I really like that first line

Your best d-man's on the 3rd pair lol

Theodore-Jones
Dillon-Ellis
Vlasic-ADA

But the team's good, apart from the G, which is a very big question mark

Good team, not a great team. Goaltending will be their downfall, but they're a bubble team in my eyes.

Uh. Theodore and Ellis are very much better than Jones
TDA and Jones is a toss up imo, I put TDA above him because I prefer elite offense over mediocrity

Goaltending might become an issue. Plus I’d prefer to have at least one superstar center. Danault and Karlsson are very good, but not great.

Yeah, I tried to model it on the best lines in the NHL
Playmaker-Two way forward-sniper

Like the Bruins and Avs top lines

Are we talking about the same Seth Jones? Cause he’s a top 10 d man in the league and that isn’t even a question.

Yeah, I think those are the two holes the team has
But I think Karlsson/Danault are both top line centres.

Having Huberdeau who is mainly a winger, but can play shifts as a centre will be a plus

But hIs AnAlYtIcS sUcK

Hes not a top 10 defenseman in the league lol. He was average this year, has had good years, but hes nowhere near top 10

nah they dont suck, hes just not good, you would know that if you actually payed real close attention to his game

Probably 1st round exit.

This would be the best D corps in the league and would make it easy for the goaltending to make stops. Bottom 6 forwards are a bit lacking. I’d put a bet on them being a conference finals team but I wouldn’t be shocked if they won it all

You people who hate on him for literally no reason are like flat earthers. The more we prove you wrong (*) the more you keep believing nonsense

* How many d-men can play 26-27 minutes per game against the opposing team's best players while being a beats at both ends?

He literally allows everyone and their cousins to enter the zone. He is always scrambling,

I’m genuinely curious who are the 10 guys better than him in your eyes? I’m trying to understand your POV here.

Wrong. And even when that happens he keeps them in the periphery, not allowing them prime scoring chances. He and Werenski basically defeated the Leafs by themseves but keep believing your dream

I dont think you remember the fact that Korpisalo was a cement wall in the playoffs and that the Leafs had a historically low SH% indicating that they had horrible puck luck. Also didnt help that their best defenseman this year was injured

Josi, Hamilton, Hedman, Petro, Spurgeon, Ellis, McAvoy, Theodore, Carlson, Slavin, Rielly theres a bunch of others as well

No, Ellis is on the 1st pair

If they are both top line centers, its on the very tail end. You have roughly an average 1-2C situation, cause I think both hover around #30 in the league.

I think this team is a playoff team but not much more.

Definitely a solid list there, but I feel like there is a case for Jones over Reilly, Theodore, Spurgeon and maybe Ellis, but I see where you are coming from. Guess it comes down to what type of play style you prefer.

Rielly had an injury riddled down year where he underperformed his xGF/60. While Jones who was also injured for a while, overperformed his xGF numbers

Expect Jones to regress a bit offensively while Rielly should improve

I get that the centre situation is kinda dry, but I think the team is capable of making a deep run

Vegas had Karlsson and made the WCF this year, so its not like they are incapable of making a run. Plus I think that the players they are surrounded with really benefit their playstyle and will bring out the best in them

The blueline is stacked. I think this team will go as far as Riemer can take them

How many great saves did he make during games 1 and 5? Four maybe? His defense, which was led and carried by Jones/Werenski kept the Leafs from having dangerous scoring chances