I agree that 1v8 makes the most sense, but I still really like 1v16 with reseeding each round (I know the travel is an issue, and I get it). I like the idea that the two best teams can meet in the SCF from anywhere in the league.

I guess the idea that you could have a Toronto/Montreal SCF, or an Edmonton/Calgary is still something that's sort of cool.

At the least, the forced matchups by division is a terrible idea, I think, that should be dropped.
- Monkeypunk

I don't know if they have actually announced anything, but I suspect it will change once Seattle enters the league.

Probably top 4 in each division.

I'll do some digging and see if the NHL has said anything.

This has been a great season for coaches!
- AdamFrench

Any photos of Gallant on his way to the airport?

I'm so tired of it. These league forced 'rivalries' are annoying. Let them happen naturally
- RickJames77

So you're afraid of the Keafs eh

Agree - Marincin actually looked good, thats how bad NJ is! Don't care who NJ beat they are pure shyte. The last half of the third was awful, I remember playing badly in the last half of a couple of third periods against the Bruins - it did not end well.
- winsix

You are overthinking it.

And I care. If the Leafs lost to NJ we would be ripping them to shreds and calling them a non playoff team.

Remember when fans of other teams wondered why Leaf fans wanted Babcock fired in year 5?

LOL. Gallant brought an expansion team to the finals and made the playoffs last year and was on pace to make them again.

So you're afraid of the Keafs eh
- Zezel

Bruins fans should fear the advantage of bad coaching on the Leafs is gone.

You are overthinking it.

And I care. If the Leafs lost to NJ we would be ripping them to shreds and calling them a non playoff team.
- Santo_44

But Tampa and the Caps can LOSE to them and it's no issue.

This is a good read:

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...ivalry-how-playoffs-work/

There is no perfect format.

Any photos of Gallant on his way to the airport?

- winsix

Gallant is currently refreshing his emails to learn that the Wild have fired Boudreau and are looking to hire him.

Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
Gallant is coach of the Pacific Division All-Star Team 😬
10:43 AM · Jan 15, 2020·Twitter Web App

Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
Gallant is coach of the Pacific Division All-Star Team 😬
10:43 AM · Jan 15, 2020·Twitter Web App
- Atomic Wedgie

The Devils best the lighting and the caps

The Leafs played a good game and just took their foot off the gas the last 7-8 mins and Freddy has been playing too bad to hide that.
- Santo_44

Both sets of statements are true. That said, the Devils were pretty badly outplayed in both games - but Louis Domingue was a star.

The Leafs also let up a bit.

Realistically, a mature team who can play to their style and use their speed and brawn, I think, would pummel this team soundly the way they are playing. The Leafs almost always have an exposed area in defensive coverage and it becomes more exploitable the more they fail to recognize their assignments.

At their best, when the offensive is clicking and Andersen is there to bail them out, the warts aren't that big of a deal, because they can outscore those problems - even in the playoffs. They are a very good team. I don't think they're playing the system effectively yet, though.

When the offensive isn't shooting at 13% or the goalie isn't at his peak, the team itself hasn't found it's way with the system at all. One line I heard a D-Man say a couple of weeks ago was, "There's a motto among D-Men, and it's 'Never Trust a Forward.'" and when you watch the Leafs forwards covering for the D, you know why. I watch Kerfoot, Tavares, Marner, Kapanen, Spezza, Nylander and Timashov routinely get dummied when they are standing in for the D-Man at the blue line or falling back into the neutral zone.

All of those guys need to learn their role. Don't stop skating back and swing your stick errantly at the puck in the neutral zone in a desperate attempt to keep the puck on the right side of centre. You're a defenseman now. Work and keep skating back. . . .

I'm trying to be realistic about this. This is a good team with good composition that can be very, very dangerous, but right now without the forwards bothering to accept their part in the 5-man rotation on a consistent basis, it's still very problematic.

You are overthinking it.

And I care. If the Leafs lost to NJ we would be ripping them to shreds and calling them a non playoff team.
- Santo_44

Maybe I am overthinking it but the Leafs haven't made the playoffs yet and the way they lost to the Panthers should be a red flag. Let's see how they do against Calgary. I believe Calgary has a significant negative goal differential.

Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
Gallant is coach of the Pacific Division All-Star Team 😬
10:43 AM · Jan 15, 2020·Twitter Web App
- Atomic Wedgie

Amazing.

Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
Gallant is coach of the Pacific Division All-Star Team 😬
10:43 AM · Jan 15, 2020·Twitter Web App
- Atomic Wedgie

Both sets of statements are true. That said, the Devils were pretty badly outplayed in both games - but Louis Domingue was a star.

The Leafs also let up a bit.

Realistically, a mature team who can play to their style and use their speed and brawn, I think, would pummel this team soundly the way they are playing. The Leafs almost always have an exposed area in defensive coverage and it becomes more exploitable the more they fail to recognize their assignments.

At their best, when the offensive is clicking and Andersen is there to bail them out, the warts aren't that big of a deal, because they can outscore those problems - even in the playoffs. They are a very good team. I don't think they're playing the system effectively yet, though.

