Why the Leafs will be better...

[slapshot]

Face it, people LOVE to rag on the Leafs. Toronto is full of drama queens who pose as media insiders. That's not to say all journalists in the area are bad, but it sure has its share that seem more interested in controversy than hockey. What the Leafs probably need more than anything, is the ability to turn off the craziness. They need to play with ice in their veins. Take it a game at a time and not worry that a couple of losses mean they are headed over the cliff again. High anxiety means poor performance.

Why I think they'll be better:

1. All the things Carlyle preached last year, were somewhat ignored. The players have got to recognize that if they paid better attention last year, they would have had been better habits in place when the going got tough. I think Carlyle realizes he had nothing left to lose and won't put up with as much crap before cutting back ice time on slackers.

2. Players are probably pretty sick of being viewed as a bunch of chokers. I mean, come on, have some pride.

3. Key young players, Gardiner, Rielly, Kadri will take the next step. It would be nice to see Frattin join that group.

4. They will get better production out of the bottom half of their lineup in all three areas: forwards, defence, goal.

5. Shanny will kick some behind, if anyone thinks they can slack off.

Personally, for example, I don't think there is as much spread between the Leafs and say the Habs as the pundits will suggest.

We'll see but I think the Leafs will turn the corner this year....barring crazy injuries of course.

 

[Redleaf]

Face it, people LOVE to rag on the Leafs. Toronto is full of drama queens who pose as media insiders. That's not to say all journalists in the area are bad, but it sure has its share that seem more interested in controversy than hockey. What the Leafs probably need more than anything, is the ability to turn off the craziness. They need to play with ice in their veins. Take it a game at a time and not worry that a couple of losses mean they are headed over the cliff again. High anxiety means poor performance.

Why I think they'll be better:

1. All the things Carlyle preached last year, were somewhat ignored. The players have got to recognize that if they paid better attention last year, they would have had been better habits in place when the going got tough. I think Carlyle realizes he had nothing left to lose and won't put up with as much crap before cutting back ice time on slackers.

2. Players are probably pretty sick of being viewed as a bunch of chokers. I mean, come on, have some pride.

3. Key young players, Gardiner, Rielly, Kadri will take the next step. It would be nice to see Frattin join that group.

4. They will get better production out of the bottom half of their lineup in all three areas: forwards, defence, goal.

5. Shanny will kick some behind, if anyone thinks they can slack off.

Personally, for example, I don't think there is as much spread between the Leafs and say the Habs as the pundits will suggest.

We'll see but I think the Leafs will turn the corner this year....barring crazy injuries of course.

Certainly looks like the possibility is there to begin making some headway this season. Another year of maturity all around for a youngish team. Added veteran depth upfront and on Defense should help a ton in that dept. as well. Another goaltending duo, even though it was pretty clear Bernier was the better goaltender last season. Assistant GM, and assistant coaching changes, and Shanahan taking a slightly different approach this season could also help improve the outlook of the team.  As it stands right now, as the training camp opens this morning, I'm going out on a limb and predicting a playoff berth for the Leafs come springtime.

 

[2badknees]

Would people honestly prefer the squad try to squeak into the playoffs, or be top 3 in the draft upcoming?

I'd so, so rather the latter. This is very likely a franchise-changing draft year. If it was my team, literally a third of the lineup would be marlies this season.

 

[BrownRolo]

1. All the things Carlyle preached last year, were somewhat ignored. The players have got to recognize that if they paid better attention last year, they would have had been better habits in place when the going got tough. I think Carlyle realizes he had nothing left to lose and won't put up with as much crap before cutting back ice time on slackers.

Carlyle's coaching strategy is telling the team they need to try harder. I actually think that is all he does. If they are winning then he feels they are trying. If they start to lose then he tells them to try harder.

He is the worst coach ever.

 

[Highlander]

Randy is a figurehead this year, he is a puppet on a string. This is a reflection of his extension. Look at Spott but look more at Horacheck.  He took a ragged Florida team that was losing and turned them around.
Expect to see some changes in the structure and philosophy of team play this year.
And a long waited goodbye to Molten Orr and Freezer McClaren. By by boys.

 

[Madferret]

I knew this guy once who was convinced that enough coats of bronze paint eventually looks gold.

 

[moon111]

I think the whole success this year hinges on the balance of the 3rd and 4th lines.  I don't think a coach could afford to bench Kessel with nobody able to score.  So you lived with his +1 turnover every game when he could of probably just shot the puck in.  I've worked for the Federal government.  I know what it's like having a boss that can't really do anything whether one performs or not.  Give them that power, people are going to listen allot more.  Shanahan also might see the handcuffed situation management and coaching has been in.  Some of the higher ranked Leafs might not be happy with the new coach/management this season.

 

[bustaheims]

I knew this guy once who was convinced that enough coats of bronze paint eventually looks gold.

You knew Eugene Melnyk?

 

[hockeyfan1]

The Leafs goaltending may provide an insight into how the team will fare on the ice this year.  Didn't Reimer say that he was prepared to showcase himself, determined to challenge Bernier for the starter's job?  That mentality alone is a good starting (attitude) point.

