Its like comparing which turd smells the best.

Lots of ifs and coulds and woulds, but Philly has a couple outstanding prospects in Hart and Sandstrom.

To put it in perspective, Hart is better than Carey Price at the same age. Doesn't mean he will be better, but the potential is very good.
- Glak18

I haven't seen enough of Hart to judge... I just know that stats in junior can be misleading.

For example: Fucale had very good stats on strong junior teams (better than Price actually) yet it was obvious to me that he'd never amount to anything more than backup... and that was having a positive outlook on things.

But I'll take your word for it that he's a good prospect, hopefully for the Flyers he can step in sooner than later.

Yeah I'm talking about the top 3 teams that have a chance to make it out of the east. Not regular season point totals. Oh and you asked to name one team that matches up with the Leaf's at center? Pens have a better center core top to bottom and it isn't even close. I agree with everyone else on here.
- Mino42

Also, i'm not talking just at C. I'm talking about a team. James Tanner (The Hockey Writers) just stated that the Toronto Maple Leafs have the best team in the NHL following the Tavares signing. There was a comment earlier about how one player doesn't influence the game very much because it's just one player.. What that person negated to realize is that with Tavares taking the tough match ups, it frees up Kadri and Matthews to take on easier line matches and as a result should increase their production. But what would I know. I'm just a nut job.

Also, i'm not talking just at C. I'm talking about a team. James Tanner (The Hockey Writers) just stated that the Toronto Maple Leafs have the best team in the NHL following the Tavares signing. There was a comment earlier about how one player doesn't influence the game very much because it's just one player.. What that person negated to realize is that with Tavares taking the tough match ups, it frees up Kadri and Matthews to take on easier line matches and as a result should increase their production. But what would I know. I'm just a nut job.
- Snowman X

Are you seriously quoting Tanner as a respectable source?



That makes it a closed case for me, you can't be for real. It's impossible!

Good day sir, nice job on the trolling of this thread.

Are you seriously quoting Tanner as a respectable source?



That makes it a closed case for me, you can't be for real. It's impossible!

Good day sir, nice job on the trolling of this thread.
- Scabeh

So his connection to the Maple Leafs immediately makes him wrong?

Who is this 3rd line 30 goal C that Pittsburgh has?
- Snowman X

Crosby > Matthews/Tavares
Geno > Matthews/Tavares
Brassard < Kadri
Sheahan > Whoever they throw out there

So you may have a better 3rd line center but not by a huge margin if any. Your logic seems a bit NUTTY to me sir.

The Lightning.

I think the Leafs are slightly better up front, but the Bolts boast the better defence. Goaltending is a wash. Andersen has some bad games, but Vasilevsky's play dipped as the season progressed.

Also, i'm not talking just at C. I'm talking about a team. James Tanner (The Hockey Writers) just stated that the Toronto Maple Leafs have the best team in the NHL following the Tavares signing. There was a comment earlier about how one player doesn't influence the game very much because it's just one player.. What that person negated to realize is that with Tavares taking the tough match ups, it frees up Kadri and Matthews to take on easier line matches and as a result should increase their production. But what would I know. I'm just a nut job.
- Snowman X

HAHAHAHAHA using Tanner to back up anything is a strong case to thrown in a rubber room. Do yourself, your family and the city of Toronto a favor by deleting your account.

HAHAHAHAHA using Tanner to back up anything is a strong case to thrown in a rubber room. Do yourself, your family and the city of Toronto a favor by deleting your account.
- Mino42

x2

Suck it Pens fans.

If Philly manages to get decent goaltending one day (PROBABLY WHEN PIGS FLY LOLZ) , they could be a seriously good team imo.
- Scabeh

Thats the thing though look at Elliot's stats. His GAA is better and his SV% is only behind by .009. He doesnt need to be that much better to be on par with Andersen whos sv% is .918. I would think unless Flyers play terribly their D should be improved from last season. There were a lot of meltdowns and that 10 game losing streak. As long as they avoid those. I expect Elliot's numbers to improve but you never know with goalies. He could have a Price like year. Neuvirth has been really good as a Flyers goalie but can never stay healthy. Would have like to see Lyon get some time with the club, he likely will when neuvirth gets hurt but I think he can be a good goalie. Hart is obviously the "chosen one" but it could be years before he's ready.

