Actually it doesn't make you a contender....it makes you an overpriced joke. Enough of 50 weeks of adventure, 2 weeks of ecstasy and a bad trip after game 7 of round 1.
- PrinceLH

A contender is a team that is considered to have a legitimate shot at getting to or winning the SCF. It is an subjective, not objective term. Losing to the eventual winner or finalist does not mean you weren’t a contender. Seriously, these things aren’t complicated.

Normally I would agree but I feel like he could be someone similar to Manson being traded. Lots of talk of him not being good anymore last year and he showed everyone we were wrong after being traded. RoR could be the same. But for me, he's at best a 1st round pick and a prospect like Robertson (if he wasn't injured) or maybe Nimela.
- Aaron_85

Manson was overrated last year as well but he played well in the playoffs. Ror is on a long term injury amd wasnt playing well prior to that.
I used to love ror, but a 1st is too much for him right now. Imo

You get paid on results. It isn't about MVP, or Richard trophies....it's about winning! All of this other stuff is just the mashed potatoes beside the striploin. You're paying the $35 bucks for the striploin dinner, not the mashed potatoes on the side.
- PrinceLH

You should take a look at the list of highest paid players and pics of their SC rings

The Leafs are obviously a top contender, to deny that is bizarre, nonsensical silliness.
- Zezel

They for sure a top contender



......at making the first round.

No question

The Leafs are obviously a top contender, to deny that is bizarre, nonsensical silliness.
- Zezel

They have proved absolutely nothing! There is no past glory, in the past 20 years. There is no playoff victories past game 6. They've proven to disappear against a superior, better equipped team, each and every time. They play a one dimensional up-tempo game that becomes obsolete in the sandbox of playoff hockey. They have no acumen for playing a physical game. Their team is built around speed and agility. The teams that beat them, box them out and deny the cross seam pass. Their powerplay goes dormant and they lose out once they put their balls on the table against their opponent. It either gets fixed or they lose....it's just that simple. The core 4 stays intact and nothing changes.

They for sure a top contender



......at making the first round.

No question
- Fakepartofme

And have been considered one of the favourites to contend for the Cup, thus making them contenders.

A contender is a team that is considered to have a legitimate shot at getting to or winning the SCF. It is an subjective, not objective term. Losing to the eventual winner or finalist does not mean you weren’t a contender. Seriously, these things aren’t complicated.
- Canada Cup

Leafs have been eliminated in the last 2 playoffs in the first round by great teams that made it to the SCF.

They are definetely contenders again this year.

You should take a look at the list of highest paid players and pics of their SC rings
- Canada Cup

How many players on Tampa Bay make over $10M per season? How many in Colorado, before they won it made that amount? St.Louis when they won....how many? We have 3 making more than that and 2 more getting closer. People say the Cap will go up....so it shall....but do does all of the other salaries. We just pay more than most teams do.

Leafs have been eliminated in the last 2 playoffs in the first round by great teams that made it to the SCF.

They are definetely contenders again this year.
- Scabeh

One of those years was a great embarrassment. We shall not speak of it.

Agreed
But i also knies is a little overrated in leafs land
- Fakepartofme

Don't worry, we will all call for him to be traded for nothing when he doesn't score a hat trick in his first game with the Leafs.

It's the stupidity that unites us all.

They have proved absolutely nothing! There is no past glory, in the past 20 years. There is no playoff victories past game 6. They've proven to disappear against a superior, better equipped team, each and every time. They play a one dimensional up-tempo game that becomes obsolete in the sandbox of playoff hockey. They have no acumen for playing a physical game. Their team is built around speed and agility. The teams that beat them, box them out and deny the cross seam pass. Their powerplay goes dormant and they lose out once they put their balls on the table against their opponent. It either gets fixed or they lose....it's just that simple. The core 4 stays intact and nothing changes.
- PrinceLH

Well, you should stop watching and have someone let you know when things have changed then.

