Toronto

So much drama, both on and off ice for a lot of players.

Phil Kessel? Hot Dog Rumours
Willie Hold-Out 2018
Marner Hold-Out 2019 coming next?
Desperation for Defence
Can't hold onto backup goalies.

The main pieces are there, but they were so concerned with Top 6 they forgot about Bottom 6, Defence, Backup Goalie.

With Raptors winning a championship, pressure is on the Leafs.

Any team other than the Leafs is just incorrect.

The Lightningfor sure.

Leafs, err Laughs are just 1st Round Losers.
- IonSabres

Barfalo Sabres for sure, after 8 straight lottery picks, the last seven in the top 8, including a first and 2 second overalls, they might be in a fight for a wildcard spot. They will still have a lousy owner with an imbecile wife that run the team and 20 or so ex GM's and Coaches still on the payroll.

Toronto - no doubt.

The Blues and Leafs were at the top of the futility list of teams that had gone the longest without winning a Stanley Cup at 52 years and counting.

Toronto now stands alone.

And if I recall correctly, wasn't the Ranger's run of 54 years the record before they won in '94? If so, Toronto is in a race against all time history.

Leafs definitely have tons of pressure. More specifically Babcock. They need to get passed the first round.

Also think teams like the Oilers and Panthers are desperate. Add the Habs to the mix. I suppose you could name quite a few teams. Maybe even Buffalo if they mattered or anyone cared.

Toronto

So much drama, both on and off ice for a lot of players.

Phil Kessel? Hot Dog Rumours
Willie Hold-Out 2018
Marner Hold-Out 2019 coming next?
Desperation for Defence
Can't hold onto backup goalies.

The main pieces are there, but they were so concerned with Top 6 they forgot about Bottom 6, Defence, Backup Goalie.

With Raptors winning a championship, pressure is on the Leafs.
- BALUCHA

Back up goalie? On defense, didnt they didnt get Barrie? What's wrong with their bottom 6?

😂🤷‍♂️

Yes! Draft guys who aren't going to perform so well, it's killing them!
- SolidGoldBricks

I really don't think you have a clue what your talking about.

Toronto is desperate for a cup. So is San Jose. Habs are desperate to make the playoffs and Tampa is desperate because of this year's playoff humiliation.

Toronto is desperate for a cup. So is San Jose. Habs are desperate to make the playoffs and Tampa is desperate because of this year's playoff humiliation.
- Good On Paper

I'll take a first round win for starters lol.

I really don't think you have a clue what your talking about.
- isitin1

...and I think sarcasm is lost on you.

I'll take a first round win for starters lol.
- systemtool

true. Probably this year. I don't think the playoffs matchups will be the same. I don't see the rankings being Tampa-Boston-Toronto again this year.

I hope it's the Islanders!

There are teams that a desperate in so many ways.

Toronto - Arguably one of the most star lined rosters that hasn't shown in the playoffs. The level of desperation is high. 2019/2020 is a year they need to hit before salary cap issues start begin to toll on roster moves.

Montreal - I don't know how many more seasons Carey Price has left where he can bail that team out. Seem's like a massive waste of a potential HOF goaltender for a team that has had little presence in the Playoffs. Not sure how Bergevin STILL has a job.

Ottawa - This franchise has done nothing for a very long time. They don't appear to be desperate, but they need to show some urgency. They've now traded away 2 marquee players with little to show. You can't rebuild forever (it's been painful to watch in Edmonton).

Vancouver - I would spot them similarly to Ottawa, although they are much further ahead, they have a great pool of prospects in the post Sundin era. This team needs to push for the playoffs.

Edmonton - Every season is now desperate when you have Connor McDavid and Draisaitl. The team needs to capitalize on having two elite forwards. Ownership has shown urgency. The new management has echoed that with coaching staff and moving out an "unmovable" contract. Edmonton now also has surprising good defensive picks. If each player buys in and has an average year, they can be a playoff contender. Anything above that puts them in the mix to go deeper.

Florida/Carolina/Arizona - Needs to sell some seats at home games. The fact that Bettman hasn't put these teams on notice is a shock.

Calgary - A bit of an anomaly, they haven't bottomed out to the level of the Oiler's in the past. With a proposed new arena on the way, they need to sell some season tickets. I don't think they are in so much trouble, but I do think they need to have some more consistently to become a playoff threat.

I see the Leafs as desperate for sure, but it looks like they will get Marner signed eventualy and have a good few years with this core intact.

What I don't understand is the ridiculous derision from other fans about the current Leafs team. One year after finishing dead last they faced the presidents cup winners and took them to 5 OT games, before losing in 6. The next year they faced a team that finished higher than them, with the best record in the second half of the season, and lost in 7 after their #2C was suspended. Then they faced that team again, after finishing behind them, again, and Boston was a top 2 team this past year... oh and 2 key Dmen playing at about 50% and Kadri suspended, again...

