Mike Hoffman was an "AHLer" until he was 25 years old, before moving up to the NHL full-time ..........
- D0PPELGANGER

Yup, happens all the time, right?

Now that the stark reality of the leafs dismal play since the beginning of the year is setting in ........ and their plummeting chances of making the playoffs get worse each and everyday, leaf fans are now just lashing out in true troll form at the Senators, and their fans.

those true colours come shining through once again.

Neither fanbase, at the beginning of the season had much who that either Ontario team had a chance at challenging for the playoffs this season, based on last years play.

Ottawa brought in a new coaching staff and system, and have slowly and steadily moved away from their disjointed play of last season, and now have moved into a strong position to make the playoffs ....... and depending on where the finish at the end of the season, look to go at least beyond the first round.

The leafs just have over achieved for the first half of the season, and are now struggling to win games, now that the intensity of play has been dialed up...........nothing to be ashamed of, they will still exceed most leaf fans expectations, and if they don't make the playoffs, they can get all geeked up for the draft lottery.
- D0PPELGANGER

This is a fairly accurate assessment of the situation. But, overall, the Leafs have had a great season for a developing team. I am impressed that they were able to avoid the December collapse this year. Overall, I think this has been a very good year for the Leafs.

Now that the stark reality of the leafs dismal play since the beginning of the year is setting in ........ and their plummeting chances of making the playoffs get worse each and everyday, leaf fans are now just lashing out in true troll form at the Senators, and their fans.

those true colours come shining through once again.

Neither fanbase, at the beginning of the season had much who that either Ontario team had a chance at challenging for the playoffs this season, based on last years play.

Ottawa brought in a new coaching staff and system, and have slowly and steadily moved away from their disjointed play of last season, and now have moved into a strong position to make the playoffs ....... and depending on where the finish at the end of the season, look to go at least beyond the first round.

The leafs just have over achieved for the first half of the season, and are now struggling to win games, now that the intensity of play has been dialed up...........nothing to be ashamed of, they will still exceed most leaf fans expectations, and if they don't make the playoffs, they can get all geeked up for the draft lottery.
- D0PPELGANGER

by beginning of the year, do you mean beginning of 2017? They've had a great season. And it was never about the standings for us this year. Everyone knew that with such a young team, there could be some fade down the stretch, like happens with many great young teams. As much as it may pain you, the Leafs have a phenomenal future. Tonnes of young stars on the team.

There are no teams in Ontario this year that can contend for the Stanley Cup. There is one, in Toronto, that can in the near future.

It's a great time to be a sports fan in Toronto. The Blue Jays are among the best in the league, as are the Raptors. the TFC just lost in the championship game, and the Leafs are within a couple of years of being one of the top 2 or 3 teams in the league.

It's not surprising that we are starting to see articles like this being written:

http://www.rollingstone.c...great-sports-city-w469909

by beginning of the year, do you mean beginning of 2017? They've had a great season. And it was never about the standings for us this year. Everyone knew that with such a young team, there could be some fade down the stretch, like happens with many great young teams. As much as it may pain you, the Leafs have a phenomenal future. Tonnes of young stars on the team.

There are no teams in Ontario this year that can contend for the Stanley Cup. There is one, in Toronto, that can in the near future.

It's a great time to be a sports fan in Toronto. The Blue Jays are among the best in the league, as are the Raptors. the TFC just lost in the championship game, and the Leafs are within a couple of years of being one of the top 2 or 3 teams in the league.

It's not surprising that we are starting to see articles like this being written:

http://www.rollingstone.c...great-sports-city-w469909
- prock

Only if the blueline is addressed. With a little backend support Andersen would probably have better #s.

Only if the blueline is addressed. With a little backend support Andersen would probably have better #s.
- TheTaoOfSemenko

Anderson has been spectacular. His numbers are great. There is one Ontario team that is contending now! Also, Ottawa D has been very strong. Great story this morning in Hockey News on the special one.

http://www.thehockeynews....ne-and-only-erik-karlsson

Anderson has been spectacular. His numbers are great. There is one Ontario team that is contending now! Also, Ottawa D has been very strong. Great story this morning in Hockey News on the special one.

http://www.thehockeynews....ne-and-only-erik-karlsson
- spatso

2.73 and .916 is spectacular to you? I didn't say he isn't good. I said his blueline is dogpoop and he'd do better if that were solidified.

