We hate each other because of the "Rivalry" (which im glad will finally be back) but both teams are similar. On game day i hate you, but Toronto has figured out the right way to build just like the sabres finally figured it out. Both teams are def on the rise, but will still be another 2 years or so before either makes any real noise. But both have potential to go on runs.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

In fairness both have been so bad there hasn't been much rivalry or bad blood. Aside from the Kessel Scott incident. Once they meet in the playoffs or battle for the same playoff spot...look out. On game day I hate every team the Leafs play

You can use the first half as well, but it was a turnover rate of 40% and hockey is a sport based on chemistry. So in the 2nd half when the young guys started to click and lines werent being shuffled every night they looked pretty good. I dont think they will be Top 3 but i think they will be on the bubble and probably finish 9-11 in the East. Kane-ROR-Okposo is going to be one of the toughest lines to play against. They are all good two way players. I dont think Okposo scores 30 but i think that line is going to be hell to play against.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

That is a nice looking line...

until Kane is in jail and ROR drives through another wall.

I actually agree with pretty much everything you've said. One has to expect Eichel and Reinhart to progress from their rookie seasons and Okposo is an underrated (for some reason?) addition to the offense.

Goaltending and defense is where things look to be a bit shakier -- but surely they're at least comparable to what the Leafs have.

Having said that, I'm a huge Leafs fan and I have no love for Buffalo -- but I don't seem to have the same Sabre hate a lot of people have here. They're definitely ahead of the rebuild than Toronto - maybe not by a lot - but they are further along. This year they should compete for a playoff spot unless something horrific happens.

I think Tampa and Florida run away with the division while the rest of the pack are pretty close in totals. The Leafs? Anywhere from 6th or 8th but with an increase in points from last year. Then again, there's just too many question marks for the Leafs to know if they'll somehow surprise or will falter again...
- mjones242

Thank you a leaf fan that actually makes sense.

Sabres and leafs will be battling for eastern conference title for the next decade. I just think sabres will get their first with more experience and better players right now. Besides the young guns, all they have is kadri which i wont get into and JVR. How does that compare with O'reilly, Okoposo, ennis, kane and girgensons.

They do not plan on making a run for playoffs this year and it is pretty obvious with their signings they plan on being bottom team get good top 10 draft pick again. Then add free agents and make trades just like sabres did.

That is a nice looking line...

until Kane is in jail and ROR drives through another wall.


- mlindsay

Touche.

And what about the first half? Can we just use that as the measuring stick as well?

I'm not sold on them yet, especially with some of their dead weight and goaltending. I think they can be in the mix or could finish last just as easily. If I had to bet, I'd say they'd be in the 5-7 spot. I don't know if adding Okposo will magically make them a top-3 team...although, with this division, who knows.
- jmatchett383

What are talking about dead weight. Every team in NHL has dead weight. Sabres are not hurting in cap space at all and when are young guys come up all the so called dead weight will be gone. Also Gionta scored 33 points which is pretty darn good for fourth liner.

You want to talk about dead weight lets talk about philly with Matt read,Mark Streit and Andrew MacDonald that some serious dead weight.

Thank you a leaf fan that actually makes sense.


- hanleyaj

Get over yourself.

1. Tampa Bay
2. Montréal
3. Florida
4. Boston
5. Toronto
6. Ottawa
7. Detroit
8. Buffalo

How is Buffalo Last. We have the same team, healthy ennis Lehner and Bogo. We add Okposo and another for Eichel, reinhart and McCabe. No way we are last we will be fighting for wild card.

Also their is no way in hell leafs finsih better then sabres. This website gives way to much credit to leafs. They have done nothing to improve their team except have rookies move up. Yes they are amazing rookies but they are rookies. No one predicts Mathews to score more then Eichel rookie season. He is your best addition which is 50 point 20 goal scorer. Then Marner if he makes it and Nylander will all have less then him. So how does those addition give your team 30 more points in standings. It doesn't happen they are year behind the sabres except sabres have add key players like O'reilly and Okoposo which leafs have done nothing. Leafs will finish around 75-80 points which is good jump from 69.

Sabres will make a jump from 81 points because we are super young team with more experience, healthier team and no way we got worse with the additions we made. Sabres will end up with 90-95 points. Barley or just making playoffs.
- hanleyaj

"No one predicts Mathews to score more then Eichel rookie season."

