Halfway Through The Season, How Do You Feel About This Team’s Chances This Year?

[Goose]

Curious where everyone’s at with feelings on this team having seen over half the season, starting so great followed by this somewhat strange recent slide.

Click to read more...

 

[Stonehands 1]

I hope this is the year the Leafs will win it all, but I just can't get my hopes up. The goaltending I think will be our Achilles heel

 

[IrishInOntario]

Voted for 2nd round as the team stands... But, IMO, this group is a top 6 rental winger, defensive upgrade on Dermott and any goalie that can put up a .915+ to pair with Campbell, away from being in the Final 4, with a puncher's chance.

The good news, all those assets are available at the deadline, without breaking the bank.

 

[TorontoTrades]

I think they get out of the North but probably the weakest team in the final 4 assuming the big dogs get through too

 

[Suntouchable13]

I think they get out of the North but probably the weakest team in the final 4 assuming the big dogs get through too

How do they get better then? I hate to say it, but it comes back to cap allocation. If they will be the weakest team in the final 4 with 4 guys making 40+M dollars, then how do you improve from there? It all comes back to that. IMO, they can not win it all with that salary allocation.

 

[Gallagbi]

The last two weeks have really put a bunch of doubt in my head.

 

[Stonehands 1]

Would the refs allow us to win?

 

[Guided by Veseys]

I just hope we don’t play Colorado. If Kadri exploded for that series it would be a suicide watch for Leafs fans. And don’t think he won’t be a monster if we play them.

 

[DarkKnight]

This is the best squad we’ve had in a long time, if we get solid goaltending it could be a special group.

 

[Jmo89]

Bad goaltending and they're out first round. Good goaltending and they make it to at least the conference finals.

 

[PromisedLand]

Until I see this team play its way against a clogged neutral zone tight checking hockey comfortably I am not getting my hopes up.

 

[Brown Dog]

Rationally, looking at things on paper, they should at least make the final four. And certainly anything less than that is a failure and a disappointment. They are good enough to achieve that (and maybe more!!), so in that sense I am confident. The path is there.

...on the other hand...as a Leafs fan I am conditioned to expect the worst-case (and most heartbreaking) scenario, and this edition of the team hasn't done anything to shed the "underachiever" label yet. So in that sense, I feel I am just waiting to find out how they blow it this time. The path is there for that outcome too.

Ultimately, until this version of the Leafs does something, I have trouble feeling truly confident about their chances for a deep run.

 

[robertmac43]

So much of the success depends on the Goaltending situation. But I still believe.

 

[LeafalCrusader]

Think we lose in round 1 again.

 

[Buds17]

I'm very much hoping for at least the one series win. I'll predict that they win two because they are currently in first place in the division. Montreal is currently the only team with games (make that, "game") in hand and they can't catch the Leafs with a win in that anyway. I'm not ready to commit to further just yet due to uncertainty regarding factors such as opponent, roster, etc.

 

[wingman75]

I went overly positive and said they can do it. This is based on the team remaining healthy through the playoffs of course.

One thing that clear, is that no cup winner is perfect, and if they face the right adversity throughout the season and persevere, it makes them a better team.

The two big questions for me are can the skaters find a way to succeed in a tight playoff environment, and can our goaltending hold up. If those are both a yes, then I think we are playing in the finals (barring one of the opponents goaltenders stealing a series).

 

[TakeTheBody]

I voted will make conference finals. All the cards aren't dealt yet. trading deadline deals I could improve my outlook. Or if I don't like the deals vote lose in first round. Dubas is playing poker right now. This and injuries will determine how far the Leafs go.

 

[meefer]

They are a very good team, that still has a few needs:
*Matthews wrist to heal.
*A forward that can replace Hyman in the top 6 and be good at it.
*We need an effective shut down line. HEM is the closest thing I can imagine to that. You've got to have a line that can limit the damage from the other team's top line (cough, McDavid, cough)
*It would be wonderful if Galchenyuk could pot a few and spark Tavares, Nylander I like.
*Added depth on D, preferably someone comfortable playing both sides, has a bit of a mean streak and is playoff tested.
*A PP that can score (I think this will improve with what we have, just slumping right now)
*A PK that keeps the puck out of the net.
*All of this leading to the ? in net. I like Jack, but 68 games of NHL experience does not lend me confidence. The Andersen dilemma, I can't help you there. I know he's not been good, I just don't see how you can improve on him with so many of the candidates being injured or have questions attached to their recent play. For me, goaltending is our biggest worry and I have no idea how to improve the situation.