EDIT: I was talking about AndersEn ffs.

2.73 and .916 is spectacular to you? I didn't say he isn't good. I said his blueline is dogpoop and he'd do better if that were solidified.

EDIT: I was talking about AndersEn ffs.
- TheTaoOfSemenko

I know. Sorry, I should not have been so cryptic.

2.73 and .916 is spectacular to you? I didn't say he isn't good. I said his blueline is dogpoop and he'd do better if that were solidified.

EDIT: I was talking about AndersEn ffs.
- TheTaoOfSemenko

You got Spatso'd !

You got Spatso'd !
- golfingsince

I feel shame. Did not notice that he was not a regular and I should have been more clear in my comment.

Hoffman to TB for froese
- Tumbleweed

There are no teams in Ontario this year that can contend for the Stanley Cup. There is one, in Toronto, that can in the near future.

- prock

Because of the weak Atlantic division, Ottawa would have to have a few stars line up, to have a shot at a Conference Finals appearance.

If they finish 2nd or 3rd in their division, they could very well be facing the team with lowest or second lowest number of points in the conference ....... and IF they make it past the first round they could face either the Atlantic division winner, or a WC team ...... and that too could be a series that does not include one of the top four teams in the conference ........ and could also be a winnable series for the Sens....... and then if they make it past the second round, they're in the conference finals...................which would be well beyond any expectations most Sens fans would have had ................. but, as I pointed out, a few stars would need to align for them to have this "path" to the CFs.


point being, Senator fans are now confidently looking forward to the playoffs this year, and leaf fans are looking, again, at the draft lottery.




there is absoulutley no way you could confidently predict the leafs would have Cup contending team in the near future .......... they'd have to totally rebuild their defense corp, as the current crop is not going to bet the job done this year, or for the foreseeable future.

2.73 and .916 is spectacular to you? I didn't say he isn't good. I said his blueline is dogpoop and he'd do better if that were solidified.

EDIT: I was talking about AndersEn ffs.
- TheTaoOfSemenko

And he was talking about Anderson.

.930 S%

2.25 GAA

But yes, the blueline is in need of a major upgrade, and that could take a few seasons.

Only if the blueline is addressed. With a little backend support Andersen would probably have better #s.
- TheTaoOfSemenko

his wins and gaa sure. sv% is actually usually inflated with more shots strangely enough.

Because of the weak Atlantic division, Ottawa would have to have a few stars line up, to have a shot at a Conference Finals appearance.

If they finish 2nd or 3rd in their division, they could very well be facing the team with lowest or second lowest number of points in the conference ....... and IF they make it past the first round they could face either the Atlantic division winner, or a WC team ...... and that too could be a series that does not include one of the top four teams in the conference ........ and could also be a winnable series for the Sens....... and then if they make it past the second round, they're in the conference finals...................which would be well beyond any expectations most Sens fans would have had ................. but, as I pointed out, a few stars would need to align for them to have this "path" to the CFs.


point being, Senator fans are now confidently looking forward to the playoffs this year, and leaf fans are looking, again, at the draft lottery.




there is absoulutley no way you could confidently predict the leafs would have Cup contending team in the near future .......... they'd have to totally rebuild their defense corp, as the current crop is not going to bet the job done this year, or for the foreseeable future.
- D0PPELGANGER

Leafs have a good foundation. But without putting a serious D in place they will be nothing more than a false shadow of the draft rich Edmonton Oilers. The Oild traded Hall for a serious NHL Dman and the results are very good.

Leafs are going to have to do something similar. Would the Leafs be better and possibly a playoff contender had they Phaneuf...debatable, but redundant at this time.

And he was talking about Anderson.

.930 S%

2.25 GAA

But yes, the blueline is in need of a major upgrade, and that could take a few seasons.
- D0PPELGANGER

and Im not sure why, because I was talking about Andersen. I don't really care about Anderson.

and Im not sure why, because I was talking about Andersen. I don't really care about Anderson.
- TheTaoOfSemenko

lets be honest, non of us care about any of this

im guessing hoffman didnt have 5 points in his first 58 nhl games
- daeth

not gonna comment on this one dopps?

Leafs have a good foundation. But without putting a serious D in place they will be nothing more than a false shadow of the draft rich Edmonton Oilers. The Oild traded Hall for a serious NHL Dman and the results are very good.

