No Canadian teams winning a cup since Wedgie was a kid has certainly not helped.
- Aetherial

Yeah but even winning a little bit helps.

I mentioned how my kid was hyped last season after we beat Pittsburgh, well he's disappointed as hell this year so far.


I'm sure the kids watching the Habs go to the conference final in 2014 or in 2010 created new fans as well.

Winning is fun and you watch hockey to have fun.

I think winning that series is a big step forward for Toronto.

Might give them the swing they need to go far.

Although, and it's not to take anything away from Toronto here, I can't tell if it's them playing very, very well or the Habs just being terrible.

Might be a little bit of both.

4 goals in 4 games.

- Scabeh

Leafs are full measure so far, particularly considering the injuries.

This series is not over though and anyone who has watched the Leafs the past 1000 years shouldn't assume it is.

Hockey is far and away the worst of the big 4 sports at promoting their stars. Everyone knows who lebron James is but you can’t say the same about Crosby or McDavid. It also doesn’t help that those two are two of the most boring vanilla guys of all time.
- westcoastleaf

And this weird idea Mcdavid needs to play different? Don't get 105 points in 56 games, play a 2 way game and score less. What? The Yzerman comparrisons yesterday were REALLY awful. Detroit had no cap and spent more than any team and Yzerman had Lidstronm, Konstantionov, Hasek, Shanahan, Federov ETC.

Hockey is far and away the worst of the big 4 sports at promoting their stars. Everyone knows who lebron James is but you can’t say the same about Crosby or McDavid. It also doesn’t help that those two are two of the most boring vanilla guys of all time.
- westcoastleaf

That's why they marketed OV...except he's a foreigner and we all hate that.

That's why they marketed OV...except he's a foreigner and we all hate that.
- AdamFrench

And he likes Putin.

Would you rather Good Ole Boy names like Bubba or Goober?
- winsix

Sorry Tyler! 😉

There were periods of time, when Andersen carried the team, no question.
There was even a year (2018?) when I thought he was the MVP of the team.

I think his game regressed and the Leafs became a better team, so that he actually became a weak spot.

He isn't too old, I think he still has some good hockey ahead of him, elsewhere. Maybe a different and coaches will turn his game around.
- Aetherial

I agree. There was a time when Andersen was arguably the Leafs MVP, he was good when the team defense was, let's say 'not a strength'..

I think Andersen is still a good goalie and maybe he's better suited for a team like Edmonton that relies heavily on goaltending, cause they can't defend.

And he likes Putin.
- RogerRoeper

I like poutine also, what's your point?

Leafs are full measure so far, particularly considering the injuries.

This series is not over though and anyone who has watched the Leafs the past 1000 years shouldn't assume it is.
- Aetherial

I've seen the Habs come back from a 3-1 deficit against Boston.

And at that time, I truly believed they could do it, because they battled in every game and deserved a better fate.

I don't think that's the case this year. Carey stole game 1, gave his team game 3 but still lost.

At best we're winning one more game which will allow 2500 people to go to the bell centre.

I'd like that.

I agree. There was a time when Andersen was arguably the Leafs MVP, he was good when the team defense was, let's say 'not a strength'..

I think Andersen is still a good goalie and maybe he's better suited for a team like Edmonton that relies heavily on goaltending, cause they can't defend.
- PatC80

Andersen topped out at .919 on both Anaheim and Toronto. He's still yet to hit 920 ever. Campbell has twice now. And that was Andersen at his peak. He's lost a step

Sorry Tyler! 😉
- Zezel

Ummm, it's Taylour...

Auston Taylour Matthews

And he likes Putin.
- RogerRoeper

I liked him too when I lived there.

The superteam factor renders the league non-competitive however.
- Zezel

It can for sure, yes.
But a dynasty sells.

