Around the League - PLAYOFFS!?

[Jojalu]

They were due for some positive regression when Woodcroft was fired, but I certainly didn't expect them to be a defensive juggernaut given the flawed roster construction. Knoblauch has them playing sound hockey, and it helps that Skinner turned the corner and has bailed them out in games where they got outplayed.

Will it translate to playoff success? Hard to say. I think they've had one of the easier schedules given only two BTBs to date. They'll play a ton of hockey down the stretch, so you'd think some load management will be in store.

Do you think it's that flawed?

Thei top 3 D are all solid. Nurse is probably overpaid but I would love him on the Leafs at a better price.

Kane,, RNH, Hyman are solid pieces.

Brown is an overpaid defensive specialist but has helped them on PK.

I don't think they are the best roster but I don't believe they are any more flawed than most

 

[Nineteen67]

TB and Florida are on a collision course.

 

[Evilhomer]

TB and Florida are on a collision course.

I think you Toronto and Florida. The games in hand will mean that Toronto will pass and stay ahead of Tampa.

 

[PromisedLand]

Please Never change Torts

 

[Evilhomer]

Islanders potentially help out a bit at the end there.

 

[Nineteen67]

Panthers play OT the right way.

 

[BallardEra]

Annoying that everyone else in the division is winning too.

 

[Evilhomer]

Annoying that everyone else in the division is winning too.

Not too often that you get a complete push on the night. Makes it all the more important that the Leafs won tonight. The good thing is that over the next 8 games the Leafs only play 1 playoff team. They should be able to accrue a good number of points during that stretch.

 

[Hoglund4MvP]

Karlsson is a boring asset so I never looked into what Pens gave up for him until today. Leaf game switched to pens/habs OT so I became curious.

I was bit shocked to see a 1st round pick involved. Pens are very old with little chance to win a cup.

If they sell this season, they have to let Sharks take the top 10 pick in 2024. They will finish even lower in 2025 so can't let the pick slide.

Twist of events Sharks will be ahead of the Penguins next season if they draft twice in top 10 this season. Penguins will be starting from scratch as crosby malkin approach 40 year old.

Pens might not be relevant again until 2030 and beyond. The rebuild should have started this season and stay away from karlsson

 

[Nineteen67]

The Leafs needed 8 points in the 8 games leading up to the ASG to be in a good position. The got 9, and will most likely hold the 2nd WC spot when the league breaks.

 

[Dekes For Days]

The Leafs needed 8 points in the 8 games leading up to the ASG to be in a good position. The got 9, and will most likely hold the 2nd WC spot when the league breaks.

Leafs are 5th in the conference and 3rd in the division. Dropping into 2nd wildcard before the break is not possible.

 

[Nineteen67]

Karlsson is a boring asset so I never looked into what Pens gave up for him until today. Leaf game switched to pens/habs OT so I became curious.

I was bit shocked to see a 1st round pick involved. Pens are very old with little chance to win a cup.

If they sell this season, they have to let Sharks take the top 10 pick in 2024. They will finish even lower in 2025 so can't let the pick slide.

Twist of events Sharks will be ahead of the Penguins next season if they draft twice in top 10 this season. Penguins will be starting from scratch as crosby malkin approach 40 year old.

Pens might not be relevant again until 2030 and beyond. The rebuild should have started this season and stay away from karlsson

The teams they are competing with, Flyers, Isles, Wings, Leafs, are all the same team, andTB isn’t any better other than experience, so I can’t see them catching one of them. NJ, on paper, is better and I could see them getting in.

 

[Leaf Rocket]

 

[Commander Clueless]

I think you Toronto and Florida. The games in hand will mean that Toronto will pass and stay ahead of Tampa.

Anyone else totally okay with taking top wild card spot instead? It would be a refreshing change of pace to play a Metro team in the first round and the Battle of Florida is good hockey.

I'm assuming nobody catches the Bruins again of course.

The divisional playoff seeding is just boring.

 

[Hoglund4MvP]

The teams they are competing with, Flyers, Isles, Wings, Leafs, are all the same team, andTB isn’t any better other than experience, so I can’t see them catching one of them. NJ, on paper, is better and I could see them getting in.

Yeah true.

