What are you expecting out of this season?

[justloveleafs]

You know gary, the jays being a small squeeze into the playoffs, has made me a happier person. Better man, better business partner..

But cheering for this franchise, dude, a lot of innocent bystanders got some verbal beatings from me over the years, all undeserved I am pretty sure..

Being a very passionate fan of this franchise I am well aware, has changed lives and not for the better.

Dubas at this point seems to be just throwing fecal matter at the wall and praying something will stick.

Do we really think Cam Neely let a good player go for nothing...

Neely was the real meal, the real deal, Shanahan was like neely lite.. Who couldn\t even tinder and find someone other than his own teammates wife..

Until dougie suits up and drops behind the bench, I expect a big pile of the same..

 

[ottomaddox]

My opinion or expectation is more on the coaching. No more coaching hiccups. There's no room for error. There can't be long stretches of PP opportunities with no scoring. Keefe cannot make lines like he's having a weekender of pop'n'chips XBOX NHL 21 (EA Sports). He is paid well. He has a world of resources and advisors. He cannot fall apart any longer when things get tough.

 

[Guided by Veseys]

The team was absolutely dominant last season and they have improved goaltending, forward depth and physicality while only losing Hyman. If it wasn’t for losing Tavares and Muzzin in the Habs series the team probably would have given Tampa a run in the conference finals.
I see zero reasons, barring injury, that this team won’t continue to be top 5 in the league and obtain playoff success finally.
Team is top heavy though so any key injury could really create an issue perhaps.

 

[Mugzy97]

The team was absolutely dominant last season and they have improved goaltending, forward depth and physicality while only losing Hyman. If it wasn’t for losing Tavares and Muzzin in the Habs series the team probably would have given Tampa a run in the conference finals.
I see zero reasons, barring injury, that this team won’t continue to be top 5 in the league and obtain playoff success finally.
Team is top heavy though so any key injury could really create an issue, or maybe not.

 

[Gary Nylund]

The team was absolutely dominant last season and they have improved goaltending, forward depth and physicality while only losing Hyman. If it wasn’t for losing Tavares and Muzzin in the Habs series the team probably would have given Tampa a run in the conference finals.
I see zero reasons, barring injury, that this team won’t continue to be top 5 in the league and obtain playoff success finally.
Team is top heavy though so any key injury could really create an issue perhaps.

We lost Bogosian as well. Whether or not goaltending is better remains to be seen, in any case goaltending isn't the reason we lost in the playoffs. We are indeed top heavy, on paper should be about the same as last season, maybe a bit better or a bit worse depending on how the goaltending is. About the same BTW isn't top 5, we've never been top 5. Close though, a finish in the 6-10 again seems likely and then in the playoffs ... well FML, how we do in the playoffs is anyone's guess. Maybe win a round finally but then if we get TB in round two, that's probably the end of the line for us, we'll see.

 

[Sypher04]

As far as regular season goes, I expect us to be very good. I don’t understand the doom and gloomers talking about missing the playoffs. Assuming health, which is the only way you can approach a new season, there are not 8 better teams than us in the eastern conference

I get being less convinced about playoff success coming our way. This team has a lot to prove yet in that regard. I’m hopeful though. I think there is an argument that this team has more players who can take up roles that were lacking. And I would be shocked if the roster we enter the season with saw no upgrades for the playoffs.

Gonna be an interesting year that is ultimately crowned a failure or success based on playoff results, but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy the ride of the regular season none the less.

 

[fahad203]

The team was absolutely dominant last season and they have improved goaltending, forward depth and physicality while only losing Hyman. If it wasn’t for losing Tavares and Muzzin in the Habs series the team probably would have given Tampa a run in the conference finals.
I see zero reasons, barring injury, that this team won’t continue to be top 5 in the league and obtain playoff success finally.
Team is top heavy though so any key injury could really create an issue perhaps.

Yeah last year was a bit of smokes and mirror to me. The North really sucked though. We are not playing Ottawa, Montreal 9 times. Especially Montreal, we faced Price only what 4 games before the playoffs?

Calgary and Vancouver were garbage. Our records were better than what should been

I don't know what to expect to be honest. This team is such enigma, they have players to do some serious damage yet effort is not there, the grit is not there

I am still not sold on the coach. If Leafs with this team miss the playoffs, they have the perfect coach for it
Keefe seems to have a flair for the dramatics, for all the wrong reasons

 

[Mugzy97]

Win round 1, get the monkey off the back - meet Tampa in round 2 with the most hype, largest support group of fans anyone has ever seen and the most confidence in the world - beat Tampa in round 2 to put their 3rd cup run to bed.

How sweet would that be? Anything more than that is gravy.

