Leafs Point total over under 104.5
- senstroll

I'll take the over.

Probably somewhere around 110ish.

it was a failure
- dmnted

Total brainfart and getting my games mixed up. Didn't the Leafs just play and beat the Habs in the previous game? Or am I imagining things?

Equal
- AdamFrench

ill take that bet

It was actually an OT loss, but it's meaningless either way.

Tampa will be okay, unless Vasi's injury is one of those ongoing, recurring back issues. They can probably stay in a playoff spot for two months with a random carbon blob in net until he gets back.
- Zezel

It also means that being a Tampa fan will feel a lot more Leafy for the next few months.

ill take that bet
- senstroll

Leafs Point total over under 104.5
- senstroll

I'll go with the over. M and M are gonna blow the whole joint up this year, hard to the core.

I'll take the over.

Probably somewhere around 110ish.
- GreatGigInTheSky

id take the over, and guess 107

the last 3 seasons were
112 (56 game > 82 games)
115
111

29 got gone yesterday
- Canada Cup

oh ?
edit: had to google it

oh ?
- dmnted

Uh huh. Here are the first 27. Two more were released later in the day.

I’m here for ya
https://thehockeynews.com...-camp-sent-to-ahl-marlies

Total brainfart and getting my games mixed up. Didn't the Leafs just play and beat the Habs in the previous game? Or am I imagining things?
- GalacticStone

Leafs took 2 out 3 games vs. the Habs in pre-season action

Really looking forward to Knies this year.

Has hands and is really creative in tight with the puck.

If they add another decent top 9 forward at the deadline they could have 3 really strong top 3 lines.

id take the over, and guess 107

the last 3 seasons were
112 (56 game > 82 games)
115
111
- senstroll

I'm totally unsure on whether they are worse than last year - especially with the Bruins and Lightning arguably getting worse. While Ottawa and Buffalo are getting better, I'm not sure they're so much better as to offset the steps back the other two have taken. Last year we began the season with:

Bunting - Matthews - Marner
Malgin - Tavares - Nylander
Aston-Reese - Kampf - Aube-Kubel
Engvall - Kerfoot - Jarnkrok

Rielly - Brodie
Muzzin - Holl
Giordano - Sandin

Murray
Samsonov


This year, it would seem that we'll go with something that looks like:

Bertuzzi - Matthews - Marner
Knies - Tavares - Robertson
Lafferty - Domi - Nylander
Gregor - Kampf - Reaves

Rielly - Brodie
McCabe - Klingberg
Giordano - Liljegren
Timmins

Samsonov
Woll

Jarnkrok may be the odd man out, but I like what Gregor has shown enough to want to keep him around and that can't happen without someone moving out or moving to the IR.

There's definitely more scoring depth and options, but in truth there's not quite enough scoring depth to make 3 real lines, and there's not quite enough checking depth to make 2 good bottom 6 lines.

In some ways it has that same feel that earlier Dubas tried in the poor 2019-20 campaign - not enough guys to do the yeoman's work, but also not enough guys to actually make the team the constant scoring threat they wanted to be. Defensively there are better players out there on the blue line than in 2019, and while some have maligned McCabe - and he is a poor man's Muzzin - but he's better than Ceci. I sincerely struggle to evaluate this team because they seem to have plugged some weakness and created others in the process.

I'm totally unsure on whether they are worse than last year - especially with the Bruins and Lightning arguably getting worse. While Ottawa and Buffalo are getting better, I'm not sure they're so much better as to offset the steps back the other two have taken. Last year we began the season with:

.....

In some ways it has that same feel that earlier Dubas tried in the poor 2019-20 campaign - not enough guys to do the yeoman's work, but also not enough guys to actually make the team the constant scoring threat they wanted to be. Defensively there are better players out there on the blue line than in 2019, and while some have maligned McCabe - and he is a poor man's Muzzin - but he's better than Ceci. I sincerely struggle to evaluate this team because they seem to have plugged some weakness and created others in the process.
- Monkeypunk

Gotta think any imbalance in the forward group can be tweaked at the deadline with a small move. I think the real missing ingredient is another top 4 stopper-type on the blueline. Should be able to find a rental at the deadline.

BTW, thanks for the neck workout video link yesterday. I am going to work on strengthening my flabby neck so it doesn't become pencil-like. ✊
- GalacticStone

you used to be able to find a neck machine in the weightpile but western society has become so emasculated that a nice thick neck is viewed as toxic masculinity🤦

I’ve had to resort to old school isos but if the neck flex works out it’ll save me thousands buying my own machine 👍🏿🤞

i’ll probably give it a spin today and provide daily updates👍

Gotta think any imbalance in the forward group can be tweaked at the deadline with a small move. I think the real missing ingredient is another top 4 stopper-type on the blueline. Should be able to find a rental at the deadline.
- The Law

I'm not so much referring to the final roster as the roster that will largely play the first 75% of the season. I expect they'll make changes in some capacity over the season and likely moreso at the deadline - it's more the real question is: Is this roster, as assembled, better than last year's to start the year?

