I wouldn't say tampa won because of stammer he was out the whole playoffs. That aside I feel all these teams will win a cup when there 1st overall player hits there prime. They better or I would feel bad for the player. If I was to bet on one not winning it would be Toronto probably cause they most likely lose Anderson next year or they will lose rielly the following year.

Toronto won’t get past the 1st round.

Yes, but Stammer was a big reason they were a #2 seed. He had over a PPG during the season.

I still think Tampa is by far the best team in the East. They have a good chance to repeat.

Colorado is probably the best team in the west and they might have the best D core in the league.

I love everything Toronto did this offseason. Brodie, Bogs, Simmons, Thornton, Vesey, Spezza and Dermott signings. And the NHL level, goalie depth. And Lehtonen and Barbabnov signings should help both defense and NHL level depth.

I didn’t love the return for A.Johnsson, but he needed traded and I’m sure there weren’t a ton of teams knocking down their door in this flat cap year. I like what they got back from Kapanen. I just hate the Amirov pick. That’s the only thing I really, really, disliked. If they would have picked C.Zary or H.Lapierre, IMO it would have been a Grand slam offseason.

But still they addressed every need on their NHL roster. Toughness, leadership, defense, NHL level depth. Check, Check, Check and Check. Toronto would get an “A” from me for this off-season. It would’ve been an”A+” if they didn’t draft Amirov.

It depends a lot on this year’s conferences too. I don’t see TB repeating. Even if they re-sign Cirelli and Cernak, which I 100% see them doing. And if they trade TJ, Killorn,.or Gourde. Which probably 2 of the 3 will get trade( they have to). But I just don’t see them repeating. It’s too hard.

People said the same thing about Washington, “they’ll never make it past PIT”. And about St. Louis “They’ll never make it past Chicago”. Both champs now though. For Toronto, they just have to be patient. They’ll get there 😎

Doubt it. But believe what you want

They don’t need TJ and I only see them trading one of gourde/killorn. The thing with TB is they have so many elite defensive forwards and a great D core. Brisbois did a great job bringing in the right players.

They don’t have enough cap space without moving TJ and Killorn and Gourde. 2 of the 3. Stammer can’t go on the LTIR until the game 1 of the season. They have to be within 3M, cap compliant for the start of the season. They can only go over the cap another 2M or something right now in the off-season.

Nothing is guarenteed, but really? C'mon, they are a young team, that really improved this offseason, and the Briuns did not (they lost Krug, and got no replacement) and are getting older, and Tamps has Cereli and Cernak to sign, and they are over the cap (they are bound to loose someone good). And it's more likely now that the leafs will be in the all-canadian division. That will mean they will have to beat one of the oilers, flames, canucks, jets, habs or sens (bahaha no I'm not serious about the sens). Should be fairly easy.



Couldn't have put it better myself.



I agree with most of this, except the part about Amirov. At first, ya, I didn't like it either. I wanted Schnider so bad. But after looking into him, reading articles about him, looking at how he's done, I really like the selection to be honest. From what I've heard, he's got a really well rounded game. I think that while it wasn't really a home run, it was the best pick they could have gotten. Of course, to actually base anything off 2 months is insanity, but SO FAR it looks good.

they'll move TJ and one of killorn/gourde. As long as they don't trade all 3 theyre still cup favorites next season. A bunch of elite talent , a Norris caliber D , and two selke candidates.

Colorado should be the favorites. Neither Toronto or Edmonton should be considered contenders.

I hated it and still do after watching YouTube highlights and games. If the Pens kept the pick, I would have wanted them to take Zary, Guhle(who was drafted right behind Amirov at #16) or H.Lapierre. I hate that He went to the Caps. He has the biggest upside. Just had the concussion problems last year is why he fell. He was a top 10 pick otherwise.

Once I saw that goalie, I forget his name, Rossi, Seth Jarvis, A.Lundell, and Schneider didn’t fall to 15, I was happy with the pens giving up the 15th pick and Hallander. And even happier after the leafs took Amirov. I really don’t like the pick. Not at all!! And not being bias, I didn’t like it at the time, would’ve have hated it if the Pens made it!!

And I’m a leafs fan too!! I really tried to like it. I would have rathered them pick Guhle and loaded up on defense prospects where they were weak last year. Offense on the NHL team isn’t gonna be a problem, IMO, with Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Tavares and Reilly. And now Brodie(who’s an offensive defensemen). And Robertson almost NHL ready and gonna be fighting for a roster spot this year it looks like.

Defense, goaltending and toughness will always be their weaker area. But they defiantly addressed the toughness with Simmons, Bogs, Vesey, and Thornton this offseason. I would have liked them taking Guhle, a lot(a lot) more!! Guhle would have helped tbat toughness in the future. Big Defensive D.!! And is gonna be ready and contribute sooner IMO. Zary, or Lappierre would have been a HR, IMO. I hope Amirov works out!! I just don’t see it. Especially at 15th overall. Ouch. I really wonder how far he would have fell if the leafs don’t take him. I really like the Roni Hirvonen, and Topi Niemela picks!! Loved them!! Great picks IMO, I was hoping the Pens took Niemela in the 2nd round or he fell to us in the 3rd. I Think they were Steals!! Especially Niemela!!

