Are you honestly trying to tell us you think there's 20 - 25 other teams out there with a better group of core forwards to build around than McDavid, Draisaitl, and Nugent-Hopkins?

Of course, we could delve into that great core in Toronto that can't seem to get it done with it counts. But hey... front office incompetence only happens in Edmonton, right?
- BaronVonShiznit

Leafs have a top 3 forward group in the league

When you only have three forwards that other teams would want that’s a pretty weak core.
- shack67

Columbus: Atkinson, Dubois, Nyquist and Anderson followed by some okay depth (Jenner, Foligno and Bjorkstrand) and some overpaid garbage

Minnesota: Parise, Staal, Zucker and Zuccarello followed by some weak depth

Detroit: Larkin, Mantha, Bertuzzi and Athanasiou followed by a whole load of overpaid and meh players

Ottawa: Tkachuk, White, Ryan and (frank)in Duclair? Boedker? Tierney?

Despite its serious flaws, I take a core group of McDavid, Draisaitl, RNH and pretty much anyone you throw in that 4th spot over those three.

Columbus: Atkinson, Dubois, Nyquist and Anderson followed by some okay depth (Jenner, Foligno and Bjorkstrand) and some overpaid garbage

Minnesota: Parise, Staal, Zucker and Zuccarello followed by some weak depth

Detroit: Larkin, Mantha, Bertuzzi and Athanasiou followed by a whole load of overpaid and meh players

Ottawa: Tkachuk, White, Ryan and (frank)in Duclair? Boedker? Tierney?

Despite its serious flaws, I take a core group of McDavid, Draisaitl, RNH and pretty much anyone you throw in that 4th spot over those three.
- MaximumBone

Sens are the worst. Habs are pretty bad as well.

Hard to argue the Sens dont have the worst everything in the NHL.

Trying to understand how a team with McDavid and Draisaitl, despite the lack of depth, are worse off then a team whose top two players are Tkachuk and ....Anisimov?
- systemtool

You should check Edmonton's roster. They have 3 NHL forwards. That's it. No one else should be in the league. I'd take anyone from Ottawa over what they have after their top 3. It doesn't even make sense how they could end up with a group that awful.

Their forward group is 3 fantastic players and 9 13th forwards.

You should check Edmonton's roster. They have 3 NHL forwards. That's it. No one else should be in the league. I'd take anyone from Ottawa over what they have after their top 3. It doesn't even make sense how they could end up with a group that awful.
- Hunkulese

Vacouver has Petersson, Boeser horvat then a bunch of garbage. I'll take Mcdavid, Draisaitl RNH over that roster all day.

Your point is rather weak considering one of those 3 happens to be the best player in the world.
- systemtool

And by a pretty fair margin to boot.

Leafs have a top 3 forward group in the league
- HealthyScratch6

That they do, but you can't say they have a championship-caliber supporting cast.

Coyotes

Stepan - Mediocre 2nd line center at best masquerading as a 1st line center

Kessel - Floater who is poor defensively, needs elite players to produce and doesn't have that in Arizona

Schmalz, Dvorak - Unproven guys which Chayka gave $$$ to in hopes they become legit

Keller - The lone bright spot, don't get too hyped about 47 points in 82 games

Soderberg - Got dumped by a real contender for scraps - nuff said
- RoloTahmasee

Huh? He was PPG for 3 straight years with Bozak as his centre.

And by a pretty fair margin to boot.
- dozerD10

Debatable. Kucherov is up there.

That they do, but you can't say they have a championship-caliber supporting cast.
- BaronVonShiznit

I think they have a legit #1 goalie and the D is better. Their 1-2-3 D is impressive.

You should check Edmonton's roster. They have 3 NHL forwards. That's it. No one else should be in the league. I'd take anyone from Ottawa over what they have after their top 3. It doesn't even make sense how they could end up with a group that awful.

Their forward group is 3 fantastic players and 9 13th forwards.
- Hunkulese

Disagree. I think it's fair to call them a bunch of 4th liners, but suggesting none of them should be in the league is hyperbole.

As for your point regarding Ottawa, their roster isn't far removed from a whole pile of 4th liners. They're a whole pile of 4th liners and a few 3rd liners after their "core".

He was 24-27 - Now he's 32

Kessel is not the kinda guy who will age like Wine
- RoloTahmasee

Age means different things to different players. Kessel isnt' a Lucic. His body has little wear and tear. He's had his best stats since he's been in his 30's.

That they do, but you can't say they have a championship-caliber supporting cast.
- BaronVonShiznit

a top forward group. One of the best defenseman in the world in Rielly (25 years old) and a top 10 goalie. Its a hell of a start.

I think they have a legit #1 goalie and the D is better. Their 1-2-3 D is impressive.
- RogerRoeper

Obviously, time will tell. But as a long-suffering Flyers fan, your D and goaltending looks a lot like the mediocre (at best) groups we ran out there in the 1990s and 2000s.

Thanks for not including Tanner in your article. That makes it actually readable.

Are you honestly trying to tell us you think there's 20 - 25 other teams out there with a better group of core forwards to build around than McDavid, Draisaitl, and Nugent-Hopkins?
- BaronVonShiznit

So now you’re using the word core. Good for you.

a top forward group. One of the best defenseman in the world in Rielly (25 years old) and a top 10 goalie. Its a hell of a start.
- HealthyScratch6

Tampa has more talent. That's about it.

Leafs are stacked. That Colorado trade was fantastic for them.

Obviously, time will tell. But as a long-suffering Flyers fan, your D and goaltending looks a lot like the mediocre (at best) groups we ran out there in the 1990s and 2000s.
- BaronVonShiznit

I have no idea how you can compare Andersen to the crap in Philly for the past 25 years.

You guys never had a true #1. Leafs had a top 10 goalie without a doubt.

Obviously, time will tell. But as a long-suffering Flyers fan, your D and goaltending looks a lot like the mediocre (at best) groups we ran out there in the 1990s and 2000s.
- BaronVonShiznit

Andersen is much better than any goalie the flyers had for the last 30 years.

So now you’re using the word core. Good for you.
- shack67

Might want to brush up on your reading and comprehension skills... been using it all along.

Are you honestly trying to tell us you think there's 20 - 25 other teams out there with a better group of core forwards to build around than McDavid, Draisaitl, and Nugent-Hopkins?
- BaronVonShiznit

I don’t think he knows what he is trying to say.

I think he was just trying to defend the use of core even though the bloggers clearly meant corps based on their Oilers selection.

Now he has painted himself into a corner that will take some interesting gymnastics to escape from.

Oilers' issue is there is so much overpaid crap after 3 forwards. They have no depth. Chia robbed them of depth and speed.

They are truly in "Cap Hell" more than anyone.

Tampa has more talent. That's about it.

Leafs are stacked. That Colorado trade was fantastic for them.
- RogerRoeper

Leafs definitely needed to make the trade ... However I think they're going to miss Kads more than they know.

Leafs definitely needed to make the trade ... However I think they're going to miss Kads more than they know.
- dozerD10

Kadri was a luxury. They are better in other areas. Also, is Colorado getting the same Kadri? I think he looked a little slower last season.

Not sure 2 years from now Kadri is considered better than Kerfoot.

Leafs definitely needed to make the trade ... However I think they're going to miss Kads more than they know.
- dozerD10

Well they played the last two playoffs without him so they probably know.