In all fairness nobody thought Montreal had a snowball’s chance in hell either.
- Roadrunner75

That’s why they play the games. CBJ got no love beating out TB & the Leafs. Ppl rather say otherwise & not give them enough credit. The Leafs can go as far as they want to if willing to go through walls to get there.

Me too
- GreatGigInTheSky

I dunno. Mik is fast sure. Definitely good defensively but damn he’s kinda brutal on finish.

Im not against him, but thinking if we have someone coming in when he is gone to take that 2nd line wing and bottom two are Engvall and Kerfoot and it adds to and helps line 2 get going Im not against that.

Think its more wait and see in the offseason for that.

Never mind it was a fake tweet

Fleury suddenly loves being in Chicago I guess?
- mjones242

I feel like I've been watching a different Fleury this season than people saying he should get a 1st in return.

He has not been good. Had a few good games here and there but he's sucked. And it's not because Chicago has sucked.

Not too worried about Boston TBH. On the Leafs side, with decent goaltending, a top six as good as any IMO, the Leafs can beat any team in a given game. The rest is up to the boys and Keefe. I think there is still a move to get some serious beef. Leafs 3rd line is easily the best its been. Mikheyev, the way he is skating right now would be a top six player on most teams.
- winsix

A scary good top 6 but has to bring it to the PO’s. If both lines do that one corner is turned.

I don't have a defense for this. Sort of like Holl.
- Monkeypunk

Yo, how TF does Seattle not even get a 1st for Gio
- 3rd GM's the charm

I’ll take a stab…market value.

I dunno. Mik is fast sure. Definitely good defensively but damn he’s kinda brutal on finish.

Im not against him, but thinking if we have someone coming in when he is gone to take that 2nd line wing and bottom two are Engvall and Kerfoot and it adds to and helps line 2 get going Im not against that.

Think its more wait and see in the offseason for that.
- Roadrunner75

I've always liked him, though. So I'll miss him for that alone. Plus the 7 shorthanded breakaways he gets a game.

Tampa's core is solid/proven and they have an all-world goalie. Hagel is a really nice add for them.

They scare me more than FLA, tbh. 🤷
- mjones242

With Vasy & all the others still the team to beat. Av’s might have an easier route to the finals though.

I've always liked him, though. So I'll miss him for that alone. Plus the 7 shorthanded breakaways he gets a game.
- GreatGigInTheSky

If he had any finish he'd be a 10M player.

I like our chances. The only reason we got Gio for less than a first is because Francis did Gio a solid.
Our top 4 matches up well against any other team.
- shack67

For me it comes down to Campbell. If he’s back to form, I say Leafs are a clear step above Boston and on a par with with Tampa. Florida could be tough but Bob could Bob.

If he had any finish he'd be a 10M player.
- mjones242

Absolutely

Hey yo!

Survey says…. Gio had only a few places he wanted to go and Francis worked to make the deal happen with minimal suitors.


- Roadrunner75

I think he becomes a Flame if they could have retained salary in the deal however Seattle couldn't and I learned in the CBA they couldn't also get a 3rd team because same calendar year.

Tampa's core is solid/proven and they have an all-world goalie. Hagel is a really nice add for them.

They scare me more than FLA, tbh. 🤷
- mjones242

They scare everybody more than Florida.

I think he becomes a Flame if they could have retained salary in the deal however Seattle couldn't and I learned in the CBA they couldn't also get a 3rd team because same calendar year.
- Aaron_85

Possible there yeah, though I don't know if Sutter would want him back or not. The whole not able to trade or retain and all really curtailed things for sure.

It's interesting how the Kraken fans are ok with Gio going and most happy for him. They are pissed about Blackwell being added in

You forgot Giordano, so scratch Pilotte.
- Atomic Wedgie

Carlyle wasnt a norris winner when he played for the leafs though. He became one after. Leetch was a norris winner when he played with the leafs.

Phaneuf was a runner up wasnt he?

Typical Leafy move, go for the crippled old warhorse and ignore a younger defenseman like Jacob Chykrun. Waste assets on another on their way out veteran. Out again in the first. Bye Dubas, don't let the door hit you on the way out!
- PrinceLH

Uh oh, negativity.

Boston is two points behind the Leafs, with 1/4 of the season to play.

And we have no goalie.
- Atomic Wedgie

The east is insane.

Other than colorado there isnt another team in the west that would be a lock for the playoffs in the east.

Possible there yeah, though I don't know if Sutter would want him back or not. The whole not able to trade or retain and all really curtailed things for sure.

It's interesting how the Kraken fans are ok with Gio going and most happy for him. They are pissed about Blackwell being added in

- Roadrunner75

Which is weird. He essentially got a 3rd round pick and he's not super young? He's just a depth guy. Sign Mikeyev in the off season lol

For me it comes down to Campbell. If he’s back to form, I say Leafs are a clear step above Boston and on a par with with Tampa. Florida could be tough but Bob could Bob.
- Canada Cup

Tbh I think Campbell (once he returns) will look good again. Both goalies (him and Mrazek) always seemed to play desperately and fortunately for us leaf fans it worked for Campbell to start the year since he successfully stood on his head.

Then the D played far more tightly when the rookies were tossed in net and they were able to play calmly.

So I think the addition of Giordano will help solidify how the D plays in their own zone calming down Campbell and allowing him to play a far more straightforward game with success. Not to mention the puck will get cleared more often and the leafs forwards will thrive on that as well.

The east is insane.

Other than colorado there isnt another team in the west that would be a lock for the playoffs in the east.
- prock

Specifically the Atlantic. The Metro ain't much but the Atlantic is ridic.

Imo it will come down to all buying in & playing as a team in both ends. It’s more about total commitment. No team goes far without it.
- Nighthawk

Pretty much is, yes. The Leafs have a clearly defined system that requires fluid offensive zone movement and flow back to the point with at least one high forward to prevent odd man rushes against. Every time we have an odd man rush against (well, not every, but the lion's share of cases) is a break down in that structure. It's been happening at an alarming rate of late - whether it's guys like Matthews and Marner, who are typically smarter in those roles - or guys like Nylander and Tavares who are less responsible - it doesn't matter. We've had a number of guys making mistakes in their high coverage. Admittedly a lot of it is initiated by unexpected moves from Rielly or Sandin - but there is an expectation of coverage and if you're not providing it, you're not helping.

If I admitted that I'm still unsure of what Keefe's d-zone plan is, I don't think I'd be alone. They talk about a swarming defense that closes gaps and gets on the puck carrier, but that's very rarely what I see, so I'm a bit confused on that side.

The east is insane.

Other than colorado there isnt another team in the west that would be a lock for the playoffs in the east.
- prock

Flames beg to differ. Also a lot of lousy teams in the East to go with the very good teams.

For me it comes down to Campbell. If he’s back to form, I say Leafs are a clear step above Boston and on a par with with Tampa. Florida could be tough but Bob could Bob.
- Canada Cup

You could stop bobbing, but you probably won't.

Tbh I think Campbell (once he returns) will look good again. Both goalies (him and Mrazek) always seemed to play desperately and fortunately for us leaf fans it worked for Campbell to start the year since he successfully stood on his head.

Then the D played far more tightly when the rookies were tossed in net and they were able to play calmly.

So I think the addition of Giordano will help solidify how the D plays in their own zone calming down Campbell and allowing him to play a far more straightforward game with success. Not to mention the puck will get cleared more often and the leafs forwards will thrive on that as well.
- Dozzer

What is your take on Campbells style in net?