Which Canadian Team Will Go the Farthest?

[HockeyVirus]

You missed a good tournament apparently.

I just remember Marner creating the gold medal winning goal and Tkachuk crying on the bench

 

[landy]

Jets are the easy answer, but I could see EDM getting out of the Pacific only to get spanked by the Central, which may not be the Jets so technically Edm may get to the Conf Finals again.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Isn't Matthews banged up? That's the problem in having most of your Cap split between a handful of players. If one guy goes down it's a huge strain on the rest of the club.

Absolutely valid point. Matthews has been 50% of what he was over his career. He has spurts where he looks semi recognizable, but they do not last. It will be hard without Matthews finding a way to push through

 

[HockeyVirus]

Jets are the easy answer, but I could see EDM getting out of the Pacific only to get spanked by the Central, which may not be the Jets so technically Edm may get to the Conf Finals again.

Jets have to prove they can win more than 5 games in the first round for me

 

[Draiskull]

Sens are an easy team to root for this year <minus maybe Tkachuk>. Hope they go deep.

Jets deserve a long playoffs run based on what they have accomplished this season.

Oilers are my team but the goaltending , defense, health and lack of chemistry is just oof this year.

Habs are a great team but (ala the Oilers fans) the fan base is just too 'intense' to cheer for the team as a neutral fan.

Leafs are a healthy version of the Oilers. Issue in playoffs with them is mental\psychological. On paper they should go deep

IF Flames make it, anything can happen with a hot goaltender. As a Canadian I hope they catch up to Blues but as an Oilers fan its ABC. anyone but cgy

 

[jbeck5]

Is he going to have another useless fight and then do nothing?



I always think the Leafs can win every year because they have the pieces. This year is different though, the team is objectively different.

Didn't he score in the finals? As well as Sanderson.

Tkachuk had 3 goals in 4 games at 4nations.

If you wanted to make an accurate dunk on the sens, you picked the wrong thing. Plenty of options and you chose to be wrong and salty. Not sure why.

 

[stempniaksen]

I still think it's the Oilers, who I think end up taking care of business against the Kings and can avoid the juggernauts in the Central until Round 3.

The Jets are obviously the best Canadian team but have to face the leagues hottest team in the first round and then one of the Avs/Stars in round 2. The Jets are certainly capable of beating all those teams but it's a tall task.

Over in the East, Ottawa and Montreal have been playing "playoff hockey" since the new year and are both top-10 teams in the league since early/mid December. Tough to say how either of these young teams will actually do in the playoffs but they've earned their spots. The top of the East is much less scary than the top of the West so despite being underdogs I wouldn't be shocked to see either team pull the upset.

Leafs are the Leafs, until they prove otherwise I have a hard time seeing them win more than a round. The talent is there to go on a run and they've beefed up some of their holes (mainly the Carlo addition) but I'm still not 100% sure how to view Stolarz/Woll in a playoff matchup. The old saying is that if you have 2 goalies you have no goalies. Despite the Leafs being the favourites in every potential first round matchup I could see them being "goalie'd" by one of Bobrovsky, Vasilevski or Ullmark.

 

[Hunter368]

Really about matchups, only teams IMO good enough to go far is Jets or Leafs, rest I just don’t see it.

 

[Strangle]

As a Leafs fan, I have to begrudgingly admit Montreal is the most interesting team, though also the biggest underdog.

Everyone is expecting the Leafs to crash and burn as usual, expectations seem to be lower for Edmonton this year, Winnipeg has its own Leafs-complex of playoff mediocrity to overcome, and Ottawa, I don’t know, does anyone think they’re a dark horse, or just a happy-to-be-there team?

I’m not feeling particularly glowing over any of their chances at a cup, but I also wouldn’t be shocked to see Edmonton or Winnipeg in the finals.

Don’t be ashamed. The correct answer to this is the Maple Leafs

 

[HockeyVirus]

Didn't he score in the finals? As well as Sanderson.

Tkachuk had 3 goals in 4 games at 4nations.

If you wanted to make an accurate dunk on the sens, you picked the wrong thing. Plenty of options and you chose to be wrong and salty. Not sure why.

Point is Sens players can take the moral victories, it was a Leaf who created the gold medal goal aka the one that counts.

I am saying, Sens will have their moments that happens in a 7 game series. When it gets down to it, Leafs will take care of business. Also you may have Tkachuk.. We have Knies

 

[stempniaksen]

Point is Sens players can take the moral victories, it was a Leaf who created the gold medal goal aka the one that counts.

I am saying, Sens will have their moments that happens in a 7 game series. When it gets down to it, Leafs will take care of business. Also you may have Tkachuk.. We have Knies

They very well may, but the 55+ year sample size tells a different story.

 

[HockeyVirus]

They very well may, but the 55+ year sample size tells a different story.

It does?

 

[Strangle]

They very well may, but the 55+ year sample size tells a different story.

