Toronto Maple Leafs - 2016/17 Season

[gcostanza]

Just think that the Leafs have already achieved success both as a team and as individual players any fan could have reasonably expected, you'll probably find it less nerve wrecking to watch this run.

I'm pretty confident they'll make it at least as a wildcard, but if they don't, I hope that'll force management to look real hard into upgrading the defence in the off season. Goaltending and Babcock's coaching have managed to mask a lot of the defence's deficiencies and making the playoffs may give the false sense that the defence is not too bad.

^This.^

Regardless of how the Maple Leafs season ends (whenever that is),improving the defence corps will be priority 1 for the club.
Starting goaltending is in capable hands, and there are plenty of solid backups available.
There will be minor shuffling of the bottom six up front.
Of course, the Maple Leafs (as will every NHL team) will lose a player to the Golden Knights in the expansion draft.

 

[shack]

^This.^

Regardless of how the Maple Leafs season ends (whenever that is),improving the defence corps will be priority 1 for the club.
Starting goaltending is in capable hands, and there are plenty of solid backups available.
There will be minor shuffling of the bottom six up front.
Of course, the Maple Leafs (as will every NHL team) will lose a player to the Golden Knights in the expansion draft.

IMO, the Leafs do not need a tonne of additions. A lot of improvement will come with the natural development/maturation of this year's rookies.

 

[kyleb899]

Have fun in golf season Leafs fans lol

 

[glamphotographer]

Well said. I didn't think the Leafs would finish much better than last. I expected Buffalo to be in the position Toronto is, and vice versa. I felt the Sabres made some key pickups.

But Babcock is money well spent, and the Leaf youth is both blooming years early and coming together fast. The chemistry is excellent, and the team can only get better.

I would have though Buffalo and Winnipeg would have made a push for the playoffs the Leafs in another lottery pick situation. Everything from here on out is gravy really. I'm gonna say the Leafs get it done this weekend.

 

[SkyRider]

Some of those overtime and shootout losses coming back to haunt us. If the Leafs make it it will be by 1 point and if they don't make it it will be by 1 point.

 

[saxon]

Leafs stand a better chance against Columbus, the Jackets are stumbling badly and have lost 5 straight and are losing today to the Flyers.

 

[gcostanza]

Tampa 4.2%
NYI 7.4%
Tor 88.5%

NYI 6.9%
Tampa 11.5%
Tor 81.6%

 

[kyleb899]

NYI 6.9%
Tampa 11.5%
Tor 81.6%

It should be NYI 50%
Tampa 50%
Toronto 0% LOL

 

[SkyRider]

Mathews took the shot from his side of the red line ----- number 40!

Leafs are going to the playoffs!

 

[glamphotographer]

I would have though Buffalo and Winnipeg would have made a push for the playoffs the Leafs in another lottery pick situation. Everything from here on out is gravy really. I'm gonna say the Leafs get it done this weekend.

Leafs are in and can finish 3rd and play Ottawa instead of Washington.

 

[gcostanza]

It should be NYI 50%
Tampa 50%
Toronto 0% LOL

Anything else, Kreskin?

 

[glamphotographer]

Anything else, Kreskin?

Why even bother feeding a troll? Just block him.

 

[catherinetog]

Leafs 5-Penguins 3!!! I have just got back from the ACC watching my first life hockey game in my entire life and I am so glad I did. Leafs made the playoffs---the real one!!!

Congratulation to the Leafs! Go Leafs Go!

www.catherinetog.blogspot.ca

 

[kyleb899]

Leafs 5-Penguins 3!!! I have just got back from the ACC watching my first life hockey game in my entire life and I am so glad I did. Leafs made the playoffs---the real one!!!

Congratulation to the Leafs! Go Leafs Go!

www.catherinetog.blogspot.ca

Looking beautiful Catherine Tog, I would love to see you one day.

 

[Insidious Von]

She'll be looking forward to that with baited breath.

I've enjoyed this season very much, was expected the Leafs and the Sabres to be in opposite places.

I'm concerned for Andersen, regardless of his status he should not play against the Blue Jackets. I'm sure Lou and Brendan are happy with the outcome, but how does it fit with the plan? The aim is not to make the playoffs, it's to eventually get to the Stanley Cup Final.

 

[wazup]

The next few years will be a big step. How do they go from wildcard to elite status, plenty of teams like st louis and nyi that never seem to be able to take the next step. The hard part is getting to the top.

 

[tombrady12]

They must be a year ahead of the plan. I'm sure they knew what they had in the rookies, but there's no way they could have seen it all coming together so quickly. If Marner scores today, they'll have 4 rookies with 20 goals. Imagine the odds you could have got on that in Vegas! They have also been very lucky with avoiding injuries this year. No more than a handful of games lost to injury by key players, which is impossible to plan for. You have to suffer some playoff defeat before you win it all. Might as well get that process started. Tough call on Andersen. With a point in today's game, they avoid Washington. Andersen would have to have been given a clean bill of health to even consider playing him today, IMO. Not likely considering the head shot he took.

 

[Insidious Von]

The Leafs have a great crop of rookies but the one that currently impresses me the most is William Nylander. His stick handling and passing are extraordinary and his wrister gives goalies the yipes. Last year he hardly played for the big club, they may not have seen this while playing for the Marlies. Some players are like that, they only get to the next level at the highest level.

The best example of this is journeyman Jim Layritz. He would turn into Ken Griffey Jr during the baseball playoffs and was World Series MVP in 1996.

 

[SkyRider]

Unlike the Jays, the boys did not throw a champagne party last night. There is still work to do.

Connor Brown "quietly" scored 20 goals this year.

 

[superstar_88]

and hyman 4 short handed goals and a selke nomination. Zaitsev 7 year contract at 31.5 million.