OK... I will start the first round discussion page. "GO LEAFS GO"

[Redleaf]

I think the Leafs may win a game or two, but will ultimately be out matched. With that in mind, Caps in 6.

Nobody's looked stronger during the regular season than Washington. I realize the playoffs are a different beast, but I honestly think this is finally their year.

 

[Captain Canuck]

Just making the playoffs is gravy for the Leafs. The best part will be getting the rookies some post-season experience that they can build on going forward. This season has far exceeded expectation and the rookies have re-written most of the Leafs record book for first year players. The future looks very bright!
With that said I will predict Caps in 5.

 

[Kin]

I know the ideal is to have a great #1 D to anchor the blueline, but it seems to me that the Leaf fans could take heart in the Washington model as a fallback:

Orlov/Niskanen
Orpik/Shattenkirk (deadline)
Alzner/Schmidt

Very solid, but certainly nothing Norris votey in there. Surely a D of this quality could be had through FA and the current core over the next few years?

1) It's actually not that much of a sure thing. The quality of available UFA defensemen varies dramatically from year to year and there's no guarantee that the available ones will want to come here.

2) There's no real evidence that this sort of group can have success in the playoffs.

3) Trying to put it together via UFA creates serious cap pressure that can seriously minimize a team's window to win. Sure, Washington looks pretty good right now after adding Shattenkirk but look at the cap issues they're going to have this summer before thinking it's a great path to follow.

 

[KGB]

I know the ideal is to have a great #1 D to anchor the blueline, but it seems to me that the Leaf fans could take heart in the Washington model as a fallback:

Orlov/Niskanen
Orpik/Shattenkirk (deadline)
Alzner/Schmidt

Very solid, but certainly nothing Norris votey in there. Surely a D of this quality could be had through FA and the current core over the next few years?

Ellett, Gill, Macoun, Lefebvre, Rouse, Mironov was another crew lacking a clear #1 but which was extremely solid top to bottom and had two deep playoff runs before Rouse and Lefebvre (the shutdown spine of that crew) left. 

 

[disco]

I know the ideal is to have a great #1 D to anchor the blueline, but it seems to me that the Leaf fans could take heart in the Washington model as a fallback:

Orlov/Niskanen
Orpik/Shattenkirk (deadline)
Alzner/Schmidt

Very solid, but certainly nothing Norris votey in there. Surely a D of this quality could be had through FA and the current core over the next few years?

Ellett, Gill, Macoun, Lefebvre, Rouse, Mironov was another crew lacking a clear #1 but which was extremely solid top to bottom and had two deep playoff runs before Rouse and Lefebvre (the shutdown spine of that crew) left.

Nice reference KGG. That stellar "defense-by-committee" group was around a team 2.65 GAA, remarkable for the 90's. Potvin never had it so good. Six skilled, puck-moving defensemen with good hockey IQ is where this team may end up. With the elimination of clutching and grabbing, sort of today's equivalent.

 

[Kin]

Ellett, Gill, Macoun, Lefebvre, Rouse, Mironov was another crew lacking a clear #1 but which was extremely solid top to bottom and had two deep playoff runs before Rouse and Lefebvre (the shutdown spine of that crew) left.

It's enough to make you think that if they had a real #1 defenseman those teams might have actually won something.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I know the ideal is to have a great #1 D to anchor the blueline, but it seems to me that the Leaf fans could take heart in the Washington model as a fallback:

Orlov/Niskanen
Orpik/Shattenkirk (deadline)
Alzner/Schmidt

Very solid, but certainly nothing Norris votey in there. Surely a D of this quality could be had through FA and the current core over the next few years?

You're also missing John Carlson there though. That's 3 right-handed defencemen better than any righty we have, two of which are top pairing guys and the 3rd (Niskanen) arguably one of the best #3 type defencemen in the league. So it's not like putting together that type of group is an easy feat either, especially under the cap.

 

[Highlander]

While I have little hope the Leafs win this series, winning Game 4 next Wednesday is a lock.  Why?  Wednesday's game is during Beaver Scouts night for me and my son.  The night the Leafs won the draft lottery?  Missed it, at Beavers overnight camp.  Bautista's bit flip homer?  Yep, at Beavers.

Can't you just schedule some extra meetings for game nights?

 

[rdowdall]

It's time for the Leafs to put on their jammie jam's, because the kids are about to be put to bed.

