Someone Likes Us!

Steve Levy from ESPN has picked the Leafs to win the Cup this year, beating Western champs Vancouver.
He picks Ottawa to win the division, though...so I guess he expects some playoff grit from our veteran team.

Nice to know someone besides biased Leafs fans has some hope...

Steve Levy from ESPN has picked the Leafs to win the Cup this year, beating Western champs Vancouver.
He picks Ottawa to win the division, though...so I guess he expects some playoff grit from our veteran team.

Nice to know someone besides biased Leafs fans has some hope...

ya but not one guy picked onyone else to win the division which i find ludicrous with havlat out if something happens to hossa and /or alfredsson(not so much) their in deep trouble

Steve Levy from ESPN has picked the Leafs to win the Cup this year, beating Western champs Vancouver.
He picks Ottawa to win the division, though...so I guess he expects some playoff grit from our veteran team.

Nice to know someone besides biased Leafs fans has some hope...

It is ESPN though.... :rolleyes:

It's cool!

Odds to win the confrence:

Ottawa - 1/4
New Jersey - 1/5
Philly - 1/5
Toronto - 1/5
Everyone else combined - 3/20

It is ESPN though.... :rolleyes:

Good point.We would almost be better off if the :rolleyes: ESPN hockey experts :rolleyes: thought we had no chance at all. ;)

There's no reason the Leafs can't win the conference this year.

Ottawa should probably be considered the favourites, but they're not a lock. This is a new season. I'm picking the Leafs to win the conference.

I'm also picking the Leafs to win the Cup, but then again I do every other year as well. I think it's almost sacreligous not to.

Honestly though, I said at the all-star break last year that either Toronto or New Jersey was going to win the Cup. I see it that way again this year.

I see the Leafs being in the thick of things this season challenging for the comfrence. I also think the leafs have just as good a chance of representing their comfrence as any other team such as (OTT,PHI,NJD,).
Though I see NJ being the weakest of the bunch.

ya but not one guy picked onyone else to win the division which i find ludicrous with havlat out if something happens to hossa and /or alfredsson(not so much) their in deep trouble

Yeah...and if something happens to Sundin and/or Mogilny and/or Belfour we're in deep trouble. I'm not sure how you can make possible injuries a factor...especially when it's the Leafs who have the players with major injury histories like Roberts, Nieuwendyk, Nolan and Antropov, not to mention McCabe's problems.

Ottawa had the best record in the NHL last year, lost nobody, has Smolinski for a full season, Spezza for a full season, and a more mature Volchenkov, Fisher and Schastlivy. Toronto didn't finish that close to Ottawa and arguably isn't as strong as we finished - a full season of Nolan, additions of Klee/Nieuwendyk/Marchment vs. subtraction of Svehla might not be as obviously improved as some might think.

I'd say the Sens are the clear favourites in the Eastern Conference, and one of the top 3-4 choices for the Cup along with Detroit, Colorado and New Jersey (maybe Dallas too). How you'd expect anyone to logically pick the Leafs to have a better regular season escapes me.

Yeah...and if something happens to Sundin and/or Mogilny and/or Belfour we're in deep trouble. I'm not sure how you can make possible injuries a factor...especially when it's the Leafs who have the players with major injury histories like Roberts, Nieuwendyk, Nolan and Antropov, not to mention McCabe's problems.

Ottawa had the best record in the NHL last year, lost nobody, has Smolinski for a full season, Spezza for a full season, and a more mature Volchenkov, Fisher and Schastlivy. Toronto didn't finish that close to Ottawa and arguably isn't as strong as we finished - a full season of Nolan, additions of Klee/Nieuwendyk/Marchment vs. subtraction of Svehla might not be as obviously improved as some might think.

I'd say the Sens are the clear favourites in the Eastern Conference, and one of the top 3-4 choices for the Cup along with Detroit, Colorado and New Jersey (maybe Dallas too). How you'd expect anyone to logically pick the Leafs to have a better regular season escapes me.

It escapes me that you can call Colorado a favourite to win the Stanley Cup. They only have the worst starting goalie in the league.

Detroit and New Jersey both lost their #1 centers and Dallas lost a Norris trophy calibre defencman.

And people think the Leafs can't compete because we lost Svehla.

It escapes me that you can call Colorado a favourite to win the Stanley Cup. They only have the worst starting goalie in the league.

Detroit and New Jersey both lost their #1 centers and Dallas lost a Norris trophy calibre defencman.

And people think the Leafs can't compete because we lost Svehla.

What do you base the worse starting goalie on? Isn't this his first year as a starter?

We didn't compete with Svehla, why can we without him?

What do you base the worse starting goalie on? Isn't this his first year as a starter?

