Maple Leafs are better, but are they a playoff team?

[Bender]

Ottawa seems to be chugging along, but are they deep enough if they run into injuries and how long is their goalie tandem able to keep up with their weak defence. I know they can score from the blue line but they let in alot of goals. I don't follow the sens so I really don't know what kind of depth they have. McLean really has them believing right now.

Ottawa seems like a confident team right now, but, they've been pretty streaky so far this season. They're a hard team to judge. I do get the feeling that they're due for another losing streak/rough stretch.

At the same time the Leafs aren't exactly world beaters. They're playing well right now but we're in nearly the same boat as Ottawa.

 

[Redleaf]

Ottawa seems to be chugging along, but are they deep enough if they run into injuries and how long is their goalie tandem able to keep up with their weak defence. I know they can score from the blue line but they let in alot of goals. I don't follow the sens so I really don't know what kind of depth they have. McLean really has them believing right now.

Ottawa seems like a confident team right now, but, they've been pretty streaky so far this season. They're a hard team to judge. I do get the feeling that they're due for another losing streak/rough stretch.

At the same time the Leafs aren't exactly world beaters. They're playing well right now but we're in nearly the same boat as Ottawa.

I think the Leafs are actually a rung or two above Ottawa on the "fast track rebuild" ladder. But yeah, they're close. I think next weeks battle of Ontario should be a particularly good one.

 

[Corn Flake]

I'm going to avoid the predictions completely, but the things I'm seeing happening to this team this year are just so different from what we are used to, things are absolutely going the Leafs way more than they have in a very long time.

Trading for a so-called has-been players like Lupul ends up a PPG  player. 

Kessel & Phaneuf - the type of player the Leafs have gone for before and underachieved, never to really live up to expectations, are both establishing themselves as top end players.

Prospects coming up when they are ready to come up, and not having the weight of saving the team on their shoulders.  Or at least less of that weight.

Players bouncing back after tough seasons or long stretches vs. completely crumbling under the pressure of Toronto.. ie: Grabbo (2 years ago) Bozak, Komisarek, Schenn, Monster.

A team that has a few collective attributes that are defining it and making it very difficult for opponents to handle.. in the case of this team... speed.  For once at the forefront of where the league is going vs. behind it by 2 steps (hello 2005).

Maybe a lot of it is luck,but its not all luck.  This kind of stuff never happened to the Leafs in recent memory.  Never!!

 

[Madferret]

Ottawa seems to be chugging along, but are they deep enough if they run into injuries and how long is their goalie tandem able to keep up with their weak defence. I know they can score from the blue line but they let in alot of goals. I don't follow the sens so I really don't know what kind of depth they have. McLean really has them believing right now.

Ottawa seems like a confident team right now, but, they've been pretty streaky so far this season. They're a hard team to judge. I do get the feeling that they're due for another losing streak/rough stretch.

At the same time the Leafs aren't exactly world beaters. They're playing well right now but we're in nearly the same boat as Ottawa.

I think the Leafs are actually a rung or two above Ottawa on the "fast track rebuild" ladder.

You can't be serious Red?

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

I'm going to avoid the predictions completely, but the things I'm seeing happening to this team this year are just so different from what we are used to, things are absolutely going the Leafs way more than they have in a very long time.

Trading for a so-called has-been players like Lupul ends up a PPG  player. 

Kessel & Phaneuf - the type of player the Leafs have gone for before and underachieved, never to really live up to expectations, are both establishing themselves as top end players.

Prospects coming up when they are ready to come up, and not having the weight of saving the team on their shoulders.  Or at least less of that weight.

Players bouncing back after tough seasons or long stretches vs. completely crumbling under the pressure of Toronto.. ie: Grabbo (2 years ago) Bozak, Komisarek, Schenn, Monster.

A team that has a few collective attributes that are defining it and making it very difficult for opponents to handle.. in the case of this team... speed.  For once at the forefront of where the league is going vs. behind it by 2 steps (hello 2005).

