Speculation: Atlantic Division Predictions

[Gabriel426]

Tavares is aging and coming off a devastating concussion

Matthews is injury prone and coming into the season just recovering from surgery

Campbell is used of playing 20 games a season.

3rd and 4th lines are awful.

There are tons of question marks with the Leafs.

Rask might not play for the Bruins.
They also lost their 2C.
Habs will be without Weber, Price and their 1C.

Both teams lost their starting goalie while the Leafs got an unproven starting goalie who showed he could be a starter in the League last season.

Having an aging 2C and quoting you ‘injury prone’ 1C is still better than losing a 2C or 1C in the offseason with no proper replacement. Plus Bergeron is also a year older and I don’t see why you don’t point that out.

The Leafs might choke in playoffs again but to say they are more uncertain than the Habs and the Bruins and will miss the playoffs is just off base.

I respect everyone opinions but this sounds more like a hatred to the Leafs than an opinion.

 

[Gabriel426]

In terms of regular season, you guys do remember that we only play Bruins, TB, Panthers and other divisional teams FOUR times each right?
Even if the Leafs went 0-4 against Bruins, TB and Panthers. They could still finish ahead of them in the regular season bc that’s only 12 games and not 27 games like in the North Division.

in terms of playoffs, that’s another story.

 

[Stephen]

A reminder that I'm not the one that brought up Florida's worse playoff performance to try and justify increasing their placement relative to the Leafs.

I wouldn’t characterize Toronto’s meltdown vs the Habs as a better performance than Florida’s losing effort to two time cup champions. Secondly, I didn’t provide a ranking or place Florida definitively over the Leafs so I’m not clear who you are debating if everyone’s in agreement that Florida is a good team.

 

[Stephen]

As I pointed out earlier in the thread where both Florida's GM and Coach were both top 3 finalists for Exec and Coach of the year last season both viewed by their peers and doing well.. Leaf Nation fan base is certainly split on the job they believe our GM and coach are doing.

Management has to be a factor here considering coach Q in Florida won three Stanley Cup titles as head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks under his belt in comparison as well as > 1700 NHL games and 962 regular season wins to Keefe here.

When 2 teams have nearly identical records over the past 2 seasons then management can be a difference maker to break a tie. IMO

I think Florida has the feeling of momentum entering the season. They bet on young reclamation’s and basically hit on a number of “Galechenyuk bets” and since they’re coming from farther behind the pack feel like they’re on an upward swing similar to the Leafs after the Washington series. They also were able to add a significant ish piece in Reinhart whereas we’re more or less capped out.

That said they will have to answer some key questions. Their goaltending has potential but if Bob continues to struggle they’ll be a mess. A number of their guys had career years and will need to replicate. And they’ve always been an organization that has failed to build on momentum with their South Florida curse. So we’ll see.

 

[leafsfan5]

Do you take Bergeron or Matthews in the playoffs next two years?

I take Matthews, he'll be 24/25 for those runs while Bergeron will be 36/37. One is in his prime and the other will be retiring soon.

Boston also has no one close to the level of Tavares for their 2C position

 

[Dekes For Days]

I wouldn’t characterize Toronto’s meltdown vs the Habs as a better performance than Florida’s losing effort to two time cup champions.

I wouldn't characterize Florida losing in 6 to the cup champions, and getting outscored 24-17 in the process, to be much of a better result than the Leafs losing in 7 to the cup finalist, while outscoring them 18-14.

Secondly, I didn’t provide a ranking or place Florida definitively over the Leafs so I’m not clear who you are debating if everyone’s in agreement that Florida is a good team.

Your statement was in response to somebody asking what justifies putting Florida over us in the rankings, and I was quite surprised by your answer, especially considering how much emphasis has been put on end result over performance or context around here when it comes to the Leafs.

 

[Stephen]

I wouldn't characterize Florida losing in 6 to the cup champions, and getting outscored 24-17 in the process, to be much of a better result than the Leafs losing in 7 to the cup finalist, while outscoring them 18-14.

Your statement was in response to somebody asking what justifies putting Florida over us in the rankings, and I was quite surprised by your answer, especially considering how much emphasis has been put on end result over performance or context around here when it comes to the Leafs.

Dekes, I think we covered all the angles on Florida being a good team which you have agreed to and we clearly have different interpretations on their playoff results vs Toronto’s, and I’ve offered no final opinion on how both teams will finish in the standings vs one another so there’s nothing to argue about there either. I think we can leave it at that unless you’re intentionally trying to cross examine my original comment.

