Ken Holland always said this. There's not much separating teams. You just have to get in (the Playoffs) and you can go on a run and win it (The Cup). It's partially true. Looking at what Montreal is doing. You make your own breaks. You're more "lucky" if you're playing hard.

But if Tampa wins the Cup again is it because of talent or luck? Even the 98 Cup winning Red Wings needed Esa Tikkanen to miss a wide open net in game 2 to win that game.
- gergeswillems

At the end of the day the best teams have the best shot at it.

But how much better is Colorado’s shot compared to MTL? There is a gap but it’s not huge like it is in every other league.

And yet we all know that the Bolts are cheating (frank)s. But the league is desperately uninterested in opening up that particular can of worms. The ensuing controversy over an investigation would be embarrassing AF.
- mjones242

I really don’t know what they could do. Their only recourse is to review records. There’s nothing in the CBA that gives the league the right to send in their own doctors.

I think it will help being back in the Atlantic or whatever it’s called. They need to sort out and adjust in season
- Canada Cup

At least the Leafs can beat up on Detroit again. 🤣

Didn’t Leafs invent Robidas Island. Hard to complain about any other teams’ cap circumvention.
- jribout

Wake me up when the Leafs are able to bury a 9.5M superstar on Robidas Island and be 17M+ over the cap.

I really don’t know what they could do. Their only recourse is to review records. There’s nothing in the CBA that gives the league the right to send in their own doctors.
- Canada Cup

The can of worms was opened when Patrick Kane stayed on LTIR until game 1 of the playoffs so Stan Bowman could trade for Vermette at the deadline. Hawks needed a 2C and the cap space. Voila! Hawks win another Cup. Sound familiar?

I told you what I thought. You prefer to make a thing out of it instead of responding. I can see why you and AA were so tight. There are enough people on here capable of carrying on an adult conversation.
- Canada Cup

There was no sense in engaging with you on it when you explained to me that I missed your point by completely missing my point. That's where assuming someone is in a 'huff' will get you.

If you want an adult conversation knock off the childish assumptions, sarcasm and over reaches... You're the most immature old man I've ever seen post on the internet.

There is a distinct possibility that the Core 4 will never be able to put it together. At some point, you have to consider making a change.

Dubas has hitched his reputation to these guys being able to succeed and here we are, another embarrassing early exit.

You would think that locking up half of your cap into 4 players might cause issues when one of those guys is lost to a freak injury. How do you replace a player making 11M when the rest of your roster has to be filled with lesser players to make room for albatross contracts. 🤦
- mjones242

Marner and JT are overpaid by like 2-4 M...

Every good team has dead weight...unfortunately players regress unexpectedly. Luckily for Toronto the core 4 shouldn’t regress enough to make it much more of a difference.

They are not at anymore or a disadvantage than other teams.

Marner and JT are overpaid by like 2-4 M...

Every good team has dead weight...unfortunately players regress unexpectedly. Luckily for Toronto the core 4 shouldn’t regress enough to make it much more of a difference.

They are not at anymore or a disadvantage than other teams.
- Santo_44

The can of worms was opened when Patrick Kane stayed on LTIR until game 1 of the playoffs so Stan Bowman could trade for Vermette at the deadline. Hawks needed a 2C and the cap space. Voila! Hawks win another Cup. Sound familiar?
- gergeswillems

It’s going to take a new CBA as far as I can see.

Agreed. And they've found ways to cheat circumvent the cap.

Masterful.
- mjones242

They won the cup without circumventing anything.
I hope they win the cup again, only this time with a 100m cap.

At the end of the day the best teams have the best shot at it.

But how much better is Colorado’s shot compared to MTL? There is a gap but it’s not huge like it is in every other league.
- Santo_44

Often times it's matchups. Leafs played a tough Habs team who know them very well. We pretty much took Montreal for granted. I don't think the Leaf players did. But I recall during the off season thinking that the Habs were building their team for the playoffs. Leafs for the regular season.