Anyone who doesn't say Toronto is biased, likely because they're Leaf haters. Malkin and Crosby won a cup without Letang and with patchwork defense. Toronto has cut some two way liabilities in Komarov (good defensively and abysmal in the offensive zone) and JVR (who hasn't back checked in his entire career) from their team, added a near 90 point player (from a dumpster fire team) for only cap dollars and who happens to be one of the best two way pivots in the league. These Leafs will win their way through the season 6-5 if they have to, but they'll get it done. That pick-your-poison trio of Tavares, Matthews and Kadri are going to give the opposition fits every night. Not to mention that the addition of Johnsson full time adds a very skilled and speedy winger to the third or fourth line instantly making them deeper than if they kept Komarov. Kapanen should continue to develop nicely with more ice time and if Ozhiganov makes the team out of camp, you won't see as many poor clearing attempts like you did with Polak. Gardiner is who worries me the most with his careless play. But every team has at least one liability. If ours is a 50+ point defenseman, it reaaaally could be worse. Also, don't kid yourself. Vasy is not as good as Andersen. Tampa's D makes him look like a superstar. He's good, but not as good as Andersen. I'm excited to see this new Leafs team in action. Mostly so the Leafs haters can eat a big piece of humble pie.

Consider this if you will.. The Leafs COULD have anywhere between 2-4 100 point players on their roster this year. Any one of Matthews, Marner, Tavares or Nylander can hit that mark with the opposing teams flipping a coin on who to use their shutdown line against.
- Snowman X

Oh my. Man I'm as excited as the next Leafs fan to see these guys play but the reality is our defence got absolutely owned in the playoffs and we've done nothing to remedy the problem. Tampa is still the more complete team and the class of the East. I truly believe our time will come but you're setting yourself up for disappointment.

x2

Suck it Pens fans.
- Glak18

Can we put aside the hate for a moment and let the fact that this nutjob tried to use James Tanner as a source of hockey knowledge. I mean come on man it doesn't get much worse than that.

Offenses are pretty close. Toronto maybe deeper on top 3 lines.

Tampa has Hedman. This is the biggest reason their defense is significantly better.

Goaltending goes to Tampa also.

Leafs... will need to learn to win in the playoffs, despite good showing from a team with a very young core

Tampa... has to show they can get over the playoff hump. They have been below expectations a few times IMO.

Can we put aside the hate for a moment and let the fact that this nutjob tried to use James Tanner as a source of hockey knowledge. I mean come on man it doesn't get much worse than that.
- Mino42

I agreed with you with my super funny "x2", but I will never stop telling Pen fans to suck it...EVER.

Anyone who doesn't say Toronto is biased, likely because they're Leaf haters. Malkin and Crosby won a cup without Letang and with patchwork defense. Toronto has cut some two way liabilities in Komarov (good defensively and abysmal in the offensive zone) and JVR (who hasn't back checked in his entire career) from their team, added a near 90 point player (from a dumpster fire team) for only cap dollars and who happens to be one of the best two way pivots in the league. These Leafs will win their way through the season 6-5 if they have to, but they'll get it done. That pick-your-poison trio of Tavares, Matthews and Kadri are going to give the opposition fits every night. Not to mention that the addition of Johnsson full time adds a very skilled and speedy winger to the third or fourth line instantly making them deeper than if they kept Komarov. Kapanen should continue to develop nicely with more ice time and if Ozhiganov makes the team out of camp, you won't see as many poor clearing attempts like you did with Polak. Gardiner is who worries me the most with his careless play. But every team has at least one liability. If ours is a 50+ point defenseman, it reaaaally could be worse. Also, don't kid yourself. Vasy is not as good as Andersen. Tampa's D makes him look like a superstar. He's good, but not as good as Andersen. I'm excited to see this new Leafs team in action. Mostly so the Leafs haters can eat a big piece of humble pie.

Consider this if you will.. The Leafs COULD have anywhere between 2-4 100 point players on their roster this year. Any one of Matthews, Marner, Tavares or Nylander can hit that mark with the opposing teams flipping a coin on who to use their shutdown line against.
- Snowman X

Thanks for the hot take that everyone can now use to point out how ridiculous Leafs fans are.

