Maple Leafs Fan Confidence Poll
by PPP on Sep 20, 2010 11:30 AM EDT
in Maple Leafs Fan Confidence Poll
Email
PrintSome of you may have noticed a new addition in the top of the left sidebar. SBN has rolled out the Fan Confidence Poll across the network. The purpose of the poll is to gauge how fans feel about the direction of the team. The rationale for voting is probably diverse but I think that during the regular season it makes sense to have it mirror those polls that ask if you're pleased with the direction of the country. Except in this case it would be the direction of the team towards its goal of making the playoffs.
We've had it running for three weeks and I think the results are pretty much in line with what you'd expect from Leaf fans. Three weeks ago it was at 64, it was 68 two weeks ago, and in the last round of voting the FCP ended up at 66. I've voted 50 each week because I think that there is still a lot of question marks with the team. The idea behind the FCP is that it will help chart the highs and lows of the season and I think that will work best with a defined question: How likely are the Leafs to make the playoffs?
During the season we'll check in on the FCP and look at what events have affected the rating. Hopefully, we'll be tracking the wins that are sending the FCP soaring.
Maple Leafs Fan Confidence Poll
Last tallied on 09/15.
109 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
And we’re back in business:
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
Ahhh...
That feels good. Like an old pair of pajamas.
by general borschevsky on Sep 20, 2010 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Next time, please cuddle with YOUR old pair of pajamas. Thank you.
The artist commonly referred to as "Maple".
My Art Portfolio
"If life hands you gallbladder pain, make Leafs-lemonade out of it."
- KidK-
by CanadianMaple09 on Sep 20, 2010 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Making the playoffs?
That’s still very much up in the air, but let’s look at it this way:
Anything is possible when you use Old Spice Giguere/Gustavsson instead of lady-scented bodywash Toskala.
best case scenario
for me this year, is that the Leafs are a low-seed playoff team.
So if I’m feeling confident in them doing that, that’s a 100 for me. Dead last overall would be a 0.
That being said, at this point, I’m thinking about 55 or so. Tough to tell until we see them on the ice
Unabashed fan of the surprise 2012 Stanley Cup champs
Yep.
The high potential of the Leafs (assuming they have the roster they have now sans improvement, and everything that could go right goes right) is about 6th or 7th place. This is ‘100’, since, again this to me requires everything going right for the team.
The floor, IMO, (assuming, with the roster they have, they’re wrought with injuries, sophomore slumps, more goaltending issues, etc.), will be aboue 12th or 13th. That’s 0, since pretty much everything needs to go wrong…kinda like last season.
I’m currently saying the Leafs will be a 9th-10th place team (sadly). So that’s about a 50.
Visit my blog at: http://50-mission-cap.blogspot.com/
Leaf fan for life! (No, really. They gave me a no-trade clause when I was born.)
by FiftyMissionCap on Sep 20, 2010 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions
How likely are the Leafs to make the playoffs?
That’s not the question I’m voting on though, since that’s not the question above the poll. I’ve voted 100.
This is my BOZAK!!!1
by blurr1974 on Sep 20, 2010 12:01 PM EDT reply actions
I’ve voted 80 all three times. I think that number says I’m excited to see how the Leafs do and looking forward to the season but am tempering my expectations. But then, it’s just a number.
The artist commonly referred to as "Maple".
My Art Portfolio
"If life hands you gallbladder pain, make Leafs-lemonade out of it."
- KidK-
by CanadianMaple09 on Sep 20, 2010 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Which is why I clarified it. I think this one will do better to highlight the changing mood of the fanbase over the course of the season. In the off-season it would be different.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.
i don’t like your question
This is my BOZAK!!!1
by blurr1974 on Sep 20, 2010 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions
I gotta ask it
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.
You should have had beers with Forbes and I last night.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
Yeah
I know.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.
A+ meal, good hockey talk.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
It’s not like PPP has family in New York that he could crash with…oh, wait.
