By looking back at where they finished last season , they would have needed 9 more points (to clinch a playoff spot), and finish ahead of Carolina and the Rangers, two teams that made moves to improve themselves as much, or more than the leafs did.

Both these teams have better goaltending, and both finished easily finished third in their respective Divisions (last season), which I would put forth as an indication that their Divisional schedule is easier than the leafs will be, and therefore make it harder for the leafs to make up the necessary amount of points to finish ahead of these two teams, this season, in the Conference, also taking into consideration that the tams that finished ahead of toronto (in the NED) also seem to have improved (on paper) more-so than the leafs did.
- Doppleganger

Don't fully agree with you on improvement:

Leafs:

In - Connolly, Franson, Liles, Lombardi
Out - Lebda, Kaberle, Brent, Giguere

Carolina:

In - Kaberle, Brent, Boucher,
Out - Cole,

NYR:

In - Richards,
Out - Gilroy, Prospal,

I would say that Carolina Improved the least

Toronto improved in the most areas

While NYR improved offensively only

Don't fully agree with you on improvement:

Leafs:

In - Connolly, Franson, Liles, Lombardi
Out - Lebda, Kaberle, Brent, Giguere

Carolina:

In - Kaberle, Brent, Boucher,
Out - Cole,

NYR:

In - Richards,
Out - Gilroy, Prospal,

I would say that Carolina Improved the least

Toronto improved in the most areas

While NYR improved offensively only
- mfreedman

but what you dont understand is that as soon as any team adds a player they have now improved more than Toronto, doesnt matter who Toronto adds, that is the rule, it never changes.

Carolina -Cole + Kaberle = Improved
Toronto -Lebda + Liles + Connoly + Fransen + Lombardi = Not improved

Don't fully agree with you on improvement:

Leafs:

In - Connolly, Franson, Liles, Lombardi
Out - Lebda, Kaberle, Brent, Giguere

Carolina:

In - Kaberle, Brent, Boucher,
Out - Cole,

NYR:

In - Richards,
Out - Gilroy, Prospal,

I would say that Carolina Improved the least

Toronto improved in the most areas

While NYR improved offensively only
- mfreedman

You make good points, but I'll add that both these teams have good established elite goal-tending, and the leafs do not.

The leafs have a tougher division than both the Rangers and Hurricanes do, and 24 games are played against divisional rivals. The leafs will face one of Tim Thomas, Ryan Miller or Carey Price for 24 games this season, the Rangers and Hurricanes will not, and you would have to think that with Elite goaltenders themselves, this gives them an edge in the Conference vs the leafs.

So on paper, it's not a lock, but a possibility, for the leafs to compete for a playoff spot.

You make good points, but I'll add that both these teams have good established elite goal-tending, and the leafs do not.

The leafs have a tougher division than both the Rangers and Hurricanes do, and 24 games are played against divisional rivals. The leafs will face one of Tim Thomas, Ryan Miller or Carey Price for 24 games this season, the Rangers and Hurricanes will not, and you would have to think that with Elite goaltenders themselves, this gives them an edge in the Conference vs the leafs.

So on paper, it's not a lock, but a possibility, for the leafs to compete for a playoff spot.
- Doppleganger

You already mentioned the Elite Goal tending point, and Facing Thomas, Price and Miller is much tougher than Bryz, Broduer and Fluery? And they faced them last season too, now have an upgraded C and D and more than likley better Goal tending for an entire season.

Tougher division is debatable at best also.

But I see what your saying, these factors only affect the leafs, all other teams improve and have better everything and play in weaker divisions

Again another fair comparison, a young player still on his ELC, and veteran who had the snot beaten out of him by Lucic a few seasons back.
- Doppleganger

And yet, even after he got beaten up he was, by your definition, a better player than Karlsson.

Well you admit that schenn is a far superior player to karlsson? His +/- is still way better.