The Leafs are now an elite team

[Kimota]

 

[BertMcDrai]

Finally a Leafs thread on how good they are...must have been long two days since the last one.

 

[Leafshater67]

Finally a Leafs thread on how good they are...must have been long two days since the last one.

Round 1 champions last year. Parade is planned and I’ve got my flight booked. This is the year. Please ignore the last 6 years, this is really it.

 

[Oscar The Grouch]

Elite.

Anything short of a sweep against the Sens and a Cup Final appearance should be considered a massive choke.

 

[Leafs87]

Leafs have been an elite regular season team since like 2018. Granted there were some ups and downs along the way. The problem has been that they choke historically in the playoffs and the offence dries up. Laughton is not the difference. Carlo and Storlarz are huge upgrades that we needed, but the real X factor will be the stars playing up to their regular season form. Had this historically happened, they’d already have a cup.

 

[Ajex12x]

Who cares? Sure they do ok time to time, embarrassing you felt the need to create this thread

 

[Silky Johnson]

Yeah, now...but not when they had better records in 21, 22, 23?

Try again. You aren't different until you have some significant playoff success - no matter how hard you want to believe it.

 

[Leafs87]

Yep. That’s probably the best example. It’s an outlier unfortunately.

Some will not agree with this take, and I understand that but 06 hurricanes with Wesley are a better example. Depending on how you view Forsling/Ekblad or even Montour I’d say the Panthers won based on having a deep D, rather than a standout just last year. Not saying the Leafs have an equally deep D core, but it’s definitely not the worst.

 

[Coffee]

Found the leafs fan.

Whole point is to make the playoffs and get the favourable seeding. There’s a reason “Regular season champs” and “Stanley cup champions” aren’t the same thing

you still referred to them as “champs” meaning there is some acknowledgment towards the Leafs success.

Leafs fans are just asking you to formally tip your hat, that’s all.

 

[madmike77]

I like the Leafs but let’s be real. Maybe they can be considered elite after they win a playoff round or two. I don’t know why anyone would make a post like this just before the playoffs.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

They’ve been an elite team for 100 years. Just ask their fans.

elite...... so that's what fans wearing paper bags over their heads and throwing waffles on the ice means
we actually still have more bum years over successful years in the last 20 years bud

 

[daver]

Bro why? Leafs are finally entering the playoffs pretty quietly, the jokes would go by quick, but no. Gotta wear the target, gotta have the attention.

Agreed, I think they may make some noise this year due to flying under the radar. This thread does nothing but make people wish they lose so they don't have to see a 1000 threads being made.

 

[GlitchMarner]

I honestly just think their goaltending is much better right now. There aren’t really any other metrics that show otherwise. The analytics (if you’re into that) show the team game is drastically worse this year.

They have great finish and incredibly good goaltending this year. That’s objectively true.

You're not wrong. I've posted on their team board that they're really not any better in some respects.

They're a worse possession team than they used to be and have difficulty maintaining control in the other team's end (though they seem to be better at that as of late). They spend a good amount of time in their own zone but are better in terms of goals against. Goaltending is definitely a main reason for that. I do think they box out better and play with better structure in their own zone compared to previous years.

I believe their goal has been to make the team better and more comfortable playing a playoff type of game. They value possession less and direct plays and greasy goals more.

We'll see what happens.

 

[John Mandalorian]

The playoffs will be their moment of truth. But I'll admit that they do seem more competitive when the highly paid guys aren't on the ice.

 

[waitin425]

You cannot deny that which is undeniable.

Being an Altantic Division leader puts them up there with 3 to 4 other top teams.

Good coaching
Depth at defense
Game breaking forward talent
Great goaltending
Heavy
Tough
Etc.

 

[Auston Marlander]

They have shown they are the best team in the Atlantic over 82 games. Check


Now that we all agree on that, let's see how playoffs go. They certainly have the team to win the East, so let's see them do it.

 

[Frank Drebin]

Leafs going to finals this year
Actually wouldn’t be surprised to see them win the cup

Not a leafs fan at all but id rather see them win than another recent winner

 

[tfwnogf]

They do look really good this year, I can see them going deep. I hope they do it, it's way more fun to root for the Leafs than to hate on them. Hating them is so stale; there's nothing anyone can say that hasn't been said 1000 times before. However, Ottawa is no joke and you know they are gonna bring their A game so hopefully the Leafs are ready.

 

[Mr grumpy]

You cannot deny that which is undeniable.

Being an Altantic Division leader puts them up there with 3 to 4 other top teams.

Good coaching
Depth at defense
Game breaking forward talent
Great goaltending
Heavy
Tough
Etc.

This wont end well after one lose and as for goaltending? IT is due to their D

 

[SheldonJPlankton]

 

[Coffee]

View attachment 1015135

I mean they brought Berube in to break this cycle

 

[cowboy82nd]

Elite.

Anything short of a sweep against the Sens and a Cup Final appearance should be considered a massive choke.

So, if the Leafs don't sweep the Sens, but win the Cup, it's considered a massive choke job? Interesting???

 

[Warden of the North]

Can we at least make the finals before saying this?

Thanks

 

[Dr Pepper]

Can we at least make the finals before saying this?

Thanks

Tall order.....Leafs have never in their history won three playoff series in the same season.

Would be a first!

Agreed, though, if they can pull that offf it'd certainly merit a thread like this.

 

[MCR74]

You cannot deny that which is undeniable.

Being an Altantic Division leader puts them up there with 3 to 4 other top teams.

Good coaching
Depth at defense
Game breaking forward talent
Great goaltending
Heavy
Tough
Etc.

Oh man, you like stirring the pot, don't ya?