Can they break the streak?

[Disgruntled Observer*]

1. Are you sure your #'s are accurate? I heard buyouts don't start until next year, which makes all your statements lies.
2. There has been zero buyouts to day so once again your statements are lies.
3. You have n o proof that Toronto intends to spend to 70M this year. So that is a lie.

4. Regardless of when the buyouts can occur, or the max gap in cap room, you have zero proof that enough teams have decided to go to the cap floor while Toronto spends to the cap that they would even make the post season.

Your entire statement was a lie. A Bunch of Lies and fabrications.

With a $26.2 million (not "near 30") separation between cap floor and ceiling, you really think it's unreasonable for the teams losing money to try and cut costs?
You really think it's unreasonable for the ridiculously rich teams to spend the extra money to improve their teams?

I (and most rational people) think that those 2 things are EXACTLY what will happen. It's actually common sense.

I'm a "liar" for pointing out what will most likely happen?

Once again, I would like to congratulate you.

You have once again avoided all important facts, and once again dumbed down the conversation to trivialities and falsehoods.

Do you deny that the teams losing millions will most likely try and reduce salary to the cap floor?
That the rich teams will try spending to the cap ceiling to improve their teams?
Do you REALLY deny those 2 things?

 

[charliolemieux]

With a $26.2 million (not "near 30") separation between cap floor and ceiling, you really think it's unreasonable for the teams losing money to try and cut costs?
You really think it's unreasonable for the ridiculously rich teams to spend the extra money to improve their teams?

I (and most rational people) think that those 2 things are EXACTLY what will happen. It's actually common sense.

I'm a "liar" for pointing out what will most likely happen?

Once again, I would like to congratulate you.

You have once again avoided all important facts, and once again dumbed down the conversation to trivialities and falsehoods.

Do you deny that the teams losing millions will most likely try and reduce salary to the cap floor?
That the rich teams will try spending to the cap ceiling to improve their teams?
Do you REALLY deny those 2 things?

3 points you seem to be ignoring.

1.NOt every team is going to dump enough salary to reach hte floor.
2.Apparently according to John Shannon the buyouts don't happen unitl next summer when The Cap ceiling drops.

3. Facts. You seem to be ignoring all facts to post a bunch of lies.

 

[Disgruntled Observer*]

3 points you seem to be ignoring.

1.NOt every team is going to dump enough salary to reach hte floor.
2.Apparently according to John Shannon the buyouts don't happen unitl next summer when The Cap ceiling drops.

3. Facts. You seem to be ignoring all facts to post a bunch of lies.

1. Not every team is going to dump salary and reach the cap floor? Not every team in the nhl?
Wow. You're a genius.
I never thought of that.
I thought every team in the nhl was going to be at the 44 million cap floor, excpet for the leafs who would be at 70 million.
Because that's PRECISELY what my argument has been. That "EVERY" team would be at the cap floor except the leafs. My precise argument.
Thank you for pointing out that my argument was incorrect.
You're a smart one.

2. Why on earth would the poor teams buy anybody out?
What ever could you be talking about?
The poor teams are going to try their best to avoid paying money. Not throw money around to buy people out.
The poor teams are going to do what they always do to reach the cap floor... trade expensive players for picks and prospects.
Last year there were about 7 teams at or near the basement.

Do you really think that the poor teams losing millions aren't going to try and get to the cap floor as soon as possible?
Do you really think that the rich teams aren't going to try and get to the cap ceiling as soon as possible?

If your answer is "yes" to either of those questions, please don't bother responding. And not just to me, but to the whole forum.
If you really don't think the poor teams are going to try and get to the basement then you are simply not worthy of posting here.

 

[htpwn]

Will the Leafs make the playoffs this year? I think with a shortened season anything is possible.

Anything is possible in any season. The NHL is so even that a team gelling at the right time or adding that one extra piece or having a player play beyond expectations is enough to push that team into the playoffs. See: Ottawa and Florida last year.

As you said, this is even more true during a shortened season. One or two big winning streaks and it may be enough to qualify, while one or two losing streaks is enough to put an end to playoff hopes.