Really? That's so weird that an NHL head coach with no relationship to either player had Auston Matthews on the first line for NA and Eichel riding pine on the 4th.

Buffalo still has the worst defence/goaltending in the league (yes, probably worse than Edmonton), that's why they will finish last.

Sabres and Toronto gonna be rock bottom

"No one predicts Mathews to score more then Eichel rookie season."

Really? That's so weird that an NHL head coach with no relationship to either player had Auston Matthews on the first line for NA and Eichel riding pine on the 4th.

Buffalo still has the worst defence/goaltending in the league (yes, probably worse than Edmonton), that's why they will finish last.
- SameOld

Big part of it is if Lehner stays healthy. If he stays healthy we are ok. If he goes down we are screwed.

Big part of it is if Lehner stays healthy. If he stays healthy we are ok. If he goes down we are screwed.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

I would say you guys are screwed in either scenario, as Lehner is a bad goalie.

I would say you guys are screwed in either scenario, as Lehner is a bad goalie.
- rangerdanger94

Top 10 in every stat last year. Yeah he is horrible.

I would say you guys are screwed in either scenario, as Lehner is a bad goalie.
- rangerdanger94

Higher SV% and lower GAA then your king last year....

Top 10 in every stat last year. Yeah he is horrible.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

He hasn't played very much hockey over the last 3-4 years...

Higher SV% and lower GAA then your king last year....
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

In less than a third of the number of games.

"No one predicts Mathews to score more then Eichel rookie season."

Really? That's so weird that an NHL head coach with no relationship to either player had Auston Matthews on the first line for NA and Eichel riding pine on the 4th.

Buffalo still has the worst defence/goaltending in the league (yes, probably worse than Edmonton), that's why they will finish last.
- SameOld

Have you looked at the leafs goaltending and defense.

So lets start with goaltending

Lehner had better save perctenage then Anderson. He was hurt for most of season and is finally healthy. Also he is one of two goalies that didnt have to get smaller pads because he is so big. Which make huge difference. Also Anderson has palyed on one of the best teams in nhl which help his stats and still lehner stats are better.

Defense

Risto> Reilly
Kuliov Mccabe>Maricin
Bogo>Polak
Gorges>Cowen
Franson>Rodbdas

The leafs have good top pair and besides that they are all a bunch of scrubs. While everyone is hating on the sabres defense they are not terrible. Risto is a stud. Bogo was on fire the last half of year after he recovered from injury almost averaging a point a game in the last 20. McCabe was very good last year and this being his second full year he has shown alot of promise. Kulikov was nice addition. They are much better then the leafs.

He hasn't played very much hockey over the last 3-4 years...
- BINGO!

Well rested then.

Well rested then.




- cabin

Sabres and Toronto gonna be rock bottom
- rangerdanger94

Agreed. Sabres fans crying about sabres>leafs are hilarious...they are both terrible. Could one or both battle for 8th place? Sure, but who cares. We can start the Richard-measuring contests in 2 years when both teams are (hopefully) relevant again

Higher SV% and lower GAA then your king last year....
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

Are you trying to argue that Lehner is a better goalie than Lundqvist?

Are you trying to argue that Lehner is a better goalie than Lundqvist?
- rangerdanger94

Not at all, just stating our goaltending is not horrible if he stays healthy. Hell, even when we tried to tank we had to keep trading goalies because they all played to well.

Well rested then.




- cabin

98 NHL games since 2012.

31-39-16

Crosby is easily in the conversation.
- mjones242



The way the award is given, you are right.

In terms of what player is the most valuable to his team, Price wins this going away. He takes a non-playoff team and turns them into contenders.

This. The Pens have still managed to put up wins in the past when Crosby is injured, or playing but not healthy. That's just not Montreal without Price. Without the strong 10 game start with Price last year they would have probably been second last overall ahead of Toronto. They were last place in the east when they drafted Galchenyuk.

Not at all, just stating our goaltending is not horrible if he stays healthy. Hell, even when we tried to tank we had to keep trading goalies because they all played to well.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

5 wins in 21 starts last year is not horrible?

98 NHL games since 2012.

31-39-16
- BINGO!

Trash