Would the Leafs be playing right now if they played Edmonton or Winnipeg in round 1? Maybe. Would the 86 cup champion Habs have any chance of beating the 86 Oilers? Or would the 93 cup champion Habs have any chance against the 93 Pens? We'll never know.

Wake me up when the Leafs are able to bury a 9.5M superstar on Robidas Island and be 17M+ over the cap.
- mjones242

And they still wouldnt win a cup

5-0 Tampa

Islanders only have 10 shots after 36 mins.

Often times it's matchups. Leafs played a tough Habs team who know them very well. We pretty much took Montreal for granted. I don't think the Leaf players did. But I recall during the off season thinking that the Habs were building their team for the playoffs. Leafs for the regular season.

Would the Leafs be playing right now if they played Edmonton or Winnipeg in round 1? Maybe. Would the 86 cup champion Habs have any chance of beating the 86 Oilers? Or would the 93 cup champion Habs have any chance against the 93 Pens? We'll never know.
- gergeswillems

The Leafs were up 3-1 and looked pretty dominant. Hard to see too many scenarios where the Habs come back in that series let alone any team in the NHL.

It’s a Cinderella run and it’s poop that the Leafs were on the other end of it.

- Steven_Seagull

Have to look at things reasonably sometimes.

Look around the league, look at cup winners...players are overpaid and some are underpaid.

Appears that the Bolts have decided they are not sharing the cup with anyone this year either.

6-0 Tampa

The Leafs were up 3-1 and looked pretty dominant. Hard to see too many scenarios where the Habs come back in that series let alone any team in the NHL.

It’s a Cinderella run and it’s poop that the Leafs were on the other end of it.
- Santo_44

That's another thing. Given that the Leafs were so close to eliminating the Habs... does this mean Dubas stays the course? The fact that Montreal is doing so well make him believe not much is needed? Injuries to Tavares and Muzzin aren't excuses. This played a huge part in the result.

Or does the fact that Toronto won 3 games without Tavares and still lost 3 in a row show Dubas that change is needed? It feels like the Leafs are at a crossroads in the Shanaplan. Which road does Dubas take? Blow it up Avenue? Stay the course Boulevard? Or Tweak and Tinker Road?

6-0 Tampa
- Steven_Seagull

Schenn for the Extra point? Tampa knows they can't carry the goals over for game 6 right?

Have to look at things reasonably sometimes.

Look around the league, look at cup winners...players are overpaid and some are underpaid.
- Santo_44

The Leafs spent their money the wrong way.

40.5M on 4 forwards.

Tampa is spending 35.3M on 2 forwards, 1 Dman, and 1 goalie.

Marner and JT are overpaid by like 2-4 M...

Every good team has dead weight...unfortunately players regress unexpectedly. Luckily for Toronto the core 4 shouldn’t regress enough to make it much more of a difference.

They are not at anymore or a disadvantage than other teams.
- Santo_44

Half of the team's salary is locked up into 4 forwards. Those 4 forwards have never been able to lift this team into the 2nd round.

This cap imbalance is an obvious disadvantage. YMMV.

And they still wouldnt win a cup
- Fakepartofme

QFT.

Half of the team's salary is locked up into 4 forwards. Those 4 forwards have never been able to lift this team into the 2nd round.

This cap imbalance is an obvious disadvantage. YMMV.
- mjones242

So is everyone else’s cap disadvantage. Doesn’t matter where the extra cap is...all that matters is that it is there.

That’s how math works.

The Leafs spent their money the wrong way.

40.5M on 4 forwards.

Tampa is spending 35.3M on 2 forwards, 1 Dman, and 1 goalie.
- Steven_Seagull

TB is one example.

Plus they have a bottom 6 C making 5 M a year. What’s the (frank)ing difference in the end? None

TB is one example.

Plus they have a bottom 6 C making 5 M a year. What’s the (frank)ing difference in the end? None
- Santo_44

Show me a team who spent half the cap on 4 forwards and won. I’ll wait.