Managing expectations

[Highlander]

Very good article here especially for Nutman and I, who have a tendancy to get way ahead of ourselves.  My expectations are for the Leafs to play competitively even though they may end up in the bottom 5.

http://editorinleaf.com/2016/06/08/toronto-maple-leafs-expectations/?utm_campaign=FanSided+Daily&utm_source=FanSided+Daily&utm_medium=email

 

[nutman]

Very good article here especially for Nutman and I, who have a tendancy to get way ahead of ourselves.  My expectations are for the Leafs to play competitively even though they may end up in the bottom 5.

http://editorinleaf.com/2016/06/08/toronto-maple-leafs-expectations/?utm_campaign=FanSided+Daily&utm_source=FanSided+Daily&utm_medium=email

I don't agree with him . we will be on a big learning curve this season but bottom five ... nope, not a chance. to many things fell into place to make the bottom for us, and I believe our defense will become way better then he is saying.

For anyone predicting how good the team will be next year, it would be safe to say they will be very bad, because if they go wild and make or almost make the playoffs, then that prediction would be all but be forgot in all the excitment.

 

[TBLeafer]

Very good article here especially for Nutman and I, who have a tendancy to get way ahead of ourselves.  My expectations are for the Leafs to play competitively even though they may end up in the bottom 5.

http://editorinleaf.com/2016/06/08/toronto-maple-leafs-expectations/?utm_campaign=FanSided+Daily&utm_source=FanSided+Daily&utm_medium=email

I don't agree with him . we will be on a big learning curve this season but bottom five ... nope, not a chance. to many things fell into place to make the bottom for us, and I believe our defense will become way better then he is saying.

For anyone predicting how good the team will be next year, it would be safe to say they will be very bad, because if they go wild and make or almost make the playoffs, then that prediction would be all but be forgot in all the excitment.

Agreed.  Someone has to play counterpoint to Mirtle though.

I also wish some of these journalists educate themselves before overdramatizing Stamkos' blood clot issue.

Its the same type of clot as Vasilevskiy.  Vasilevskiy is just fine.  Just as Stamkos will be.

 

[Highlander]

No one would like to see this team gel more than me and make the playoffs and heck even win a round.  That is my fantasy much like winning the lottery, good to have nice dreams instead of nightmares.  So If they are bottom 5 I won't be disappointed as long as they are playing their guts out every night.
However in 2-3 more years I do expect to be a playoff team and compete

 

[TBLeafer]

No one would like to see this team gel more than me and make the playoffs and heck even win a round.  That is my fantasy much like winning the lottery, good to have nice dreams instead of nightmares.  So If they are bottom 5 I won't be disappointed as long as they are playing their guts out every night.
However in 2-3 more years I do expect to be a playoff team and compete

I'm really looking forward to the long climb to the top myself.  I'd be giddy as a school if the Leafs shocked the hockey world with how fast they climbed in one season.

 

[Al14]

No one would like to see this team gel more than me and make the playoffs and heck even win a round.  That is my fantasy much like winning the lottery, good to have nice dreams instead of nightmares.  So If they are bottom 5 I won't be disappointed as long as they are playing their guts out every night.
However in 2-3 more years I do expect to be a playoff team and compete

I'm really looking forward to the long climb to the top myself.  I'd be giddy as a school if the Leafs shocked the hockey world with how fast they climbed in one season.

The sooner the better... some of us around these parts may not have much time left to wait! 

 

[Zee]

No one would like to see this team gel more than me and make the playoffs and heck even win a round.  That is my fantasy much like winning the lottery, good to have nice dreams instead of nightmares.  So If they are bottom 5 I won't be disappointed as long as they are playing their guts out every night.
However in 2-3 more years I do expect to be a playoff team and compete

I'm really looking forward to the long climb to the top myself.  I'd be giddy as a school if the Leafs shocked the hockey world with how fast they climbed in one season.

A lot will depend on goaltending.  Bernier was far better in the 2nd half of last season, but that horrible first half was really unacceptable.  If he (or whoever plays in net) gives the Leafs above-average goaltending for the entire season, the Leafs should rise in the standings.

 

[Al14]

No one would like to see this team gel more than me and make the playoffs and heck even win a round.  That is my fantasy much like winning the lottery, good to have nice dreams instead of nightmares.  So If they are bottom 5 I won't be disappointed as long as they are playing their guts out every night.
However in 2-3 more years I do expect to be a playoff team and compete

I'm really looking forward to the long climb to the top myself.  I'd be giddy as a school if the Leafs shocked the hockey world with how fast they climbed in one season.

A lot will depend on goaltending.  Bernier was far better in the 2nd half of last season, but that horrible first half was really unacceptable.  If he (or whoever plays in net) gives the Leafs above-average goaltending for the entire season, the Leafs should rise in the standings.

I have lost faith in Bernier.  Even when he's playing well, I expect him to take a turn for the worse at any moment.

We need a more reliable starter in net IMHO.  But who???

 

[nutman]

I like management will keep my opinion on hold while he uses up his last chance this season. Lets hope he wakes up and starts playing solid hockey, steady like we were told he could.

