Sitting on Air Canada flight.

Browsing the movies.

They have Draft Day in the comedies section.

I knew it!
- Atomic Wedgie

Just another crappy football movie.

Have you ever been able to pull off the "get a first overall for plenty of picks and then get all those picks back by giving the 7th overall"?
- Scabeh

For a (frank)ing kicker sweetner? no lol

Also we do auction draft (the superior draft type)

To be fair 8 games is basically a 10th of the season. Making it acceptable to think these teams are going to be tough to play against all year long without injury of course. Don’t need to wait til a third of the season is played for that analysis.
- Dozzer

Meh, 8 games is nothing. Teams are still settling in, we've seen so many times where surprise teams fly out of gate or suck out of the gate just to end up in the opposite spot by the end of the year.
20 - 25 games is a good judge for me (doesn't mean teams cant plummet or or get hot after that) and i think most in the hockey world suggest yankee doodle dinner weekend as the mark.
Not sure how many games that is though

Woll to get the start tonight vs. The Blues.

The buds will be a little ornery after being spanked by CBus on Tuesday night

If the dreaded goaltending issue doesn't raise it's ugly head, then I like what I have seen so far. I'm not ready to plan the parade yet, but I feel like this team is moving in the right direction. Once everyone settles in and the lines gel, I think they'll be alright.
- GalacticStone

I think we can ignore Hildeby's performance now - Even in his first start against the Devils, he looked pretty shaky on some of the shots he faced. Nerves, stage, youth, blah, blah, blah. Lots of goalies who turn out well had some questionable early games, so let him grow.

But God . . .Woll needs to get healthy. He is 26 years old and has been set back so many times by injury. It's like a Shakespearean tragedy at this point.

For the team itself - I do like the fact that there feels like more bottom-6 balance and there is more balance in the D as well. OEL has really impressed me - being a lot more than the player he had been for years in Vancouver and near the end in Arizona. Thanks, Paul Maurice, I guess!

I'd like to think that adding some other pieces who might fit well into Berube's preferred hockey style - like a Dewar or Jarnkrok up front and Hakanpaa on the back-end - can only help, but we'll see.

The largest questions for this team will always be whether the core forwards can step up and play through hard times when it matters. Let's face it there's a history of Matthews, Marner and Nylander failing to handle adversity well.

Woll to get the start tonight vs. The Blues.

The buds will be a little ornery after being spanked by CBus on Tuesday night
- dmnted

To be fair 8 games is basically a 10th of the season. Making it acceptable to think these teams are going to be tough to play against all year long without injury of course. Don’t need to wait til a third of the season is played for that analysis.
- Dozzer

You get a sense, but it's pretty inaccurate. Like I'd say over 30% of the teams doing well at this point are probably pretenders, just judging by the same type of contrast to the last two years . . .

Same time last year (underlined are teams that did not make the playoffs):

Bos 6-0-1
Det 5-2-1
Tor 5-2-0
TBL 4-2-2
Mtl 4-2-1

NYR 5-2
Phi 4-2-1
Clb 3-2-2

Col 6-1-0
Dal 4-1-1
Wpg 4-3-0

Veg 7-0-0
Van 4-2-0
LAK 3-2-1

Year before

Bos 6-1-0
Flo 4-2-1
Ott 4-2-0
Buf 4-2-0

Car 4-1-1
Pit 4-2-1
Phi 4-2-0
Was 4-3-0
NJD 4-3-0

Dal 4-2-1
Col 4-2-1
Chi 4-2-0

Veg 6-2-0
Cal 5-1-0
Edm 4-3-0

I am going to say it, and it will finally be right.

Boston will finally fall, they will miss the playoffs, and Ottawa will take their spot.

I am going to say it, and it will finally be right.

Boston will finally fall, they will miss the playoffs, and Ottawa will take their spot.
- Santo_44

I think we can ignore Hildeby's performance now - Even in his first start against the Devils, he looked pretty shaky on some of the shots he faced. Nerves, stage, youth, blah, blah, blah. Lots of goalies who turn out well had some questionable early games, so let him grow.

But God . . .Woll needs to get healthy. He is 26 years old and has been set back so many times by injury. It's like a Shakespearean tragedy at this point.

For the team itself - I do like the fact that there feels like more bottom-6 balance and there is more balance in the D as well. OEL has really impressed me - being a lot more than the player he had been for years in Vancouver and near the end in Arizona. Thanks, Paul Maurice, I guess!

I'd like to think that adding some other pieces who might fit well into Berube's preferred hockey style - like a Dewar or Jarnkrok up front and Hakanpaa on the back-end - can only help, but we'll see.

The largest questions for this team will always be whether the core forwards can step up and play through hard times when it matters. Let's face it there's a history of Matthews, Marner and Nylander failing to handle adversity well.
- Monkeypunk

I'm trying not to be negative about Woll, but I'm looking at it like the starter job is Stolarz to lose. He has snatched it away and Woll will need to stand on his head and silence his doubters with a long run of health and quality starts. Until Stoalie poops the bed, he's the man right now.