Imagine having two top-notch netminders, ready, able, and in  winning mode.
Big confidence booster that will be just in net alone, the rest of the team will eventually follow and flow, hopefully doing same, adapting & improving.

My point being that change needs to not just happen, but start from somewhere on out.  Strong goaltending, improved defend, adaptive forwards equals success. 

 

[Kin]

3. Key young players, Gardiner, Rielly, Kadri will take the next step. It would be nice to see Frattin join that group.

4. They will get better production out of the bottom half of their lineup in all three areas: forwards, defence, goal.

The issue with things like this isn't that they aren't true, it's that they're not exclusively true for the Leafs. The Habs have young players like Galchenyuk, Eller, Tinordi and Gallagher that they hope will take the next step. They also added veterans and bottom six players. Those two things are probably near universal around the league. Look at the collection of young players the Panthers or Islanders expect big things from or the veterans those teams added.

The NHL isn't a zero-sum game. If the Leafs get better, other teams can get better too and that's really the issue.

 

[Arn]

Why the Leafs will be better?

Can they be much worse?

 

[sickbeast]

I don't see how the Leafs got better in goal when they have the exact same goalies as last year.  Also, they have lost Mason Raymond who was quite productive last season.  They got some new guys but really they will be slightly better at the most.

Clarkson is hanging over this team like an albatross.  The Leafs could have several good players in the lineup instead of his huge waste of a contract.  Now they're talking about putting him on the 2nd line, it's a joke.  He should either be put on the 4th line or DFA'ed.  That's all he deserves after last season.

 

[bustaheims]

I'm not sure the Leafs' results will be much better this season, but, I expect they'll at least be a slightly less frustrating team to watch.

 

[hockeyfan1]

I don't see how the Leafs got better in goal when they have the exact same goalies as last year.  Also, they have lost Mason Raymond who was quite productive last season.  They got some new guys but really they will be slightly better at the most.

Clarkson is hanging over this team like an albatross.  The Leafs could have several good players in the lineup instead of his huge waste of a contract. 
Now they're talking about putting him on the 2nd line, it's a joke.  He should either be put on the 4th line or DFA'ed.  That's all he deserves after last
season.

It's up to Reimer to prove otherwise.  The Leafs have the same goaltenders, but, since one is already a proven capable (Bernier), the other one (Reimer) as yet to prove his consistency.  If he shows to be better than be can be, then
two is better than one.

 

[sickbeast]

I don't see how the Leafs got better in goal when they have the exact same goalies as last year.  Also, they have lost Mason Raymond who was quite productive last season.  They got some new guys but really they will be slightly better at the most.

Clarkson is hanging over this team like an albatross.  The Leafs could have several good players in the lineup instead of his huge waste of a contract. 
Now they're talking about putting him on the 2nd line, it's a joke.  He should either be put on the 4th line or DFA'ed.  That's all he deserves after last
season.

It's up to Reimer to prove otherwise.  The Leafs have the same goaltenders, but, since one is already a proven capable (Bernier), the other one (Reimer) as yet to prove his consistency.  If he shows to be better than be can be, then
two is better than one.

No.  You're not making any sense.  They are the exact same goalies as last season.  They are not going to be magically better after the summer.  You and the OP are both delusional.  Yes Reimer had a bad year last season but that could be the reality of his play as a backup.  He seems to do better as a #1.  Carlyle ruined his confidence last year.

It would be fair for you guys to say that the Leafs have better goaltending this season if they actually acquired someone new, but they didn't.

 

[Arn]

It would be fair for you guys to say that the Leafs have better goaltending this season if they actually acquired someone new, but they didn't.

So players can't play to different levels or improve as time goes on?

 

[sickbeast]

It would be fair for you guys to say that the Leafs have better goaltending this season if they actually acquired someone new, but they didn't.

So players can't play to different levels or improve as time goes on?

That's fine, but please provide me with some quantifiable evidence which suggests they will be better.  IMO the notion that they will be better is overly optimistic nonsense.

 

[Bullfrog]

No.  You're not making any sense.  They are the exact same goalies as last season.  They are not going to be magically better after the summer.  You and the OP are both delusional.  Yes Reimer had a bad year last season but that could be the reality of his play as a backup.  He seems to do better as a #1.  Carlyle ruined his confidence last year.

It would be fair for you guys to say that the Leafs have better goaltending this season if they actually acquired someone new, but they didn't.

So, it would be fair for them to say that, yet it's fair for you to say drivel such as "Carlyle ruined his confidence"?

 

[sickbeast]

No.  You're not making any sense.  They are the exact same goalies as last season.  They are not going to be magically better after the summer.  You and the OP are both delusional.  Yes Reimer had a bad year last season but that could be the reality of his play as a backup.  He seems to do better as a #1.  Carlyle ruined his confidence last year.

It would be fair for you guys to say that the Leafs have better goaltending this season if they actually acquired someone new, but they didn't.

So, it would be fair for them to say that, yet it's fair for you to say drivel such as "Carlyle ruined his confidence"?

I'm not the one making nonsense predictions so actually both of them and you as well are not being fair.

 

[nutman]

I think the Leafs take a big step this season. as for the playoffs, I also think we will get in.