Maybe a lot of it is luck,but its not all luck.  This kind of stuff never happened to the Leafs in recent memory.  Never!!

Agreed with all your points. I think the difference is that we now have an experienced GM, that has a real plan and can tweak his plan on the fly, rather than continuing to try to fit a round peg into a square hole.

The biggest area of improvement for me, is in development. These guys are preparing our draft picks better than I think they were in the past IMO.

 

[Madferret]

Ottawa seems to be chugging along, but are they deep enough if they run into injuries and how long is their goalie tandem able to keep up with their weak defence. I know they can score from the blue line but they let in alot of goals. I don't follow the sens so I really don't know what kind of depth they have. McLean really has them believing right now.

Ottawa seems like a confident team right now, but, they've been pretty streaky so far this season. They're a hard team to judge. I do get the feeling that they're due for another losing streak/rough stretch.

At the same time the Leafs aren't exactly world beaters. They're playing well right now but we're in nearly the same boat as Ottawa.

Ottawa still has zero pressure on them to make the playoffs..

 

[Erndog]

Ottawa seems to be chugging along, but are they deep enough if they run into injuries and how long is their goalie tandem able to keep up with their weak defence. I know they can score from the blue line but they let in alot of goals. I don't follow the sens so I really don't know what kind of depth they have. McLean really has them believing right now.

Ottawa seems like a confident team right now, but, they've been pretty streaky so far this season. They're a hard team to judge. I do get the feeling that they're due for another losing streak/rough stretch.

At the same time the Leafs aren't exactly world beaters. They're playing well right now but we're in nearly the same boat as Ottawa.

I think the Leafs are actually a rung or two above Ottawa on the "fast track rebuild" ladder.

You can't be serious Red?

The only thing I'm going to say is that Ottawa still has plenty of veterans providing a lot of help.

Alfreddson, Spezza, Michalek, Phillips, Gonchar, Kuba, Neil, Anderson, etc.  The youngest guy there is Michalek at 27... in 2-3 years when Alffy, Gonchar, Phillips, Kuba, etc have moved on and Spezza is 31 the Sens might be in a similar spot to where they are now.

The Leafs' oldest player last night was Connolly at 30.  Everyone else is basically 20-27.

 

[Bender]

Ottawa seems to be chugging along, but are they deep enough if they run into injuries and how long is their goalie tandem able to keep up with their weak defence. I know they can score from the blue line but they let in alot of goals. I don't follow the sens so I really don't know what kind of depth they have. McLean really has them believing right now.

Ottawa seems like a confident team right now, but, they've been pretty streaky so far this season. They're a hard team to judge. I do get the feeling that they're due for another losing streak/rough stretch.

At the same time the Leafs aren't exactly world beaters. They're playing well right now but we're in nearly the same boat as Ottawa.

Ottawa still has zero pressure on them to make the playoffs..

Yeah but statistically we aren't far apart. Everyone says that Ottawa is due for a fall, but if that's the case then how are the Leafs immune from that? I don't think either teams is "due" for a fall.

I think Ottawa's not getting enough credit for their play this year and for some reason people are expecting them to have a swan dive based on that bad streak at the beginning of the year.

 

[crazyperfectdevil]

Ottawa seems to be chugging along, but are they deep enough if they run into injuries and how long is their goalie tandem able to keep up with their weak defence. I know they can score from the blue line but they let in alot of goals. I don't follow the sens so I really don't know what kind of depth they have. McLean really has them believing right now.

Ottawa seems like a confident team right now, but, they've been pretty streaky so far this season. They're a hard team to judge. I do get the feeling that they're due for another losing streak/rough stretch.

At the same time the Leafs aren't exactly world beaters. They're playing well right now but we're in nearly the same boat as Ottawa.

I think the Leafs are actually a rung or two above Ottawa on the "fast track rebuild" ladder.

You can't be serious Red?

The only thing I'm going to say is that Ottawa still has plenty of veterans providing a lot of help.

