You fill those winger holes with Leivo, Kapanen, Sosh. Nylander moves to center.
Hypothetically suppose leafs hold on to them and get beat in the first round or 2nd round then what?
If this team had a contender potential, I see your point but I don't think this team had contender potential with the roster
I do see this team as a contender and I think Management does too, I mean look at what they have done, or even tried to do.
They signed Marleau, you don't sign Marleau if you don't think this team is moving into contender status.
They pushed hard to sign Thornton, you don't try to sign Thornton if you don't see this team heading toward contender status.
They Nearly landed Condon and Hamonic going after those 2 shows this team is looking to be a contender.
The "Rebuild" is done it is clear as day this team is now entering "win now" mode
Hell even getting Pickard is asign of that he was clearly brought in to eventually replace Mcbackup and that day is coming if Mcbackup doesn't smarten up and get his shit together because a 900 save% won't cut it.
the team is entering win now mode, I know it's hard for people to accept because the rebuild only lasted about 15 months, but we are here now we have the Franchise C, we have the young stud wingers, we have the scoring depth, we have the goalie, we have everything we need except a top 4 D man.
As for going down in round 1, I don't see that, If Toronto wins the division, and they could tey are only 3 points back then they get a wild card team in round 1, and they are better than any team that can get that wild card spot, yes I do think they are better than the Pens, and they would kill the caps this time.
If they don't win the Division and they get #2 in the Division, and I do think they finish top 2,
That means you get one of Detroit, Boston, Ottawa, Montreal and I guess I will throw Florida and Buffalo in there but let be honest they aren't getting it.
Toronto beats every one of those teams in a 7 game series and I don't think it's close, I have watched them all this is a BAD division, the only reason 3 teams are making it from this division is because 3 teams have to make it, otherwise there would be 2 and it would be Toronto and Tampa, the rest are garbage.