Obviously neither teams are guaranteed to make the playoffs right now, but both seem very likely. Still, which team would you rather matchup with in the playoffs?
Toronto has so much pressure in the playoffs, that they can't handle it and crumble.
Ottawa's pressure is simply to make the playoffs. From there, it's house money - which I think makes them more dangerous.
I'll take the perceived failure over the proven failure.
The Leafs routinely get dominated in the playoffs by nearly every opponent. Columbus embarrassed them. Montreal pimped-slapped them. Washington, Boston, Tampa, Florida...Leaf failure after Leaf failure.
Ottawa is an unknown. Perhaps they have greatness within them. The Leafs lack greatness. There’s a reason the Leafs haven't made a 'Cup Finals in 5.5 plus decades...and that reason is the the Leafs are soft, weak, fragile and heartless. 0% contender, 100% pretender.
Can I ask you what evidence makes Toronto even remotely a top contender?Ottawa easily. Toronto is a top contender.
Toronto goalies suck. Ottawa has Ullmark.
lol the teams are currently separated by 4 points, and over the last 7 post seasons by one first round victory.Ottawa easily. Toronto is a top contender.
Ottawa easily. Toronto is a top contender.
This reminds me of the fable of the Scorpion and the Frog.Your second paragraph reminds me of a quote one of the commentators said after Colorado won the cup in 2001. Paraphrasing because I don’t remember the exact words off hand, but it was something like that adversity doesn’t build character, but rather, it reveals character.
I still think I’d rather face Ottawa in the playoffs than Toronto though. The Leafs have enough talent that they could potentially just finally make it click and get on a roll. I’m not sure I can say the same about Ottawa yet. They’d have to probably come into the playoffs hot and be firing on all cylinders. At that point it’s kind of a numbers game. Toronto is simply more likely to win than Ottawa is, mathematically speaking.
I should also say that I’m looking at this through the lens of “if I’m Tampa Bay” since I follow them in addition to Utah.
Toronto is the better team so far this year and has been the better team for what, 7 or 8 years?
The question is asking about the playoffs though. Not who's more likely to get more regular season points over the years 2018-2025. It's asking who will be the tougher out in the very specific 2025 playoffs.
You've got a proven failure against an unknown. A proven failure that is trending down vs an unknown that is trending up.
That alone is enough to have people put their money on Ottawa even if they think the Leafs have a bit more talent or experience at the top of their roster.
I get why some people are choosing Toronto over Ottawa.
Personally, I think playoff experience takes time to accumulate and Ottawa's core has basically zero.
If Ottawa makes it into the post-season, it should be a bit of a wake-up call as far as the speed and intensity of the game is concerned.
Sanderson and Tkachuk looked fantastic in the 4 nations tournament, especially in the final, which had game 7 SCF level of intensity.
I get why some people are choosing Toronto over Ottawa.
Personally, I think playoff experience takes time to accumulate and Ottawa's core has basically zero.
If Ottawa makes it into the post-season, it should be a bit of a wake-up call as far as the speed and intensity of the game is concerned.