It isn't like they are getting beaten by bad teams. They are inexperienced (compare Leafs vs. Boston and Washington playoff experience!) and the NHL playoff format hasn't been helpful.

It is time they won a round though.

TO.
Tampa

Seattle because ... facts

Why is the league as a whole better? What about Montreal or Boston or Florida or Colorado? Isn't the league as a whole better when they are better too?

I would submit that the league as a whole is better if there is greater parity in the league meaning that all the teams are better.not just one or two. Baseball sucks cuz 4-7 teams keep buying up the best players and the bottom feeders never get going...

Everyone predictably picking the Leafs but I couldn’t disagree more. They weren’t “elite” until last year and the young guys are still so young! So the previous years playoff exits aren’t a fair characterization of what should be expected of them.

I’ll go against the grain and say....Sharks. The Sharks are what the Leafs will be in a decade, if they never win the cup.

For years they have been a top 5 team with a stacked roster, but can’t close the deal. Their stars are aging out one by one, but they still have a ton of talent. The window remains slightly cracked open and it’s now or NEVER for them (whereas for the Leafs it’s now...or really anytime in the next 5-10 years).

Tampa gets second place because they have been contending for a while and the salary cap crunch is coming for them in a big way!

Well.....

#1. The leafs. They have yet to even win 1 playoff round and are hyped to be "Elite".

#2. Islanders. They have signed many players in the latter half of their careers to long term contracts that look eerily similar the the red wings circa 2015. If they can't win now, their aged and expensive team will surely not win later.

#3. The rangers. They were terrible last year, lost Pionk, Hayes, Zuccerello, Kreider (likely to be traded) and are suddenly capped out after adding Panarin and Trouba. Overhauling a team in one off-season and spending so much is a risk.

Honerable mention to Tampa, who is a heavy favourite with Point, Vasilevskiy, and Sergachev all due to massive raises.
- bikeguy99

NY is always pressured to win. By the way all the guys you named leaving have been replaced with younger better talent. Kreider probably won't be moved. 2C (Hayes) is the only one not replaced

Depends on what you mean by desperate.


The Rangers are in cap hell and after lucking in to Kaako, signing Panarin and Trouba, they still arent good enough to be anything more than a bubble team.

Being a bubble team and in cap hell is not a good combo.

Leafs are in win now mode because soon enough they may be in cap hell depending on what Marner gets.

Both are high pressure, big market squads with fan bases that want it now.

Take your pick.
- MBFlyerfan

Their cap situation isn't really that bad.

Buyout Smith and trade Nam. They can sign all their RFA's By 2021 when they are serious contenders (hopefully) $25m is off the books.

" I'd rather not make the playoffs and have the lottery pick than continue to lose in heartbreaking fashion in the first round every year.

But, the league as a whole is better when Toronto's a good team."

======
So basically follow EDM's gameplan for the last 10yrs?

Leafs.

The answer to every question is Leafs.

Or Laffs, Laughs, Loafs, Make Beliefs, Maple Queefs, Make me Laughs.

But always the team from Toronto.
- walshyleafsfan

This sounds about right...

The Leafs for sure. Was looking into it and they haven't even won in the past 50+ years!

They are so close to the cap, but get bounced in the first round EVERY season. Add to that their best player (by far), Mitch Marner, is probably going to get offer sheeted and leave for 4 first round draft picks that will all be 28-31 because Marner makes any team an instant favorite to win. If he does somehow sign in Toronto, it will be a massive overpayment that will cripple the team and make it impossible for them to win.

Things are bad in Toronto, and I can't think of any team that is even close.
- SolidGoldBricks

So what your saying is marner makes every team a cup favorite then what about Mcdavid with your logic shouldn't he be making Edmonton sure Stanley cup winners then every year
1 player doesn't make a team
just my opinion

I see the Leafs as desperate for sure, but it looks like they will get Marner signed eventualy and have a good few years with this core intact.

What I don't understand is the ridiculous derision from other fans about the current Leafs team. One year after finishing dead last they faced he presidents cup winners and took them to 5 OT games, before losing in 6. The next year they faced a team that finished higher than them, with the best record in the second half of the season, and lost in 7 after their #2C was suspended. Then they faced that team again, after finishing behind them, again, and Boston was a top 2 team this past year... oh and 2 key Dmen playing at about 50% and Kadri suspended, again...

It isn't like they are getting beaten by bad teams. They are inexperienced (compare Leafs vs. Boston and Washington playoff experience!) and the NHL playoff format hasn't been helpful.

It is time they won a round though.
- Aetherial

The whole 'the league is rigged against us that's why we can't win' look isn't a good one


Winners don't have victimhood mentality

Eklund: Who Is the Most Desperate Team in Hockey?
- Eklund

Quebec Nordiques

The whole 'the league is rigged against us that's why we can't win' look isn't a good one


Winners don't have victimhood mentality



- Komisaurus Rex

I don't think he said that.
He just pointed out that the Leafs' 3 early exits were against better more experienced teams, while the Leafs 2 best players were teenagers. No reason at all to panic