
- JohnFergusonJr

.....

Agreed. Just end the season. Hand out the awards. Have at it for the cup next year.

PIT vs MON - Stupid

Winner of TOR vs CBJ plays BOS - Stupid, unfair for both teams

Chicago and Arizona don't belong in the playoff picture whatsoever.

Winner of CGY vs. WPG plays STL - Stupid, unfair for both teams.

They have gone over dozens of ideas and they're going with one of the worst ones. Typical NHL. They got the same people who implemented shootouts working on this.

May as well call it the COVID Cup.
- JohnFergusonJr

Lets hear your playoff format.

Really?

Because he didn’t play great (thanks Barrie) and most fans seemed to have bailed on him. He didn’t save them every night this year, and it effected them in the standings.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Sadly, I'm afraid Freddie is not the answer.

Disagree. The team will only go as far as Andersen can take them. Not being a defensive minded team means the Leafs need to rely on Freddy.
- PatC80

Andersen has proven to be an inconsistent goaltender who hasn't shown that he can carry the team on his back.

The team does need stellar goalie. Andy is not the answer.

.....

Agreed. Just end the season. Hand out the awards. Have at it for the cup next year.
- TheMussel

Definitely not. They need to have playoffs. It just needs to be done properly.

And if they're worried about money, just organize another "World Cup" tournament to try and supplement the lost games with all the remaining players.

If they're using hub cities, running another tournament would be easy and they could have that occur later in the playoffs when there are fewer games to broadcast.

Definitely not. They need to have playoffs. It just needs to be done properly.

And if they're worried about money, just organize another "World Cup" tournament to try and supplement the lost games with all the remaining players.

If they're using hub cities, running another tournament would be easy and they could have that occur later in the playoffs when there are fewer games to broadcast.
- JohnFergusonJr

Do they? Why?

Coaching change didn't do poop to improve the Leafs for the playoffs. They still suck at almost everything defensively.

The only "advantage" the Leafs may have is if the play-ins are like October hockey and the Leafs can get away with trying to win every game 6-5.
- JohnFergusonJr

Lol.

Guess again pocko

Thanks for coming out stallion.

Lets hear your playoff format.
- Nighthawk

Very simple.

Eastern Conference

Wild Card Play-in

Carolina vs Florida best of 3 or 5
Islanders vs Columbus best of 3 or 5

1st round

Boston vs lowest seed of Wild Card winners
Tampa Bay vs Toronto

Washington vs highest seed of Wild Card winners
Philadelphia vs Pittsburgh

Western Conference

Wild Card Play-in

Nashville vs Minnesota best of 3 or 5
Calgary vs Winnipeg best of 3 or 5

1st round

St. Louis vs lowest seed of Wild Card winners
Colorado vs Dallas

Vegas vs highest seed of Wild Card winners
Edmonton vs Vancouver

The rest of the playoffs carry on as they normally would.

Or alternatively, because hub cities eliminate travel, you go back to the 1 vs. 8 format and reseed after every round. Home ice advantage doesn't exist with hub cities so the highest seed teams should be rewarded with some type of advantage and that should be highest seed always gets to play the lowest seed.

So...

Boston vs. lowest seed Wild Card winner
Tampa Bay vs. highest seed Wild Card winner
Washington vs. Toronto
Philadelphia vs. Pittsburgh

St. Louis vs. lowest seed Wild Card winner
Colorado vs. highest seed Wild Card winner
Vegas vs. Vancouver
Dallas vs. Edmonton

Do they? Why?
- mjones242

To bring in whatever revenue they can and to award a Stanley Cup for a season they played 90% of.

Lol.

Guess again pocko

Thanks for coming out stallion.
- Zezel

You might be guessing but I'm using facts. Leafs have sucked defensively under Keefe. "Playoff" hockey is not anywhere near what they've been playing.

You might be guessing but I'm using facts. Leafs have sucked defensively under Keefe. "Playoff" hockey is not anywhere near what they've been playing.
- JohnFergusonJr

Guess again

Know stuff before you post

Guess again

Know stuff before you post
- Zezel

I'd say you're alone in not knowing the Leafs have sucked defensively but there's thousands wearing the same blue and white glasses you are wearing.

I'd say you're alone in not knowing the Leafs have sucked defensively but there's thousands wearing the same blue and white glasses you are wearing.
- JohnFergusonJr

Oh gee

RUH ROH

Oh gee

RUH ROH
- Zezel

Since Nov. 20th:

TBL: 180 GF, 133 GA
BOS: 152 GF, 120 GA
TOR: 165 GF, 146 GA

CBJ: 130 GF, 122 GA

Comparing them to the teams they're going to be playing against, defense isn't going to be their strong suit. They're at a distinct disadvantage. Hitting, toughness, blocking shots and general playoff hockey is not the Leafs strong suit. The Leafs play pond hockey and try to win 6-5.

