Leafs 2015-16 Regular Season thread

Stolen Identity · Post #1 » by **Stolen Identity** » Wed Oct 7, 2015 4:40 pm

Didn't see a new one. Today is the Leafs season opener vs Montreal.

Will try to post more previews on here in the future.

Stolen Identity · Post #2 » by **Stolen Identity** » Wed Oct 7, 2015 4:40 pm

http://espn.go.com/nhl/preview?gameId=400814773

With a talented roster led by star goaltender Carey Price, the Montreal Canadiens have high hopes of making a deeper playoff run in 2015-16.

Expectations are considerably more modest for a Toronto Maple Leafs club under new leadership as it embarks on a rebuilding project.

Mike Babcock makes his coaching debut for Toronto on Wednesday night when visiting Montreal goes for its longest regular-season winning streak in the series in 57 years.

Price racked up an impressive haul of awards after leading the NHL in save percentage (.933), goals-against average (1.96) and wins (44) last season. He won the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goaltender, the Hart Trophy as MVP and the Ted Lindsay Award for the most outstanding player.

"This is not a flash in the pan," general manager Marc Bergevin said. "Carey Price is among the best, if not the best."

All eyes will be on what Price can do for an encore as the Canadiens go after their third division title in four years. He'll look to get off to a strong start as he's posted a 1.94 GAA while winning his last five starts against the Leafs.

Montreal (50-22-10) took all four meetings with Toronto last season, two via shootout, to extend its series winning streak to six. The club hasn't won seven straight over the Leafs since a 10-game run Jan. 2-Nov. 12, 1958.

After scoring two or fewer goals five times in a six-game conference semifinal loss to Tampa Bay, the Canadiens brought in right wing Alex Semin from Carolina and forward Zack Kassian from Vancouver. They also signed forward Tomas Fleischmann for additional offensive support alongside captain Max Pacioretty, who had a team-high 37 goals.

Kassian, however, has entered a substance-abuse program after being involved in a motor vehicle accident Sunday and is suspended without pay.

"I think we're a little deeper this year with the couple of new guys we added over the summer. I think we're going to score some goals this year," forward Dale Weise told the team's official website.

After missing out on the postseason for the ninth time in 10 seasons, Toronto has begun what's expected to be a highly scrutinized -- and lengthy -- rebuild.

That job falls to Hall of Famer Lou Lamoriello, brought in as general manager by team president Brendan Shanahan. Babcock agreed to an eight-year deal with the Leafs after failing to come to terms on a contract extension with Detroit. The Wings posted a .649 winning percentage and won a Stanley Cup in 10 seasons under him.

"It's been great with Lou," Babcock said. "I've gotten to know him (well). The great thing work about working with (Red Wings general manager) Kenny Holland was we would be together on decisions even if we didn't always agree."

This year's fourth overall pick Mitch Marner, 2014 eighth pick William Nylander, 21st pick in 2013 Frederik Gauthier and Toronto Marlies leading scorer Connor Brown aren't expected to open the season with the Leafs.

For now, Toronto (30-44-8) will build around center Nazem Kadri and defensemen Morgan Reilly and Jake Gardiner. Kadri finished fourth on the team with 18 goals to go with 21 assists in 2014-15.

After trading Phil Kessel to Pittsburgh in the offseason, defenseman Dion Phaneuf is perhaps the biggest name left on the roster. Phaneuf, who averaged 23:43 of ice time in 70 games, will try to help No. 1 goaltender Jonathan Bernier and backup James Reimer rebound from rough seasons.

Bernier went 21-28-7 with a 2.87 GAA -- his highest since his rookie season of 2007-08 -- and Reimer was 9-16-1 with a .907 save percentage -- his worst since '11-'12.

Bernier has gone 1-5-3 with a 3.07 GAA in nine career starts against Montreal.

LLJ · Post #3 » by **LLJ** » Wed Oct 7, 2015 5:37 pm

People with any interest in the Leafs should hit the "snooze" button for the next 2 years. It's gonna be ugly.