 

[666]

These prediction threads are silly because no one can predict injuries.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Dekes, I think we covered all the angles on Florida being a good team which you have agreed to and we clearly have different interpretations on their playoff results vs Toronto’s, and I’ve offered no final opinion on how both teams will finish in the standings vs one another so there’s nothing to argue about there either. I think we can leave it at that unless you’re intentionally trying to cross examine my original comment.

I'm not sure what you mean by "intentionally trying to cross examine", but yes, I think we've both established our positions. I agree that Florida is a good team, but I don't think their first round loss is a good reason for somebody to rank them over us.

 

[The CyNick]

Lots of fans didn't have the leafs in 1st in their division last year. Many claimed they would be battling for a playoffs spot in the Canadian division.

Some even said that Montreal could be the toughest out in the division. Those people were right.

 

[The CyNick]

Rask might not play for the Bruins.
They also lost their 2C.
Habs will be without Weber, Price and their 1C.

Both teams lost their starting goalie while the Leafs got an unproven starting goalie who showed he could be a starter in the League last season.

Having an aging 2C and quoting you ‘injury prone’ 1C is still better than losing a 2C or 1C in the offseason with no proper replacement. Plus Bergeron is also a year older and I don’t see why you don’t point that out.

The Leafs might choke in playoffs again but to say they are more uncertain than the Habs and the Bruins and will miss the playoffs is just off base.

I respect everyone opinions but this sounds more like a hatred to the Leafs than an opinion.

Let's see what happens on the ice Pal.

 

[Kiwi]

It's an interesting division

Tampa are the best and until somebody knocks them off they remain as such
Florida looks improved from last season and they played bloody well last season
I think the Bruins may be a faller this year, no obvious 2nd line center, no Rask early and an older Marchand and Bergeron certainly makes them interesting
Montreal will lose plenty of experience but they do have some talented kids coming through
The Leafs have plenty of talent and good regular season records so you would think they will be in it until the end
Ottowa is a goid young team but I think they are still a year short of challenging for the playoffs
The other two teams aren't great

So I think Tampa, Florida, Leafs and one of Boston or Montreal get through and I'm leaning Montreal

 

[Mess]

Rask might not play for the Bruins.
They also lost their 2C.
.

Boston Bruins


Rask eyes Bruins return: 'I will be a cheap goalie for them'

Aug 25

Free agent goaltender Tuukka Rask is planning to return to the Boston Bruins this season once he recovers from off-season hip surgery.

Rask told WEEI 93.7 FM Boston on Wednesday that he is prepared to take a discount to return to the Bruins for a 15th season.

"I played with one team when I was in Finland (Ilves), I have been so lucky to be part of only one team in the NHL," Rask said. "For me, it's about that pride of playing for one team and one team only. I have no reason to chase the money anymore and go somewhere else. It's going to be one of those things where the Bruins are my home, Boston is my home. I've always wanted to play here, wanted to stay here. So, the money won't be an issue. We had a conversation with [Bruins general manager Don Sweeney] and I will be a cheap goalie for them."

 

[Stephen]

Boston Bruins


Rask eyes Bruins return: 'I will be a cheap goalie for them'

Aug 25

Free agent goaltender Tuukka Rask is planning to return to the Boston Bruins this season once he recovers from off-season hip surgery.

Rask told WEEI 93.7 FM Boston on Wednesday that he is prepared to take a discount to return to the Bruins for a 15th season.

"I played with one team when I was in Finland (Ilves), I have been so lucky to be part of only one team in the NHL," Rask said. "For me, it's about that pride of playing for one team and one team only. I have no reason to chase the money anymore and go somewhere else. It's going to be one of those things where the Bruins are my home, Boston is my home. I've always wanted to play here, wanted to stay here. So, the money won't be an issue. We had a conversation with [Bruins general manager Don Sweeney] and I will be a cheap goalie for them."

Hard to figure out what the plan with Rask is. Bruins invested real money in Ullmark (Andersen starting money), and Swayman is making inroads as the goalie of the future. Having Rask is better than not having Rask in the short term, but even in the short term, it seems like they have a plan in place. Is Rask negotiating in public where there's no deal to be had? Keep in mind how the Bruins did Chara dirty last offseason.

