You'll never be a contender with that D!

Certainly the area of most vulnerability. . . . .but in the playoffs, a hot goaltender, strong specialty teams, and 4 balanced scoring lines can make up for a lot of sins! (See Pittsburgh)

I think if the d protects the puck like pens did last year and Andersen plays to his ability this could be a good playoff run and yes we are a contender. It might be a tough road playing the 1st seed, 2nd seed and 4th seed. how crazy is that we are the 3rd best team in our conference but we might as well been an 8th seed. Anyways i do think we match up well with everyteam in our conference so if we take the game to them a use our skaking and skill to them very few teams can match our pace.

GO LEAFS GO

Yeah, watch as Pittsburgh gets 10 PPs a game and gets every goal against them called off for some asinine reason. The Leafs dont stand a chance!

I wouldn't go that far no chance really how many teams have a top goalie (and a quality backup), 4 scoring lines, a HOF coach, a top 5 PK, a top 5 PP. No chace thats an exaggeration but a tough road yes no other team will have a tougher road thats a top 4 team in their conference this year thats a fact but we match up well and have all the pieces to make a good run at it.

I'm watching Florida fight like crazy for the 2nd WC! If they do get in, I think a Tampa/Florida matchup first round could be a real dog fight. . . . .Not sure if I'm Tampa, I look forward to that! There are going to be no easy outs in these playoffs. If you're Vegas do you like your chances against Anaheim or LA?

BBB I would expect nothing less from you! You and the GOAT must be brothers!

I agree but how many top 3 teams in the conference are going to have to face potentiality the other top teams to get to the final. I agree if Tampa take florida lightly they might be out quickly. But i do think if we dictated the pace of the game this is going to be a fun run. Vagas are going to be a similar situation to the leafs but in terns of rankings they are going to facing the weaker team. finally the cap has put parity in this league and the might be one of the most entertaining offseasons in some time.

Yeah the Leafs could work on their D unit quite a bit, I agree with others that they wont be legit contenders until they address the D here.

The Pens, the Pens, and the F-IN PENS!



Hey man, I’m just accepting the truth. Believe me, if it could go down differently, I’m all in!

So the leafs and the pens but if we have more or less the same pieces are you saying the pens have no shot i doubt it

Among the contenders, that's for sure. The Leafs are playing well these days. Babcock did teach them a system and the execution has been very convincing lately. Lots of positive points, like how much Nylander has improved defensively, and how well Bozak plays lately. The team is ready.

Some people complain about the Ds, but it's only half true. The left side of our defense is certainly well above what the Pens had last year. I wouldn't change anything to Rielly-Gardiner-Dermott: it's one of the best left side in the league.

The only problem is the right side. Polak is a bit too slow to face speedy and talented teams, Hainsey does the job but is over-extended and plays off-position, and Zaitsev didn't have a good year. Carrick is probably the most reliable at that position but has not been prepared properly to go in the playoffs. How these RHDs perform in the playoffs will have a lot of influence on how far we can go.

On the proposed lineup: There's no way Babcock leaves Brown as healthy scratch in the playoffs.

pitts had malkin and crosby upfront. matthews and kadri/nylander aren't even close to that duo

I don't know why folks have awarded Tampa first place. Bruins are four points behind with two games in hand, and they play each other twice. To me it's Leaf/Tampa first round.

I assume because Boston is pretty decimated by injuries right now. looks like they're getting Bergeron back tonight though.

There's no way we're Scratching Brown. Our lines should look more like:

(Jersey Numbers)
11-34-29
12-43-16
25-42-28
18-19-24

So your vote is to sit 47. . . .your best PK forward, leads team in hits, and is a Babcock favourite as well! I think we all know that Leafs will sit Johnsson, but if I had a vote it would be Brown, and if you did. . . . Komorov!

Guys...just let him have this one sliver of argument. Sens have nothing else going for them and no need to stoop to their level.

But Johnsson's doing a solid job, he's be playing PP and PK with the Leafs, and I think Kapanen, Hyman, Plekanec and Johnsson are better suited than Komarov to kill penalties. Besides, Johnsson's also becoming a favorite of Babcock's. Just my opinion.

I think Johnsson's first man in if there's injury or if the leafs go down 3-0 in round one. Hard to imagine Babcock sitting Komarov whether that's deserved or not.

I think Johnsson's first man in if there's injury or if the leafs go down 3-0 in round one. Hard to imagine Babcock sitting Komarov whether that's deserved or not.