BramptonYute · Post #4 » by **BramptonYute** » Wed Oct 7, 2015 6:52 pm

Road to 0-82 starts today :lol:

Waylanderz · Post #5 » by **Waylanderz** » Wed Oct 7, 2015 7:53 pm

Tank for ... ?

Stolen Identity · Post #6 » by **Stolen Identity** » Wed Oct 7, 2015 11:20 pm

That had to be one of the most boring and dull intros to the season I've ever seen. The square is pretty dead too.

LLJ · Post #7 » by **LLJ** » Wed Oct 7, 2015 11:25 pm

Stolen Identity wrote:That had to be one of the most boring and dull intros to the season I've ever seen. The square is pretty dead too.

Judging by the empty seats in the ACC, I think they should just let everyone in the square in.

MLSE has no one to blame but themselves for pissing away the loyalty of Leafs fans. So many botched rebuilds.

BramptonYute · Post #8 » by **BramptonYute** » Wed Oct 7, 2015 11:35 pm

Bernier is ready to tank, thankfully.

BramptonYute · Post #9 » by **BramptonYute** » Wed Oct 7, 2015 11:35 pm

Waylanderz wrote:Tank for ... ?

Matthews.

Stolen Identity · Post #10 » by **Stolen Identity** » Wed Oct 7, 2015 11:59 pm

Jays in the house and getting a Blue Jays chant.

LLJ · Post #11 » by **LLJ** » Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:54 pm

Nored wrote:Road to 0-82 starts today

Maybe 1-81 now?

Post #12 » by **Crowned** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 2:49 pm

Get comfortable everyone, this is going to be a long year.

Stolen Identity · Post #13 » by **Stolen Identity** » Sun Nov 1, 2015 6:26 pm

Kessell's return was pretty uneventful. Still the best forward they've had since Sundin.

Let them keep rolling losses. It's part of the long term plan. I can't say Babcock has done a bad job, just doesn't have the talent. From what I've seen, he is pushing them hard but there's only so much limited talent can do out there.

whysoserious · Post #14 » by **whysoserious** » Mon Nov 2, 2015 2:57 am

Why couldn't we have had the foresight to have the type of season we're about to have last year? I mean our one chance at a generational talent and we fall outside of that and start to rebuild the year after.

Stolen Identity · Post #15 » by **Stolen Identity** » Wed Nov 11, 2015 8:57 pm

Last night's game generating news over the web:

https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/maple-leafs-respond-to-stars-twitter-jab-with-jose-bautista-bat-flip-photo-164331874.html

This is probably going to be the biggest win by the Leafs this season, guys.

GoRapstheoriginal · Post #16 » by **GoRapstheoriginal** » Sun Nov 15, 2015 7:48 pm

Looking half decent now! 3? wins in a row! GO LEAFS GO!

!

bballsparkin · Post #17 » by **bballsparkin** » Tue Nov 17, 2015 5:47 am

I checked in Saturday night to watch the Leafs play my Canucks and they looked good. I think the team needs another top 5 pick though. So I'd be worried if I was a Leaf fan lol. But then again, maybe Babcock can turn it around. I have a friend who is a Red Wing fan married to a Leaf fan. He told me, if Babcock can't turn that franchise around, no one can.

LLJ · Post #18 » by **LLJ** » Tue Nov 17, 2015 5:05 pm

bballsparkin wrote:I checked in Saturday night to watch the Leafs play my Canucks and they looked good. I think the team needs another top 5 pick though. So I'd be worried if I was a Leaf fan lol. But then again, maybe Babcock can turn it around. I have a friend who is a Red Wing fan married to a Leaf fan. He told me, if Babcock can't turn that franchise around, no one can.

Every good team still needs talent. I don't like the talent on the Leafs, we need to tank, not get good too quickly. Gotta use Bernier more, he's had the right idea. :lol:

bballsparkin · Post #19 » by **bballsparkin** » Wed Nov 18, 2015 6:15 am

^^Agreed

LLJ · Post #20 » by **LLJ** » Thu Dec 24, 2015 4:43 pm

I see the leafs are slowly f*cking up the tank

FFS