I think the Leafs have as good of a chance as any team who will likely find themselves battling for that 8th seed, while they also probably have a good chance completely bottoming out. The Leafs have not been a team that has been consistently good or bad the last few years, they've been either or. For that reason, I predict either a playoff birth (here's hoping) or a bottom 3 finish, nothing in-between.

 

[Disgruntled Observer*]

Anything is possible in any season. The NHL is so even that a team gelling at the right time or adding that one extra piece or having a player play beyond expectations is enough to push that team into the playoffs. See: Ottawa and Florida last year.

As you said, this is even more true during a shortened season. One or two big winning streaks and it may be enough to qualify, while one or two losing streaks is enough to put an end to playoff hopes.

I think the Leafs have as good of a chance as any team who will likely find themselves battling for that 8th seed, while they also probably have a good chance completely bottoming out. The Leafs have not been a team that has been consistently good or bad the last few years, they've been either or. For that reason, I predict either a playoff birth (here's hoping) or a bottom 3 finish, nothing in-between.

If the nhl is so "even" that it's anybody's game, then that would mean it should be about 50/50 odds to make the playoffs each season (8/16 teams).

To miss the playoffs 7 years in a row at "even" 50/50 odds is 0.8% odds.
zero. point. eight. percent. odds.
Not even one percent.

Our GM's have done such a ridiculously bad job that in the " 'even' anybodys game nhl" that his futility level is now below 1% odds.
Calculating Burkes odds.
4 years in a row is 6% odds.
The odds of missing the playoffs 4 years in a row is 6%. It's so ridiculous it would be hard to do even if you tried...

 

[achtungbaby]

1. Are you sure your #'s are accurate? I heard buyouts don't start until next year, which makes all your statements lies.
2. There has been zero buyouts to day so once again your statements are lies.
3. You have n o proof that Toronto intends to spend to 70M this year. So that is a lie.

4. Regardless of when the buyouts can occur, or the max gap in cap room, you have zero proof that enough teams have decided to go to the cap floor while Toronto spends to the cap that they would even make the post season.

Your entire statement was a lie. A Bunch of Lies and fabrications.

Do we really have to resort to the "liar, liar, pants on fire" method of discussion around here?

 

[robr00]

I don't see how anyone could say they have a good chance, or a 50/50 chance. In the last few years, the Leafs have not only missed the playoffs, but have missed by large margins. There is absolutely no reason to believe that this year will be any different, considering that the roster has barely changed.

 

[GojuLeaf]

I still hope the leafs suckered and tank
Making the playoffs and winning the cup in a short season like this feels like it wouldn't even count...

 

[Espher]

I hope they do solely to see peoples' heads explode.

 

[Canada4Gold]

Last lockout changed the Leafs fortunes to the bad, this one changes them gain, this time for the good

We were just waiting until another lockout, we didn't wanna make the playoff under the old CBA

 

[blue82]

anyone else worried the leafs may get off to a slow start because some of their core players have not been playing "competitive" hockey?..lupul & kessel looked out of shape or maybe they just werent trying (hard to tell) in the charity game i went too..havent really been following the other leagues so im not too sure who or who hasnt been playing outside of north america on the other teams

 

[stakesishigh]

I don't think nor expect us to make playoffs.

 

[hockeyfanz*]

I still hope the leafs suckered and tank
Making the playoffs and winning the cup in a short season like this feels like it wouldn't even count...

As a Leafs fan, I don't think you will need to worry about this....at all. What does a shortened season have to do with the grueling playoff tournament. It will be the usual suspects competing for the Stanley Cup...regardless of the shortened season. Less games may mean one or two teams make it that otherwise wouldn't have (and I dont't even subscribe to this notion) but....once they get to the post-season it will be the same as any other playoff season. Still got to win 16 games, four series against the best of the East and the champion of the West. Whats different?

 

[hockeyfanz*]

anyone else worried the leafs may get off to a slow start because some of their core players have not been playing "competitive" hockey?..lupul & kessel looked out of shape or maybe they just werent trying (hard to tell) in the charity game i went too..havent really been following the other leagues so im not too sure who or who hasnt been playing outside of north america on the other teams

I dont have the numbers but I don't think the Leafs had any less players playing in Europe or AHL than any other team...