Chemmy: thanks for the company, food, beer and chatter last night.
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
I had a family event Saturday!
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.
Awkward: it was in New York.
"I think somebody made a Toskala in his diaper." - DGB
by Bower Power on Sep 20, 2010 11:47 PM EDT up reply actions
I know
Chemmy was on me to drive up but couldn’t happen.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.
We’ll have to get together again for a game in T.O.
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
I vote 100 every time too
Anything less is letting the terrorists win.
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Sep 20, 2010 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions
where/when do we vote?
Always up to offset the hate any chance I can. Vote 100 or bust!
"There's been four different Cup winners the last four years, and I got one of them (Anaheim) and it was a fighting team. We're playing it that way regardless." - B. Burke, Toronto Maple Leafs GM
it is up now, on the left hand side of the main page
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 20, 2010 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Confidence = 100%
Colton Orr will pound you into a million stuff
by Future_considerations on Sep 20, 2010 12:58 PM EDT reply actions
The good: goaltending that should be at least solid; on defense, 1 through 5 on the depth chart should be able to play important minutes; PHIL KESSEL!!!1; our fourth line is really really really tough
The bad: of our forwards, 1 is top three, 2-3 might be top 6, which means 5-6 forwards are top nine.
Since we’re only speculating right now, that means Playoffs = 80% for me.
Hey Curtis Broseph, let's have an expensive domestic and just chillax
We’ve done this exercise before, but here it goes again. The Leafs don’t lack Top 6 guys. They lack Top 3 guys.
Last year, there were 180 forwards (“Top 6” times 30 teams) who averaged 0.5 ppg or better. So “Top 6” means 0.5 ppg.
Grabbo, Kessel & Bozak were all .59 or better last year. Versteeg was 0.56 in a checking line role with stonehands linemates. Kulemin was 0.46, but IIRC he produced at over a .75 ppg pace when playing with Kessel and Bozak.
So that’s 5 “top 6” guys (I think 0.6 ppg is reasonable for all of them, which actually puts them top 130 ~ “Top 4-5” in the league) before you even consider Kadri or any of the other kids. Problem is, our best forward, Kessel, ranked only #60 at 0.79 PPG. We need someone up around 1.0 and a couple more over 0.70.
"That’s why stats are so important – anecdotal evidence just doesn’t cut it when you’re talking about history." - Bower Power
by The '67 Sound on Sep 20, 2010 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions
This is an awfully fancy way of saying we need to add one of the top 20 point scorers in the league. Teams with these players:
WSH 4
SJS 3
VAN 2
PIT 2
TBL 2
That leaves 25 teams with a combined 7 other PPG players.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
There’s a significant grouping effect with that kind of statistic too.
Oh, four! I mean five! I mean fire!
Right. Saying we need a 1ppg player is true but we should focus on making Kessel a 1ppg player.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
four’d?
foured?
fourthed?
fourthded?
fourethd?
Be an Optimist Prime, not a Negatron. Certified Grabbo Lover!
Адразу Ліфс Перайсці !
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 20, 2010 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions
fivehead.
Be an Optimist Prime, not a Negatron. Certified Grabbo Lover!
Адразу Ліфс Перайсці !
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 20, 2010 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions
like Damien.
Be an Optimist Prime, not a Negatron. Certified Grabbo Lover!
Адразу Ліфс Перайсці !
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 20, 2010 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions
He’s more of a six or seven head.
verbeauty!
by A Lindros Jaw on Sep 20, 2010 8:10 PM EDT up reply actions
As chillin points out notice the grouping.
That suggests that having a lot of good players makes them better. For example: Kessel’s a 55-60pt player right? If we surrounded him with similar talent (but maybe different style; ie. playmaker vs sniper) there’s good reason to think he’d score more and they’d score more.
It’s sort of like a circlejerk but in a good way.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
wait
there’s a bad circlejerk?