Can ppl not take things personal & accept the facts. Every team has warts to varying degrees.

Since Nov. 20th:

TBL: 180 GF, 133 GA
BOS: 152 GF, 120 GA
TOR: 165 GF, 146 GA

CBJ: 130 GF, 122 GA

Comparing them to the teams they're going to be playing against, defense isn't going to be their strong suit. They're at a distinct disadvantage. Hitting, toughness, blocking shots and general playoff hockey is not the Leafs strong suit. The Leafs play pond hockey and try to win 6-5.
- JohnFergusonJr

Pretty well says it all. Dubas has work to do on team D unless he has no intentions to do what’s needed.

Can ppl not take things personal & accept the facts. Every team has warts to varying degrees.
- Nighthawk

The Leafs are like Cindy Crawford. They look sexy but they still got that mole.

Since Nov. 20th:

TBL: 180 GF, 133 GA
BOS: 152 GF, 120 GA
TOR: 165 GF, 146 GA

CBJ: 130 GF, 122 GA

Comparing them to the teams they're going to be playing against, defense isn't going to be their strong suit. They're at a distinct disadvantage. Hitting, toughness, blocking shots and general playoff hockey is not the Leafs strong suit. The Leafs play pond hockey and try to win 6-5.
- JohnFergusonJr

Before leafs got Campbell their backup goalie was averaging like 5.5 ga....Campbell coming has helped a lot the last month before play stopped.

Don’t forget leafs had 2 of their best defenceman out at the same time too.

Not saying they’re great but they’ll start looking a lot better.

To bring in whatever revenue they can and to award a Stanley Cup for a season they played 90% of.
- JohnFergusonJr

The NHL can survive without the playoffs this year. They've survived in the past, they can do it again.

They don't "need" to do anything.

Before leafs got Campbell their backup goalie was averaging like 5.5 ga....Campbell coming has helped a lot the last month before play stopped.

Don’t forget leafs had 2 of their best defenceman out at the same time too.

Not saying they’re great but they’ll start looking a lot better.
- bryant

So why does Columbus only have 120 GA? They lost Bobrovsky and threw two relatively unknowns in net. What makes the Blue Jackets blueline so special? David Savard? Valdislav Gavrikov? Dean Kukan? Markus Nutivaara? Scott Harrington?

It's not just the injuries or the back-up goalie, the Leafs give up too many shots and chances against AS A TEAM. Guys like Barrie give the puck away and play soft in their zone. The Leafs blueline was weak before, the playoff pressure only makes them weaker.

And that's not even talking about the "effort" or "drive" they put into their games on a selective basis which is another issue entirely.

The NHL can survive without the playoffs this year. They've survived in the past, they can do it again.

They don't "need" to do anything.
- mjones242

Yeah they do. People want to watch it and they'd be stupid not to do it if they can. Which they can.

You might be guessing but I'm using facts. Leafs have sucked defensively under Keefe. "Playoff" hockey is not anywhere near what they've been playing.
- JohnFergusonJr

To be fair, the Leafs sucked defensively under Babcock too. At the very least, Keefe did a much better job than Babs this season with the pieces they had. That fact is undeniable.

It's up to Dubas now to secure a legit top 4 d-man and a few forwards who give a (poop) about team D and play with an edge.

So why does Columbus only have 120 GA? They lost Bobrovsky and threw two relatively unknowns in net. What makes the Blue Jackets blueline so special?

It's not just the injuries or the back-up goalie, the Leafs give up too many shots and chances against AS A TEAM. Guys like Barrie give the puck away and play soft in their zone. The Leafs blueline was weak before, the playoff pressure only makes them weaker.

And that's not even talking about the "effort" or "drive" they put into their games on a selective basis which is another issue entirely.
- JohnFergusonJr

They also have 35 less goals...when they don’t have that superstar that can hurt you on the score sheet they’ll suffer. Leafs played the islanders 100 percent better this season when the realized they just had to be patient too.

Leafs can’t always run and gun but stick to their system and they should win because when the opportunities come they have more game changers.

Yeah they do. People want to watch it and they'd be stupid not to do it if they can. Which they can.
- JohnFergusonJr

No, no they don't. Just because people want to watch it doesn't mean they must provide the product.

If the league closes up shop this season that will NOT be the end of the NHL. Get a grip.

To be fair, the Leafs sucked defensively under Babcock too. At the very least, Keefe did a much better job than Babs this season with the pieces they had. That fact is undeniable.

It's up to Dubas now to secure a legit top 4 d-man and a few forwards who give a (poop) about team D and play with an edge.
- mjones242

Keefe hasn't done anything that much different other than just let the Leafs play pond hockey. They score more, they win more. That works in the regular season but it doesn't in the playoffs.

Dubas definitely has to upgrade the blueline but in terms of what they have right now at this moment, it's not enough.

They could beat Columbus to get into the playoffs but to beat Boston and/or Tampa Bay? They're not there yet.