Alfreddson, Spezza, Michalek, Phillips, Gonchar, Kuba, Neil, Anderson, etc.  The youngest guy there is Michalek at 27... in 2-3 years when Alffy, Gonchar, Phillips, Kuba, etc have moved on and Spezza is 31 the Sens might be in a similar spot to where they are now.

The Leafs' oldest player last night was Connolly at 30.  Everyone else is basically 20-27.

yeah, kind of like the leafs back when sundin and them were still around ...they put on that late charge for the playoffs ...  and the longer ottawa stays in the playoff hunt...the more expectations there will be..from a fan perspective anyway..it's just human nature

 

[LuncheonMeat]

Ottawa seems to be chugging along, but are they deep enough if they run into injuries and how long is their goalie tandem able to keep up with their weak defence. I know they can score from the blue line but they let in alot of goals. I don't follow the sens so I really don't know what kind of depth they have. McLean really has them believing right now.

Ottawa seems like a confident team right now, but, they've been pretty streaky so far this season. They're a hard team to judge. I do get the feeling that they're due for another losing streak/rough stretch.

At the same time the Leafs aren't exactly world beaters. They're playing well right now but we're in nearly the same boat as Ottawa.

Ottawa still has zero pressure on them to make the playoffs..

I don't think there is any team with zero pressure to make the playoffs.  That said, maybe there are lower expectations for teams like Ottawa and Toronto, but still a lot of pressure.

Either way, I'm really looking forward to the game Tuesday.  Should be the first true 'playoff atmosphere-type game' for both clubs.

 

[Madferret]

Ottawa seems to be chugging along, but are they deep enough if they run into injuries and how long is their goalie tandem able to keep up with their weak defence. I know they can score from the blue line but they let in alot of goals. I don't follow the sens so I really don't know what kind of depth they have. McLean really has them believing right now.

Ottawa seems like a confident team right now, but, they've been pretty streaky so far this season. They're a hard team to judge. I do get the feeling that they're due for another losing streak/rough stretch.

At the same time the Leafs aren't exactly world beaters. They're playing well right now but we're in nearly the same boat as Ottawa.

I think the Leafs are actually a rung or two above Ottawa on the "fast track rebuild" ladder.

You can't be serious Red?

The only thing I'm going to say is that Ottawa still has plenty of veterans providing a lot of help.

Alfreddson, Spezza, Michalek, Phillips, Gonchar, Kuba, Neil, Anderson, etc.  The youngest guy there is Michalek at 27... in 2-3 years when Alffy, Gonchar, Phillips, Kuba, etc have moved on and Spezza is 31 the Sens might be in a similar spot to where they are now.

The Leafs' oldest player last night was Connolly at 30.  Everyone else is basically 20-27.

Yeah you're right but the other side of that is how much we're getting from our younger players too - Karlsson obviously, Cowan, Condra, Smith, Greening, Daugavins - they may not be putting up big numbers but their contributions have been important.

At the end of the day both of us might be watching some playoff games this year and maybe we get a new chapter of the BOO wriiten and that's really all that matters. Neither team sucks anymore! High five!

 

[bustaheims]

Neither team sucks anymore! High five!

Don't be fooled. The sens still suck.

 

[Madferret]

Neither team sucks anymore! High five!

Don't be fooled. The sens still suck.

Sure - so do the Leafs...but you know what I mean.

 

[Erndog]

Ottawa seems to be chugging along, but are they deep enough if they run into injuries and how long is their goalie tandem able to keep up with their weak defence. I know they can score from the blue line but they let in alot of goals. I don't follow the sens so I really don't know what kind of depth they have. McLean really has them believing right now.

Ottawa seems like a confident team right now, but, they've been pretty streaky so far this season. They're a hard team to judge. I do get the feeling that they're due for another losing streak/rough stretch.

At the same time the Leafs aren't exactly world beaters. They're playing well right now but we're in nearly the same boat as Ottawa.

I think the Leafs are actually a rung or two above Ottawa on the "fast track rebuild" ladder.

You can't be serious Red?

