I have marner, and took Thornton as a flyer in the late rounds. Hoping he picks up some pp points.
- bryant

I always like taking a huge maybe late in drafts. 'Cause if it pays off it pisses the others in the league off.

depends on Smith/Koskinen
- PatC80

brutal goaltending.

That would be an incredibly douchey move. I love it.
- GreatGigInTheSky

Leafs need to be more douchey, douchey teams win championships.

Dear referee:

Sorry for flagging this post, but I had no other idea how to get in touch with you.

Every year, the Leafs regulars here post our predictions for the upcoming season in a separate thread. We've been doing it for about five years now.

This year, it's located here:

https://hockeybuzz.com/bo...p?thread_id=169928&page=1

To ensure the integrity of the predictions, every year a ref locks it when the puck drops on the Leafs' opening game.

Normally this task is performed by the regular Leafs referees, but nobody has seen or heard from them in months.

So could I please ask you to go in and lock the thread tonight?

PLEASE NOTE: DO NOT DELETE THE THREAD!!! Just lock it.

Thanks - I owe you a beer.

And it would be great if you could DM me to let me know you've read this and can do it for us.

Once again, thanks.
- Atomic Wedgie

The prediction Thread will be locked at game time, I am told....

For what it's worth, losing 2019-20's version of Max Domi isn't losing much.

And from everything I saw so far, I think both KK and Suzuki will surprise you.

- Scabeh

I have a kotkaniemi signed puck to sell you for 10000$ once he scores 40 goals

I am no ruling them out, but they are what they are, middle teams(14th-18th) overall in the league.

They are competitive teams but they aren't good teams. I dont think they will offer much challenge at the top of the division for the Leafs. MTL and CGY are good teams, they will offer some good comp for the top spot.
- Santo_44

Right now I'm gun shy after the let down from last year. I want to believe in the Leafs, but I don't know . . . you know?! It's a great team. I think the moves they made are the right ones - although I still don't love Simmonds or Thornton (personally; we don't need to discuss my objections!). Calgary is good, but I don't think Markstrom will be as good this year. Edmonton . . .I will say that getting Barrie improves the PP, except that it was already the best PP In like 30 years, so what did they REALLY do? It's not getting any better. What is he bringing other than 5v5 risk? Vancouver has Petterson, Boeser, Horvat, Miller, Schmidt and Hughes. If Demko is good, they'll be good. That said, I have absolutely no faith in Holtby.

If the Leafs play like they should, they should be in. The other 4 teams are all good though, and I could see any of them rising to the occasion.

brutal goaltending.
- Santo_44

I think the Oilers will only go as far as Smith/Koskinen take them.. I don't think they have very good goaltending.

I have a kotkaniemi signed puck to sell you for 10000$ once he scores 40 goals
- TheMussel

depends on Smith/Koskinen
- PatC80

For sure.
They could finish 1st/2nd or 5th....but i feel that way with most of the teams this division.
There really arent that big of gaps between 4-5 teams.
Even Ottawa got tougher, if they bring their A game, they could easily steal some pointe from teams.

For what it's worth, losing 2019-20's version of Max Domi isn't losing much.

And from everything I saw so far, I think both KK and Suzuki will surprise you.

- Scabeh

Between you, me, and my love for my team, I sincerely hope you're wrong.

Right now I'm gun shy after the let down from last year. I want to believe in the Leafs, but I don't know . . . you know?! It's a great team. I think the moves they made are the right ones - although I still don't love Simmonds or Thornton (personally; we don't need to discuss my objections!). Calgary is good, but I don't think Markstrom will be as good this year. Edmonton . . .I will say that getting Barrie improves the PP, except that it was already the best PP In like 30 years, so what did they REALLY do? It's not getting any better. What is he bringing other than 5v5 risk? Vancouver has Petterson, Boeser, Horvat, Miller, Schmidt and Hughes. If Demko is good, they'll be good. That said, I have absolutely no faith in Holtby.

If the Leafs play like they should, they should be in. The other 4 teams are all good though, and I could see any of them rising to the occasion.
- Monkeypunk

the only team that can stop the Leafs in the North division, is the Leafs. I think they will win the division

Right now I'm gun shy after the let down from last year. I want to believe in the Leafs, but I don't know . . . you know?! It's a great team. I think the moves they made are the right ones - although I still don't love Simmonds or Thornton (personally; we don't need to discuss my objections!). Calgary is good, but I don't think Markstrom will be as good this year. Edmonton . . .I will say that getting Barrie improves the PP, except that it was already the best PP In like 30 years, so what did they REALLY do? It's not getting any better. What is he bringing other than 5v5 risk? Vancouver has Petterson, Boeser, Horvat, Miller, Schmidt and Hughes. If Demko is good, they'll be good. That said, I have absolutely no faith in Holtby.