They remind me of the depression era Leafs right now where we weren't good enough to make playoffs but not bad enough to draft top picks either. I would be very upset if that Leafs team traded a 1st rounder for this version of Karlsson at that cap hit.

 

[Nineteen67]

Yeah true.

They remind me of the depression era Leafs right now where we weren't good enough to make playoffs but not bad enough to draft top picks either. I would be very upset if that Leafs team traded a 1st rounder for this version of Karlsson at that cap hit.

I don’t see the Leafs as buyers this TDL. However, I see a blockbuster at the draft.

 

[LeafalCrusader]

Leafs are 5th in the conference and 3rd in the division. Dropping into 2nd wildcard before the break is not possible.

Tampa's a point ahead of us for 3rd in the division. Detroit is a point behind us but still have a game remaining vs Ottawa before the all star game. We probably will be in the second WC but will have 3 games in hand.

 

[BallardEra]

The teams they are competing with, Flyers, Isles, Wings, Leafs, are all the same team, andTB isn’t any better other than experience, so I can’t see them catching one of them. NJ, on paper, is better and I could see them getting in.

The Pens best bet is 3rd spot in the division. Flyers are dropping fast so it would be between them and the Devils.

Either way the Pens aren't going anywhere.

 

[BallardEra]

16 straight wins by the Oilers is insane any way you look at it. If it was that easy then more teams would have done it as well. They also have 4 games in hand on Vancouver and 5 games in hand on Vegas.

I was also thinking how insane it would be if Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar both hit 100 points this season.

I don't think we've ever seen two defensemen both score 100 or more points in the same season.

 

[Evilhomer]

Anyone else totally okay with taking top wild card spot instead? It would be a refreshing change of pace to play a Metro team in the first round and the Battle of Florida is good hockey.

I'm assuming nobody catches the Bruins again of course.

The divisional playoff seeding is just boring.

I don't disagree, but I don't think the Leafs will fall back into a wild card spot once the games in hand are made up.

 

[BallardEra]

It will be Leafs vs Boston or Leafs vs Florida in the 1st round of the playoffs.

 

[budzz]

16 straight wins by the Oilers is insane any way you look at it. If it was that easy then more teams would have done it as well. They also have 4 games in hand on Vancouver and 5 games in hand on Vegas.

I was also thinking how insane it would be if Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar both hit 100 points this season.

I don't think we've ever seen two defensemen both score 100 or more points in the same season.

It really is pretty insane and impressive. You have to think they'll cool down at some point. Beside the 16 straight they had 9 straight just before that. I think they are like 25-3 in their last 28? It is impressive.

Crazier is after a 25-3 run, they are only 1 point ahead of the Leafs with a few games in hand.

 

[Buds17]

Anyone else totally okay with taking top wild card spot instead? It would be a refreshing change of pace to play a Metro team in the first round and the Battle of Florida is good hockey.

I'm assuming nobody catches the Bruins again of course.

The divisional playoff seeding is just boring.

While I'd absolutely agree about the divisional playoff seeding being limited and repetitive, I'd prefer not to have the Leafs drop down to the WC spot and be the change that happens there.

I suppose the appeal from an NHL P.O.V in setting up the playoffs as they have might be to guarantee that a team from each division will advance and another will go home (or trying to have the "rivalries" happen early in the playoffs while hoping for the fresher matchups to occur when the stakes grow higher later on)?

 

[LeafalCrusader]

Anyone else totally okay with taking top wild card spot instead? It would be a refreshing change of pace to play a Metro team in the first round and the Battle of Florida is good hockey.

I'm assuming nobody catches the Bruins again of course.

The divisional playoff seeding is just boring.

It's not just boring it's stupid. 3rd in the Metro would be 8th in the east in a 1 vs 8. So winning the Metro division means facing a team from another division with more points than the 3rd place divisional team.

It's a convoluted and dumb system.

 

[keonsbitterness]

It's not just boring it's stupid. 3rd in the Metro would be 8th in the east in a 1 vs 8. So winning the Metro division means facing a team from another division with more points than the 3rd place divisional team.

It's a convoluted and dumb system.

Gary loves this system. Maybe it will change after someone drives a stake through his heart.