 

[Fogelhund]

We lost Bogosian as well. Whether or not goaltending is better remains to be seen, in any case goaltending isn't the reason we lost in the playoffs. We are indeed top heavy, on paper should be about the same as last season, maybe a bit better or a bit worse depending on how the goaltending is. About the same BTW isn't top 5, we've never been top 5. Close though, a finish in the 6-10 again seems likely and then in the playoffs ... well FML, how we do in the playoffs is anyone's guess. Maybe win a round finally but then if we get TB in round two, that's probably the end of the line for us, we'll see.

We were tied for 5th in points last year.... But I agree with pretty much everything else you say. We should easily make the playoffs, barring a bit of injury luck. What we do there, who knows.

 

[Sypher04]

Yeah last year was a bit of smokes and mirror to me. The North really sucked though. We are not playing Ottawa, Montreal 9 times. Especially Montreal, we faced Price only what 4 games before the playoffs?

Calgary and Vancouver were garbage. Our records were better than what should been

I don't know what to expect to be honest. This team is such enigma, they have players to do some serious damage yet effort is not there, the grit is not there

I am still not sold on the coach. If Leafs with this team miss the playoffs, they have the perfect coach for it
Keefe seems to have a flair for the dramatics, for all the wrong reasons

I kinda agree about it being somewhat smoke and mirrors. Obviously it wasn’t a typical year, but the Leafs last regular season were full marks. They didn’t just with the North, they led the division, and comfortably, almost for the entire season. The North wasn’t the best division out of the 4 clearly, but this idea that it sucked was and still is imo completely overblown.

 

[Sypher04]

We lost Bogosian as well. Whether or not goaltending is better remains to be seen, in any case goaltending isn't the reason we lost in the playoffs. We are indeed top heavy, on paper should be about the same as last season, maybe a bit better or a bit worse depending on how the goaltending is. About the same BTW isn't top 5, we've never been top 5. Close though, a finish in the 6-10 again seems likely and then in the playoffs ... well FML, how we do in the playoffs is anyone's guess. Maybe win a round finally but then if we get TB in round two, that's probably the end of the line for us, we'll see.

FWIW, our record without bogosian last year was even better than with him. I thought he fit well, but clearly very replaceable. I think sandin/liljegren getting into the lineup helps us more than bringing back bogosian

 

[Mess]

I'm most excited about playing the full NHL again this year, and not that pandemic nonsense of last year where you play only 6 teams 9-10 times each.

 

[meefer]

If all those who are pissing on the team and saying the regular season means nothing, stay away from game day and post game threads, I’ll be happy. Missing out on having every missed assignment, pass, shot, check, used as an excuse to bitch about the player/coach/Dubas (especially Dubas!) ad nausium, would be thankfully appreciated.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

4th or 5th in Atlantic and very close to a wildcard with a few teams right until end .. they will start season off looking good and fade away down stretch

 

[Suntouchable13]

If all those who are pissing on the team and saying the regular season means nothing, stay away from game day and post game threads, I’ll be happy. Missing out on having every missed assignment, pass, shot, check, used as an excuse to bitch about the player/coach/Dubas (especially Dubas!) ad nausium, would be thankfully appreciated.

Gladly, I am thinking I will miss a bunch of games. Maybe get in to some Netflix series or something. This Leafs team is not worth my time. After 20+ years, I have had enough. I don't expect much from this group.

 

[justloveleafs]

my b est friend in grade six to eight, beat me to a literal pulp, because of my crazy love for the leafs..

Every punch, he told me to stop and just back off, he was and obviously is,two years older than me and he was a tremendous, but very reluctant opponent..

His team was the best team in the NHL, by quite a margin, mine, the Leafs were pretty much bargin binners.

But I had the fan bug, big time, way too much actually.

He has since become possibly the guy, in the RCMP in Canada, a total cool guy, a gentleman, and I remain a loyal and very impressed friend.

Our fight, which took place around 11am in the morning dazzled all teacher, every student, the principal and vice principal and many people off the street. ItwasChuvalo versus the top end of Cassius Clay...

A crazed passionate LEAF fan preaching the unpreachable, that the lEAFS were good, no, great..

We talk about it to this day.... He basically broke most of the bones in my face...

All the fault was mine.. He basically begged me to stop.... But I guess the hundreds of onlookers were entertained.

So pardon me if I JUMP off the bandwagon here.

And pencil me in however, as a fan of Mitch Marner. That guy kills a penalty as courageously as any nhler I have ever observed..

That kid has a pair. We didn't lose because of any quit in him. Montreal, had a really intelligent and strategic defence.. Matthews didn't quit either imo...

Troffoli was right, when Muzzin went down, Montreal smelled an opportunity, and to their credit,they pounced..

I don't think anyone on the Leafs quit or missed their golf clubs..

But for this season, I am not going to get my hopes up too high.

I cannot get them out of my bloodstream, will always love them, but my gosh, it has been a lot of blood and pain cheering for them.

MAYBE my partial capitulation, will result in a cup win. You better believe I will jump on the bandwagon lol. If we start winning playoff series..