 

[Mr Hockey]

its not going to be easy getting past the Jets in the playoffs, big skilled team with a goalie that can win a series or a hot oiler team will be tough to beat

 

[IrishInOntario]

How do they get better then? I hate to say it, but it comes back to cap allocation. If they will be the weakest team in the final 4 with 4 guys making 40+M dollars, then how do you improve from there? It all comes back to that. IMO, they can not win it all with that salary allocation.

Obviously, you are entitled to your own opinion, but I disagree. Tampa Bay lost in the 1st round two years ago, when they got swept by Columbus. They came back last year with a very similar team, with a couple tweaks, and made some excellent deadline additions that added what they needed in the depth and scoring departments.

Toronto can put Anderson on LTIR, or move Kerfoot and Dermott, in the process of spending a couple assets, they could easily add a top 6 left wing, a quality 4-5 defenseman and some goaltending depth. It won't be free, but it wasn't for Tampa Bay either... The additions of Coleman and Goodrow cost TWO 1st round picks in 2020 and Nolan Foote, their 2019 1st round pick.

A lot of Leaf fans are absolutely clutching the pearls of every single asset in the organization, but Toronto has a nice treasure trove of assets in the organization right now and if they have to spend a few of them to fill the holes in the roster, sometimes you have to do it.

Let's say you can get Mattias Ekholm, a top 6 winger and an Ulmark, Kuemper or Khudobin type upgrade in goal... Yes, that's going to cost you Dermott, Kerfoot, 2021 1st round pick, a couple more picks in 2021 or 2022, likely a prospect like Amirov or Niemela and another depth prospect, but this is a pretty formidable roster heading into the playoffs.

Top 6 winger-Matthews-Marner
Simmonds-Tavares-Nylander
Mikheyev-Engvall-Hyman
Galchenyuk-Thornton-Spezza
Robertson

Reilly-Brodie
Muzzin-Ekholm
Holl-Bogosian
Sandin / Liljegren

Khudobin
Campbell

Is it enough to get over the top? It's hard to say, but I think it gives you a fighting chance.

 

[ponder]

I believe we’re one of the teams with a legit shot to win the cup, but there’s quite a few. At least us, Tampa, Boston, Avs, Vegas, Canes, Caps, Isles, Pens, Oilers. I’d give us about a 10% chance. Like most contenders, we could win the cup, or could go out in the 1st round, it all depends on luck, matchups, injuries, etc.

Statements like “Will make it to the Conference Finals, but won’t make it into the Cup Finals” seem crazy to me, the NHL is clearly WAY too unpredictable to be this specific. We’re one of many teams with a legit shot at the cup, that’s as specific as you can get IMO.

Next time you think you have a meaningful opinion on what’s going to happen in the playoffs, remember:

• Tampa putting up an all time great regular season, then getting swept in round 1. And then being labelled chokers, and ... winning the cup the next year
• Crosby/Malkin/Fleury/etc. Pens looking like a surefire dynasty after their first cup win, then not getting back to the finals for 7 years
• Everyone believing the Ovy/Backstrom/etc. Caps were bound for a cup real soon. Then never making it past the 2nd round in Ovy’s first 12 seasons, and everyone writing them off as playoff chokers who would never win. Then winning the cup
• 8th seed Kings basically cruising to a cup in one of the most dominant playoff runs in recent memory
• Expansion-season Knights making the cup finals - before the season started ppl figured they’d be the worst team in the league, and even when they were exceeding regular season expectations few took them seriously
• In 2010, everyone getting hyped for a powerhouse Caps/Pens 2nd round matchup, which is being touted as the real cup finals. But then a weak Habs team beat the Caps in round 1. Oh well, Pens are gonna cruise to a cup now! Then the Habs beat the Pens in round 2. Oh shit these Habs are for real! Crushed by the Flyers in round 3
• etc.

 

[Le Cobra]

I didn’t vote. Because honestly we will make the playoffs but I am of the wait and see mindset. I hope they make it to the second round but after the last 3-4 seasons, I’ve learned not to get my hopes up

 

[hamzarocks]

Cup or bust, this is the choosen team. A few more additions and they're going to be unstoppable

If we end up out in the first round I think I'm gonna block any potential hockey news sites/apps/news until September. I cant take another loss in the first round.

Prove the haters wrong boys. We can end the curse this year

 

[Albus Dumbledore]

I still feel confident. Probably the best team in years. It's a little hard to feel like super good since we are slumping, it's going to effect everyone's judgment even if just a little.

 

[Gabriel426]

I think at the end it will come down to goaltending.

This team are playing great team defence and all 3 pairs are really good mix. They might not have a #1 D but they can do the job.
The forwards can score esp if they can keep the HEM line together which provide great depth. HEM line might not score often but their goals will either be Game Winners or Game tying goals in the playoffs. They just have that clutch characteristic in them.