That’s exactly what I said. 2 out of the 3 need moved. I agree they got a shot. It just really hard to do. That’s all. And it looks like, the conferences are gonna matter this too. I want to see what that looks like 1st B4 I go down to the casino. This is just what I’m betting this year. I’m betting Colorado, Edmonton, Toronto and The Isles. And the Pens cause I always do. I usually only bet 3 or 4 though . But Right now, I think I’m betting 5 this year. I might leave out the Isles though like I said in the description.

Psst. The goalie is Askarov, and Schnider DID fall to 15 (I was upset they didn't pick him).

Well, that's fine. Really, there's no way of knowing how well he will do. He was picked 15th overall 2 months ago (not even) , and while it fine to debate it, neither of us is "right". In 5 years we could be talking about how much of a bust Amirov is and how the leafs really missed out on better player, or we could be analyzing his success and acknowledging how well he has done. There no way of knowing right now. By the way, its also not for sure, but Dubas seems to have hit it out of the park with Sandin and Robertson. Will Amirov follow? Who knows.

I love how everyone gave up on the islanders

Sorry Sanderson I meant. I didn’t expect him to go 5 or whatever he went. High though. Above Drysdale!! Crazy!! Yes, that’s the goalies name!! Thank you.

Ya, for sure. No way of knowing. A 50/50 shot. Even less hit though I think last time they did statistics on 1st round picks. And like you said, Dubas has been shown to have a good eye for talent.

Yes, we will see! I just hated the pick!! That’s just IMO. My 1st thought, and Like I said, I tried liking it more. But after watching Highlights and games on YouTube. Didn’t impress me either. Meanwhile watch Zary or Lapierre. They stick out right out. But Amirov is playing against better competition too, so it’s harder to stand-out.. And Guhle is tough. Family has NHL pedigree with his brother. I would have loved them to take Guhle; Like I said, And loaded up on D prospects seeing as Offense probably wont be a problem in the next 6-8 years. The defense, goaltending and toughness will always be alittle weaker. And Guhle would have definitely help in that area. And contribute and be NHL ready quicker.

But yes, we’ll see. And like I said, loved the Neimela and Hirvonen picks!! Loved them, great picks!! I was hoping the Pens took Neimela in the 2nd round or he fell to us In the 3rd. I loved that pick!!

Not me just yet!! If I drop one team from betting though, it will probably be them. I only bet 4 teams last year. Edmonton, TB, Colorado and the Pens. And I will always bet the Pens. So, if I bet the Isles it will be 5 this year.

As a leafs fan if Lou accepted that trade l’d fly to Long Island and put him in a nursing home myself

I guess you didn’t ready the description or title. Or any of the comments..lol

The Leafs have bucket loads of D prospects. More than they can find spots for within the organization. The problem is if you mushed them all together you could create one normal sized D and the organization has now realized that you can't build an actual competitive NHL team around those type of Ds (so sucks for all those Ds who know that they have no real future with the organization). But Guhle really wasn't the D they should have drafted. They should have drafted Schneider.



Except it is all at the bottom of their lineup. The top of their lineup is still just as easy to play against and they were completely neutralized in the playoffs, as well as during the season whenever things got tough.

Sandin and Liljegren and M.Kokkonen are the only 3 prospects Toronto has that look like NHL players right now. And Neimela(who they just drafted). And like I said, The offense doesn’t seem like it will be a problem in the next 6-8 years. The Defense, toughness, and goaltending will always be the weaker areas. So loading up on Defense and toughness in Guhle would have been a good idea IMO. Better than Amirov, that’s for sure!! Yes, Schneider or Guhle would have been a good pucks IMO.

The bottom 6 usually is the tough, checking lines, defensive lines. They usually pair up against the others teams top lines. And Hyman plays tough, fight for pucks in the corners. Thats always been a part of his game!! And I really like the Vesey signing. A ton of potential, and obviously not everyone can play in NY, especially being as highly touted as he was!! I can see him playing On the 2line (Hyman/Mathews/Nylander, Vesey/Tavares/Marner, Mikheyev/Kerfoot/Simmons, Engvall/Thornton/Spezza or Barabnov).

Sandin and Liljegren and M.Kokkonen are the only 3 prospects Toronto has that look like NHL players right now. And Neimela(who they just drafted). And like I said, The offense doesn’t seem like it will be a problem in the next 6-8 years. The Defense, toughness, and goaltending will always be the weaker areas. So loading up on Defense and toughness in Guhle would have been a good idea IMO. Better than Amirov, that’s for sure!! Yes, Schneider or Guhle would have been a good picks IMO.

The bottom 6 usually is the tough, checking lines, defensive lines. They usually pair up against the others teams top lines. And Hyman plays tough, fight for pucks in the corners. Thats always been a part of his game!! And I really like the Vesey signing. A ton of potential, and obviously not everyone can play in NY, especially being as highly touted as he was!! I can see him playing on the 2line (Hyman/Matthews/Nylander, Vesey/Tavares/Marner, Mikheyev/Kerfoot/Simmons, Engvall/Thornton/Spezza or Barabnov).[/quote]

Dont know how youre betting edmonton over NYI, VAN, or BOS