I agreed with you with my super funny "x2", but I will never stop telling Pen fans to suck it...EVER.
- Glak18

Let's be honest.. the Leafs were 8 points behind the Bolts for first in the East WITHOUT Tavares. What do you think is going to happen? They're going to be worse after adding an elite player without subtracting anything? lol
- Snowman X

I mean, Tavares only scored three more goals than JVR last year.. Who you subtracted. It was the second most goals hes ever scored.

The real window lickers are the ones who can't see the legitimacy of my original comment. Toronto's rise was much faster than Tampa's rise. Tampa's core is plateaued with the exception of maybe Brayden Point and Sergachev. Kucherov is not going to magically be a 120 point player. Stamkos isn't magically going to become an iron man. Hedman is not going to keep getting better with age.

The difference between the two teams is that Toronto just broke a franchise record for points in a season last year. And these kids haven't even hit their prime yet. They are going to get better. Really think about that for a second. Let that sink in. THESE KIDS ARE GOING TO GET BETTER

That's a scary thought if you are any other team in the division and in the conference. They are a tough match up for any team.

Also, someone made the comment about cap space earlier. They have almost 20M remaining in cap space after they move Horton to LTIR. This team who is already better than Tampa is going to get EVEN BETTER. Ignore the fact that I am a Leafs fan for a minute and look at the reality of the situation. The Bolts were the better team last year, i'll give you that. But this is a very different set of circumstances this year.
- Snowman X

Yeah, joined July 5

I wonder whose alt this is, and from which fanbase. Pretty pathetic to be honest.

I mean, Tavares only scored three more goals than JVR last year.. Who you subtracted. It was the second most goals hes ever scored.
- Leichs

but JvR just stood in front of the net, he doesn't matter. He is an addition by subtracting because of defense and stuff, but Toronto just lost offense...soooo where was I?

Anyway, you stoopid.

Not as if, you are being dismissed as a nutjob. Even Leafs fans are saying so.
Your parents did you wrong in raising you. Failure is on them....
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

... pretty sure this is a troll from another fanbase trying to stir up poop. I have never seen a Leafs fan, on the Leafs threads with any opinions similar to this.

Yeah, joined July 5

I wonder whose alt this is, and from which fanbase. Pretty pathetic to be honest.
- Aetherial

I was thinking an alt too...I am thinking Eichief because Snowman, biggest Garth Snow fan ever.

Well, Hitchcock discovered the way to increased views and posts - drag Leafs fans into a debate. LOL.

I don't think there is a valid comparison to the two teams, but the difference between the two rosters is shrinking.

Until the Leafs mount some deeper playoff runs, I give the edge to Tampa. Results speak for themselves. While this current roster has no Cups, it does have a finals appearance and two conference finals appearances (losing all three to the eventual champion). Talk about being always the bridesmaid.

The Leafs are dangerous. They are serious and they are built to win. Their time has arrived and now they are a force to be reckoned with. Tampa still has an edge on defense and in goaltending. But, really, it's silly trying to say which one is better at this point. It depends on what criteria one is using.

As a Tampa fan, let me put it this way - the way this current Leafs' roster is built and coached, I don't want to see them in the playoffs very often.
- GalacticStone

There is basis for comparison.
Most people (except trolls) favour Tampa and the reasons are pretty clear.

... pretty sure this is a troll from another fanbase trying to stir up poop. I have never seen a Leafs fan, on the Leafs threads with any opinions similar to this.
- Aetherial

I agree, it's most likely a troll. It has to be.

HE QUOTED TANNER FFS.

I was thinking an alt too...I am thinking Eichief because Snowman, biggest Garth Snow fan ever.
- Glak18

Eichief is clever enough to pull it off for sure... but he is a pretty humorous, easy-going guy. This seems like a little bit more of a serious attempt to stir up sh*t. Just doesn't seem his style.

I am thinking Doppelganger? Iggy?

Someone is putting in a lot of effort to try to sound like that is a legit opinion.

OR... it could actually be a Leafs fan who really has talked himself into this stuff. I am sure there are many like that. I honestly have never seen anyone on the Leafs threads like this, even among our most optimistic fans.

IF I ever use Tanner as a source to back up ANY argument I ever make, I will delete my account. Quote me on that.


I swear on behalf of my groin region I will not Alfie this agreement at any time.

*pinky swear*