 

[cabber24]

Sportsnet staff predictions:

John Shannon: Washington in 5
Eric Engels: Washington in 5
Christine Simpson: Washington in 5
Luke Fox: Washington in 5
Chris Johnston: Washington in 6
Mark Spector: Washington in 4
Gord Stellick: Washington in 5
Jeff Marek: Washington in 4
David Amber: Washington in 5
Sean McIndoe: Washington in 5
Daren Millard: Washington in 5
Ryan Dixon: Washington in 6
Eric Francis: Washington in 5
Rory Boylen: Washington in 5
Doug MacLean: Washington in 5

 

[crazyperfectdevil]

this seems like deja vu  ..didn't ottawa one year get in as the first seed and us as the 8th?  I seem to remember nobody picking the leafs to win that year either.

 

[cujo4ever]

- Capitals have two players who have played at least 10 playoff games
- Maple Leafs have eight players who have played at least 10 playoff games

I'm pretty sure this is nonsense.

Looking up and down the caps roster, 19 out of 21 skaters have 10 or more playoff games. So...

So, they have 2 such players, but they also have 17 bonus players.

I used to do drugs. I still do, but I used to, too.

 

[Bill_Berg]

Leafs in 7, 'cause of all the outcomes I want, that's the most realistic.

 

[louisstamos]

- Capitals have two players who have played at least 10 playoff games
- Maple Leafs have eight players who have played at least 10 playoff games

I'm pretty sure this is nonsense.

Looking up and down the caps roster, 19 out of 21 skaters have 10 or more playoff games. So...

So, they have 2 such players, but they also have 17 bonus players.

I used to do drugs. I still do, but I used to, too.

Excellent Mitch Hedberg reference.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

[tweet]852182167841058818[/tweet]

Polak practiced today, Zaitsev not so much.

The good news, to me at least, is that Babcock bumped Marincin into the top-6 at practice instead of Marchenko.

 

[nutman]

I think we can win this ,but it will be 7 games if we do. I believe we match up well with wash. The only scare I have right now is if our injured D are good to go or not. I am going to call this Leafs in seven if we are healthy, if not wash will win it in six or seven. Zaitselv and Polak will be the dif between winning and losing.

Honest question nutman, do you think the Leafs can win the Cup this year if healthy?

Update...
My honest answer is any team on any given day can win. As for what I think will happen is we will get some playoff experience. But it will only be in the first round.
I would love an upset but hey were talking a strong wash team that came in first place and a total green Leaf team that shouldn't even be here. I will be happy  just to go six any more is a pure gift.

This change is due to our injured Defence.

But next season....... ;D

 

[Redleaf]

Sportsnet staff predictions:

John Shannon: Washington in 5
Eric Engels: Washington in 5
Christine Simpson: Washington in 5
Luke Fox: Washington in 5
Chris Johnston: Washington in 6
Mark Spector: Washington in 4
Gord Stellick: Washington in 5
Jeff Marek: Washington in 4
David Amber: Washington in 5
Sean McIndoe: Washington in 5
Daren Millard: Washington in 5
Ryan Dixon: Washington in 6
Eric Francis: Washington in 5
Rory Boylen: Washington in 5
Doug MacLean: Washington in 5

I love it when everyone is on the same page. That usually means an upset is in the works.  8)

 

[mr grieves]

I know the ideal is to have a great #1 D to anchor the blueline, but it seems to me that the Leaf fans could take heart in the Washington model as a fallback:

Orlov/Niskanen
Orpik/Shattenkirk (deadline)
Alzner/Schmidt

Very solid, but certainly nothing Norris votey in there. Surely a D of this quality could be had through FA and the current core over the next few years?

You're also missing John Carlson there though. That's 3 right-handed defencemen better than any righty we have, two of which are top pairing guys and the 3rd (Niskanen) arguably one of the best #3 type defencemen in the league. So it's not like putting together that type of group is an easy feat either, especially under the cap.

I don't think it's easy. It took a decade, after all, and it's left them with a short window to really contend. But, if the build proceeds conservatively (hold on to what we got that's really good [elite forwards]), it very well could be how things go in Toronto, if Rielly doesn't turn into Duncan Keith or Kris Letang in the next 3 years.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Dave McCarthy‏ @DaveAMcCarthy
Babcock on Zaitsev for game 2: "We?re always hopeful he?ll be back. I don?t know 100% for sure. I thought he was going to skate today."

Zaitsev's confirmed out for game 1. No one from the Leafs will say it, but it sounds like a concussion.

 

[ZBBM]

Dave McCarthy‏ @DaveAMcCarthy
Babcock on Zaitsev for game 2: "We?re always hopeful he?ll be back. I don?t know 100% for sure. I thought he was going to skate today."

Zaitsev's confirmed out for game 1. No one from the Leafs will say it, but it sounds like a concussion.

That's a shame.  One of the big reasons they even snuck into the playoffs is because of good luck with injuries, so I guess you can't complain.  I like Marincin but he can't pick up Zaitsev's slack.