HockeyVirus
16/34/88/91/44 - Pathetic losers
- Nov 15, 2020
- 21,206
- 32,385
Leafs favorite for the Atlantic division this year?
- Thread starter HockeyVirus
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I think so, not only do I see them as the favorite but I think they are the clear favorite.
I see them as the clear favorite because they are the only ones you could argue did not take a step back and that's even with losing ROR which make no mistake about it absolutely sucks and is a BIG loss but It's the only real loss.
Michael Bunting? replaced by Tyler Bertuzzi and that's an upgrade and I don't think anybody will argue that
Kerfoot? Replaced by Domi there is not one person, NOT ONE, not even Dekes, that is to far even for Dekes.
There is not ONE person that will tell you Domi is not an upgrade on Kerfoot. Domi put up 50+ points last year playing with nothing.
Kerfoot spent WAY more time than he deserved playing with Tavares and Nylander he couldn't do a damn thing there is no argument to be made, Domi is better.
Holl? Replaced by Klingberg, Holl can't play defense or provide offense, Holl is worthless. Klingberg can't play defense but can at least provide offense, that alone makes him an upgrade.
Accari?, adding Bertuzzi and Domi, allows Jarnkrok to slide into Accari spot, that by itself should be an upgrade.
Once you add in a full season of Matthew Knies you aren't even going to feel the loss of Accari.
I think overall Toronto is better than they were opening night last year.
I can't say that for Boston with Taylor Hall gone, and they did that to Keep Bertuzzi who is now here so that's a double hit for Boston
They also need to sign Syawman, figure out Bergeron and Krejci, they have a LOT of holes.
Not as many as Tampa though Over the last 3 years Tampa's depth has been gutted.
Palat
McDonough
Killorn
Rutta
Coleman
Goodraw
Perry
Maroon
Gourde
I know I'm missing a couple guys they have replaced almost none of it.
That core is still there and still great and I still have them 2nd in the Atlantic because of that core but the depth is not NEARLY the same.
Assuming the rosters stay as is I don't see how Toronto isn't the favorite in the Atlantic.
I see them as the clear favorite because they are the only ones you could argue did not take a step back and that's even with losing ROR which make no mistake about it absolutely sucks and is a BIG loss but It's the only real loss.
Michael Bunting? replaced by Tyler Bertuzzi and that's an upgrade and I don't think anybody will argue that
Kerfoot? Replaced by Domi there is not one person, NOT ONE, not even Dekes, that is to far even for Dekes.
There is not ONE person that will tell you Domi is not an upgrade on Kerfoot. Domi put up 50+ points last year playing with nothing.
Kerfoot spent WAY more time than he deserved playing with Tavares and Nylander he couldn't do a damn thing there is no argument to be made, Domi is better.
Holl? Replaced by Klingberg, Holl can't play defense or provide offense, Holl is worthless. Klingberg can't play defense but can at least provide offense, that alone makes him an upgrade.
Accari?, adding Bertuzzi and Domi, allows Jarnkrok to slide into Accari spot, that by itself should be an upgrade.
Once you add in a full season of Matthew Knies you aren't even going to feel the loss of Accari.
I think overall Toronto is better than they were opening night last year.
I can't say that for Boston with Taylor Hall gone, and they did that to Keep Bertuzzi who is now here so that's a double hit for Boston
They also need to sign Syawman, figure out Bergeron and Krejci, they have a LOT of holes.
Not as many as Tampa though Over the last 3 years Tampa's depth has been gutted.
Palat
McDonough
Killorn
Rutta
Coleman
Goodraw
Perry
Maroon
Gourde
I know I'm missing a couple guys they have replaced almost none of it.
That core is still there and still great and I still have them 2nd in the Atlantic because of that core but the depth is not NEARLY the same.
Assuming the rosters stay as is I don't see how Toronto isn't the favorite in the Atlantic.
Last edited by a moderator:
Boston always likely takes a step back ... and then doesn't. Tampa also.
Boston will by default because they aren't going to put up 135 points again that's not going to happen.
I still have them top 3 in the Atlantic though.
Tampa already has taken a step back
Ianturnedbull
Registered User
- Jun 11, 2022
- 6,430
- 5,937
Mess
Global Moderator
Data analyst projects where all 32 teams will finish next season; projections have the Leafs much lower than last year
Suntouchable13
Registered User
It doesn’t matter. They will just choke to a wildcard team like Buffalo or Ottawa or Pittsburgh just like they did in 2021. None of the additions matter one iota as long as the core is still here. I mean it would kinda interesting to see them finish 1st, but I just don’t think it matters with this core group. They will find a way to lose. They will just get outworked once again by a less talented team.
Arzak
Registered User
- Mar 27, 2019
- 2,225
- 2,013
Yeah I mean you can read it as anyone's division, which we all thought it will be.
Boston can sink a bit more, or win the division again who knows at this point.