We didn't compete with Svehla, why can we without him?

Nice to see your giving Aebischer the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps you should give that much lee-way to the Leafs as well.

We didn't compete with Svehla? Dallas, Detroit and Colorado didn't exactly have prolonged Cup runs last year. Maybe they won't compete this year either, eh?

Nice to see your giving Aebischer the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps you should give that much lee-way to the Leafs as well.

We didn't compete with Svehla? Dallas, Detroit and Colorado didn't exactly have prolonged Cup runs last year. Maybe they won't compete this year either, eh?

Oh, your analysis makes so little sense for so many reasons.

#1 - Aebischer has played well in behind Colorado...Turco in Dallas is the example I'll use...teams have won with sub-par goalies (Osgood in Detroit) and their defence is AWESOME - I'd take Blake, Foote, Morris and Skoula as my top four anytime.

#2 - Dallas, Detroit and Colorado all have elite teams that hit snags in the playoffs. They were UPSET in the playoffs. The Leafs were outclassed by a better Flyers team. If we're going by LIKELIHOOD TO WIN, how you can rank Toronto with those teams is pure homerism. Also, each of those three teams has won a Stanley Cup in the past 4-5 years with the same core of players they mostly have now, or better. Colorado has six All-Star caliber forwards, three All-Star caliber defences and some solid role players. Detroit has a ton of All-Star players all around and a World-class goalie in Hasek. Dallas has a goalie with the best ever single season GAA, a terrific defence (Zubov, Numminen, Boucher, Matvichuk is an excellent top four), and some terrific two-way frontline players (Modano, Lehtinen, Guerin, Morrow, Young, etc.).

There's a reason why nobody except diehard Leafs fans would rank Toronto in the same class as those teams.

Here's how I'd rank the contenders, in groups:

GROUP A
----------
Detroit
Colorado
Dallas
Ottawa
New Jersey

GROUP B
----------
Philadelphia
Vancouver
St. Louis
Toronto

GROUP C
----------
Minnesota
Tampa Bay
Los Angeles
San Jose
Edmonton
Anaheim
Boston
NY Islanders
NY Rangers

GROUP D
----------
Everyone else

The East is wide open, as always. The Leafs have a good shot at the conference if they get the right bounces

How is Vancouver a better team than Toronto?

They allowed the same number of goals last season as the Leafs, so don't tell me they're a great defensive team.

The leafs will cruise into the playoffs in 4th or 5th place again. Downside is, that means another series will Philly or Jersey. The East is wide open. On paper the Leafs,Sens,Flyers or Devils could come out. Problem is, second place in the Atlantic and Northeast will bust each other up, just like last year while the division winners will most likely get to play a Buffalo or Montreal.

How is Vancouver a better team than Toronto?

They allowed the same number of goals last season as the Leafs, so don't tell me they're a great defensive team.

They also scored about 30 more (#2 offence in the NHL) and had 104 points, more than any Toronto team has ever had in a single season. They have two defencemen who are better than anyone we have in Ohlund and Jovanovski (IMO), and two of the five best forwards in the NHL in Naslund and Bertuzzi. They're young and likely to improve in some areas, and they've got the requisite "proven veterans" like Linden, Keane, etc.

Toronto allowed the same number of goals as Vancouver last season with Belfour in net as opposed to Cloutier. Reverse them and it would be a disaster for us. If Belfour isn't as good or Cloutier plays better (or Hedberg, for that matter), those numbers are going in opposite directions for us.

Vancouver also plays in the much tougher Western Conference.

How is Vancouver a better team than Toronto?

They allowed the same number of goals last season as the Leafs, so don't tell me they're a great defensive team.


We did score a heck of a lot more, though.

I should add, the Leafs will be a lot better than people think. Alexander Mogilny is gonna take the reigns of this team. I like Sundin, but from now on, this team will become Mogilny's team - look for a huge year from Alex! Also, I think the defense is now, at worst, only slightly below average. Belfour should be solid for his swan song. And the Leafs boast one of the better forward corps in the league.

How is Vancouver a better team than Toronto?

They allowed the same number of goals last season as the Leafs, so don't tell me they're a great defensive team.

This game is about more than statistics....there are so many things to consider, and if you really beleive the nucks aren't superior at this point , buckle up, your in for a disappointing ride pep.

This game is about more than statistics....there are so many things to consider, and if you really beleive the nucks aren't superior at this point , buckle up, your in for a disappointing ride pep.


What if Naslund gets hurt for an extended period of time? Vancouver is a great team but if they get hit with any long term injury to bertuzzi or naslund the team will suffer.

What if Naslund gets hurt for an extended period of time? Vancouver is a great team but if they get hit with any long term injury to bertuzzi or naslund the team will suffer.

