The Sun: Atlantic Division Preview

[Evilhomer]

This is the lowest I've been on the team in the Matthews era yet.

So I'm gonna go out on a limb and say the Leafs come fourth in the Atlantic. Injuries on defense and goaltending will be the difference. The team will take another step backwards and miss the playoffs as a result.

A time limit cannot be attached to how long this team will remain swirling the bowl.

They are not one year behind schedule. Not even two or three years behind. They are INDEFINITELY behind schedule.

The flies will be hovering for the foreseeable future so long as Shanahan remains in charge.

Mark it on your calendars todays date. September 14, 2024 and the Leafs are still a steaming hot pile of stink. May as well write that every day continuing several years from now too.

Uncurling this pyramid sized cone shaped structure of shit Shanahan's built isn't gonna happen overnight.

Your commitment to the schtick is admirable. Not really based on reality, but admirable.

 

[rumman]

This is the lowest I've been on the team in the Matthews era yet.

So I'm gonna go out on a limb and say the Leafs come fourth in the Atlantic. Injuries on defense and goaltending will be the difference. The team will take another step backwards and miss the playoffs as a result.

A time limit cannot be attached to how long this team will remain swirling the bowl.

They are not one year behind schedule. Not even two or three years behind. They are INDEFINITELY behind schedule.

The flies will be hovering for the foreseeable future so long as Shanahan remains in charge.

Mark it on your calendars todays date. September 14, 2024 and the Leafs are still a steaming hot pile of stink. May as well write that every day continuing several years from now too.

Uncurling this pyramid sized cone shaped structure of shit Shanahan's built isn't gonna happen overnight.

If they can stay healthy, they’ll once again easily make the playoffs, if they can’t stay healthy it’s going to bet ugly. Tre’s signings are high risk, high reward, they’re going to need lots of luck and as a sixty year Leaf fan I can tell you luck has been in short supply……..

Your commitment to the schtick is admirable. Not really based on reality, but admirable.

“Always look in the bright side of life, da dum da dum da dum………”

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

Your commitment to the schtick is admirable. Not really based on reality, but admirable.

 

[BamBamCam]

Other than switching Toronto and Boston, and I think the spread between them will be 7 or 8 points, I agree with this.

And you have Toronto winning the division since Halloween last year. Hopefully one year you will be right.

 

[Enga Olly]

They won the Canadian division then proceeded to choke in their usual spectacular fashion in the playoffs.

To my mind that was the only real choke in this era. They pissed away a 3-1 stranglehold to a clearly inferior team. MM looked like he was going to cry on the ice at one point. That one left a mark.

Losing to the Bruins or TB in tight 7 game series are losses not chokes.

 

[Menzinger]

To my mind that was the only real choke in this era. They pissed away a 3-1 stranglehold to a clearly inferior team. MM looked like he was going to cry on the ice at one point. That one left a mark.

Losing to the Bruins or TB in tight 7 game series are losses not chokes.

It was also by far the easiest path to the cup finals they would have had via the 2nd and 3rd round matchups as well. That series was an extraordinarily heartbreaking outcome in many ways.

 

[colchar]

I’m pretty sure they haven’t won the division in the Matthews era which is sort of surprising.

I don't find that even remotely surprising.

This should be the year we win the division

Who cares? Winning the division isn't the goal.

 

[OVO16]

Now NHL’s heaviest team, are Bruins looking to go back to ‘big bad’ brand of hockey?

The 2024-25 Bruins are the heaviest team in the NHL, and also boast 13 skaters at 6-foot-3 or taller. Will that matter on the ice?

www.boston.com

 

[darrylsittler27]

I don't find that even remotely surprising.




Who cares? Winning the division isn't the goal.

Boston played all out to win the East, it backfired. First in the East rarely does well. I think they finish 4th and that's fine. Just have everyone healthy and fresh round one. There is no easy path out of the East next year.

 

[darrylsittler27]

This is the lowest I've been on the team in the Matthews era yet.

So I'm gonna go out on a limb and say the Leafs come fourth in the Atlantic. Injuries on defense and goaltending will be the difference. The team will take another step backwards and miss the playoffs as a result.

A time limit cannot be attached to how long this team will remain swirling the bowl.

They are not one year behind schedule. Not even two or three years behind. They are INDEFINITELY behind schedule.

