Are the Toronto Maple Leafs Stanley Cup contenders?
- Thread starter Bounces R Way
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Well, let's examine their last two games.
Blew a 2 goal lead to known powerhouse Ottawa
Blew multiple 2 goal leads to known powerhouse Columbus
One on the road. One at home. Used both goalies.
Can't even point to a history of turning it up in the playoffs.
Superstar goal scorer with one career playoff series win. Captained by a guy in his 15th season with two career playoff series wins.
I'd say it's not looking good.
Blew a 2 goal lead to known powerhouse Ottawa
Blew multiple 2 goal leads to known powerhouse Columbus
One on the road. One at home. Used both goalies.
Can't even point to a history of turning it up in the playoffs.
Superstar goal scorer with one career playoff series win. Captained by a guy in his 15th season with two career playoff series wins.
I'd say it's not looking good.
goldnblack
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King Woodballs
Captain Awesome
As it stands right now no. Leafs need a shutdown Rhd to pair with Reilly, a physical bottom pair Rhd, a solid 3 C and.a 1b goalie to pair with woll for the season. Unless their are a few miracle trades they are first round fodder again unless they go on a major heater in the playoffs.
if that was absolutely true the leafs and Sabres would not have gone a combined 100 + years with absolutely no " luck" to win a cup.
A contender does need luck, and great goaltending, depth, leadership, strong D one through 6 that includes a stud.
A chance at getting lucky does not put the leafs in contender class.
" hope is not a tactic"
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Cole Caufield has won more play off rounds than anyone on the leaf roster.
Leafs a contender? Nah.
Leafs a contender? Nah.
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Strangle
Leafs Smol PP
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You have two goalies with the same, good stats and 1 outlier with the worst numbers in the NHL
How do you draw the conclusion that it’s the defense and not this one terrible goaltender?
Sammy’s w/l/otl stats are also bolstered by Will coming in and shutting the door while the offense digs themselves out of the hole Sammy dug for them.
How many times has the team scored 4-5 goals with Sammy in net to just have to make it to OT?
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JimmyApples
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Dion TheFluff
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with that D , and those goalies . lol
Imagine how bad the NHL would have to be if this roster could win 4 consecutive rounds April thru June? ha!
Maybe they can acquire say uh.... Ryan O'Rielly and Luke Schenn to put the over the top?
digmor crusher
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Riseonfire
Josh Bailey! GAME ONE, TO THE ISLAND!!!
- Nov 8, 2009
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Every year it’s the same thing.
Technically yes they’re contenders because every playoff team in hockey can actually win the whole thing unlike other sports.
OTOH, The leafs have never been as good as the regular season suggests and with their D and G as is…… *shrug*
Technically yes they’re contenders because every playoff team in hockey can actually win the whole thing unlike other sports.
OTOH, The leafs have never been as good as the regular season suggests and with their D and G as is…… *shrug*
- Oct 26, 2019
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I mean Caufield has also won more rounds in a single season than the Leafs have ever done. The Leafs have never won more than 2 rounds in the playoffs, there were only 4 playoff teams in 67.
As for contender or not, I firmly believed they had a strong chance to win it all the least few years and were a real contender. Felt that going into the year too, but man have they regressed in net and D personnel. They are relying on a rookie goalie who could easily get Skinnered given their D core. This is the first year they seem to have taken a step back. Dubas did a really commendable job there keeping them competitive tbh. Unless we go with the "every team that makes the playoffs is a contender" definition, I'd say no this year unless things really change.
To me only a few teams are real cup contenders right now really.
robertmac43
Forever 43!
- Mar 31, 2015
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No. Core doesn’t have the drive that elite teams do, and the roster is too full of holes. Most notably the goaltending, but our defense has regressed severely in the last few years.
We’ll probably make the playoffs and anything can happen, but we’re not serious contenders, even on paper.
We’ll probably make the playoffs and anything can happen, but we’re not serious contenders, even on paper.
BlueOil
"well-informed"
- Apr 28, 2010
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adding casual depth doesn't really move this needle
If by contender you mean one of the top 5 or 6 true contenders, then no.
They need a goaltender, two top 4 D and a strong third line center to match up with the top teams. And that assumes that their star players finally take that next step in the playoffs.
Overall I think they’ve taken a step back from where they were last year.
They need a goaltender, two top 4 D and a strong third line center to match up with the top teams. And that assumes that their star players finally take that next step in the playoffs.
Overall I think they’ve taken a step back from where they were last year.
This die hard Leaf’s fan -I can assure you they are not.
Terribly managed and coached hockey team, ripe with over paid players who care more about $ than W’s.
Terribly managed and coached hockey team, ripe with over paid players who care more about $ than W’s.
TheOrganist
Don't Call Him Alex
- Feb 21, 2006
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Any team that has a core that is not built from the net out is automatically a suspect contender in my eyes. The Leafs even worse cause all their forward stars are mostly one-dimensional.
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