This is my BOZAK!!!1
by blurr1974 on Sep 20, 2010 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions
maybe it’s all about the company you keep. i guess if you’ve got a bunch of rough calloused hands in the circle…
This is my BOZAK!!!1
by blurr1974 on Sep 20, 2010 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions
This is true. You best not be hanging around with classical guitarists.
Blue on both sides: Maple Stir-up
And I'm on Tweetbook
Wait, we should stop. Howard Berger may read these comments and be offended by this sorta language.
Blue on both sides: Maple Stir-up
And I'm on Tweetbook
For sure. An elite playmaker would bring Kessel to another level and also keep their own points (particularly assists) top tier as well obviously. I have dreams where Nicklas Backstrom centers a line with Kessel. Then the alarm goes off and I gotta go to work (a.k.a hang out on PPP all day)
Kadri for 85 points in 2020, book it.
Blue on both sides: Maple Stir-up
And I'm on Tweetbook
We have four more years of Kessel. Kadri will be 23 in Kessel’s final year under contract.
It’s easy to forget how young Kadri is and how little 20 year olds produce in the NHL if you ignore truly elite talent.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
Kadri will be just hitting his stride by that time really.
A lot of people group Bozak and Kadri into the same idea of a “prospect” when Bozak is even older than Kessel. It’s going to be a few years before we see Kadri do any major damage in the NHL. He’s a Marlie this year for sure.
Blue on both sides: Maple Stir-up
And I'm on Tweetbook
I was hoping Kadri would be ready to be a game changer but he’s not. We all need to step back, take a deep breath and realize that with no major roster additions we aren’t going from a 29th place team to a Cup winner in one summer.
Let’s hope Kessel and Bozak develop into the 70+pt range this year, Kulemin for at least 50, and for our other prospects to grow.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
We need someone up around 1.0 and a couple more over 0.70.
So you are saying we need a top line with actual top 3 forwards? Would that be better than having 3 lines that score like top 6? Not saying that what we have but if you look at most of the line combo’s thrown about on the boards one has to think that it could be possible?
n.b. Unlikely like many of the line combos thrown about but since we are in fantasy mode… :/
"There's been four different Cup winners the last four years, and I got one of them (Anaheim) and it was a fighting team. We're playing it that way regardless." - B. Burke, Toronto Maple Leafs GM
hmm… when did Ian Turnbull resign witht he club?
/points to picture
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
Noticed that too! Hey, just in case you didn’t think we had enough defensemen…
Be an Optimist Prime, not a Negatron. Certified Grabbo Lover!
Адразу Ліфс Перайсці !
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 20, 2010 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions
If Kessel stays healthy and the goaltending is around league average, the Leafs have a decent chance to squeeze in at 7 or 8. If not, then we have no chance at all.
Bobby Ryan...can he be acquired?
blurr1974: No.
I would argue that if the Leafs could stay above #9 in the East, they will have a good chance at landing somewhere between 1-8. If not, then we have no chance at all.
Blue on both sides: Maple Stir-up
And I'm on Tweetbook
I see what you did there…
Bobby Ryan...can he be acquired?
blurr1974: No.
by Chris Stoikoff on Sep 20, 2010 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions
what is this, the new math? divide by “i”, carry the three…
Be an Optimist Prime, not a Negatron. Certified Grabbo Lover!
Адразу Ліфс Перайсці !
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 20, 2010 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions
You’re right though. Kessel is the only real elite weapon the Leafs have, and the season really hinges on goaltending as well. If the Buds can stay healthy, I think they’ll be alright.. probably even surprise and finish top 5.
Blue on both sides: Maple Stir-up
And I'm on Tweetbook
Top 5 is a huge stretch IMO. It would have to be the perfect storm of teams in the east either having a colossal melt-down, numerous injuries (or both), in order for something like that to happen.
Don’t mind me, I’m just “keepin’ it real”.