At first blush, I know it's early and it's just an eye test judgement, but this iteration of the Leafs seems more balanced. Maybe that's just the coaching change, but it kinda does feel like a shift in the right direction has taken place. And yes, OEL has been a surprise. I am glad to be wrong about that prediction, but so far he does not resemble the dumpster fire I expected. If Tanev has a healthy season, I think this D is good enough for a true contender. Sure, it could be better and still lacks a true elite #1, but by committee it looks pretty solid at the moment.

I am going to say it, and it will finally be right.

Boston will finally fall, they will miss the playoffs, and Ottawa will take their spot.
- Santo_44

I feel you and my heart agrees. But, how many times has Boston's obituary been written? It seems like every year is the year they go into the toliet and then they make the playoffs again.

This year does feel a little different though. So many missing pieces, their depth is gone, and Marchand is a bionic geezer.

I feel you and my heart agrees. But, how many times has Boston's obituary been written? It seems like every year is the year they go into the toliet and then they make the playoffs again.

This year does feel a little different though. So many missing pieces, their depth is gone, and Marchand is a bionic geezer.
- GalacticStone

Yeah I mean Marchand is turning 37...father time catches up and its natural for him to lose a step.

A big thing is they have gotten elite goaltending for 82 games every season, for 30ish games they will get poor to average goaltending.

Lindholm and Zadorov at 12M is mind boggling.

The missing pieces will have a trickle down effect for guys like Zacha and Coyle. You don't see them being 60 point guys this year.

Yeah I like Ottawa better.

In Woll we trust 💙

BeLeaf

I also believe in Stonarz
#competition

I'm trying not to be negative about Woll, but I'm looking at it like the starter job is Stolarz to lose. He has snatched it away and Woll will need to stand on his head and silence his doubters with a long run of health and quality starts. Until Stoalie poops the bed, he's the man right now.

At first blush, I know it's early and it's just an eye test judgement, but this iteration of the Leafs seems more balanced. Maybe that's just the coaching change, but it kinda does feel like a shift in the right direction has taken place. And yes, OEL has been a surprise. I am glad to be wrong about that prediction, but so far he does not resemble the dumpster fire I expected. If Tanev has a healthy season, I think this D is good enough for a true contender. Sure, it could be better and still lacks a true elite #1, but by committee it looks pretty solid at the moment.
- GalacticStone

I don’t think the only thing settled about the goalie situation is that Stolarz has been really good. Leafs will do everything they can to get Woll into the same spot. The only thing better than having Stolarz playing well is to have Woll and Stolarz playing well. We’re a long way from having to anoint a starter.

All I really knew about OEL coming into this season is that he looked good in the playoffs last year.

I am going to say it, and it will finally be right.

Boston will finally fall, they will miss the playoffs, and Ottawa will take their spot.
- Santo_44

One can hope and I do think Ottawa may challenge for a playoff spot.
But at the end of the day, I dont think Boston will be as good but will still squeak out a playoff spot.

We'll see

One can hope and I do think Ottawa may challenge for a playoff spot.
But at the end of the day, I dont think Boston will be as good but will still squeak out a playoff spot.

We'll see
- Fakepartofme

Last years division I would agree, they would sneak in…but I think ottawa is taking a step here and I like the WC competition in the Metro.

This will be a hard year to sneak in for any team. Won’t be any 90 point teams making it, you’ll need a little extra.

https://apple.news/AkfNKXx7xSoqMOWHEypALYQ

Last years division I would agree, they would sneak in…but I think ottawa is taking a step here and I like the WC competition in the Metro.

This will be a hard year to sneak in for any team. Won’t be any 90 point teams making it, you’ll need a little extra.
- Santo_44

Last years division they had 109pts....so they did more than sneak in.
Also everyone (in the east) last year had more than 90pts....washington was the lowest with 91....5 teams had 100 plus.

Also, if more teams improve in the east, it means less team will have 100 plus pts.

We will see.

Last years division they had 109pts....so they did more than sneak in.
Also everyone (in the east) last year had more than 90pts....washington was the lowest with 91....5 teams had 100 plus.

Also, if more teams improve in the east, it means less team will have 100 plus pts.

We will see.
- Fakepartofme

impressive stuff

The Bruins and Sens can both go (frank) each other.

The Bruins and Sens can both go (frank) each other.

Last years division they had 109pts....so they did more than sneak in.
Also everyone (in the east) last year had more than 90pts....washington was the lowest with 91....5 teams had 100 plus.

Also, if more teams improve in the east, it means less team will have 100 plus pts.

We will see.
- Fakepartofme

well bottom teams can regress further

Woll to get the start tonight vs. The Blues.

The buds will be a little ornery after being spanked by CBus on Tuesday night
- dmnted

I'm a little hornery to watch the Leafs spank the Blues tonight

Last years division they had 109pts....so they did more than sneak in.
Also everyone (in the east) last year had more than 90pts....washington was the lowest with 91....5 teams had 100 plus.

Also, if more teams improve in the east, it means less team will have 100 plus pts.

We will see.
- Fakepartofme

well the bottom teams could get worse

The Bruins and Sens can both go (frank) each other.
- Zezel

YES!