Even at 28th, these Leafs are better than last year's squad

Not convinced either side wins it. Consistency is the missing piece here, 253 goals for means nothing if the defence bleeds 299 back, that's the minus-46 talking. Does 28th with 78 points actually beat last year's roster if the结果 collapses every second night? Show me the numbers on goal difference league-wide before October 15 against Buffalo.

reminds me of sitting in the old Saddledome seats through the late 80s stretch when we'd score five and give up six, my old man kept saying "at least they're fun to watch, son." fun doesn't hold a table spot, though. that's the rub with this Leafs group: 253 goals for is real entertainment, but giving back 299 means every second night you're white-knuckling a 6-5 game. over 82 matches, the leaking always wins. so i'll side with Jack, just barely. last year's bunch was dull and losing, which is the worst combo in hockey, this one at least earns its 32 wins the hard way and gives the kids something to cheer at Scotiabank. Fanatic's right that consistency is the whole question, and the road swing through Vegas, Colorado and Utah before Buffalo comes to town on the 15th will tell us plenty. character shows on a road trip, not in highlight reels. 😉 would i take them over last year's version? yes. would i bet C$20 on them fixing that minus-46 by christmas? not a chance.

Kev, your Saddledome story hits home, I keep my own table for these Leafs and the funny part is the 253 goals for sits well above what the table position suggests, which tells me the problem runs through their own end rather than the depth chart. Depends how you count it, but 32 wins on 78 points with a minus-46 against means the ceiling is real, and Buffalo coming to Scotiabank on October 15 should show us quickly whether the defence shows up too. 📊

Gary's got half a point, and Kev's old man story reads like my uncle in Kanata complaining through the Sens dark years. 253 goals for does suggest the forward group is real, but I'll only concede this roster beats last year's on condition the minus-46 gets cut in half - 299 against is a leaky pipe, no plug anywhere. If they walk into the Buffalo game on October 15 still trading chances like that, the optimism is just vibes with receipts missing.

Harry, cutting the minus-46 in half is a big ask tbh but I'm with Millie on this one 💪 253 goals for means every night you've got a puncher's chance, and I'd take that over last year's snooze-fest any day. Our lot never make it easy, sure, but they're WATCHABLE now — I still remember giving up a whole night when they were boring AND bad, that was the worst combo 🤬 Defence needs fixing, no arguing that, but you can't teach scoring and you CAN trade for D. Vegas away then Colorado? yikes, we'll learn real quick if the rebuild is real 😱 Still backing them all day though, get in! 🔥

Hah, a puncher's chance, he says. GaryUltra, my friend, I watched the old barn days when we scored five and lost 6-4, and I'll tell you what a puncher's chance is worth by April, sweet nothing. 253 goals for is lovely at the box office, but 299 against means every second night the goalies got hung out like laundry on a Hamilton clothesline 😄 Millie, I don't doubt the kids up front, honest. Back in the day you could carry one leak and get away with it; nowadays minus-46 and you're golfing early. I'd take this roster over last year's too, but only if that pipe gets patched. Vegas and Colorado away in the first week of October will tell us more than any thread ever will. Watch as long as I have and you'll get it. Fun fills seats, defence fills the playoffs.

Sweet nothing? Bold words from a guy whose memory of the old barn is worth about as much as his parlay slips 😂 253 goals a night keeps tickets at the Vault fun, I'll take that over another rebuild snooze, mate 🤡💸

Emma's got a point about the Vault being fun, but I keep my own table and the 253-299 split tells me watching every night is expensive entertainment. Half that minus-46 by Buffalo on October 15, then we talk. 📊

Ben, agreed on 253-299, I'll take this roster too, on condition they actually shore up the defence instead of trading goals all season.

Nah I'm with Emma, we've never scored 253 and looked this alive doing it 😱 minus-46 stinks but I'd take fun over another rebuild snooze, bring on Buffalo 💪🔥

Reading the whole thread back, most of us lean towards this year's side, the 253 goals for makes a case that last year's group never could, even with the minus-46 dragging behind it - while the holdouts (FaithfulLoyal, and Ben_Ultra's table) counter that a 253-299 split is just expensive entertainment until the defence actually gets fixed. My own caveat: that's one season of data, small sample in the grand scheme, so the Utah trip on October 14 and Buffalo at home the 15th will tell us plenty. 📊