If the Leafs play like they should, they should be in. The other 4 teams are all good though, and I could see any of them rising to the occasion.
- Monkeypunk

That's my opinion on Vancouver as well.

If Demko turns out to be a good starter for them, they'll be a difficult opponent.

Edmonton also needs Koskinen to be good enough to carry them to the playoffs.

The prediction Thread will be locked at game time, I am told....
- bixll

Thank you, and thanks to whomever is locking it.

Dear referee:

Sorry for flagging this post, but I had no other idea how to get in touch with you.

Every year, the Leafs regulars here post our predictions for the upcoming season in a separate thread. We've been doing it for about five years now.

This year, it's located here:

https://hockeybuzz.com/bo...p?thread_id=169928&page=1

To ensure the integrity of the predictions, every year a ref locks it when the puck drops on the Leafs' opening game.

Normally this task is performed by the regular Leafs referees, but nobody has seen or heard from them in months.

So could I please ask you to go in and lock the thread tonight?

PLEASE NOTE: DO NOT DELETE THE THREAD!!! Just lock it.

Thanks - I owe you a beer.

And it would be great if you could DM me to let me know you've read this and can do it for us.

Once again, thanks.
- Atomic Wedgie

Now you’ve done it... you drew me out of the woodwork

I’ll lock it for you at game time. No problem, cheers.

That's my opinion on Vancouver as well.

If Demko turns out to be a good starter for them, they'll be a difficult opponent.
- Scabeh

there are IFs for 90% of teams in the NHL.

Going into a season I go by what is right in front of me.

They added some size and toughness in Anderson. Let's say that both his 27 goal and 1 goal performances were anomalous, and he's closer to a 15 goal guy. If you get that and a physical presence, it's an improvement.

They added additional size and capability in Edmundson on the back-end.

They replaced some of Domi's offense with Toffoli. I don't like his game much, but you're still looking at 20 goals out of him.

They added Allen in net. Last year the Habs had a revolving door of Lindgren, Kinkaid and 20 year old Cayden Primeau in net. While Leaf fans were loudly wondering if anyone was worse than Hutchinson last year, Kinkaid and Lindgren were tripping over each other trying to find someone to hold their beer. Allen solidifies the backup spot, and should give Price some needed rest.

The largest expectation - and probably the one I disagree with the most - is that Suzuki and Kotkaniemi are ready to have breakout seasons and solidify the Habs down the middle. I don't know if they're there yet. They looked pretty good in the playoffs last year after some rest, but I think they need a year or two to get to where people want them to be this year.
- Monkeypunk

I personally never really liked Anderson and I think the contract they gave him was awful. Same with Edmundson. Big and strong, yeah, but not so good at the hockeying part.

The Toffoli move was the only move they made that I thought was good.

I very much like Suzuki, though. I think he's gonna be a great player (don't know if he'll break out this year, though). Kotkaniemi, not so much.

Now you’ve done it... you drew me out of the woodwork

I’ll lock it for you at game time. No problem, cheers.
- Dozzer

Who the hell are you?!?

there are IFs for 90% of teams in the NHL.

Going into a season I go by what is right in front of me.
- Santo_44

Because everything always goes according to plan eh?

For sure.
They could finish 1st/2nd or 5th....but i feel that way with most of the teams this division.
There really arent that big of gaps between 4-5 teams.
Even Ottawa got tougher, if they bring their A game, they could easily steal some pointe from teams.
- Fakepartofme

The only player I am worried about on the Leafs is Freddy Andersen. With that said, I think Andersen/Campbell are better than Smith/Koskinen

Now you’ve done it... you drew me out of the woodwork

I’ll lock it for you at game time. No problem, cheers.
- Dozzer

And don't forget to fill out your own predictions, Dozzie!

Because everything always goes according to plan eh?
- Scabeh

Nope

but when predicting a season I dont like "ifs"

especially when most of them are just wishful thinking.

Who the hell are you?!?
- Atomic Wedgie

I heard Eklund subscribed to an "equal chance" program.

I see the new people have already begun! Good stuff!

Who the hell are you?!?
- Atomic Wedgie

I’m not sure I even know anymore

Nope

but when predicting a season I dont like "ifs"
- Santo_44

Of course.

But there's no such thing as certainty in sports.

Best example, who here imagined Yandle being a healthy scratch for Florida?

This is gonna hurt my fantasy team like a female dog.

Thank you, and thanks to whomever is locking it.
- Atomic Wedgie

Not playing your stupid game.


*goes back to playing candy crush*