Thoroughly unexcited.

[Evilhomer]

He does nothing to help them win
This team needs to win a few rounds before considering them a cup favorite. But you do you

Virtually everyone in hockey will include the Leafs in the group of Cup contenders (with Colorado, Vegas, Dallas, Edmonton, Jersey and Carolina). I get why so many Leafs fans are cynical, but the cynicism is clouding people's judgment when it comes to this team's potential.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I'm not dismissing Florida so much as saying they aren't going to be a playoff juggernaut rolling off 7 OT playoff wins a row again. They could certainly finish second or third in the division if they can withstand the injuries, but they aren't going to repeat what they did last year.

Probably not. Your original statement that is IMO extreme hyperbole was this - I think the only team in the that will be able to compete with Toronto will be Jersey

Optimism is a beautiful thing, but there's no reason to be this cocky.

 

[Evilhomer]

Probably not. Your original statement that is IMO extreme hyperbole was this - I think the only team in the that will be able to compete with Toronto will be Jersey

Optimism is a beautiful thing, but there's no reason to be this cocky.

If a team is more talented than all of the other teams but one, that isn't being cocky.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Virtually everyone in hockey will include the Leafs in the group of Cup contenders (with Colorado, Vegas, Dallas, Edmonton, Jersey and Carolina). I get why so many Leafs fans are cynical, but the cynicism is clouding people's judgment when it comes to this team's potential.

Virtually everyone in hockey will include the Leafs in the group of Cup contenders (with Colorado, Vegas, Dallas, Edmonton, Jersey and Carolina). I get why so many Leafs fans are cynical, but the cynicism is clouding people's judgment when it comes to this team's potential.

No results aren't clouding anything
Neither is their perimeter play in the playoffs. But every year, after every early exit we hear how great they are

If a team is more talented than all of the other teams but one, that isn't being cocky.

No it's being delusional

 

[fancy lad]

I’m pretty excited. As long as we have a core that’s as offensively dynamic as ours, then there’s always cause for optimism. Add to that the edge that Bertuzzi and Domi will bring and i think we’ll have a fun season From a fan point of view. also no Holl or kerfoot wilk be nice.

 

[ACC1224]

I’m pretty excited. As long as we have a core that’s as offensively dynamic as ours, then there’s always cause for optimism. Add to that the edge that Bertuzzi and Domi will bring and i think we’ll have a fun season From a fan point of view. also no Holl or kerfoot wilk be nice.

Amen to that.
The Eeyores are going to be in for a long season, grumping through every win waiting for the playoffs to start.

 

[Captain Crunch]

Virtually everyone in hockey will include the Leafs in the group of Cup contenders (with Colorado, Vegas, Dallas, Edmonton, Jersey and Carolina). I get why so many Leafs fans are cynical, but the cynicism is clouding people's judgment when it comes to this team's potential.

I will believe it when I see it. I am hoping that they at least get past the 2nd round this year!

 

[Gary Nylund]

If a team is more talented than all of the other teams but one, that isn't being cocky.

If only talent was enough. If it was, our playoff series with this core would be a lot better than 1-7 but alas, it takes more than just talent. Most Leaf fans are well aware of this, did you just start following the team recently?

Amen to that.
The Eeyores are going to be in for a long season, grumping through every win waiting for the playoffs to start.

Everyone has their own perspective. One of the things that makes the season long for me is you saying "super crazy elite" about Marner about 28000 times during the season after relatively meaningless games. Now that I think of it, you were even doing it in the summer.

 

[Evilhomer]

If only talent was enough. If it was, our playoff series with this core would be a lot better than 1-7 but alas, it takes more than just talent. Most Leaf fans are well aware of this, did you just start following the team recently?

I think the point you're missing is that it's the maturation of talent that is the key. It's why teams like the 1980 Islanders or the 1984 Oilers ended up winning. Those players spent a few years losing and maturing. What do you think guys like Matthews and Marner have been doing? You're angry because you're stuck on the losses without realizing that they are necessary to get to the winning. What you saw this past season was more maturation. I think you are going to see something much more special this season, and I'm not even a Leafs fan.

