Washington for years were the elite of the NHL and had 1st and 2nd round exits all the time. Don't tell me the only difference for them was adding Connolly and a couple other guys is what put them over the top...

Once again, we're talking about semantics here. I consider an elite team to be a team with elite players on it. You are more than welcome to not think that. Its all subjective.

Yes, banana split upside down purple monkey.......... I too can try to always have the last word. Its kind of pointless though isn't it?

Toronto is gonna be horrible defensively when Muzzin isn't on the ice. Andersen also played really solid last year, who knows if he will replicate it or get injured.

Maybe. Maybe not. I still think Ceci will do better in Toronto than he did in Ottawa.

For sure it's subjective, but then one could argue over 1/2 the teams in the NHL are "elite" thus diluting the meaning of elite. The Blackhawks missed the playoffs 3 years in a row but they have elite players.

Half the teams have a core of star players under 23? Two top 10 centers, a top 5 point scoring winger, a Norris calibre Dman? Come now... .... I get that Leafs fans can be a bit much but lets not exaggerate either. They have among the most elite players a team can have at one time. whether it brings them success or not in besides the point. St Louis won the cup. How many players on that team are truly elite? See how success isn't a qualifier for the talent a player may have.

Chicago simply is not in the same echelon of elite if we are using this subjective term the way Im using it at least. Kane is the only elite player there with Debrincat entering that status and Toews on his way out of it. No one else.

Plenty of teams have an elite player or two. Few have more than that and all under the age of when they hit their primes or are in their prime currently.