Waiting on the Dave Nonis era.
by PassivelyTruculent on Sep 20, 2010 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Your “realness” is warranted for sure. To go from non-playoff to top 5 is a stretch I agree.
But to me, if someone is picking the Leafs as a “playoff team”, then 5th or so isn’t that much of a stretch. The points are too fucking tight with these three point games.
Philadelphia won a shootout on the last day of the season to grab 7th and went to the Final. Olli Jokinen was the difference in making the Rangers a “non-playoff” team. 2 points here, win streak there, BAM the Leafs win the division. Now wouldn’t THAT be something.
Blue on both sides: Maple Stir-up
And I'm on Tweetbook
Hey if we win the division, I believe high-fives are in order.
Waiting on the Dave Nonis era.
by PassivelyTruculent on Sep 20, 2010 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Top 5 might be pushing it but I think we could lock down any of the bottom 3 or 4 playoff spots as long as the aforementioned happens.
Also, Ron Wilson needs to fix the PP and eliminate the black hole of perpetual passes between Kaberle and Kessel on the half boards. Forget the umbrella, start working with a 2-1-2 setup and see how it works or something.
Bobby Ryan...can he be acquired?
blurr1974: No.
by Chris Stoikoff on Sep 20, 2010 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, they’re WAY off from top 5. Look who they have to compete with to get there?
If the Leafs finish somewhere near the playoff bubble (9th to 12th?) in the conference, I’ll say the season was a success from a developmental perspective.
Be an Optimist Prime, not a Negatron. Certified Grabbo Lover!
Адразу Ліфс Перайсці !
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 20, 2010 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions
If we’re in the top 5, it’s because something terrible has happened to every single Bruins player and Ryan Miller, and we’ve just won the division by picking on the Senators.
"I think somebody made a Toskala in his diaper." - DGB
Wouldn’t that be something considering that they used to do that to us all of the time.
Going 5-1 instead of 1-7 sure is a welcome relief.
Bobby Ryan...can he be acquired?
blurr1974: No.
by Chris Stoikoff on Sep 20, 2010 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Top 5 teams in the east: Washington, Pittsburgh, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Boston… yeah I think it’s hard to see us up with them.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 20, 2010 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions
1st seed in the division is no less than 3rd ranked.
"I think somebody made a Toskala in his diaper." - DGB
Boston, Buffalo.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 20, 2010 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions
so pretty much Miller and Rask/Savards mellon stand in the leafs way….
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Sep 20, 2010 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Buffalo, Hurricanes (healthy now), Lightning (much improved), NY Rangers, Montreal will still be around there.
Alot of teams we have to be BETTER than, not just competitive with, to make it just into the playoffs.
Be an Optimist Prime, not a Negatron. Certified Grabbo Lover!
Адразу Ліфс Перайсці !
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 20, 2010 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions
the canes are shit, I dont see them being better than the Leafs, even with a full season of staal and ward
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Sep 20, 2010 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Other than improved health
I don’t see how they didn’t get worse this Offseason. Lost Whitney, gained…. ? Another year for Sutter I guess, he shows some serious promise.
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Sep 20, 2010 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions
well they do have pogge and tlusty…..
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Sep 20, 2010 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
haha! fair enough. So the Canes prob aren’t as good as the leafs, but the leafs can’t give them any games like they have the last two years.
Be an Optimist Prime, not a Negatron. Certified Grabbo Lover!
Адразу Ліфс Перайсці !
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 20, 2010 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions
McBain too, who looks good (10 points in 14 games?).
The southeast might actually – dare I say it – be fun to watch this year.
"I think somebody made a Toskala in his diaper." - DGB
obligatory
MENDOZZAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Sep 20, 2010 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah I think the 6-8 spots will see a LOT of competition but cracking the top 5 will be very, very difficult
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 20, 2010 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Philly and Jersey are suspect. Boston I admit are the division champs, and Washington and Pitt are sure things for the top five.