They have proved absolutely nothing! There is no past glory, in the past 20 years. There is no playoff victories past game 6. They've proven to disappear against a superior, better equipped team, each and every time. They play a one dimensional up-tempo game that becomes obsolete in the sandbox of playoff hockey. They have no acumen for playing a physical game. Their team is built around speed and agility. The teams that beat them, box them out and deny the cross seam pass. Their powerplay goes dormant and they lose out once they put their balls on the table against their opponent. It either gets fixed or they lose....it's just that simple. The core 4 stays intact and nothing changes.
- PrinceLH

Man it's easy to take this road because 31 teams lose every year so it's super easy to go "see I was right". Winning is hard and difficult.

If they win at least one round this year, maybe even two, will you come here and tell everyone how you were wrong?

How many players on Tampa Bay make over $10M per season? How many in Colorado, before they won it made that amount? St.Louis when they won....how many? We have 3 making more than that and 2 more getting closer. People say the Cap will go up....so it shall....but do does all of the other salaries. We just pay more than most teams do.
- PrinceLH

Carey Price was the first 10M+ player to win a playoffs round in the 2021 playoffs.

Since then, I believe McDavid is the only other player to have done it.

I think.

One of those years was a great embarrassment. We shall not speak of it.
- Canada Cup

Come on.

Losing to Tampa without Brayden Point wasn't that bad.

And have been considered one of the favourites to contend for the Cup, thus making them contenders.
- Canada Cup

The caviat being, that most hockey analyst and talking head say is "IF they can make it out of the 1st round, they are definitely cup contenders"

IF

Leafs have been eliminated in the last 2 playoffs in the first round by great teams that made it to the SCF.

They are definetely contenders again this year.
- Scabeh

As they sit, they don't beat Boston. Tampa is about equal, but they'll make the moves that Dubas won't and deal with the consequences later. Dubas is too analytic and won't take that chance to win now. As far as Dubas is concerned, he should have been fired last year. But the team ALMOST won, so he gets another chance. Come on Dubas.....take your shot. If not, the next GM probably will.

Leafs have been eliminated in the last 2 playoffs in the first round by great teams that made it to the SCF.

They are definetely contenders again this year.
- Scabeh

To be eliminated in the first round again?
Lol

Just kidding, this year they make it to the 3rd round minimum. They get over the hump this year

Carey Price was the first 10M+ player to win a playoffs round in the 2021 playoffs.

Since then, I believe McDavid is the only other player to have done it.

I think.
- Scabeh

That gets you a few more playoff dates and a crappier draft selection.

Carey Price was the first 10M+ player to win a playoffs round in the 2021 playoffs.

Since then, I believe McDavid is the only other player to have done it.

I think.
- Scabeh

Ever is a strong word when 10 years ago there were no such thing as a 10M player....

That gets you a few more playoff dates and a crappier draft selection.
- PrinceLH

It was alot of fun making it to the SCF.

It was well worth it.

Don't worry, we will all call for him to be traded for nothing when he doesn't score a hat trick in his first game with the Leafs.

It's the stupidity that unites us all.
- Atomic Wedgie

Matthews scored 4 in his 1st game, if hes half as good as Matthews then he needs to score 2 at minimum.
Its science

Ever is a strong word when 10 years ago there were no such thing as a 10M player....
- Santo_44

Cool story but I didn't use that word.

Ever is a strong word when 10 years ago there were no such thing as a 10M player....
- Santo_44

And I think there's something called percentage of cap hit, a guy was telling me

It was alot of fun making it to the SCF.

It was well worth it.
- Scabeh

I agree with you. The results were indicative of a Goaltender playing lights out! That was one of the greatest performances that I've seen, during the past 20 years. That team played with heart and tenacity and Price was the brick wall. A few more lucky bounces and who knows?

As they sit, they don't beat Boston. Tampa is about equal, but they'll make the moves that Dubas won't and deal with the consequences later. Dubas is too analytic and won't take that chance to win now. As far as Dubas is concerned, he should have been fired last year. But the team ALMOST won, so he gets another chance. Come on Dubas.....take your shot. If not, the next GM probably will.
- PrinceLH

As they sit, have the leafs not beating both tampa and boston this year?
The cap restricts many teams from taking their "shot".
Also if Dubas takes his shot, it means he will unload the cupboards and if it fails, the next gm wont be able to take a shot for a while.
Then youll be angry at dubas for taking his shot.