What if they win the first two rounds by beating strong teams, but get beat out in round three...is that a success or a failure?
Leafs '22/'23 Thread
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Whatever happened to Shanahan's 5 year plan? Are the Leafs now in year 8 of the 5 year plan?
Shanahan’s scorched-earth Leafs plan wins MLSE support - The Globe and Mail
Shanahan’s scorched-earth Leafs plan wins MLSE support - The Globe and Mail
Nothing nefarious. LOL.
You said that they'd win nothing meaningful this year. So I'm just asking what you would consider winning something meaningful?
What are your parameters? Is it only winning the Cup and nothing less? Or perhaps getting to the finals? Where is your bar set for "meaningful"?
as it stands 1 vs 8 Leafs are playing Tampa anyways but I get what you means it gives the Leafs incentive to climb the standing to 3rd and avoid playing Tampa.
You mean Excep-SCHENN-al.
OK so where are Toronto and Tampa on a 1 to 8 Conference chart ? How about Edmonton ?
And how about the Western Conference, how do the teams stack up there on an NBA seeds 1 versus 8 format ? The way the NHL structures it, it doesn't offer much incentive to climb the standings if you know you only have to stay in the Top 3 in your division to qualify and season matchups are based on divisional alignments. In the NBA everyone wants to stay away from anything less than a 4 seed in a conference and especially seeds 6 to 8 cause then you are stuck on the road playing top teams.
I agree it should be 1 vs 8 seeds. Heck, maybe even 1 vs 16 seeds the NHL once did that.
They should go back to the top 4 in each division getting in, maybe 6 with top 2 getting a bye and first round is a single game.
Well I think the NHL just wants to have a different format than the NBA for whatever reason, they don't want to be a copy cat. At any rate, if you're a good team you should be able to get thru first two rounds regardless who you play. The current NHL format emphasizes play within your own division as opposed to NBA emphasizing inter Conference play. I dunno which format is better. The NHL system is more like Major League baseball. The NFL has Conference winner getting first round bye. Going down to the wire there will be more shuffling with the Wild Card teams. Will probably be some separating going on. Right now its very tight. Toronto and Edmonton look to be only teams to advance.
4 pts separates 1st and 4th in the Pacific Division.
7 pts separates 1st and 4th in the Central Division.
7 pts separates 1st and 8th in the Western Conference.
Don't think it'll make a whole lot of difference 1 vs 8 or wild card vs Division winners.
In the East there really isn't much margin between Leafs, TB, Devils, NYR after they've all loaded up for the playoffs.
1 vs 8 or Division winners vs wild card teams there is no difference either.
If fans want to see their team play different teams in the playoffs then they'll need to win a round or two or win the Division and play a wild card team which could be from the other Division.
Leafs have played Washington, Boston (2), Columbus, Montreal, TB. That's 5 different teams in 6 seasons.
7 pts separates 1st and 4th in the Central Division.
7 pts separates 1st and 8th in the Western Conference.
Don't think it'll make a whole lot of difference 1 vs 8 or wild card vs Division winners.
In the East there really isn't much margin between Leafs, TB, Devils, NYR after they've all loaded up for the playoffs.
1 vs 8 or Division winners vs wild card teams there is no difference either.
If fans want to see their team play different teams in the playoffs then they'll need to win a round or two or win the Division and play a wild card team which could be from the other Division.
Leafs have played Washington, Boston (2), Columbus, Montreal, TB. That's 5 different teams in 6 seasons.
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They have to play Tampa and Boston eventually to get to the show. I say the Leafs are better built for the playoffs this year then past playoffs.
Leafs have always had weak 3rd and 4th lines in the playoffs.
The 4th line should be solid this year with Acciari and Lafferty. Huge upgrade over Clifford and Simmonds.
Their 3rd line could have O'Rielly.
Leafs have always lacked adequate Defensemen depth in the playoffs.
Remember the days of Marincin. Muzzin was injured in both the Columbus and Montreal series.
They have cap space for Knies. Could he play with Tavares and Marner. He's big and strong.
They played Robertson before when he was a rookie and he's small so right there that should be an upgrade.
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Which team will go deeper, Leafs or Oilers ? I hate to say it but I think the Leafs will be eliminated by Tampa. They loaded too much on defencemen and not enough power forwards. I think Oilers will go to the Final, Mcdavid can own a game. Oilers have a bit easier path. Could Winnipeg be a wild card ? Right now Edmonton and Winnipeg would be the two wild cards in the West. I am surprised Oilers are dominating the Pacific, I mean there's no guarantee Oilers will make it