That's why they marketed OV...except he's a foreigner and we all hate that.
- AdamFrench

Hahaha. I love OV. He is disliked because he is Russian and “gasp” has a personality. Watching him hoist that cup was one of my favourite hockey moments. He wanted that thing so bad. As for the he likes Putin narrative what else is he supposed to say.

I've seen the Habs come back from a 3-1 deficit against Boston.

And at that time, I truly believed they could do it, because they battled in every game and deserved a better fate.

I don't think that's the case this year. Carey stole game 1, gave his team game 3 but still lost.

At best we're winning one more game which will allow 2500 people to go to the bell centre.

I'd like that.
- Scabeh

I kind of hope the Leafs close it out on Thursday night.. Having fans at home for Game 6, would be a huge advantage for the Habs.. I don't want a Game 7

So... because the other teams have to play good teams, all their odds are lowered?

WTF. At some point, the Leafs are going to have to get through 2 of the best of those teams also.

It is penalizing all the teams with tough matchups, someone has to win those matchups.

Carolina has a lower chance because they play Florida or Tampa and Tampa or Florida have a lower chance because they have to play Carolina maybe?

yeah, I'm just going to go ahead and file that mess in the garbage can.
- Aetherial

Of course they have lower odds of winning the Cup if they have a harder time in getting to the semifinals. How is this controversial? You can make a case that both Florida and TBL are better than the Leafs but they both have better odds of losing in the first round. Those odds are lowered further because the winner plays Carolina.

In any case is that the odds look very different when there are four teams left.

You can argue about how they see specific matchups. Maybe Tampa should be a prohibitive favourite over Carolina but there’s logic to the system.

wow

24.7% chance to win it all

Roger made this??
- 21peter

unpossible.
roger has leafs at 99+% to in the SC apparently.
all of the other teams are 'very easy to defeat'.

personally, so far these 4 games I haven't been too impressed by the Leafs.
Price is great, apart from that, not 1 single Habs player have been playing up to his level (and it doesnt help that Weber, Gallagher are still playing injured).

their best player has been Kotkaniemi...

WE're gonna kill the Jets

She can't ban people. Needs to get a ref to do it and Howard has been gone. Only heywoodyoublow me has been asked to get the axe.
- AdamFrench

oooo i miss howard

unpossible.
roger has leafs at 99+% to in the SC apparently.
all of the other teams are 'very easy to defeat'.

personally, so far these 4 games I haven't been too impressed by the Leafs.
Price is great, apart from that, not 1 single Habs player have been playing up to his level (and it doesnt help that Weber, Gallagher are still playing injured).

their best player has been Kotkaniemi...
- MaximusAurelius

AKA The Mole

Andersen topped out at .919 on both Anaheim and Toronto. He's still yet to hit 920 ever. Campbell has twice now. And that was Andersen at his peak. He's lost a step
- RogerRoeper

It's possible that he has lost a step, I mean it's hard to say really... The dude was injured a lot the past few years and maybe that's taken a toll on him?

Or maybe, he's better suited to play in a more wide open, less structured system?

And this weird idea Mcdavid needs to play different? Don't get 105 points in 56 games, play a 2 way game and score less. What? The Yzerman comparrisons yesterday were REALLY awful. Detroit had no cap and spent more than any team and Yzerman had Lidstronm, Konstantionov, Hasek, Shanahan, Federov ETC.
- RogerRoeper

This weird idea that someone on Twitter talked about?

Hahaha. I love OV. He is disliked because he is Russian and “gasp” has a personality. Watching him hoist that cup was one of my favourite hockey moments. He wanted that thing so bad. As for the he likes Putin narrative what else is he supposed to say.
- westcoastleaf

Ask Panarin

This weird idea that someone on Twitter talked about?
- Canada Cup

Pierre Mcguire.

This was never true. Media created narrative. You can still have good numbers with a bad D.

Jack Campbell is very clearly better this year than Freddy has been for us in 5 years.
- RogerRoeper

lol ya ok Roger says you.

Hint - your wrong but carry on.