These are the DUMBEST POINTS EVER. The "what if X gets injured" makes no sense.

What if Modano gets hurt for Dallas?
What if Brodeur gets hurt for New Jersey?
What if Sakic and Forsberg get hurt for Colorado?
What if Iginla gets hurt for Calgary?
What if Fedorov gets hurt for Anaheim?

It's almost akin to saying "what if Brian Burke goes crazy and deals Naslund to Atlanta for Pasi Nurminen?"

Naslund is healthy. With him, Vancouver is a beast.

I'd ask you this question - what if Belfour goes down for Toronto? Tellqvist and Kidd would man the fort. Not so good, right? Well, Eddie's at 100%, and with him the Leafs are a playoff club.

and if you really beleive the nucks aren't superior at this point , buckle up, your in for a disappointing ride pep.


Don't think so.

These are the DUMBEST POINTS EVER. The "what if X gets injured" makes no sense.

What if Modano gets hurt for Dallas?
What if Brodeur gets hurt for New Jersey?
What if Sakic and Forsberg get hurt for Colorado?
What if Iginla gets hurt for Calgary?
What if Fedorov gets hurt for Anaheim?

It's almost akin to saying "what if Brian Burke goes crazy and deals Naslund to Atlanta for Pasi Nurminen?"

Naslund is healthy. With him, Vancouver is a beast.

I'd ask you this question - what if Belfour goes down for Toronto? Tellqvist and Kidd would man the fort. Not so good, right? Well, Eddie's at 100%, and with him the Leafs are a playoff club.


First off chill out and drink less caffine.

Im sorry for pointing out that 60% of Vancouvers goals come from 2 players!!! How dumb is that of me.

If Sakic and Forsberg went down the Avs still have plenty to work with.

Same with Dallas, they have all round scoring. Even without Modano Dallas is a great team.

Calgary's not even a contender to make the playoffs so I don't know why you even mentioned them.

If Fedorov got hurt Anaheim would take a beating, but I don't even consider Anaheim as a top NHL team.

The fact of the matter is that out of the top teams Vancouver has the least amount of depth.

How is Vancouver a better team than Toronto?

They allowed the same number of goals last season as the Leafs, so don't tell me they're a great defensive team.

They're not a great defensive team but then again they don't let their goalie face about a million shots in one game like the Leafs do. Vancouver is a better team, they have two of the top scorers in the league in Naslund and Bertuzzi. That's why they are better. Almo is your team and Sundin folds in the playoffs.

Sundin folds in the playoffs.
http://www.ebaumsworld.com/forumfun/newbie3.jpg

What an ignorant comment

First off chill out and drink less caffine.
He's a Law student, he can't help it. ;)

Part of me hopes that Bertuzzi goes down for 15 games this season, just so the Canucks can kill this myth.

If we lose one of our top two players, yeah, we're a lot worse. But this team is very good at scoring as a unit. I would reckon that if Bertuzzi was out, we wouldn't be that much worse at all.

Naslund is another story.. but I still don't think we'd be that terrible without them.

Both? Okay, then we're in serious trouble.

Vegas has the leafs at 15-1 shots at winning the cup... i heard it on the score.

I try to think with my brain not my heart on these prediction threads. The Leafs will be in the playoffs, and I would love to see them kick some Sens bootie in the playoffs again. I really missed that last spring :mad: Even though Ottawa has toughened up, and has an emotional high from a new owner, I still can't see them getting by Toronto in the playoffs.

The Leafs intangible qualities, healthy or not, seem to live for the annual slaying of the Sens. It's become a part of Leaf lore the past few years - may not be able to beat them during the regular season, but save it all for the playoffs and let them have it.

As for ESPN's prediction, my heart always says yes. But my brain, well, ask me again after 20 games, then 40 games and I'll have a better guesstimate.

He's a Law student, he can't help it. ;)

That, actually, is true...UWO law has made me addicted to double doubles from Tim's to keep from snoozing during Property Law 475.

My point still stands though. You can't say Toronto's better than Vancouver because *IF* Naslund goes down, they're in trouble. That makes no sense. Now, you can argue that Vancouver has depth issues behind their two superstar players, which is true. But what team can really win without their best? Remember how the Leafs suffered when Mogilny went down in the opening round against Philly? He was clearly their best non-Belfour player in that series, and any hope the Leafs had at taking that series kinda went away with his head injury.

Naslund doesn't miss many games. As long as he's playing next to Bertuzzi, Vancouver's a much superior team to Toronto, in my humble esteem.

I would say Vancouver is the slightly superior team right now, only because of Naslund/Bertuzzi and Toronto's lack of quality depth on defense. Toronto gets the edge in goal and in depth up front.