 

[Zee]

No one would like to see this team gel more than me and make the playoffs and heck even win a round.  That is my fantasy much like winning the lottery, good to have nice dreams instead of nightmares.  So If they are bottom 5 I won't be disappointed as long as they are playing their guts out every night.
However in 2-3 more years I do expect to be a playoff team and compete

I'm really looking forward to the long climb to the top myself.  I'd be giddy as a school if the Leafs shocked the hockey world with how fast they climbed in one season.

A lot will depend on goaltending.  Bernier was far better in the 2nd half of last season, but that horrible first half was really unacceptable.  If he (or whoever plays in net) gives the Leafs above-average goaltending for the entire season, the Leafs should rise in the standings.

I have lost faith in Bernier.  Even when he's playing well, I expect him to take a turn for the worse at any moment.

We need a more reliable starter in net IMHO.  But who???

Bernier's career save % is .915, last season he was .908 after a horrible start.  His best year was with the Leafs was .923% in 55 games played.

Here's what we're looking at for top 10 goalies save % with a minimum of 51 games played from this season:

So can Bernier elevate his numbers to better than his career of .915?  Him playing well enough combined with Babcock's systems should be enough to make the Leafs a better team next season.  I haven't totally lost faith in Bernier yet.

 

[Al14]

No one would like to see this team gel more than me and make the playoffs and heck even win a round.  That is my fantasy much like winning the lottery, good to have nice dreams instead of nightmares.  So If they are bottom 5 I won't be disappointed as long as they are playing their guts out every night.
However in 2-3 more years I do expect to be a playoff team and compete

I'm really looking forward to the long climb to the top myself.  I'd be giddy as a school if the Leafs shocked the hockey world with how fast they climbed in one season.

A lot will depend on goaltending.  Bernier was far better in the 2nd half of last season, but that horrible first half was really unacceptable.  If he (or whoever plays in net) gives the Leafs above-average goaltending for the entire season, the Leafs should rise in the standings.

I have lost faith in Bernier.  Even when he's playing well, I expect him to take a turn for the worse at any moment.

We need a more reliable starter in net IMHO.  But who???

Bernier's career save % is .915, last season he was .908 after a horrible start.  His best year was with the Leafs was .923% in 55 games played.

Here's what we're looking at for top 10 goalies save % with a minimum of 51 games played from this season:

So can Bernier elevate his numbers to better than his career of .915?  Him playing well enough combined with Babcock's systems should be enough to make the Leafs a better team next season. I haven't totally lost faith in Bernier yet.

So, you're totally in favour of giving him some more rope!  8)

 

[TBLeafer]

So, you're totally in favour of giving him some more rope!  8)

Which he's already had a ton of since he was unnecessarily brought in to replace Reimer. 

 

[Al14]

So, you're totally in favour of giving him some more rope!  8)

Which he's already had a ton of since he was unnecessarily brought in to replace Reimer. 

Well, Bernier did provide us with a somewhat different clown act than Reimer.  I think LA knew what they were doing when they traded him to us.  He's nothing special IMHO.

 

[Highlander]

I think Nelson Mandela may disagree with you

 

[dappleganger]

So, you're totally in favour of giving him some more rope!  8)

Which he's already had a ton of since he was unnecessarily brought in to replace Reimer. 

Well, Bernier did provide us with a somewhat different clown act than Reimer.  I think LA knew what they were doing when they traded him to us.  He's nothing special IMHO.

Just like they knew trading Martin Jones.

 

[disco]

heavenlygod heavenlygod heavenlygod ".. and with the FIRSTOVERALLPICK inthe 2016 NHL DRAFT... the Toronto Maple Leafs... are PROUD to SELECT..."

 

[Al14]

heavenlygod heavenlygod heavenlygod ".. and with the FIRSTOVERALLPICK inthe 2016 NHL DRAFT... the Toronto Maple Leafs... are PROUD to SELECT..."

'Sorry, my phone is chiming... apparently we've traded the pick to... well, I'll let Mr. Bettman make the announcement.'  :management team leaves the podium: 

 

[Highlander]

This thread is called managing expectations, not dreaming into Star Trek land.  If we want to dream, lets start a "Dreamland" thread where the cap is finished and all great Canadians come back to play for the Blue and White.

The 20 Stanley Cups in a row would be nice however

 

[Tigger]

No one would like to see this team gel more than me and make the playoffs and heck even win a round.  That is my fantasy much like winning the lottery, good to have nice dreams instead of nightmares.  So If they are bottom 5 I won't be disappointed as long as they are playing their guts out every night.
However in 2-3 more years I do expect to be a playoff team and compete

I pretty much agree with this. We'd love to see the Leafs do well but our hopes need to be tempered by reality. I don't think we'll see the Leafs not play their guts out, even though they were last in the league I wasn't nearly as disappointed as I was with the way the team played out the year before, that was atrocious, last year they tried and failed, and I can live with that. I lean towards a bottom 5-6 finish, some who I respect lean towards a 9-10 finish. Difficult to know right now but to me that's a general agreement that they won't be very good.

The only quibble I have here is the 'expectation' of what the team will be in 2-3 years. Personally, I think 3 years is at the lower end of 'ready to compete in the playoffs' when we talk about a sustainable playoff team. I'd say it differently, like in 2-3 years I hope they're there but I don't expect it.

 

[Al14]

We should be ready to compete for a playoff spot in the 2017-2018 season.  It's just a matter of whether our top prospects develop sooner rather than later.

I see a Stanley Cup sometime in the early 2020s.