I don't understand, this team couldn't win jack when they were younger. Now they are just getting older and more expensive without any success. How do you expect to win? It's a waste of time following this team. Marner can f*** off. Seriously. So you guys expect to win with him making more money, but getting older and slower with every passing season? Insanity.
Why you guys expect to be different than Chicago? They actually won when that core was young and relatively cheap. Once they got older and more expensive they won nothing. We won nothin when our core was younger and cheaper, but you expect to win when they are older and much more expensive?
Conditions change, rosters change. The playoffs are as much about being in the right place at the right time, hot players/cold players, good health as it is about the names on the back of your favorite teams sweater. A bounce here, bounce there, this teams 8 year shitty playoff history is different.
I think the right coach goes a long way, maybe Berube is the difference, maybe not. There is no doubting the Leafs are among the elite teams in terms of individual talent, can the coach pull that talent together into one cohesive unit. A more aggressive team, that plays strong defence, with strong goaltending is a good approach in the playoffs.
We dont need to be binary in though process, just because Chicago was not able to do it, it does not mean Toronto wont be able to do it. Different GM, different coach, different personnel, the core in in their late 20's which is when NHLers tend to peak. I do see a difference in this team, this year, is it enough to win the cup will be answered in 2025.