 

[Nineteen67]

I think the point you're missing is that it's the maturation of talent that is the key. It's why teams like the 1980 Islanders or the 1984 Oilers ended up winning. Those players spent a few years losing and maturing. What do you think guys like Matthews and Marner have been doing? You're angry because you're stuck on the losses without realizing that they are necessary to get to the winning. What you saw this past season was more maturation. I think you are going to see something much more special this season, and I'm not even a Leafs fan.

The problem with the Leafs has always been roster construction. Last year during the playoffs they didn’t know who to play on their top 2 lines, had a mess in the bottom 6, and an atrocious defence.
I don’t know if they‘ll be any better or not this and but I certainly don’t think they were Max Domi away from winning in the playoffs.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Agreed this might be the year. Feels like that all the time but this could be the window where Bruins and Tampa are not bad but are being de-throwned and the teams behind us aren't experienced yet.

We are the Capitals/Bruins to the 2017-2019 Leafs this time. With all of that said, losing to a more inexperienced team is inexcusable and honestly might be the thing that gets this team blown up if it happens.

But let's focus on the positives until we no longer can

This team isn't getting blown up, as long as Matthews is a Leaf there will be no rebuild

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

I don't think Pageau would cost anything but salary. His contract is awful.

I hope you are right because Pageau is actually somebody I would be interested in at the right price, mostly because he's not a rental, I don't want 3rd line center to be a weakness every year

 

[Northernguy10]

'Thoroughly unexcited' would describe it quite well for me. Been a fan since 1957 and always will be but the flame is flickering in the excitement category. It started waning after the Columbus series and dwindled greatly after the Montreal series. For the first time in years I was very hopeful the season they lost to Washington with a team of youngsters but when they signed Tavares I knew the, steady rebuild was over. It would have been a smart pickup in a non-cap league but was a disaster-in-waiting given the cap. Then covid exacerbated the situation. We have a good forward group and a very suspect defence and question marks in net. I'vd missed several games each of the last 3 years which was a rarity before that. Hopefully they can grow some balls and 'somehow' develop a new culture throughout the organization but after all these years I'm not holding my breath.

 

[Evilhomer]

I hope you are right because Pageau is actually somebody I would be interested in at the right price, mostly because he's not a rental, I don't want 3rd line center to be a weakness every year

The bigger problem is that Pageau has never been the same since he hurt his hand against Tampa in the playoffs. He is nowhere near effective as he used to be.

 

[Racer88]

If a team is more talented than all of the other teams but one, that isn't being cocky.

We have had a talented team for the last 5-7 years and they have been awful in the playoff. Basically the same team and coach being rerun yet again with a few fringe players swapped. What makes you think things will be any different

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

We have had a talented team for the last 5-7 years and they have been awful in the playoff. Basically the same team and coach being rerun yet again with a few fringe players swapped. What makes you think things will be any different

Calling Bertuzzi and Domi fringe players is inaccurate to say the least

 

[Gary Nylund]

I think the point you're missing is that it's the maturation of talent that is the key. It's why teams like the 1980 Islanders or the 1984 Oilers ended up winning. Those players spent a few years losing and maturing. What do you think guys like Matthews and Marner have been doing? You're angry because you're stuck on the losses without realizing that they are necessary to get to the winning. What you saw this past season was more maturation. I think you are going to see something much more special this season, and I'm not even a Leafs fan.

Amazing the lengths some people will go to to make excuses. 1-7 sucks any way you slice it, those Islander/Oiler teams were never anywhere close to that bad a run and only the most hopeless dreamer could compare our team to those dynasties.

Did you see Marner play in game 3 against Florida? Would you describe what you saw as "more maturation"? I only ask because I watched every minute of that disaster and I'll just put it politely and say that "maturation" was not the first word that came to mind.

This team isn't getting blown up, as long as Matthews is a Leaf there will be no rebuild

Truth.

 

[Fogelhund]

Amen to that.
The Eeyores are going to be in for a long season, grumping through every win waiting for the playoffs to start.

and posting like mad, if we lose two games in a row in October, to say... we told you so.

 

[Nineteen67]

This team isn't getting blown up, as long as Matthews is a Leaf there will be no rebuild

That’s obvious. They drafted 3 top 10 first rounders in three years and then just quit rebuilding. Strange

 

[Nineteen67]

We have had a talented team for the last 5-7 years and they have been awful in the playoff. Basically the same team and coach being rerun yet again with a few fringe players swapped. What makes you think things will be any different

Some really good talent, but surrounded by a lot of really bad players - Kerfoot, Engvall for example.

