Confirmed with Link: Lockout VI - Game On! Rejoice! Players to vote Saturday.

[Warden of the North]

I just hope the Leafs get one of MacKinnon, Jones, or Drouin.

Maybe even Pulock.

I'd take Barkov over Drouin or Pulock.

 

[robdicks]

So despite being 5th last, 9th last, and 2nd last over the past three seasons...what you are saying is that the Leafs are better than teams they finished behind?

Do you know how ridiculous this sounds?

No, I understand that sport can be highly variable and things change quickly from year to year. Also with a 50 game season, sometimes the best teams don't make it in anyways. 50 games of good hockey can get you in, which as we have seen, the Leafs are capable of playing. (50 games last year would have put them in the playoffs)

I know you want to predict that the Leafs will lose badly this year so you can show everyone how brilliant you are for picking your edgy controversial Leafs are going to lose prediction, but most of us understand that teams (especially young ones) can break out and beat teams that they finished behind in the previous year.

(2012 senators, 2012 Panthers, 2012 Rangers)

I don't think that many people are outright predicting the Leafs to make the playoffs, but I'm just willing to wait it out rather than calling this season a wash before it even starts. You can do as you wish, but I just don't understand why you can definitively say that the Leafs are going to finish horribly.

 

[Bomber0104]

I'd take Barkov over Drouin or Pulock.

Preferences, preferences..

That's what makes the draft fun and exciting.

 

[robdicks]

Preferences, preferences..

That's what makes the draft fun and exciting.

True True. Let's get past all this hockey nonsense, and watch those players walk on stage!

 

[Warden of the North]

So despite being 5th last, 9th last, and 2nd last over the past three seasons...what you are saying is that the Leafs are better than teams they finished behind?

Do you know how ridiculous this sounds?

The Jays finished behind many this past season, are they still worse then those they finished behind?

Things can happen to change a team. Sometimes its very little (Jersey). Sometimes its a lot (like the Jays).

 

[Bomber0104]

No, I understand that sport can be highly variable and things change quickly from year to year. Also with a 50 game season, sometimes the best teams don't make it in anyways. 50 games of good hockey can get you in, which as we have seen, the Leafs are capable of playing. (50 games last year would have put them in the playoffs)

And as the standings have show for the past 8 years...29 other teams are MORE capable of playing better hockey.

The Leafs, if you haven't heard, have the longest playoff drought and are the only team to not make the playoffs since the last lockout.

I did not count the Jets though since the Thrashers did make the playoffs whey were located in Atlanta.

I know you want to predict that the Leafs will lose badly this year so you can show everyone how brilliant you are for picking your edgy controversial Leafs are going to lose prediction, but most of us understand that teams (especially young ones) can break out and beat teams that they finished behind in the previous year.

(2012 senators, 2012 Panthers, 2012 Rangers)

I'm not brilliant for deciding the Leafs suck. I decided the Leafs suck because that is what the trend shows. And the Leafs got worse from the year before...

Nothing bold about this prediction at all really.

I learned how to read patterns in grade school so I am just applying that knowledge to real life here.

I don't think that many people are outright predicting the Leafs to make the playoffs, but I'm just willing to wait it out rather than calling this season a wash before it even starts. You can do as you wish, but I just don't understand why you can definitively say that the Leafs are going to finish horribly.

I have no qualms about forecasting the Leafs to be bad. Again, they have been bad for years and I have no reason to lie to myself to pretend otherwise. I simply don't care whether the Leafs do well or not because I know good prospects wait if the Leafs do bad, and that will improve them.

I really don't care. I just think knowing how bad the Leafs have been over the years and even last year (5th last) I think getting the 1st overall pick is a better goal to strive for rather than a fruitless attempt at beating out teams that the Leafs are inferior to.

 

[Bomber0104]

The Jays finished behind many this past season, are they still worse then those they finished behind?

Things can happen to change a team. Sometimes its very little (Jersey). Sometimes its a lot (like the Jays).

The Jays added huge pieces.

Consider the Jays adding to a baseball team what a hockey team would add as a number one center, defenceman, and goalie.

In one single off season..

To a team that was never as bad as the Leafs.

 

[Erdinger]

The Jays finished behind many this past season, are they still worse then those they finished behind?

Things can happen to change a team. Sometimes its very little (Jersey). Sometimes its a lot (like the Jays).

Even halfway competent goaltending this season could make a huge difference. I certainly hope the Leafs make the playoffs but if it is not to be then lets see some major steamers left out there from the Blue and White.

 

[Bomber0104]

True True. Let's get past all this hockey nonsense, and watch those players walk on stage!

These players help teams before long.

Look at the list of 1st overalls.

I'm not trying to upset you, I am simply speaking like a rational person who wants the Leafs to succeed.

Sometimes this involves regrouping and riding on the back of the bus for a while...which is something Toronto hasn't done since the days they drafted Wendel Clark.

 

[Shimso]

Would you rather repeat a lottery season, or take the next step and come in 9th in the conference?

I hope you guys don't get Luongo, it reminds me of Cujo and the Eagle.

Nothing would be worse than 9th; the only step 9th is is a step back on the treadmill.

Either they lose like crazy and get a good (not mediocre) draft position or they play well and get into the playoffs.

9th doesn't get you a good pick, it doesn't get you the playoffs, and contrary to what many people think it embeds a losing culture (when you keep finishing around that range). Any player or coach who conflates finishing in the bottom half of the league with a "winning culture" needs to be shipped out ASAP, preferably to a division or conference rival.