If Jesus stops paying special attention to Ryan Miller and giving him all these super powers, the Sabres can will slip big time.
Blue on both sides: Maple Stir-up
And I'm on Tweetbook
Assuming Jersey gets under the cap
How are they suspect?
I’d just be interested in hearing what glaring weaknesses they have.
Maybe D? Brodeur showing his age?
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Sep 20, 2010 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t think they’re really that good, but I think they’re definitely top 5 given the state of the rest of the eastern conference teams.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Sep 20, 2010 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Exactly. They have a sickening top line and Brodeur. That will carry them into a decent playoff spot.
If they get significant injuries or regression in play from Brodeur AND Parise, then they have a shot to miss out. Otherwise, they’re locks again.
Be an Optimist Prime, not a Negatron. Certified Grabbo Lover!
Адразу Ліфс Перайсці !
by Sergei Puckizin on Sep 20, 2010 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions
If they get significant injuries or regression
I say this sort of tongue-and-cheekly, but this could be said about just about every club in the NHL, so it sort of balances out.
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Sep 20, 2010 6:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Is there a ...
PLAYOFFS!!!1 voting option? Otherwise I can’t really vote on this poll.
A Toronto sports blog, where unabashed homerism is alive and well...
If you're like me
I think that will work best with a defined question: How likely are the Leafs to make the playoffs?
You vote 100.
20 miles to Legoland!
by nhlcheapshot on Sep 20, 2010 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions
2009-2010=1991-1992.
Look into it. Super weak start to the season, stronger in November reasonably bad mid season Trade with Calgary in late Jan. leading to a much better finish to the season.
The above could describe both 2009-10 and 1991-92. The upshot? 2010-2011=1993-94—→Playoffs!!!!!!1
So we get screwed over in the Conference Finals? Better than nothing I suppose..
Waaaay too much Versteez.
Colton Orr is a Beauty.
by happiergilmore on Sep 20, 2010 8:40 PM EDT up reply actions
what are you talking about?
WE’RE GOING TO THE STANLEY CUP!!!
Seriously though, getting into the playoffs is as big a victory as I’m hoping for
"Hockey captures the essence of Canadian experience... hockey is the chance of life, and an affirmation that despite the deathly chill of winter we are alive." - Stephen Leacock.
NEVER!!!!
That doesn’t work because he’ll play for us in 3 years :)
"Hockey captures the essence of Canadian experience... hockey is the chance of life, and an affirmation that despite the deathly chill of winter we are alive." - Stephen Leacock.
2014!
Waaaay too much Versteez.
Colton Orr is a Beauty.
by happiergilmore on Sep 20, 2010 9:43 PM EDT up reply actions
I miss McManus
A Nation of Masochists
Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing - Vince Lombardi
He and danforth should start their own blog
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Sep 21, 2010 2:41 AM EDT up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- Friday’s Three Stars: Devils head to Final; Brodeur, Kovalchuk the difference in Game 6
- Devils eliminate Rangers in Game 6, ending fear of the past, setting course for the future
- Adam Henrique sends New Jersey Devils to Stanley Cup Final with OT goal vs. Rangers (VIDEO)
- Watch Ilya Kovalchuk’s Game 6 goal for Devils, a.k.a. power-play porn (VIDEO)
- Devils look to eliminate Rangers in Game 6; Hal Gill’s broken tibia (Playoff Puck Previews)
Latest stories and headlines from NHL.com
- Blues CEO Mike McCarthy stepping down
- Blues CEO Mike McCarthy stepping down, not long after ownership change
- Rangers eliminated by Devils with crushing OT loss after another rally in Game 6 falls short
- Rangers season ends as another rally falls short
- Hard-skating Cataractes upset set defending champ Saint John 7-4 at Memorial Cup
SBNation.com Recent Stories
StatCounter