Lupul, Gunnarrsson, Kulemin, Grabovski MacArthur, Komarov played in Europe
Gardiner, Kadri, Scrivens, Holzer, Frattin (all possible to make the team) all playing for the Marlies.

 

[thecatch22]

I suspect not. Terrible centers and terrible goaltending again. Short season gives me more hope because they can get hot and sustain it for 48 as opposed to the 82.

Here's hoping.

8th or higher and failing that, last place. No more in between! Coupled with the Bills it's like I'm in purgatory.

 

[rdawg1234]

I'll get excited when we get Luongo.

Not happy with Reimer and Scrivens tandem. We need more of a veteran guy.

#1 C Im fine with waiting until the summer to fix. Build assets for a trade.

 

[4evaBlue]

However with RCs system, I see our GF dropping by quite a bit. We barely scored after he took over last season.

That was around the time we lost one of our PPG players, right? The lack of secondary scoring (that spanned through most of last season) also played a huge part in that "slump". Hopefully the acquisition of JVR, and the development of Kadri can address some of those issues.

 

[charliolemieux]

1. Not every team is going to dump salary and reach the cap floor? Not every team in the nhl?
Wow. You're a genius.
I never thought of that.
I thought every team in the nhl was going to be at the 44 million cap floor, excpet for the leafs who would be at 70 million.
Because that's PRECISELY what my argument has been. That "EVERY" team would be at the cap floor except the leafs. My precise argument.
Thank you for pointing out that my argument was incorrect.
You're a smart one.

2. Why on earth would the poor teams buy anybody out?
What ever could you be talking about?
The poor teams are going to try their best to avoid paying money. Not throw money around to buy people out.
The poor teams are going to do what they always do to reach the cap floor... trade expensive players for picks and prospects.
Last year there were about 7 teams at or near the basement.

Do you really think that the poor teams losing millions aren't going to try and get to the cap floor as soon as possible?
Do you really think that the rich teams aren't going to try and get to the cap ceiling as soon as possible?

If your answer is "yes" to either of those questions, please don't bother responding. And not just to me, but to the whole forum.
If you really don't think the poor teams are going to try and get to the basement then you are simply not worthy of posting here.

Buyouts don't start until next summer, so there goes your 30M more to spend theory, and your poor teams racing to the floor theory, both out the window at mach speed.

 

[charliolemieux]

That was around the time we lost one of our PPG players, right? The lack of secondary scoring (that spanned through most of last season) also played a huge part in that "slump". Hopefully the acquisition of JVR, and the development of Kadri can address some of those issues.

I would add a quick return of Gardiner to that list of things we need. And hopefully he improves over last year.

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

Because it's literally impossible to defend Burke, his supporters have to resort to this type of arguing.

I wrote "Almost 30" as opposed to "26.2".
Oh the horror.

It makes almost no difference at all.
Having an advantage of "almost $30 million" or "$26.2 million" is DRAMATIC FREAKING ADVANTAGE!!!!!

Could you possibly nitpick any further?

I guess mission accomplished though.
You're actually quite crafty.

Instead of focusing on the inarguable facts that Burke is a terrible GM, you were successfully able to dumb this conversion down to nitpicking about the numbers "almost 30" and "26.2".
Well done sir. Excellent use of rhetoric and spin.
Credit where credit is due.

But he's right.

If 26.2M is such a FREAKING ADVANTAGE, why did you not write "26.2" or "a bit more than 25" rather than "30"?

One could suspect than you were trying to pull wool over someone's eyes...

Also, a bit of a drama queen, are you?

And all of this from someone, believe it or not, is sitting on your side of the fence on the Burkie issue.

Mind you, being a fan of another team, I should hope that Burke remains with the Leafs.

But I can't stand people who are disingenuous.

Well, I guess I should take a second look at How to Win Friends and Influence People.

 

[Maple Leaf]

Just ask Kevin Garnett

Exactly

 

[HofT]

 

[ThrowDemTongs]

Holy blast from the past