 

[Bomber0104]

Even halfway competent goaltending this season could make a huge difference. I certainly hope the Leafs make the playoffs but if it is not to be then lets see some major steamers left out there from the Blue and White.

I am personally expecting an embarrassing display of hockey from this team....as we have become used to over the years!

 

[Bomber0104]

Nothing would be worse than 9th; the only step 9th is is a step back on the treadmill.

Either they lose like crazy and get a good (not mediocre) draft position or they play well and get into the playoffs.

9th doesn't get you a good pick, it doesn't get you the playoffs, and contrary to what many people think it embeds a losing culture (when you keep finishing around that range). Any player or coach who conflates finishing in the bottom half of the league with a "winning culture" needs to be shipped out ASAP, preferably to a division or conference rival.

I agree with your post.

100%

 

[robdicks]

And as the standings have show for the past 8 years...29 other teams are MORE capable of playing better hockey.

The Leafs, if you haven't heard, have the longest playoff drought and are the only team to not make the playoffs since the last lockout.

I did not count the Jets though since the Thrashers did make the playoffs whey were located in Atlanta.



I'm not brilliant for deciding the Leafs suck. I decided the Leafs suck because that is what the trend shows. And the Leafs got worse from the year before...

Nothing bold about this prediction at all really.

I learned how to read patterns in grade school so I am just applying that knowledge to real life here.



I have no qualms about forecasting the Leafs to be bad. Again, they have been bad for years and I have no reason to lie to myself to pretend otherwise. I simply don't care whether the Leafs do well or not because I know good prospects wait if the Leafs do bad, and that will improve them.

I really don't care. I just think knowing how bad the Leafs have been over the years and even last year (5th last) I think getting the 1st overall pick is a better goal to strive for rather than a fruitless attempt at beating out teams that the Leafs are inferior to.

Eh whatever, I don't really care. You're the type of fan that if they made the playoffs you would just complain that they aren't good enough to win the cup so they should be in the lottery anyways. I can't argue with you that they are good enough to be in the playoffs until they actually make it apparently.

The only question I have though is how do you argue the fact that they played 50 games of playoff hockey last year? Do you at least concede that it's possible this year considering it happened last year?

 

[robdicks]

These players help teams before long.

Look at the list of 1st overalls.

I'm not trying to upset you, I am simply speaking like a rational person who wants the Leafs to succeed.

Sometimes this involves regrouping and riding on the back of the bus for a while...which is something Toronto hasn't done since the days they drafted Wendel Clark.

And sometimes doing that turns you into a perpetual losing machine like the Columbus Blue Jackets. There is more than one way to rebuild a team. The Devils just made the cup final building theirs the way we are.

 

[Mr Knies Guy]

So, when can we welcome Bobby Lou??

 

[Bomber0104]

Eh whatever, I don't really care. You're the type of fan that if they made the playoffs you would just complain that they aren't good enough to win the cup so they should be in the lottery anyways. I can't argue with you that they are good enough to be in the playoffs until they actually make it apparently.

The only question I have though is how do you argue the fact that they played 50 games of playoff hockey last year? Do you at least concede that it's possible this year considering it happened last year?

They finished 5th last.

That's all I have to say.

I could pick and choose the most successful portions of every teams schedules. But I wont.

Because they finished where they finished.

 

[Bomber0104]

And sometimes doing that turns you into a perpetual losing machine like the Columbus Blue Jackets. There is more than one way to rebuild a team. The Devils just made the cup final building theirs the way we are.

They drafted Adam Larsson what....2nd or 4th overall?

Toronto has never had a pick as high as 2nd or 4th overall in decades.

 

[robdicks]

They finished 5th last.

That's all I have to say.

I could pick and choose the most successful portions of every teams schedules. But I wont.

Because they finished where they finished.

Right, but it's not a complete schedule. So we all know there is a chance of it. If you're going to look at strictly statistics and facts, it would be beneficial to look at all of them.

 

[robdicks]

They drafted Adam Larsson what....2nd or 4th overall?

Toronto has never had a pick as high as 2nd or 4th overall in decades.

Well they won the lottery haha... the Leafs haven't won a lottery in decades.

 

[Jerkini]

Put a goaltender into the net with a saving percentage of over .920 and see what happens. This team isn't as bad as the standings would indicate.

 

[Jerkini]

Anyone know if teams are allowed to trade salary? Did that make it into the CBA?

 

[Bomber0104]

Right, but it's not a complete schedule. So we all know there is a chance of it. If you're going to look at strictly statistics and facts, it would be beneficial to look at all of them.

If the Leafs were 5th worst of all teams last year, 9th last the year before, and 2nd last before that...there is no reason to suggest the Leafs are in some way better than the teams they were inferior to.

This is just common sense really.

 

[Bomber0104]

Well they won the lottery haha... the Leafs haven't won a lottery in decades.

And that's what I want from a season like this...where the Leafs team sucks...and they own their own first round pick.

Seems like a good time to get a number one center or defenceman.

 

[robdicks]

If the Leafs 5th worst of all teams last year, 9th last the year before, and 2nd last before that...there is no reason to suggest the Leafs are in some way better than the teams they were inferior to.

This is just common sense really.

Yes there is though because those were based on 82 game seasons which this year isn't what's happening, so instead of playing 82 games of good hockey (which the Leafs haven't yet demonstrated they can do) a team need only play 50. The leafs have demonstrated they can play 50. Don't be silly and ignore the stats that prove you wrong.

 

[Fenton]

Is Gardiner still out with a concussion? I noticed he wasn't in the lineup last night. Sucks a lot for the Leafs if he is out long term.