Still waiting for the big reveal why they didn't pay Hyman 8 x 5. Have to be kidding me if it was to split him into a top 6 or bust that needs to be carried and a 4C and whatever else scrub I'm forgetting (scrub only applied to 3rd guy)
You don't need to worry about cap space. The players Dubas likes these days don't require much. If you see a high end guy available just forget about it, Dubas is the type of dad who says we have left overs at home when you ask him to buy you a snack.
Unfortunately that’s what you get when you have to shop in the bargain bin every off season. Let more proven players walk and bring in players that other teams no longer want either because they don’t move the needle or are too banged up to rely on.
Sure they will make the playoffs. Its not about ANY OF THAT. It's the same ***** thats been happening year in and year out. They don't show up to play on time, they rarely outwork their opponents. You can't always outscore your faults.
Vegas odds are also based upon the amount of money that will be bet on a given team and they know that the Leafs have the biggest fan so lower their odds in anticipation of all the Leaf bets that will be coming in.
This doesn't swing the odds anywhere near as much as some people seem to think. In the playoffs, we were underdogs against BOS both years, and almost even with CLB of all teams. If what you're saying had much of an effect, we would have been favorites in all these cases, and probably massive favorites against CLB.
This entitled group flips off their own fans, and they can't bother to show up to entertain when everyone in the rink and at home is rabidly excited for the opening home stand.
Bets made before the season starts are very different than after watching teams for a full season and then seeing their first round matchup. The media has months to talk about the team in the off season and build up fans expectations. Even the fans and management of the worst teams in the league think it will be their year but after 82 games reality sets in and a matchup may look unfavorable effecting where the money goes.
That's might be logical but this argument about the bookies factoring in Toronto fans etc. gets brought up all the time and it's no different when the playoffs are about to start. Also, the years when the Leafs sucked the bookies gave them no respect whatsoever but now, things are different. As I said earlier, the Leafs in that 2nd tier of contenders after COL seems accurate to me. Where do you see them if you don't think that's accurate?
Bookies book games based on cash not talent. It just means the Leafs bring in the most bets.
This doesn't affect the betting lines nearly as much as you think it does. I've made a fair bit of money betting on sports and I'm comfortable saying that I know what I'm talking about.
I think they’re likely to make the playoffs but have little chance of winning the cup. They‘ve been a cup favourite to start the season for the last several years and can’t even win a round so either the bookies don’t have a clue and the team is overrated as a true contender or they want to attract Leaf fans money so they hype their chances. I think it’s time that Leaf fans realize that the team as constituted with so much of their $$ going to offensive stars leaves little else available to build a complete and deep enough team to win in the playoffs. I would have them outside the top ten as far as odds on favourites to win the cup this season.
If you don't have the Leafs in your top ten then we're so far apart that nothing to do but agree to disagree.
I’ve been watching the Leafs for almost 60 years and played 5 years pro. Bookie aside. This team doesn’t have what it takes.If you don't have the Leafs in your top ten then we're so far apart that nothing to do but agree to disagree.
And as far as "the last several years and can’t even win a round" ... I know that's favorite thing to say in these parts - 5 consecutive 1st round exits as if that means that this team can't win. However, the past does NOT dictate the future and IMHO, it's completely insane to think that what happened say against Boston many years ago has any relevance today. Since then, Dubas has completely rebuilt our D and has done a very good job at it as well so that is just one reason that this is simply not the same team. Of course it makes sense to look at the past to judge what we have but last season carries by far the most weight considering this is much the same team today and guess what, last season was pretty damn good. They came very close against TB and if they win that one, they have an excellent shot at going to the finals. This team is stacked and there is zero reason they can't do it this season. Our young stars are also in their prime now, they all played great against TB and for sure they are much better than they were 2, 3 years ago or whatever which is another reason that thinking that playoff losses from years ago mean much for our prospects this season simply does not make sense.
If only I had a dollar for every time someone said the bookies don't have a clue and came out looking silly in the end ...
I forgot to address this earlier. Let's have a look and see if them not winning a round proves the bookies don't have a clue. Against WSH they were big dogs and if anything, they performed better than expected by taking it to 6 games with all those OT games. Then two series against BOS and one against TB, they were dogs in all those as well though not big dogs like they were against WSH, IIRC the most lopsided odds out of those 3 was a BOS series where BOS was given a 57% chance to win so again, if anything, the Leafs outperformed expectations by taking the series to 7 every time but one thing for sure, the team favoured by the bookies won. The CLB series was tough to call, both teams had massive injuries during the covid season, just a strange year all round but the bookies had it as pickem, series went the distance so so far the bookies are 5 for 5. That leaves MTL where we were HUGE favourites but Tavares went down, Price went into god mode (especially in OT) and we lost. Upsets happen but still, bookies going 5 for 6 if anything proves that they very much know what they're doing and if you think they should not have had the Leafs as massive favourites going in to that one, then I question your sanity.
I've been watching for about as long as you have. I played a few years myself, not pro but that means literally nothing. As I explained above, your arguments about the bookies make zero sense and even if you played pro for 20 years, that wouldn't change that simple fact. I've made a fair bit of money betting on pro sports and I'm comfortable saying that I have a pretty good idea of what the bookies are all about, I think that's a bit more relevant than your playing experience when we're talking about cup odds so I said earlier, agree to disagree. If you don't have the Leafs even in your top 10 then we're so far apart, further discussion would be a waste of time.
Eh, I posted about it a bit one time a while back but trust me, I have nothing to share that would benefit you today. Basically I took advantage of the fact that proline was way far off in the odds they posted and there were a ton of flaws in what they did that a smart bettor could take advantage of. But that was like 30 years ago or so and yeah, I didn't bet against the bookies, I bet against the Ontario government. And to a certain extent, I used the lines set by the bookies as part of the strategy which was in essence that when proline and the bookies disagreed, I bet on the bookies being right every damn time.
Hehe i was obviously joking but appreciate the story.. very intriguing.. will have to put that in the memory list to look up one day
Agree 100%. Eat those leftovers and save the money for something really important. And I feel like this is the year we are likely to be served some prime rib as the TDL approaches, it just makes a ton of sense to me this season in a way that hasn't been true up to this point with Dubas as GM. And I don't say that because he needs a win to keep his job, people were saying that last season and I didn't agree with that then either. It's just that it's time, this team is so stacked, the core is all in their prime, the other contenders in the East have taken a hit in a way that we haven't, the East is there for the taking. Do it Kyle, let's go to the finals and show the world how good this team can be!
I wouldn't read much into it. His nerves might be on edge a bit but with those playoff failures piling up, he wouldn't be human if that wasn't the case. I doubt he'll be back next year if we fail again which is another reason I hope we finally break through. He's done a good job overall IMO, it's yet another very good team this season and it's up to the players to get it done on the ice. Dubas is a smart guy, I think he'll be a GM in the NHL next season no matter what happens and I hope it's with the Leafs.
