Are the Toronto Maple Leafs Stanley Cup contenders?

[Mez]

I think its time for a new coach as well as a change on the back end. I dont think Keefe is bad necessarily...but the Leafs have not improved under him.

 

[12ozPapa]

Currently, not a chance. If they can do something about their awful goaltending and defensive structure, they can turn it around

Can we just copy and paste this every year for them?

 

[Connor McConnor]

They give up as many goals as Edmonton and can’t win in regulation. If they are contenders then the list is 10 deep

 

[stevo61]

Samsonov is not our 2nd goalie - this was likely his last game as a Leaf. Sure you can argue any goalie would have given up 2-3 goals with the Leafs D - but this was very much a winnable game with average goaltending.

I'd say Samsonov would be behind Jones and Hildeby at this point on the depth chart

You are defending your team against a goalie that went .871 last year, came in cold and you dont see the problem

 

[VivaLasVegas]

Not with that defense and goaltending.

That and this Leafs' unit is so physically and emotionally soft. Florida had them utterly intimidated in the first 10 minutes of the first game of last year's second round playoff series, and that series was not seriously competitive thereafter. If you want to hoist the Cup, you've got to be prepared to beat the crap out of your opponents if necessary, but that concept is just utterly alien to this Leafs' group.

 

[stevo61]

That and this Leafs' unit is so physically and emotionally soft. Florida had them utterly intimidated in the first 10 minutes of the first game of last year's second round playoff series, and that series was not seriously competitive thereafter. If you want to hoist the Cup, you've got to be prepared to beat the crap out of your opponents if necessary, but that concept is just utterly alien to this Leafs' group.

Nevermind last year,
they lost 2 out of 3 to Columbus this year

 

[rfournier103]

Need upgrades on Defense and Goaltending. Just not there yet, and won’t get there until those needs are addressed.

 

[Hunter368]

Currently? No, not a chance.

Potentially? Yes, but their GM needs to make some changes in net, on D and potentially at forward. Insiders during the summer said that the Leafs this year after the moves during the summer had some serious issues, they would need to score 4-5-6 goals a game to win and they we're 100% right. GM needs to do his job and get the right players too many gaps on the Leafs team and the coach needs to get their top players playing like top players at both ends of the ice consistently.

PS: All teams have gaps to some degree, no team is perfect.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

They will get pumped in round one

 

[AuraSphere]

You are defending your team against a goalie that went .871 last year, came in cold and you dont see the problem

No one is saying Columbus's goalie was a stud - we scored 5 goals. No one is saying Leafs D was great either - there were obvious collapses.

That being said - in no way does Toronto lose that game with even .871 goaltending let alone average goaltending.

The problem with Samsonov is that any scoring chance is a goal against and even those that aren't threats are goals against. He had a .712 save percentage tonight and you're talking about .871 being bad. Sammy's average this season is .862 with a 3.94 GAA. That is not a goaltender. Every team makes mistakes and has defensive lapses. They are more oblivious when the goal is actually scored.

 

[nbwingsfan]

Yes or no and also if you want why?

Leafs are in year #8 of Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Year #6 of prized UFA signing John Tavares. Since the beginning of the 2019-20 season they have the 4th most points of any team in the NHL. Those kind of results speak for themselves, Toronto clearly has a very good hockey team. But are they capable of winning the ultimate prize?

With that goaltending duo behind that defense? No chance in hell no matter how many goals their top guys score.

And then when you remember those top guys completely disappear in the playoffs as well…

 

[ORRFForever]

No. Not at all. They're the same as they've been in the past with worse D and goaltending. Are they a tougher deeper team up front? Sure but they will still get run over.

Come April, we will get excited only to see Matthews and Marner disappear when things get tough and the team will lose in either Round 1 or 2.

 

[SteelCityCannon]

I just love that these type of threads always get bumped/created after losing to the Jackets. It’s all we have at this point.

 

[Go Wings]

Nope and here's why:

 

[Frank Drebin]

They will make the playoffs, so yes. I don't care for the team but who knows they might get hot at the right time.

 

[Panteras]

They signed Ryan Reeves, so yes, instant contenders.

 

[Breakers]

so let me get this straight

-Samsonov let’s in 6 goals against Columbus just before Christmas
-He then proceeds to get demolished against the sabres and lets in one of the worst goals of the season onto his way to surrendering 5 goals in 20 minutes of play
-He then goes in front of the media and essentially says I have zero confidence, and I’m FRANKED right now

And Toronto thinks a 6 day Christmas break suddenly healed him?????

Then he gets lite up again for 6 goals

What the heck kind of game plan is this?
22 goals against in his past 4 starts.

He’s telling you he sucks, and is going through what amounts to psychiatric crisis, and Keefe is like “I don’t believe you”

 

[Some Other Flame]

Not with that goaltending or defense. Or possibly coaching even.

So no lol

 

[Devonator]

The talent is certainly there...but like many others have alluded to...something is missing....goaltending obviously has to be shored up....and that defense........right now I wouldn't call them a contender but that can change......

 

[BrockLobster]

Isles are closer

 

[LeafsNation149]

Samsonov has a 3.94 GAA and .862 sv% in 15 games

Woll has a 2.80 GAA and .916 sv% in 15 games

Martin Jones also similar stats to Woll.

Samsonov is the issue. This is not a Leafs issue just a specific goalie having no confidence issue. Not sure why everyone's so oblivious to that. Put any other goalie in during Samsonov's 15 games and the Leafs are most likely top 3 in the League in points.

 

[jcs0218]

Steve Dangle is very upset.

 

[Hockey4Lyfe]

They have been Stanley Cup contenders for the last 4-5 years. But just being a contender doesn’t get you over the hump.

At some point you need to show you can at least compete in the playoffs to get to the ultimate goal.

They have yet to show they are near that level.

 

[Dotter]

Too top heavy. No depth, no D, no goaltending, no grit, no tenacity.... they are too soft for the post season. They are built for the regular season, yet still aren't playing to their full potential. Their brass has doing a terrible job.

Every year they fail drives them further away from the prize. They should have been aggressive and traded some of their top talent for depth to bolster the blue line and goaltending. maybe traded one of Nylander, Marner, or even Tavaras if possible and spread it out. Used the cap space to keep Hyman and Kadri since they have heart in the playoffs.

 

[TimeZone]

Agreed. But some nerds say the expected goals were only 2.. obviously they didn't watch the game.

Sammy definitely should have had 2 of them, but on the others when you leave guys wide open in front for gimmes.. you're gonna get scored on.

Yeah, no.

At some point you've got to make a save, you can't have every high danger scoring chance end up in the back of your net.

I would say 3 of the 6 were quite bad, but for arguments sake lets say "only 2" were awful...two bad goals a night is miserable NHL goaltending and significantly hurts your chances at winnining hockey games, it's nowhere near acceptable at this level.

You cannot allow 6 goals on 20 shots and expect to keep an NHL job, Samsonov isn't an NHL caliber goaltender.

As for the thread -- No, their defensive play is nowhere near good enough, even providing Samsonov gets waived as he should, they'll still struggle to keep the puck out of the net and Mitch will disappear when it matters as always.