The only thing I'm going to say is that Ottawa still has plenty of veterans providing a lot of help.

Alfreddson, Spezza, Michalek, Phillips, Gonchar, Kuba, Neil, Anderson, etc.  The youngest guy there is Michalek at 27... in 2-3 years when Alffy, Gonchar, Phillips, Kuba, etc have moved on and Spezza is 31 the Sens might be in a similar spot to where they are now.

The Leafs' oldest player last night was Connolly at 30.  Everyone else is basically 20-27.

Yeah you're right but the other side of that is how much we're getting from our younger players too - Karlsson obviously, Cowan, Condra, Smith, Greening, Daugavins - they may not be putting up big numbers but their contributions have been important.

At the end of the day both of us might be watching some playoff games this year and maybe we get a new chapter of the BOO wriiten and that's really all that matters. Neither team sucks anymore! High five!

I know.

We talked about it at work today, it's entirely possible we finish 4-5 (all it would take is an injury to Giroux or something).  Then again, it's entirely possible we both miss. 

I agree with Busta though, we both still "suck" but we aren't the "suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked" anymore.  We half-suck now, which is a lot better than the full blown suckage we've both experienced the last little while.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

I agree with Busta though, we both still "suck" but we aren't the "suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked" anymore.  We half-suck now, which is a lot better than the full blown suckage we've both experienced the last little while.

I actually think we passed the point of sucking anymore. I don't think we suck at all, but I still think Ottawa has a lot of suck left in them.

 

[Madferret]

Ottawa seems to be chugging along, but are they deep enough if they run into injuries and how long is their goalie tandem able to keep up with their weak defence. I know they can score from the blue line but they let in alot of goals. I don't follow the sens so I really don't know what kind of depth they have. McLean really has them believing right now.

Ottawa seems like a confident team right now, but, they've been pretty streaky so far this season. They're a hard team to judge. I do get the feeling that they're due for another losing streak/rough stretch.

At the same time the Leafs aren't exactly world beaters. They're playing well right now but we're in nearly the same boat as Ottawa.

I think the Leafs are actually a rung or two above Ottawa on the "fast track rebuild" ladder.

You can't be serious Red?

The only thing I'm going to say is that Ottawa still has plenty of veterans providing a lot of help.

Alfreddson, Spezza, Michalek, Phillips, Gonchar, Kuba, Neil, Anderson, etc.  The youngest guy there is Michalek at 27... in 2-3 years when Alffy, Gonchar, Phillips, Kuba, etc have moved on and Spezza is 31 the Sens might be in a similar spot to where they are now.

The Leafs' oldest player last night was Connolly at 30.  Everyone else is basically 20-27.

Yeah you're right but the other side of that is how much we're getting from our younger players too - Karlsson obviously, Cowan, Condra, Smith, Greening, Daugavins - they may not be putting up big numbers but their contributions have been important.

At the end of the day both of us might be watching some playoff games this year and maybe we get a new chapter of the BOO wriiten and that's really all that matters. Neither team sucks anymore! High five!

I know.

We talked about it at work today, it's entirely possible we finish 4-5 (all it would take is an injury to Giroux or something).  Then again, it's entirely possible we both miss. 

I agree with Busta though, we both still "suck" but we aren't the "suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked" anymore.  We half-suck now, which is a lot better than the full blown suckage we've both experienced the last little while.

Teh suck Ernie, teh suck.

 

[Madferret]

I agree with Busta though, we both still "suck" but we aren't the "suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked" anymore.  We half-suck now, which is a lot better than the full blown suckage we've both experienced the last little while.

I actually think we passed the point of sucking anymore. I don't think we suck at all, but I still think Ottawa has a lot of suck left in them.

The Leafs have always been more about swallowing than sucking.

 

[Erndog]

Ottawa seems to be chugging along, but are they deep enough if they run into injuries and how long is their goalie tandem able to keep up with their weak defence. I know they can score from the blue line but they let in alot of goals. I don't follow the sens so I really don't know what kind of depth they have. McLean really has them believing right now.