Leafs are going to have to do something similar. Would the Leafs be better and possibly a playoff contender had they Phaneuf...debatable, but redundant at this time.
- spatso

They also traded for a solid vet in Sekera and drafted Klefbom and have Nurse coming along.

There is no one single path to a solid blueline. Trust me, I've watched Edmonton try everything.

Only if the blueline is addressed. With a little backend support Andersen would probably have better #s.
- TheTaoOfSemenko

the blueline needs an upgrade, agreed. But it's not an upgrade to the extent the Oilers needed (or still do for that matter). One top Dman, and that's probably it, whereas the Oilers could have used about 3 a year or two back.

They've got a couple of good D prospects (pretty thin otherwise), neither of which project to be top NHL dmen (at best #2s), but boatloads of cap space, to address that. Who knows. We'll see.

I'm rather confident of this management group to figure it out though. They've been incredibly adept at picking up draft picks when needed. Great at identifying high value for their draft picks. And pretty good at negotiating trades. They've set themselves up into a great position in pretty short time.

For a team just coming out of a rebuild, having so few holes to fill is fantastic.

lets be honest, non of us care about any of this
- daeth

True.

We care about the team the makes the playoffs.

We are already starting to see the fall off of Leaf supporters. Team needs to win a few.

True.

We care about the team the makes the playoffs.

We are already starting to see the fall off of Leaf supporters. Team needs to win a few.
- spatso

The Leafs have a relatively easy schedule the rest of the way and we all know non playoff teams are guaranteed wins.

the blueline needs an upgrade, agreed. But it's not an upgrade to the extent the Oilers needed (or still do for that matter). One top Dman, and that's probably it, whereas the Oilers could have used about 3 a year or two back.

They've got a couple of good D prospects (pretty thin otherwise), neither of which project to be top NHL dmen (at best #2s), but boatloads of cap space, to address that. Who knows. We'll see.

I'm rather confident of this management group to figure it out though. They've been incredibly adept at picking up draft picks when needed. Great at identifying high value for their draft picks. And pretty good at negotiating trades. They've set themselves up into a great position in pretty short time.

For a team just coming out of a rebuild, having so few holes to fill is fantastic.
- prock

This is just pretty talk. We have seen this all before. Next year can be a lot more difficult for the sophomores.

the blueline needs an upgrade, agreed. But it's not an upgrade to the extent the Oilers needed (or still do for that matter). One top Dman, and that's probably it, whereas the Oilers could have used about 3 a year or two back.

They've got a couple of good D prospects (pretty thin otherwise), neither of which project to be top NHL dmen (at best #2s), but boatloads of cap space, to address that. Who knows. We'll see.

I'm rather confident of this management group to figure it out though. They've been incredibly adept at picking up draft picks when needed. Great at identifying high value for their draft picks. And pretty good at negotiating trades. They've set themselves up into a great position in pretty short time.

For a team just coming out of a rebuild, having so few holes to fill is fantastic.
- prock

Agree to disagree. Reilly, Gardiner and Zaitsev have pretty decent offensive instincts but are all turnover prone. You could make a case I guess for Reilly and Zaitsev getting better in the future but at this point with Gardiner it is what it is. Zaitsev is an unknown quantity still. I remember when Edmonton thought GIlbert was the savior after 1 good year lol. Imo, they need more than 1 top guy, and those are difficult to come by in any case.

Edmonton's blueline is pretty good now. Finding a good balance of defence and offensive contributions. Physical when needed (who knew Larsson was so mean), and even guys like Benning and Nurse still coming along.

True.

We care about the team the makes the playoffs.

We are already starting to see the fall off of Leaf supporters. Team needs to win a few.
- spatso

There is no fall. At this point, there is nothing that can happen that would make Leaf fans disappointed in this season. Nothing.

And your comment about caring about making the playoffs. That's your perspective, because that's the Sens' end goal. That's not the end goal for the Leafs. that's the difference in perspective.

There is no fall. At this point, there is nothing that can happen that would make Leaf fans disappointed in this season. Nothing.

And your comment about caring about making the playoffs. That's your perspective, because that's the Sens' end goal. That's not the end goal for the Leafs. that's the difference in perspective.
- prock

I dunno man the loss of our top prospect Froese has me frothing at the mouth