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My Top 5 Most Desperate Teams Are....

July 22, 2019, 5:45 PM ET [90 Comments]
Eklund
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As I get into my team reports this offseason I will be looking at ten factors that make teams more or less desperate. And how desperate a team is goes a very long way into trying to understand what they are going to do this season when it comes to trades and signings... What makes a Team Desperate?

I believe strongly in these 10 factors...

* What are Their Expectations?
* Recent Success?
* How long since winning a Cup?
* How long has the current coach been there?
* Key players in their primes?
* Expiring contracts. How many players and how important are they?
* Goalie Confidence?
* What offseason moves did they make to address their issues?
* How well have their rivals done?
* How patient of a fanbase do they have?

The most desperate team?

This year my top 5 would be
5. Minnesota
4. Buffalo
3. Tampa
2. Nashville

but the #1 team....should be obvious as they are at the top of almost all ten categories...maybe more so than any team in any other year I have been doing this.

#1. The Toronto Maple Leafs...

What Are The Expectations?
Assuming they get Marner done they will be among the favorites to win the Stanley Cup

How long since winning a Cup?
They have gone longer than any other team since winning a Stanley Cup. 1967

Recent Successes?
They have gotten better in each of their last three seasons, but they haven’t been able to get past Boston and out of the third round. Despite pushing the Bruins to a 7th game.

How long has the current coach been there? Are the issues starting to pile up?
Babcock is entering his 5th season. In the first 4 he has seen progress in the regular season, but for some reason his handling of Auston Matthews in three playoff series losses has left many questions.

Key players in their Prime?
Tavares, Matthews ad Marner are all their prime...also Barrie, Muzzin, Reilly and Andersen. The time is now.

Expiring contracts. How many players and how important are they?
With the exception or Morgan Reilly the entire Defense is playing for a contract this year. If things go south Toronto will have to start over.

Goalie Confidence?
While Frederik Andersen has been sold, he has been outplayed in every Game 7 loss over the last three years...and the Leafs refuse to address with a serious backup.

What offseason moves did they make to address their issues?

They moved Kadri for Barrie. They picked up Ceci. That will help the Defense, or at least allow them to not fall off afteer the losses of Gardiner and Zaitsev….They moved out Marleau and it cost them A LOT… They have done everything they have done to try to at least stay even and have the money to sign Marner.

How well have their rivals done?
The Bruins went to game 7 of the Cup Finals and ran out of steam. The Lightning are still the class of the NHL. The Panthers got alot better. The Habs and Sabres will be alot better…

How patient of a fanbase do they have?
Not very at this point. Who can blame them though!

Your thoughts?
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