The flies will be hovering for the foreseeable future so long as Shanahan remains in charge.

Mark it on your calendars todays date. September 14, 2024 and the Leafs are still a steaming hot pile of stink. May as well write that every day continuing several years from now too.

Uncurling this pyramid sized cone shaped structure of shit Shanahan's built isn't gonna happen overnight.

I get your point but they have a chance to win 2 rounds this year. Making the semis is progress and they may have close to 20 million to work with if Marner etc walk.

I have never seen a team find so many ways to lose in gm 7.

It was also by far the easiest path to the cup finals they would have had via the 2nd and 3rd round matchups as well. That series was an extraordinarily heartbreaking outcome in many ways.

 

[LeafsNet]

Leafs need to win the division…simple as that. It’s a step they need to take. It’s sad AF that they have only ONE……ONE….division title since 1967.

ONE!

I know it doesn’t guarantee a trip to the final, but like I said it’s a step they need to take.

Win the division, win the East, reach the final…..win the………..I won’t jinx it.

Might not happen this year, but this is the way I see it unfolding….or shall I say….this is the way I envisioned in back in 2017 after the loss to Washington.

 

[ACC1224]

Leafs need to win the division…simple as that. It’s a step they need to take. It’s sad AF that they have only ONE……ONE….division title since 1967.

ONE!

I know it doesn’t guarantee a trip to the final, but like I said it’s a step they need to take.

Win the division, win the East, reach the final…..win the………..I won’t jinx it.

Might not happen this year, but this is the way I see it unfolding….or shall I say….this is the way I envisioned in back in 2017 after the loss to Washington.

If things go right there is no reason why they can't win the division this year.

 

[LeafsNet]

If things go right there is no reason why they can't win the division this year.

 

[Budz]

I think if the Leafs get out to a fast start - they could do it and win the Atlantic.

However, I envision some early struggles with playing Berube style hockey. My hope is that they learn along the way - and are playing at a higher level come playoff time.

 

[LeafGrief]

We're in the mix to win the division, but I think Boston or Florida are way more odds-on favourites for it. I've also been expecting a Tampa resurgence for the last little while. They've got Vasi and the bones of those cup winning teams still in place, even if the depth is a shadow of what it once was. Guentzel will fit them like a glove, that's a dangerous, dangerous team.

Ottawa, Buffalo, and Detroit are all in the "believe it when I see it" category. Montreal is going to be bad again, so they'll play like demons whenever we face them.

I think we come third again. Our main risks are health, goaltending, and how Marner performs in his contract year. I've been predicting (wrongly) for a while now that the core sees the writing on the wall that it just doesn't work and an early slide extends into a playoff miss, but I think Berube dramatically lowers that risk this year (plus the sort of shame this implosion requires would have long since been met, it's clear our guys don't feel shame lol). I'm expecting another relatively boring 105 point season where we know by January that we're locked into a playoff spot. New season, same as the old season.

Our main optimism is in Berube, goaltending, Knies, and the defensive signings. In particular, the combination of Berube and Captain Matthews might give the boys a the right mix of accountability and leadership to tighten up. Bad games always happen, but this core has always suffered from lazy games and those really should not be happening.

 

[SprDaVE]

I think if the Leafs get out to a fast start - they could do it and win the Atlantic.

However, I envision some early struggles with playing Berube style hockey. My hope is that they learn along the way - and are playing at a higher level come playoff time.

It's very early so I'm sure we'll get a better picture by November but so far it's more or less the same level of hockey. I don't forsee a major shift in play style, at least in my opinion. Whether he can get more from the group in consistency and compete is the biggest factor.

The forecheck/cycling will need a lot of time to rectify. It's been a mess so far. Throwing pucks around in the offensive zone without purpose and completely omitting plays from the point. I dunno how many times they make a play to the point, only for the defenseman to throw it back in the corner and then losing the puck. It was a major issue last year, particularly in the last quarter + playoffs.

 

[myleafs]

Your commitment to the schtick is admirable. Not really based on reality, but admirable.

Says the pot to the kettle

 

[HamiltonNHL]

I predict Toronto, Ottawa, Florida make the playoffs from the Atlantic in that order.

Bold.

I like it.

Senators won’t score enough to make the playoffs.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

but this core has always suffered from lazy games and those really should not be happening.