Ottawa seems like a confident team right now, but, they've been pretty streaky so far this season. They're a hard team to judge. I do get the feeling that they're due for another losing streak/rough stretch.

At the same time the Leafs aren't exactly world beaters. They're playing well right now but we're in nearly the same boat as Ottawa.

I think the Leafs are actually a rung or two above Ottawa on the "fast track rebuild" ladder.

You can't be serious Red?

The only thing I'm going to say is that Ottawa still has plenty of veterans providing a lot of help.

Alfreddson, Spezza, Michalek, Phillips, Gonchar, Kuba, Neil, Anderson, etc.  The youngest guy there is Michalek at 27... in 2-3 years when Alffy, Gonchar, Phillips, Kuba, etc have moved on and Spezza is 31 the Sens might be in a similar spot to where they are now.

The Leafs' oldest player last night was Connolly at 30.  Everyone else is basically 20-27.

Yeah you're right but the other side of that is how much we're getting from our younger players too - Karlsson obviously, Cowan, Condra, Smith, Greening, Daugavins - they may not be putting up big numbers but their contributions have been important.

At the end of the day both of us might be watching some playoff games this year and maybe we get a new chapter of the BOO wriiten and that's really all that matters. Neither team sucks anymore! High five!

I know.

We talked about it at work today, it's entirely possible we finish 4-5 (all it would take is an injury to Giroux or something).  Then again, it's entirely possible we both miss. 

I agree with Busta though, we both still "suck" but we aren't the "suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked" anymore.  We half-suck now, which is a lot better than the full blown suckage we've both experienced the last little while.

Teh suck Ernie, teh suck.

Pardon my french.

 

[Madferret]

Ottawa seems to be chugging along, but are they deep enough if they run into injuries and how long is their goalie tandem able to keep up with their weak defence. I know they can score from the blue line but they let in alot of goals. I don't follow the sens so I really don't know what kind of depth they have. McLean really has them believing right now.

Ottawa seems like a confident team right now, but, they've been pretty streaky so far this season. They're a hard team to judge. I do get the feeling that they're due for another losing streak/rough stretch.

At the same time the Leafs aren't exactly world beaters. They're playing well right now but we're in nearly the same boat as Ottawa.

I think the Leafs are actually a rung or two above Ottawa on the "fast track rebuild" ladder.

You can't be serious Red?

The only thing I'm going to say is that Ottawa still has plenty of veterans providing a lot of help.

Alfreddson, Spezza, Michalek, Phillips, Gonchar, Kuba, Neil, Anderson, etc.  The youngest guy there is Michalek at 27... in 2-3 years when Alffy, Gonchar, Phillips, Kuba, etc have moved on and Spezza is 31 the Sens might be in a similar spot to where they are now.

The Leafs' oldest player last night was Connolly at 30.  Everyone else is basically 20-27.

Yeah you're right but the other side of that is how much we're getting from our younger players too - Karlsson obviously, Cowan, Condra, Smith, Greening, Daugavins - they may not be putting up big numbers but their contributions have been important.

At the end of the day both of us might be watching some playoff games this year and maybe we get a new chapter of the BOO wriiten and that's really all that matters. Neither team sucks anymore! High five!

I know.

We talked about it at work today, it's entirely possible we finish 4-5 (all it would take is an injury to Giroux or something).  Then again, it's entirely possible we both miss. 

I agree with Busta though, we both still "suck" but we aren't the "suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked" anymore.  We half-suck now, which is a lot better than the full blown suckage we've both experienced the last little while.

Teh suck Ernie, teh suck.

Pardon my french.

You going to be taking in any of the ASG festivities?

 

[McPwnage]

As much as I don't think the Sens are for real you can't lie with the standings.  I'm kind of hoping the Leafs can climb up to the 4 seed and the Sens can grab the 5 seed so we can renew our playoff rivalries and continue our undefeated playoff record in the Battle of Ontario.