I firmly believe I have earned a bit of a rest...

 

[ToneDog]

FWIW, our record without bogosian last year was even better than with him. I thought he fit well, but clearly very replaceable. I think sandin/liljegren getting into the lineup helps us more than bringing back bogosian

I believe our record without Matty was better than without him as well and some actually believed it. LOL.

 

[janesy12]

Yeah last year was a bit of smokes and mirror to me. The North really sucked though. We are not playing Ottawa, Montreal 9 times. Especially Montreal, we faced Price only what 4 games before the playoffs?

Calgary and Vancouver were garbage. Our records were better than what should been

I don't know what to expect to be honest. This team is such enigma, they have players to do some serious damage yet effort is not there, the grit is not there

I am still not sold on the coach. If Leafs with this team miss the playoffs, they have the perfect coach for it
Keefe seems to have a flair for the dramatics, for all the wrong reasons

And then what happened?
This team that sucked, had more success in the weeks to follow than we've seen in 54 years. Regular season is all smoke and mirrors.
If they can make the playoffs, great. Then they'll likely have to face two of Tampa, Boston or Florida in the first 2 rounds. Are fans confident they can win 2 rounds against those teams, because from what I've seen there isn't much confidence in this group.

 

[AvroArrow]

I hope they make a deep run. I expect nothing from them, they've let us down far too many times. My confidence in this group is at an all time low.

 

[nsleaf]

Watching and hoping as usual. Not looking forward to all the negative commentary from all those who say the season means nothing to them but watch and moan anyway.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Gonna be an interesting year that is ultimately crowned a failure or success based on playoff results, but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy the ride of the regular season none the less.

I've been saying I'll judge everyone on how they do in the playoffs for a few years now so this year's no different, just a bit more frustrating each year as the losing streak keeps getting longer. I have no idea how much I'll enjoy the ride, probably not much but maybe a little bit. I'm not as depressed as I was when the sting of defeat was still fresh but still pretty bummed out. I'm sure I'll be able to enjoy some of what happens but the knowledge that it means nothing until we win in the playoffs will always be there ...

We were tied for 5th in points last year.... But I agree with pretty much everything else you say. We should easily make the playoffs, barring a bit of injury luck. What we do there, who knows.

Right. I keep forgetting, thanks for the reminder. But there is an asterix there so whatever, not a big deal either way. I just wanted to point out that despite all the talk about how great a regular season team we are, we're not THAT great.

I kinda agree about it being somewhat smoke and mirrors. Obviously it wasn’t a typical year, but the Leafs last regular season were full marks. They didn’t just with the North, they led the division, and comfortably, almost for the entire season. The North wasn’t the best division out of the 4 clearly, but this idea that it sucked was and still is imo completely overblown.

Yeah we didn't play anyone really tough all year but we were solid all year and the division wasn't that bad. There was one really good division, all the others were about equal IIRC so I guess you could say that our division was a bit below average overall, but not that bad really. And definitely not weaker than all the other divisions as some people seem to think.

FWIW, our record without bogosian last year was even better than with him. I thought he fit well, but clearly very replaceable. I think sandin/liljegren getting into the lineup helps us more than bringing back bogosian

That record without him doesn't matter at all, he was a valuable piece for us. If we're lucky, the kids take a step forward so we're not much worse but he brought a physical element that won't be replaced and our depth is worse, that I don't think is debatable and that depth is important come playoff time. Of course doobie might trade some picks/prospects at the TDL to get us that depth so there is that I guess.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Watching and hoping as usual. Not looking forward to all the negative commentary from all those who say the season means nothing to them but watch and moan anyway.

Feel free to put me on ignore. Or moan about the comments from people like me who don't think that everything is awesome and try to see things as they really are, up to you.

 

[Buds17]

I'll try to align hope with expectation and go with win a playoff round.

 

[Fogelhund]

That record without him doesn't matter at all, he was a valuable piece for us. If we're lucky, the kids take a step forward so we're not much worse but he brought a physical element that won't be replaced and our depth is worse, that I don't think is debatable and that depth is important come playoff time. Of course doobie might trade some picks/prospects at the TDL to get us that depth so there is that I guess.

It's probable that trades will be dependent on the need at the time.

Keeping in mind Biega has 241 NHL games, Dahlstrom has 64 NHL games and Mennell played in the KHL last year. I think we forget about having signed these guys.

What we need, really depends on what we get out of Dermott, Holl, Liljegren and Sandin this year. It is possible that Liljegren and Sandin aren't good enough at the NHL level. It's also possible that they will be very good... Again, who knows?? I think it's possible/probable that we'll pick up a low cost 8th D, physical kind of player at some point.

 

[robertmac43]

I'm expecting a booming regular season and underwhelming post-season.

I'm hoping for a deep playoff run and I do think this roster is capable of that. Only time will tell where we end up!