Lauren Kelly’s Take
As much as I would like to say I would care if the Leafs made the playoffs, I care more about what happens between now and mid-April, whether they make it or not.
I’d much prefer to see the Leafs give it their all (and not repeat performances like the ones in California) and miss the playoffs, than for them to continue to play the way they have and get in by sheer dumb luck.
Honestly, if the Leafs continue to play the way they did in California, they don’t deserve to be a playoff team. I want to see them excel in these last few weeks and prove to the NHL and to their fans that they deserve one of those sixteen playoff spots. If the veterans keep dragging the rookies down, this team does not deserve to make the playoffs.
If the team forgets how to play defense, this team does not deserve to make the playoffs. If they continue to hang Freddy Andersen and Curtis McElhinney out to dry, they do not deserve to make the playoffs.
They are skilled enough to do it, but their play lately dictates otherwise, so if they do end up making the playoffs, good for them, but it had better not be the result of their lack of trying.