Speculation: Atlantic Division Predictions

[notbias]

Some people are saying that Tampa got weaker yet they are ranking them 2nd in the Atlantic.

???????

Lol

Tampa definitely got weaker, but so did Boston, and maybe people think Florida will regress back to where they were over the last few years.

 

[mikeyz]

Tampa Boston and Florida should be top 3 pretty easy .. Boston and Florida are deeper teams .. Tampa has best tender and defense in league ..
Leafs will fight it out with Metro teams for wildcard spots .. my guess is they fall short of playoffs but it will likely come down to last game of season it is that close

Agreed.

 

[Burnie97]

Tampa
Toronto
Florida
Boston
Ottawa
Montreal
Detroit
Buffalo

 

[horner]

Florida is the tough one, they had a great year last season but is it actually sustainable? They have some great top end talent (Barkov, Huberdeau) but so many other players played above expectations, it's hard to imagine them having everything go that right again.

Weegar doubled his previous career high in points
Verhaeghe the late bloomer doubled his high in goals and almost tripled his high in pts
Wenneberg had more goals last season in 56 games than the previous 3 seasons combined (198games) - I know he's gone but still unexpected production
Bennet had more points in 10 games with Florida then the previous 38 games in Calgary or the previous season
Throw in guys like Duclair, and Vatrano who are niche type of players who both had good years for them.

Their Goalie situation is also interesting, Driedger had far better stats and 14 of the teams wins, but Bobrovsky still had a good record despite mediocre stats, and in 2019/2020 Bobrovsky was terrible so who knows what they are going to get from him. They also have Knight who looks very good but unproven so who knows there.

One of the best coaches Quenneville

 

[Lightsol]

I think 1-4 is kind of interesting because it will be some assortment of Toronto, Boston, Florida, Tampa, but I don't understand the Florida hype (they are contenders all of a sudden?), Tampa may have the worst bottom 6 in the division after losing their entire 3rd line, Boston lost some key pieces.

1. Toronto
2. Tampa
3. Boston
4. Florida
5. Ottawa
6. Montreal
7. Detroit
8. Buffalo

I don't get the Florida hype either. They have exactly as much success over the past 20 years as we do, yet everyone assumes they're a MUCH better team...

 

[Menzinger]

They deserve to be bad mouthed for choking the last two years in the playoffs. As for two seasons ago, they were neck and neck with Florida for the last playoff spot. Did you forget that Leafs decided to stand pat at the TDL because they did not believe in the team after the loss to Ayres? As it stands, I don't see a reason to be bullish on this team going into the season.

Mrazek is not greater than Andy (and Canes would agree). You are also underselling the loss of Hyman and Bogo although Sandin and Lily could surprise but I need to be convinced.

Let the games begin so we can see what this group has in store for us long suffering fans.

Which Andy are you talking about? Him at his very best 3-4 seasons ago? I'd agree.

The way he performed last season, it's not that hard to improve upon.

 

[Menzinger]

Tampa is a lesser team, but credit is still earned and should likely be expected to take the division. Toronto, barring any freak injuries should likely take 2nd.

Florida is getting overrated a lot, though I can see them edging the Bruins

 

[egd27]

When they started getting injured.

They were at a 105pt pace under Keefe that season... you can use whatever split of games you want to try to justify why they weren't, but they were.

Ok.....ignore the 50 games of .500ish hockey and use the incredibly hot 20 game sample to define their season.

Not bias.......good grief

 

[57 Years No Cup]

1. Tampa
2. Toronto
3. Florida
4. Boston
5. Montreal
6. Ottawa
7. Detroit
8. Buffalo

LOL. Good luck.More like 3rd max competing for 4th.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Ok.....ignore the 50 games of .500ish hockey and use the incredibly hot 20 game sample to define their season.
Not bias.......good grief

You're the one trying to ignore the ~50 games of 103 point hockey, and use a way below normal ~20 game sample under a different coach to define their season.

The period where our team wasn't completely decimated to injury, or playing under a different coach, would actually likely be the most representative of what the team was, especially considering the impressive record continued this year.

 

[kb]

You're the one trying to ignore the ~50 games of 103 point hockey, and use a way below normal ~20 game sample under a different coach to define their season.

The period where our team wasn't completely decimated to injury, or playing under a different coach, would actually likely be the most representative of what the team was, especially considering the impressive record continued this year.

Are you surprised by that misleading post from that poster? I'm not - at all.

 

[Racer88]

What I’m not surprised at is the multitude of excuses here.
Injuries are things that many clubs go through

 

[egd27]

You're the one trying to ignore the ~50 games of 103 point hockey, and use a way below normal ~20 game sample under a different coach to define their season.

no, just using facts

70 games

1st 23	9	10	4	0.478
2nd 24	16	6	2	0.739
3rd 23	11	9	3	0.521

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

After the initial coaching change bump, they trended back toward where they were under Babcock. Not having to play the last 12 games may have been a good thing.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

no, just using facts

70 games

1st 23	9	10	4	0.478
2nd 24	16	6	2	0.739
3rd 23	11	9	3	0.521

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

After the initial coaching change bump, they trended back toward where they were under Babcock. Not having to play the last 12 games may have been a good thing.

as stupid as it is to look at things this way, the dumbest part by far is acting like the stretch of 16-6-2 hockey was just a given and Keefe deserves no credit for it. Do you think that happens every time a coaching change happens?

 

[zeke]

no, just using facts

70 games

1st 23	9	10	4	0.478
2nd 24	16	6	2	0.739
3rd 23	11	9	3	0.521

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

After the initial coaching change bump, they trended back toward where they were under Babcock. Not having to play the last 12 games may have been a good thing.

And then after that initial coaching bump.....thry played at a 113pt pace the next season.

 

[All Mod Cons]

So why are people saying Florida is a good team? The sample size is too small.

Leafs are over a 105pt pace under Keefe in a season and a half.

Small sample size.

It's the answer for everything.

Also, can't use the North division for anything unfortunately.

 

[Beaszt519]

If every team were to stay relatively healthy than, (in no particular order)

Toronto and Tampa are 1/2.

3/4/5 will be the next tier all being pretty equal for different reasons, Montreal, Boston and Florida.

6/7 will be Ottawa and Detroit.

8 without a doubt is Buffalo.

 

[egd27]

And then after that initial coaching bump.....thry played at a 113pt pace the next season.

Yes they did......though I don't think we see eye to eye on the quality of competition in the North .

I'm looking forward to see if they can do something in the the 100-105 range for a full season in the Atlantic.

And more importantly, figure out how to finally have some playoff success.

 

[zeke]

Yes they did......though I don't think we see eye to eye on the quality of competition in the North .

Should certainly put the notion of a new coach bump (which doesn't exist) to bed.

 

[egd27]

And then after that initial coaching bump.....they played at a 113pt pace the next season.

Should certainly put the notion of a new coach bump (which doesn't exist) to bed.

 

[zeke]

Sarcasm.

 

[egd27]

Sarcasm.

Sure, sure.

 

[zeke]

Sure.

 

[Dekes For Days]

no, just using facts

Okay, let's look at the facts.

First 23 games, under Babcock: 78 point pace
Final 47 games, under Keefe: 103 point pace
This season, under Keefe: 113 point pace

 

[IPS]

Florida have coach Q while we have Keefe but I digress.

I hope you are right but I am curious as to what makes you more bullish about this Leaf team ??

I still think our core edges theirs out so I continue to be more bullish on the Leafs... helps too when it's the only other team to have not won a playoff series in the cap era lol.