As a fan what is your "Realistic" expectation for next season? What you want?

[Coachcorner]

Play real hard and twerk hard Win games. Be hard. Win for the city, the people and the team and organization. Get a couple of more hard players. We can't be done yet, its summer and dubas is the general manager.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

Going "All in" to me would mean trading Knies, and I don't think I am ready for that. Much rather have him join us at the end of the season, than to trade him for a more expensive, older player.

 

[justashadowof]

Improving the goaltending? Which blue chippers? Yeah they're sure built for the playoffs now


Many will - many are ok with losing as long as there's effort and excuses. It's sad really

We'll see about the goaltending. Campbell is more of a sure thing than either of Murray and Samsonov. I won't say the potential of payoff isn't there but it will require a significantly better season than either of those two have had in their past couple of seasons.

I'm not sure "blue chip prospect" means to him what it means to me and you. Nick Robertson may be in the vicinity of that description. I don't know who else he's thinking of other than Robertson to use a plural.

 

[zeke]

I imagine he thought Sandin and Lilly were blue chippers last year, and that Robertson and Knies would qualify this year, while Niemela and others (Amirov? Minten?) might be next year.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

It's weird to see the main boards absolutely enamored with Florida and Ottawa.

Florida lots a lot of depth, traded a top 5 winger + top 4 defenceman + 1st (and lost all the players they traded for last season), and is entering the year with Bob @ 10m.

Ottawa is hoping that Tablot (who wasn't great behind the league's 2nd best defensive team), an aging Giroux and DeBrincat can push them into the playoffs? DeBrincat is a nice get, but isn't his QO 9m next year??? And also, we don't know the status of Formenton and Batherson, who may or may not be impacted by the HC investigation.

Just some weird double standards out there. I get that Dubas is throwing a bit of a Hail Mary with our goaltenders, but we didn't lose much talent and we have some young players finally getting close to being NHL ready.

 

[ShaneFalco]

We'll see about the goaltending. Campbell is more of a sure thing than either of Murray and Samsonov. I won't say the potential of payoff isn't there but it will require a significantly better season than either of those two have had in their past couple of seasons.

I'm not sure "blue chip prospect" means to him what it means to me and you. Nick Robertson may be in the vicinity of that description. I don't know who else he's thinking of other than Robertson to use a plural.

Yeah I can't see how anyone can claim the goaltending has improved without them having played a single game. Not even sure Robertson is a blue chipper - arguable.
The team as it is constructed right now.......never been so disinterested.

 

[al secord]

Play real hard and twerk hard Win games. Be hard. Win for the city, the people and the team and organization. Get a couple of more hard players. We can't be done yet, its summer and dubas is the general manager.

I'm hard just thinking about the possibilities.

 

[zeke]

Yeah I can't see how anyone can claim the goaltending has improved without them having played a single game.

basic projection would have the goaltending at a similar level overall as last year.

Not even sure Robertson is a blue chipper - arguable.

I guess - what is a blue chipper?

The team as it is constructed right now.......never been so disinterested.

Weird time to be disinterested, imo.

 

[Nineteen67]

Win the cup….everything else is really meaningless.

So fans really trash talk and have their chest in the air thinking winning a round or two is some kind of success. ?

We had a great regular season and most think it was a worthless accomplishment…yet winning a round or two is somehow some kind of success

Show me the ring

Winning two rounds is hard and I would consider getting to the NHL semi-finals as successful.

 

[CabanaBoy5]

Yeah imagine bringing back the same team, improving the goaltending and having bluechip prospects stepping in to support the depth. Crazy to think that team's improving.

They improved their goaltending if you're comparing Campbell with Koskonen .914SV% vs .903SV% but Smith had a .915SV%. It's just silly to say their goaltending has improved. They've brought in a very risky Campbell given his limited track record, age, and injury history. Their defence still has Ceci and Barrie on it so it ain't stellar. And what blue chip prospects are we talking about? So, people trash what the Leafs have done, and how their goaltending hasn't improved, and claim the team is worse because they've lost two third-liners in Kase and Miky, but everything is rosy in Edmonton.

 

[tony135420]

Expectations and what I want are 2 different things. What I want is not realistic, what I expect is we will be in the same position come post season.

