Are the Toronto Maple Leafs Stanley Cup contenders?

[Michel Beauchamp]

Let me explain to you. It's not that complicated.

They can send down the 2 extra defensemen they got against from their cap + Reaves on LTIR + send a forward down - this is the same composition they started the year with.

That brings them over 4M in cap space. The reason they're not doing that is there is no benefit to doing that right now because they didn't acquire a 4M player to replace Klingberg.

Which 2 dmen ?

Lagesson and Benoit will save them $1.55M. Adding that to $1.2M (with Reaves on LTIR) brings the cap space to $2.75, far from the $4M that you mentioned.

Sending McMann down bring them to $3.6M...

You're right (but also wrong), it's not complicated...

 

[Divine]

Which 2 dmen ?

Lagesson and Benoit will save them $1.55M. Adding that to $1.2M (with Reaves on LTIR) brings the cap space to $2.75, far from the $4M that you mentioned.

You're right (but also wrong), it's not complicated...

Here - let me break it down for you:

Leafs add Reaves to LTIR + 1.35M
Leafs send down Robertson (they did this at the start of the year too) + 800K
Leafs send down Benoit and Lagesson + 1.55M OR Lagesson + McMann (more likely choice as they'll likely want to keep Benoit)

1.35 + 800K + 1.55M = 3.7M.

Now, that's just to put the Leafs in the position they started. Leafs can also send down Samsonov (like they have already done) to save another +500K vs. Hildeby.

In addition to that, assuming the Leafs acquire a player - which they would have to if they wanted to use the cap space - they would send down an additional player over the player they acquired.

What part are you getting confused by?

 

[Turin]

They are predictably worse defensively after losing Bunting, Kerfoot, Holl, Acciari and ROR but yeesh.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

They haven't been a contender since they mistook a gaping whole in defense and goaltending for a need to sign Tavares to a ridiculous contract. They missed their window with the ELC for the star players.

 

[Uncle Scrooge]

Only 3 teams in the Eastern Conference have less regulation wins than the Leafs; Ottawa, Columbus and Montreal

It's a miracle this team is somehow 3rd in Atlantic still.

 

[The Panther]

For the defense:

The Leafs have a solid top-six, and are really good at getting to the overtime.

For the prosecution:

The Leafs' ranking in regulation wins in the Eastern Conference:
13. Toronto
14. Ottawa
15. Columbus
16. Montreal

 

[thekernel]

Can you imagine if they miss the playoffs, the anarchy that would ensue? They've still got games in hand but they're checking over their shoulder now. Might have to revisit this thread in a couple weeks...

 

[Divine]

For the defense:

The Leafs have a solid top-six, and are really good at getting to the overtime.

For the prosecution:

The Leafs' ranking in regulation wins in the Eastern Conference:
13. Toronto
14. Ottawa
15. Columbus
16. Montreal

How do people talk about regulation wins and ignore regulation losses?

For some reason, the Leafs not being good at 3v3 OT is a knock against the Leafs even though it doesn't exist in the playoffs.

Teams with less regulation losses than the Leafs in the East:

1.) Boston

That's it. That's the list.

 

[Mad Dog Tannen]

Can you imagine if they miss the playoffs, the anarchy that would ensue? They've still got games in hand but they're checking over their shoulder now. Might have to revisit this thread in a couple weeks...

When the leafs and kings both miss the playoffs we should have a reverse Stanley cup final for them.

Start each team with a 2-0 lead and rotate the leads between the teams. First team to blow 4 leads wins the reverse Stanley cup.

We have to make them think they need to win though, so secrecy will be important.

 

[mkatcherin00]

How do people talk about regulation wins and ignore regulation losses?

For some reason, the Leafs not being good at 3v3 OT is a knock against the Leafs even though it doesn't exist in the playoffs.

Teams with less regulation losses than the Leafs in the East:

1.) Boston

That's it. That's the list.

Because regulation

Guess what? Playoff OT is 5 on 5 too

If a team cannot get it done in reg before garys circus clown show, how good can they be in the playoffs? Reg wins i sa good measure how good a team is

If a team had 5 reg wins and 15 OT wins and 5 losses, ya they would be 20-5, but everybody would say how bad they are that they had to win 15 in circus time

 

[LevelingSolo]

I wonder if a bad showing on the western conference trip could be the end of Keefe

 

[Divine]

Because regulation

Guess what? Playoff OT is 5 on 5 too

If a team cannot get it done in reg before garys circus clown show, how good can they be in the playoffs? Reg wins i sa good measure how good a team is

If a team had 5 reg wins and 15 OT wins and 5 losses, ya they would be 20-5, but everybody would say how bad they are that they had to win 15 in circus time

What are you talking about? Florida beat the top 3 teams in the East in regulation wins last season (Toronto, Carolina, Boston). Florida had the least regulation wins in the East.

 

[The Panther]

How do people talk about regulation wins and ignore regulation losses?

As I said, they're really good at getting to the overtime.

