Around the League - PLAYOFFS!?

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Zadorov a bottom pairing guy vs Tanev a guy who can shutdown and is a covetted RD?

Its gonna cost a 1st and more, he might be the biggest bidding war of the deadline outside of any decent goalie becoming available

Nah. That will be Hanafin, or if Carolina goalie issues cause them to fall out maybe Pesce

 

[Gary Nylund]

I'm actually very objective. I just don't think much of most Eastern conference teams, and my belief that the Leafs will win the Atlantic, and probably the conference, has as much to do with that fact as it does with the Leafs themselves. I am one of the few who is concerned with the idea of relying on Woll through 4 rounds of the playoffs. I think most people are being far too optimistic in that regard. What I don't worry about is how the Leafs won games in October and November, because those games are meaningless other than for the purposes of simply collecting points.

Many times I have seen you post that the Leafs "will win" as if it's a fact, many times they have lost those games. That's not objective.

Goaltending is a question mark, I think that's pretty obvious.

I don't care much about winning in October or November, I'm more interested in how the team is playing than winning. The reason for that is that once the playoffs start, regular season points are irrelevant, you need to be ready to play a winning game.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Meanwhile, remind me again of how tough the Atlantic division is?

Division point percentages so far:

Metro - 0.573
Atlantic - 0.560
Central - 0.550
Pacific - 0.530

 

[ToneDog]

Thank you, Markstrom. Massive save to seal the win

Florida loses and Calgary ruins the tank. Win-win.

Heard Tanev had 10 blocked shots.

 

[andora]

Heard Tanev had 10 blocked shots.

Yeah he looked good last night from what i saw

 

[Fogelhund]

I think as the season goes on Boston will settle into second place in the division, and I think that will be just fine with them. My guess is that their days of being big buyers at the deadline are on pause for the next few years as they retool their lineup. If they were aggressive, they should be looking to move Ullmark this season as that is cap space they desperately need for a first line centre.

That depends some. I could see them firing away their picks for next year, in a bid for Lindholm, and they extend him... it kind of fits with what they've done in the past, and the need is there for them. That depends on Calgary being completely out of it of course...

 

[ULF_55]

Yeah he looked good last night from what i saw

Coming off injury. Missed 3 games I believe.

 

[Evilhomer]

That depends some. I could see them firing away their picks for next year, in a bid for Lindholm, and they extend him... it kind of fits with what they've done in the past, and the need is there for them. That depends on Calgary being completely out of it of course...

Certainly a possibility. He would be a good target for Boston. The nature of the league is such that many teams will hang around the last wild card spot in each conference for most of the season (heck, even Montreal, it seems). It's hard to imagine Calgary hanging on to any of these UFAs as I'm sure Conroy is very realistic about the makeup of his team.

 

[Stephen]

Caught a bit of the Jets game at the end last night vs Montreal. Ehlers trips a guy and takes a penalty complains complains complains. Then Lowry cross checks the a guy on the ice and gets offsetting penalties and complains complains complains. Reminds me of how annoying that team is from our North Division days. Jets lost too.

 

[Sypher04]

Caught a bit of the Jets game at the end last night vs Montreal. Ehlers trips a guy and takes a penalty complains complains complains. Then Lowry cross checks the a guy on the ice and gets offsetting penalties and complains complains complains. Reminds me of how annoying that team is from our North Division days. Jets lost too.

The Jets are playing totally unsustainable hockey. I’ll enjoy it a lot when their season corrects itself. Jets fans have been running their mouthes a lot lately.

 

[Fogelhund]

Nah. That will be Hanafin, or if Carolina goalie issues cause them to fall out maybe Pesce

Pesce will be an interesting one. He's struggled this year, at least compared to other years. It's been a challenge for him, keeping up with the pace Carolina plays.

 

[Legion34]

I've been consistent in my opinion from the start of the season.

Which is?

 

[Evilhomer]

Which is?

Toronto will win the Atlantic. At this point maybe even the Eastern conference, as I think the Rangers have been outperforming themselves on the back of Quick, which won't continue all season.

 

[Legion34]

Toronto will win the Atlantic. At this point maybe even the Eastern conference, as I think the Rangers have been outperforming themselves on the back of Quick, which won't continue all season.

Hmmmmm we will see I guess. I’m not sure I agree but we will see

Sammy would need to figure it out. And we need 1 D for sure.

 

[LeafEgo]

What reason does Bos have? They have fired away all their picks in the past 3 years for the exact same amount of playoff round wins as the Leafs. Go to 8 years and they have missed the playoffs twice, lost in the first round 3 times, lost in the second round twice and had their run to the Cup 6 years ago.

Just that they are nearing the end of an extended contender window, so it's expected to be pretty much empty. I believe they have five rounds in the last five years, including a best season record in history. Dissappointing no cup but respectable.

Leafs are sort of half way through, which is why they are getting empty as well, but in better shape than Bruins. So far the return hasn't been great though.

I was more thinking about how we will stack up against other bidders in the league down the stretch. If that top RHD hits the market we have a shot, but it could get very ugly if select teams join the race and we are trying to out bid a blue chip.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Toronto will win the Atlantic. At this point maybe even the Eastern conference, as I think the Rangers have been outperforming themselves on the back of Quick, which won't continue all season.

So winning the conference is a maybe, and winning the Atlantic is a certainty. Got it.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Just that they are nearing the end of an extended contender window, so it's expected to be pretty much empty. I believe they have five rounds in the last five years, including a best season record in history. Dissappointing no cup but respectable.

Leafs are sort of half way through, which is why they are getting empty as well, but in better shape than Bruins. So far the return hasn't been great though.

I was more thinking about how we will stack up against other bidders in the league down the stretch. If that top RHD hits the market we have a shot, but it could get very ugly if select teams join the race and we are trying to out bid a blue chip.