When the offensive isn't shooting at 13% or the goalie isn't at his peak, the team itself hasn't found it's way with the system at all. One line I heard a D-Man say a couple of weeks ago was, "There's a motto among D-Men, and it's 'Never Trust a Forward.'" and when you watch the Leafs forwards covering for the D, you know why. I watch Kerfoot, Tavares, Marner, Kapanen, Spezza, Nylander and Timashov routinely get dummied when they are standing in for the D-Man at the blue line or falling back into the neutral zone.

All of those guys need to learn their role. Don't stop skating back and swing your stick errantly at the puck in the neutral zone in a desperate attempt to keep the puck on the right side of centre. You're a defenseman now. Work and keep skating back. . . .

I'm trying to be realistic about this. This is a good team with good composition that can be very, very dangerous, but right now without the forwards bothering to accept their part in the 5-man rotation on a consistent basis, it's still very problematic.
- Monkeypunk

They dominated them until it was 6-1.

I don’t judge the game the same when it’s 6-1 with 10 mins left...you are welcome to but I just don’t.

It’s human nature to take your foot of the gas and Freddy has been sucking lately so he let a few goals in.

I’m happy with the game. I don’t garbage time goals too far.

where were Eks Russian sources on this one?

Maybe I am overthinking it but the Leafs haven't made the playoffs yet and the way they lost to the Panthers should be a red flag. Let's see how they do against Calgary. I believe Calgary has a significant negative goal differential.
- winsix

It happens.

But let’s not forget they were missing Muzzin and Rielly was playing with a broken foot for over half the game.

Amazing.
- AdamFrench

Vegas gives no (frank)s

I agree that 1v8 makes the most sense, but I still really like 1v16 with reseeding each round (I know the travel is an issue, and I get it). I like the idea that the two best teams can meet in the SCF from anywhere in the league.

I guess the idea that you could have a Toronto/Montreal SCF, or an Edmonton/Calgary is still something that's sort of cool.

At the least, the forced matchups by division is a terrible idea, I think, that should be dropped.
- Monkeypunk

I think the travel would be a bit too extreme, and to be honest, I dont think its great for the fans either to have 1-16 seeding. You have odd hours for games and one fanbase will inevitably get screwed by having a late/early start.

I like the idea of the best teams playing eachother in the SCF, but maybe doing a switch over for the conference finals might make more sense opposed to 1-16 seeding.

I don't know if they have actually announced anything, but I suspect it will change once Seattle enters the league.

Probably top 4 in each division.

I'll do some digging and see if the NHL has said anything.
- Atomic Wedgie

That would be disappointing. I'd very much like it to return to 1v8 (as I said, I wish 1v16 could be accomplished within the schedule without geographical effects, but I get that).

The return to the Adams/Norris / Patrick/Smythe format of the past feels like a step back.

It happens.

But let’s not forget they were missing Muzzin and Rielly was playing with a broken foot for over half the game.
- Santo_44

It happened against the team closest to them in the standings. A team that hasn't won three in a row all year. One of the most important games so far this year and the Leafs simply sh!t the bed.

Vegas gives no (frank)s
- Aaron_85

It happens.

But let’s not forget they were missing Muzzin and Rielly was playing with a broken foot for over half the game.
- Santo_44

the Florida game was bad, every mistake made ended up as a goal against. The Leafs actually played well against Florida.. These types of games happen sometimes.

Boston got shutout by CBJ and I don't here RJ complaining about Marchand whiffing on that shootout attempt..

Both sets of statements are true. That said, the Devils were pretty badly outplayed in both games - but Louis Domingue was a star.

The Leafs also let up a bit.

Realistically, a mature team who can play to their style and use their speed and brawn, I think, would pummel this team soundly the way they are playing. The Leafs almost always have an exposed area in defensive coverage and it becomes more exploitable the more they fail to recognize their assignments.

At their best, when the offensive is clicking and Andersen is there to bail them out, the warts aren't that big of a deal, because they can outscore those problems - even in the playoffs. They are a very good team. I don't think they're playing the system effectively yet, though.

When the offensive isn't shooting at 13% or the goalie isn't at his peak, the team itself hasn't found it's way with the system at all. One line I heard a D-Man say a couple of weeks ago was, "There's a motto among D-Men, and it's 'Never Trust a Forward.'" and when you watch the Leafs forwards covering for the D, you know why. I watch Kerfoot, Tavares, Marner, Kapanen, Spezza, Nylander and Timashov routinely get dummied when they are standing in for the D-Man at the blue line or falling back into the neutral zone.

All of those guys need to learn their role. Don't stop skating back and swing your stick errantly at the puck in the neutral zone in a desperate attempt to keep the puck on the right side of centre. You're a defenseman now. Work and keep skating back. . . .

I'm trying to be realistic about this. This is a good team with good composition that can be very, very dangerous, but right now without the forwards bothering to accept their part in the 5-man rotation on a consistent basis, it's still very problematic.
- Monkeypunk

So here's my "I'm chugging blue Kool-aid as I type this" take:

When the Leafs get caved in, which is far too often this year, it's not a lack of talent. It's almost always a lack of effort.

You can't up your talent game in the playoffs. But you can force yourself to work harder.

Glug glug glug, yeah, I'm drinking blue Kool-aid. But still...