 

[LeafGrief]

First time in nearly a decade that I wont have access to most games. Cancelled my tv package and not buying the streaming. The regular season is “meaningless” so why would I watch? 2h45m on a Tuesday night against the Minnesota Wild just doesn’t interest me any more if the result doesn’t mean anything to our season. Especially when all that time is gambling ads and the same three Amazon commercials, I’ve got better things to do.

Our team is the same, we barely shuffled the deck chairs. Bertuzzi is a primo deck chair for sure, but this core has showed us again and again what they’ve got. All the talent in the world to bring you out of your seat, none of the fire or drive to make them team legends.

I’ll watch the games against old Atlantic division rivals and HNIC when I can, but this is the least excited for a season I have ever been. I love hockey and the Leafs, always will, but this season feels like a chore that needs to be done before they wilt in the playoffs again and we have a real core shuffle next summer. Matt Knies and Tyler Bertuzzi will be interesting storylines, but the first gambling commercial I see is going to sour that interest in a heartbeat.

Go Leafs Go, but it’s probably a season of highlight watching for me.

 

[ACC1224]

Leaf fan here, can’t wait for it to start. Once NFL starts I fully embrace Fall. Let’s get it going!

 

[mjd1001]

we are definitely the favourite to win the Atlantic, Boston is garbage this year, they don't even have a true #1C. I think they fall back because outside of Pastrnak, Hall and Marchand I'm not ure who's scoring for them. Tampa will be taking a step back. Ottawa despite everyone over hyping them can't defend and they leak goals, Florida I really don't see them winning the division at all. They were barely a playoff team last year. Montreal is young, needs more time. Buffalo is legit the only real competition.

for me Atlantic shapes up as so;

1. Toronto
2. Tampa
3. Buffalo
4. Florida gets in as wild card again

You very well may be correct. A lot of the other teams in the division don't get followed as much so we really are kinda guessing with how good they will be.

For THIS YEAR, of the up-and-comers I just put Ottawa ahead of Buffalo (for now). Their ceiling may be a lower but they have less questions. Buffalo: Who is in goal? Can Thompson play a full year without injury? Can Dylan Cozens not be so over-aggressive that he is out of position and experienced teams like the Leafs can take advantage of it? When does Jeff Skinner hit the age-wall?

Florida seems like a team people find hard to put their finger on, and it seems like people under-estimate them. 2 years ago they won the presidents Trophy and lost in a tight series to the eventual cup winner. Last season they went 26-18-4 AFTER the first of the year and they went to the cup. In the past 2+ years they had one half season stretch where they were bad, but outside of that they have been an elite, top-5 team. It seems like most people think they are closer to being the team they were from Oct-Dec of last year, and not the team they were the 2nd half of last year, the entire playoff run, and the entire year before.

 

[Nineteen67]

Leaf fan here, can’t wait for it to start. Once NFL starts I fully embrace Fall. Let’s get it going!

To get ramped up for fall I’m trying to get back into college football, but it’s a hard watch before conference play gets going. And once the NHL preseason starts I dont have time.

 

[Nineteen67]

First time in nearly a decade that I wont have access to most games. Cancelled my tv package and not buying the streaming. The regular season is “meaningless” so why would I watch? 2h45m on a Tuesday night against the Minnesota Wild just doesn’t interest me any more if the result doesn’t mean anything to our season. Especially when all that time is gambling ads and the same three Amazon commercials, I’ve got better things to do.

Our team is the same, we barely shuffled the deck chairs. Bertuzzi is a primo deck chair for sure, but this core has showed us again and again what they’ve got. All the talent in the world to bring you out of your seat, none of the fire or drive to make them team legends.

I’ll watch the games against old Atlantic division rivals and HNIC when I can, but this is the least excited for a season I have ever been. I love hockey and the Leafs, always will, but this season feels like a chore that needs to be done before they wilt in the playoffs again and we have a real core shuffle next summer. Matt Knies and Tyler Bertuzzi will be interesting storylines, but the first gambling commercial I see is going to sour that interest in a heartbeat.

Go Leafs Go, but it’s probably a season of highlight watching for me.

As of today, they should make the playoffs and it’s reasonable to expect them to win 1 or 2 rounds, which hasnt been the case in 20 yrs.