 

[josra33]

I mean the caps didnt win shit really from 2008 to 2017

Then it comes together in 2018

They moved on from semi core pieces in Varlamov, Green, Semin

Leafs did that in Kadri, Andersen, Hyman

I dont expect this core to win, but the 2018 caps are the only hope I have.

Eveything clicked, they won a cup, then went back to choking after warda


You guys barely beat an above average team then?

Was a close game, and leafs ended up losing.

Avs get credit for winning, but they went down to this same barely above avg team 3-0

If games were only 40 minutes then sure you have a point. Hockey is a 60 minute game. Doesn’t matter if you’re up in 40 minutes if you’re down at the 60 minute mark.

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

Here - let me break it down for you:

Leafs add Reaves to LTIR + 1.35M
Leafs send down Robertson (they did this at the start of the year too) + 800K
Leafs send down Benoit and Lagesson + 1.55M OR Lagesson + McMann (more likely choice as they'll likely want to keep Benoit)

1.35 + 800K + 1.55M = 3.7M.

Now, that's just to put the Leafs in the position they started. Leafs can also send down Samsonov (like they have already done) to save another +500K vs. Hildeby.

In addition to that, assuming the Leafs acquire a player - which they would have to if they wanted to use the cap space - they would send down an additional player over the player they acquired.

What part are you getting confused by?

Nice try, but if they sent down Robertson and McMann, they would only have 11 forwards on the roster.

And you really think running a 20-player roster is a wise thing to do ?

 

[Divine]

Nice try, but if they sent down Robertson and McMann, they would only have 11 forwards on the roster.

And you really think running a 20-player roster is a wise thing to do ?

The Leafs literally started a season with a 20-man roster.

Also, they would be adding a player wouldn't they? How else are they going to use the cap space?

There's no cap in the playoffs - they would need need a 20 man roster until the playoffs. They had a 20 man roster until Klingberg got injured but now it's not possible? It makes no sense.

 

[mkatcherin00]

What are you talking about? Florida beat the top 3 teams in the East in regulation wins last season (Toronto, Carolina, Boston). Florida had the least regulation wins in the East.

Where is your Bob? You guys said you got goalied hard. Goalies can tilt a series

 

[Divine]

Where is your Bob? You guys said you got goalied hard. Goalies can tilt a series

So regulation wins aren't so important I guess.

Boston had the current Vezina winner and lead the league in regulation wins. They lost to the team with the least number of regulation wins and Bob wasn't even good that series nor did he play the majority of the games.

Regulation games seems like a new trend this season. The last 2 seasons when the Leafs were top 3 in regulation wins (in the entire league) - no one cared.

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

The Leafs literally started a season with a 20-man roster.

Also, they would be adding a player wouldn't they? How else are they going to use the cap space?

There's no cap in the playoffs - they would need need a 20 man roster until the playoffs. They had a 20 man roster until Klingberg got injured but now it's not possible? It makes no sense.

And you really think that was a wise move ?

Or was it a move forced upon them by the lack of cap space ?

 

[DelZottoHitTheNetJK]

For the defense:

The Leafs have a solid top-six, and are really good at getting to the overtime.

For the prosecution:

The Leafs' ranking in regulation wins in the Eastern Conference:
13. Toronto
14. Ottawa
15. Columbus
16. Montreal

A solid top six completely overshadowed by the gaping black hole on their bottom two pairs and in net*

Fixed it

 

[Divine]

And you really think that was a wise move ?

Or was it a move forced upon them by the lack of cap space ?

Yes, it's a wise move. You can only dress 20 players. It doesn't impact the game unless you get a player that's injured short-term in which case you play shorthanded in a game, no different than an in-game injury.

Like I said, the Leafs have the cap space. You're arguing that it's not wise. That's your opinion - that doesn't change the fact it's possible. Stop moving the goalposts.

The argument was never what you thought was wise - it was do they have the cap space? And we've both agreed on yes.

 

[Mr Positive]

Well they are learning with Samsonov. We won't be seeing him.

A lot seems to be hinging on Woll. If he comes back and sparks a hot streak the feeling around them may flip the other way. Is that too much to expect?

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

Yes, it's a wise move. You can only dress 20 players.

If that's the case, why aren't there more teams doing it ?

Well they are learning with Samsonov. We won't be seeing him.

A lot seems to be hinging on Woll. If he comes back and sparks a hot streak the feeling around them may flip the other way. Is that too much to expect?

Woll is often injured...

 

[Divine]

If that's the case, why aren't there more teams doing it ?

Lots of teams did it. Edmonton was doing it before they sent Campbell down. Ottawa was also doing it before injuries.

Why wouldn't you use the cap to your advantage?

At least you agree the Leafs have the cap space. I don't know how you thought Klingberg fit into the cap.

 

[jackjohnson]

Not a top 5 contender but definitely top 10. They probably have around a 5% chance at winning a cup this year.

A top 10 cup contender? Wtf does that mean when 16 teams make playoffs? Might as well just call them playoff contenders since they will make the playoffs but aren't legit contenders.