…. Berube should get coach of the year if that happens.

 

[Menzinger]

We're in the mix to win the division, but I think Boston or Florida are way more odds-on favourites for it. I've also been expecting a Tampa resurgence for the last little while. They've got Vasi and the bones of those cup winning teams still in place, even if the depth is a shadow of what it once was. Guentzel will fit them like a glove, that's a dangerous, dangerous team.

Ottawa, Buffalo, and Detroit are all in the "believe it when I see it" category. Montreal is going to be bad again, so they'll play like demons whenever we face them.

I think we come third again. Our main risks are health, goaltending, and how Marner performs in his contract year. I've been predicting (wrongly) for a while now that the core sees the writing on the wall that it just doesn't work and an early slide extends into a playoff miss, but I think Berube dramatically lowers that risk this year (plus the sort of shame this implosion requires would have long since been met, it's clear our guys don't feel shame lol). I'm expecting another relatively boring 105 point season where we know by January that we're locked into a playoff spot. New season, same as the old season.

Our main optimism is in Berube, goaltending, Knies, and the defensive signings. In particular, the combination of Berube and Captain Matthews might give the boys a the right mix of accountability and leadership to tighten up. Bad games always happen, but this core has always suffered from lazy games and those really should not be happening.

I suspect the Bruins playing games with their goaltending is going to keep them out of the top few spots,.until they get that stabilized

 

[egd27]

but for the record, most teams win the cup without beating the best.

Well no, because they won the cup. I'm sure you have a whole pile of "expected " and "should have" stats but the result the Cup winner made the playoffs and did not lose a round.

That makes them the best team for that season

 

[LeafGrief]

I suspect the Bruins playing games with their goaltending is going to keep them out of the top few spots,.until they get that stabilized

The fall of the Bruins is the ultimate, “I’ll believe it when I see it”. They’re always strong, they’ll pull Hugh McLue von Perriwinkle out of the Tier 6 Danish league and he’ll put up .924 in 35 games or something.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Well no, because they won the cup. I'm sure you have a whole pile of "expected " and "should have" stats but the result the Cup winner made the playoffs and did not lose a round.
That makes them the best team for that season

Well first off, you seem to not understand what was being discussed. It wasn't about the team that wins. It was about the teams they play. But also no, the Cup winner is not automatically the best team.

 

[Evilhomer]

We're in the mix to win the division, but I think Boston or Florida are way more odds-on favourites for it. I've also been expecting a Tampa resurgence for the last little while. They've got Vasi and the bones of those cup winning teams still in place, even if the depth is a shadow of what it once was. Guentzel will fit them like a glove, that's a dangerous, dangerous team.

Ottawa, Buffalo, and Detroit are all in the "believe it when I see it" category. Montreal is going to be bad again, so they'll play like demons whenever we face them.

I think we come third again. Our main risks are health, goaltending, and how Marner performs in his contract year. I've been predicting (wrongly) for a while now that the core sees the writing on the wall that it just doesn't work and an early slide extends into a playoff miss, but I think Berube dramatically lowers that risk this year (plus the sort of shame this implosion requires would have long since been met, it's clear our guys don't feel shame lol). I'm expecting another relatively boring 105 point season where we know by January that we're locked into a playoff spot. New season, same as the old season.

Our main optimism is in Berube, goaltending, Knies, and the defensive signings. In particular, the combination of Berube and Captain Matthews might give the boys a the right mix of accountability and leadership to tighten up. Bad games always happen, but this core has always suffered from lazy games and those really should not be happening.

Boston's placing will really be all about the goaltending. If they push Swayman to December, I imagine they will lose some points running their backup for all of those games.

 

[Fogelhund]

To my mind that was the only real choke in this era. They pissed away a 3-1 stranglehold to a clearly inferior team. MM looked like he was going to cry on the ice at one point. That one left a mark.

Losing to the Bruins or TB in tight 7 game series are losses not chokes.

That was the only excusable choke. Tavares down early with a concussion, Matthews had his wrist hacked and needed surgery.

They'll easily make the playoffs this year, barring a number of players getting injured and missing a lot of time. They aren't the division favourites, though if they play with effort on a consistent basis, and the goaltending is healthy and solid, that isn't out of reach.

Of course what this group does in the playoffs, is a completely different story, but one step at a time.