This team is in the same spot they were in last off season. Questions in net, questions in our bottom 6 and question mark on 2nd line LW. The only improvement from last year is we have a perceived intact 1st line. Last season, I don't think anyone was convinced Campbell was going to be the starter throughout the season, our bottom six looked weak offensively and our LW depth was a mess. Most of these things remain IMO, outside of the LW depth. There is at least a more experienced group there.

Things I'm hopeful about, but is yet to be seen;
Can Kampf, Engvall and Kerfoot (if he's still here) keep up their offensive production?
Can Jarnkrok rebound from a rough second half?
Can Murray rebound from a rough 2 years?
Can Robertson make the jump and fill in the 2LW spot?
Can Muzzin and Holl regain form?

A lot of questions that need answering. However, I fully expect this team to finish close to the top of their division and then playoffs are a toss up. I do feel like they are better equipped to handle the physicality of the playoffs this year, on paper at least.

 

[PROUD PAPA]

They improved their goaltending if you're comparing Campbell with Koskonen .914SV% vs .903SV% but Smith had a .915SV%. It's just silly to say their goaltending has improved. They've brought in a very risky Campbell given his limited track record, age, and injury history. Their defence still has Ceci and Barrie on it so it ain't stellar. And what blue chip prospects are we talking about? So, people trash what the Leafs have done, and how their goaltending hasn't improved, and claim the team is worse because they've lost two third-liners in Kase and Miky, but everything is rosy in Edmonton.

They're no different from people here. Half this board looks at Campbells great start to the season and allstar appearance and ignore how awful he was the rest of the way. I recall precious few having confidence in him down the stretch and in the playoffs and he validated the trepidation.
I would bet a good portion of the team boards are filled with rose colored glasses and warm fuzzy feelings in July.
Then take a look around in January.

 

[belair]

They improved their goaltending if you're comparing Campbell with Koskonen .914SV% vs .903SV% but Smith had a .915SV%. It's just silly to say their goaltending has improved. They've brought in a very risky Campbell given his limited track record, age, and injury history. Their defence still has Ceci and Barrie on it so it ain't stellar. And what blue chip prospects are we talking about? So, people trash what the Leafs have done, and how their goaltending hasn't improved, and claim the team is worse because they've lost two third-liners in Kase and Miky, but everything is rosy in Edmonton.

Smith played 28 games last season. He LTIRetired because he was injured all of last season. I'm not sure you understand the value of stable goaltending if you believe that it's silly to assume that we've shored up the position.

I'm not even going to criticize Toronto's goaltending, because I personally like the gamble on Samsonov. But for a contending team, it's a pretty significant gamble in a make-or-break season.

The Oilers for the next two or three seasons will routinely see guys like Skinner, Broberg, Holloway and Bourgault step into secondary roles on their ELCs.

Responding to the initial post, why wouldn't Oiler fans be excited about the prospect of their team moving forward next season? Who did they lose? Kassian?

 

[Apotheosis]

It's weird to see the main boards absolutely enamored with Florida and Ottawa.

Florida lots a lot of depth, traded a top 5 winger + top 4 defenceman + 1st (and lost all the players they traded for last season), and is entering the year with Bob @ 10m.

Ottawa is hoping that Tablot (who wasn't great behind the league's 2nd best defensive team), an aging Giroux and DeBrincat can push them into the playoffs? DeBrincat is a nice get, but isn't his QO 9m next year??? And also, we don't know the status of Formenton and Batherson, who may or may not be impacted by the HC investigation.

Just some weird double standards out there. I get that Dubas is throwing a bit of a Hail Mary with our goaltenders, but we didn't lose much talent and we have some young players finally getting close to being NHL ready.

Florida on paper is way worse than last year. That blueline looks bottom 5 in the league. Offence will probably still be decent given Barkov is elite but they won't have their 2nd line level 3rd line carrying some games anymore either. Ottawa looks good though. Stutzle was essentially PPG for half the season after moving to centre and they just gave him Debrincat to work with as well as Giroux for more added top 6 depth who is still as we know, good at the sport of hockey. All their wingers are decent-good goal scorers. Their season hinges on how good Sanderson is off the bat. If he's as good as Ottawa fans have been saying, they will definitely compete.

 

[acrobaticgoalie]

It's weird to see the main boards absolutely enamored with Florida and Ottawa.

