I predict it will be a fun time for all with no emotion being ousted whatsoever...

And definitely will not have any controversies at all, no sir

Are you confident about the Leafs chances in round 1 vs Florida?

With predictions of how the WC shakes out
Oilers - Knights (Knights in 7)
Kings - Canucks (Kings in 6)
Stars - Preds (Stars in 5)
Avs - Jets (Avs in 5)
Rangers - Redwings (NYR in 4)
Canes - Islanders (Canes in 5)
Bruins - Lightning (Lightning in 7)
Panthers - Leafs (Panthers in 5)

2nd Round
Knights - Kings (Kings in 6)
Stars - Avs (Stars in 7)
Rangers - Canes (Canes in 6)
Panthers - Lightning (Panthers in 5)

Conference Finals
Stars - Kings (Stars in 5)
Canes - Panthers (Panthers in 7)

Cup Final
Stars - Panthers (Panthers in 6)

I wish we went 1 through 8 and stop this crappy system.

This better.

Wanting to avoid TB huh

Not at all. You have to beat teams to win it all. I just think it’s kind of stupid to play a season to determine we’re teams rank than use arbitrary measures beyond geography (which avoids cross country flights) to split them up

We saw last year when Toronto fans cheered Boston losing to Florida only to get a gentleman’s sweep. Trying to isolate who you play is kind of dumb

We’ve swept both Florida and Toronto during the season series. I don’t believe they’d be any easier than Tampa

You wouldn't be playing Toronto or the Panthers you'd be playing the Islanders and please don't try to say you don't care between TB & NYI.

This is a good question, I haven't really thought about the Panthers/Leafs series bc I was constantly thinking about the Leafs/Bruins one... But let me walk you through my thinking (If you were to continue reading):

- The Panthers identity last year is being the underdogs playing the best RS team in the world... That's not happening this year, meaning they've got expectation. The Leafs, on the other hand, are expected to get their a*ses handed to them no matter who they play

- The Leafs are mentally tougher this year with the additions of Reaves/Bert/Domi/Benny/Eddy etc. but have suffered from the losses of ROR, Acciari, Lafferty and Bunting from a pure skill and flexibility P.O.V.... The Panthers aren't as tough as they were before with the losses of Radko Gudas but Reinhart and OEL have really stepped it up skill wise

- Sheldon Keefe is a good coach (IMO) when he runs his 11-7 slurpee lineup (which I expect them to use against a team like Florida/Boston)... But, Paul Maurice might be the best coach in the NHL (Who, fun fact; was born the same year the Leafs last won their cup... LOL). The only concern here for the Panthers is that Paul Marice hasn't had b2b >.500 win percentage seasons but I wouldn't be too worried about that

- The Leafs were humiliated last year by Florida, they probably want this matchup more than anyone to prove themselves, especially Matthews... Florida, on the other hand, would probably be looking forward to this matchup because the Leafs humiliated them this past regular season game (with Montour and Reinhart needing new contracts)

- The Leafs are a good road team in the playoffs whereas the Panthers are a slightly better road team than home team...

- Uncle Bob is probably not going to be .950 good vs the Leafs... And has had a >.905 save % 3 times in the postseason... Ilya Samsonov isn't a strong goalie in the playoffs either... But has a UFA contract to think about


My final guess: It's going 7 either way which my heart's my ready for

It’s simple. East - West. 1 through 8.

I think Boston would much rather play NYI is what he's saying...

Do I think it makes more sense that the team with the 2nd best record in the East should be playing the Islanders vs Tampa Bay? Yes. I do.

With the rules as they are right now, I know the Bruins will likely have to play Florida and Tampa if they are going to get past two rounds. So no. I don’t care now, but how it’s set up is pretty dumb.

I do think Tampa has a better chance at beating Florida than Toronto.

Honestly Florida is the one team in the division I least want to face. Bunting doesn't deliberately injure Cernak TB wins that series in 5/6

I want to face them. I think Boston has added more of the types who can stand up to their situational toughness.

Last year sucked, but while I think they are less likely to win it all …. I feel this team matches up better to deal with the late accidental cheap use of the stick or the threats to fight / push offs when refs are in position. Boston should handle that better this year

Why not 1-16 then? The idea is to build more heated rivalries and it's working sucks for the Atlantic division teams because since the start of the 16/17 season Boston has the most cumulative points TB is second and Toronto is third by far the best division. The current Atlantic has in the last 5 years 6 Cup Appearances . They're 2-4 TB 2-1 rest of the division 0-3 guess TB is the only cliser

1-16 creates cross country travel potential except for the end. Splitting east and west prevents that

So it's ok to split it in half to avoid excessive travel ,but not quarters?

Good job Sherlock Holmes or Capt. Obvious take your pick. But he tried an Uno reverse card to not make it seem like he was afraid of playing the juggernauts in the Atlantic.

The East is split up into quarters? Is there a geographic difference with the Florida teams?

How hard is it to grasp that you want to avoid Ny vs LA or Florida vs Vancouver in the first round?

No you don't they're better and tougher this year.

Are you high? The lightning have played the Islanders 3 times in there playoffs 04,20,21 what happened all three of those years? ................. TB won the cup I'm BEGGING TO SEE THE ISLANDERS IN THE PLAYOFFS!!!! TB didn't beat the Islanders a single regular season game either of those years 3-0. Isle in 04 3-0 in 20 DNP21 covid

How the ard is it to see they want to build rivalries and the playoffs is where that's done which was why in the 80's they had an even slightly more stringent division format. . You're afraid of playing the juggernauts in the Atlantic.

I was just responding to why you wouldn’t want to go 1-16. Can you make up your mind on your argument please?

Carolina can make this a moot discussion by beating Boston this week and finishing in 2nd instead of 3rd. This started off as a discussion why it doesn’t make sense the arbitrary Atlantic and Metropolitan groups rather than 1 through 8?

It’s the playoffs. My assumption is Toronto or Florida or Boston or Tampa can end up going through the gauntlet. I respect Vasilevsky and feel like he can get hot, which helps overcome Tampa’s other shortcomings. Rants from a Tampa fan aren’t changing anything

Developing deeper rivalries and in a lot of classes minimizing travel . If NY,NY,NJ, PHILLY play each other you don't have to get on a plane really. In the west it massively helps with the travel too you won't have NASHVILLE -LA DALLAS-LA St.Louis-Vancover. you can't do it in one conference and not the other. Obviously the same reason you don't go 1-16 is one reason you don't go 1-8 especially in the west.

Is there really a drastic difference between LA and Edmonton vs Nashville and LA? I get trying to avoid cross country flights and adding hours instead of hour.