If past performance was the best indicator of future performance we would only have 1 team win the Stanley cup every year.

The reality here is that all of the leafs Atlantic division rivals have gotten worse, and the leafs have gotten marginally better.

 

[bert]

This is Toronto's year. They always wait until they have no choice but to do what is needed.

- Marner is a UFA and speculation is he is leaving. He wants to prove he is not a playoff choker for UFA
- Tavares contract year
- Knies contract year

Then just in general

- Actually having elite goaltending
- A real NHL coach
- First goal of the season scored by #67

Vibes are immaculate. The seas have parted they have the dream lineup to the finals.

Didnt you start this thread? Future of the team is incredibly bleak

You seem to be conflicted.....

Point is Sens players can take the moral victories, it was a Leaf who created the gold medal goal aka the one that counts.

I am saying, Sens will have their moments that happens in a 7 game series. When it gets down to it, Leafs will take care of business. Also you may have Tkachuk.. We have Knies

Wasnt it a leaf who also blew it on the gold medal goal?.... As well....

Knies and Brady yeah thats the same thing.

I think Ottawa is a massive under dog and I dont expect much as they are a young team and they will be facing off against a veteran experienced team no matter who they play. But man oh man, what if Ottawa wins... Then what.... Blow it up in Toronto? They cant even beat a team that hasnt been in the playoffs for 8 seasons. That indeed would be bleak. I wonder how they will handle the pressure of being such huge favorites with such a terrible playoff track record.

I expect the leafs to win and they really should. Finally winning the division playing an inexperienced opponent. But the hockey world deserves to see it.

 

[Oneiro]

Jets to the conference final.

Habs destroyed in round 1.
Toronto gone in round 2 after a 7 game battle with Ottawa.

 

[stempniaksen]

If past performance was the best indicator of future performance we would only have 1 team win the Stanley cup every year.

The reality here is that all of the leafs Atlantic division rivals have gotten worse, and the leafs have gotten marginally better.

I don't think Tampa, Ottawa and Montreal have gotten worse. Obviously the Leafs boogeyman is the Panthers and they've taken a step back because of injuries/suspension so the path to success is a little bit clearer. I woudn't be shocked by any result by the Leafs, they have the talent to get all the way to the finals and just enough question marks that a first round loss wouldn't be a shock.

 

[Golden_Jet]

It does?

View attachment 1010614

How many series have the leafs won since then .
Spoiler alert 1, worst in the NHL, except for expansion Seattle.
Let us know when leafs win a third round for first time in their history.
What a terrible flex that was going back as far as the last century.

 

[bert]

If past performance was the best indicator of future performance we would only have 1 team win the Stanley cup every year.

The reality here is that all of the leafs Atlantic division rivals have gotten worse, and the leafs have gotten marginally better.

This is wishful thinking if I have ever seen it. Tampa and Florida if healthy have better rosters than last year. Same with Montreal and Ottawa.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Didnt you start this thread? Future of the team is incredibly bleak

You seem to be conflicted.....

Oof lol, not surprising, poster flip flops a lot, and gets proven wrong a lot.

 

[jbeck5]

Point is Sens players can take the moral victories, it was a Leaf who created the gold medal goal aka the one that counts.

I am saying, Sens will have their moments that happens in a 7 game series. When it gets down to it, Leafs will take care of business. Also you may have Tkachuk.. We have Knies

It was also a leaf that lost the man infront causing the goal..

How can you say the above while ignoring that?

It's like everything you say is pro Leafs or anti sens...talk about a bias man.

Try not to make it so obvious.

 

[Joe Hallenback]

Central is a bloodbath especially if the Wild get healthy.
One of Toronto/Ottawa it looks like will get to the 2nd round. That should be a doozy of a series
Edmonton has to play LA and LA if they grind the game down are tough
Montreal gets to play the Caps who will beat them to a pulp. That one shouldn't be close

 

[Strangle]

This is wishful thinking if I have ever seen it. Tampa and Florida if healthy have better rosters than last year. Same with Montreal and Ottawa.

I said rivals. Those are Tampa, Florida and boston

Montreal have improved, as has ottawa, but they aren’t rivals.

Taking a look at the records of Tampa, Florida and Boston, I don’t think anyone can say they’ve improved over any season in the last 5 years.

The power is shifting in the Atlantic

 

[Colezuki]

WPG and EDM are the obvious choices,
Ott and MTL would look at a 1st round series win as a huge success so don't see them as anything more then longshots
Leafs I have a bias so i won't comment

 

[NyQuil]

I just remember Marner creating the gold medal winning goal and Tkachuk crying on the bench

Matthews also created the gold medal winning goal.

Point is Sens players can take the moral victories, it was a Leaf who created the gold medal goal aka the one that counts.

Two Leafs, actually.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Matthews also created the gold medal winning goal.

Ya Matthews zero goals in 4 Nations, Brady 3 goals, some weird flexing going on.