I thought Krejci and Bergeron could return for playoffs only, but Krejci is considering WC in Prague, which would rule out playoffs. **
** In this scenario he would probably welcome Boston missing the playoffs altogether so he can have Pasta on his wing.
This has Winnipeg at 107 and second in the NHL, which basically tells you everything you need to know about it’s quality
CantLoseWithMatthews
Registered User
- Sep 28, 2015
- 49,735
- 59,495
You can look at his projections from last year too, not exactly great. He had the Leafs at 98 points
Ianturnedbull
Registered User
- Jun 11, 2022
- 6,430
- 5,937
Toronto Maple Leafs Could Easily Miss the Playoffs This Year
The Toronto Maple Leafs have issues with their defensive-group, goaltending and the Atlantic Division is much better, so they could miss the playoffs.
editorinleaf.com
(For laughs)
- Dec 12, 2017
- 26,005
- 12,452
Menzinger
Kessel4LadyByng
Not sure if they're a lock, but should finish in the top 2. (At the moment) the team has the same core and likely replaced most in of its recent ufa players adequately. The Bruins almost certainly won't repeat their last regular season performance. Panthers are maybe bit of a wild card given their underperformance last season
People have been predicting the downfall of the Bruins since I joined this website.
Division is wide open, but I think we're as poised to backslide as any team in the division. Our D isn't very good and our goaltending is enormously suspect. JT is a year older and Marner has a new group of demons taking up residence in his noggin. We could win it just as easily as we miss the playoffs. We've stumbled out of the gate the last two years and I think Keefe is in serious danger of losing the room if he hasn't already, which I say as an indictment of our core just as much as this ineffectual coach.
I'd argue the two Floridian teams are the favourites. Bruins will depend entirely on Bergeron and Krejci, but if they're back, watch out for the revenge tour. I don't expect the Sens, Wings, or Sabres to be ahead of us, but I think the division could be pretty strong this year and it's going to challenge the Leafs to be at our best, which I don't think we are this year.
Division is wide open, but I think we're as poised to backslide as any team in the division. Our D isn't very good and our goaltending is enormously suspect. JT is a year older and Marner has a new group of demons taking up residence in his noggin. We could win it just as easily as we miss the playoffs. We've stumbled out of the gate the last two years and I think Keefe is in serious danger of losing the room if he hasn't already, which I say as an indictment of our core just as much as this ineffectual coach.
I'd argue the two Floridian teams are the favourites. Bruins will depend entirely on Bergeron and Krejci, but if they're back, watch out for the revenge tour. I don't expect the Sens, Wings, or Sabres to be ahead of us, but I think the division could be pretty strong this year and it's going to challenge the Leafs to be at our best, which I don't think we are this year.
Rob Brown
Way She Goes
- Dec 17, 2009
- 17,561
- 14,729
Boston will take a step back naturally as they can't get any better than last year. If they lose both Bergeron and Krejci to go along with Bertuzzi, Orlov, Hathaway etc. (I know that all three were just trade deadline acquisitions), then it'd be expected for them to be much lower than last year. Also unlikely that Ullmark is as good. That said, I still peg them as a top 3 team in the division.
To me the top 3 is probably some combination of Toronto, Boston, and Florida. I'd say Tampa is still a WC team and wouldn't surprise me if Buffalo snags a spot this year, too.
Americanadian
Registered User
Based on my model using EvolvingHockey data I have them at #1 but the model ranks Woll as the best goalie in the league based off his limited data. If Woll is replacement level they project at 98 points.
[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TD]Atlantic[/TD]
[TD]Points[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Toronto[/TD]
[TD]111[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Boston[/TD]
[TD]107[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Florida[/TD]
[TD]100[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Buffalo[/TD]
[TD]91[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Tampa Bay[/TD]
[TD]90[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Ottawa[/TD]
[TD]89[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Detroit[/TD]
[TD]82[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Montreal[/TD]
[TD]75[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TD]Atlantic[/TD]
[TD]Points[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Toronto[/TD]
[TD]111[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Boston[/TD]
[TD]107[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Florida[/TD]
[TD]100[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Buffalo[/TD]
[TD]91[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Tampa Bay[/TD]
[TD]90[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Ottawa[/TD]
[TD]89[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Detroit[/TD]
[TD]82[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Montreal[/TD]
[TD]75[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Short of season and/or career ending injury the idea that the Leafs miss the playoffs is ridiculous
hamzarocks
Registered User
Americanadian
Registered User
Stephen
Moderator
- Feb 28, 2002
- 83,060
- 61,965
Not impossible. The success of any team in a flat cap is going to also be impacted by the rate of decay of teams around and above. So if the Leafs are treading water, Boston and Tampa are kaput and Florida is dealing with massive injuries and a hangover while the young teams are still having growing pains, this might be our golden window in the regular season.
Thought this was the case last year but obviously didn’t expect Boston’s historic run coming out of nowhere.
Thought this was the case last year but obviously didn’t expect Boston’s historic run coming out of nowhere.
We're probably going to be a bit worse, unless Knies or Woll really excels, but we also likely have a better chance to win the division because of the other top teams in our division falling off more.
