For Borje - The Toronto Maple Leafs 2023 Stanley Cup Champions Thread

[CH1]

I still haven't made a single friend along the way. What a rip-off.

You will. It’s all part of God’s plan. Trust the process.

 

[mbow30]

You will. It’s all part of God’s plan. Trust the process.

 

[CH1]

Deep down I know it’s just a bunch of grifty, Hallmark level platitudes but ever since Joel Osteen began to hijack every thread on this board, my life has improved in every single way imaginable. So, big heavenly thanks to LOF.

 

[hockeylover]

Panthers forecheck seemed to give Boston fits, should be interesting to see how we play 'em.

 

[Preston]

Luke Schenn will be tested.

 

[zeke]

Panthers and Leafs are actually two teams built in an extremely similar way. I do think the Leafs just edge them in more areas but they're still built very similarly.


Matthews - Barkov
Marner - Tkachuk
Nylander - Reinhart
O'Reilly - Bennett
Tavares - Verhaeghe
Bunting - Duclair

This should be the biggest advantage for the Leafs but the Panthers group is very very good too. The leafs have 2 super elites while the Panthers only have one. And then the other guys there are mostly edge Leafs


Bottom 6

Knies - Lundell
Jarnkrok - Luostarinen
Acciari - Lomberg
Kerfoot - Cousins
Kampf - Staal
Lafferty - White
ZAR - Dalpe

Again kind of similar groups but an edge to the Leafs with more established middle sixers in there while the panthers have more fringe roster types.


Top 3

Rielly - Montour
Brodie - Ekblad
McCabe - Forsling

I actually would have given the edge to florida here based on regular season, but thankfully Rielly has stepped back these playoffs so i'll call this pretty even. The Forsling-Ekblad pairing is kind of their shutdown pairing like McCabe-Brodie for us, the panthers pair isn't actually too good defensively but are much better moving the puck forward and offensively.

Bottom 3

Giordano - Staal
Schenn - Gudas
Holl - Mahura
Liljegren -
Gustafsson -

This is a nice edge for the Leafs. Gudas is the only decent panther in this group. Staal and Mahura are pretty awful.


Goaltending

Samsonov - Bobrovsky
Woll - Lyon


Close enough really. Pick'em.

 

[hockeylover]

 

[Wayward DP]

the cats kinda scare me. their offence can take over games and keep them in most.

although their defence can do the opposite, so there's that. plus bob.

 

[hockeylover]

Giving off some Ottawa vibes there. I seem to remember them futilely trying to keep Leaf fans out of their rink as well.

 

[Slinger 48]

Fuck the Panthers.

And the Oilers.

 

[leafman101]

Don't they know that Florida is only rednecks and Canadians?

 

[LeafGm]

Shades of the desperate and futile attempts by little bro to keep Leaf fans out of Ottawa’s barn.

Not sure how successful this is going to be when there’s a shit ton of snowbirds in Florida that can either attend the games themselves or buy tickets on behalf of friends and family.

And scalpers won’t have any scruples against selling tickets to Leaf fans.

 

[hockeylover]

Shades of the desperate and futile attempts by little bro to keep Leaf fans out of Ottawa’s barn.

Not sure how successful this is going to be when there’s a shit ton of snowbirds in Florida that can either attend the games themselves or buy tickets on behalf of friends and family.

And scalpers won’t have any scruples against selling tickets to Leaf fans.

Looks like on Stubhub tickets to Game 3 in Florida are about half the price of Game 1 in Toronto.

 

[Cojo]

Im actually surprised the league doesnt have a rule against this. Not sure thats a good look for the league.

 

[Habsy]

Leafs in 7. This will be tough match up, similar to Leafs/Sharks in 1994. Panthers are full of confidence. I expect the Leafs to get it done in game 7 this time

Panthers are a heavier team than the Bruins, the way they play.

 

[Habsy]

I already got two tickets for games 3 and 4. Paid 175 each for lower bowl

Who's coming?

 

[Cojo]

I already got two tickets for games 3 and 4. Paid 175 each for lower bowl

Who's coming?

Unreal

 

[Habsy]

View attachment 16090

See this sort of pseudo logic always made me voice up in church.

If God's way is better. And God made me to think the way I think and gave me free will? Then my way IS God's way and ima use that free will.

 

[Habsy]

Unreal

I had to go where the Leafs shoot twice though. A buddy came through. He's away next week!

 

[Habsy]

He never expected the Panthers to make it and booked his vacation a month ago.