TheDoldrums
Registered User
I'll say it again, Ottawa has a chance this year. It's fair to say goaltending has been their biggest problem and Ullmark may very well fix that. Don't blame fans for being optimistic.
This was true for Buffalo maybe 3-4 years ago. Sabres fan are much more pessimistic now. Wings/Sens fans took our spot of "this is the year"Nah,
That honour is shared between Buffalo and Toronto. Summer is those two fan bases favourite time of the season before they realize it's the same old/same old and the light fades from their eyes.
Toss in a. Heavy dose of 'this is the year The Bruins fall apart', and ´Tampa cheats',
Pretty much describes every off season Atlantic thread for the past dozen years.
ya, you're right.This was true for Buffalo maybe 3-4 years ago. Sabres fan are much more pessimistic now. Wings/Sens fans took our spot of "this is the year"
I don’t think so. They would be missing their biggest piece, but I think the improvements in goals against would carry them through the missing Matthews goals pretty well.
The team is more balanced this year, and Matthews brings a lot more than goals, but I think the defense is the best it’s looked in …. 20 years? God how sad is that? And the goaltending is going to be twice as good as it was the last 3 years with Samsonov in net.
Of course, that’s just on paper and anything can happen once they all hit the ice.
I think the Leafs have to be the odds on favorites to win the Atlantic, even if Matthews misses a week or two to start the season.
They are the only team who didn’t lose any pieces and got better at all the positions they struggled with last year.
The big dogs in the Atlantic have all taken major hits, except the Maple Leafs. The Maple Leafs are the only team who got better compared to Florida, Boston and tampa
The Leafs got better? They added a backup goalie and a 35 year old #4 to play as a #2.
OEL, Hakanpaa and Pacioretty suck.
Tavares is another year older and slower.
And Nylander is playing C now?
I don’t understand how anyone looks at their team and thinks it’s better than Florida, Boston or Tampa.
You will lol
The Leafs operated like a team desperate to keep a window that has already closed open this summer.
Not winning during your window doesn’t extend it, and they’ve had 8 years. Win or lose, it closes at the same time.
Bringing in 35 year olds with big names, hiring a tough guy coach to “change the culture”… we’ve seen this before. It never works.
If you look at their regular season point totals, they’ve been steadily declining for 3 years now. I bet that continues.
How many other teams haven’t won in the last 8 years?
Don’t be ridiculous
I think Toronto is one team that is sneaky old and slow. Look at their D, and upfront they want to add Patches while also still having the declining JT. The top 3 guys upfront are not old, but they have never been fast skaters. It really shows in the ploffs.
Truth.Lots. But there’s always a natural changing of the guard in the league. The top teams of the last 8 years won’t be the top teams of the next 8 years. The Detroit Red Wings of the 90s and early 00s are not the norm.
115, 111, 102. Those are their point totals from the last 3 years. That’s a big drop already and I don’t think it’s stopping.
They only got older.
They’re a 96-100 point team. Probably get a wildcard spot, but not a contender to worry about.
I don't know why they won't give Robertson a chance. Isn't Patches literally going to take Robertson 's spot?
They're not old. Their core pieces are still in their prime. Just another delusional Sens fanLots. But there’s always a natural changing of the guard in the league. The top teams of the last 8 years won’t be the top teams of the next 8 years. The Detroit Red Wings of the 90s and early 00s are not the norm.
115, 111, 102. Those are their point totals from the last 3 years. That’s a big drop already and I don’t think it’s stopping.
They only got older.
They’re a 96-100 point team. Probably get a wildcard spot, but not a contender to worry about.
ya, you're right.
I shouldn't throw Sabres fans into the fire (we all want your team to do better) as it was mostly pundits and neutral fans and those that swear by 'the draft' - but a decade of people clamouring for the assension of The Sabres and demise of The Bruins has it stuck in my head. It was clockwork for a good decade. The craziest two teams to read prognostications about in the summer for a long time.
Tor
Fla
Buf
Bos
TB
Det
Ott
Mtl
Everyone is underestimating the Sabres this year Calling 100 point season