10 home games vs 7 home games last year
2 playoff teams vs 6 playoff teams last year.
I don't think they're as good a team as last year.
Still early.
2025-26 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion
- Thread starter herman
- Start date
2 playoff teams vs 6 playoff teams last year.
I don't think they're as good a team as last year.
Still early.
bustaheims
Well-known member
I'm encouraged by what I've seen in the last 4 periods. Trending in the right direction. However, the start to that Pittsburgh game, and especially the second period, should serve as a stark reminder of how easily things could regress if they get lazy again.
I still think this is a team that could be better suited for playoff hockey than previous versions. We will see.
I'm a Leafs fan. I truly hope so.
I need to see a lot more before I'll get very excited about their playoff chances.
It is still early. By games 20-25, I think we'll have a better idea.
L K
Well-known member
I think the overall record is probably a bit of a positive. There were enough changes to the lineup that having a bump in a road was expected. The lack of Woll to start the season hasn't helped either.
I don't think that the last 4+ periods of hockey really undo the fact that the first couple of weeks the way the Leafs played was dreadful, not just in terms of some sustained pressure but it boring hockey to boot.
That being said, they are 6th in the conference in point percentage and only 3 points back of 1st place.
Montreal sitting with 20 points in 14GP has only 4 regulation wins and have relied on 5 3 on 3 wins and 2 OT/SO losses to get there. I think the Leafs are fine but we will see over time.
I don't think that the last 4+ periods of hockey really undo the fact that the first couple of weeks the way the Leafs played was dreadful, not just in terms of some sustained pressure but it boring hockey to boot.
That being said, they are 6th in the conference in point percentage and only 3 points back of 1st place.
Montreal sitting with 20 points in 14GP has only 4 regulation wins and have relied on 5 3 on 3 wins and 2 OT/SO losses to get there. I think the Leafs are fine but we will see over time.
At the same time teams are moving all over the place and it depends on which teams are on heaters or not. The Canadiens and Red Wings are 1-2 in the Atlantic. Penguins 2nd in the Metro, Mammoth 3rd in Central, Ducks 1st & Kraken 3rd in Pacific. Kind of unfair to call all but 2 teams the Leafs played this year as non-playoff teams as of right now.
Apparently not.
I also have a hard time believing that this team isn't potentially as good as last year - it's not like they made the finals. The team as of Wednesday night had one of the highest goals for and very high 5v5 goals. We are not want for scoring, which was easily the main thing everyone was worried about. I think the defensive side of the game can come around. I don't think they're as bad a defensive team as we think. They're also very low on combined SV% and have an absurdly low PP. I think everything regressing to where it should be, giving Stolarz some rest, tightening up defensively and just more time together with normal lines will cure a lot of this team's problems.