 

[Mess]

Hard to figure out what the plan with Rask is. Bruins invested real money in Ullmark (Andersen starting money), and Swayman is making inroads as the goalie of the future. Having Rask is better than not having Rask in the short term, but even in the short term, it seems like they have a plan in place. Is Rask negotiating in public where there's no deal to be had? Keep in mind how the Bruins did Chara dirty last offseason.

I think Boston biggest new impact player is going to be Taylor Hall who put up 8-6-14 points in 16 games after they acquired him & 3-2-5 points in the playoffs. So while losing an aging Krecji will hurt them defensively mainly, Hall could put up PPG stats to offset that.

Rask seems fairly certain that once he is ready to go in January that he will be back in Boston. Going to come in sort of like a free addition near TD day if he returns in the new year at a low cost.

Tuukka Rask Boston Bruins return - TSN.ca

Boston has long been our nemesis, particularly come playoff time, and likely going to be standing in Leafs way again.

 

[Blowfish]

I take Matthews, he'll be 24/25 for those runs while Bergeron will be 36/37. One is in his prime and the other will be retiring soon.

Boston also has no one close to the level of Tavares for their 2C position

I said next two years....

 

[Kiwi]

I think Boston biggest new impact player is going to be Taylor Hall who put up 8-6-14 points in 16 games after they acquired him & 3-2-5 points in the playoffs. So while losing an aging Krecji will hurt them defensively mainly, Hall could put up PPG stats to offset that.

Rask seems fairly certain that once he is ready to go in January that he will be back in Boston. Going to come in sort of like a free addition near TD day if he returns in the new year at a low cost.

Tuukka Rask Boston Bruins return - TSN.ca

Boston has long been our nemesis, particularly come playoff time, and likely going to be standing in Leafs way again.

Hall still needs a center to help him get PPG and I'm not sure a 3rd liner playing as a 2nd liner is going to cut it

Krecji is a very good and underrated 2C who was a 1B at his best

 

[leafsfan5]

I said next two years....

Yes....and for these next 2 years Matthews will be 24 and 25, prime years for a superstar. Bergeron will be 36 and 37. He will likely not be as impactful as a prime Matthews will be

 

[Gabriel426]

I think Boston biggest new impact player is going to be Taylor Hall who put up 8-6-14 points in 16 games after they acquired him & 3-2-5 points in the playoffs. So while losing an aging Krecji will hurt them defensively mainly, Hall could put up PPG stats to offset that.

Rask seems fairly certain that once he is ready to go in January that he will be back in Boston. Going to come in sort of like a free addition near TD day if he returns in the new year at a low cost.

Tuukka Rask Boston Bruins return - TSN.ca

Boston has long been our nemesis, particularly come playoff time, and likely going to be standing in Leafs way again.

Not discrediting the Bruins but I just don’t understand why people talk about JT is aging while Bergeron is older but somehow age will never affect him. Then you have Rask who looks to be back in Jan and he will be back to his old self right away despite starting the season in Jan instead of Late Sept like the rest of the league.

Like us, Bruins got a lot of questions marks.
If anything, the regular season is very long and injuries and forms play such a huge role on team performance.
Now if we are facing the Bruins in a Best of 7 playoff series, that’s a whole different conversation.

 

[Gabriel426]

Let's see what happens on the ice Pal.

Are you one of those Leafsnation that is only happy when Leafs is losing snd miserable?
Just curious.

 

[Stephen]

Not discrediting the Bruins but I just don’t understand why people talk about JT is aging while Bergeron is older but somehow age will never affect him. Then you have Rask who looks to be back in Jan and he will be back to his old self right away despite starting the season in Jan instead of Late Sept like the rest of the league.

Like us, Bruins got a lot of questions marks.
If anything, the regular season is very long and injuries and forms play such a huge role on team performance.
Now if we are facing the Bruins in a Best of 7 playoff series, that’s a whole different conversation.

Patrice Bergeron is 2 years younger than Jason Spezza, and Father Time is undefeated. With the loss of Krejci I think Bergeron's work load just gets harder and harder unless someone like Jack Studnicka is ready to do the heavy lifting on the second line right out of the box. Guys like Coyle, Nosek aren't exactly the A Team.

 

[Mess]

Not discrediting the Bruins but I just don’t understand why people talk about JT is aging while Bergeron is older but somehow age will never affect him. Then you have Rask who looks to be back in Jan and he will be back to his old self right away despite starting the season in Jan instead of Late Sept like the rest of the league.