Yup, bolded is a very important point. In the same way it's logical that our cupboards are on the empty side as well, it's just gross that we have zero in the way of playoff success to show for it. I also hate rentals and think we've spent too much on them but that's just me.

If we're trying to win a bidding was for a RHD, all I can say is I hope it's not a rental as I would much rather hold on to our premium assets.

 

[Sypher04]

Yup, bolded is a very important point. In the same way it's logical that our cupboards are on the empty side as well, it's just gross that we have zero in the way of playoff success to show for it. I also hate rentals and think we've spent too much on them but that's just me.

If we're trying to win a bidding was for a RHD, all I can say is I hope it's not a rental as I would much rather hold on to our premium assets.

I have similar thoughts on rentals and I’ve been saying whatever Tre does that I hope there is at least another year beyond this one, like McCabe had or a negotiated extension. I understand rentals, and they defintely have their time and place, but I can’t help but feel it’s irresponsible to repeatedly bring in rentals, especially at trade deadline premiums, knowing you most likely won’t be able to retain them due to cap constraints. It’s a fine line though I know, as I want us to be acquiring pieces to bolster our team for a deep run.

 

[Evilhomer]

So winning the conference is a maybe, and winning the Atlantic is a certainty. Got it.

Yes, they will win the division because Boston will continue its trend of levelling off after its hot start to the season. The conference will be a matter of what the Rangers do - no other team in the Metro will come close to Toronto, Boston and the Rangers.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Pesce will be an interesting one. He's struggled this year, at least compared to other years. It's been a challenge for him, keeping up with the pace Carolina plays.

I'm aware of his struggles this season, I still think he's a very good D man, and there isn't a lot I wouldn't give up to bring him here if he became available.

I think Pesce is the missing piece, I think he'd be perfect for Rielly, I also think he'd be fantastic with McCabe if they wanted to keep Rielly and Brodie together.

I feel similarly to Hanafin, I think either Pesce or Hanafin would be real difference makers to the defense.

Tanev too to a lesser extent but It's not the same.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I'm aware of his struggles this season, I still think he's a very good D man, and there isn't a lot I wouldn't give up to bring him here if he became available.

I think Pesce is the missing piece, I think he'd be perfect for Rielly, I also think he'd be fantastic with McCabe if they wanted to keep Rielly and Brodie together.

I feel similarly to Hanafin, I think either Pesce or Hanafin would be real difference makers to the defense.

Tanev too to a lesser extent but It's not the same.

Do you think they'd have as much of an impact on our team as ROR, Schenn and McCabe did last season?

If these guys came with reasonably priced contract extensions, I'd be very interested, though I suspect the cost would be prohibitive. If they'd be rentals and cost a 1st or a top prospects, I'd rather pass as we've spent so much on rentals in recent years with so little to show for it.

 

[Sypher04]

Do you think they'd have as much of an impact on our team as ROR, Schenn and McCabe did last season?

If these guys came with reasonably priced contract extensions, I'd be very interested, though I suspect the cost would be prohibitive. If they'd be rentals and cost a 1st or a top prospects, I'd rather pass as we've spent so much on rentals in recent years with so little to show for it.

I do think getting the first round monkey off our back is huge for our psyche going forward but yeah you’d have liked to go further last season on the back of all the assets we spent. My hope is that those acquisitions, and the step we took, modest as it was, will pay dividends for us into this playoff run

 

[Fogelhund]

I'm aware of his struggles this season, I still think he's a very good D man, and there isn't a lot I wouldn't give up to bring him here if he became available.

I think Pesce is the missing piece, I think he'd be perfect for Rielly, I also think he'd be fantastic with McCabe if they wanted to keep Rielly and Brodie together.

I feel similarly to Hanafin, I think either Pesce or Hanafin would be real difference makers to the defense.

Tanev too to a lesser extent but It's not the same.

I know this is pedantic of me.. but it's Hanifin.

 

[wingman75]

I do think getting the first round monkey off our back is huge for our psyche going forward but yeah you’d have liked to go further last season on the back of all the assets we spent. My hope is that those acquisitions, and the step we took, modest as it was, will pay dividends for us into this playoff run

Agreed. I also feel that additions at the deadline will be minimal this season. I think the major additions are the guys who came in during the off-season. Injuries may require something, and yes, I think we do go and get a defenceman (at least one).

This might bode well, with the guys being here all season with minimal exceptions, might create a bit of a better team cohesion/unity... not saying that is why they lost, but each of the past few seasons last minute adds were expected to provide a big boost to get them (and us lol) over that hump.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Do you think they'd have as much of an impact on our team as ROR, Schenn and McCabe did last season?

If these guys came with reasonably priced contract extensions, I'd be very interested, though I suspect the cost would be prohibitive. If they'd be rentals and cost a 1st or a top prospects, I'd rather pass as we've spent so much on rentals in recent years with so little to show for it.

It's possible, but It's a tough one because ROR was such an X Factor, but I'm also not sure that It's necessary to have as big an impact, reason being that last year they had a drought of not even winning a round that stretched back to 2004.

John Tavares ended that drought in OT of game 6 and so that pressure is gone, now they know they can close out series.

Now strictly speaking about the defense Yeah I think they would have a bigger impact because in Pesce, Hanafin and Tanev you are talking about 3 legitimate top 4 men, 2 of them in Pesce and Hanifin being legitimate top pair.

Luke Schenn is not that guy, I love Luke Schenn but he is not that guy, he is not the caliber of a Pesce, Hanifin or even a Tanev.

And I'm throwing Tanev in there because while Pesce and Hanifin would solve A LOT, Tanev might be the guy we need, because Rielly and Brodie together works, It's McCabe that really needs a partner