Florida lots a lot of depth, traded a top 5 winger + top 4 defenceman + 1st (and lost all the players they traded for last season), and is entering the year with Bob @ 10m.

Ottawa is hoping that Tablot (who wasn't great behind the league's 2nd best defensive team), an aging Giroux and DeBrincat can push them into the playoffs? DeBrincat is a nice get, but isn't his QO 9m next year??? And also, we don't know the status of Formenton and Batherson, who may or may not be impacted by the HC investigation.

Just some weird double standards out there. I get that Dubas is throwing a bit of a Hail Mary with our goaltenders, but we didn't lose much talent and we have some young players finally getting close to being NHL ready.

If they lose Batherson and Formenton because of the investigation, that is definitely a big blow to their playoff chances. Besides the big additions of Giroux and Debrincat, having the likes of Tkachuk, Norris, Steutzle and Chabot all being a year older, I would expect their team to take quite a few points away from other teams this year.

I would expect Florida to take a step back. The only 2 teams that finished ahead of the Sens this year in a playoff spot that I could possibly see them leapfrogging is the Isles and the Bruins.

I think the Leafs should be able to get around 110 pts this season.

 

[Voodoo Child]

I think every team and a lot of players enjoyed a bit of a bump last year and things table off this season.

While I think Matthews could get 60 goals again, there won’t be eight 100 point players, and there certainly won’t be eight 100 point teams in the East.

Florida definitely got worse now on the chance they’re better later, they’re good for 105-110 and getting exposed in the playoffs again.

Tampa also got worse but is still good, 100-110 and no one wants to play them.

Boston older and injuries, they could miss it. If anyone takes it from them my money’s on Detroit, but I don’t think so yet. I think they have one more year with Bergeron before they slip into purgatory.

Buffalo and Ottawa are better but still not in the top bracket. If Formenton and Batherson are named maybe Formenton is terminated - Batherson is too valuable and he’ll do an apology tour, maybe serve a team suspension - and I’m pretty sure there still has to be a trial.

Montreal will be last or second last for at least the next two seasons, they’ll end up with one of Bedard/Michkov/Fantilli.

…

The Leafs should comfortably make the playoffs and I think are a threat for the division. The Florida teams and Toronto are 99% in. In the Met I think only the Canes and th Rangers are guaranteed in.

Just once, okay well for the second time now (Montreal), it’d be nice to get a cupcake round instead of having to duke it out with the Tampas and Bostons of the division.

 

[Felix the Cat Potvin]

Beyond the top-4 forwards and a capable, if aging, defence, this roster blows right now. The reality is right before our face and there will need to be MAJOR additions to push this roster to contender status. I'm tired of rationalizing away this team's still glaring flaws.

We've once again assembled likely a successful regular season team (barring Murray and Samsonov don't implode)... and a disaster playoff squad. Pretty much all our playoff weaknesses like team toughness, depth scoring, and goaltending, haven't been addressed... in fact, they've gotten worse on paper! It's like Dubas's solution to our problems has been to bury his head in the sand, reverting to his core philosophy of small, skilled players from the Soo as a desperation tactic. And some act as if Emperor Dubas is still wearing clothes!

Few squads really "run it back" completely, especially unsuccessful squads. Every team in the league, especially those that struggle in the playoffs, at least attempt to address their weaknesses. We haven't. We're really running it back almost completely, with a waiver-wire goalie. Which is perplexing to me. Our strategy for winning seems to be getting an easier team than Tampa in the first round this year, which doesn't inspire a ton of confidence in us having a championship caliber roster.

 

[LeafGrief]

This is very easily a playoff team and likely with a good seed again. Defense has question marks with Muzzin's health, Gio's age, and Lilly+Sandin's development, but I like the group of players. If they're healthy, we've got 7 NHL quality players and all of them with upside or the ability to play up in the lineup. Forwards were 2nd in the league in goals last year so while depth questionable, we're not going to be sunk by our scoring.

The real question mark is in net. If Murray or Samsonov can get 'er done, we're a contender. If they stink, we're sunk. Get to the playoffs and anything can happen. We're never going to "go All-In" because this is ice hockey, not poker. We'll make an addition or two at the deadline again and it might be a big splash, but that is the most you'll ever see.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Beyond the top-4 forwards and a capable, if aging, defence, this roster blows right now. The reality is right before our face and there will need to be MAJOR additions to push this roster to contender status. I'm tired of rationalizing away this team's still glaring flaws.