On paper I like it more. In practice, I'm sincerely somewhat concerned about their ability to play hard defense.

Leafs Point total over under 104.5
- senstroll

over👍

164👊🏿 (that would be the most in nhl history)👊🏿

presidents trophy 👍

bounced by the senatards in the first round 🤦🏿‍♂️😭

you used to be able to find a neck machine in the weightpile but western society has become so emasculated that a nice thick neck is viewed as toxic masculinity🤦

I’ve had to resort to old school isos but if the neck flex works out it’ll save me thousands buying my own machine 👍🏿🤞

i’ll probably give it a spin today and provide daily updates👍
- Skalapy

Necks are like forearms, you don't need to work them out on their own. If you haven't maxed out your gains on neck you aren't doing enough deficit deadlifts.

I'm not so much referring to the final roster as the roster that will largely play the first 75% of the season. I expect they'll make changes in some capacity over the season and likely moreso at the deadline - it's more the real question is: Is this roster, as assembled, better than last year's to start the year?

On paper I like it more. In practice, I'm sincerely somewhat concerned about their ability to play hard defense.
- Monkeypunk

I see ...For me the first 4 months is just about seeing what's missing/what you have.
Lets see if the new guys mesh. Maybe one or two young guys lock into roles.

I think they're set up to better (than last year) for when games matter. Bertuzzi, Domi, Lafferty, Knies up front ..maybe another bottom 6 addition later. That's going to help them grind and score poopty playoff goals.

Upfront I think 88 slides back to RW eventually and maybe they look to add a 3C at the deadline.

We keep our fingers crossed on the goaltending.

The blue line needs another top 4 body to let everyone slot in better. ..I think.

Really looking forward to Knies this year.

Has hands and is really creative in tight with the puck.

If they add another decent top 9 forward at the deadline they could have 3 really strong top 3 lines.
- Santo_44

having hands a huge asset to most professional hockey players

It was actually an OT loss, but it's meaningless either way.

Tampa will be okay, unless Vasi's injury is one of those ongoing, recurring back issues. They can probably stay in a playoff spot for two months with a random carbon blob in net until he gets back.
- Zezel

Actually it means we secured a pre-season point in the standings?

Only franking Leafs fans would be moaning about pre-season games.

FFS.

I see ...For me the first 4 months is just about seeing what's missing/what you have.
Lets see if the new guys mesh. Maybe one or two young guys lock into roles.

I think they're set up to better (than last year) for when games matter. Bertuzzi, Domi, Lafferty, Knies up front ..maybe another bottom 6 addition later. That's going to help them grind and score poopty playoff goals.

Upfront I think 88 slides back to RW eventually and maybe they look to add a 3C at the deadline.

We keep our fingers crossed on the goaltending.

The blue line needs another top 4 body to let everyone slot in better. ..I think.
- The Law

I'm definitely not sold on Nylander at C. Let's face it - and Adam has made this point a number of times - it's exceptionally rare that an NHL winger moves to the middle and stays there because they're doing well. Nylander doesn't really bring the defensive focus nor the puck battle required to be a successful centre, either. He's a fantastic winger - get him the puck and watch him go, but don't ask him to be the puck retriever. That's never been his strong suit.

Actually it means we secured a pre-season point in the standings?

Only franking Leafs fans would be moaning about pre-season games.

FFS.
- Atomic Wedgie

I like when the Leafs lose the season opener and people are saying they should fire the coach, put guys in the pressbox, play stars on the fourth line, etc. It's so much fun. I don't even watch pre-season. It's one step up from watching the (frank)ing draft.

Necks are like forearms, you don't need to work them out on their own. If you haven't maxed out your gains on neck you aren't doing enough deficit deadlifts.
- Zezel

that ship has sailed 🤦‍♂️

i can barely do them from the floor 🤦🏿‍♂️😭

I'm definitely not sold on Nylander at C. Let's face it - and Adam has made this point a number of times - it's exceptionally rare that an NHL winger moves to the middle and stays there because they're doing well. Nylander doesn't really bring the defensive focus nor the puck battle required to be a successful centre, either. He's a fantastic winger - get him the puck and watch him go, but don't ask him to be the puck retriever. That's never been his strong suit.
- Monkeypunk

I'm sad this is my new trait

Facts :

Leafs are better this season compared to last season.

Lightning are considerably worse (before taking into account Vasi's injury).

Now that Vasi has had back surgery, I am not convinced he will ever be the same. The surgery has probably turned the page on what was peak Vasi.

The Leafs have likely seen the best of Vasi up until now. This bodes well for the Leafs, especially when considering that the Lightning have (frank)-all in the goalie pipeline.

I said it months ago, and I stand by it now : the Atlantic division torch has been passed from the Lightning to the Leafs.