Like us, Bruins got a lot of questions marks.
If anything, the regular season is very long and injuries and forms play such a huge role on team performance.
Now if we are facing the Bruins in a Best of 7 playoff series, that’s a whole different conversation.

Agreed.

However this Bruins team is just 1 weird pandemic season of last year removed from the President's trophy winners when they put up 100 points in only 70 games in 2019-20. Our Leafs had 81 points in 70 games in comparison before that season ended with Leafs a distant 3rd in the Div behind the Bruins when the lights went out on that season. When we were in the Atlantic last that was a +19 point gap in favour of the Bruins in the standings after only 70 games played.

Bruins GM Don Sweeney was voted by his peers as the NHL's General Manager of the Year in 2018-19 as the club compiled the third-best record in the NHL with 107 points and advanced to the Stanley Cup Final, and and as mentioned the club won the President's Trophy with the league's best record in 2019-20. The team's five-year record with Sweeney at the helm is 229-120-49 for a .637 win percentage, which ranks third in the NHL over that span

I just don't see anything to suggest that our Leafs have closed that gap. IMO

The fact the Bruins entire Perfection Line consumes only $19.5 mil for 3 highly productive players will always give them a great advantage when building around them. If add in newly signed Hall for $6 mil AAV that makes their top 4 forwards = $25.5 mil compared to Leafs core 4 of $40.5 mil which gives them +$15 mil extra cap when team building. particularly if those 4 players each offset at par statistically.

I can't help but think our Leafs gave up our 1st round pick + 2 others for Nick Foligno and now Boston is the benefactor signing him for $3.8 mil which we couldn't afford and then we snapped up Bruins non qualified players in Ritchie and Kase that they tossed away, by cutting from the bottom of their roster and using similar cap space on them. That seems like a move that would widen the gap as opposed to closing it.

Injuries are apart of the game and happen to anyone but those can't be predicted nor factored in to the equation, other than having organizational depth to survive and absorb them.. However that said picture a Leafs Dcore if Reilly or Muzzin would miss significant time, leaving us Brodie, Holl, Dermott, Sandin, Liljegren, Menell and one of the top 2 and tell me if that looks like a playoff team defense?

 

[LeafChief]

Agreed.

However this Bruins team is just 1 weird pandemic season of last year removed from the President's trophy winners when they put up 100 points in only 70 games in 2019-20. Our Leafs had 81 points in 70 games in comparison before that season ended with Leafs a distant 3rd in the Div behind the Bruins when the lights went out on that season. When we were in the Atlantic last that was a +19 point gap in favour of the Bruins in the standings after only 70 games played.

Bruins GM Don Sweeney was voted by his peers as the NHL's General Manager of the Year in 2018-19 as the club compiled the third-best record in the NHL with 107 points and advanced to the Stanley Cup Final, and and as mentioned the club won the President's Trophy with the league's best record in 2019-20.

I just don't see anything to suggest that our Leafs have closed that gap. IMO

The fact the Bruins entire Perfection Line consumes only $19.5 mil for 3 highly productive players will always give them a great advantage when building around them. If add in newly signed Hall for $6 mil AAV that makes their top 4 forwards = $25.5 mil compared to Leafs core 4 of $40.5 mil which gives them +$15 mil extra cap when team building. particularly if those 4 players each offset at par statistically.

I can't help but think our Leafs gave up our 1st round pick + 2 others for Nick Foligno and now Boston is the benefactor signing him for $3.8 mil which we couldn't afford and then we snapped up Bruins non qualified players in Ritchie and Kase that they tossed away, by cutting from the bottom of their roster and using similar cap space on them. That seems like a move that would widen the gap as opposed to closing it.

Injuries are apart of the game and happen to anyone but those can't be predicted nor factored in to the equation, other than having organizational depth to survive and absorb them.. However that said picture a Leafs Dcore if Reilly or Muzzin would miss significant time, leaving us Brodie, Holl, Dermott, Sandin, Liljegren, Menell and one of the top 2 and tell me if that looks like a playoff team defense?

 

[kb]

Dying here......LOLOL!

 

[makbeer]

The issue with JT is his skating peaked at average. As he ages that is going to get worse.

This is purely anecdotal and i may be totally wrong, but it feels like players who can skate tend to have long careers because even as they age they can still keep up.