We've once again assembled likely a successful regular season team (barring Murray and Samsonov don't implode)... and a disaster playoff squad. Pretty much all our playoff weaknesses like team toughness, depth scoring, and goaltending, haven't been addressed... in fact, they've gotten worse on paper! It's like Dubas's solution to our problems has been to bury his head in the sand, reverting to his core philosophy of small, skilled players from the Soo as a desperation tactic. And some act as if Emperor Dubas is still wearing clothes!

Few squads really "run it back" completely, especially unsuccessful squads. Every team in the league, especially those that struggle in the playoffs, at least attempt to address their weaknesses. We haven't. We're really running it back almost completely, with a waiver-wire goalie. Which is perplexing to me. Our strategy for winning seems to be getting an easier team than Tampa in the first round this year, which doesn't inspire a ton of confidence in us having a championship caliber roster.

It's almost like this arrogant rookie GM has no idea how to build a playoff team. He'd build a hell of a Euro team though!!

 

[Mess]

OUT: Campbell, Mrazek, Mikheyev, Spezza, Kase, Blackwell and Lyubushkin
vs
IN: Murray, Samsonov, Giordano, Audette, Malgin, Aube-Kubel, Jarnkrok, Mete, Jordie Benn

How much does that move the needle and in which direction?

All going to come down to what kind of bounce back seasons Leafs new goalies have in them.

 

[CabanaBoy5]

OUT: Campbell, Mrazek, Mikheyev, Spezza, Kase, Blackwell and Lyubushkin
vs
IN: Murray, Samsonov, Giordano, Audette, Malgin, Aube-Kubel, Jarnkrok, Mete, Jordie Benn

How much does that move the needle and in which direction?

All going to come down to what kind of bounce back seasons Leafs new goalies have in them.

Campbell-inconsistent, injured, less than a year as no. 1 at 30
Mrazek-disaster of a goalie, poor mechanics, injury-prone
Miky-will be missed but essentially a third liner depth player
Spezza-a year older, less impactful
Kase-injury-prone, one headshot from retirement
Blackwell-meh, really meh
Lyubushkin-one skill 6-7 dman forced to play top 4

Did we really lose that much to impact a 115 pt team?

Having said that, we didn't really improve the team nor get better to compete in the playoffs with that list of IN players. Wing and a prayer to improve but should still be good enough to get 110-115 pts.

 

[zeke]

Smith played 28 games last season. He LTIRetired because he was injured all of last season. I'm not sure you understand the value of stable goaltending if you believe that it's silly to assume that we've shored up the position.

I'm not even going to criticize Toronto's goaltending, because I personally like the gamble on Samsonov. But for a contending team, it's a pretty significant gamble in a make-or-break season.

The Oilers for the next two or three seasons will routinely see guys like Skinner, Broberg, Holloway and Bourgault step into secondary roles on their ELCs.

Responding to the initial post, why wouldn't Oiler fans be excited about the prospect of their team moving forward next season? Who did they lose? Kassian?

They lost Smith, who was their best goalie last year by a lot and better than Jack last year.

They lost Keith, the guy they used as their primary tough usage matchup dman.

And they look likely to lose another piece for cap reasons.

 

[notDatsyuk]

OUT: Campbell, Mrazek, Mikheyev, Spezza, Kase, Blackwell and Lyubushkin
vs
IN: Murray, Samsonov, Giordano, Audette, Malgin, Aube-Kubel, Jarnkrok, Mete, Jordie Benn

How much does that move the needle and in which direction?

All going to come down to what kind of bounce back seasons Leafs new goalies have in them.

Mikheyev is the only one who moves it for me. I would have been happy to keep him at $3-4 M, but he's another victim of the JT fiasco. Here he is a middle six forward, but I think both he and Vancouver consider him top six, hence his new contract. I think he'll do well there.

 

[HoweHullOrr]

The biggest variable is what kind of goaltending we get I'd think. Not sure about the Murray/Samsonov tandem. That's risky. Dubas's future depends on how well they perform imho.

We've been so tight against the cap that tinkering at the edges of the roster makes little difference I'd think.

 

[HoweHullOrr]

So, so negative. We're just unlucky.

I thought it was the refs this time?